* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] I [00:20:53] GOOD. [00:22:34] ALL [00:22:35] RIGHT. [00:22:35] IT IS NOVEMBER 18TH. WE ARE READY TO GET STARTED. UH, JUST THE NOTE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALLEN SORROW AND VICE MAYOR URANGA WON'T BE ABLE TO JOIN US. LET'S START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. AFTER THE ROLL CALL, LET'S FIRST START WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR LET'S GIVE A MOMENT OF THANKSGIVING FOR OUR LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS. THEN WE'LL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] ALL RIGHT. PLEASE STAND, PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC ALL STAND ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MAYOR, IF WE CAN DO THE ROLL ALL THANK CALL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. WE'RE GONNA START OFF. WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS, MAYOR, UH, TWO BRIEF. IF WE CAN DO THE ROLL CALL. YEAH, WE NEED TO DO THE ROLL CALL. COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. PRESENT. [ROLL CALL] COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN. HERE. COUNCILMAN AUGH? HERE. COUNCILWOMAN KERR. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN THRASH ENUK. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI. HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. WE HAVE A QUORUM. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE READY TO GO. UM, WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS, TWO BRIEF PRESENTATIONS. UH, THE FIRST IS ON PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. WE'RE GONNA PASS IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'M HONORED FOR THE THIRD TIME TO BE USHERING THE ON IN THIS PRESENTATION TO RECOGNIZE NOVEMBER 21ST AS WORLD PANCREATIC CANCER DAY IN LONG BEACH, AS WELL AS NOVEMBER AS PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS. MONTH. LEARNING OF ANY CANCER DIAGNOSIS CAN BE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING AND SCARY FOR INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES. FOR MANY IN THESE MOMENTS, THERE'S LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE FACTS AND FIGURES, THE RISKS, AND THE SYMPTOMS, AND THE RESEARCH AND TREATMENT AVAILABLE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THOSE DIAGNOSED WITH PANCREATIC CANCER, WHICH HAS A ONE OF THE LOWEST FIVE-YEAR SURVIVAL RATES AND IS KNOWN [ PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH] FOR BEING DIFFICULT TO DETECT IN EARLY STAGES. FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I KNOW IT CAN INDEED ACT FAST. MY FATHER-IN-LAW PASSED AWAY WITHIN ONE MONTH OF HIS DIAGNOSIS. I KNOW THAT MY FAMILY IS JUST ONE OF MANY HERE IN LONG BEACH THAT'S BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS DISEASE, AND I'M PROUD ONCE AGAIN TO PLAY A ROLE IN CREATING AWARENESS AND EDUCATION FOR OTHERS. WE'RE JOINED THIS EVENING TONIGHT BY RICK PINSON, A FIFTH DISTRICT RESIDENT WHO UNFORTUNATELY LOST HIS WIFE TO PANCREATIC CANCER. HE'S HERE ON BEHALF OF THE PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION [00:25:01] NETWORK. PANCAN TO SPEAK ON SOME FACTS IN THE DETAILS ABOUT PANCREATIC CANCER, TO HELP SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT THE DISEASE AND THE ONGOING WORK TO FIGHT IT, AND HOW FOLKS IN LONG BEACH COMMUNITY CAN GET INVOLVED. I WANNA THANK HIM FOR BEING HERE AND GIVE THE FLOOR TO MR. PINSON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, IN THE COUNCIL AGAIN ON IN THIS, UH, NOVEMBER PANCREATIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, WHERE OUR FOCUS IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE THE RISK OF PANCREATIC CANCER. LET ME START WITH JUST SOME BASIC FACTS. UH, PAN THE PANCREAS IS A SMALL ORGAN IN THE ABDOMEN, UH, SHOWN HERE IN PURPLE. HELPS US DIGEST OUR FOOD, CONTROLS OUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS, AND, UH, IF A CANCER, UH, INVADES THIS ORGAN, IT, UH, AFFECTS THE PANCREAS'S ABILITY TO DO ITS JOB. AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS DIAGRAM, UM, SOME INDICATION OF HOW HARD THIS CANCER IS TO TREAT. THE PANCREAS IS BURIED IN THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY. IT'S HARD TO GET AT, IT'S HARD TO TREAT, IT'S HARD TO RADIATE. SO, UM, PREVENTION IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST WEAPONS WE HAVE AGAINST THIS CANCER RIGHT NOW. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS MONTH IS ALL ABOUT. UH, SOME BASIC, UH, STATISTICS, AND THESE ARE, UH, UNITED STATES NUMBERS. IT IS THE 10TH MOST COMMON CANCER, YET THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS YEAR, ABOUT 66,000 PEOPLE WILL BE DIAGNOSED AND 51,000 IN THE UNITED STATES WILL DIE FROM THIS DISEASE. IT'S CALLED THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST CANCER BECAUSE THE FIVE YEAR SURVIVAL RATE IS ONLY 13%. AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD TO DETECT EARLY BEFORE IT SPREADS 'CAUSE OF ITS LOCATION. AND THE FACT THAT THE SYMPTOMS IT PRESENTS ARE VERY VAGUE AND TAKEN CAN BE EASILY CONFUSED FOR SOME OTHER CONDITIONS FOR A LONG TIME. UH, THERE IS SOME HOPE HERE, THOUGH. UH, WHEN I FIRST BECAME, UH, INVOLVED WITH PANCREATIC CANCER WITH MY WIFE'S DIAGNOSIS SOME YEARS AGO, THE FIVE YEAR SURVIVAL RATE WAS 5%. AND IT WAS STUCK ON THAT FOR QUITE A WHILE. BUT THE LAST FEW YEARS, BECAUSE OF RESEARCH, UH, UH, IMPROVEMENTS ABOUT EVERY YEAR, THAT PERCENTAGE GOES UP 1% AT A TIME. OBVIOUSLY A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. UM, UH, UH, SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS VERY IMPORTANT NOWADAYS IS WE CAN DO GENETIC TESTING. AND WE FOUND THAT UNLIKE WHEN MY WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED, WHERE WE HAD ONE OR TWO TREATMENTS, WE JUST FIGURED PANCREATIC CANCER WAS ONE CONDITION. THROW THE TREATMENT AT IT AND HOPE IT WORKS. NOW WE'VE, NOW WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MANY SUBTYPES TO PANCREATIC CANCER. EACH, UH, HAS ITS OWN GENETIC MUTATION. AND RESEARCH IS FINDING TARGETED TREATMENTS FOR EACH OF THOSE MUTATIONS. SO IT'S, UH, VERY MUCH LIKE USING A, A BULLET INSTEAD OF A SHOTGUN TO TREAT CANCERS. AND, UH, AS WE FIND MORE AND MORE TREATMENTS FOR THESE MUTATIONS, WE WOULD EXPECT THAT 13% RATE TO CONTINUE TO GO UP. UH, HIGH PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS. OF COURSE, EARLY DETECTION IS THE BIGGEST ONE. ONCE THIS SPREADS, IT'S VERY HARD TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE A BLOOD TEST, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE ROUTINELY AS PART OF YOUR ANNUAL PHYSICAL, CATCH IT EARLY. THEN WE'RE DEVELOPING DRUGS THAT, AS I SAID, TARGET SPECIFIC GENE MUTATIONS. UH, A BIG NEW, UM, RESEARCH AVENUE IS USING OUR OWN IMMUNE SYSTEM TO DETECT AND FIGHT TUMORS. SURGICAL TECHNIQUES ARE GETTING BETTER SUCH THAT WE CAN, UH, USE SURGERY TO EXCISE THE TUMOR IN MANY MORE CASES THAN WE USED TO BE ABLE TO. UH, THE LAST PORT POINT'S IMPORTANT. THERE WILL NOT BE ONE KNOCKOUT BLOW WHERE WE CAN SAY, AH, WE'VE CURED PANCREATIC CANCER. THERE'LL JUST BE AN ACCUMULATION OF SMALL, STEADY STEPS, AND WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PROCESS. NOW, PROVEN RISK FACTORS, UM, FAMILY HISTORY OF THE DISEASE, ABOUT 10% OF THE NEW DIAGNOSIS OF PANCREATIC CANCER. IF WE LOOK AT THEIR FAMILY, WE SEE THAT ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER HAS HAD IT AS WELL. SO IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS, UH, HAD PANCREATIC CANCER, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YOU'RE AT HIGHER RISK FOR IT. AND, UM, TAKE ACTION ACCORDINGLY. UH, AGE OLDER PEOPLE ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE. PANCREATITIS, SMOKING, YOU KNOW, BASIC, BASIC THINGS. THESE CONDITIONS APPLY TO MANY OTHER, UH, CANCERS AND HEALTH CONDITIONS. BUT MR. PENSON, WE HAVE ABOUT ONE MINUTE LEFT. OKAY, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. UH, SEVEN STEPS TO REDUCE YOUR RISK. THESE ARE ALL BASIC, UH, LIFESTYLE CHANGE THINGS WHICH, UH, NOT ONLY WOULD APPLY TO PANCREATIC CANCER, BUT OTHER CONDITIONS AS WELL. KNOWING THE SYMPTOMS, EATING WELL, EXERCISE, LIMITING YOUR ALCOHOL, UH, ELIMINATING SMOKING, [00:30:01] KEEPING YOUR WEIGHT DOWN, AND BEING AWARE OF YOUR FAMILY HISTORY. UH, PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK IS, UH, THE LEADING ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD FOR PANCREATIC CANCER. THERE ARE THREE WAYS THAT, UH, YOU CAN JOIN US, PA, PATIENT SERVICES, UH, SERVICES, FAMILIES, AND, UH, PATIENTS. UH, YOU CAN VOLUNTEER WITH US OR REGISTER FOR PURPLE STRIDE, WHICH IS OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER BY WHICH WE, UH, RAISE FUNDS TO FUND OUR OWN RESEARCH ASIDE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. YEP. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND GIVING LONG BEACH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED, UH, FOR OUR OWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MAY BE SUFFERING, BUT ALSO TO BE OF NETWORK IN THE LARGER REGION. SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU BRINGING IT TO US EACH YEAR, UM, AND HONORING YOUR WIFE IN THIS WAY. WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE. IF THE MAYOR WANTS TO COME DOWN WITH ME, WE'LL COME AND TAKE A PICTURE. SURE. GREAT. THANK YOU. HERE. 1, 2, 3. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL, NOW ON TO OUR SECOND PRESENTATION. IT IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, AND WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE DR. KERRY JOHNSON OF SACRED PATH INDIGENOUS WELLNESS CENTER. JUST THIS AFTERNOON, WE HOSTED THE OPENING OF, UH, THE, THE INDIGENOUS WELLNESS CENTER HERE IN DOWNTOWN. UH, WE HAD A GREAT TIME. IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED. THE FOOD WAS THE SOUP, THE HAND, THE, YOU KNOW, THE SOUP THAT YOU HAD WAS PRETTY INCREDIBLE TOO. SO LET'S WELCOME, UH, DR. KERRY JOHNSON OF SACRED PATH, OUR NEWEST PARTNER IN THE CITY, UH, WITH A DEDICATED IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY WELLNESS CENTER HERE IN LONG BEACH. PLEASE COME FORWARD. THANK YOU. UM, I'M GONNA HAVE SIT LOLLY FIRST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, TBA PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. I GREET YOU ALL TODAY IN THE LANGUAGE OF MY ANCESTORS, THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF WHAT WE NOW CALL LONG BEACH, THE LANGUAGE OF THE TONG, WHAT WE NOW CALL TONGVA. I SPEAK THE LANGUAGE IN THIS PLACE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SPIRITS OF THE LAND AND THE SPIRITS OF MY ANCESTORS. THE OOK IN THE SACRED AREA, KNOWN TO US AS PGA, THE PLACE OF EMERGENCE. THIS LAND THAT WE NOW CALL THE LOS ANGELES BASIN WAS HOME TO OUR PEOPLE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT WAS KNOWN TO OUR PEOPLE AS TOVAN LA OUR ORAL TRADITIONS TELL US THAT WE WERE CREATED. LASTLY, AFTER THE ROCKS, WATER, PLANT AND ANIMAL RELATIVES TO BE CARETAKERS, WE HONOR THIS PURPOSE. TO THIS DAY, THIS AREA WAS INHABITED BY THOUSANDS OF OUR PEOPLE WHO WERE ORGANIZED IN A RICH AND DYNAMIC NETWORK OF VILLAGE AND CLAN SYSTEMS. OUR LAND WAS DEFINED BY NATURAL BOUNDARIES WITH MOUNTAINS TO THE NORTH AND EAST, THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS, THE SAN GABRIEL AND SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS, AND OUR PACIFIC COASTLINE TO THE WEST. AND AS FAR SOUTH DOWN TO ALISO CREEK, PRESENT DAY, ORANGE COUNTY, WE ALSO INHABITED THE FOUR SOUTHERN CHANNEL ISLANDS, THE LARGEST BEING SANTA CATALINA, WHICH WE CALLED PNA. PRE-CONTACT. OUR COMMUNITY LIVED PEACEFULLY WITH OUR NEIGHBORING TRIBES THROUGH OUR SYSTEMS OF MAHA, A VALUE SYSTEM OF EXCHANGE AND RECIPROCITY. OUR TONGA COMMUNITY PRESENTLY WORKS TO RESTORE AND STRENGTHEN OUR TRADITIONAL VALUES, OUR COMMUNITY SYSTEMS AND RELATIONSHIPS, AND OUR TIES TO THE LAND AND PLANT AND ANIMAL RELATIVES. BY BREATHING LIFE BACK INTO OUR LANGUAGE PRACTICE, OUR WEAVING PRACTICES, ANCESTRAL FOOD PRACTICE, AND OUR PACIFIC MARITIME CULTURAL RESTORATION, WE ARE STILL SEEKING JUSTICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR PURSUIT FOR FEDERAL RECOGNITION, SO THAT WE MAY FINALLY HAVE OUR TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY ACKNOWLEDGED. OUR TONGA COMMUNITY PRESENTLY NUMBERS IN THE THOUSANDS AND IS KNOWN BY MANY NAMES. OUR ANCESTORS SUFFERED FORCED REMOVAL FROM OUR VILLAGES, ENSLAVEMENT IN THE MISSION, AND RANCHO SYSTEMS DISPLACEMENT [00:35:01] AND CONTINUED GENOCIDE DURING THE GOLD RUSH ERA, AND THEN FORCED ASSIMILATION AND TRAINING AS A LABOR SOURCE IN THE BOARDING SCHOOLS ERA. WE ASK NOW FOR NOT JUST ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, BUT JUSTICE AND THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN, WITH OUR COMMUNITY BE MADE TODAY. THIS LAND IS HOME TO THE LARGEST POPULATION OF NATIVE AMERICANS IN AN URBAN SETTING. TOGAR IS NOW HOME TO PEOPLE FROM TRIBAL [ SACRED PATH NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH] NATIONS, FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND BEYOND. THIS IS WHY FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR GRASSROOTS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SORELY NEEDED SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS SO VALUABLE. THIS IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH GENUINE, RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATIVE PARTNERS WHO SEEK TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE LAND. AS WE HONOR NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, I ASK THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT AS A COMMUNITY, WE EXPERIENCE A SHARED SENSE OF INVISIBILITY, AND THAT OUR RECOGNITION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD EXTEND FAR BEYOND A SINGLE MONTH. MY NAME IS TSU. I'M TONGVA KUMEYAAY AWA. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ANAHEIM, AND I MAY YOU ALL RECEIVE THESE WORDS IN A GOOD WAY. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LISTENING AND RESPECT. THE HO KAHA MAY ALL BE WELL WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SIT LOLLY. SO, UM, SO WE STARTED SACRED PATH INDIGENOUS WELLNESS CENTER 15 YEARS AGO, MYSELF AND OUR CO-FOUNDER, DR. DICKERSON, AND OUR FOCUS WAS TO, WAS FOCUSED FIRST, INITIALLY WAS ON RESEARCH. WE WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT WORKS WITH OUR NATIVE AMERICAN, OUR INDIGENOUS POPULATION IN TERMS OF TREATMENT AND INTERVENTIONS. AND, UM, SO THREE YEARS AGO WE DECIDED TO MOVE FROM RESEARCH AND INTO SERVICES AND PROVIDING THE MUCH NEEDED SERVICES TO OUR NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY. AND LIKE LOLLY SAID, LOS ANGELES COUNTY HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION OF URBAN NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE COUNTY. AND, UH, THEY'RE DISPERSED ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT HAVE LARGER POPULATIONS LIKE LONG BEACH. SO LONG BEACH DOES HAVE A LARGE POPULATION OF, UH, NATIVE AMERICANS REPRESENTING OVER 200 DIFFERENT TRIBES. UM, UN UNFORTUNATELY, OUR COMMUNITY IS FACED WITH A LOT OF, UH, SOCIAL, MENTAL HEALTH, UH, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. WE HAVE A LOT OF HEALTH DISPARITIES. UM, WE HAVE HIGH RATES OF HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY, HIGH RATES OF OUR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. SO OUR MISSION AT SACRED PATH IS TO REALLY LOOK AT SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF HEALING. AND, UM, RIGHT NOW WE ARE PROVIDING SERVICES, LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTY. SO WE HAVE OFFICES IN ANAHEIM HERE IN LONG BEACH, AND WE'LL BE HAVING, UH, OPENING OFFICES IN, UH, POMONA SOON. SO SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE PROVIDING AT SACRED PATH ARE, UM, WE HAVE A FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER. SO LIKE I, WHAT WE FOUND THROUGHOUT OUR RESEARCH THAT COMMUNITY AND CULTURE ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR HEALING OUR PEOPLE. AND SO WE BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER, OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND, AND HAVE THEM PRACTICE OUR CULTURE ON OUR TRADITIONAL WAYS. SO, YOU KNOW, JUST IT'S IMPORTANT TO PASS THIS DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN LONG, YOU KNOW, BIG CITIES LIKE, UM, LONG BEACH. WE, UM, ALSO WE PROVIDE, UH, THERAPY. UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF TRADITIONAL WORKSHOPS. WE, UM, ARE ACTUALLY JUST ABOUT, I WENT THERE TODAY FINALIZING A DAY, NATIVE AMERICAN DAYCARE CENTER, AND IT IS IN LONG BEACH TOO. SO IT'S ON REDONDO AVENUE. SO, UM, THAT'S GONNA BE OPENING SOON. SO WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND SERVICES HERE IN LONG BEACH FOR OUR NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, THE AWESOME RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY. MARY, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WELL IT'S HERE FOR DR. JOHNSON AND THE INCREDIBLE TEAM AT INDIGENOUS WELLNESS CENTER. THANKS SO MUCH, UH, FOR BEING HERE. ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR, UH, PRESENTATIONS. WE'LL NOW GO ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. WE'RE GONNA PULL AND WITHDRAW ITEM 17. AND WE'RE GONNA PULL ITEM SIX FOR, FOR, UH, BRIEF COMMENTS. SO LET'S TAKE UP THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE. OOPS, I SEE SEVEN PEOPLE SIGNED UP [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 20.)] TO SPEAK. YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD. KATHLEEN HILL, AINA. REDMOND, UH, GRISEL DE SUAREZ, MELISSA MORGAN, BRANDY DAVIDSON, MARYANNE D AND GREGORY JOHNSON [00:40:03] IS KATHLEEN HILL HERE. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE KATHLEEN HILL. OKAY. PLEASE COME FORWARD. KATHLEEN. HI. I JUST WANNA WITHDRAW MY PETITION CARD. I DON'T NEED TO SPEAK ON THAT. OKAY, GREAT, THANK YOU. NEXT IS ADRIANA. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME'S ARINA REDMOND. I'M CO-FOUNDER OF BLACK LIVES MATTER, GRASSROOTS LONG BEACH. I AM HERE BECAUSE ALMOST A YEAR AGO, BRANDON BOYD WAS MURDERED BY THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT. TOMORROW IS HIS ANGEL BURSARY. I'M HERE WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOYD FAMILY. NOT ALL ARE STANDING HERE WITH ME, BUT THEY ARE HERE AND WE ARE CALLING ON THIS CITY TO REMEMBER BRANDON BOYD, TO REMEMBER THAT HE WAS A BLACK MAN IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISES. AND THIS IS MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH MONTH AS WELL. AND THAT IS NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE, OUR RELATIVES OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY. IT IS SIMPLY AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF WHAT THIS IS. HE WAS A MAN IN CRISES. HE CALLED FOR HELP. AND WHAT DID HE GET? HE GOT A FLASH BANG AND FOUR BULLETS, TWO FROM THE BACK, TWO FROM THE FRONT. THAT WAS NOT WHAT WAS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN THAT NIGHT. SO WE ARE CALLING ON THIS CITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION. WE WANT ACCOUNTABILITY. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOU DOING, HOW ARE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS BEING MOVED FORWARD? WE'RE CALLING ON THIS CITY TO STRENGTHEN YOUR SUPPORT PROGRAMS WHEN SOMEONE CALLS FOR, WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISES. THE PERSON WAS OUT THERE THAT NIGHT BUT NOT ALLOWED TO ASSIST BRANDON, NOT ALLOWED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. AND THAT CAN'T HAPPEN. THAT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN. THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN THIS CITY THAT CALLS AND THINKS OF ITSELF AS PROGRESSIVE IN THE CITY. THAT IS AS DIVERSE AS LONG BEACH IN THE CITY THAT I JUST LEARNED HAS THE LARGEST URBAN NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING HERE. SO WE'RE CALLING FOR YOU TO DO BETTER IN YOUR ROLES AS COUNCIL MEMBERS IN YOUR ROLES. THOSE OF YOU WHO SERVE ON COMMISSIONS OF IMPORTANCE, UM, RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH, RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CALLING FOR YOU TO DO. AND WE'RE MOSTLY, WE'RE ALSO WANTING YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS FAMILY SUFFERED A TREMENDOUS LOSS A YEAR AGO, A TRAGIC LOSS. AND ON TOP OF THAT, THEY WERE ARRESTED, THREE OF THEM WERE ARRESTED AND HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT ORDEAL WE WENT WITH TO COURT WITH THEM UP THROUGH JULY. THAT'S A SECOND SET OF TRAGEDY AND SCARRING AND FEAR AND TORTURE AND ALL THE REST OF THAT. AND THEY HAVE SINCE SUFFERED ADDITIONAL LOSSES, UNFORTUNATELY. BUT IF I CAN ASK EVERYBODY IN HERE TO SAY HIS NAME, RANDY BOY, SAY HIS NAME. RANDY BOY, SAY HIS NAME. RANDY BOY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER IS GRISEL DE JUEZ. GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF. I'M GU LAS JUAREZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARTS COUNCIL FOR LONG BEACH. HERE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM FIVE ON THE CONSENT, WHICH AUTHORIZES OUR ANNUAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY TO SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE COMING YEAR. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS OUR CITY MAKES. NOT JUST IN THE ARTS, BUT IN COMMUNITY WELLBEING. EVERY YEAR WE TAKE SERIOUSLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THESE FUNDS REACH AS MANY NEIGHBORHOODS, ARTISTS, AND YOUNG PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE CITY. LOOKING AHEAD THIS YEAR, UM, IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING AND AMBITIOUS, UM, FOR THE ARTS COUNCIL. FIRST, WE ARE PROUD TO BE THE CITY'S PARTNER IN THE VACANCY AND VIBRANCY PROGRAM THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. UM, WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE HELP ACTIVATE EMPTY STOREFRONTS WITH CREATIVITY, BRING NEW LIFE TO COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS, AND UPLIFT LOCAL ARTISTS WHILE STRENGTHENING LOCAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS. SECOND, WE ARE WORKING TO EXPAND OUR ARTS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, UH, BUILDING ON OUR RECENT SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS WITH WEBSTER ELEMENTARY IN THE WEST SIDE, RENAISSANCE HIGH SCHOOL IN DOWNTOWN AND RERA ON THE EAST SIDE. THESE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING, UM, THE PRINCIPLES AND FOUNDATIONS OF VISUAL ART, BUT ALSO HAVE FIELD TRIPS LIKE WE JUST DID THIS PAST WEEK, UH, FOR THE DOWNTOWN FIELD TRIP. HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE [00:45:01] FOR OUR CULTURAL ASSETS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THIRD, YOU WILL SEE NEW COMMUNITY MURALS AND PUBLIC ART PROJECTS ACROSS CITIES. UM, HIRING LOCAL ARTISTS AND REFLECTING NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY, CREATING SPACES THAT ARE WELCOMING, VIBRANT, AND DEEPLY LONG BEACH. UM, WE ARE PREPARING FOR THREE SUMMERS OF COMMUNITY CREATIVE ACTIVATIONS LEADING TO 2028. WE KNOW THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING LONG BEACH AND, UM, OUR NEW GRANT FUNDS WILL HELP ENSURE NEIGHBORHOODS, ARTISTS, AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ARE FRONT AND CENTER DURING THIS HISTORIC MOMENT. THIS FUNDING DOES NOT STAY WITH US. IT GOES DIRECTLY BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. IT SUPPORTS SMALL ORGANIZATIONS, IT SUPPORTS YOUNG PEOPLE. IT SUPPORTS COLLABORATION AND STRENGTHENS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FABRICS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED TRUST FOR RECOGNIZING THE ROLE THAT ARTS HAS IN BUILDING A CITY WHERE EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY BELONG. WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU IN THE YEAR AHEAD. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT IS MELISSA MORGAN, THEN BRANDY DAVIDSON. UH, MAYOR, DO YOU MIND IF I SPEAK? YOU CAN GO FIRST. HI MELISSA. GONNA BE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BRANDI DAVISON. I'M A SIX DAY A SIX DISTRICT MEMBER. CITY LEADERSHIP HAS REPEATEDLY DISCUSSED INCREASING POLICE STAFFING IN RECENT BUDGET CYCLES, YET HAS NOT PRESENTED ANY PUBLIC PLAN ADDRESSING THE FAILURES THAT LED TO BRANDON BOYD'S DEATH. YOU CANNOT ADD MORE OFFICERS TO SYSTEM THAT ALREADY FAILED A BLACK MAN IN CRISIS WITHOUT FIRST ADOPTING THE REFORMS. YOUR OWN POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SAYS ARE NECESSARY. WITHOUT MEANINGFUL REFORM, YOU WILL ONLY INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ANOTHER PREVENTABLE DEATH. EVERY CREDIBLE STUDY SHOWS THAT UN AD COLLISION LED CRISIS RESPONSE REDUCES HARM AND POLICE LED RESPONSE DOES NOT. AND THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR BLACK COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY BLACK MEN, TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE IN OUR CITY. THIS GOING ON UNADDRESSED. AS TO THE CONTINUING NARRATIVE THAT OUR LEADERSHIP DOES NOT CARE ABOUT BLACK COMMUNITY IN OUR CITY. WE STAND WITH THE BOY FAMILY AND WE DEMAND THAT CITY COUNCIL REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES RECOMMENDATIONS NUMBER ONE THROUGH SIX, IMPLEMENT A CLEAR IMPLEMENTATION OF A TIMELINE OF RECOMMENDATIONS. HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THE SWAT AND LBPD ACTIONS THAT VIOLATED CRISIS CARE PRINCIPLES. A PUBLIC PLAN FOR CRISIS RESPONSE REFORMS, A COMMITMENT TO A CAREFIRST SYSTEM WHERE MENTAL HEALTH CRISES ARE MET WITH CLINICIANS AND NOT WEAPONS. WE WANT OUR CITY TO PREVENT DEATHS NOT DOUBLE DOWN ON FORCE. THANK YOU. SAME NAME. THANK YOU BRANDON. BOY. SAME NAME. BRANDON BOY FACE NAME BRANDON BOY. THANK YOU MELISSA. HELLO, I'M MELISSA MORGAN. UM, I'M A PERSON WHO SUFFERS FROM MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY ACTUALLY EXIST IN AT LEAST THREE GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY. MY KIDS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE COVID PANDEMIC. ONE'S AWAY AT COLLEGE AND IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD. UM, MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS. UM, SO BRANDON, THIS IS, IT'S SO INCREDIBLE TO THINK ABOUT THIS. AND WHEN I COME IN HERE, I GETS SHAKY. UM, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE ISSUES WE COME TO TALK ABOUT AS COMMUNITY ARE REALLY TOUGH AND SHOULDN'T BE THIS WAY. BRANDON TEXTED 9 1 1. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, FOR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, HE WANTED HELP. HE WAS SHOT WITHIN TWO AND A HALF HOURS BY A LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT AND KILLED ON THE STEPS OF HIS CHILDHOOD CHURCH. WITH HIS HANDS IN FRONT OF HIM, THE POLICE THREW A FLASH BANG GRENADE. I'VE READ A LOT OF THE POLICE REPORTS AND I HAVE TO SHARE WITH OUR LATINO BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THE POLICE THOUGHT HE WAS LATINO. LIGHT SKIN. AS YOU CAN SEE AS FAMILY MEMBERS HERE, NOT ONLY DO BLACK LIVES MATTER, LATINO LIVES MATTER PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH, OUR LIVES MATTER. UH, WE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE WITH THE FAMILY WITHIN 30 MINUTES FROM BRANDON TEXTING FOR HELP INSTEAD OF RECEIVING CARE, HE, HE RECEIVED FORCE. WHEN SOMEONE CALLS FOR HELP DURING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WE NEED YOU ALL TO ENACT WHAT? DO YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH TEAM? UH, THE PERSON WHO WAS THERE WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM WAS TOLD TO STAY INSIDE THE CAR. UM, AND THEN I READ HER REPORT AND SHE SAID THAT THE FAMILY WAS BEING A PAIN OR ANNOYING. SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. I'M NOT SURE WHERE HER COMPASSION WAS. THE TWO SISTERS WHO RAN IN AS SOON AS BRANDON WAS KILLED, UM, WERE GRABBED AS WELL AS THE NIECE. AND POLICE BROKE ONE OF THE SISTER'S ARMS. SHE JUST RECENTLY GOT SURGERY. UM, AND YOU CAN SEE HER ARM IS IN A CAST. THIS FAMILY'S BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH CRISIS. WE ARE WAITING EAGERLY, I CAN'T THINK OF A WORD WORSE THAN THAT, BUT WITH A LOT OF ANXIETY, IT'S IMPACTING ALL OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH. I'D SAY ANYONE WHO'S BEEN IMPACTED BY POLICE [00:50:01] VIOLENCE, WE'RE WAITING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE A TIMELINE ON WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO TO DELIVER AROUND THE AGREEMENTS THAT YOU AGREED WITH AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION. POLICE SHOULD, UM, SHOULD BE ALLOWING CLINICIANS TO FULLY ACCESS INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS. WE HAVE, UM, A FAMILY HERE SITTING A FEW ROWS BEHIND ME, A BLACK MAN WHO WAS THERE, HE'S A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER. HE CAME OUTSIDE WHEN HE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THESE TWO LADIES DISTRICT AREA. AND HE WANTED TO HELP. AND THE POLICE SAID, NO, GET BACK. YOU'RE OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE. COMMUNITY CARE IS IMPORTANT TO US. WE REALLY NEED YOU ALL TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. I'M GONNA ASK EVERYONE WHO HAS A WHITE ROSE TO COME AND LEAVE IT HERE AS A SYMBOL FOR THE LOVE THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR LOVED ONES AND OUR REQUEST FOR YOU ALL TO SEE BLACK PEOPLE AS INDIVIDUALS WITH DIGNITY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MARY ANN. I'VE BEEN, UM, GRACIOUSLY DONATED TIME IN ORDER TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, WHICH FELT NECESSARY AS I SAW MY SISTER, UM, BACK THERE EXPERIENCING WHAT SHE DID. SO, HI EVERYBODY. TIFFANY BOYD, BABY SISTER OF BRANDON BOYD. I SPOKE BEFORE YOU ALL, UH, ONCE BEFORE, BUT I WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON THEN. THAT WAS BEFORE I SAT HERE FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING AND HEARD HOW DISRESPECTFULLY YOU ALL VOTED AFTER MY FAMILY SAT HERE AND POURED OUR HEARTS OUT TO GIVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MORE MONEY THAT SAME NIGHT. AND I FELT LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PUSHED AS AN AGENDA ITEM, KNOWING THAT OUR FAMILY WAS HERE. AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS HIGHLY DISRESPECTFUL. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY SISTERS WERE SO UPSET AND WHY THEY WERE MAD AT THE CITY AND THEY WERE SO MAD. THE PERSON THAT I WAS WHEN I SPOKE TO YOU BEFORE, I WASN'T MAD. I WAS HURT, BUT NOW I'M MAD. I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH MY BROTHER, MY BIG BROTHER ON MY CHEST, AND MY BABY BROTHER WHO WE JUST BURIED THIS WEEKEND ON MY BACK. MY MOTHER WHO'S IN THE HOSPITAL, ON MY MIND AND ON MY HEART. MY BROKEN FAMILY THAT SHATTERED. 'CAUSE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AIN'T HAD TIME ACROSS MY CHEST AND ACROSS MY HEART. I'M NOT THE SAME PERSON THAT I WAS THAT CAME AND EXPECTED YOU ALL TO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MY FAMILY. I'M NOT THE SAME PERSON THAT I WAS. THAT FELT LIKE THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT THIS SYSTEM COULD DO TO GIVE MY FAMILY JUSTICE OR TO MAKE US EVER FEEL WHOLE AGAIN OR RESTORE ANY PART OF MY FAMILY. I'VE BURIED A BIG BROTHER. I'VE BURIED A LITTLE BROTHER, AND I'M SCARED AS HELL OF BURYING MY MOTHER BECAUSE THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GIVE MY BROTHER THE DECENCY AND THE RESPECT THAT HE DESERVES BECAUSE HE CALLED Y'ALL. HE DIDN'T CALL US. I WANTED TO COME UP HERE AND RESPECTFULLY AND THE PERSON I WAS WOULD'VE TOOK MY BEANIE OFF AND EVERYTHING AND SAT UP HERE AND SPOKE TO YOU ALL AS BEST AS I COULD. YOU WOULD'VE HEARD FROM TIFFANY LALA, THE BIG SISTER. THE BABY SISTER IS HERE TO TELL YOU, F**K THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, RESPECTFULLY, OR AS DISRESPECTFULLY AS IT NEEDS TO BE SAID THIS WHOLE DAMN CITY, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE HORSES YOU RODE IN ON THE SOAP BOXES THAT YOU STAND ON THAT WE MISTAKE AS A MORAL COMPASS. COME ON, I'LL BE DAMNED. THIS MY MINUTE AND A HALF THAT THE LADY GAVE ME. AND I'M MAD. DO YOU KNOW WHEN MY BABY BROTHER DIED AND WE CALLED 9 1 1 TO HAVE THEM COME. SHANE AARON, JACOB COOK DIED ON MY MOTHER'S FLOOR AND ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT SHOT MY BROTHER CAME TO MY MAMA'S HOUSE AND SAT THERE AND WAITED WITH US UNTIL THE DAMN MORTUARY GOT THERE. HE WAS IN MY MAMA'S LIVING ROOM AND I TOLD HIM HOW HURT MY FAMILY WAS AND HOW THE POLICE BEING IN OUR HOUSE MIGHT TRIGGER MY MOM OR MY SISTERS. AND I SAID, DON'T WORRY, SIR. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHOT MY BROTHER. HE SAID, ACTUALLY, I WAS, I WAS ONE OF THE SWAT OFFICERS OUT THERE THAT DAY. AND Y'ALL DISRESPECT THE LAST LET 'EM IN MY MAMA HOUSE. F**K THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. LET YOUR CLINICIAN KNOW THAT I WASN'T A PAIN, I WAS IN PAIN AND I'M EVEN IN MORE PAIN THAN I WAS THAT DAY, WHICH SHE WOULDN'T TALK TO US ON NOVEMBER 19TH. I WASN'T IN PAIN, I WAS IN PAIN. AND IT'S ON VIDEO. THANK YOU ALL FOR NOTHING. THANK YOU. SORRY, WE SITTING THERE. THANK YOU. COME HERE, COME HERE. WE [00:55:01] GONNA CAP YOU. BUT SPEAK YOUR PEACE PLEASE AND THANK YOU. UM, MY MOM AND DADDY RAN, SAY MY BOUGHT A CASE AND RAN UP HIS CASE. MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HE SAFE OUT THERE RIGHT NIGHT. UM, MIGHT ALL PEACE THIS HE SO BETTER. IT IS. THEY DO NEED TO DO BETTER. BETTER. I AGREE. HE LOVES THIS CITY NO MATTER WHERE WE GO ALL OVER. THIS YOUNG MAN RIGHT HERE TELLS EVERYBODY ABOUT LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA FROM NEW YORK TO HAWAII, EVERYWHERE HE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TRAVELING TO HE LOVES TRANSLATE. MY BABY BROTHER JUST SAID, F**K Y'ALL TOO. WELL, THANK YOU. OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE, TO THE, UH, GRIEVING FAMILY. UH, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GREGORY JOHNSON. OUR LAST SPEAKER. GREETINGS, YOUR HONOR AND, UH, ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL. I'M, UH, JUST GONNA FOLLOW MY ASSIGNMENT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FUNDING THE ARTS COUNCIL FOR LONG BEACH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, GRISELDA, I'M SORRY. I WILL JUST LEAVE AFTER HEARING ALL OF THIS TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO HAVE LOVE AND COMPASSION AS WE MOVE ABOUT AND MAKE THIS CITY AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS. LOVE AND COMPASSION IS WHAT WE NEED IS CLEAR. THAT'S WHAT WAS DEMONSTRATED TODAY. NO MATTER WHERE YOU STAND OR HAVE AN OPINION ON THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN GOVERNANCE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IT HAS TO BE DRIVEN BY LOVE AND COMPASSION. AND WHAT WE HAVE HEARD AND FELT TODAY SHOWS YOU THAT THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED. GOD BLESS Y'ALL. KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING OR JUST KNOW THAT LOVE IS AT THE CENTER OF IT. MAN, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY TODAY. AMEN. PEACE AND BLESSINGS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. JOHNSON. ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MOTION IS CARRIED. ITEM SIX, REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER. RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO PUBLIC COUNSEL FOR IMPLEMENTING THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND PROGRAM AND PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES IN A TOTAL ANNUAL AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED [6. 25-56943 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP CM-25-627 and award a contract to Public Counsel, of Los Angeles, CA, for implementing the Long Beach Justice Fund Program and providing legal services, in a total annual amount not to exceed $919,000, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Manager         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] A 919,000 AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR A STAFF REPORT AND I, AND I THINK WE WANNA EMPHASIZE WHAT THE STEPS THAT WE TOOK TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THIS RFP SO THAT SOME OF THE NUM SOME, SOME OF THIS AWARD, RATHER SO THAT SOME OF THE DOLLARS WE CAPTURED, UH, DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS COULD BE RELEASED FASTER. AND SO LET'S HAVE A STAFF REPORT. YES, SIR. WE'LL TURN TO TONY VI VIRAMONTES, WHO WILL GIVE THE STAFF REPORT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. THANK YOU TOM. UH, GOOD EVENING, HONOR ROME MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE ADAM BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO PUBLIC COUNCIL FOR THE PROVISIONS OF LEGAL SERVICES AS PART OF THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND EXISTS TO ENSURE THAT LOW INCOME IMMIGRANTS, UH, IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS WHO LIVE, WORK, OR HAVE DEEP CONNECTIONS TO OUR CITY, CAN ACCESS THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR CASE AND REMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS FUND IS ONE OF THE WAYS THE LONG BEACH SHOWS UP FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS NAVIGATING AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX AND HIGH STAKES LEGAL SYSTEM. OUR PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO DO MORE THAN JUST PROVIDE AN AN ATTORNEY. IT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN THE ECOSYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY, UH, OR SPECIFICALLY, OUR GOALS ARE TO EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR LOW INCOME IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, IMPROVE CONNECTIONS TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, PROGRAMS, AND BASIC NEEDS, UH, BASIC NEEDS RESOURCES, UH, FROM HOUSING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY AND, UH, STABILITY, UH, BUILD STRONGER PATHWAYS AND OTHER IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, ENSURING PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTED EVEN WHEN THEIR, UH, NEEDS FALL OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. AND LASTLY, INCREASE LEGAL LITERACY FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, EMPOWERING RESIDENTS WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE RIGHTS AND MAKE, UH, INFORMED DECISIONS. TOGETHER THESE GOALS REFLECT OUR COM, UH, OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY, STABILITY, AND DIGNITY FOR EVERY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MEMBER IN LONG BEACH FISCAL YEAR. UH, FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND IS SUPPORTED BY, UH, 1.99 MILLION IN TOTAL FUNDING. THIS AMOUNT ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN CORE LEGAL SERVICES SINCE, UH, SUSTAINED COMMUNITY CONNECTION PROGRAMMING AND ENSURE ADEQUATE STAFFING SUPPORT TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM RESPONSIBLY. [01:00:01] THE MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET, UH, 1.8, UH, EIGHT 3 MILLION IS ALLOCATED TO LEGAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION SUPPORTS. THIS INCLUDES THREE COMPONENTS. UH, WHAT, UH, ONE THREE NINE OH A HUNDRED THIRTY NINE EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT, UM, INSTRUCTIONAL FUNDING, UH, FOR BASELINE LEGAL SERVICES, AN ESTIMATED OF 100 OF NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY EIGHT IN FISCAL YEAR 25 ONETIME FANS, UH, FUNDS THAT WILL CARRY OVER TO THE TO BE REAPPROPRIATED IN FISCAL YEAR 26. THIS REFLECTS UNSPENT FUNDS THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR CLIENT SERVICES AND $730,000 IN ONE TIME. UH, FISCAL YEAR 26 FUNDING, WHICH STRENGTHENS THE CAPACITY TO MEET INCREASED NEED, ESPECIALLY ESMO RESIDENTS SEEK DEPORTATION DEFENSE AND OTHER COMPLEX FORMS OF RELIEF. WE ALSO HAVE STRUCTURAL STAFFING SUPPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF 160,000 FOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION COORDINATION WITH, UH, DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AND ONGOING OVERSIGHT ALTOGETHER. UH, THESE INVESTMENTS POSITION THE JUSTICE FUND TO CONTINUE OFFERING HIGH QUALITY NO COST. LEGAL SER COST LEGAL SERVICES WHILE STRENGTHENING THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS THAT HELP IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS NAVIGATE A VERY CHALLENGING LEGAL LANDSCAPE. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE OFFICE LAUNCHED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO IDENTIFY A LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER WHO COULD PARTNER WITH US IN DELIVERING THE FULL RANGE OF SERVICES. UH, UH, THE FULL RANGE OF SERVICES SUPPORTED BY THE JUSTICE FUND, INCLUDING REMOVAL DEFENSE, AFFIRMATIVE APPLICATIONS LIKE UNT VISAS AND SUPPORT WITH APPEALS. THE RFP OPENED ON JULY 1ST AND CLOSED ON AUGUST 12TH. WE RECEIVED SEVEN PROPOSALS AND THE SELECTION COMMITTEE MET ON SEPTEMBER 24TH TO REVIEW AND SCORE THEM. FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS WERE SENT ON SEPTEMBER 26TH. AND THE SELECTION, UH, AND THE SELECTED PROPOSALS WERE NOTIFIED ON OCTOBER 14TH, WHICH INDICATED, UH, WHICH INITIATED A REQUIRED PROTEST PERIOD THROUGH OCTOBER 21ST. DURING THIS TIME, AND IN LIGHT OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THE JUSTICE FUND DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET ADOPTION, OUR OFFICE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE SELECTED PROPOSALS TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT AND EXPAND THEIR SERVICE CAPACITY, PARTICULARLY FOR REMOVAL DEFENSE, WHERE THE NEED CONTINUES TO GROW. WITH COUNCIL'S APPROVAL TODAY, WE, WE WILL AWARD THE LEGAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO PUBLIC COUNCIL AND BEGIN THE NEXT STEPS OF, OF, UH, OF ONBOARDING PUBLIC COUNCIL'S. PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORK WILL ALLOW US TO SERVE AT LEAST 140 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH THE JUSTICE FUND. THIS INCLUDES INDIVIDUALIZED LEGAL SCREENINGS OR CONSULTATION CLINICS FOR ABOUT 60 PEOPLE, AND PER SE WORKSHOPS FOR ANOTHER 50 PARTICIPANTS, GIVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE TOOLS TO NAVIGATE PARTS OF THEIR CASE ON THEIR OWN WHEN FULL REPRESENTATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. ON THE REPRESENTATION SIDE, PUBLIC COUNSEL EXPECTS TO TAKE ON 20 TO 24 FULL REMOVAL DEFENSE CASES, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT, UM, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY AND LENGTH OF THOSE MATTERS. THEY ALSO PLAN TO SUPPORT 10 TO 15 AFFIRMATIVE APPLICATIONS AND FIVE APPELLATE CASES, ENSURING CONTINUITY FOR RESIDENTS WHO NEED, UH, WHO NEED THE CHALLENGE AND UNFAVORABLE DECISION. IN ADDITION TO THESE CASELOADS COMMITMENTS, PUBLIC COUNSEL WILL MANAGE A RAPID RESPONSE PHONE LINE OFFERING LEGAL, UH, OFFERING REAL TIME SUPPORT, WHAT URGENT SITUATIONS ARISE, AND THEY WILL PROVIDE IN-PERSON SERVICES FOR DETAINED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ENSURING RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT THE MOST. UH, THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, YOUR SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP, ALANA AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE FOUR MEMBERS OF PUB MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, GINA AMATO, UH, LAO, UM, JOSH DELEON, FERNANDO ACEVEDO, AND MARIA, PLEASE COME FORWARD. AND GINA, IF I GOT YOUR LAST NAME WRONG, FORGIVE ME, . IT'S OKAY. GINA AMATO, LOW. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GINA AMATO LOWE. I'M THE DIRECTING ATTORNEY OF PUBLIC COUNSEL'S IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS PROJECT, WHERE I PRACTICED IMMIGRATION LAW FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS. I'M ALSO A PROUD LONG BEACH RESIDENT WHERE I RAISED MY FAMILY AND AM DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. PUBLIC COUNCIL IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM DEDICATED TO ADVANCING CIVIL RIGHTS, RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AS WELL AS TO AMPLIFYING THE POWER OF OUR CLIENTS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL ADVOCACY. THE IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS PROJECT PROVIDES DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES TO UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN, IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF SERIOUS CRIME AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, IMMIGRANTS AND DETENTION AND ASYLUM SEEKERS. WE ALSO ENGAGE IN STRATEGIC LITIGATION, POLICY ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS. SINCE EARLY JUNE, ICE HAS RANSACKED COMMUNITIES IN LA COUNTY, ENGAGED [01:05:01] IN RACIAL PROFILING AND ROVING PATROLS, ROUNDED UP IMMIGRANTS INDISCRIMINATELY AND HELD THEM IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS WHILE DENYING THEM ACCESS TO LEGAL COUNSEL. WE ARE CURRENTLY CO-COUNSEL ON VASQUEZ PERDOMO VERSUS NOAM, WHICH SEEKS TO HALT THESE UNLAWFUL PRACTICES. DESPITE OUR EFFORTS, ICE HAS ESTABLISHED A STRONG PRESENCE IN LONG BEACH RAIDING BUSINESSES, HOME DEPOTS, AND CAR WASHES, INCLUDING MY NEIGHBORHOOD CAR WASH, WHERE ICE DETAIN SEVEN WORKERS AND DEPORTED FOUR WITHIN DAYS. THE AGGRESSIVE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT WE ARE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS HAVING DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES ON IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, INCLUDING FAMILY SEPARATION, PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, AND POTENTIAL PERSECUTION, TORTURE AND DEATH FOR THOSE DEPORTED BACK TO THEIR ABUSERS. DESPITE THE HIGH STAKES AND COMPLEX LEGAL PROCESS, PEOPLE IN IMMIGRATION COURT AND DETENTION DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO A LAWYER IF THEY CANNOT AFFORD ONE. UNLIKE PEOPLE IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, WE KNOW THAT IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE LAWYERS ARE EXPONENTIALLY MORE LIKELY TO WIN THEIR CASES IN IMMIGRATION COURT AND SECURE THEIR RELEASE FROM IMMIGRANT DETENTION. BUT DESPITE THE SHARP INCREASE IN COMMUNITY NEED, THERE IS A LACK OF IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES AVAILABLE HERE IN LONG BEACH. PUBLIC COUNCIL'S EXCITED TO LAUNCH A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH ESPERANCES IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS PROJECT TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. WE ARE MOBILIZING A SMALL ARMY OF ADVOCATES TO PROVIDE A MIX OF ONSITE CON CONSULTATIONS, PRO SE WORKSHOPS, AND FULL SCOPE REPRESENTATION AND IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS, AFFIRMATIVE APPLICATIONS, AND APPELLATE RELIEF PUBLIC COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEED AND PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS TO FREE HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE CITY CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS FUND IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED REPRESENTATION OF INDIVIDUALS IN NEED AND TO EXPAND THE AVAIL, THE AVAILABILITY OF IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES IN LONG BEACH. WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT AND PARTNER WITH US IN LAUNCHING THIS LEGAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN PROVIDING THE LEGAL SUPPORT THAT LONG BEACH FAMILIES URGENTLY NEED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS A LOT. AND, UH, LET'S, LET'S THANK PUBLIC COUNCIL IN GENERAL. UM, THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S, IT'S INCREDIBLE. YOU GUYS ARE REALLY STEPPING UP IN THIS MOMENT AND WE JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. ABSOLUTELY. IT'S OUR HONOR. YOU GOT IT. ALRIGHT, BARBARA IS NEXT. NO, SORRY, JOSH, NOT BARBARA. THANK YOU. AND GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS JOSH DE LEON. I AM A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, UH, WITH LONG BEACH FOR JUST ECONOMY, UH, SON OF FILIPINO IMMIGRANTS. AND, UH, JOINING HERE WITH, WITH PUBLIC COUNCIL, WITH ORLE AND WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, TO, UH, ECHO THAT CALL TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CONTRACT WITH PUBLIC COUNCIL. AND, AND TRULY TO HIGHLIGHT THE VALUE OF THE JUSTICE FUND AS, UH, A BELLWETHER FOR WHAT A CITY CAN DO, UH, TO PROTECT ITS COMMUNITY. IN THIS MOMENT OF POLITICAL CRISIS, I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK, UH, ON, ON PANELS AND AT EVENTS AROUND THE STATE IN THE COUNTRY. AND WHEN I BRING UP BELONG BEACH'S JUSTICE FUND, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE ALWAYS DIRECT MESSAGES ME ON. ZOOM REACHES OUT AFTERWARDS, UH, AND IS INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT COMMON FOR CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES TO CREATE THIS KIND OF INSTITUTIONALIZED INVESTMENT TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE, RIGHT? AND, AND, UH, I KNOW THAT YOU COVER SO MUCH OF THESE MEETINGS EVERY SINGLE DAY, 20, 30, 40, 50 ITEMS. UM, BUT SO OFTEN WHEN I'M IN COMMUNITY, UH, ONE OF THE TOP TWO OR THREE THINGS PEOPLE SAY IS, WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE THE JUSTICE FUND. UH, AND SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS WORK, AND AS I I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL VOTING, UH, YES ON THIS TODAY, UH, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT, THAT THAT IMPORTANCE REALLY CARES FOR THIS VALUE OF UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION, RIGHT? THAT WHETHER YOU ARE, UH, NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE OR THE STATUS THAT YOU ARE, THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION. UM, AND I THINK WHAT'S ALSO REALLY POWERFUL, THE JUSTICE FUND IS IT'S ALSO HELPING MOVE FOR THE CITY OF LEGAL EMPOWERMENT, RIGHT? BECAUSE SO OFTEN FOLKS THINK THAT THE ONLY WAY TO INTERACT WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS THROUGH A LAWYER. AND WHAT THE JUSTICE FUND HAS REALLY BEEN ABLE TO DO IS ALSO EMPOWER THE BASELINE LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND WHAT LEGAL EMPOWERMENT IS AND HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS PROCESS. AND SO THERE IS A RIPPLE EFFECT, UM, BEYOND JUST THE POINT OF SERVICE, UH, TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING AND COMMUNITY, A HIGHER LEVEL OF EMPOWERMENT IN COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE SEEING THAT DAY IN, DAY OUT WHEN WE CANVAS, UH, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS DISTRICT NINE AND DISTRICT SEVEN, DISTRICT FIVE, AND ACROSS THE CITY, UM, THERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. LOOKING AHEAD, I THINK THAT, UH, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE CONTINUITY OF THE FULL SPECTRUM OF SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE LIFE, UH, OF THIS JUSTICE FUND AND OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE IT. UM, WHEN THE MAY CONTRACT ENDED, UH, THERE WAS A LAPSE IN SERVICES FOR BOTH APPELLATE AND AFFIRMATIVE, UH, LEGAL SUPPORT, UM, THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. UH, ONCE THIS HAS PASSED, UM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON ACTUALLY PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES. BUT ANY GAP, UH, IN THAT FULL SPECTRUM OF LEGAL SUPPORT HAS AN IMPACT IN THIS MOMENT WHERE EVERY SINGLE DAY WE ARE SEEING ICE RAIDS FROM CHARLOTTE, UH, TO CHICAGO, NEW YORK, AND OF COURSE HERE IN LOS ANGELES, LOS ANGELES COUNTY. AND SO, IN THIS MOMENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WE ARE HEARING THIS, UH, FERNANDO IRE SPEAKING AT A CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO, AND PEOPLE REALLY WANNA HEAR ABOUT [01:10:01] THE JUSTICE FUND, RIGHT? SO THANK YOU FOR THAT LEADERSHIP AND LET'S CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS BETTER. UH, THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF THIS POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION ARE CONTINUING, UH, AND WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE, ALL OF US, UH, AT THIS TIME. AND SO, THANK YOU ALL. UH, VOTE YES, ABSOLUTELY. THANKS, FERNANDO. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR. UH, MY NAME IS VELO COMMUNITY LAWYER WITH ORLE, AND I'M HERE TO SHARE MY SUPPORT FOR YOU TO VOTE TO APPROVE, UH, THE VOTE FOR PUBLIC COUNSEL TO BE THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER. THIS IS AMAZING ORGANIZATION WHO I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH AS A LAW STUDENT. UM, AND SO SEEING THEM BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY BEFORE ALL OF YOU AND TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS VOTE MEANS A LOT TO ME. THEY HAVE MY FULL BACKING AS AN OPTIMAL LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE LONG BEACH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. AND SO I ESPECIALLY URGE ALL OF YOU TO VOTE YES FOR THEM TODAY. IN ADDITION, UH, I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE SPACE TODAY TO URGE THE CITY TO CONTINUE EVALUATING HOW TO EXPEDITE THE RFP PROCESS, UM, FOR FUTURE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND CONTRACTS TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO GAPS IN SERVICES. UM, FOR EXAMPLE, AS MY COLLEAGUE JOSH JUST MENTIONED, UH, SINCE MAY OF THIS YEAR, AFFIRMATIVE AND APPELLATE SERVICES, UM, HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE AND CONTINUE TO BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL WE HAVE A NEW LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER THAT CAN STEP IN, UH, TO MEET THE NEED THAT OUR, UH, THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS. UM, AND THEN, UH, I WAS NOTING DURING THE PRESENTATION THAT, UH, THE RFP OPENED JULY 1ST, RIGHT? AND IT'S TAKEN THAT LONG FOR US TO GET TO A VOTE. AND EVEN AFTER TODAY, IF YOU ALL VOTE YES, THEIR SERVICES WON'T BE ABLE TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THAT REALLY ENCAPSULATES THE NEED TO PLAN AHEAD AND THINK THROUGH WHEN IS A, WHEN IS THE BEST START DATE TO AVOID GAPS IN SERVICES? ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS? AND SO, I URGE ALL OF YOU TO REALLY THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT WHAT ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THIS PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FOLKS, UM, RECOGNIZING THE NEED AND SERVICES AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY DON'T FACE THOSE GAPS. I THINK ESPECIALLY IN THIS MOMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING THE RATES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH THAT YOU'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, TODAY IN PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, UM, AND IN OTHER SPACES YOU'RE IN, I'M SURE, UM, OUR COMMUNITY REALLY NEEDS THE HELP. AND SO SEEING HOW DIRE THAT NEED IS, I THINK IT REALLY SHOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO MAKE THOSE EVALUATIONS AND MAKE THOSE CHANGES TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE. AND SO I URGE YOU ALL TO DO THAT. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS A LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND THAT THEY CAN DEPEND ON. SO I URGE THE CITY TO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO START THESE PROCESSES EARLIER AND TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MARIA. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARIA AUTONOMOUS TENANT ORGANIZER WITH THE LONG BEACH TENANTS UNION DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT AND SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. IT'S REALLY HARD TO STAND UP HERE AND FEEL WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS FEELING AND REALIZING THAT YOU ALL CAN NEVER ENCAPSULATE THAT IN A TIME WHERE MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE LIVING IN DEEP FEAR OF ICE AND EVICTIONS. IT'S CLEAR THAT THE SOLUTIONS ONLY AND CAN ONLY COME FROM COMMUNITY. THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND WAS BIRTHED IN COMMUNITY. TONIGHT'S VOTE IS ALL IMMIGRANT LABOR, COURAGE AND INGENUITY. IN ADDITION, A CONGRATS TO PUBLIC COUNCIL. YOUR APPLICATION WAS OUTSTANDING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING CHANGE ALONGSIDE WITH YOU AS THE ONLY SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBER. I, I MUST UPLIFT WHAT IT TOOK TO GET US HERE TONIGHT AND REMIND US THAT OUR ASK WAS NOT WHAT WAS ON THAT SCREEN. OUR ASK WAS 2.2 MILLION FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. TODAY IS THE 166 DAY OF ICE RATING AND KIDNAPPING. OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE 166 DAY OF ICE BEING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, NOT BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND WORK. SO THAT MEANS SOMEONE'S NOT GETTING THEIR RENT PAID. IT TOOK US SO MUCH TO GET HERE, AND WE'RE STILL FAR BEHIND, SO FAR BEHIND IN MY HONEST INPUT. THE ONLY THING THAT HOLDS THIS PROGRAM BEHIND FROM BEING THE FULLEST, THE BEST IS PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITIES THAT CAN IMPACT THE OVER 30,000 IMMIGRANT FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY. AND INCLUSIVELY, THE 60% RENTER POPULATION WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY IS LITERALLY YOU ALL AND THE BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM THAT EXISTS WITHIN THE [01:15:01] CITY OF LONG BEACH. WE HAD TO CUT DOWN MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY FROM OUR SELECTION COMMITTEE BECAUSE THEY SPOKE, UH, OTHER LANGUAGE OTHER THAN SPAN THAN ENGLISH, BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE US FAR LONGER TO TRANSLATE RFPS. ONE OF THE YEARS I SERVED, YOU DIDN'T EVEN OFFER TRANSLATION FOR RFPS. IT TOOK US LITERALLY CUTTING OUT EVERYONE EXCEPT THE ONLY PERSON THAT UNDERSTOOD THE SYSTEM AND SPOKE ENGLISH FOR US TO GET HERE TODAY AND STILL BE AGAIN, FAR BEHIND. WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING SERVICES STARTING DECEMBER. YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO TELL US THAT YOU LOVE IMMIGRANT AND THAT YOU SUPPORT IMMIGRANT. YOU MUST ALLOW US TO HOLD UP ACCOUNTABILITY, LISTEN TO OUR SOLUTIONS AND PUT THEM INTO ACTION. ALRIGHT? AND TONIGHT WE'RE APPROVING THIS CONTRACT. SO WE JUST HAVE A FEW COMMENTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH CITY STAFF FOR THAT REPORT. I KNOW THAT, UM, IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO GET HERE, SO I WAS WONDERING IF, IF CITY STAFF, TOM, IF YOU, UM, COULD KIND OF LIKE GUIDE US INTO WHAT, HOW THIS CAME ABOUT AND WHY WE'RE ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY. SURE. SO, UM, YES, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN GROWING OVER THE YEARS AND, UH, COUNCIL HAS BEEN INVESTING IN THIS PROGRAM, UH, FINDING ONE TIME DOLLARS, FINDING OTHER WAYS TO, TO INCREASE THE BUDGET. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, RFPS WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS TYPE OF PROJECT DOES TAKE TIME. THIS, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT WE GO OUT AND DO COMPETITIVE WORK. UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS IS THIS GROUP HAS GROWN SO MUCH, BUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO DO THAT WORK HAS NOT GROWN. UM, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE INVOICING AND ALL THE RFPS. AND SO, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE, UM, THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MADE AS A RECOMMENDATION. AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL DID. UH, WE ACTUALLY NOW DO HAVE A AAA, AN ANALYST WHO HELPS US DO THIS WORK. UM, UH, SOMEONE WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT OVER FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHO IS LOSING A JOB IS, IS NOW ON THE TEAM TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT. UH, AND SO, AND THEN WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT CAME IN THROUGH THE, UH, THE MAYOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE COUNCIL APPROVALS. AND THOSE WERE ADDED INTO THIS SCOPE. SO RATHER THAN HAVING TO DO A SECOND RFP TO GO OUT AND REDO ALL THAT WORK AGAIN, UH, WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND, AND ADD IN SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS. SO, UH, YES, WE DO, WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE IT'S TAKEN SOME TIME. UH, BUT THESE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF CITY DOLLARS THAT GO OUT. UH, THERE ARE SOME PUBLIC PURCHASING PROCESSES WE NEED TO GO THROUGH, UM, THAT ARE REQUIRED UNDER STATE MUNICIPAL CODE. UH, AND NOW WE'RE READY TO GO. SO, UH, WE APPRECIATE THE PATIENCE AND, UH, EXCITED TO START THIS. AND I WANT TO, I WANNA NOTE AND THANK YOU, IT'S, THE BUDGET WENT TO EFFECT OCTOBER ONE, IT'S NOVEMBER 18TH. WE'RE ABLE TO INCLUDE THOSE DOLLARS IN THE MOST RECENT BUDGET IN THIS RFP RATHER THAN CREATE A NEW RFP, WHICH WILL TAKE IN ANOTHER SIX TO NINE MONTHS. UH, INSTEAD YOU HA YOU HAVE THIS PREPARED IN SIX WEEKS. UM, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT. UM, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO UPLIFT, UH, THE WORK OF OUR, UM, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS COMMUNITY. SO MANY THAT CAME OUT, UM, IN THE BUDGET SEASON TO ADVOCATE, UM, STRONGLY, UM, AT OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, AT OUR BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETINGS, RIGHT AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM. UM, KNOW THAT, UH, THAT, THAT I HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AND THAT'S WHY WE REALLY ADVOCATED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNITY GOT THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE HAD THE ADDITIONAL STAFFING NEEDED. 'CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY HEARD WAS THAT THIS ADMITTEDLY THE, THE, THE SLOWNESS OF THE PROCESS, RIGHT? AND THE NEED, UM, FROM STAFF AND FOR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DELIVER AND TO DELIVER THIS QUICKLY. UM, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE UH, APPROVED THE BUDGET IN SEPTEMBER AND WENT INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST. AND SO, UM, I KNOW COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WAITING, BUT I AM, UH, ELATED TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY. WE HAVE AWARDED THIS TO, UM, A, A GROUP OF PUBLIC COUNCIL, RIGHT, THAT HAS A RECORD OF BEING ABLE TO DO THIS WORK AND TO DO IT WELL. UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA THANK COMMUNITY, RIGHT? AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF YOU. I WANNA THANK CITY STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE. UM, AND TO JUST KNOW THIS, FOR, FOR MANY OF US, THIS IS A DEEPLY PERSONAL, RIGHT? IT'S NOT LOST ON ME AS A, UM, AS THE DISTRICT NINE COUNCIL MEMBER WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY OWN DISTRICT, UH, WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING AT OUR DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, UH, DAY TO DAY. UH, AND SO WE ARE WORKING AS HARD AS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, UM, HAVE THE DEFENSE MECHANISMS THAT THEY NEED, HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED. UM, AND SO AGAIN, UM, JUST ELATED THAT THIS ITEM IS COMING, UM, AND HAPPILY, UH, VOTING YES. ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THS AND TOOK, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU TO, UH, BOTH OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO, UH, DID MADE THE MOTION AND [01:20:01] SECONDED THIS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. I WANNA CONTINUE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL. I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY FULL SUPPORT FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. UM, IT REMAINS A VITAL LIFELINE FOR SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. UM, AND THIS ENSURES THAT PEOPLE WHO CALL LONG BEACH HOME HAVE ACCESS TO FAIR TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW, REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRANT STATUS OR FOR THEIR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE. UH, WE HEARD CLEARLY FROM THE COMMUNITY, UH, MANY TIMES HERE ON THE ES THAT LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS AN ESSENTIAL, UH, COMPONENT FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. UM, AND IT NOT ONLY IMPROVES OUTCOMES AND INDIVIDUAL CASES, BUT ALSO BUILDS TRUST BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WHEN PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, UM, SEEKING HELP OR REPORTING HARM, THE ENTIRE CITY IS STRONGER. SO I BELIEVE THAT THE JUSTICE FUND REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST A PROGRAM, AND IS A CON IS A RECOGNITION OF THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES HAVE HAD HERE IN LONG BEACH. I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. WELL, I APPRECIATE THIS ITEM BEING PULLED. I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF COMMENTS BY DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, THAT ARE GOOD TO HEAR ABOUT THE JUSTICE FUND. UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I THINK THERE'S CONFUSION AROUND THE JUSTICE FUND JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT ALL THE MONEY IS SET ASIDE FOR PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT BROKE IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, SHOWING THAT THE JUSTICE FUND HAS FUNDED A LOT OF OUTREACH EDUCATION TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, BUT WE STILL ARE STRUGGLING. I I KNOW WE'VE MOVED THIS FORWARD, BUT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH KEEPING A CONSISTENT LEGAL PROVIDER ON BOARD THAT PROVIDES THE LEGAL SERVICES. SO I AM INTERESTED IN HOW THIS CONTRACT IS SET UP BECAUSE IF WE'RE DEDICATING FUNDING TO THIS PROGRAM, I WANNA MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS ARE GETTING THE SERVICES THAT COUNCIL IS DEDICATING THE MONEY TO. AND I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE SPENDING NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP 140 PEOPLE. I BELIEVE THAT WAS WHAT WAS ON THE PRESENTATION. 60 OF THEM ARE GETTING CONSULTATIONS AND ANOTHER 50 ARE BEING HELPED IN WORKSHOPS TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES. THAT LEAVES 30 PEOPLE WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEYS. AND I DON'T HAVE A BETTER ANSWER FOR THIS, BUT I AM QUESTIONING 140 PEOPLE BEING SERVED FOR ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS. SO CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH, UM, HOW THIS CONTRACT IS SET UP AND BILLED? UM, SO TO, TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS TO, SO WE CAN RENEW, THE CONTRACT WILL BE SET UP HOPEFULLY WITH AMENDMENT SO THAT WHEN WE COME TO NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONDUCT AN AMENDMENT WITHOUT COMING GOING TO RFP AGAIN, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE SERVICES WITHOUT EXPERIENCING GAPS OR ANY DELAYS. AND WITH REGARD TO THE AMOUNT OF ACTUAL, UH, LIKE, UM, CA LIKE REMOVAL DEFENSE SUPPORT, I ALSO JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MANY OF THOSE CASES ARE COMPLEX AND TIME INTENSIVE. UM, AND A SINGLE CASE CAN SPAN ONE TO THREE YEARS. SO WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING AT JUST NUMBERS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE REFRAME THE IMPACT FROM NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME IN WHICH A PERSON IS ABLE TO REMAIN WITH THEIR FAMILY OR IN THE STATES TO THAT. AND I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, MANY OF THESE CASES CAN REQUIRE HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF ATTORNEY TIME, OF COURT HEARINGS OF EVIDENCE GATHERING. AND SO THIS IS NOT A CHEAP PROGRAM, UM, BY ANY MEANS. AND, UM, THAT NUMBER IS CUMULATIVE. THAT'S 24 REMOVAL DEFENSE CASES THIS YEAR. THAT MEANS ANOTHER 24 POSSIBLY THE NEXT YEAR, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO REASSESS, BUT IT'S A, IT LOOKS LIKE A SMALLER NUMBER BECAUSE OF THE LABOR INTENSIVE WORK THAT GOES INTO REPRESENTING THOSE KINDS OF CL CASES. THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION. HUNDREDS OF HOURS. THAT'S A LOT. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S, UM, CLEAR THAT LEGAL SERVICES ARE A BIG PART. OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, 24 PEOPLE SERVED AND THEN WE COULD GO WITH THAT THE NEXT YEAR. BUT THERE ARE ALSO WORKSHOPS AND PEOPLE ARE BEING ADVISED ON HOW TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR. THAT'S MY ONLY POINT FOR A MILLION DOLLARS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO, UH, SO WE WANNA THANK, UH, STAFF FOR THOSE RESPONSES. THANK THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT WHAT I THINK JOSHUA SAID. UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CITIES WHO ARE, WHO ARE CALLING THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND CALLING LONG BEACH TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ESTABLISH THIS PROGRAM. IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WE SUPPORT. [01:25:01] THE CITY SUPPORTS THE CITY. UH, LABORS OVER THIS. THE CITY FUNDS THIS AND WE HAVE INCREDIBLE CITY STAFF. I REMEMBER 10 YEARS AGO WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OFFICE OF EQUITY, WHEN WE WERE TRAINING OURSELVES ON HOW TO EVEN TALK ABOUT AND THINK THROUGH THESE ISSUES. WE'VE COME SUCH A LONG WAY AS A CITY, AND I WANT TO GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT TO CITY STAFF. I KNOW HOW INNOVATIVE YOU WORK, HOW WORK, HOW HARD YOU WORKED TO INNOVATE AND MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T HAVE NINE ADDITIONAL MONTHS UNTIL THESE NEW DOLLARS COULD BE DEPLOYED. THAT THEY CAN BE DEPLOYED WITHIN SIX WEEKS OF THE BUDGET. GOING INTO, INTO EFFECT, WE COULD HAVE THIS CONTRACT IN FRONT OF COUNCIL. SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU, I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION, BUT I AM CONFIDENT IN OUR CITY TEAM THAT WHATEVER IT IS, WE'RE GONNA STEP UP. WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE DELIVERING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S IT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO, UH, QUICK REPORT OUT ON CLOSED SESSION. GOOD EVENING. UH, MAYOR, UH, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY ZER. UM, WE HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT OUT OF. THAT'S A GREAT REPORT. FANTASTIC. ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO, UH, ITEM 22 COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS, MAYOR COMMUNICATION FROM MAYOR RICHARDSON. RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND APPROVED COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS FOR NON-CHARTER COMMISSIONS. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GO TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH INTO FOR RECUSAL. [22. 25-56982 Recommendation to receive and approve Commission appointments and reappointments for Non-Charter Commissions.       Office or Department: Rex Richardson, Mayor         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A VERY HANDSOME, UH, GENTLEMAN WHO'S BEING APPOINTED THIS EVENING. OH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NOW WITH WHOM I SHARE A RESIDENCE AND FAMILY CONNECTION. AND SO I WILL BE RECUSING MYSELF FROM THIS EVENING'S COMMISSION VOTE . ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS. CALM DOWN. ALRIGHT, FOLKS, WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UH, RESIDENTS WHO ARE STEPPING UP TO SERVE OUR CITY. I'M GONNA INTRODUCE THEM. I'M GONNA MOVE TH THROUGH THIS PRETTY QUICKLY. WHEN YOU SAY, WHEN I SAY YOUR NAME, IF YOU'RE HERE, JUST STAND UP SO WE CAN SEE WHO YOU ARE. AND WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH THE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON AGING. DR. C CLARICE CAVANAUGH, PLEASE STAND. THAT'S YOU. MM-HMM . ALRIGHT. UH, DR. CLARICE CAVANAUGH IS CURRENTLY A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AT CHICAGO SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY PODCAST CREATOR, HOST, COACH, ENTREPRENEUR, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER. AND AFTER 30 YEARS WORKING IN PHARMACEUTICAL HOME, PHARMACEUTICAL HOME HEALTHCARE, AND BIOPHARMA INDUSTRY, SHE HAS NOW EMBARKED ON A SECOND CAREER AS A VOLUNTEER. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE ADVISORY, COMMISSION ON AGING. NEXT, ON THE BELMONT SHORE PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA COMMISSION, THE BELMONT SHORE PARKING DISTRICT, WE HAVE MIKE JENSEN. WHERE IS MIKE PLEASE STAND. MIKE. UH, MICHAEL IS A PROPERTY OWNER. HE, HE IS OWNED THE LONG BEACH PACIFIC RETAIL PARTNERS OFFICE, OVERSEEING 16 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND SUPPORT STAFF. A LONG CAREER IN THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY, AND HE SERVES HIS COMMUNITY BY BEING INVOLVED WITH ROTARY OF LONG BEACH AND IS A BOARD MEMBER OF YMCA OF LONG BEACH AND IS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE TRAUMA INTERVENTION PROGRAM. WELCOME TO THE BELMONT SHORE PARKING BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT, UH, COMMISSION. NEXT COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS DISTRICT THREE APPOINTEE. CHRISTINE, UH, DELORE. DID I SAY, DID I GET THAT RIGHT? CHRISTINE DELORE. THANK YOU. CHRISTINE IS THE OPERATIONS DIRECTOR AT INTERVAL HOUSE. WE LOVE INTERVAL HOUSE, A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM WITH EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAMS AND HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT AID THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. HER EXPERTISE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WILL AID IN THE COMMISSION'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS DATING, VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND OTHER DANGERS. THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS. NEXT, THE COMMISSION ON YOUTH AND FAMILIES. WE HAVE A YOUNG PERSON. LET'S, UH, LET'S, LET'S, UH, MEET LUIS, UH, LUIS SERRANO, YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE AND IS MY NEIGHBOR, A DISTRICT NINE NORTH LONG BEACH RESIDENT. UH, LEWIS IS CURRENTLY A SENIOR AT J TOWN JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL. HE HOLDS VARIOUS LEADERSHIP ROLES THAT OVERSEE AND IMPACT THE STUDENT BODY AND ENGAGEMENT FOR STUDENTS. HE'S SERVING ON THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. HE'S ONE OF OUR LEADERS ON OUR YOUTH COUNCIL. AS A YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBER, HE, UH, HIS TERM LASTED 12 MONTHS AND HE'S READY TO ENTER HIS SECOND TERM. AND ONE DAY YOU'LL BE SITTING UP HERE, UH, BEHIND THIS DAIS. NEXT IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. WE HAVE A COUPLE APPOINTMENTS HERE. FIRST, HAILING OUTTA LONG BEACH STATE. DR. MILES NEVIN EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE IN DISTRICT THREE MILES HOLDS 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL STATE NATIONAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP ROLE ROLES, AND ADDITIONALLY HAS A LONG HISTORY OF NONPROFIT AND CITY COMMISSION SERVICE. HE'S ALUMNI OF LONG BEACH STATE, WHERE HE HAD HIS BACHELOR'S, HIS MASTER'S, AND HIS EDUCATIONAL DOCTORATE DEGREE. HE'S CURRENTLY [01:30:01] SERVING AS THE ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS AND NONPROFIT AT ENTERPRISES AT LONG BEACH STATE. WELCOME TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. LONG BEACH STATE. ALWAYS HAD A SEAT. HAS A SEAT AT OUR TABLE. UH, OUR NEXT, UH, COMMISSIONER ANDY PEREZ, THE WORKFORCE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT. HE IS A PUBLIC POLICY AND GOVERNMENT LEADER WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LABOR RELATIONS DEPUTY FOR LA COUNTY SUPERVISOR JANIS HAN. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU'VE SERVED COMMISSIONS IN THE PAST. WE, WE, WE WELCOME YOUR EXPERIENCE AND WE WANNA, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. ALSO TO THE SUPERVISOR ON THE HOMELESS SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION REPRESENTING DISTRICT A DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT REPRESENTING A AT LARGE SEAT, JACQUELINE ROMERO. DURAN. WHERE'S JACQUELINE? THERE SHE IS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SHE SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, WHERE SHE LEADS LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND MULTIPLE, UH, MULTIPLE COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. UH, SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AND GRADUATED WITH HER MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM CAL STATE LONG BEACH AND BACHELOR'S OFFICE IN POLITICAL POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM UC, DAVIS. UH, SHE, UM, BEGAN HER CAREER ASSISTING UNHOUSED AND LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WITH ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHES, AND SHELTER. AT C AT CHRISTIAN OUTREACH AND ACTION. THROUGH THE WORK OF COA, SHE WAS ABLE TO SEE REAL OUTCOMES ON THE GROUND FOR THOSE IN NEED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. NEXT, WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF FOLKS ON THE LONG B LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INVESTMENT NETWORK. STARTING OFF, OUR HEALTHCARE REPRESENTATIVE, JOHN FAYE. JOHN, PLEASE STAND. JOHN IS CURRENTLY, UH, UH, UH, GOVERNMENT, UH, GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY RELATED. OH, AND WE HAVE LITTLE JOHN. UM, JOHN IS CURRENTLY A GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER FOR MEMORIAL CARE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. UH, HE REPRESENTS MILLER CHILDREN AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, WHERE MY TWO LITTLE ONES WERE BORN. THE BEST NURSES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ARE AT LONG BEACH MEMORIAL. UH, HIS ROLE CENTERS ON LEADING INITIATIVES TO DEVELOP THAT, DELIVER COMMUNITY BENEFIT TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, UH, COLLABORATING WITH NONPROFITS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND HEALTHCARE STAKEHOLDERS. UH, SO WE THANK YOU AND WE WELCOME YOU TO LONG BEACH WIND NEXT. IAN HALL. ALRIGHT. IAN HALL IS IN THE HOUSE. UH, IAN IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER THAT SPECIALIZES IN CONTROLS, ROBOTICS, THERMAL SYSTEMS INTEGRATION. AND HE'S CURRENTLY WORKING AS A THERMAL CONTROL INTEGRATION IN, LET ME DO THAT AGAIN. HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING AS A THERMAL CONTROLS INTEGRATION ENGINEER AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WHICH RECENTLY OPENED THEIR ADVANCED ELECTRIC VEHICLE DEVELOP VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UH, AND WE KNOW THAT IAN SPOKE RECENTLY AT A GROW LONG BEACH PRESENTATION AND RECENTLY BOUGHT A HOUSE IN DOWNTOWN, UH, SPACE BEACH IS HIRING AND, AND, AND, AND FORD IS HIRING AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IS HERE. AND WE'RE SEEING REAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES HERE. UH, BUT PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF NEW T LAND CHAPTER OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED OH 6 0 6. ALRIGHT. AND SITS ON THE COMMUNITY EVENTS, UH, COMMITTEE FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE NAACP. WE'RE GONNA SHIFT THAT OVER TO LONG BEACH. WE WELCOME YOU TO THE LONG BEACH, UH, WORKFORCE, UM, INVESTMENT NETWORK AT REPRESENTING LARGE BUSINESSES IN THE CITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE THANK FORD FOR GETTING INVOLVED IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. NEXT, ROBERTO RUIZ, UH, WORKFORCE REPRESENTATIVE, CURRENTLY ASSISTED. WE ALL RIGHT. GOOD. ALL RIGHT. IAN IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, SPECIAL, EXCUSE ME. UH, ROBERTO IS CURRENTLY AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT AT CEDAR SINAI. HE HAS SEVERAL LEADERSHIP ROLES, INCLUDING SAFETY COORDINATOR, LEAD MAN, FOREMAN, MAN, GENERAL FOREMAN, AND HE IS CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE CARPENTER'S UNION UNION THROUGH A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT INITIATIVE, OPENING A DOOR TO A MEANINGFUL CAREER IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND LABOR ADVOCACY THROUGH THE UNION. HE BECAME A REGULAR VOLUNTEER AND WAS EVENTUALLY ELECTED AS A DELEGATE FOR LOCAL 5 6 2. CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE WORKFORCE BOARD NEXT REPRESENTING BUSINESS, KEVIN SMITH. KEV, PLEASE STAND. KEVIN AND LITTLE KEVIN. UH, KEVIN IS CURRENTLY A PROGRAM SPECIALIST OF THE WORKFORCE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AT LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE'RE SO PROUD TO HAVE L-B-U-S-D AT THE TABLE AT, UH, LONG BEACH WIND AS WE UPDATE OUR BOARD ON FUTURE, UH, CAREER PATHWAYS. UH, HE'S, HE'S A PART OF A TEAM THAT MANAGES WORKFORCE RELATED GRANTS, OVERSEAS INITIATIVES THAT SEVERAL THOUSAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, UH, THAT BENEFIT SEVERAL THOUSAND STUDENTS ACROSS 37 PATHWAYS. WE WELCOME YOUR EXPERTISE AS WE SHAPE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. CONGRATULATIONS KEVIN. AND THEN LASTLY, HENRY THOMAS HENRY. PLEASE STAND THERE. HE IS HENRY. WELCOME. [01:35:01] HENRY HAS OVER 15 YEARS OF HANDS-ON AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, LABOR ADVOCACY AND APPRENTICESHIP COORDINATION. CURRENTLY WORKING AS A BUSINESS AGENT AT LOA LOCAL 1309. HE IS A LABORER. HENRY IS AN ADVOCATE FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, MANAGING HIRING HALL OPERATIONS, ENFORCING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS, COLLABORATING WITH CONTRACTORS. COLLABORATION IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA NEED, COLLABORATION WITH CONTRACTORS, TRAINING INSTITUTIONS AND APPRENTICES TO BUILD A STRONG WORKFORCE. CONGRATULATIONS HENRY, AND WELCOME TO THE TEAM. YES. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE JUST A FEW MORE. JUST TWO MORE HERE ON THE TRANSACTION AND USE TAX COMMISSION HAILING FROM LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE. WE HAVE UAK. JOE N TOOK DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT, UH, DISTRICT, UH, UAK. JOE IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT WHERE HE TESTIFIES AS AN EXPERT WITNESS BEFORE THE UNI US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES. 15 YEARS OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERIENCE WITH ROLES IN LONG BEACH, LOS ANGELES, LA COUNTY METRO, AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. HE'S BEEN ELECTED TO THE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN 2018, ELECTED IN 2022 AND HAS SERVED THREE TERMS AS BOARD PRESIDENT, A THIRD GENERATION IN LONG BEACH. AND WE, THIS IS OUR TRANSACT TRANSACTION AND USE COMMISSION, OUR MEASURE A COMMISSION. WE SERVE ON OVERSIGHT, WE SUPPORT THE COLLEGES ON THEIR OVERSIGHT. AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE NOW HAVE COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES SERVING ON SOME OF OUR OVERSIGHT, UH, OVERSIGHT BOARDS. SO, WELCOME AWA TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND THEN OUR FINAL, UH, APPOINTMENT. MIKE KOVICH. WHERE IS MIKE OVER HERE? THERE HE IS. AND MIKE'S GOT LITTLE MIKE OVER THERE. OKAY. UH, MIKE IS, UH, A REALLY GOOD PERSON AND A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION. YOU WERE ON OUR FIRST VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION WHEN WE CREATED THIS COMMISSION. AND NOW YOU ARE BACK REPRESENTING DISTRICT TWO. UH, MIKE IS A US MARINE CORPS VETERAN, SERVING FROM 2001 TO 2006. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. HE HAS, HE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF MANAGING EVENTS, PROMOTING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, OVERSEEING VENDOR NEGOTIATIONS, MANAGED OPERATIONS FOR HIGH PROFILE COMPANIES AND EVENTS. DURING HIS TIME, DURING HIS TIME IN THE MARINE CORPS, HE ACTED AS A MARINE COMBAT INSTRUCTOR OF WATER SURVIVAL, GROUND SUPPORT, EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION MANAGER, QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER, AND GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT MANAGER. AND HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THIS VERY COMMISSION FOR SEVEN YEARS. WE ARE THRILLED, MIKE, TO WELCOME YOU BACK. WELCOME HOME. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WE JUST HAVE A FEW, UH, REAPPOINTMENTS LONG BEACH TRANSIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS, JAMES AL MATER AND, UH, SARAH BEATTY IS MOVING FROM AT LARGE TO DISTRICT THREE, REPRESENTATIVE ON THE HOMELESS SERVICE ADVISORY COMMISSION. LET'S HEAR, FOR ALL OF OUR, UH, FUTURE COMMISSIONERS, CONGRATULATIONS. UH, WE'RE GONNA JUST GO, GO TO THE COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE, UM, TIMES OF YEARS IS WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO WELCOME NEW COMMISSIONERS TO OUR, UM, OUR CITY FAMILY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH EACH ONE OF YOU FOR SAYING YES, UM, FOR STEPPING UP AND REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE CITY ON THE COMMISSIONS THAT YOU ARE. THIS WAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE, IMPRESSIVE, UM, LIST. I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO IAN, FIRST RESIDENT, FIRST DISTRICT RESIDENT. THANK YOU. WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU, UM, ON THAT COMMISSION REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT ALL OF YOU WILL BE DOING, UM, GOING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU FOR SAYING YES AGAIN. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, YEAH, CO-SIGNED ON EVERYTHING THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS SAID. I WANNA CONGRATULATE EVERYONE, UH, WHO'S GETTING APPOINTED OR REAPPOINTED. UM, SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY IS GONNA BE ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS YOU EVER MAKE. AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO GIVE UP YOUR TIME, YOUR TALENT, YOUR TREASURE, ALL THE THINGS THAT COME WITH SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY. UM, SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE PARENTS OVER HERE, HOLDING IT DOWN WITH THE SMALL KIDS. UM, AS YOU, AS YOU'RE A COMMISSIONER, UM, IT'S EVERY, YOU BRING EVERYTHING RIGHT TO THE COMMISSION, ALL THAT BACKGROUND, ALL THAT HISTORY, ALL THAT EXPERIENCE, RIGHT? AND SERVING SO THAT YOUR, YOUR, YOUR CHILDREN ALSO CAN HAVE A BETTER COMMUNITY. AND SO, AGAIN, SOMEBODY WHO SERVED WITH TWO, WITH MY TWO KIDS, UM, SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR YOU ALL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, AND THEN I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY NEW COMMISSIONER, LUIS SERRANO, HOLDING IT DOWN. HE WAS OUR YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSIONER. NOW LOVE TO SEE YOU ON THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES COMMISSIONER. HE IS BEEN A FANTASTIC RESIDENT, ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I'D LOVE TO SEE WHERE YOU'RE GONNA GO FROM HERE. BUT CONGRATULATIONS MY FRIEND. I KNOW WHERE HE IS GONNA GO. RIGHT, THAT SEAT RIGHT THERE. HEY, COME ON. ALRIGHT, UH, WE'RE GONNA, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT SAYING, NONE MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. WE DO HAVE TWO CHANGES. OH, THAT'S RIGHT. WE HAVE, UM, WE WANNA REFLECT FOR THE RECORD ON THE TWO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. [01:40:01] THE TERM ENDS JULY 30TH, 2026, NOT 2028. AND IT HAS TO BE, THESE ARE, THESE ARE, UH, PARTIAL TERMS AND THEN THEY HAVE TO COME BACK FOR REAPPOINTMENT LATER. SO LET'S NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD, 2026, NOT 2028 MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, COME ON DOWN. TAKE MOTION. TAKE A PHOTO. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. IF EVERYONE COULD, UM, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THE COUNCIL MEETING. IF EVERYONE CAN JUST EXIT QUIETLY. WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEM 23, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT [01:45:01] AFTER THAT. ITEM 23. [23. 25-56995 Recommendation to request City Attorney to begin preparing ordinance that consolidates the City’s ethics policies, guidelines, and legal requirements into a single comprehensive ordinance called the Long Beach “Framework for Accountability, Integrity, and Reporting (FAIR) Act,” and considers the proposed policy modifications outlined by the Long Beach Ethics Commission to enhance transparency, accountability, and public trust, and staff recommendations regarding those proposed changes; request City Attorney to conduct any additional review as necessary to ensure the final recommendations and draft ordinance language are consistent with the City Charter, State law, City policies, rules, and regulations, operational and financial feasibility, and other public policy considerations as determined by City staff; Request City Attorney to incorporate within the proposed Long Beach “FAIR Act” ordinance framework key amendments to the City’s Lobbyist Ordinance (LBMC Ch. 2.08) to expand the scope of this policy to improve transparency within the City’s decision-making processes, taking into account the recommendations provided by the Long Beach Ethics Commission; and Refer to the Government Operations and Efficiency Committee for public input, discussion, and feedback on the proposed ordinance provisions.       Office or Department: Rex Richardson, Mayor         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ITEM 23, COMMUNICATION FROM MAYOR RICHARDSON. RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO BEGIN PREPARING ORDINANCE THAT CONSOLIDATES THE CITY'S ETHICS, POLICIES, GUIDELINES, AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS INTO A SINGLE COMPREHENSIVE ORDINANCE CALLED THE LONG BEACH FRAMEWORK FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, INTEGRITY, AND REPORTING FAIR ACT. AND CONSIDER THE PROPOSED POLICY MODIFICATIONS OUTLINED IN THE LONG BEACH ETHICS COMMISSION REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO CONDUCT ANY ADDITIONAL REVIEW AS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND DRAFT ORDINANCE, LANGUAGE REQUEST, CITY ATTORNEY TO INCORPORATE WITHIN THE PROPOSED LONG BEACH FAIR ACT ORDINANCE FRAMEWORK, KEY AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S LOBBYIST ORDINANCE, AND REFER TO THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC INPUT, DISCUSSION, AND FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROVISIONS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE THIS, AND I'M GONNA EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROCESS IS MOVING FORWARD. UM, THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT NOW, MORE THAN EVER, THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS, FRANKLY, UH, LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND TAKE PROACTIVE, UH, STEPS TO STAY ON TOP OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND DEMONSTRATE, UH, HIGH STANDARDS. UH, HERE IN LONG BEACH. WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. UH, WE WENT TO THE BALLOT AND ESTABLISHED AN ETHICS SUBMISSION. WE'VE DEVELOPED AN ETH ETHICS STRATEGIC PLAN, AND NOW AN IMPORTANT STEP IS TO MODERNIZE AND UPDATE OUR ETHICS STANDARDS, UH, IN OUR CITY. THAT'S WHY TODAY I AM PROPOSING THE FAIR ACT. THAT'S THE FRAMEWORK FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, INTEGRITY, AND REPORTING. SO THE IDEA HERE IS THAT THIS AIMS TO STREAMLINE OUR, STRENGTHEN OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY THROUGH A FEW KEY ACTIONS. ONE, IT CONSOLIDATES ALL OF THE MAIN ELEMENTS OF OUR ETHICS THAT ARE SPREAD ACROSS THE MUNICIPAL CODE INTO ONE, EASY TO UNDERSTAND CLEAR ORDINANCE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEARCH AROUND TO FIND WHERE THE RULES ARE. THE PUBLIC, THE DECISION MAKERS, EVERYONE WHO'S PARTICIPATED SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO ONE PLACE AND HAVE A SINGLE AUTHORITATIVE SOURCE FOR ALL ETHICAL STANDARDS. THIS ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO DO THINGS LIKE ESTABLISH A VERY CLEAR WEBSITE FOR REPORTING AND TRANSPARENCY AND ALL THOSE THINGS. SECONDLY, UPDATE THE, AND STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S EXISTING LOBBYIST ORDINANCE TO EXPAND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE RULES. SIMPLIFY FILING REQUIREMENTS. THE GOAL HERE IS VERY SIMPLE. HELP RESIDENTS MORE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE ORGANIZATIONS OR ENTITIES THAT ARE INFLUENCING DECISIONS AT CITY HALL, VERY SIMPLE. AND THIRD, BY PROMOTING FREQUENT REPORTING OF LOCAL LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. SO RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND AND RECEIVE TIMELY, TRANSPARENT INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL INTERESTS SHAPING CITY DECISION MAKING AND PLANNING EFFORTS. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL RE, WILL RETAIN CERTAIN, UH, CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, I'VE GOTTEN EMAILS. HEY, OUR LABOR, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS SUPPOSED TO REGISTER WHEN THEY CALL THE COUNCIL MEMBER. ABSOLUTELY NOT. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, SMALL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, UH, ARE NOT INCLUDED. AND THAT'S THE MINIMIZED BURDENS ON GROUPS WHO SHOULD BE ENGAGED WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION OF, UH, THE SERVICES THAT THEY DELIVER. THEY'RE THE CUSTOMER. THEY SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO OPENLY COMMUNICATE AS WE SEE, UH, A LOT OF RHETORIC AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT TAKE PLACE ON A NATIONAL NET NARRATIVE AROUND MISCONDUCT AND HIDDEN INFLUENCES. AND WHO'S BEHIND, YOU KNOW, THIS DECISION OR THAT DECISION. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UH, LONG BEACH IS VERY CLEAR THAT WE CHOOSE A DIFFERENT PATH, UH, NOT BACK BACKDOOR. WE'RE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AND ETHICAL ABOUT WHAT WE DO. WE CHOOSE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ALWAYS KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THESE MEASURES REAFFIRM OUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ETHICAL GOVERNANCE AND WILL HELP ENSURE THAT LONG BEACH CONTINUES TO LEAD WITH FAIRNESS, INTEGRITY, AND HONESTY. SO THIS IS THE BEGINNING, THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE ORDINANCE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AS A NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS, THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT WILL BE REFERRED TO THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL GATHER FEEDBACK FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY REGARDING ANY REVISIONS OR ADJUSTMENTS THAT THAT CAN BE MADE TO REFINE THE CONTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE, UH, WHILE MAINTAINING THE SPIRIT AND INTENT OF, UH, THIS POLICY BASED ON THAT PROCESS. THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THEN COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE FINAL ORDINANCE THAT MOVES FORWARD. SO CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE A FULL CONVERSATION AT THAT TIME AND MOVE FORWARD IN ORDINANCE FOR CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION. SO THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A TWO STEP PROCESS COMMITTEE, GOVERNMENT, UH, OVERSIGHT AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE FIRST, AND THEN FULL CITY COUNCIL. CONSIDERATION OF ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS. I WANT TO TAKE TIME TO EXPRESS MY DEEP THANKS TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION AND OUR OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY FOR THEIR DILIGENT WORK OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS IN REVIEWING POLICY BEST PRACTICES, [01:50:01] SOLICITING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THROUGH PUBLIC MEETINGS AND SURVEYS, AND HIGHLIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES TO UPDATE OUR CITY'S ETHICS POLICIES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT TODAY. I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE AND THANK COMMON CALLS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND THEIR LETTER OF SUPPORT TONIGHT. BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN STRENGTHEN TRUST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND BUILD A CITY THAT IS TRULY WORTHY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. SO, THAT SAID, WELL NOW, UH, WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE 10 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, 11 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. 90 SECONDS EACH. BARBARA P*****K, ALYSSA G AND ELLIE ARE FIRST. GOOD EVENING, UM, BARBARA P*****K. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION AND I'M HERE WITH AUTHORIZATION TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, I WANNA THANK MAYOR RICHARDSON FOR BRINGING THIS MATTER TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO ETHICS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT PROPOSAL. UM, AS MAYOR RICHARDSON, AS YOU WERE SPEAKING, I STARTED CROSSING THINGS OUT. I COULD ADOPT, BUT YOU, YOU, MAYBE YOU READ MY, MY, UH, UH, STATEMENT. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORDS. UM, PRIOR TO THE FORMATION OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION, THE CITY AUDITOR RETAINED AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE CITY'S ETHICS PROGRAM. AND ONE OF THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT WE DEVELOP A SINGLE COMPREHENSIVE ETHICS ORDINANCE TO ENSURE CONSISTENT APPLICATION OF ETHICS STANDARDS. AND THE FAIR ACT WILL CONSOLIDATE IN A SINGLE MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE ETHICS RULES THAT ARE NOW DISTRIBUTED THROUGH OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS. THE FAIR ACT ALSO BRINGS US INTO THE 21ST CENTURY, UM, WITH CHANGES RELATING TO THE ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE SPEED OF WORK. UM, AS YOU NOTED, THE ETHICS COMMISSION HAS WORKED ON THIS PROJECT FOR TWO YEARS. I DON'T CONSIDER THIS THE FIRST STEP, I CONSIDER IT THE NEXT TO LAST STEP, AND I'M HOPING WE CAN GET TO THE LAST STEP VERY QUICKLY. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS CONCLUDED. THANKS FOR YOUR, YOUR TESTIMONY. SO FIRST STEP FOR THIS GROUP. I KNOW, I KNOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS ALYSSA G HI, MY NAME IS FORESTS BRASS, ACTUALLY, SORRY. NO, I HAVE A ALYSSA RIGHT THERE BEHIND YOU. SHE'S NEXT. YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. ARE YOU DEFERRING? YES. OKAY. YES, YES. UH, I WANNA SAY, IF I CAN START THE TIME. YEAH. UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE, WHO'S HUMAN. I'M HERE TO STRONGLY URGE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTMENT SCREENING POLICY AND TO INTEGRATE IT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FAIR ACT. WHILE THE FAIR ACT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD IMPROVING ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY IN LONG BEACH, IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR FINANCIAL DECISIONS REFLECT THE SAME VALUES OF INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. OUR INVESTMENTS ARE NOT NEUTRAL. THEY ARE A DIRECT EXPRESSION OF WHAT WE STAND FOR AS A CITY. UH, CIVIL, A CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTMENT SCREENING POLICY, WHICH THE ETHICS COMMISSION ALREADY APPROVED TO BE AGENDIZED. UM, BY THE WAY, LA LAST MONTH, UM, DOES NOT INVEST PUBLIC FUNDS IN COMPANIES OR INSTITUTIONS THAT ENGAGE IN PRACTICES THAT VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS, FUEL DISCRIMINATION, OR HARM VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. IT ENSURES THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO INJUSTICE, WHETHER GLOBALLY OR RIGHT HERE AT HOME. THIS POLICY HAS ALREADY BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION, AND MANY RESIDENTS HAVE VOICED THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL. IT PERFECTLY ALIGNS. OKAY. I'M JUST GONNA, I, I HAD MORE TO SAY, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THE FAIR ACT, UH, IS A GREAT ACCOMPANIMENT TO THE SCREENING POLICY THAT, UM, WE BROUGHT TO YOU GUYS FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. UM, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US AND PLEASE ADOPT THIS SCREENING POLICY TO MATCH THE FAIR ACT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ELLIE. AFTER ELLIE IS TED CRISAL AND SUSAN WEISS WEISS, SORRY. GOOD EVENING. I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND A RENTER IN THE SECOND DISTRICT. I'M, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU THINK THE CITY OF LONG BEACH SHOULD REFLECT VALUES OF TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PUBLIC TRUST. BECAUSE AS EVIDENCED BY THIS EVENING, IN MANY OTHER INSTANCES, IT, IT DOESN'T RIGHT NOW, WEEKS AGO, THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE HEARD AND VOTED TO RECOMMEND THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTMENT SCREENING POLICY. THIS POLICY HAS BEEN RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN OVER [01:55:01] THE PAST 11 MONTHS. IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY WOULD BE A FANTASTIC FIRST STEP FOR THE FAIR ACT. THE WORK'S BEEN DONE. THE PEOPLE OF LONG BEACH SUPPORT IT. THERE'S HUNDREDS OF SIGNATURES ON, UH, PETITION THAT'S BEEN GOING AROUND, AND IT'S, IT'S A COMMON SENSE MOVE. THIS POLICY HAS BEEN WRITTEN BY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNERS, ENTREPRENEURS, EDUCATORS, AND CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES IN LONG BEACH. IT COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE PEOPLE. THIS POLICY IS SITTING ON YOUR DESK AND IT'S READY TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITH VERY LITTLE WORK ON YOUR PART. IT'S A BUILDING BLOCK FOR THE FAIR ACT. IT'S ALREADY DONE MUCH OF THE WORK OF CONSOLIDATING LONG BEACH VALUES OF THE PEOPLE, NOT OF THE COUNCIL, AND HAS WAYS TO PROMOTE EQUITY THROUGHOUT THE INVESTMENTS OF OUR CITY. I WOULD HEAVILY SUGGEST THAT YOU AGENDIZE THIS ITEM, UH, IN THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. AND I, I REALLY HOPE THAT THIS POLICY ALSO INVOLVES, UM, DIVESTING FROM THE LONG BEACH POLICE AND SUPPORTING THE FAMILY OF BRANDON BOYD MONETARILY AND IN ANY OTHER WAY THAT THEY SEE FIT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS TED. AFTER TED IS SUSAN AND THEN BRANDY DAVISON. HELLO, I'M TED AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH THE BOYD FAMILY AND WITH THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND THE ICE RESISTANCE COMMUNITY, THE VAS OF ICE ATTACKS. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK THE, THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTMENT SCREENER, WHICH HAS ALS, WHICH HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ALREADY, UM, WOULD PARALLEL WITH THE FAIR ACT. UM, I BECAME INTERESTED IN THE, THIS, THE, UH, SCREENER BECAUSE LIKE, UH, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME, I GREW UP, UM, IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND IN HEBREW SCHOOL, LEARNING ABOUT HOW THE JEWISH HOLOCAUST, UM, HAPPENED AND HOW SIMILAR ATROCITIES, HOW TO RECOGNIZE SIMILAR ATROCITIES, UM, THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. AND AS I'VE GOTTEN OLDER, I'VE LEARNED THAT OUR PUBLIC FUNDS AND OUR THROUGH OUR TAX DOLLARS HAVE GONE INTO INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE ENABLED GENOCIDES ALL OVER THE WORLD, CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, AND ARE CURRENTLY, UM, FUNDING ONE IN GAZA. AND THIS HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY CALLED THE GENOCIDE BY A UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMITTEE, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GENOCIDE SCHOLARS AND THE LEMKIN INSTITUTE FOR GENOCIDE STUDIES AND DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE KIND OF THING THAT WE WANT OUR PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTED IN. AND THE SCREENER GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT KIND OF THING DOESN'T HAPPEN. UM, THE POLICY WOULD LIKELY NOT BE A MAJOR DISRUPTION IN CITY INVESTMENTS AS IT ONLY APPLIES TO THE MOST EGREGIOUS VIOLATIONS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT. AND THIS ULTIMATELY IMPACTS OTHER COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA, THE US AND AROUND THE WORLD. HOW WE SPEND OUR TIMES INCLUDED HERE. SO JUST URGING YOU TO ADOPT THE SCREENER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS SUSAN, THEN BRANDY, THEN DAVID KISSINGER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SUSAN WISE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. I'VE LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I RECENTLY ROLLED OFF THE ETHICS COMMISSION AFTER SIX YEARS ON THE INAUGURAL ELECT, UH, ETHICS COMMISSION, AND SERVED AS THE FIRST CHAIR FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF THAT COMMISSION. UH, THIS WORK REPRESENTS A LOT OF TIME, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANNA JUST TELL YOU ABOUT BRIEFLY. FIRST OF ALL, I URGE YOU TO GIVE THIS MATTER SOME URGENCY. IT'S BEEN, UM, 15 MONTHS SINCE THE ETHICS COMMISSION PRESENTED ITS LOBBYING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY AND ALREADY FIVE MONTHS SINCE WE PRESENTED THE, UH, POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS. I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW, TOO, THAT MYSELF, AND I'M QUITE SURE THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER AND HELP EXPEDITE THIS MATTER. SO I KNOW IT'S GOING TO COMMITTEE AND COMING BACK TO YOU, BUT WE STAND READY. AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'VE GOTTA KNOW ABOUT THE EXPERTISE THAT HAS ALREADY GONE INTO THIS. THERE HAVE BEEN HOURS AND HOURS OF TIME FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WORKING WITH AD HOCS ON THE, ON THE COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES, ETHICS OFFICERS, AND COMPLIANCE OFFICERS FROM AEROSPACE, UM, NATIONAL DEFENSE, UH, PUBLIC UTILITIES. ALL THIS EXPERTISE HAS GONE INTO TO THE WORK THAT YOU ARE SEEING BEFORE YOU, WE'VE CONSULTED WITH JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE WAY AND YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT LONG BEACH IS REALLY ADMIRED BY ITS PEERS, ETHICAL DE UH, DIVISIONS IN OTHER CITIES. THANK YOU FOR, ITS THE MANNER IN WHICH IT'S, ITS CHARTER IS STRUCTURED AND THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS. YES, YOUR TIME CONCLUDED. WE STAND OUT FOR THAT, THAT REASON. UM, ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE HAD YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED MS. WISE, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HEARD HER, THE TIME IS CONCLUDED ON THE COMMENTS. IF YOU COULD JUST [02:00:01] SUMMARIZE, JUST WANT YOU TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN, IN THE REPORT THAT BEFORE YOU, BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM, MAYOR RICHARDSON, AND YOUR, CERTAINLY YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS BRANDY DAVIDSON, THEN DAVID KISSINGER, THEN RICHARD HARVEY. IS BRANDY HERE? OKAY. DAVID. HELLO. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS DAVID KISSINGER WITH THE PACIFIC WEST ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. UM, FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, UH, PAC WEST IS A 5 0 1 C SIX ORGANIZATION. I'M A REGISTERED LOBBYIST WITH THE CITY AND A 25 YEAR RESIDENT. AND I WANTED JUST TO, UH, START BY SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE, THE SPIRIT OF THE FAIR PLAN IN THE SENSE THAT IT CONSOLIDATES EVERYTHING INTO ONE KIND OF ONE STOP SHOPPING. IT, IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR US TO COMPLY AND EASIER FOR YOU AT THE CITY TO ENFORCE. RIGHT? AND I THINK THAT'S SORT OF THE SPIRIT. WITH THAT IN MIND, RESPECTFULLY, I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS THAT I WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT CAREFULLY AS YOU MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ITEM. AND IN THE STAFF REPORT, I'M REFERRING TO TWO RECOMMENDATIONS, NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER FOUR, AND RECOMMENDATION NUMBER THREE. IT BASICALLY CALLS FOR, UH, A LOBBYIST TO SUBMIT A NUMBER OF ITEMS, UH, THAT HAVE TO DO WITH, UH, CONTACT WITH MEMBERS, WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS. THOSE ITEMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED. THEY'RE ALL PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. AS YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS THE DOCUMENT LANDS ON YOUR DESK, IT IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT AND IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERABLE. SO THIS CREATES MORE COMPLIANCE BURDEN FOR THOSE FOR DOCUMENTS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR HAND. SECOND, I WANTED TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER, AND THIS IS MORE OF A CONCERN, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS BE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS PLEASE. AND WHERE THE EXEMPTION FALLS, WHO IS EXEMPT AND WHO IS NOT? IS IT ALL C SIXES THAT MUST COMPLY AND ALL C THREES DON'T. THAT MAY CREATE TO JUST QUICKLY A WRAP UP THAT MAY CREATE AN IMBALANCE OVER WHOSE VOICE MUST HAVE SCRUTINY AND WHO VOICE MUST NOT. AND SO THAT'S KIND OF A VALUE JUDGMENT THAT'S BEST RESERVED FOR SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE OF AN ORDINANCE. I WOULD URGE YOU TO EITHER ELIMINATE THAT OR USE A GREAT DEAL OF CAUTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE IT. THANKS SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS RICHARD HARVEY, AND THEN SARAH ZADY. AND THEN LOU. AND THEN LEE. IS RICHARD HERE? IS SARAH HERE? YES. SARAH, YOU'RE UP AFTER SARAH IS LOU, AND THEN LEE. HI MAYOR RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL. YOU KNOW, UM, I'VE SAT HERE ALL NIGHT TONIGHT AND LISTENED TO YOU AND HONOR THE NEEDS FOR, UM, THE WELLBEING AND MENTAL HEALTH OF NATIVE AMERICANS. I'VE HEARD YOU, YOU KNOW, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THE HEARTBREAK OF BRANDON BOYD'S FAMILY. UM, AND I'VE HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT THE JUSTICE FUND, UM, AND ADVOCATE FOR THAT. I'VE HEARD ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY, WHEN PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, THE WHOLE, UM, THE WHOLE CITY IS STRONGER. UM, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW WHO ARE NOT FEELING SAFE BECAUSE OF WHAT, UM, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. SO I'M REALLY HERE, UM, TO SUPPORT KIND OF THE, UM, HUMAN RIGHTS, UM, SCREENING THAT THE COMMITTEE ON, UH, THE COMMISSION ON EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS HAS, UM, PUT FORWARD. AND, UM, REALLY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT FEELING SAFE WHEN OUR, WHEN OUR CITY IS INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGIES AND CORPORATIONS THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM THE VIOLENCE AGAINST NOT ONLY OUR BLACK COMMUNITY, UM, IT ADVOCATES FOR OR IT LEADS TO SURVEILLANCE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING TAKEN FROM OUR STREETS. SO I REALLY JUST WANT TO ADD MY, UH, SUPPORT TO MAKE, UH, ETHICAL, ETHICAL GOVERNANCE A PRIORITY AND AGENDAS AND ADOPT THE HUMAN RIGHTS SCREENING POLICY. THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, LOU. HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LOU ROSEN. I'M A RESIDENT AND VOTER IN LONG BEACH. I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S ATTEMPTS TO STRENGTHEN AND STREAMLINE OUR CITY'S ETHICS POLICIES. AS PART OF THIS MEASURE, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO AGENDIZE AND APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE ETHICS AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION TO ADOPT A CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTMENT SCREENING POLICY FOR ALL CITY INVESTMENTS. THOSE WHO HAVE SPOKEN ON THE POLICY BEFORE ME HAVE SUNG ITS PRAISES MUCH MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN I COULD. WHAT I WANNA REITERATE IS THAT THESE CITY INVESTMENTS WE ARE DISCUSSING ARE NOT JUST SOME ABSTRACT CONCEPT. THE FUNDS FOR THESE INVESTMENTS COME DIRECTLY FROM THE PEOPLE OF LONG BEACH IN THE FORM OF OUR TAX DOLLARS. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM PAYS HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN TAXES TO THIS CITY EACH YEAR. AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WAY OUR MONEY IS INVESTED REFLECTS OUR VALUES AS THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF LONG [02:05:01] BEACH, THIS PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DON'T SUPPORT GENOCIDE. WE DON'T SUPPORT COLLABORATION WITH ICE IN ANY CAPACITY. WE DON'T SUPPORT ENDLESS WARS AROUND THE WORLD, THE MILITARY, INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, OR OIL COMPANIES WHICH SEEK TO MORTGAGE THE FUTURE OF OUR PLANET FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS IN THE NAME OF PROFITS, PASS THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS SCREENING POLICY AND PUT OUR OUR MONEY WHERE OUR VALUES ARE. THANK YOU TO THE BOYD FAMILY FOR SPEAKING TODAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE COUNCIL ADOPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION IN THE SAME WAY THAT I HOPE YOU ADOPT THOSE OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION AND TAKE CONCRETE ACTION TO REDUCE POLICE FORCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. BLACK LIVES MATTER. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, AND LEE IS OUR FINAL SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. I AM A RESIDENT AND A RENTER IN LONG BEACH'S FIRST DISTRICT. THE WORDS TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PUBLIC TRUST HOLD IMPORTANT MEANING WHEN IT COMES TO THE GOVERNANCE OF OUR BELOVED CITY. THE FAIR ACT IS A GREAT START, BUT I ASK THE COUNCIL TO PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MORALS ARE. IF THESE GUIDELINES ARE WHAT YOU ARE GOVERNING OUR CITY BY THEN PUT IT INTO ACTION AND AGENDIZE AND ADOPT THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTMENT SCREENING POLICY, WHICH WAS ALREADY PASSED BY THE, UH, EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION AND SENT TO YOUR DESKS LAST MONTH, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS AGENDIZE IT AND IMPLEMENT IT. THE SCREENING POLICY WOULD PUT THESE VALUES INTO ACTION. SO LET'S NOT JUST SAY WE BELIEVE IN THESE VALUES. LET'S ACTUALLY NOT SPEND MONEY ON THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE IN AS A CITY. UM, ETHICAL INVESTING HAS BEEN WELL RESEARCHED AND AN ESTABLISHED PRACTICE FOR DECADES, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PRECEDENT FROM OTHER CITIES DOING SIMILAR THINGS AND SEEING NO NEGATIVE OUTCOMES. SO THIS MUST BE AN ETHICAL GOVERNANCE PRIORITY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO AGENDIZE AND IMMEDIATELY ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT THIS IMPORTANT SCREENING POLICY ALONG WITH THE, UH, THE FAIR ACT. ADDITIONALLY, MAYOR RICHARDSON, PLEASE GET ICE OUT OF OUR CITY. STAND UP FOR US. SERIOUSLY GET ICE OUT OF OUR CITY. THANK YOU. OPEN TO IDEAS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THANKS FOR, UM, EVERYONE WHO'S COME TO SPEAK AND YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD AND I WANNA THANK, UM, CHAIR P*****K AND THE ETHICS COMMISSION FOR THEIR YEARS OF WORK. REALLY DIVING INTO THIS UNDERSTANDING AND BEING TRANSPARENT IS THAT THEY'RE INFLUENCING OUR CITY LEADERS' DECISIONS AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN, UH, THE PUBLIC TRUST IN THOSE AREAS. SO I'M GLAD TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCIES COMMITTEE AS THE CHAIR AND MY FELLOW, UM, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THE CITY MORE TRANSPARENT. I DO BELIEVE THAT ERRING ON THE SIDE OF BEING TOO TRANSPARENT, BUT I THINK THERE ARE CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESOURCES THAT EXTENSIVE REPORTING TAKES. SO I'M GLAD TO BE ABLE TO FIND THIS BALANCE WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ON THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCIES COMMITTEE AND, UH, BRING IT BACK HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SOTE. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR THE WORK OF OUR ETHICS COMMISSION. UM, WE KNOW THAT THOUGHTFUL RECOMMENDATIONS LIKE THESE DON'T JUST MATERIALIZE. UM, THEY TAKE, UH, RESEARCH AND ADVICE AND CONSULTING OF FOLKS THAT, UM, ARE STEEPED IN THIS. AND SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BRINGING SOMETHING SO THOUGHTFUL TO US AND FOR THE MAYOR FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD. UM, AND YES, I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DISCUSSION WE'RE GONNA HAVE IN THE GOV OPERATIONS, UM, AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE RELATED TO THIS. UM, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE PERSPECTIVE OF THINKING ABOUT WHERE ALL THESE THINGS ARE IN A MUNICIPAL CODE, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT THE POLICY THAT THE CITY HAS IS UPFRONT AND CLEAR, DOESN'T HAVE AREAS THAT ARE GRAY, AREAS THAT WE'RE CLARIFYING THE DEFINITIONS. UM, BUT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DUGGAN ALSO SHARED, UM, I DO WANNA BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE OPERATIONALIZE THIS, UM, AS WE ARE IN THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, UH, COMMITTEE AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE RIGHT AROUND HOW THIS IS GONNA GET DONE. I KNOW THERE'S SOME RECOMMENDATIONS IN HERE AROUND LIKE, UH, WHAT THAT IN INVOLVES AS FAR AS REPORTING PORTALS, STAFFING FUNDING, RIGHT? SO I WANT US TO GIVE SOME REALLY CLEAR THOUGHT TO THAT. UM, ADMITTEDLY WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I'M LIKE, YES, EXCELLENT TRANSPARENCY. BUT THEN I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE, THE WORK THAT MY STAFF ALREADY DO, TO BE HONEST. UM, AND HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT'LL THIS WILL PUT ON COUNCIL OFFICES THAT ARE ALREADY HAVE A TON OF WORK TO DO. UM, [02:10:01] SO WHETHER THAT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL STAFFING NECESSARY THEN TO ALLOW US TO DO THESE THINGS. SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE AT GOBER OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING FORTH SOMETHING THAT IS EQUITABLE, UM, AND RE REPRESENTS OUR CITY WELL. ALRIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER THON TOOK, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, SO MAYOR RICHARDSON, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, UM, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE ETHICS COMMISSION FOR YOUR YEARS OF WORK AND COMMITMENT TO THIS MATTER AND BRINGING FORWARD THIS PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR ACCOUNTABILITY INTEGRITY AND REPORTING FAIR ACT. UM, IT'S NOTED ALREADY BY MY COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A CRUCIAL STEP IN CENTRALIZING ETHIC POLICY ETHICS POLICIES, AND UPDATING OUR LOBBYIST ORDINANCE. NOW MORE THAN EVER, CITY LEADERS MUST REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO ETHICAL GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY. SO I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE, UM, OF THAT SPIRIT AND INTENT BEHIND THIS COMPREHENSIVE REFORM. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS LOOKED AT SIMPLIFYING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS BY FOCUSING ON THE NUMBER OF CONTEXTS AND CLARIFYING THAT LOBBYING INCLUDES INFLUENCING ANY LEGISLATIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, IRRESPECTIVE OF ITS PENDING STATUS. THIS CLOSES IMPORTANT LOOPHOLES AND BRINGS OUR ORDINANCE IN LINE WITH BEST PACK PRACTICES. SO AS WE LOOK TOWARDS DRAFTING A NEW ORDINANCE, UM, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION, ADMINISTRATIVE FEASIBILITY AND COST TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MEET, UM, AND THAT IT'S SMART AND ALSO IS EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE. SO I WOULD JUST SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE ON THE DO, UH, THE, UM, COVERED , IT'S LIKE NOT THE DOGE, IT'S NOT THE DOGE. I KNOW , OUR, UH, GOVERNMENT OP EFFICIENCY, UH, COMMITTEE, UM, AS WELL AS TO OUR STAFF. UM, I WANNA SHARE, UH, A SERIES OF QUESTIONS, NOT, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T ALL HAVE TO BE ANSWERED HERE TODAY, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THE ANALYSIS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD. UH, YEAH, THAT'S BEEN ON MY MIND TODAY. UM, SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS RELATED TO OUR CALENDAR AND DISCLOSURES. SO I AGREE, LET'S HAVE FULL TRANSPARENCY. UM, BUT I ALSO SEE THAT THERE IS A DUTY TO THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND TO THIS BODY. WE ARE A SUPER MAJORITY OF WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING ON THIS COUNCIL. SO THIS PROPOSAL MENTIONS EXEMPTIONS FOR SECURITY THAT ARE MODELED ON SANTA CLARA'S ORDINANCE, BUT WHO SPECIFICALLY DEFINES WHAT CONSTITUTES A SECURITY RISK FOR REDACTION? ARE WE ASKING OUR SCHEDULERS TO MAKE LEGAL DETERMINATIONS ON WHAT SHOULD BE REDACTED 12 TIMES A YEAR? AND WHAT IS THE LIABILITY OF MISSING SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY IN DOING SO? SO THAT'S THE FIRST ONE. SECOND, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A PUBLIC RECORDS ACT PROCESS. AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WORKS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR SPECIFIC REQUESTS. MY CONCERN IS STAFF TIME REQUIRED TO UPLOAD CALENDARS PROACTIVELY EVERY MONTH. UH, WE ARE PART-TIME COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE HAVE LIMITED STAFF BUDGETS AND NOT EVERY OFFICE HAS A DEDICATED SCHEDULER, SOMEONE WHO'S FOCUSED ON THE CALENDAR BECAUSE WE'RE PRIORITIZING RESPONDING TO THE COMMUNITY. SO AS A RESULT, UH, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS CONSIDERING THE SIGNIFICANT STAFFING IMPACT, UM, THAT THIS MIGHT HAVE ON, UH, AND CONSIDER THE FISCAL ANALYSIS. I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT CREATING A NEW ADMINISTRATIVE BOTTLENECK AND THAT ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN THE PROCESS AND KEEPS US FROM BEING ABLE TO MEET OUR NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS. UH, THIRD, THE MEMO NOTES THAT WE NEED TO DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGY CAPACITIES TO HANDLE THE CALENDAR DISCLOSURES AND FILINGS. UM, DO WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE, I PRESUME NOT AT THIS TIME, THAT AUTOMATES THE UPLOADS OF AND REDACT REDACTIONS OR WILL. THE STAFF HAS TO MANUALLY GO THROUGH PDFS. SO I THINK IT'LL BE IMPORTANT TO REVIEW WHATEVER THAT TECHNOLOGY WILL BE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THAT. MOVING ON TO, I'VE TALKED ALREADY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, FISCAL AND STAFFING IMPACT. UH, THE MEMO STATES THAT WE'LL HAVE SIGNIFICANT STAFFING IMPACT BEYOND NORMAL DUTIES, INCLUDING STAFF TIME FOR CALENDAR UPLOADS AND TRAINING MATERIALS. UM, AS WE DRAFT THE ORDINANCE, CAN WE, UH, SPECIFY THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS POLICY? SO ADDING THE ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY, THE TIME THAT'S GONNA BE NEEDED, UH, WILL THE CLERK HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN THE OFFICE OR IS THIS AN ADDITIONAL UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT THE COUNCIL AND STAFF WILL HAVE TO MANAGE? AND FINALLY, UH, I WANNA CLARIFY, UM, RECOMMENDATION NUMBER FIVE. THE MAYOR ACTUALLY WENT OVER THAT IN HIS REMARKS. UM, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS COMMUNITY LEADERS GIVE US A CALL AND ASK US TO DO SOMETHING LIKE, UM, ENSURING THAT POTHOLES ARE FILLED, THAT THOSE ARE NOT CONSIDERED, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS [02:15:01] THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE, UH, DISCLOSED ACCORDINGLY. SO I BELIEVE THESE QUESTIONS ARE VITAL TO ENSURE THAT THE FAIR ACT IS NOT ONLY STRONG IN PRINCIPLE AS I BELIEVE THE, UM, COMMISSION IS INTERESTED IN, BUT EFFECTIVE AND FISCALLY SOUND IN PRACTICE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE STAFF AS WELL AS, UH, THE COMMITTEE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE DETAILS ARE INCLUDED IN THE DRAFTING PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN KERR? YES. UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. AND I WANNA THANK, UM, ALL THE PAST AND CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS. UM, IT'S BEEN, AS, UH, MS. WISE SAID, IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS INVOLVING LOTS OF PROFESSIONALS AND I, I RESPECT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING. I WANNA THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR RAISING, UH, QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION AT GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE. UH, I JUST WANTED TO ADD A COUPLE OF MORE QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION. UM, I DIDN'T, WHEN READING IT AS, AND DIVING IN AS WE LOOK AT LOBBYISTS ON BEHALF OF BUSINESSES OR BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, I WOULD LOVE SOME CLARITY IN THE WORK AROUND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS OR OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS. AND SO THE STAFF OF THOSE DISTRICTS AND ASSOCIATIONS OFTEN WILL CALL AND REPORT. THERE WAS A BREAK IN, THERE WAS A CALL, I HAVE A CONCERN. ARE THEY, ARE THEY CONSIDERED LOBBYISTS? LIKE HOW THEY FIT INTO THE DEFINITION AND THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE THOSE MORE FORMALIZED RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITY AND WITH THE COUNCIL OFFICES. UM, SO IF WE COULD INCLUDE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. UM, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AROUND, UM, CALENDARS AND SCHEDULING. UM, I THINK WE NEED CLEAR LANGUAGE DEFINING WHAT A NON-SCHEDULED MEETING IS. UM, WE KNOW WHAT THE EXEMPTIONS ARE, BUT WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A NON-SCHEDULED MEETING IS THAT I STOOD IN THE LINE AT THE COFFEE PLACE AND ENDED UP TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO I'VE KNOWN MY WHOLE LIFE. 'CAUSE I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, BUT IT WAS LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES. BUT I KNOW THAT THEY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO GO BACK AND ADD TO A CALENDAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN IMPROMPTU, WE JUST RAN INTO EACH OTHER KIND OF SITUATION. SO I THINK SOME CLARITY ON THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. THE QUESTIONS AROUND, UM, THE BUDGET AND CAN WE OPERATIONALIZE THIS AND WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT LOOKS LIKE BOTH TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AS WELL AS TO COUNCIL OFFICES TO DO THAT WORK HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASKED. AND I WILL, UM, SAY HERE, HERE TO HAVING THAT INFORMATION REALLY CLEAR. UM, AND I THINK I SO APPRECIATE, UM, THE INTENT AND WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS AND BEING CLEAR WITH OUR INFORMATION AND OUR CALENDARS AND ALL OF THAT. UM, I DO WANNA SAY THAT, UM, AS SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ACROSS A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS. I KNOW EDUCATORS, I KNOW PARENTS FROM PTA, I KNOW PEOPLE WHOSE KIDS I BABYSAT FOR WHO HAPPEN TO HAVE JOBS THAT OVERLAP WITH SOME OF THIS WORK. AND SO AS WE AUTHENTICALLY LIVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WONDER IF WE HAVE CONSIDERATION THAT THERE ARE SOME TIMES WHERE I'M NOT THE COUNCIL MEMBER, I JUST HAPPEN TO BE AT DINNER WITH SOME FRIENDS, OR I JUST RAN INTO SOMEBODY AT THE MOVIES. AND SO AS WE'RE DOING THE INTENT OF BEING TRANSPARENT, UNDERSTANDING THAT PRIVACY AND SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE PARAMOUNT TO OUR FAMILIES AS WELL AS, UM, BEING TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC. AND SO AS WE OPERATIONALIZE THIS FOR HUMAN PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY TRYING THEIR BEST TO DO THE WORK, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THE, THE KNOWING EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY OF WHERE I HAPPEN TO BE AND I HAD COFFEE AT THE MERCHANT, IF THAT MATTERS TO SOMEBODY AND I TALKED TO A BUSINESS OWNER, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE REAL. UM, SO AS WE IMPLEMENT THINGS THAT ARE ON PAPER, HOW WE OPERATIONALIZE THEM IN OUR OWN LIVES, I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE TO DO THE REPORTING. BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE TRYING OUR VERY BEST AND WE LIVE HERE AUTHENTICALLY, MAKING SURE WE GET IT AS RIGHT AS IS INTENDED TO GET RIGHT. AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE DON'T FORGET THE HUMANNESS OF, I WILL SPEAK FOR ME, OF ME IN THE WORK AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'VE BUILT OVER A LIFETIME IN THE CITY. UM, THAT WHEN I CHATTED WITH MY FRIEND ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE CITY, IT WAS BECAUSE I'M A RESIDENT HERE TOO. SO I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE AUTHENTICITY, ABOUT THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND THE INTENTION. UM, AND ONE OF OUR CORE, OUR VALUES HERE ON THE DIOCESE THAT ASSUMING GOOD INTENT. UM, SO I JUST WANNA THROW OUT THE HUMANNESS OF THIS AS WELL AS WE READ THIS AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW DO I MAKE SURE MY STAFF IS DOING ALL OF THE THINGS RIGHT WHEN MY STAFF IS FOCUSED IN MANY PLACES. SO I JUST WANNA THROW THAT OUT FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE, UH, COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL I WANNA THANK, UH, THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR, UH, THOSE QUESTIONS. I THINK THEY'RE ALL FAIR QUESTIONS. THESE, WE, WE ARE GONNA NEED THIS TO BE EMBRACED. WE'RE GONNA NEED FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND AND HAVE CLARITY ON HOW THIS WORKS. UH, BUT ULTIMATELY ONE COMES BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND WHAT I ULTIMATELY SIGN NEEDS TO BE, UM, A DOCUMENT THAT ADVANCES OUR CITY, MOVES TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC TRUST FORWARD. AND, AND I [02:20:01] THINK, I THINK, UH, NOTHING THAT WAS RAISED TODAY SHOULD BE A BARRIER FROM US DOING THAT. THANKS A LOT. EVERYONE. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. OCEAN IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA DO, UH, 24 QUICKLY AND THEN, UM, GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM 24, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI COUNCILWOMAN THRESH OOK RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL ADOPT RESOLUTION [24. 25-56975 Recommendation to request Long Beach City Council adopt resolution in support of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA).       Office or Department: Joni Ricks-Oddie, Councilmember, Ninth District; Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, Councilwoman, Eighth District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] IN SUPPORT OF THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION. COUNCILMAN B BRICKS. OTI. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I'M PROUD TO BRING FORWARD THIS ITEM TODAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCILWOMAN THRESH ENUK. IT'S AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND FAIRNESS VALUES TO GUIDE SO MUCH THE WORK WE DO HERE. AT ITS CORE, THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT SUPPORTING WOMEN WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR HER DIGNITY AND EQUITY IN THEIR PROFESSION. THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR IMPROVING WORKPLACE STANDARDS, STRENGTHENING PROTECTIONS, AND ENSURING FAIR TREATMENT FOR WOMEN ATHLETES. THE WORK REFLECTS THE VERY PRINCIPLES THAT LONG BEACH HAS STOOD LONG, STOOD BEHIND SUPPORTING WORKERS, UPLIFTING WOMEN, AND FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE CAN THRIVE. THIS MOMENT ALSO CONNECTS DEEPLY TO OUR CITY'S HISTORY. LONG BEACH HAS A PROUD LEGACY ADVANCING WOMEN'S RIGHTS, EMBODIED BY ONE OF OUR MOST ICONIC FIGURES. BILLIE JEAN KING. SHE FOUND OUR LOVE FOR TENNIS ON PUBLIC COURTS RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH. BEFORE BECOMING A GLOBAL LEADER FOR EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, SUPPORTING THE WNBA TODAY IS ANOTHER WAY WE HONOR THE LEGACY AND CONTINUE THE WORK. SHE BEGAN BUILDING A FUTURE WHERE WOMEN ARE VALUED EQUALLY IN EVERY SECTOR. WE ALSO KNOW THE PROGRESS MADE THROUGH TITLE IX CONTINUES TO SHAPE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN. TITLE IX OPENED THE DOORS THAT ONE SEEMED A POSSIBLE CREATING PATHWAYS FOR WOMEN ATHLETES AT EVERY LEVEL. THE WORK OF WNBA IS A COMBINATION OF THAT PROGRESS, ENSURING THAT AS WOMEN EXCEL IN THIS FIELD, THEY ARE SUPPORTING THEIR FAIRNESS, RESPECT, AND SAFE WORK CONDITIONS. THIS IS ALSO ALIGNED WITH OUR OWN LOCAL EFFORTS. THE CREATION OF THE COMMISSION ON WOMEN AND GIRLS STRENGTHENED OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS HERE IN LONG BEACH. WE ARE ALSO CONTINUE TO CREATE SPACE THAT ELEVATE AND CELEBRATE WOMEN IN SPORTS. ONE OF THE NEWEST EXAMPLES IS THE WATCH ME SPORTS BAR. THE FIRST SPORTS BAR IN CAIF, IN I THINK IN THE COUNTRY, ACTUALLY DEDICATED ENTIRELY TO THE APPRECIATION AND CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S SPORTS. IT HAS SPACE THAT HAS QUICKLY BECOME A COMMUNITY HUB WHERE RESIDENTS CAN COME TOGETHER, WATCH WOMEN ATHLETES COME, COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS AND EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND THE EXCITEMENT AND PRIDE THAT WOMEN'S SPORTS BRINGS OUR CITY. THE PRESENCE OF A WOMAN-CENTERED SPORTS BAR RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH REINFORCES HOW DEEPLY OUR COMMUNITY VALUES WOMEN ATHLETES AND THE VISIBILITY THEY DESERVE. WHETHER IT'S ECONOMIC, MOBILITY, SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, OR LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY SHOWN THAT GENDER EQUITY IS A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY. SUPPORTING THE WNBA UM, UH, PA REINFORCES OUR ROLE AS THE CITY THAT STANDS BEHIND WOMEN ADVOCATING FOR EQUITABLE TREATMENT. LONG BEACH HAS ALSO BEEN A LEADER IN PROTECTING WORKERS' RIGHTS AND ELEVATING FAIR LABOR STANDARDS FROM IMPROVING WAGES TO SUPPORTING ECONOMIC JUSTICE. OUR CITY HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN THAT WE CAN BE THE VOICE OF FAIRNESS. AND OF COURSE, UM, THE LOS ANGELES PARKS ARE PART OF OUR LOCAL REGIONAL COMMUNITY AND SERVE AS A ROLE MODEL FOR SO MANY WOMEN ATHLETES RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH. STANDING WITH THEM TODAY REINFORCES OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED, SUPPORTED, AND VALUED. ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION IS A POSITIVE AND MEANINGFUL STEP FORWARD. IT ALLOWS LONG BEACH TO CONTINUE DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP, HONORING OUR HERITAGE, AND SUPPORTING WOMEN WHO ARE RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF ATHLETICS AND EQUITY. I RESPECTFULLY ASK MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER TH TOOK ANYTHING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN RICKS OTI FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UM, AS A SUPER MAJORITY WOMEN COUNCIL, IT IS EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE WNBA AND LOOKING AT WOMEN BEING LIFTED UP EQUALLY IN THE SPORT OF BASKETBALL AND ALL SPORT ACCORDINGLY. UM, THIS EVENING JUST REPRESENTS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOW AT A POINT WHERE NOT ONLY CAN WE, UM, BE A COUN A COUNCIL, UH, WITH WOMEN ON IT, BUT BRINGING FORTH, UH, MEASURES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ADVANCING THE CONDITION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS WITHIN OUR CITY AND WITHIN THE REGION. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, HERE, HERE IN SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, AS A, A, A DAD WHOSE DAUGHTER JOINED THE BASKETBALL TEAM AND SHE MADE TWO BASKETS THIS SEASON, ON BOARD AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SPARKS ACTUALLY LAST SEASON PLAYED THE FIRST FIVE GAMES AT THE PYRAMID IN LONG BEACH. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU ACTUALLY WENT. IT WAS PRETTY, IT WAS PRETTY INCREDIBLE. SO OBVIOUSLY, UH, PROUD TO THROW MY SUPPORT, UM, BEHIND THIS EFFORT. WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP SPEAK. YVONNE WHEELER. I DON'T SEE STEVE NEILS SIGNED UP. I SEE YVONNE WHEELER SIGNED UP. AND HONORABLE COUNCILMAN STEVE NEIL IN THE HOUSE. WE SEE YOU. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS YVONNE WHEELER AND I'M A PRESIDENT OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FEDERATION OF LABOR. AND I RISE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO RESPECTFULLY, UH, SUPPORT [02:25:01] THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT IN SUPPORT OF THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION. UH, WE KNOW THAT THIS, UH, THE WNBA IS THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SPORTS IN U UNITED STATES HISTORY AND HAS REPRESENTED ATHLETES SINCE 1998. TODAY, MEMBERS ACROSS 13 TEAMS ARE ENGAGED IN SIX CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRED ON OCTOBER 31ST, AND THEY'RE WORKING CURRENTLY WITHOUT A CONTRACT. WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THAT THE WOMEN OF THE WNBA DOES NOT GET PAID EQUITY. THEY GET PAID LESS THAN ANY THE MALE BASKETBALL TEAMS WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT PROFIT SHARING. THE MALE TEAMS GET 50% OF PROFIT SHARING. THE WOMEN IN THE WNBA GETS 9% WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TRAVEL. THE WOMEN IN THE, UH, THE WNBA, UH, HAS TO TRAVEL ON A COACH FLIGHT. AND FOR COMMERCIAL AIRLINES, WHILE THEY, UH, THE NBA HAS PRIVATE AIRLINES, THE WOMEN ON THE WNBA DOES NOT HAVE HEALTHCARE DURING OFF SEASON. AND SO THESE ARE INEQUITIES THAT WE SEE ACROSS THE BOARD. WE ASK THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ADOPT A RESOLUTION, THE SUPPORT OF THE N DB, UH, WNBA, DOING THEIR CONTRACT NEGOTIATION. AND I THINK BOTH, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JO JOANIE, RICKS OTI AND NU AND TOOK, UH, THRASH INTO SPOKES, UH, ELOQUENTLY ABOUT WHY THE NEED IS TODAY AND WILL ALWAYS BE. AND I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT SATISFIES PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD? UH, YES. UH, MAYOR, OUR OFFICE ACTUALLY NEEDS TO REVIEW THIS BECAUSE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE UNDER THE CHARTER FOR ALL RESOLUTIONS. SO IT'LL NEED TO COME TO US JUST TO REVIEW, TO BE COMPLIANT WITH STATE LAW AND THEN WE CAN JUST BRING IT BACK. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT. UH, MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. WE'RE GONNA TAKE 32 QUICKLY. THE ORDINANCE, THERE'S NO PRESENTATION HERE. REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION [32. 25-56980 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Section 16.52.2540, relating to the designation of the property located at 149 Siena Drive, as a historic landmark, read and adopted as read.       Office or Department: City Attorney         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 49 SIENNA DRIVE AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK, READ AND ADOPTED AS RED. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. GREAT. WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD. FORREST BRASS NASSAR. MICHAEL G. ANTHONY [ PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE CITY CLERK Opportunity to address the City Council (on non-agenda items) is given to the first 10 persons who submit Speaker Cards to the City Clerk beginning at 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ] HOLMES, ANITA BALL, UH, BRETT FINK, DAVE SHUKLA, ALYSSA GUTIERREZ, AND REINA REDMAN. SORRY. IS FOREST HERE? YEP. ALRIGHT, PLEASE COME FORWARD FOR, OH, HERE WE GO. HELLO, EVERYONE. IF YOU'RE DRESSED IN SUITS OR UNIFORMS, I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE HUMAN BEINGS AT THE END OF THE DAY AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN ADDRESS EACH OTHER AS SUCH. UM, SORRY. I, UH, I WANTED TO CONTINUE WHAT I WAS READING, UM, ABOUT THE SCREENING POLICY HERE. UM, I'M JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND START AGAIN. I'M HERE TO STRONGLY URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTMENT SCREENING POLICY AND TO INTEGRATE IT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FAIR ACT. ITEMS 2023 FOR TODAY. WHILE THE FAIR ACT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS IMPROVING ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY IN LONG BEACH, IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR FINANCIAL DECISIONS REFLECT THE SAME VALUES AND INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. OUR INVESTMENTS ARE NOT NEUTRAL. THEY ARE A DIFFERENT EXPRESSION OF WHAT WE STAND FOR AS A CITY, A CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTMENT SCREENING POLICY ENSURES THAT LONG BEACH DOES NOT INVEST PUBLIC FUNDS IN COMPANIES OR INSTITUTIONS THAT ENGAGE IN PRACTICES THAT VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS, FUEL DISCRIMINATION, OR HARM VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. IT ENSURES THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO INJUSTICE LIKE THE KILLING OF BRANDON BOYD, WHETHER GLOBALLY OR RIGHT HERE AT HOME. THIS POLICY HAS ALREADY BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION, AND MANY RESIDENTS HAVE VOICED THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL. IT ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE GOALS OF THE FAIR ACT, WHICH SEEK TO BUILD PUBLIC TRUST, STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY, AND [02:30:01] MODERNIZE OUR ETHICS STANDARDS. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO INCORPORATE THIS INVESTMENT SCREENING POLICY INTO THE FAIR ACT FRAMEWORK AND TO MAKE IT A CENTRAL COMPONENT OF THE UPCOMING PUBLIC REVIEW THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT'S OPERATIONS AND EFFICACY COMMITTEE. IF LONG BEACH WANTS TO LEAD ON ETHICS, TRANSPARENCY, AND JUSTICE, OUR GOVERNANCE PRACTICES AND OUR INVESTMENTS MUST BE ALIGNED. THIS POLICY GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, THAT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU FOR ENSURING THAT LONG BEACH FI, LONG, LONG BEACH FINANCIAL DECISIONS REFLECT OUR COMMUNITIES COMMITMENT TO CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS. WITH THE REST OF MY TIME, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENT FOR, UH, THE FAMILY OF BRANDON BOYD, THE PEOPLE OF SUDAN, CONGO, PALESTINE, AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO IS ABUSED AND USED BY A VERY, UH, WHITE SUPREMACIST SYSTEM. HOPEFULLY WE CAN, I DON'T KNOW, STOP DOING THAT. FREE PALESTINE. OKAY, NEXT UP WE HAVE, UH, MICHAEL G. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE. HELLO, MEGAN. AND, UH, I'M CALLED TO SPEAK TONIGHT FOR SEVERAL REASONS. I JUST, I, UM, IT'S REALLY GOOD THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE THE WHOLE NIGHT HEARING ABOUT THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND AND SOME OF THE, THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORKS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, MAKING LONG BEACH, WHAT IT COULD BE. UM, REALLY KIND OF UPSET ABOUT A LOT OF THE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES. I SEE LONG BEACH, IN PARTICULAR, THE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR CITY MANAGEMENT, UH, ARE, ARE MISSING OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY UPLIFT THE, THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY. I MEAN, OF COURSE, I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE ON TOP OF A BUNCH OF WHITE FLOWERS THAT PEOPLE BROUGHT FOR BRANDON BOYD TODAY, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A YEAR AGO TOMORROW THAT HE WAS MURDERED WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS, WITH MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS AND FLASH BANGS INSTEAD OF EMPATHY AND DEESCALATION. THAT'S, THAT'S ON OUR CITY. THAT'S ON YOU GUYS. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A PART OF THAT, THE, THE CITY THAT MAKES THAT HAPPEN. I'M TALKING TO REX REALLY RIGHT NOW. SORRY. UH, MR. , UH, USUALLY HE GETS MY, UH, MY EYE CONTACT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, REX. UH, IF YOU'RE ON THE TOILET, JUST KNOW I'M TALKING S**T ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW, , UH, BECAUSE WHEN WE SAID BRANDON BOYD'S NAME TODAY, I HEARD YOU REX SAY HIS NAME. THAT WAS ENCOURAGING BECAUSE THE DAY AFTER HE WAS KILLED, YOU DIDN'T SAY HIS NAME. YOU CALLED HIM A SUSPECT. OKAY? YOU STILL HAVE NOT CORRECTED THAT. SAY HIS NAME, BRANDON BOYD, WHEREVER YOU ARE, REX. AND THEN WE NEED TO GET ICE OUT OF OUR CITY. GUYS, I HEARD SOMEONE SAY IT EARLIER AND I SAW REX'S MOUTH LIKE, OH, BELIEVE ME, WE ARE, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST. WHERE, WHERE WOULD WE SEE THAT? WHERE DO WE SEE OUTWARD? LIKE WHETHER IT'S PERFORMED OR NOT. SOME SORT OF STATEMENT SAYING THAT ICE IS NOT A WELCOME PLACE FOR PEOPLE HANGING OUT AT THE YARD HOUSE ASSAULTING WOMEN WHEN THEY'RE OFF DUTY FROM ICE. THIS ISN'T A PLACE WHERE, UH, MASKED UP UN BADGED PEOPLE CAN COME AND KIDNAP PEOPLE. WE HAVEN'T HEARD REX SAY THAT OR ANY OF YOU. SO WHETHER YOU HAVE THINGS IN THE WORKS FOR MILLION DOLLAR LIKE WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE AFTER THEY'RE DETAINED BY ICE, THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. WHAT ARE WE DOING BEFORE THEY'RE KIDNAPPED? RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES WHEN PEOPLE GO OUT TO PROTEST WHERE THE ICE PEOPLE ARE HANGING OUT, KICKING BACK, DRINKING THEIR MILK LOBE ULTRA BEFORE KIDNAPPING PEOPLE TOMORROW, WE'RE OUT THERE PROTESTING. WHAT DO THE LBPD DO? THEY COME AND ARREST US. THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP THE KIDNAPPERS FROM BEING IN OUR CITY. THAT'S ON LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT'S ON YOU GUYS. WHAT ARE WE DOING? DO MORE INSTEAD OF CANCELING, UH, D DE LOS WEREN. THOSE PARADES, SIR TIMES WE SHOULD BE CALLING OUT FOR EVERYBODY TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT OURSELVES. YOU CAN WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS. UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS ANTHONY HOLMES. ANTHONY HOLMES. UP NEXT, WE ALSO HAVE NASSAR. OH, SPEAKER NUMBER TWO. OKAY, IS THERE A NASSAR? NOPE. ANTHONY HOLMES. I THINK SHE GOTTA GO SOMEWHERE SO SHE CAN GO. I I'LL GO AFTER HER. HE'S [02:35:01] GONNA, LEMME GO. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WILL BE TRANSCRIBED BECAUSE OF MY VOICE. SORRY. UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, I'M A NEWER RESIDENT TO LONG BEACH AND I LOVE THIS CITY. UM, I'M VERY IMPRESSED TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE PRIORITIZING ETHICS, WOMEN'S RIGHTS, JUSTICE, AND FAIRNESS. SO, I HAVE ONE CONCERN, ALTHOUGH I LOVE THE BOARDWALK SHORELINE. I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO. UM, THE CIRCUIT TROLLEY, ALL THOSE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU'VE INCORPORATED INTO OUR CITY. UM, KNOWING YOUR LEGACY FOR DOING THE THINGS THAT YOU DO, WHICH IS RESPONDING TO CITIZENS, RESIDENTS, PEOPLE LIVING HERE, I COME HERE TODAY WITH A SERIOUS IMPORTANT CONCERN, HOPING YOU WILL DO MORE THAN WHAT IS BEING DONE. FOR DECADES, BUSINESS PERMITS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO ELICIT ESTABLISHMENTS THAT SELL SERVICES TO CLIENTS WHO ARE HUSBANDS AND BOYFRIENDS. THIS ACTION ACT TRANSACTION HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY. IT'S A NATIONAL EPIDEMIC, AND THOUGH THESE BUSINESSES ADVERTISE THEMSELVES AS MASSAGE PARLORS, MASSAGE AND SPA WITH QUESTIONABLE LICENSES AS MASSEUSE, THERE ARE FLASHING RED LIGHTS, LACE CURTAINS, AND YOU HAVE TO BE BUZZED TO COME IN. THEY DON'T SERVICE WOMEN, THEY ONLY TAKE CASH, AND THEY SPEAK LIMITED ENGLISH. THERE'S A REASON I'VE MENTIONED THAT. UM, THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE RUNDOWN STRIP MALLS IN ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS. THEY'RE UP AND DOWN SPRING STREET SEVENTH ANAHEIM WILLOW. IN FACT, RUB MAPS.COM LISTS EROTIC MASSAGE PARLORS ALL OVER LONG BEACH. AND ALL THESE ARE SIGNS THAT THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE MODERN BROTHELS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED LICENSES BY THIS CITY. RESIDENTS, MANY RESIDENTS, YOU CAN GUESS WHICH GENDER DISAPPROVE OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS AND ARE HOPING LAPD, UH, EXCUSE ME, UH, LONG BEACH PD WILL MONITOR SUCH PROSTITUTION FRONTS, SHUT THEM DOWN PERMANENTLY. I DON'T KNOW THE CHAIN OF AUTHORITY IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN, BUT REGARDLESS OF THE, PLEASE LET ME FINISH THIS. REGARDLESS OF THE REVENUE THAT THESE BUSINESSES BRING, THE CITY, PLEASE CONSIDER THE WOMEN, THE SEX TRAFFICKING, THE MOTHERS, EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THESE DISGUSTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID. YOU SEE THEM ON THE LEFT, YOU SEE THEM ON THE RIGHT, PLEASE DO SOMETHING MORE THAN WHAT'S BEING DONE, MA'AM. THIS A DISGRACE, MA'AM. LET'S NOT ALLOW BROTHELS TO PROLIFERATE. THANK YOU. OKAY. UM, SHALL WE GO BACK TO SPEAKER NUMBER FOUR? ANTHONY HOLMES. I WAS HOPING THAT CAR WRECKS WAS GONNA STAY UP HERE, BUT I CAME TO ADDRESS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, CHRISTINA DUGIN. YOU KNOW, IN THE BEGINNING I USED TO ROOT FOR YOU ALL THE TIME. MARCH, WHEN I FIRST MADE MY APPEARANCE DOWN HERE, MARCH 7TH, I TOLD YOU I THOUGHT THAT YOU CAN BE THE NEXT MAYOR, BUT I STARTED WATCHING YOU CLOSELY, CLOSELY IN TWO, IN 2023. YOU WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT THEN CALLED THAT VOTED NO FOR CEASEFIRE ON PALESTINE. UM, AND THEN I WATCHED YOU LAST WEEK. I DIDN'T COME TO THAT MEETING. AND ON THE RECORD, REX DON'T PLAY WITH BELMONT SHORT, BUT HE PLAYED WITH PEOPLE LIKE ME OCTOBER 22ND WHEN I CAME, WHEN HE DIDN'T LET THE PEOPLE OVER THERE DO THE PRESENTATION. HE MADE SURE THAT PRESENTATION WENT AND ALL IN WHITE FOLKS AND BELMONT SHORE SPOKE AFTER LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. BUT I WATCH YOU SPEAK SO PASSIONATELY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN BELMONT SHORE AND HOW WE SHOULD PROTECT BELMONT SHORE AND LOOK OUT FOR THAT COMMUNITY. AND I THANK YOU TO KNEW IT FOR CHECKING HER. WE, WE LOOK OUT FOR ALL THE COMMUNITIES, BY THE WAY. AND YOU STARTED TO POINT THE FINGER AT ZENDEJAS. THAT'S HOW ANGRY I SEEN YOU LOOK EVER. SO NOW Y'ALL KNOW THE DIVISION STARTS WITHIN THE CITY COUNCIL. MM. UM, WE JUST HAD [02:40:01] NEW EIGHT NEW HIRES THIS MONDAY AND YOU GUYS WANTED TO TOM IKA, YOU WANTED TO GET RID OF, Y'ALL WANTED TO VOTE YES ON MEASURE JB WELL, EIGHT NEW, EIGHT NEW HIRES CAME IN ON MONDAY. GUESS HOW MANY BLACK PEOPLE WERE HIRED? ONE PERSON OUTTA EIGHT PEOPLE. SHAME. SHAME. YEAH. RIDICULOUS, HUH? UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SENDING BASIL CAN TOO AFTER ME. ANTI-BLACKNESS GUY. LIKE HE KEEPS COMING AFTER HIM. AND I'LL, I'LL SEE YOU DECEMBER 9TH. I HOPE YOU IN THE MEETING NOT ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES FOR YOUR ADMINISTRATION. UM, I WANTED TO SHARE A QUICK STORY WITH YOU. YOU KNOW, MY GIRLFRIEND, SHE ALWAYS ASKS ME, ANTHONY, DO YOU LOVE ME? AND I'LL ALWAYS TELL HER, YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. THEN SHE WOULD TELL ME THAT SHE NEED REASSURANCE. AND I'LL TELL HER, YOU KNOW, I LOVE YOU, SO I JUST WANNA LET YOU GUYS KNOW EVERY TIME Y'ALL DO SOMETHING WRONG, Y'ALL DON'T, Y'ALL DON'T PROTECT BLACK EMPLOYEES OR BLACK RESIDENTS. I'LL BE UP HERE TO REINSURE. Y'ALL DON'T WANT TO CUSS, BUT I HAVE TO STAY ON Y'ALL ASS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL CITY ADVISORS TOLD Y'ALL IN THE BEGINNING, OH, ANTHONY HOLMES IS GONNA GO AWAY. I'M NOT LIKE OTHER BLACK PEOPLE. I'M LIKE NOBODY IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT THAT WHEN IT GET, WHEN THE PRESSURE IS ON, I DON'T RUN AWAY. I'M GONNA COME KNOCK AT YOUR DOOR AND BRING IT TO YOUR DOORSTEPS. AND I HOPE EVERY BLACK PERSON COME DOWN HERE, LIKE ALL THE RESIDENTS IN BELMONT SHORE. AND HONESTLY, I WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH BELMONT SHORE AND APPLAUD THEM, APPLAUD THEM FOR COMING DOWN HERE. AND WE DON'T NEED NO MORE INVESTIGATION. WE NEED AN INTERVENTION. LIKE GET THESE A******S OUT OF THESE DEPARTMENTS TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING. I HEAR A LOT OF TALKS ABOUT THE ETHIC COMMISSION. THE ETHIC COMMISSION AIN'T DONE NOTHING. I'VE BEEN COMING. I ALMOST SERVED Y'ALL WHOLE TERM. YOU DONE IN WHAT NEXT YEAR IS YOUR LAST YEAR? I'VE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE THEN AND I WATCHED ALL Y'ALL, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE A BLESSED DAY, BRANDON BOY, REST IN PEACE. STAY WOKE. BLACK LONG BEACH. OKAY, UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS BRETT FINK. HELLO EVERYBODY. UM, MY NAME IS BRETT FINK. I'M A DISTRICT RESIDENT, UH, SMALL, UH, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND THE LACROSSE COACH AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH. UH, IT'S REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW UP EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT. UM, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING I I COULD SAY IS WE ALL ARE A COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND HOPE THAT RESONATES WITH EVERYBODY ACROSS THE LINE. I HAVE A, A SMALLER ISSUE THAT'S HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT EIGHT, UM, AND I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR COUNCIL WOMEN'S OFFICE ABOUT, UH, THIS ISSUE, UM, WHICH IS DAILY STREET WEIGHT RACING BURNOUTS, RECKLESS DRIVING THREATS FROM DRIVERS AND RECENT GANG GANG TAGGING. UH, MYSELF, I WAS THREATENED TO BY ONE OF THE DRIVERS WHO'S DOING, UM, STREET RACING WHERE I LIVE. UM, IT'S NOT AN OCCASIONAL NUISANCE. IT'S HAPPENING MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. MY, MY NEIGHBORS AND I HAVE VIDEO TIMES STAMPS, LICENSE PLATES, AND THE BEHAVIOR IS GETTING MORE BRAZEN. UM, AND IF YOU EVEN LOOK AT GOOGLE MAPS DATA, FOUR 48TH, 49TH AND PACIFIC, YOU WILL SEE IN 20, AS FAR BACK AS 2014, THERE ARE SKID MARKS ALL OVER OUR STREETS. UM, ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS FOR THIS IS, UM, THE STREET IS EXTREMELY WIDE AT BOTH 48TH, UH, 48TH AND 49TH PACIFIC. UM, AND THAT GIVES DRIVERS A LONG OPEN RUNWAY TO PICK UP SPEED, DRIFT, AND RACE WITH ALMOST NO RESISTANCE. IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT ENCOURAGES DANGEROUS BEHAVIORS AND THE ENTIRE B IS FEELING THE IMPACT. I APPRECIATE THE INITIAL RESPONSE FROM THE COUNCIL WOMAN'S OFFICE. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR ON ONSITE MEETING BEING SCHEDULED SOON. BUT THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ON PUBLIC RECORD BECAUSE IT'S ESCALATING QUICKLY AND BECOMING A REAL SAFETY THREAT FOR THE FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY, CHILDREN AND ANYONE WALKING OR DRIVING IN THE AREA. AND LET ME TELL YOU, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE. UM, WE'RE ASKING FOR TRAFFIC CALMING SOLUTIONS, MINI CIRCLES, SPEED HUMPS, LEAN NARROWING OR, OR CAMERAS, ANYTHING THAT BREAKS UP THE STRAIGHTAWAY AND FORCES DRIVERS TO SLOW DOWN. THE SAME THING THAT OUR NEIGHBORS IN BIXBY KNOWLES HAVE. UM, THESE TOOLS WORK AND THEY WORK IMMEDIATELY, AND WE DO NOT SEE THE SAME LOVE THAT THEY DO. MY NEIGHBORS AND I ARE READY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS, PETITIONS, WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO BRING SAFETY TO THIS CORRIDOR. UM, I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 2022. I'M A HOMEOWNER. I WANNA STAY HERE LONG TERM AND BE A PART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY AND, UH, HAVE SOME HELP WITH DOING THE RIGHT THING IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. OKAY, MADAM CLERK IS, DOES THAT CONCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT? DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE? UH, WE HAVE A FEW MORE SPEAKERS. DAVE SHUKLA, ALYSSA GUTIERREZ, AND A ADRIANA REDMOND. OKAY, THANK YOU. CITY CLERK COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT OF ADMISSIONS REDUCTION. UH, BOTH INDIAN CHINA HAVE CONSISTENTLY DROPPED EMISSIONS FROM THE FOSSIL FUELS, UH, FROM FOSSIL FUELS IN THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY IN EACH QUARTER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 2025, ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT, UH, FROM THE EMBER THINK TANK. [02:45:01] THIS IS INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT, UH, AND QUITE A HOPEFUL SIGN, FRANKLY, FOR THE HUMAN SPECIES BECAUSE IT, IT IS THIS VERY ENERGY TRANSITION THAT IS DRIVING THE SLOWDOWN IN OVERALL GLOBAL EMISSIONS GLOBALLY. THE SMALLEST INCREASE ON RECORD WILL BE THIS YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 25, UH, ESTIMATED ONLY, UH, 1.1%, UH, FROM LAST YEAR. UH, NOW DEPENDING ON WHO YOU READ, UH, CHINA'S EMISSIONS HAVE ALREADY PEAKED OR ARE JUST ABOUT TO, AND THEY CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN STEADY, UH, LEVELED OFF FOR, UH, THE, UH, PAST FOUR QUARTERS. UH, WHAT THIS INDICATES IS THAT WE COULD RAPIDLY BE APPROACHING THE GLOBAL PEAKING OF EMISSIONS NECESSARY FOR, YOU KNOW, FUTURE LIFE ON EARTH AND ALL THAT. BUT, UH, NECESSARY ALSO FOR THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF ECONOMIES. AND THE DRIVER OF THAT GROWTH IS THE VERY GROUND THAT THIS COUNTRY, THE UNITED STATES, HAS SEEDED TO CHINA. NOW, THAT'S A CHOICE. UH, IT'S THE WRONG CHOICE, UH, BUT IT, IT, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS YEAR CHINA HAS TAKEN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE NECESSARY SHIFT IN THE RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF RENEWABLES AND CLEAN TECH GLOBALLY. 50% OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, UH, 50% OF THE, THE, THE CARS ON THE ROAD IN CHINA ARE ELECTRIC VEHICLES. UH, AGAIN, THOSE ARE THEIR CHOICES. UH, THEY ALSO, UH, THROUGH THEIR, UH, CLIMATE CORE, UH, WERE ABLE TO PLANT OVER A MILLION TREES LAST YEAR. UH, NOW IT'S GOOD TO HEAR, UH, A MILLION NEW TREES. IT'S GOOD TO HEAR ABOUT THE NEW FORD FACILITY, UH, THAT THE, THAT THE, UH, CITY HAS, UH, ATTRACTED. UH, BUT FRANKLY, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS MORE POWER AND MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAN ME MERELY BEING COMPLIANT TO BUSINESS INTERESTS AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO, UH, BUCK UP AGAINST REALITY. UM, AS THE OIL REVENUE DISCUSSION OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS IN THIS CITY HAS SHOWN NOT ONLY ARE REVENUES DECLINING AND WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE, BUT THERE'S ALREADY A SUFFICIENT HOLE IN THE NECESSARY, UH, FUNDS FOR DECOMMISSIONING THAT COULD APPROACH AS MUCH AS 2 BILLION WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE. THESE ARE FUNDS, FRANKLY, THIS CITY COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN GENERATING TOWARDS IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR, HAD IT LED AND DECIDED IT LED FIVE YEARS AGO. UH, THE CREATION OF A REGIONAL COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION, UH, JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS CITY NEEDS TO REEVALUATE ITS POSITION IN THE OVERALL REGIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM. ELECTRICITY RATES KEEP GOING UP, THE CITY KEEPS PAYING INTO IT INSTEAD OF BENEFITING FROM IT. IT'S RIDICULOUS, AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR THE OIL ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. IT'S NO LONGER GONNA BE AN ATM FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE STATE. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT UP WE HAVE ALYSSA GUTIERREZ. HI, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S ALYSSA. I'M A SECOND DISTRICT RENTER AND A MOM OF FOUR. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH THE BOYD FAMILY. AS A GRIEVING SISTER WHO LOST MY BABY BROTHER THREE YEARS AGO, DUE TO MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE ADDED TRAUMA AND DEVASTATION OF BEING TREATED WITH SUCH DISDAIN BY LBPD. I PRAY FOR HEALING AND POLICY CHANGE AND JUSTICE FOR THE BOYD FAMILY. WHAT I CAME HERE TO TALK TO ABOUT INITIALLY WAS LAST MONTH THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION TOOK A COURAGEOUS STEP AND VOTED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS SCREENING, WHICH YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT A BIT TONIGHT. THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR WHERE THE CITY INVESTS ITS MONEY MATTERS. LONG BEACH RESIDENTS DO NOT WANT THEIR TAX DOLLARS CONTRIBUTING TO GENOCIDE, APARTHEID, OCCUPATION, WAR CRIMES, CHILD ENSLAVED LABOR, AND EXTREME ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. AS A JEWISH LITTLE GIRL, I GREW UP IMMERSED IN THE STORIES OF THE HOLOCAUST OF MY PEOPLE. FROM A YOUNG AGE, I WAS TAUGHT THAT NEVER AGAIN WAS NOT MEANT TO BE SELECTIVE. IT WAS MEANT TO BE A MORAL COMMITMENT TO HUMANITY THAT NO COMMUNITY SHOULD EVER FACE MASS, KILLING, STARVATION, FORCED LABOR AGAIN, AND THAT IF THEY DID, THE WORLD WOULD STEP IN AND DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO STOP IT. I'VE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS GRIEVING THAT ILLUSION. WHILE THE ACTIONS OF LONG BEACH ALONE CANNOT CHANGE THE WORLD, WE CAN DO OUR SMALL BUT MEANINGFUL PART TO ENSURE WE'RE NOT COMPLICIT IN THESE ATROCITIES. HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THAT HOW WE USE OUR MONEY IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST AND STRONGEST LEVERS FOR JUSTICE. WHEN CITIES, UNIVERSITIES, GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD DIVESTED FROM COMPANIES SUPPORTING THE SOUTH SOUTH AFRICAN APARTHEID, THAT COLLECTIVE ACTION HELPED BRING DOWN A BRUTAL SYSTEM OF RACIAL SEGREGATION. LONG BEACH HAS THE CHANCE TO BE PART OF THAT SAME LEGACY OF MORAL LEADERSHIP, SHOWING THAT WHERE WE PLACE OUR DOLLARS CAN EITHER UPHOLD OPPRESSION OR HELP DISMANTLE IT. AND I WANNA BE CLEAR WHY THERE ARE SEVERAL GENOCIDES HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK. THIS POLICY IS NOT ABOUT ONE COUNTRY OR ONE COMPANY. IT'S ABOUT REFUSING COMPLICITY WHEREVER [02:50:01] ATROCITIES OCCUR, BECAUSE TODAY IT MIGHT BE ONE GOVERNMENT TOMORROW, ANOTHER. THAT'S WHY IT WAS WRITTEN TO ENDURE ACROSS TIME AND CONTEXT. WHEN I PUT DOWN ROOTS IN LONG BEACH 12 YEARS AGO, I DID SO BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CITY. IT'S DIVERSITY, IT'S VIBRANCY, IT'S PROGRESSIVE VALUES. LONG BEACH IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LIKE MY BROTHER, WHO WAS OUT AND PROUD COULD COME AND FEEL SEEN AND FEEL THAT THEY WERE SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY BELONG. THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO LIVE HERE AND WHY I AM SO INVESTED IN SEEING OUR CITY LIVE UP TO THE VALUES IT PROFESSES. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH EACH OF YOU ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE POLICY AND URGE YOU TO AGENDIZE THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS SCREENING FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. OKAY, OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS ADRIANA REDMOND. HI THERE. I'M GONNA SEE MY TIME TO MELISSA MORGAN. OKAY. SO, UM, I WANTED TO MENTION WE'RE WEARING GREEN RIBBONS IN HONOR OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND WANTED TO BRING THE GREEN FLOWERS TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS WELL THE GREEN LEAVES. UM, WORK SHOULDN'T HURT WORK, SHOULDN'T HURT. UM, I WORK HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NOW WITH BLACK WORKERS, UH, WITH BLACK WORKER CENTERS. WE'RE ALSO BUILDING A CENTER HERE IN LONG BEACH, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHERE I THINK YOU ALL VOTED TO GIVE 175,000 BUCKAROO, UH, TOWARDS AN ATTORNEY WHO IS FIGHTING FOR YOU. ALL AGAINST BLACK WORKERS WHO HAVE WORKED FOR THIS CITY AND STILL WORK HERE. LIKE ANTHONY. ANTHONY PICKS UP GARBAGE. HE'S A GARBAGE MAN, AND HE COMES DOWN HERE ALL THE TIME ASKING FOR DIGNITY AND FOR YOU TO HEAR HIS VOICE AND NOT BE LIKE, OH, IT'S COMPLICATED. BUT TO ACTUALLY REALLY DIG INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND ANTI-BLACKNESS IN OUR CITY, HAPPENS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, HAPPENS IN THE CITY HERE, AND I'VE EXPERIENCED IT. THESE ALLEGATIONS IN THIS LAWSUIT, THEY DON'T STAND ALONE. THEY REFLECT WHAT THE DATA SHOWS. UH, THIS IS DATA I SHARE WITH OTHER WORKERS AND LEARN ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UH, IN THIS, IN THE NATION, BLACK FOLKS, BLACK WORKERS, WE EARN ABOUT 70 CENTS TO THE DOLLAR FOR EVERY DOLLAR PAID TO WHITE WORKERS. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU UP THERE WHO ARE WHITE LIKE MY MOM, YOU GUYS WILL MAKE MORE MONEY THAN PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME. EVEN WHEN YOUR QUALIFICATIONS ARE THE SAME. BLACK APPLICANTS ARE PASSED OVER AT MUCH HIGHER RATES. BLACK APPLICANTS ARE PASSED OVER AT MUCH HIGHER RATES. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE TAKE SOME NOTES. MENTALLY WHITE APPLICANTS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS. I'VE HEARD ANTHONY TALK ABOUT THIS. MORE LIKELY TO GET CALLBACKS IN BLACK APPLICANTS. RACE-BASED DISCRIMINATION AT WORK IMPACTS BLACK WORKERS. MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE REPORT BEING PUSHED INTO LOWEST PAID WORK. WHO ARE BLACK PEOPLE ARE PASSED OVER FOR PROMOTIONS WHO ARE BLACK. THEY DEAL WITH HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE BLACK, THEY'RE TREATED AS DISPOSABLE. WHEN THEY SPEAK UP BECAUSE THEY'RE BLACK, THEY'RE PUSHED TO THE SIDE. THIS ISN'T SURPRISING, BUT IT'S WHAT HAPPENS. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE OFF SCRIPT. I WAS THERE THE NIGHT THAT THERE WAS THE PHOTO THAT WAS GOING AROUND. REX SAW IT OF THE POLICE OFFICER WITH THE BATON AND THE BLOOD SPATTERED ON THE GROUND. THAT WAS THE NIGHT I GOT INVITED TO HIS MEETING WITH SOME FOLKS IN THIS ROOM ABOUT STARTING THE RACIAL EQUITY INITIATIVE. THAT WAS WHAT SPURRED IT. THAT WAS ONE OF HIS THOUGHTS, ONE OF HIS REACTIONS. LET'S BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT EQUITY. YOU GUYS HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT TONIGHT, BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO DIG INTO ASKING HARD QUESTIONS OF OUR CITY MANAGER HERE. WHITE GUY THAT I USED TO WORK WITH IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO EXPRESS OUR HUMAN DIGNITY POLICY WITH THE CITY. EVERYONE SHOULD BE TREATED WITH COURTESY AND RESPECT REGARDLESS OF YOUR RACE, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ET CETERA. THAT WAS A LOT OF WEIGHT FOR ME AS A BLACK WORKER TO HOLD. AND ONE OF THE REASONS I LEFT THE CITY, I WASN'T TREATED THE SAME AS YOU. ALL WHO HAVE WHITE SKIN, WHITE SKIN, LIKE MY MOM. PLEASE DO BETTER AND ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS AND DIG DEEP INTO THE ANTI-BLACKNESS IN THIS CITY. SHAME ON YOU FOR SPENDING THAT MONEY TO FIGHT INSTEAD OF REALLY UPLIFTING WORKERS' RIGHTS AND DIGNITY. OKAY, THAT, UH, CONCLUDES, UH, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO, UH, HEARING ITEM NUMBER 21 AND IF WE CAN HAVE THE, UH, CLERK READ THAT ITEM AND INTRODUCE THE ITEM REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION [21. 25-56936 Recommendation to adopt resolution certifying the Park Tower Student Housing Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR-01-25, State Clearinghouse No. 2024080441), making findings of fact related thereto and approving a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP);       Office or Department: Community Development         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] CERTIFYING PARK TOWER STUDENT HOUSING PROJECT ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT MAKING FINDINGS OF FACT RELATED THERETO AND APPROVING A MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM. ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE LAND USE PLACE TYPE OF THE PROPERTY AT 51 50 EAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL TO NEIGHBORHOOD SERVING CENTER OR CORRIDOR MODERATE PLACE TYPE ADOPT AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A ZONING [02:55:01] MAP CHANGE REQUEST TO AMEND THE ZONING DESIGNATION FOR THE PROPERTY AT 51 50 EAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL AUTOMOBILE ORIENTED TO MIXED USE. THREE ZONING DISTRICT READ THE FIRST TIME AND LATER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING AND AFFIRMED THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND ADOPT THE PROPOSED FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS THERETO FOR THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF A SEVEN STORY OFFICE BUILDING INTO A SPECIAL GROUP RESIDENCE WITH 593 BEDS, A NEW 728 SQUARE FOOT PAVILION BUILDING APPROXIMATELY 22,523 SQUARE FEET OF OPEN SPACE AND 364 PARKING SPACES WITHIN AN EXISTING PARKING STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 51 50 EAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY DISTRICT THREE. OKAY, UH, THANK YOU MADAM CLERK. AND NOW I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE THE, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, APRIL WALKER, WHO WILL INTRODUCE THE CITY STAFF. YES, THANK YOU. WE HAVE, UM, ALLISON SPINDLER RUIZ, AND GINA S FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION AT WHEN THERE IS NO OATH REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM. NO OATH IS REQUIRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. UM, WE ARE EXCITED TO BE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, UH, FOR A SERIES OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS TO SUPPORT, UM, PROJECT APPROVAL FOR A PROPOSED PRIVATE, UH, STUDENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. YOU MIGHT BE AWARE THAT WE HAVE OVER SEVEN TO 3000 STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN LONG BEACH, YET WE ONLY HAVE THREE STUDENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ON OR OFF CAMPUS IN THE WHOLE CITY. UM, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR HOUSING, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST ACUTE NEEDS AND IT'S ACTUALLY CALLED OUT IN OUR HOUSING ELEMENT WITH THE STATE AS AN AREA OF FOCUS, UH, DUE TO THAT, UH, LACK OF HOUSING. AND I WILL PASS IT ON TO THE PROJECT PLANNER, GINA CASILLAS, WHO WILL PROVIDE, UH, THE PRESENTATION. UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND A ZONE CHANGE. TO FACILITATE AN ADAPTIVE REUSE OF A SEVEN STORY OFFICE BUILDING INTO A PRIVATE DORMITORY. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO ADAPTIVELY REUSE AN EXISTING UNDERUTILIZED COMMERCIAL OFFICE BUILDING TO A PRIVATE DORMITORY WITH 149 STUDENT RESIDENTIAL SUITES SERVING UP TO 593 STUDENTS WITH SHARED HOUSING, A NEW STUDENT, UM, UH, A NEW 728 SQUARE FOOT PAVILION BUILD BUILDING, AND 364 PARKING SPACES AND SHARED AMENITIES. THE REQUESTED ACTION TONIGHT IS TO CERTIFY THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, APPROVE A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND A ZONE CHANGE. UM, ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, UH, 2025, THE PLANNING COMMISSION CONDITIONALLY APPROVED THE SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR THE ADAPTIVE RE OF THE BUILDING AND A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW SPECIAL GROUP RESIDENTS PRIVATE DORMITORY. THE PROJECT SITE, UH, HIGHLIGHTED IN RED IS LOCATED ON A 51,000 SQUARE FOOT, UH, TRIANGULAR SHAPED LOT ADDRESSED AS 51 50 EAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY. THE PROJECT SITE IS BOUNDED BY PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY TO THE NORTH AND EAST CLARK AVENUE TO THE WEST AND EAST ANAHEIM STREET TO THE SOUTH. THE SITE IS SURROUNDED BY COMMERCIAL OFFICE, RESIDENTIAL AND RELIGIOUS USES TO THE NORTH AND EAST PAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY. A REC A RECREATION RECREATIONAL GOLF COURSE, UH, TO THE SOUTH AND COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USES TO THE WEST. THE PROJECT SITE IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPED WITH A SEVEN STORY, 120,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE, BUILDING A SURFACE PARKING LOT AND A SUBTERRANEAN PARKING GARAGE CONSTRUCTED IN 1981. THE THREE-SIDED BUILDING FEATURES AN EXPANSIVE GLASS FACADE ON ALL THREE SIDES AND SEVERAL DECKS LOCATED AT DIFFERENT FLOOR LEVELS ON THE THREE SIDES OF THE BUILDING. THE PROJECT SIDE IS LANDSCAPED IN A MANNER TYPICAL OF THE EARLY 1980S. OFFICE COMPLEXES WITH LANDSCAPE PLANTERS OR ORNAMENTAL PLANTS AND GROUND TURF, UH, LOCATED ALONG THE PERIMETER OF THE TIRE TRIANGULAR SHAPED LOT. THERE'S ONE STREET TREE ALONG CLARK AVENUE AND FOUR STREET TREES ALONG PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY. AGAIN, VEHICULAR ACCESS TO THE SITE IS PROVIDED BY TWO DRIVEWAY APPROACHES LOCATED ON CLARK AVENUE. ONE DRIVEWAY APPROACH PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE SURFACE PARKING LOT, AND THE OTHER DRIVEWAY APPROACH PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE SUBTERRANEAN GARAGE. UH, THE SUBTERRANEAN GARAGE IS COMPRISED OF THREE PARKING LEVELS AND PROVIDES, UH, PARKING FOR BOTH VEHICLES AND BICYCLES. THE PROJECT SITE IS IDENTIFIED IN THE COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL CC PLACE TYPE IN THE TWO, [03:00:01] UH, 2019 GENERAL PLAN LUE AND IT'S ZONED COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL AUTOMOTIVE ORIENTATED WITH THE HEIGHT LIMIT OVERLAY. UM, THE C-C-A-H-L ZONING DISTRICT, UH, THE SURROUNDING LAND USE PLACE TYPES ARE, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVING CENTER LOW. UM, YOU'VE GOT OPEN SPACE TO THE SOUTH, YOU'VE GOT, UH, UH, AND THE FOUNDING TEMPORARY NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE TYPES, UH, FCN, UM, PLACE TYPE. AND THE SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED, IT'S ZONED COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL AUTOMOBILE ORIENTATED DISTRICT. UM, AND IT'S SURROUNDED BY CCA AND R FOUR R, UM, TO THE, UM, UH, NORTH AND EAST TO THE SOUTH. IT'S, UH, PARK ZONE AND TO THE WEST. IT'S MODERATE DENSITY, UM, RESIDENTIAL AND, UH, R TWO N, WHICH IS, UH, TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. THE PROJECT INCLUDES BOTH INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS AND MINOR EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUILDING TO FACILITATE THE CHANGE OF USE FROM AN OFFICE BUILDING TO THE DORMITORY. THE PERIMETER LANDSCAPE AREAS WILL BE REPURPOSED TO CREATE NEW COMMON OUTDOOR SPACE FOR THE RESIDENTS, UH, WHICH WILL CONSIST OF NEW DINING AREAS, FITNESS AREA, AND FLEX SPACE. THE SURFACE PARKING LOT WOULD BE REMOVED AND A 728 SQUARE FOOT PAVILION BUILDING AND A NEW SPLASH POOL WOULD BE INSTALLED IN PLACE. ONE DRY VI ALONG CLOCK AVENUE WILL WOULD REMAIN, WHICH PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE SUBTERRANEAN PARKING GARAGE. NEW WRT IRON FENCING WILL BE INSTALLED ALONG THE PERIMETER OF THE SITE. PEDESTRIAN GATES WILL BE LOCATED IN ALL THREE SITES OF THE BUILDING, WHICH PROVIDE ENTRY INTO THE SITE. THE PROJECT WOULD PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 22,000, UH, 22,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW OPEN SPACE. THAT WOULD INCLUDE, UH, STUDENT PLAZA BENCHES, LOUNGE AREAS, THE SPLASH POOL, THE PATIO, OUTDOOR BARBECUES, AND, AND SUCH OPEN SPACE. AREAS ON THE GROUND FLOOR WOULD BE ACCESSED, UH, FROM ALL THREE SITES, PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, ANAHEIM STREET AND CLARK AVENUE, AS WELL AS FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE PROJECT SITE. FROM THE, UH, SUBTERRANEAN PARKING GARAGE, THE PARKING GARAGE WOULD BE IMPROVED WITH NEW EV CHARGING STATIONS AND A DA PARKING SPACES. A TOTAL OF 364 PARKING STALLS IS PROPOSED FOR THE YOUTH. THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY AND INCLUDE, UM, UH, BICYCLE PARKING SPACES AND BIKE LOCKERS ON THE FIRST LEVEL OF THE SUBTERRANEAN PARKING LEVEL. AND THE APPLICANT IS ALSO EXPLORING THE PROVISION OF SHUTTLE SERVICES, CAR SH CAR SHARE AND SCOOTER ACCESS. THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING WILL BE REMODELED AND IMPROVED TO CREATE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT OFFICES AND VARIOUS AMENITY SPACES, WHICH INCLUDE A LOBBY, MAIL ROOM, KITCHEN, DINING AREAS, SMALL STUDY SPACE, LAUNDRY AND FITNESS ROOM. THE SECOND THROUGH THE SEVENTH FLOORS WOULD BE REMODELED AND IMPROVED TO CREATE 149 RESIDENTIAL SUITES WITH A TOTAL OF 593 BEDS IN TOTAL. THE EXISTING LAND USE ELEMENT, UH, COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL PLACE TYPE AND THE COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL AUTOMOTIVE ORIENTATED ZONING DISTRICT DO NOT PERMIT RESIDENTIAL LAND USES. IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE ADAPTER REUSE OF THE BUILDING, A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT IS REQUESTED. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO CHANGE THE PLACE TYPE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVING CENTER OR CORRIDOR MODERATE PLACE TYPE. UH, THE NSCM PLACE TYPE ACCOMMODATES MODERATE DENSITY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS TYPICALLY LOCATED NEAR SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS. THE NSC MODERATE PLACE TYPE ADHERES TO THE PROJECT'S NEED FOR RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY AND IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING LUE PLACE TYPES, WHICH INCLUDES, UM, THE NSC LOW AND A MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, UH, PLACE TYPE TO THE NORTHEAST AND WEST. THIS IS THE ONLY PARCEL THAT IS IN THE COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL PLACE TYPE A ZONING CODE AMENDMENT IS REQUESTED TO CHANGE THE EXISTING COMMUNITY, UM, AUTO ORIENTATED, UH, ZONING DISTRICT TO THE MIXED USE THREE ZONING DISTRICT. THE MIXED USE THREE WOULD ASSIGN ALIGN WITH THE PROPOSED NSCM PLACE TYPE. THE MIXED USE THREE ZONING DISTRICT PERMITS, RESIDENTIAL USES SPECIAL GROUP RESIDENCY, WHICH INCLUDES DORMITORIES UPON THE GRANTING OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. THE MU THREE ZONING [03:05:01] DISTRICT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE MIX OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS ADJACENT TO THE PROJECT SITE. THE MU THREE ZONING DISTRICT IS AN APPROPRIATE ZONE FOR THE PROPERTIES LOCATED ALONG MAJOR TRA TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS SUCH AS PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY AND EAST ANAHEIM, BOTH OF WHICH CONTAIN A MIXED AND INTENSITY OF COMPATIBLE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES AND ZONING. THE PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE NSCM PLACE TYPE WOULD ALLOW MODERATE DENSITY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT LOCATED NEAR SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS. THE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT WOULD FACILITATE THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF AN OFFICE BUILDING INTO A DORMITORY, AND IT WOULD AID IN ADDING, UM, THE NEEDED STUDENT HOUSING WHERE THERE'S AN EXTREME SHORTAGE OF STUDENT HOUSING WITHIN LONG BEACH. LONG BEACH SERVE IS SERVED BY SEVERAL HIGH HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES ACROSS MULTIPLE CAMPUSES. UM, AND DESPITE SERVING OVER 70,000 STUDENTS IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION, THERE'S ONLY THREE DORMITORIES WITHIN THE CITY THAT ARE ON CAMPUS OR OFF CAMPUS. AND THOSE DORMITORIES ONLY SERVE CAL STATE LONG BEACH. UH, THE CITY IS COORDINATED WITH CAL STATE LONG BEACH, LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, AND THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT THROUGH THE HOUSING PRO PROMISE INITIATIVE, WHICH SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF STUDENT HOUSING BY BUILDING MORE PUBLIC STUDENT HOUSING. AND BY FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE DORMITORIES CAN ALSO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, UM, OF THE STUDENT HOUSING SHORTAGE. THE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT REQUEST IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE LUE THAT INCLUDE DIVERS DIVERSIFYING NEW HOUSING STOCK, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW STUDENT HOUSING. THE GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT IDENTIFIES A SHORTAGE OF HOUSING WITHIN OF STUDENT HOUSING WITHIN LONG BEACH, AND FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIVERSITY OF HOUSING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL RESIDENTS IS A CITY PRIORITY. A DORMITORY PROJECT WOULD SUPPORT THE CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND BE CONSISTENT WITH EXISTING COMMERCIAL USES ALONG PACIFICO'S HIGHWAY EAST ANAHEIM AND CLARK AVENUE. THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE PROJECT SITE IS HIGHLY UNDER UTILIZED DUE TO THE CHANGES IN THE COMMERCIAL OFFICE MARKET. FACILITATING THE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE NSCM PLACE TYPE WOULD ALLOW MORE PRODUCTIVE USE OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS, INCLUDING THE LUE AND THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. BY ALLOWING THE CONVERSION OF AN EXISTING STRUCTURE TO NEW LAND USES THAT SERVE A COMMUNITY NEED EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE BUILDING, REDUCES THE USE OF NEW CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL, AND REDUCES CONSTRUCTION WASTE. GENERAL GENERAT, UM, GENERATED, UM, GENERATED, BASICALLY THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN SERVING THE DOCUMENTED ACUTE HOUSING NEEDS OF STUDENTS, UH, WHO ARE CONSIDERED A SPECIAL POPULATION UNDER THE STATE HOUSING LAW. THE PROJECT PROPOSES TO CHANGE THE CCA HR ZONING DISTRICT TO THE MU THREE ZONING DISTRICT TO FACILITATE THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL LAND USE. UH, THE MU THREE ZONING DISTRICT PERMITS, RESIDENTIAL USES AND SPECIAL GROUP RESIDENCY, WHICH INCLUDES DORMITORIES UPON THE GRANTING OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. UH, THE MUS THREE ZONING DISTRICT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE MIX OF ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS, UH, TO THE PROJECT SITE, AND ITS APPROPRIATE ZONE FOR THE PROPERTIES LOCATED ALONG THE MAJOR CORRIDORS. THE PROJECT SITE IS SURROUNDED BY WIDE PAVED SIDEWALKS. THE SITE IS SUFFICIENTLY, UM, ACCESSED BY PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE AND VEHICULAR CIRCULATION, AND IT'S SERVED BY MULTIPLE TRANSIT LINES AND HAS CLASS ONE AND TWO BIKE LANES ALONG PACIFICOS HIGHWAY. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE BUS STOPS RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE PROJECT SITE. ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THE SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE BUILDING. UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION DETERMINED THAT THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE BUILDING WOULD MEET THE SITE PLAN, REVIEW FINDINGS AND THE INTENT OF THE ADAPTIVE REUSES TO ALLOW THE CONVERSION OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURES TO NEW LAND USES THAT MAINTAIN OR ENHANCE THE CHARACTER OF A NEIGHBORHOOD OR DISTRICT THAT EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE BUILDING AND REDUCE THE USE OF NEW CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. MINIMAL CHANGES, UM, TO THE EXTERIOR OF [03:10:01] THE BUILDING IS PROPOSED THAT INCLUDE, UH, MAJORITY OF THE OUTDOOR LANDSCAPE AREAS TO, UH, BE REPURPOSED FOR STUDENT, UM, HOW STUDENT POPULATION. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEMAND FOR OFFICE BUILDINGS IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER, UM, DUE TO A VARIETY OF ECONOMIC FACTORS AND TRANS. THE TRANSITION OF THIS BUILDING TO A MORE ECONOMICALLY PRODUCTIVE LAND USE WHILE ALSO MEETING THE SIGNIFICANT HOUSING AND PLANNING OBJECTIVES OF THE CITY IS IMPORTANT. THE SITE IS SERVED AGAIN BY MULTIPLE TRANSIT LINES AND NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION MODES THAT RUN ALONG PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY AND ANAHEIM. NO ADDITIONAL ONSITE PARKING IS REQUIRED FOR THE CONVERSION OF RESIDENTIAL USES. UH, LOCATED, UM, NO ADDITIONAL ONSITE PARKING IS REQUIRED FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE BUILDING. UM, HOW, AND IN ADDITION, UM, THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN A PARKING EXEMPT AREA, UM, BUT THE APPLICANT IS PROVIDING 346 ONSITE PARKING SPACES TO SERVE THE USE. UH, BASED ON THE COMMUNAL NATURE OF THE USE LIMITATIONS ON THE ONSITE AREA AND SITE CONFIGURATION. UM, THE PROJECT IS AN APPROPRIATE SCALE OF OPEN SPACE CONFIGURATION TO SERVE THE STUDENT POPULATION. ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2025, THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE PROPOSED DORMITORY USE. THE PLANNING COMMISSION DETERMINED THAT THE FINDINGS, UM, WERE SATISFACTORY, UM, IN SUPPORTING THE USE OF THE DORMITORY. UH, DORMITORIES ARE SUBJECT TO SPECIAL CONDITIONS THAT REGULATE DENSITY, LOCATION, CONSIDERATION OF OVER CONCENTRATION OPEN SPACE, AND WHETHER THE SITE IS SERVED BY PUBLIC TRANSIT. UM, THERE'S NO DENSITY LIMITATIONS IN THE MU THREE ZONING, UM, AND AN OVER CONCENTRATION OF DORMITORIES DOES NOT EXIST FOR THIS SITE. UH, THERE'S NO OPERATOR FOR THE DORMITORY IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. AS A RESULT, SEVERAL CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN PLACED, UM, TO ENSURE THE OPERATION OF THE LAND USE ALIGNS WITH THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT WAS PREPARED, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT. UH, THIS, UH, NOTICE OF PREPARATION AND SCOPING MEETING WAS HELD, UH, DURING THE SUMMER OF 2024. UM, DRAFT EIR WAS CIRCULATED. UM, COMMENTS WERE, UH, RECEIVED AND INCLUDED IN THE FINAL EIR UM, MITIGATION MEASURES WERE IDENTIFIED FOR THE TOPIC AREAS OF, UM, CULTURAL RESOURCES AND GEOLOGICAL AND, UH, TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES. UM, THERE ARE NO POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS THAT CANNOT BE MITIGATED TO A LEVEL OF LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT, AND THERE ARE NO, UH, CUMULATIVELY SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THIS PROJECT. FOUR, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, REVIEW, AND TWO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED FOR THE REVIEW. UH, FOR CITY COUNCIL. ONE LETTER IDENTIFIED CONCERNS OF DENSITY AND PARKING IMPACTS. AND ANOTHER LETTER, UM, WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THE LETTERS THAT WERE RECEIVED UNDER THE PLANNING COMMISSION. UM, THESE COMMENTS WERE ADDRESSED ALREADY IN THE DRAFT EIR CIRCULATION. THE PROJECT WAS, UH, PROPERLY NOTICED. IT WAS, UH, UH, 265 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES WERE, UH, DISTRIBUTED. AND, UM, THE HEARING NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE PRESS TELEGRAM, UM, 20 DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING. UH, PUBLIC NOTICES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO AN INTERESTED PARTIES LIST AND THE NOTICES WERE POSTED IN THREE PUBLIC LOCATIONS. TO THAT POINT, UM, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING, UM, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, CERTIFY AND ADOPT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND ADOPT THE MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM FOR THE PARK TOWER STUDENT HOUSING. UH, WE'RE RECOMMEND THAT CITY CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE LAND USE PLACE TYPE FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVING CENTER CORRIDOR, MEET MODERATE, AMEND THE MAP LU SEVEN, AMEND THE MAP [03:15:01] LU 12, AMEND THE MAP LU 14, AND AMEND THE MAP LU 25. IT'S ALSO RECOMMENDED THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ZONE MAP CHANGE TO CHANGE THE ZONE TO MU THREE ZONING DISTRICT AND ALSO TO FORMALLY APPROVE THE SITE PLAN REVIEW AND THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE DORMITORY. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I CAN ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU TO GINA CASTILLA FOR, UH, THAT COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. UM, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME. IF THE CLERK CAN ANNOUNCE THAT, IF RAY LAWSON AND STEVE WEAVER CAN STEP TO THE PODIUM. RAY LAWSON AND STEVE WEAVER. GOOD EVENING, LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, THOSE WHO ARE STILL HANGING AROUND. UM, ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS RAY LAWSON. I'M PART OF WESTERN STATES REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS. UH, WE LIVE RECREATE RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UM, WE ASK THAT, UM, BEFORE APPROVING THIS PROJECT, DID YOU JUST CONSIDER, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT BUILD IT? UH, WE ARE THE BUILDERS OF LONG BEACH. THOSE THAT HAVE STUCK AROUND. UH, WE HAVE APPRENTICES. WE HAVE CARPENTERS THAT LIVE RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH. THEY WOULD LOVE TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT, BUT THE PROJECT NEEDS TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPERS WILL HIRE A RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTOR THAT WILL BE WILLING TO PAY A LIVABLE WAGE, UH, A PREVAILING WAGE TO THE PEOPLE THAT BUILD IT, THAT DO THE WORK. UM, AND WE'VE SEEN ALL THROUGHOUT THIS MEETING, UH, PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT RACIAL ISSUES, UH, UH, UNDERPRIVILEGED, UH, OPPRESSION SUPPRESSION. UH, WE AT THE CARPENTERS UNION, WE DON'T SEE COLOR. WE JUST SEE, UM, LABOR, UH, LABOR TOGETHER. WE HAVE, WHEN OUR BROTHERS COME EARLIER AND GET, UM, WELCOME, GET APPOINTED TO THE WORKFORCE COM INVESTMENT COMMISSION. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. WE'RE ABOUT DEVELOPING WORKFORCE RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH. UH, IT'S AN OLD COLOR. IT'S, IT'S NO CREED. IT'S IF YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK, YOU'RE WILLING TO LEARN, YOU BELIEVE IN ACCEPTING THAT BROTHERHOOD AND SISTERHOOD OF LABOR. SO WITH THAT, WE ALSO BELIEVE IN APPRENTICESHIP. WE BELIEVE THAT THE APPRENTICESHIP IS THE FUTURE, AND THAT THIS PROJECT SHOULD HAVE SOME APPRENTICESHIP LANGUAGE IN IT TO WHERE, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK ON IT CAN GO TO SCHOOL, GET TRAINING, UH, BE ABLE TO GET RAISES, BE ABLE TO GET SKILL LEVEL. AND ONCE THEY GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, THEY CAN BECOME JOURNEYMEN AND BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND BE ABLE TO JOIN THE MIDDLE CLASS BY THROUGH APPRENTICESHIP. AND WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT HEALTHCARE SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK ON THIS PROJECT. 'CAUSE WE SEE HEALTHCARE HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE NATION THROUGH, UM, THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AND THAT HEALTHCARE IS IMPORTANT AND IT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THIS PROJECT THAT IT BE CONSIDERED. AND THEN FINALLY, UH, LOCAL HIRES, UH, WE BELIEVE LIVE HERE, WORK HERE, THAT THE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT. CAL STATE LONG BEACH STUDENTS, LBCC STUDENTS, THAT THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE OVER THERE, THEY SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT, LEARN THE TRADE, LEARN THE CRAFT, AND BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. THAT CAN BE ANOTHER FORM OF EDUCATION FOR THEM. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HEARING US OUT. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE STEVE WEAVER. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. DARRELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I AM STEVE WEAVER AND I'M REPRESENTING THE PARK ESTATES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. WE ARE LOCATED IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH OF THE PROJECT SITE, BOUNDED BY PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, BELLFLOWER, ATHERTON, AND CLARK, AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THIS AREA IN A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THE LATE 1940S. UH, MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE. UH, WE'VE LIVED IN LONG BEACH 33 YEARS AND RAISED THREE ADULT CHILDREN WHO ARE TEACHERS AND COACHES IN THIS AREA. AND THE SINGLE FAMILY COMMUNITY OF PARK ESTATES, UH, REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 600 HOMES AND APPROXIMATELY 2000 MEMBERS. UH, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS AGREED THAT WE DON'T FEEL THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT, UH, AND THE DENSITY IS AMENABLE TO OUR FACILITY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. UM, WE FEEL THAT, UH, CITY STAFF, UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO, UH, THE DENSITY WERE NOT ADDRESSED. AND I WANTED TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT [03:20:01] THESE, UM, THE 594 PEOPLE IN THE PROJECT, UH, PRIMARY PROJECT AND 364 PARKING SPACES, UH, THAT WILL ACTUALLY SPILL OVER INTO OUR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. UM, SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY, WELL, YOU CAN GET PARKING PERMITS. IT, IT IS A, IT IS A NUISANCE TO, TO RESIDENTS TO DO THAT. BUT EVEN IN THAT LIGHT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER AND THE DENSITY OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE THERE AND THE SAFETY ISSUES. I MEAN, BETWEEN EIGHT AND NINE AND 9:00 AM HAVING THAT MANY PEOPLE ON ELECTRIC BIKES AND SCOOTERS TRYING TO DISCHARGE FROM CLARK AND GET ONTO THAT CORRIDOR OF ANAHEIM AVENUE, UH, SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET KILLED. I, I DON'T THINK THAT THE CITY STAFF HAS ANALYZED THIS IN, IN FULL DETAIL. I REALLY DO NOT. AND I FEEL THAT, UH, SOME OF THESE DENSITY ISSUES REALLY NEED TO BE ACCOMMODATED A LITTLE BIT MORE THOUGHTFULLY MANAGED. UM, RESPECTFULLY, I DON'T KNOW IF CITY STAFF RECEIVED OUR LETTER AND PUT IT UP ON, ON A VISUAL, BUT WE DID WRITE A THREE PAGE LETTER. UM, THE E ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT HAD ALTERNATIVE THREE, WHICH WAS PROPOSED TO BE SENIOR LIVING, COMBINED WITH DORMITORY STUDENT HOUSING. SO IT WAS COMBINED USE. AND IN THAT OPTION, YOU WERE ONLY GONNA HAVE 445 TOTAL PEOPLE AND YOU WOULD HAVE 445 TOTAL PARKING SPACES. THERE WOULD BE NO OVERFLOW, THERE WOULD BE LESS PEOPLE ON THE STREETS, AND IT WOULD SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE FEEL ARE GONNA BE ARISING. UM, RESPECTFULLY, I I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD, UM, DELAY THIS PROJECT, DELAY APPROVAL AND STUDY THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE BEFORE HAVING ANY, UH, MEL ELEMENT OF, UH, PROCEEDING WITH THIS IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. OKAY. THANK YOU, UH, STEVE AND TO THE CARPENTERS RAY FOR BEING HERE FOR THREE OVER THREE HOURS TO SPEAK. WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. UM, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL MOVE TO, UH, COUNCIL DELIBERATION AT THIS TIME. AND I THINK WE HAVE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MENDE ZENDEJAS WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK. CAN I SPEAK FIRST? MEMBERS MOTION? SECONDERS MOTION? CAN I SPEAK FIRST? CAN YOU GIMME THAT INFORMATION? OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO WE WON'T GO TO THE, UM, MAKER OF THE MOTION. I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. UM, CHRISTINA DUGGAN REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE, WHERE THE PROJECT'S LOCATED IS GOING TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. ACTING, UH, WELL CHAIR OF OUR MEETING, UH, COUNCILMAN SUBINA. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, PROJECT FORWARD, THE HEARING PRESENTATION, GINA, APPRECIATE THAT. UM, I'M ACTUALLY, UM, WANTING TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT STUDENT HOUSING. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THERE WERE, I BELIEVE YOU SAID THREE DORMITORIES. UM, AND, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS HERE, UH, IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. SO WITH THIS PROJECT, CONVERTING AN EXISTING OFFICE BUILDING, AND I, I'VE WATCHED THAT BUILDING, THERE'S BEEN LESS AND LESS BUSINESSES INSIDE THAT BUILDING. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING 593 BEDS, UM, PLUS ADDING AMENITIES. UM, THAT, I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. I'VE SEEN OTHER DORMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, REALLY, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY ADD BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ENOUGH STUDENT HOUSING IN MANY LOCATIONS. SO IT'S ACROSS FROM AN EXISTING PARK. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF OPEN SPACE AND IT'S DOWN THE STREET FROM C-S-U-L-B. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PARKING RATIO, ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T MATCH, UM, THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF, UH, BICYCLES USED. SCOOTERS USED STUDENTS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT MANY CARS. SO WITH THIS RATIO, I, I THINK, UM, 364 PARKING SPOTS IS MORE THAN PROJECTS LIKE THIS USUALLY HAVE. ISN'T THAT THE CASE? THANKS FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO, YES, UM, YOU'RE CORRECT THAT, UH, STUDENT HOUSING PROJECTS DO, UM, USE QUITE A WIDE RANGE OF, UM, HOUSING RATIOS. MANY STUDENTS DO LIVE WITHOUT A CAR, EITHER BY CHOICE OR ECONOMIC FACTORS. UM, AND IN THIS CASE, UM, AT A LOCATION, SO WELL, UM, SERVED BY TRANSIT AND PROXIMATE TO THE CAMPUS, UM, THAT ANALYSIS WAS DONE BY THE [03:25:01] APPLICANT TO LOOK AT WHAT WOULD THE DEMAND BE. UM, ADDITIONALLY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER, UM, FROM A REGULATORY PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN'T REQUIRE ANY, UM, PARKING, UM, AT THIS PROJECT AS GINA TOUCHED ON, BECAUSE IT IS IN THE PARKING EXEMPT AREA UNDER STATE LAW AND CODIFIED IN OUR LOCAL REGULATIONS TO BE COMPLIANT, UM, WITH STATE LAW. AND SO, UM, BEING ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING IN BETWEEN ZERO AND 593, I THINK, UM, IS A, IS A GREAT, UM, SORT OF COMPROMISE BETWEEN WHAT'S REQUIRED AND, UM, UM, AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL BE, UM, SERVED. AND BASED ON THE ANALYSIS, WE DO BELIEVE IT WILL SERVE, UM, THE STUDENTS, UM, APPROPRIATELY AT THIS LOCATION. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING. UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE, THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD IS PERMITTED PARKING, IS THAT CORRECT? THERE IS A PERMIT PARKING AREA NEARBY, CORRECT. LIKE A PREFERENTIAL PARKING AREA. OKAY. UM, THAT'S NOT TRUE. ANY LOSS OF STREET PARKING FOR NEARBY BUSINESSES CAN BE MADE UP FOR HOPEFULLY WITH THE BUSINESSES GETTING MORE BUSINESS FROM, UM, THE MANY STUDENTS THAT WILL BE LIVING THERE. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT AND I'M ASKING MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS FOR STUDENT HOUSING. UM, THAT WOULD BE IN DISTRICT THREE. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT STEP. WE HAVE THE SECONDER OF THE MOTION. UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. SUPER NA. UM, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN FOR ASKING THOSE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND FOR THE REALLY THOROUGH PRESENTATION, UH, THE, THE QUESTION I HAD WAS, WAS, AGAIN, REGARDING PARKING AND TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA. UM, I'M IN THAT AREA OFTEN, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT CAL STATE LONG BEACH, AND I ALSO BELIEVE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE MIGHT HAVE SHUTTLE SERVICES THAT PICK UP, UM, AT THEIR DORMS JUST DOWN THE STREET. AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THE DEVELOPER OF THIS PROJECT WOULD BE IN CLOSE CONVERSATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND THEIR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE SHUTTLE STOPS ARE ADDED. UM, AND ALSO TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE BECAUSE, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, NOT ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE CARS FOR MULTIPLE REASONS, UM, BUT WE KNOW THEY NEED TO ACCESS. SO IN ADDITION TO THE MANY TRANSIT LINES THAT GO THERE, THERE IS A SHUTTLE THAT I THINK RUNS EVERY HALF AN HOUR OR 20 MINUTES. UM, AND IF THERE'S AN INFLUX OF STUDENTS THERE, I THINK THEY'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE HOUSED, NUMBER ONE, UM, AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE HOUSING, BUT ALSO HAVE TRANSPORTATION, UH, TO THEIR CLASSES IN A TIMELY MANNER. SO, UH, APPRECIATE THE TEAM'S HARD WORK ON THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO HOW IT CONTINUES. OKAY, THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL GO TO MARY ZENDEJAS. THANK YOU. UM, JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS PROJECT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR STUDENTS AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH IS A BIG WIN FOR US. UH, CONGRATULATIONS COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN FOR HAVING THIS IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND I KNOW SO MANY LIVES ARE GONNA BE TRANSFORMED BY THIS. SO, GREAT JOB ON THE PRESENTATION CITY STAFF AND GREAT, GREAT WORK ON MAKING THIS HAPPEN. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE MY COMMENTS NOW AND, UM, I REPRESENT THE PARKER STATE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, DIRECTLY NORTH OF THE TOWER, AND I CAN ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP REGARDING PREFERENTIAL PARKING AND IF THE TECHNICIANS IN THE CONTROL ROOM CAN, UH, PUT UP MY FIRST SIDE. UM, THERE IT IS THERE, UH, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T COLOR CODE PARK TOWER THE WAY YOU DID IN RED, BECAUSE THERE WAS WAY TOO MUCH RED ON THIS MAP. SO I'M, IT'S THE, UH, BOTTOM CENTER OF THAT, UH, SCREEN AND IT'S IN, WE'LL CALL THAT PYRAMID BLUE FOR THE PARK TOWER, THE TRIANGULAR SHAPE. SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE, THESE ARE PREFERENTIAL PARK. THIS IS A PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY, UM, THE, THE RED LINES. SO LET ME DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN WHAT A, A PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT AND A STREET THAT HAS ENTIAL PARKING. SO YOU'LL SEE IN PARK ESTATE, AND THAT'S CLARK AVENUE THAT, UM, DIVIDES THE, THE SCREEN, UM, FROM, UH, THE NORTH AND SOUTH, UH, DIRECTION. SO THE FIRST STREET, UM, EAST OF CLARK IS GREENBRIER ROAD, AND THEY HAVE VOTED IN, UH, PREFERENTIAL PARKING. THE ONLY OTHER STREET IN, UM, PARK ESTATE THAT HAS IT IN PLACE IS VISTA HERMOSA. THAT'S THE ONE CLOSEST TO THE TOWER. SO YOU'LL SEE 1, 2, 3, 4 OTHER STREETS THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE IT IN. AND MY GUESS IS THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THERE ARE PARKING IMPACTS. SO THEY HAVE THAT IN PLACE. NOW, I USED TO REPRESENT THE AREA, UH, JUST WEST OF, UH, THE PARK TOWER THAT'S NOW IN DISTRICT THREE. BUT YOU SEE THERE, UM, PRETTY MUCH PARKING IMPACTED ALSO. AND THE REASON BEING FOR THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS, THIS ISN'T THEIR FIRST RODEO WITH STUDENT HOUSING, YOU'LL SEE THE ROUND BLUE [03:30:01] CIRCLE THERE IS THE BEACH BEACHSIDE DORM. AND, UM, THAT'S WHAT KIND OF CREATED THE PARKING IMPACTS THAT WE HAVE THERE TODAY. UM, ONE THING I WILL MENTION, AND, AND FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA SAY TO GINA CASILLAS, I HEARD YOU SAY ALL THIS CAN BE MITIGATED LATER. I GET THAT. BUT THIS IS MY ONE AND ONLY CHANCE TO READ IT IN THE RECORD. SO I WANNA, UH, UH, REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS THAT WAY. UM, SO WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A FATALITY FROM A STUDENT DASHING ACROSS PCH, UM, YOU KNOW, PARKING ON, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF PCH. AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE REALLY LOOK OUT FOR THAT CONSIDERATION, THAT WE DON'T WANT TO, UH, CREATE A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE PARKING, UM, ON THE, UH, OPPOSITE SIDE OF PCH TO GET BACK TO THE, THE PARK TOWER. UM, UH, OKAY, I, I HAVE A SECOND SIDE ON A, ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC IF WE CAN MOVE TO THAT NOW. AND THIS, UH, A SHUTTLE SERVICE WAS MENTIONED, UH, BY MY COLLEAGUES HERE. SO THIS, UM, SLIDE REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE AREA. SO YOU'LL SEE THE, THE RED, UH, PREFERENTIAL PARKING, UH, DISTRICT OF PARK STAYS TO THE UPPER LEFT. SO WE HAVE TWO CORRIDORS FEEDING THE UNIVERSITY. SO THE PREFERENCE IS FOR THE BLUE CORRIDOR THAT IT, ANY SHUTTLE SERVICE WOULD USE PCH AND SEVENTH STREET, UH, TURN LEFT INTO THE CAMPUS. AND THAT TAKES YOU TO UPPER CAMPUS RIGHT THERE. THERE'S A BUS STOP RIGHT WHERE THAT BLUE LINE ENDS, UM, THAT'S PREFERABLE TO A SHUTTLE GOING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THAT WOULD BE, UM, AROUND, UM, UH, LOS ALTOS PLAZA PARK, THAT IS ANAHEIM ROAD THAT GOES ALL THE WAY, UM, EAST OF BELLFLOWER, NORTH ON BELLFLOWER, ACROSS ON BEACH DRIVE, AND THEN UP CAMPUS DRIVE, UH, TO GET TO THAT SAME SPOT. SO WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN, UH, MITIGATE THAT LATER, THAT WOULD BE THE DESIRE OF THE NEIGHBORS, UM, SURROUNDING THE FACILITY. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. THANK YOU AGAIN TO STAFF FOR A, A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION. AND, UM, MADAME CLERK, WHERE DO WE GO NOW? THANK YOU DARYL. WE GO TO A VOTE. OKAY. ALRIGHT, WITH THAT GOOD EVENING ACTING CHAIR. THIS IS ERIN WEER MCKINLEY OVER AT THE CITY ATTORNEY SEAT. OKAY. THIS VOTE WILL BE BROKEN INTO FOUR VOTES AND THE CLERK IS READY FOR US. UM, AND WE HAVE OUR MOTION. AND SECOND, THE FIRST VOTE IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION CERTIFYING THE PARK TOWER STUDENT HOUSING PROJECT, EIR, MAKING THOSE SUPPORTING FINDINGS OF FACT, UM, AND APPROVING THE MITIGATION MONITORING, MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM. SO IF WE CAN TAKE THAT FIRST VOTE. OKAY. COUNCILMAN SUPER. YOU AND I, MOTION IS CARRIED. THAT SECOND VOTE IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS TO CHANGE THE LAND USE PLACE TYPE AND UPDATE THE RELATED MAPS, UM, AND THEN TO ALSO ADOPT THOSE SUPPORTING FINDINGS. OKAY. MEMBERS CAST YOUR VOTES. MOTION IS CARRIED. THE THIRD VOTE IS TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A ZONING MAP, CHANGE REQUEST AND FINDINGS RELATED THERETO TO AMEND THE ZONING DESIGNATION FOR THE PROPERTY AT 51 50 EAST PCH FROM COMMUNITY AUTOMOBILE ORIENTED WITH A HEIGHT OVERLAY TO A MIXED USE THREE ZONING DISTRICT. AND THIS WILL BE THE FIRST READ ON THAT ORDINANCE. OKAY. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. MOTION IS CARRIED. AND THEN THE LAST VOTE WILL BE TO AFFIRM THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW AND THE, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS THAT SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. AND THAT'S UP FOR YOUR LAST VOTE. OKAY. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY, THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR HEARING. OKAY. NEXT UP I BELIEVE WE HAVE, UM, ITEM NUMBER 33, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, CHAIR OF THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE. RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF PROPOSED ORDER OF BUSINESS CHANGES TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS [33. 25-56954 Recommendation to request City Council approval of proposed Order of Business changes to City Council meetings, as recommended by the Government Operations and Efficiency Committee; Request City Council to direct City Manager and City Clerk to report back with implementation analysis on recommendations that need additional department research; and Request City Council to direct City Manager and City Clerk to report back on implementation of Senate Bill 707.       Office or Department: Kristina Duggan, Councilmember, Third District, Chair, Government Operations and Efficiency Committee         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE. REQUEST CITY COUNCIL TO DIRECT CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO REPORT BACK WITH IMPLEMENTATION ANALYSIS ON RECOMMENDATIONS THAT NEED ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT RESEARCH AND REQUEST CITY COUNCIL TO DIRECT CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO REPORT BACK ON IMPLEMENTATION OF SENATE BILL 7 0 7. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. WELL, THIS IS, UH, LAID OVER FROM LAST WEEK. WE'RE BRINGING SCINTILLATING INFORMATION BACK. SO, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MY COMMITTEE, UM, COLLEAGUES, UH, COUNCILWOMAN RICK'S OTI AND COUNCIL WOMEN'S IN DEJAS BECAUSE THERE [03:35:01] WAS GOOD WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY CLERKS TEAM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID. SO WE'VE TAKEN A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS AND, UM, WE WANNA MAKE OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS EFFICIENT, ACCESSIBLE, AND WELCOMING. THIS ISN'T JUST FOR COUNCIL, THIS IS FOR RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS. AND PEOPLE ARE BUSY. THEY DO HAVE FAMILIES. IT'S HARDER TO BRING YOUR KIDS. WE SAW SOME KIDS HERE EARLIER, BUT THAT WAS EARLY, EARLY IN THE MEETING. UM, WE DID GET SOME RESPONSES FROM OUR SURVEY THAT WAS SENT OUT BY THE CITY CLERK. AND, UM, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS SPEAKS TO IS THERE WASN'T A LOT OF RESPONSES TO THE CITY CLERK'S SURVEY, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, TO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE GET REPRESENTATION WHEN WE'RE SENDING OUT, UH, SURVEYS TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT. SO, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT, UH, IT'S ABOUT MAKING SMALL, PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS, MAKING THE MEETINGS EASIER TO FOLLOW AND MORE PRACTICAL FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. AND THE, WE HAVE TWO BUCKETS. UM, THE FIRST SET OF CHANGES IS THE ORDER OF BUSINESS UPDATES, LOW COST, STRAIGHTFORWARD, MAKES THINGS EFFICIENT. SO I'LL INCLUDE THESE FIVE ITEMS. EXPANDING EARLY PUBLIC COMMENT, ESTABLISH ESTABLISHING ESTIMATED TIMES FOR HIGH INTEREST ITEMS, ADJUSTING TIMES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS TO FORMALIZE EXISTING PRACTICES, UPHOLDING A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT ON CEREMONIAL ITEMS. AND FINALLY, SETTING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TO START NO EARLIER THAN 3:00 PM IF ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ISSUED THE ORDER OF BUSINESS CHANGES, WE CAN ALWAYS MOVE THESE TO THE SECOND BUCKET. UM, BUT I, I WANNA CLARIFY TWO OF THESE ITEMS. REMEMBERING THAT THE CHAIR ALWAYS WITH CEREMONIALS, IT'S PART OF OUR CHARTER TO DO FIVE MINUTES. WE JUST WANNA KIND OF KEEP IT TO THAT. BUT THE CHAIR ALWAYS, UH, RUNS THE MEETING AND IT COULD GO OVER FIVE MINUTES. 'CAUSE I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN CEREMONIALS THAT WE WANT TO, UM, RESPECTFULLY HEAR FROM THEM. AND THEN CLARIFICATION FOR SETTING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TO START NO EARLIER THAN 3:00 PM WE WOULD CONTINUE TO START OUR MEETINGS AT 5:00 PM BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE MIGHT WANT TO, UM, LOOK AT, AT ITEMS. IT'S, IT WOULD BE A LONG MEETING, AND WE COULD BE HERE TILL 11, 12, 1 OR TWO IN THE MORNING. SO WE CAN LOOK DEEPER INTO THAT. LET'S GO TO THE SECOND GROUP OF IDEAS. THESE HAVE POTENTIAL, THEY'VE BEEN THROWN OUT, UM, BY MY COMMITTEE, ME TEAM MEMBERS, AND, BUT THEY DO NEED MORE EVALUATION BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. SO, UM, LET'S LOOK AT THE SECOND BUCKET AND WE CAN GET STAFF FEEDBACK ON THAT. LET'S SEE. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCY AND ENGAGEMENT, UM, BUT THERE DOES NEED REVIEW ON THESE. THE, THE FINAL ITEM THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT AND IT'S COMING TO OUR COUNCIL, IS TO GET A REPORT BACK ON SENATE BILL 7 0 7. THIS IS A NEW STATEWIDE REQUIREMENT FOR HOW PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE CONDUCTED. AND, UM, ALTOGETHER WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW TO IMPROVE OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND MAKING OUR MEETINGS CONSISTENT, MORE EFFICIENT AND WELCOMING RESIDENTS. BUT WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT SB 7 0 7 AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT BRINGS TO US NEXT JULY. SO I WANNA THANK MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. AND WITH THAT, I MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF THE ITEM UNLESS THERE IS FURTHER COMMENT AND INPUT. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, WE'LL MO UH, MOVE TO THE, UH, SECONDER OF THE MOTION. JONI, RICK SODI. UH, UH, THANK YOU CHAIR. UM, YEAH, I'LL JUST, UH, REITERATE WHAT, WHAT, UM, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UM, CHRISTINA DUGGAN SAID. UH, THE IDEA HERE IS AROUND DISCUSSING WAYS TO MAKE OUR MEETINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE, RIGHT? UM, THINKING ABOUT BA BARRIERS, UM, THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC MEETINGS AND HOW WE CAN BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY. UM, AND SO THAT'S WHAT THESE ARE ALL, UM, ALL DESIGNED TO DO, MANY OF WHICH AS, UM, AS THE COUNCILWOMAN SHARED, UH, ARE RELATED TO PRACTICES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AS PART OF OUR CITY COUNCIL PROCESSES. SO, FORMALIZING THEM, MAKING THEM CLEAR SO THAT RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THEM. I THINK SOMETIMES THEY COME TO MEETINGS AND THEY SEE [03:40:01] CERTAIN PRACTICES, BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW, UM, WHY THEY'RE DONE. UH, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, THE ONES ON THE SECOND BUCKET ARE AREAS OF EXPLORATION, AS YOU MENTIONED, RIGHT? UM, FOR US TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE ARE WAYS TO EITHER ADOPT THOSE IN WHOLE OR IN PARTS, UM, OR IF THERE ARE WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THEM, SUCH THAT, AGAIN, THE IDEA AROUND EFFICIENCY ACCESS, UM, FOR OUR MEETINGS, UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED, I'M SOMEONE WITH SMALL CHILDREN, OR WE HAVE FOLKS WITH A VARIETY OF NEEDS IN THE EVENINGS. AND SO SOMETIMES LATE MEETINGS, RIGHT WHERE THEY WANT MAY WANNA COME AND DO PUBLIC COMMENT ON AN ITEM. IT'S DIFFICULT IF YOU HAVE TO BE HERE TILL THREE, YOU KNOW, 3, 4, 5 HOURS WAITING FOR SOMETHING. THINGS COME UP. SOMETIMES CERTAIN ITEMS, CONVERSATIONS ARE LONGER THAN YOU EXPECT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE, THE THOUGHTFULNESS AROUND THE RECOMMENDATIONS. UM, AND AGAIN, I JUST WELCOME THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO, HOW TO IMPROVE, UM, ACCESS TO OUR MEETINGS. OKAY. UM, AND EXCEPT WE HAVE MEGAN KERR. THANK YOU. UM, I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN DUGGAN FOR BRINGING THE CONVERSATION FORWARD. UM, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE EFFORTS MOVING TOWARDS EFFICIENCY. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, UM, AND SOME CONCERNS. I, I PERSONALLY FIND THAT SOME OF THE REQUESTED CHANGES, INCLUDING SEVERAL OF THOSE WERE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE FOR IN, FOR, UM, IMPLEMENTATION TONIGHT, DO REQUIRE FURTHER RESEARCH TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S TRULY GOING TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE STATED INTENT OF APPROVING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. UM, I'VE BEEN A PART OF PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR A LOT OF YEARS, AND I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT THAT WE ASK OURSELVES AND REFLECT ON WHO ARE WE MAKING THIS MORE EFFICIENT FOR? UM, AND WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AT A MEETING? UM, WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, I KNOW THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT VARIES BASED ON INTEREST ON ITEMS, NOT JUST ON AVAILABILITY TO PARTICIPATE. WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO COME EVERY WEEK, ONCE A MONTH, OR ONLY WHEN A PARTICULAR ITEM COMES UP FOR DISCUSSION OR NEVER AT ALL. UM, AND SOME COME ONCE IN A LIFETIME, FOR SURE. . UM, SO MY QUESTIONS, UM, SO I, AND I THINK PREDICTABILITY IS KEY IN ANY KIND OF MEETING TO GET PEOPLE TO ENGAGE ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO MY QUESTIONS, THE, THE EXPANDING EARLY PUBLIC COMMENT THAT THE CURRENT PRACTICE ALLOWS 10 SPEAKERS TO HAVE THREE MINUTES EQUAL TO 30 MINUTES. SO TO REMAIN WITHIN THE 30 MINUTES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING 15 SPEAKERS AT TWO MINUTES EACH. OR EVEN WE COULD HAVE 15 SPEAKERS AT TWO MINUTES EACH, OR EVEN 20 SPEAKERS AT 90 SECONDS EACH. SO IF THE GOAL IS TO SERVE MORE VOICES AT THE BEGINNING, DO WE HAVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT, INCLUDING, MAYBE WE INCREASE IT TO 15 SPEAKERS AND IT'S LESS. SO I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE. UM, ALL OF THE, ALL OF MY COMMENTS ARE, ARE AROUND SP 7 0 7 AS WELL. I THINK THAT'S GONNA HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON HOW THE ORDER OF BUSINESS IS DONE AND WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO MOVING FORWARD. UM, AND WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY TONIGHT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPARENCY. SO, UM, SO IN PRACTICE, WE, WE SEPARATE PROCEDURAL ITEMS INTO CONSENT ITEMS. WE ALREADY ARRANGE THE TIMING BASED ON THE CHAIRS, AND WE DO THAT BASED ON THE CHAIR'S DISCRETION AS WE DID THIS EVENING. SO I HAVE A CONCERN WITH NO, WITH HOW WE IDENTIFY SOMETHING AS HIGH INTEREST AND TO WHOM IT IS A HIGH INTEREST. UM, IT COULD BE A HIGH INTEREST TO ONE COUNCIL DISTRICT, ONE DEMOGRAPHIC OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I DO NOT WANNA BE IN A POSITION OF MAKING A JUDGMENT OF WHAT WILL BE HIGH INTEREST TO OUR RESIDENTS. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL AS AGENDIZED OR CONVERSATION HAS HAPPENED. AND SO IF WE ESTIMATE AND WE TRY TO DO TIME, CERTAIN ITEMS, IF WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ITEM AND WE HIT A TIME, CERTAIN ITEM, DO WE HAVE TO TABLE WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY TALKING ABOUT TO HIT A TIME CERTAIN ITEM AND GO BACK TO A DIFFERENT ITEM? AND SO THE, I FEAR THE CLUNKINESS OF HAVING VERY STRICT TIME, CERTAIN ITEMS THAT SOMEONE HAS DEEMED HIGH INTEREST, UM, COULD THROW A WRENCH IN THAT EASE OF MEETING, UM, THE PREDICTABILITY, NOT ONLY FOR STAFF, UH, BUT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WAITING AS WELL. BECAUSE IF SOMEONE WAITED ON AN ITEM THAT WENT LONGER THAN EXPECTED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE IT BEING HIGH INTEREST, THEY NOW HAVE TO SIT THROUGH ANOTHER ITEM TO FINISH THAT, THAT ITEM. SO I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT, UM, THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR, HOW THAT IS UTILIZED, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, TIME CERTAIN ITEMS CAN BE GOOD AND BAD DEPENDING ON HOW THE EVENINGS ARE MOVING. UM, I AGREE THAT WE HAVE SOME MEETINGS, WE HAVE BUDGET MEETINGS THAT WE CHOOSE TO START AT THREE O'CLOCK. SOME WE STARTED AT TWO O'CLOCK. AND I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE. I THINK THOSE SHOULD BE THE EXCEPTION AND NOT THE RULE UNLESS WE WANNA MAKE A PERMANENT TIME CHANGE. BECAUSE AGAIN, PREDICTABILITY, WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES SHOW UP HERE ON THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH THINKING THAT THERE'S A COUNCIL MEETING AND THERE'S NOT. EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THAT OUR SCHEDULE IS THE FIRST THREE MEETINGS OF THE MONTH, UM, WHEN WE ARE OUT OF ORDER OR WE CHANGE THINGS, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW IN THEIR HEAD THAT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE ON TUESDAY AT 5:00 PM. SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE REALLY THOUGHTFUL IF WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO LATE AND WE WANT TO LOOK [03:45:01] AT A TIME CHANGE, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED A MORE PERMANENT TIME CHANGE. AGAIN, IN CONVERSATION WITH SB 7 0 7, UM, UPHOLDING THE FIVE MINUTE LIMIT ON CEREMONIALS. I DON'T DO TOO MANY CEREMONIALS OR PRESENTATION, BUT I DID ONE TONIGHT, AND I KNOW FOR A FACT IT WENT FOR SIX AND A HALF MINUTES, AND I'M AWARE THAT IT WENT 90 SECONDS OVER, BUT I'M ALSO AWARE THAT THE MAYOR'S PRESENTATION WENT A MINUTE AND A HALF OVER. AND SO, UM, THAT IDEA THAT WE TRY TO HOLD TO A PRINCIPAL, GIVING THE CHAIR SOME DISCRETION IS IMPORTANT. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE, I DON'T WANNA CUT OFF FOLKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THINGS, UM, THAT WE HAVE DEEMED IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO DO A PRESENTATION. AND SO, UM, I WANT TO TRUST THE CHAIR'S DISCRETION TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE. I CHOSE TO DO THAT WITH MY SPEAKER TONIGHT. LIKE, WE GOT ONE MORE MINUTE, UM, TO DO THAT IN A POLITE WAY. AND THAT'S ABOUT US COACHING OUR PRESENTERS TOO. UM, THE STANDALONE STUDY SESSIONS, I HAD A QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT OFTENTIMES WE UTILIZE COMMITTEES FOR. SO IF WE HAVE A PARTICULAR ITEM THAT WE THINK NEEDS EXTRA AIR, WE HAVE A COMMITTEE STRUCTURE THAT CAN ALLOW FOR THAT ITEM TO GET EXTRA PUBLIC COMMENT TIME, EXTRA PUBLIC RECORD RECEIPT TIME. UM, SO I THINK DOING BIG STUDY SESSIONS OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL, UM, MAY NOT BE AS EFFECTIVE AS BEING REALLY DILIGENT WITH OUR COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND USING IT TO ITS ADVANTAGE. WE HAVE A MOBILITY COMMITTEE ITEM TOMORROW NIGHT. IT'S ONE ITEM, BUT IT'S ONE THAT IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS IS IMPORTANT FOR THERE TO BE PUBLIC TIME FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND BE ON THE RECORD. UM, SO I THINK UTILIZING THOSE MIGHT BE MORE HELPFUL. UM, TENTATIVE PUBLIC SCHEDULE OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS WE CAN, LIKE, I JUST THINK MAKING PROMISE, I'M NOT BIG ON MAKING PROMISES WE CAN'T KEEP, AND EVEN TO TENTATIVELY TELL SOMEONE WE'RE GONNA TRY AND REPORT BACK IN THAT FOUR WEEKS, IF IT'S A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS AND IT RAINS, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE AN UPDATE BECAUSE IT RAINED AND SOMETHING WAS POSTPONED. SO I DON'T WANNA MAKE PROMISES TO THE PUBLIC ON GIVING THEM INFORMATION IF WE CAN'T KEEP IT. UM, IN THE SAME VEIN, THE EXPANDED PRERECORDED STAFF REPORTS, UM, I KNOW EVEN IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF REPORTS, WE ALWAYS PUSHED STAFF TO HAVE THOSE PRESENTATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE GET MOST OF THEM BY FRIDAY. UM, IF A PRERECORDED STAFF PRESENTATION IS DONE, THEN WE HAVE NO DISCRETION. THE CHAIR HAS NO DISCRETION ON MOVING A PROJECT ALONG. WE KNOW THAT WE GET PRESENTATIONS DONE FOR US, UM, BY STAFF. AND SOMETIMES WE REALIZE A 30 PAGE PRESENTATION NEEDS TO GET REDUCED TO A 10 PAGE PRESENTATION ON THE SPOT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE EVENING'S GOING. SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THESE. IT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION TO MY HOPE, AND I WILL ASK FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT ALL OF THESE ITEMS COME BACK, UM, AS A REPORT BACK RATHER THAN AN IMPLEMENTATION. AND THAT WE DO IT WITH ENOUGH TIME. AND I'M, THIS IS A LONG TIME, FIVE OR SIX MONTHS, I WANNA GIVE THE CITY CLERK THE ABILITY TO, I KNOW THEY WERE JUST AT A CONFERENCE LEARNING ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF SB 7 0 7, THE WAYS THAT WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT SB 7 0 7 COULD CANCEL OUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT. AND SO, GIVING STAFF ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE RESEARCH THEY NEED TO DO ON SB 7 0 7 AND BRING BACK A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS, THESE INCLUDED, UM, THAT SEEM REASONABLE, THAT FIT WITHIN BOTH THESE PRESENTATIONS OR THESE SUGGESTIONS, AS WELL AS WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT 7 0 7 BEFORE THAT WE NOW HAVE TO IMPLEMENT INTO OUR SYSTEMS. SO IF YOU WOULD APPRE, IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO HAVE THIS COME BACK 'CAUSE OF REPORT BACK, I WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE. UM, I DO WANNA JUST CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS. I, I'M, I'M, I THINK YOUR FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS, IS DOABLE, ESPECIALLY WITH SB 7 0 7, BUT I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT, UM, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, YES, IT IS FOR MORE PEOPLE TO SPEAK, BUT I THINK THERE'S, WITH ALL OF THESE, THERE'S FLEXIBILITY WITH THE CHAIR. UM, FOR TIME CERTAIN, AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S DONE BY THE CHAIR RIGHT NOW. UM, THERE ARE MORE URGENT ITEMS OR ITEMS OF INTEREST THAT OUR CHAIR MOVES TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE MEETING, MOVES TO THE FRONT OF THE MEETING. UM, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A FLEXIBILITY. YOU SAY SIX O'CLOCK FOR ITEM 22, AND IT WOULD BE OKAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA CUT OFF AN ITEM FOR THAT, BUT AT LEAST PEOPLE COULD KNOW IT WOULD BE AROUND SIX O'CLOCK. UM, AND THEN CONSISTENCY. UM, YES, WE WANT THE CONSISTENCY AND LIKE A CLARIFIED, SOMETIMES THERE'S TIMES WHEN WE WANT TO DO EARLIER, EARLIER MEETINGS, CAN, UM, SO YOU WANT THIS, YOU'RE FRIENDLY. TELL ME WHAT YOUR FRIENDLY IS, AGAIN, BRINGING IT BACK WITH CORRECT. CORRECT. [03:50:01] SO INSTEAD OF THE, THE FOUR OR FIVE POINTS THAT YOU WANTED TO DO, UM, FOR IMPLEMENTATION, UM, REQUESTING THEY COME AS A REPORT BACK WITH THE, WITH THE ITEMS THAT YOU BELIEVE NEEDED SOME EXPLORATORY, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL EXPLORATORY CONVERSATION IN THE REPORT BACK. SO I, I MEAN, UPHOLDING THE FIVE MINUTE LIMIT ON CEREMONIALS AND PRESENTATIONS, I THINK THE CHAIR IS CLEAR THAT WE REALLY WANNA DO THAT AND IS AIMING TO, UM, I JUST, I HAVE A, I HAVE A REAL CONCERN ABOUT ESTABLISHING HIGH INTEREST ITEMS AND HOW THOSE ARE CHOSEN BY WHOM AND WHY AND WHEN, UM, AND EVEN THOUGH THE CHAIR, AND DO WE GET A SAY IN WHAT A HIGH INTEREST ITEM IS, THE CHAIR DOES WHAT THE CHAIR DOES, BUT I MEAN, THEY SET UP THE AGENDA AND I THINK HIS OFFICE, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, FIGURES OUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE THAT. UM, BUT MY, MY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IS WITH, UM, EXPANDING EARLY PUBLIC COMMENT AND LIMITING THE NUMBER OF TIMES, THREE MINUTES IS NOT A LONG TIME. FIVE MINUTES IS NOT A LONG TIME FOR A PRESENTATION. AND I THINK IF SOMEONE MAKES THE EFFORT ONCE A MONTH OR ONCE IN THEIR LIFE TO COME DOWN TO COME DOWN AND SAY, WELL, THERE ARE EXTRA SPEAKERS TONIGHT, SO YOU ONLY GET 90 SECONDS, THAT'S THEIR TIME, THAT'S THE PUBLIC'S TIME. UM, AND SOMETIMES IT'S NINE SPEAKERS AND SOMETIMES IT'S, YOU KNOW, 25 AT THE END OF THE NIGHT. UM, BUT I WANNA BE RESPECTFUL THAT THE PUBLIC HAS COME TO HAVE THEIR, THEIR MOMENT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, UM, ESPECIALLY ON THE NON AGENDIZED ITEMS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE TIME I, I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE COME, UM, TO SAY SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM THAT ISN'T ON THE AGENDA. AND TO CUT IT DOWN, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT, UM, FEELS A DISSERVICE TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE EFFORT TO COME. AND THEN ADDITIONAL CONCERN IS WITH SB 7 0 7, IF WE'RE DOING ONLINE MEETINGS AND WE HAVE TO QUEUE ONLINE AND IN PERSON WHO GETS PRIORITY, IF ALL THE SLOTS ARE TAKEN ALREADY ONLINE AND PEOPLE SHOW UP TO DO IT IN PERSON, LIKE THAT'S A QUESTION JUST FOR THE CLERK TO CONSIDER LATER. UM, SO I'M JUST VERY WARY OF TAKING TIME AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC ON THAT ITEM, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR MOMENT TO SAY WHAT THEY NEED TO SAY TO US, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT IT'S, AND AGAIN, I'M, THIS IS JUST IN CONSIDERATION OF 10 SPEAKER MAX BEFORE A MEETING STARTS. WHAT THIS OFFERS IS MORE PEOPLE TO SPEAK BEFORE THE MEETING AND NOT HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE END. BECAUSE HOW MANY TIMES DO PEOPLE LEAVE AND THEN THEY NEVER HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE THEY LEAVE THE MEETING EARLY. I'M, I'M HAPPY TO, TO GO AHEAD AND, UM, I'LL TAKE YOUR FRIENDLY TO COME BACK WITH THESE ITEMS ALONG WITH SB 7 0 7, UH, PRIORITY BEING MY FIRST BUCKET OF ITEMS. THE SECOND BUCKET OF ITEMS NEED MORE WORK ON THEM. VERY CLEARLY. YOU, YOU BROUGHT THOSE UP, SO I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. UH, I'LL ACCEPT THAT. FRIENDLY. OKAY. WE HAVE A FRIENDLY, ACCEPTED BY THE MAKER OF THE MOTION. DOES A SECOND OF THE MOTION ACCEPT THAT? I DO ACCEPT THAT. OKAY. UH, MOVING ON WITH, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE, UM, AND WE DO HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS, OH, I'M SORRY. I I'M SORRY. DID I, I MEANT SPEAKERS. I APOLOGIZE. IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT. AND JUST, UM, SO CHAIR SUPER, NOT JUST BEFORE WE MOVE ON, CAN I CLARIFY, WAS IT FIVE MONTHS TO COME BACK WITHIN THAT TIMEFRAME, OR THAT'S GONNA BE MY CLARIFICATION. UM, I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE SPECIFIC. I JUST WANT IT TO BE A LONG ENOUGH TIMEFRAME THAT YOUR TEAM HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE ON THE SB 7 0 7. OKAY. UM, THANK YOU. SO I WOULD LEAVE IT TO THE, TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION OF WHAT A ACCEPTABLE TIMEFRAME IS. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT RUSHED INTO DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND I APOLOGIZE, I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. DO WE HAVE THAT DOWN? WHAT THE FRIENDLY IS AT THIS POINT? WE DO. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, OKAY. SO THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, ULA. TH THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD THE CLARIFICATION. UM, I HEARD, UH, THAT THE FRIENDLY, UM, IS ASKING FOR PRIORITY ON ITEMS THAT WERE PRESENTED AS IMMEDIATE ACTION, MAYBE AS 90 DAYS AND ALL THE REST OF THE ITEMS COME BACK IN FIVE TO SIX MONTHS. NO, I DIDN'T SAY THAT. OKAY. I JUST SAID THAT THE FIRST LISTING OF ITEMS THAT I READ, UM, ARE TRULY THE PRIORITIES. AND THE CITY CLERK HAS THE SECOND BUCKET OF ITEMS, WHICH WAS MY SECOND PRIORITY. ALRIGHT, SO FOR THE FRIENDLY, WHEN THE CITY CLERK COMES BACK WITH A DISCUSSION ABOUT SB 7 0 7 AND IMPLEMENTATION, UM, YOU CAN PRIORITIZE. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE NUMBER OF DAYS FOR EACH. I DIDN'T GIVE A NUMBER OF DAYS. I THINK THAT WAS THE CITY CLERK. [03:55:01] SHE CAN OFFER THAT. I THINK IT'D GOOD IF WE, DID YOU HAVE, ARE YOU WILLING TO ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ON WHAT THE NUMBER OF DAYS MIGHT BE? I SUGGESTED LIKE FIVE MONTHS FOR ALL ITEMS. FOR ALL ITEMS, OKAY. SO THAT THE CLERK HAD TIME FOR SB 7 0 7 RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTATION IDEAS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME. SO I LEFT IT TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO START MY TIME, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TOTAL NUM TOTAL AMOUNT OF TIME IS FOR THE REPORT BACK AND WHAT THE MAKER OF THE MOTION HAS ACCEPTED. I ACCEPTED, UH, COUNCILWOMAN KERR'S FIVE MONTHS. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, SO, UH, I WANNA THANK THE, UH, GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, UH, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GOT THAT RIGHT. UM, WE ALL WANNA FIND MEANINGFUL WAYS TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS AND MAKE CITY HALL FEEL LIKE IT'S A PLACE THAT TRULY BELONGS TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE'S VOICE MATTERS, UM, AND TO BUILD THE KIND OF TRUST AND PARTICIPATION. WE MUST BEGIN, I THINK, WITH OPEN COMMUNICATION. UM, SO I'VE THANKED MY COLLEAGUE, UH, FOR, UH, BRINGING FORTH A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT REGARDING THE TWO GROUPS, WHICH, UH, WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO REVIEW, UH, ALL OF THE PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN SET FORTH TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING AS MUCH PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AS POSSIBLE. UM, ALL THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE OF CONCERN TO ME, I THINK HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN OUR CONVERSATION SO FAR, INCLUDING START TIME, UH, FOR SOME WHO MIGHT BE WORKING STARTING EARLIER, COULD BE, UH, PROHIBITIVE IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT IS HIGH INTEREST, HOW DO WE DEFINE THAT SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS? AND THEN I'LL JUST SAY, IF WE ARE GIVING OURSELVES FIVE TO SIX MONTHS, UM, THERE WAS A SURVEY THAT WAS INTRODUCED IN ORDER TO, UH, GAIN ACCESS TO RECOMMENDATIONS, I'D LIKE TO, UM, SUGGEST THAT WE PULL UP THAT SURVEY AGAIN, MAYBE CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE, AND USE THAT TIME TO CONTINUE TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL SURVEYS AND ENGAGE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ACCORDINGLY. I WAS CONCERNED THAT LESS THAN 3% OF THE RESPONDENTS HAD COME FROM 9 0 8 0 5, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I COULD GIVE MY RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND. UM, AND IF THERE, UH, I'D LOVE TO ALSO INCLUDE IN THE REPORT BACK, UM, HOPEFULLY THE MAKER OF THE MOTION AND THE SECONDER MIGHT AGREE. UM, I'D LOVE TO CONSIDER THE LOCATION OF EITHER, UH, COMMITTEE MEETINGS OR THE COUNCIL MEETING ITSELF, UH, TO BE OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL, UM, TO ALLOW FOR PARTICIPATION AS WELL AS ANOTHER, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE RESIDENTS A CHANCE TO CONNECT, UM, LOCATION AND BEING ABLE TO GET TO CITY HALL COULD BE PROHIBITIVE FOR SOME. UM, AND SO I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT TO THE AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION, UM, AS THE CITY REVIEWS THE LIST OF ITEMS, CERTAINLY THAT'S A, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT I'VE SPOKEN WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT. UM, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, THE SURVEY WAS CIRCULATED AMONGST ALL COUNCIL OFFICES AND, UM, THERE WERE ONLY A COUPLE OF OFFICES THAT GOT RESPONSES BACK. SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, UH, CITY CLERK, CAN WE RE, UH, CIRCULATE THAT SURVEY? YES, ABSOLUTELY. WE'LL PUT THAT OUT. GREAT. I THINK THAT'S GREAT OPPORTUNITY. OKAY. UM, WE'LL GO TO, UH, MARY ZENDEJAS FOR COMMENTS. THANK YOU, CHAIR. UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR CHAIR, UM, CHRISTINA DUGGAN, COUNCILWOMAN CHRISTINA DUGGAN FOR LEADING US IN THIS GREAT CONVERSATION. I THINK THAT THE INTENT HERE IS ABSOLUTELY TO, UM, BE ABLE TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND BE ABLE TO BRING THEM MORE CLOSELY INTO, UM, INTO CITY HALL AND TO THE COUNCIL MEETINGS. AND SO I AM VERY, UM, VERY HAPPY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UM, FOR RESIDENTS. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, UM, HERE TODAY. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD RECOMMENDED, UM, WAS, OR THAT WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT WHAT, BUT WASN'T, UM, ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED INTO THE SECOND BUCKET THAT I AM HOPING WE CAN CONSIDER IS MAYBE HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT, A A PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEETING, BECAUSE AS WE DISCUSSED, UM, PREVIOUSLY, UM, [04:00:01] THERE WAS, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT CAN'T GET HERE RIGHT AT FIVE, UM, BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING STARTS FOR THE FIRST GENERAL, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE THAT CAN'T STAY UNTIL LATE, LATE, LATE, LATE NIGHT. SO, UM, MAYBE, UM, IF YOU WOULD ACCEPT TO ADD, UM, FOR US TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE DOING A MID CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, TO, UM, TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES, THOSE, UH, WHO ARE YOUTH, THOSE WHO HAVE CHILDREN AT HOME THAT CAN'T STAY REALLY LATE. SO MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCESSIBLE. SO THIS IS GETTING VERY BROAD. I WOULD ACCEPT THAT BECAUSE WE HAD FULL DISCUSSION AT THE GOE MEETING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY THIS. UM, SO YOU HAVE A VERY LONG LIST CITY CLERK TO GO OVER TO INCLUDE WITH SB 7 0 7. UM, I WILL ACCEPT THAT ADDITION, UH, TO THE FRIENDLY, SO WE'RE ADDING MID MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY? OKAY. UH, DOES THE SECOND THANK YOU, UH, THE MOTION ACCEPT THAT FRIENDLY? I DO. OKAY. AND THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS THAT. I, I DO DOCUMENTED. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. WE'RE BACK TO MEGAN KERR. UM, JUST ONE THING THAT I FORGOT. UM, AND I WOULD ASK THAT AS WE LOOK AT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT SO THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY TOWARDS MEETINGS. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK TO THAT COMMISSION AND LEAN ON THAT COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ISN'T SOMETHING IN THERE THAT WE ARE NOT SEEING. SO IF, UM, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION, I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT . I LIKE IT. THIS WAS ACTUAL BUILDING OF GOOD ITEMS TO TALK ABOUT. A LITTLE MORE WORK FOR OUR CITY CLERK, BUT, UH, THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMISSION WILL, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL SEND IT TO, TO THEM. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS THOUGH. SO, CITY CLERK'S GOING TO BRING BACK SB 7 0 7 AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT WE'VE, UH, ASKED YOU TO COME BACK WITH PROS AND CONS, PROCESS, ET CETERA. WE WILL THEN SEND IT TO THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION. IS THAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION? COUNCIL MEMBER? YEAH. I THINK THAT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THEIR LENS FIRST BEFORE IT COMES TO COUNCIL, BECAUSE THERE COULD BE SUBSTANTIVE THAT THEY SEE RIGHT AWAY THAT WE DON'T, THAT THE CLERK WANTS TO MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS ON BEFORE IT'S BROUGHT BACK TO US. SO I WOULD, I WOULD WANT TO SEE THEIR RE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, ON THE ITEM. SO TYPICALLY WHEN YOU DO THIS, IF I CAN ADD A LITTLE BIT OF, OF CONTEXT, UH, WE, WE TAKE THE THINGS YOU WANT US TO STUDY, WE GO THROUGH WORK WITH THE CLERK AND MANAGEMENT AND THE ATTORNEY, WE CAN ISSUE A REPORT ON KIND OF WHERE STAFF IS AND WHAT WE SEE, AND, AND WE'LL DO THE SURVEY AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS. THEN AT THAT POINT, IT CAN GO CO AT THE SAME TIME, IT CAN GO TO KCO, IT CAN GO TO GOE, WE CAN GET ADDITIONAL INPUT, THEN WE CAN DO, YOU KNOW, SUMMARIZE WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES, AND THEN BRING STAFFS RECOMMENDATIONS, THAT SURVEY OF RESULTS AND, AND HOPEFULLY GET A, A CONSOLIDATED RECOMMENDATION BACK TO THE COUNCIL. OKAY. THAT'S ONE MORE FRIENDLY, UH, DR. JONI, RICK SOY. YOU OKAY WITH THAT ONE? I AM. OKAY. I THINK WE HAVE THAT, UH, CLARIFIED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. YOU DO? YES. WELL, ACTUALLY WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT? I HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET, SO, UH, OKAY. AND THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENT. NO, I'LL, I'LL SPARE YOU. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. DAVE SHUKLA, UH, IS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS. UH, OKAY. FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY CLERK'S OFFICES. UM, I, I THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UM, I, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, UH, TO STUDY THIS CALENDAR YEAR, UH, THE IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION OF SB 7 0 7. I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO PUT ANOTHER PUBLIC SURVEY OUT, UH, ALONG WITH DATA ON RESPONDENTS, UH, OUT OF CONTACT POINTS. UM, ONE CAN ALWAYS ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS. UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING IT BE, UH, KIND OF LIKE A LOT OF BILLS, UH, THIS YEAR IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE. THEY CAN BECAME STUDY BILLS. UM, UH, I THINK IT'S ALSO OBVIOUSLY A GOOD IDEA TO SEE THERE'S NOT ANY, UH, PROBLEM WITH THE A DA, UH, I THANK YOU, . [04:05:03] OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, I ACTUALLY AM GONNA MAKE A COMMENT, JUST HAVE A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN SOMETHING THAT WAS ONCE DUBBED THE SUPER NA RULE. AND I'D LIKE TO ADD CLARITY TO THAT. SO WE HAD THE EXACT SAME MOTIVATION YEARS AGO, UH, TO BRING THE STREAMLINING COUNCIL MEETINGS. UM, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, I ATTENDED A LOT OF COUNCIL MEETINGS. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE IS WHERE YOU REALLY FEEL IT WHEN THE, WHEN THE CHAMBER IS EMPTY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT, BUT THE WORD DEMOCRACY DOESN'T COME TO MIND WHEN WE GOT HALF THE MEETING LEFT AND, AND, AND NO ONE'S HERE. SO, UH, WE ENDEAVORED TO, UM, ENGAGE PEOPLE MORE AND TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS. UM, BUT THE INTERESTING PART ABOUT, UH, AND I GOT ACCUSED OF CUTTING PUBLIC SPEAKING TIME TO A MINUTE AND A HALF. SO THAT'S THE ONE I WANT TO CLARIFY. WHAT HAD HAPPENED PRIOR TO THAT TIME WAS THE CHAIR WOULD SAY A LONG LINE OF, OF PEOPLE AND SAY, OKAY, THE FIRST 10 PEOPLE HAVE THREE MINUTES, THE NEXT 10 HAVE A MINUTE AND A HALF, THEN IT GOES TO ONE MINUTE. AND THERE WAS NO FORMULA FOR IT. IT WAS ARBITRARY EACH TIME. SO WHAT WE ENDEAVORED TO DO WAS TO PUT A FORMULA, UH, TO PUBLIC SPEAKING TIME. AND WHAT I DID WAS, I ACTUALLY WAS NOT CUTTING TIME. I WAS SAVING ANYONE FROM HAVING, HAVING TO GO TO ONE MINUTE. NOW, I THINK OUR CITY ATTORNEY WILL TELL US NO, UH, THERE'S, THERE'S CASE LAW SAYING THAT WE CAN GO TO ONE MINUTE, AND THAT'S WHY THE CHAIR HAS THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT TODAY. BUT THE ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS TO GIVE EVERYONE, NEVER GIVE ANYONE LESS THAN A MINUTE AND A HALF. SO, UM, JUST, UH, A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO CLARIFY THAT. SO I TOOK ADVANTAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE. OKAY. UH, LET'S GO TO A VOTE. COUNCILMAN SUB BERNARD, YOU AND I. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, NEXT ITEM, ITEM 25 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. UH, SO WE'LL GO TO ITEM 26. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI? RECOMMENDATION TO RECOMMEND CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROHIBIT THE WILLFUL PROMOTION OR ORGANIZATION OF ILLEGAL STREET [26. 25-56998 Recommendation to recommend City Attorney draft an ordinance amending Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) Chapter 10.82 (Spectators Prohibited at Street Races, Sideshows, and Reckless Driving Exhibitions) to prohibit the willful promotion or organization of illegal street races, sideshows, or reckless driving exhibitions on social media or any form of promotional material and to return to the City Council within 60 days with the proposed ordinance language.       Office or Department: Joni Ricks-Oddie, Councilmember, Ninth District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] RACES, SIDESHOWS OR RECKLESS DRIVING EXHIBITIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, OR ANY FORM OF PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL, AND TO RETURN TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITHIN 60 DAYS WITH THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE LANGUAGE. OKAY. UM, THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION, JOANI, RICK SODI. UH, THANK YOU CHAIR. UH, SO TODAY'S ITEM IS ABOUT STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY TOOLS AND RESPONDING DIRECTLY TO WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY NORTH LONG BEACH, CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE ILLEGAL STREET RACING AND, AND SIDESHOWS REMAIN SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES IN OUR CITY. BETWEEN JANUARY, 2024 AND JULY, 2025, THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED 569 CALLS FOR SERVICE RELATED TO RECKLESS DRIVING AND VEHICLE SPEED CONTEXT. AND SPECIFICALLY IN OUR, IN MY DISTRICT, WE, THOSE, UM, WE ACCOUNTED FOR 210 OF THOSE 569 CALLS. UM, THERE AREN'T, THESE AREN'T JUST NUMBERS. THEY REPRESENT FAMILIES LOSING SLEEP, RESIDENTS WHO NO LONGER FEEL SAFE, AND BUSINESSES SUFFERING SERIOUS DAMAGE. AS A RESULT OF THESE ORGANIZED, RECKLESS EVENTS ON JULY 14TH, 2025 DURING A TAKEOVER AT ORANGE AVENUE AND TARTING STREET, A COMMERCIAL BURLY BURGLARY, UM, OCCURRED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SIDESHOW LEADING, LEADING TO TWO ARRESTS AND THE SEIZURE OF SEVEN VEHICLES. THIS IS AN EXA, THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF COORDINATED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT DESTABILIZES NEIGHBORHOODS AND HARMS LOCAL BUSINESSES. OUR RESIDENTS HAVE REPEATEDLY MADE CLEAR THAT THE TR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND STREET SAFETY ARE TOP PRIORITIES. I HEAR IT FROM ALL OF OUR NINE DISTRICT, NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT NINE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS FROM COLLEGE SQUARE, STAR KING HAMILTON, DE FOREST PARK, HOWTON PARK, RAMONA PARK. WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKS. AND ST. FRANCIS, OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES MEANINGFUL ACTION TO DETER THESE EVENTS BEFORE THEY EVEN OCCUR. WHAT WE KNOW FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FROM STATEWIDE TRENDS IS THAT SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE AN ENGINE BEHIND MANY OF THESE COORDINATED EVENTS. ORGANIZERS USE ONLINE PLATFORMS TO RECRUIT DRIVERS AND SPECTATORS, SHARE LOCATIONS, AND ESCALATE THE SCALE OF THESE ILLEGAL GATHERINGS. CITIES LIKE SAN JOSE HAVE RECOGNIZED THIS AND CRIMINALIZED THE ONLINE PROMOTION OF ILLEGAL STREET RACING AND SIDESHOWS TREATING THE ORGANIZER BEHIND THE SCREEN AS SERIOUSLY AS THE DRIVER IN THE INTERSECTION. OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT REFLECTS THE SAME LOGIC. IF YOU ORGANIZE, PROMOTE, OR ADVERTISE IN A ILLEGAL STREET RACE OR TAKEOVER, WHETHER THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA GROUP MESSAGING OR PRINTED MATERIAL, YOU SHOULD FACE CONSEQUENCES. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AIMED AT TARGETING ENFORCEMENT AT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE GOAL OF HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE THOSE WHO INTENTIONALLY COORDINATE EVENTS THAT CREATE UNSAFE AND VIOLENT CONDITIONS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. MY OFFICE RECEIVED LETTERS FROM THE COLLEGE SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION LEADERS, AS WELL AS OUR REGIONAL ELECTED LEADERSHIP IN INCLUDING ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIKE GIBSON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER LAW, AND FALL STATE SENATOR LE GONZALEZ AND CONGRESSMAN CONGRESSWOMAN BIDON IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM. HOWEVER, AS WE SEEK SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORTING THAT, WE, THAT WE, UM, GROUND OUR ACTIONS NOT ONLY IN DATA AND COMMUNITY NEEDS, BUT ALSO IN THE REALITY OF THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE OPERATING IN CITY ATTORNEY. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED RECENTLY, AND THAT THERE IS LITIGATION AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT DIRECTLY [04:10:01] AFFECTS HOW CITIES INCLUDING LONG BEACH CAN REGULATE SPECTATORSHIP AND PARTICIPATION IN STREET TAKEOVERS UNDER OUR CURRENT MUNICIPAL CODE. THAT RULING HAS IMPLICATIONS NOT JUST FOR TODAY'S PROPOSED ITEM ON PROMOTION, BUT FOR THE OVERALL ENFORCEMENT STRUCTURE AS A WHOLE. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TO WALK COUNSEL AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE COURT DECISION HOW IT IMPACTS THIS AGENDA ITEM AND WHAT CONSIDERATIONS MUST BE ADDRESSED AS WE DRAFT THE UPDATE IN ORDINANCE LANGUAGE. THANK YOU. UM, I, I APPRECIATE THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. SO YOU ARE CORRECT THAT, UH, ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, WHICH IS NOT JUST AT A STATE LEVEL, BUT COVERS, UH, NINE WESTERN STATES, UH, ISSUED A RULING IN A CASE CALLED GARCIA VERSUS ALAMEDA COUNTY. ALAMEDA COUNTY HAS A, AN ORDINANCE THAT'S BASICALLY THE SAME AS WHAT, UH, LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 10.82. UM, WHAT THAT RULING SAID WAS THAT A, UM, THE FIRST AMENDMENT COVERS THAT, UH, THAT PARTICULAR ORDINANCE AND THAT, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO SAYS THAT THEY ARE A REPORTER HAS THE RIGHT TO BE THERE IN ORDER TO GATHER INFORMATION, FILM IT, INTERVIEW PEOPLE IN ORDER TO PUT OUT A STORY, UM, ON THOSE SIDESHOWS. AND SO THEREFORE, THAT ORDINANCE CANNOT BE ENFORCED AGAINST THAT INDIVIDUAL CLAIMING TO BE A REPORTER. UM, IN ORDER FOR US, THE, THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF IT IS THAT AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, THE ORDINANCE CANNOT BE ENFORCED BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN, ANY SORT OF AN EXCEPTION. SO OUR FIRST RECOMMENDATION OUT OF OUR OFFICE IS TO GO AHEAD AND CREATE AN EXCEPTION FOR BONAFIDE LAW, UH, EXCUSE ME, NEWS GATHERING, UM, PURPOSES, UH, WITHIN THE, THE ORDINANCE. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF MUCH OF WHAT THE NINTH CIRCUIT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT. THE SECOND ISSUE, THOUGH, IS, UH, IS ALSO, UH, THAT WHILE WE COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO GET THESE ACTIVITIES THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO STOP AND TO THE ORGANIZATIONS, ET CETERA, THE REALITY IS THAT THERE IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE NOT DOING IS BASICALLY ISSUING A RULE THAT IS A PRIOR RESTRAINT ON SPEECH. AND THAT IS GONNA BE ALSO BE STRUCK DOWN IF A COURT LOOKS AT IT. UM, GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THERE ARE WELL UNDERSTOOD, UH, TERMS THAT CAN BE USED IN A, UH, IN AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS, AND LIKE ANY CRIMINAL STATUTE THAT WOULD BASICALLY BAR THE SOLICIT THE INTENTIONAL SOLICITATION AND THE INTENTIONAL FACILITATION OF THESE ACTIVITIES. AND THEN THAT CAN BE ENFORCED, AND THAT WILL INCLUDE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ORGANIZING THESE EVENTS THAT ARE GETTING PEOPLE TO GO THERE, ET CETERA, BUT WITHOUT, UH, CREATING A PRIOR RESTRAINT ISSUE OR OTHER FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD ARISE IF WE WERE TO SIMPLY IMPLEMENT A PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN ORDER TO ORGANIZE THESE PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES. UH, AND CITY ATTORNEY, COULD YOU JUST ALSO JUST CLARIFY, WHEN YOU SAY THE EN LIKE ENFORCEMENT, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE, UM, UNDER THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE THAT YOU ARE SHARING WITH US THIS EVENING? SO WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE IS THAT THE, THE WAY THAT IT WOULD BE ENFORCED IS THAT ONCE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, UH, WENT TO ONE OF THESE SIDESHOWS PICK PEOPLE UP AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, UH, DETAINED THEM FOR THESE ACTIVITIES, THEY COULD ALSO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION OF HOW DID YOU GET HERE? HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS? WHO'S ORGANIZING IT, ET CETERA, WHO'S FACILITATED ALL OF THIS? AND THAT INVESTIGATION CAN LEAD TO CHARGES. UH, BUT THE, THE ISSUE IS GONNA BE SIMPLY POSTING ON FACEBOOK THAT, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO DO A SIDESHOW THIS WEEKEND, ENFORCING THAT AGAINST SOMEBODY OR TRYING TO, UM, UH, CRIMINALIZE THAT IS VERY, VERY PROBLEMATIC. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THIS WOULD BASICALLY ALLOWS, UM, OUR, OUR, OUR OFFICERS TO SAY ONCE SOMETHING HAPPENS, CORRECT, THEY THEN CAN, UM, THIS THEN ALLOWS ENFORCEMENT ACTION ONCE YOU'RE ABLE TO DETERMINE THEY CAME BECAUSE OF SUCH POSTING OR SOLICITATION OR FACILITATION CO. CORRECT. AND THEN, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO. AND THEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, THEY'D BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY, UM, IMPOSE ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR HAVING, UH, UH, ENGAGED IN THOSE ACTIVITIES. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CITY ATTORNEY. SO, UM, IN LIGHT OF THAT COLLEAGUES, UM, AND THAT BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, I'D LIKE TO AMEND MY MOTION BASED ON THE RECOMMENDED LA FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. SO I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND, RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY DRAFT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, UM, WHICH IS CHAPTER 10.82 THAT RELATES TO SPECTATORS PROHIBITED AT STREET RACING, STREET RACES, SIDE SHOWS, AND RECKLESS DRIVING EXHIBITIONS. AND I'D LIKE TO AMEND IT AS FOLLOWS, ONE TO EXEMPT DULY AUTHORIZED [04:15:01] REPRESENTATIVES OF NEWS ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE SPECTATING PROHIBITION OF CHAPTER 10.82. AND, UM, TO ADD NOW TO PROHIBIT INDIVIDUALS FROM INTENTIONALLY SOLICITING, INDUCING, OR FACILITATING STREET RACES, SIDESHOWS AND RECKLESS DRIVING EXHIBITIONS. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM MY COLLEAGUES. OKAY, THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO THE SECONDER OF THE MOTION, UH, COUNCILWOMAN THRA TOOK, YES. SO I ACCEPT THOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE MOTION AS PRESENTED, UH, BY COUNCILWOMAN RICK OTI. UM, SO STREET TAKEOVERS ARE INCREDIBLY, UH, ALARMING, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND YOU'VE ALREADY NOTED THEY BRING DANGEROUS AND UNWANTED ACTIVITIES TO NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S OFTEN A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO PREVENT AND ENFORCE. UM, SO WE'VE GOTTA ADDRESS THIS FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES. UM, SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION CAN INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE CROWDS AT THESE EVENTS, WHICH LENDS ITSELF TO GREATER HARM POSED TO COMMUTERS, BYSTANDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THE EIGHTH DISTRICT HAS ALSO SEEN SOME AREAS WHERE STREET TAKEOVERS ARE A COMMON OCCURRENCE. I HEAR FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT IT HAS ON THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN THE LONGWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. THESE SIDESHOWS TAKE PLACE ON SUSANNA ROAD, A ROAD THAT NOT ONLY BORDERS UNINCORPORATED LAND, BUT IS PARALLEL TO A LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND JUST TONIGHT, UNPROMPTED, I HAD A LOCAL EIGHTH DISTRICT RESIDENT COME TO COUNCIL TO SHARE WITH US TONIGHT ABOUT STREET TAKEOVERS AND OTHER DONUTS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN HIS COMMUNITY, UM, AS WELL. SO THIS RECKLESS DRIVING IS HARMFUL FOR EVERYONE AND IS UNACCEPTABLE IN AREAS THAT ARE HIGHLY UTILIZED BY CHILDREN. AND WE MUST RETURN OUR STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO A STATE OF NORMALCY. UM, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, UH, COUNCILWOMAN RICKS ODI, THE MUNICIPAL CODE CURRENTLY PROHIBITS SPECTATORS THAT SHOWS WHICH GAVE THE CITY A TOOL OF ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTION WITH RECKLESS DRIVING. A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH IS NECESSARY. AND WE MUST ALSO BEGIN TO LOOK AT TRAFFIC ENGINEERING ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER YOUTH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS. SO THESE ARE THE OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER AS WELL. UM, KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES, UM, WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL, UH, RESOURCES, UM, AND MORE LONG-TERM STRATEGY. UM, TODAY'S ITEM FITS INTO THAT COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, UM, THAT'S NEEDED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO COMBAT SIDESHOWS, UM, BECAUSE THIS OFFERS US A CHANCE WITH POTENTIALLY CHANGING OUR, UM, OUR CURRENT, UM, MUNICIPAL CODE ON THIS, UH, A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION AN ACTIONABLE OFFENSE. SO WITH THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, REGARDING THE UPDATE OF, UM, THE CITY'S ORDINANCE ON THIS MATTER. UM, SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST START THAT PROCESS. AND THEN AS WE DO THAT, I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME IN THE FUTURE REGARDING THE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AS WELL AROUND MAKING THE STREETS LESS ATTRACTIVE. UM, 'CAUSE CLEARLY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYWHERE, BUT IT HAPPENS IN CERTAIN AREAS WHERE THERE IS PHYSICALLY, UM, A SPACE TO DO THAT AND TO TRY AND ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN HAVE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT, UM, ON, UM, EVERYONE WHO IS INVOLVED. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. WELL, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SOTE. THIS IS A GREAT ITEM. AND, UM, ALTHOUGH DISTRICT THREE DOESN'T SEE SIDESHOWS AND ORGANIZED STREET RACING, UM, THAT OFTEN WE SEE IT ENOUGH IN THE NEWS, WE SEE THE IMPACTS OF IT, AND YOU'VE STATED IT HERE CLEARLY HOW DANGEROUS AND DISRUPTIVE THEY ARE. SO, AND I DID LOOK INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN SOME CITIES HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH, WITH, UM, THIS TYPE OF ORDINANCE. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE ORDINANCE DOES GREAT CHANGE UP TONIGHT AND, UM, I AM DEFINITELY SUPPORTING THIS TONIGHT. OKAY, THANK YOU. UH, MADAM CLERK, I SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. OKAY, LET'S GO TO A VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, CAN I GET A LITTLE HELP WITH THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM? WOULD THAT BE ITEM 27? ITEM 27? OKAY. UH, CLERK, PLEASE READ REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR AN OFFICE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH SHORELINE SQUARE HOLDINGS FOR OFFICE SPACE, LOCATED AT 3 0 1 EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD, SUITE 1600 FOR USE BY THE CITY OF LONG BEACH'S ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, DISTRICT ONE. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION. MARY ZENDEJAS. [04:20:01] THANK YOU CHAIR. UM, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. UM, OUR, OUR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT NEEDS A, A SPACE TO OPERATE, UM, THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO, UM, AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH. I'M PLEASED TO WELCOME THEM INTO THE FIRST DISTRICT. I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL OUR SENIOR CENTER IS UP AND RUNNING, BUT UNTIL THEN, I WANT TO THANK SHORELINE SQUARE HOLDINGS FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. UH, THANK YOU. THE SECONDER, UH, COUNCILMAN TH UH, I SUPPORT THE ITEM. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENT, LET'S GO TO A VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. UH, THANK YOU, NEXT'S. ITEM NUMBER 28, REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT IN ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WITH SOUTH COAST FIRE EQUIPMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF [27. 25-56946 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary for an office lease agreement with Shoreline Square Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for office space located at 301 East Ocean Boulevard, Suite 1600 for use by the City of Long Beach’s Energy and Environmental Services Department. (District 1) Levine Act: Yes       Office or Department: Economic Development and Opportunity; Energy and Environmental Services         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] A PIERCE ENFORCER URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE [28. 25-56947 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with South Coast Fire Equipment, Inc., a distributor of Oshkosh Corporation, of Ontario, CA, for the purchase of a Pierce Enforcer Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit, with related equipment and accessories, on the same terms and conditions afforded to Sourcewell (Contract No. 113021-OKC), in a total amount not to exceed $1,864,149, inclusive of taxes and fees; until the Sourcewell contract expires on February 10, 2026, with the option to renew for as long as the Sourcewell contract is in effect, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Financial Management; Fire Department         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] UNIT WITH RELATED EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1,864,149 INCLUSIVE OF TAXES AND FEES CITYWIDE. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. WE'LL GO TO THE MAKE OF THE MOTION, MAKE INCUR, UM, SUPPORT THE ITEM. OKAY. ANY COMMENT FROM THE SECONDER? I SUPPORT THE ITEM. OKAY. I SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENT. SO WE'LL GO TO A VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY. UH, NEXT STEP IS ITEM NUMBER 29, REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD CONTRACTS TO FIRST TO SERVE FOR THE OPERATION AND PROVISION OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES [29. 25-56940 Recommendation to adopt specifications No. RFP HE-24-500 and award contracts to First to Serve of Los Angeles, CA, for the operation and provision of supportive services for the Year Round Shelter Program, in a total annual aggregate amount not to exceed $6,315,960, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for two additional, one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents to enter into the contracts, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Health and Human Services         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] FOR THE YEAR ROUND SHELTER PROGRAM IN A TOTAL ANNUAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 6,315,960, AND EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACTS CITYWIDE. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. WE'LL GO TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION TO MOVE THRASH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. UM, SO JUST AS A, A PRETTY CONSIDERABLE CONTRACT, WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES JUST TO HAVE A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH THE STAFF AND THE TEAM. UM, COULD YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED AS PART OF THIS CONTRACT? GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THE, UH, SHELTER SERVICE CONTRACT COVERS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS. IT COVERS, UH, CASE MANAGEMENT AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PIECES OF IT, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE, UH, WORKING ON HOUSING PLANS AND ANYTHING THAT THEY'RE NEEDING IN SHELTER, UH, ENSURING THAT THE SHELTER IS CLEAN, UH, PROVIDING THREE MEALS A DAY, PROVIDING SECURITY ON SITE, UM, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND REALLY REFERRALS TO OTHER RESOURCES THAT ARE GONNA BENEFIT PEOPLE, UH, STAYING AT THE SHELTER. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A SITE THAT'LL BE OPENING SOON, UH, IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT. UM, AND I NOTICED THAT THIS OPERATOR WILL BE PART OF THAT, UH, STRATEGY. SO JUST WANTED TO, UM, SEE IF I COULD GET A, ANY FEEDBACK, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE HAD SEVERAL FOLKS COME TO COUNCIL, UM, THAT HAVE HAD FEEDBACK ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE, UM, AND THEIR EXPERIENCE, UH, WITH THIS OPERATOR. UM, HAVE WE HAD A CHANCE TO DO ANY, UH, DEEP DIVE ANALYSIS INTO SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC? WE'VE HAD SOME ABILITY, I THINK, TO GET DEEPER INTO THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IS A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING ON THE SPOT, BUT WE COULD DEFINITELY COME BACK AT A LATER TIME TO GIVE A DEEPER OVERVIEW OF HOW THE CITY IS WORKING WITH THEM, OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD CONCERNS REGARDING, UH, THE SHELTER OPERATIONS AND WHAT'S OCCURRING AT THE SITE. SO, UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD BRING BACK AND PROVIDE A BETTER OVERVIEW ON. I THINK I WOULD LIKE THAT. I MEAN, I, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SEVERAL, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COME BEFORE THIS BODY WHO HAVE HAD SOME CONCERNS. UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THAT AS THEY COME FORWARD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, THAT WE'RE TAKING THAT VERY SERIOUS, UM, AND WANNA TAKE THE TIME TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE UTMOST SERVICE, UH, TO THE PUBLIC IN PROVIDING THEM WITH ACCESS TO HOUSING AS WELL AS, UH, OTHER WRAPAROUND SERVICES. UM, I LIKE THE IDEA OF BRINGING THE MATTER BACK, UM, BUT I WILL, UH, GO AHEAD AND YIELD MY TIME NOW TO THE SECONDER OF THE MOTION. UM, OKAY. THE SECONDER IS MEGAN KERR. UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN, AND THANK YOU FOR RAISING THOSE QUESTIONS. I HAD REALLY SIMILAR CONCERNS. UM, WE KNOW [04:25:01] THAT WHEN FOLKS COME HERE AND EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT SERVICES, UH, ALMOST ALWAYS THEY ARE MET BY A MEMBER OF THE TEAM. THEY HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND, AND WHATEVER PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL ITEM THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD MIGHT GET HANDLED AT THAT TIME. I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN, IN WHAT COUNCILMAN THRE TOOK TALKED ABOUT, ABOUT HOW HAVE WE LOOKED COLLECTIVELY AT SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS ON THE WHOLE. UH, SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS ITEM PARTICULARLY TIME SENSITIVE OR CAN WE WAIT A COUPLE OF WEEKS? UM, OR THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME JUST TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION BACK? YEAH, IT'S NOT THAT TIME SENSITIVE, SO, UM, UH, WE CAN CERTAINLY SPEND SOME TIME AND COME BACK. THIS IS A BIG CONTRACT. WE'VE ALSO BEEN EXPANDING OUR SHELTER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OVER THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS. AND SO, UH, WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. ALSO DO SOME INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS, AND WE CAN ALSO BRING IT BACK AS COUNCIL. GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. UCK, DO YOU WANNA MAKE A DIFFERENT MOTION THEN? UH, I, IF I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE STATEMENT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THIS IS THAT TIME OF YEAR WHERE IT'S SO TOUGH TO PUT SOMETHING OFF BECAUSE WE HAVE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AND THEN, UH, CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. SO I DON'T WANT TO, I WANNA GIVE STAFF PLENTY OF TIME TO, TO DEAL WITH THE HOLIDAYS. SO, UH, LET'S COME UP WITH A, WELL, IF WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A DATE OR WE'RE NOT, IT'D BE HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO SCHEDULE THAT WITHIN THAT. SO, UM, I WOULDN'T ASK YOU TO GIVE THIS A TIME CERTAIN TO PUT IT TO A CERTAIN DATE. UM, UH, LET US JUST BASICALLY, UM, RECEIVE AND FILE THIS AND THEN, OR I'LL TURN TO THE MOTION, WHATEVER IT IS, AND THEN WE CAN BRING THAT BACK WHEN WE'RE READY TO, UH, TO BRING IT FORWARD. OKAY. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, UH, GO AHEAD TO THE, UH, MAKE THE MOTION. OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR. UM, SO AT THIS TIME WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND CHANGE THIS FROM A RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPTION, TO A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE FOR TODAY. UM, AND WE'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE, UH, THE CITY STAFF TO GO BACK, UM, DO SOME ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS AND HELP US REALLY, UH, UNDERSTAND THE EFFICACY OF CUSTOMER SERVICE RELATED TO THIS VENDOR AND BRING IT BACK AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME ACCORDINGLY. OKAY. AND WE HAVE, UH, UH, THE SECOND OF THE MOTION AGREE TO THOSE TERMS? ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND, UM, WE HAVE ONE PERSON LINED UP TO SPEAK. MARY ZENDEJAS, DO YOU STILL WANT TO TALK ON THIS ITEM, ? UM, I THINK I'LL, I CAN WAIT. THANK YOU. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. I HAD QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ANSWERED ONCE WE BRING IT BACK, SO THANK YOU. OKAY. UM, SO WE HAVE, UH, REVISED, UM, MOTION TO A RECEIVE AND FILE. UH, AND I DON'T SEE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHEN I SPEAK. OKAY. WE CAN GO TO A VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. UM, THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS NUMBER 30, REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT IN ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WITH DIGNITY HEALTH ST. MARY MEDICAL CENTER TO RECEIVE [30. 25-56925 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and all necessary documents, subcontracts, and any subsequent amendments including to the award amount, with Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center, to receive and expend grant funding in an annual allocation in the amount of $600,000, for four years, for a total of $2,400,000, for the Dignity Center for Integrated Care Model (DCIC) for the estimated period of October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2029, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Health and Human Services         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDING IN AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 600,000 FOR A TOTAL OF 2,400,000 FOR THE DIGNITY CENTER FOR INTEGRATED CARE MODEL CITYWIDE. OKAY, WE HAVE, UH, A MOTION A SECOND, UH, TO THE MOTION, UH, MEGAN KERR SECONDER, JONI BRICK SODI, NO COMMENTS IN FULL SUPPORT. OKAY, I SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL GO TO A VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY, THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 31, REPORT FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD CONTRACTS TO VARIOUS CONTRACTORS FOR AS NEEDED NETWORK MAINTENANCE INSTALLATIONS, STRUCTURED [31. 25-56941 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP TI 24-497 and award contracts to Intelinet, Inc., of Murrieta, CA; Vector Resources, Inc., DBA: Vector USA, of Torrance, CA; GA Technical Services, Inc., of Glendora, CA; Platt Security Systems, Inc., of Signal Hill; CA, RD Systems Inc. of Tustin, CA; DG Investments Intermediate Holdings 2, Inc., DBA: Convergint Technologies, of La Palma, CA; and Regent Datacom Systems, Inc., DBA: Nascient Networks, of Downey, CA for as-needed network maintenance, installations, structured cabling and support services, in a total annual aggregate amount not to exceed $7,000,000, for a period of five years, with the option to renew for five additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Technology and Innovation         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] CABLING AND SUPPORT SERVICES IN A TOTAL ANNUAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED SEVEN, 7 MILLION AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY AMENDMENTS CITYWIDE. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY COMMENTS BY THE MOER? NO, TO THE SECONDER. ALRIGHT. SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'LL GO TO A VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY, THANK YOU. I HAVE A VAGUE RECOLLECTION THAT WE COVERED, UH, ITEM 32 ALREADY. OKAY. YES. UM, WE ARE DONE WITH ALL THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. OH, THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE'LL GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. DO WE HAVE ANY ONE SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS, ELLIE AND ARIELLE WILSON, [ PUBLIC COMMENT: IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT Opportunity is given to those members of the public who have not addressed the City Council on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes unless extended by the City Council. ] IF THEY'RE STILL IN THE AUDIENCE, GOING ONCE. OKAY. IT APPEARS THAT WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT THEN TONIGHT. ALRIGHT, SO WE WILL MOVE TO, UM, ANNOUNCEMENT AND, UM, LET'S, LET'S, I I HAVE TO SEE IF WHO SIGNED UP HERE. BEAR WITH ME. YEAH. UM, OKAY, SO WE HAVE UH, [04:30:01] COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI. I'M SORRY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU CHAIR. UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO ATTEND THE UM, [ANNOUNCEMENTS] LONG BEACH SCHOOL FOR ADULTS FALL FAIR ON WEDNESDAY, UH, NOVEMBER 19TH, UH, WHICH IS TOMORROW FROM SIX 30 TO EIGHT 30. THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE LONG BEACH SCHOOL FOR ADULTS NORTH LONG BEACH CAMPUS. MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT IS BABY JORDAN, UM, AT 1 71 WEST BOR STREET. UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO ATTEND THE COLLEGE SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS. LET'S SHARE AND CARE TURKEY GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND FROM 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM THIS INITIATIVE ENDEAVOR TO PROVIDE SOME IMMEDIATE SUP SUPPLEMENTAL RELIEF TO THOSE IN NEED BY PROVIDING FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND SAFETY RESOURCE MATERIAL. THE EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE POOLS OF HOPE AT 68 0 1 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD. AND LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO ATTEND THE NORTH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS PARTY ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7TH FROM 3:00 PM TO 6:00 PM CONJOIN THE NORTH LONG. COME JOIN THE NORTH LONG BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NEIGHBORS FOR A COMMUNITY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION, BRING A WRAPPED ORNAMENT IN YOUR FAVORITE DISH. THIS WILL EVENT WILL BE TAKE PLACE AT THE HISTORIC LONG BEACH DAIRY AND CREAMERY AT 1 6 7 EAST SOUTH STREET, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7 OR DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO, UH, EIGHTH DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER . THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. UM, SO I'M PROUD TO SHARE SOME INCREDIBLE WORK HAPPENING IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT THIS WEEK. UM, BEFORE HIGHLIGHTING THE UPCOMING EVENTS, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE MI THE NEIGHBORHOOD MICRO GRANT WORKSHOP THAT TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY, UH, IN LONGWOOD AT WHAT WE KNOW AS BABY JORDAN, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROVIDED VALUABLE INFORMATION ON HOW RESIDENTS CAN USE THESE GRANTS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SAFETY AND EMPOWERMENT. I WANNA THANK OUR DEDICATED, UH, STAFF AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS FOR ATTENDING AS WELL AS EVERYONE WHO HELPED TO PLAN THE INFORMATIVE SESSION. UH, MY COUNCIL, UH, FELLOW COUNCILWOMAN NOTED THAT THERE WILL BE THE LONG BEACH SCHOOL FOR A LONG BEACH SCHOOL FOR ADULTS WILL HOST ITS FALL FAIR TOMORROW FROM SIX 30 TO 8:30 PM THAT ADDRESS ONE SEVEN, UH, ONE WEST BOR STREET. AND, UH, PLEASE COME OUT. IT WILL FEATURE ALL KINDS OF RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH, I'LL BE HOSTING A SOLAR CLINIC AT LINDBERGH MIDDLE SCHOOL FROM 4:30 PM TO 7:30 PM AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO COOL, THIS CLINIC COMES AT A PERFECT TIME, ENERGY EFFICIENT OPTIONS, NOT ONLY REDUCE COSTS, BUT ALSO HELP PROMOTE HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THE CLINIC WILL INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS ON REBATE PROGRAMS, INFORMATION ON FREE SOLAR OPPORTUNITIES, AND HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS TO HELP RESIDENTS NAVIGATE THE PROCESS. IT'S A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT. DINNER WILL BE PROVIDED AND ADDITIONAL DETAILS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA. UH, PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS WE WILL BE POPPING UP AROUND THE DISTRICT WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT HOLIDAY, UH, TURKEY GIVEAWAYS. UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT ONE OF THOSE. AND OF COURSE, AS WE APPROACH THE HOLIDAY NEXT WEEK, I WANNA WISH EVERYONE A JOYFUL AND WARM THANKSGIVING. I HOPE YOU HAVE A MEANINGFUL TIME WITH YOUR L LOVED ONES AND FIND MOMENTS TO REST AND TO SHARE MOMENTS OF GRATITUDE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WE HAVE, UH, TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS. UH, CLOSING IN MEMORY OF, UH, FIRST IS CHRISTINA DUGGAN. THANK YOU CHAIR TONIGHT. UM, I'D LIKE TO CLOSE THE MEETING, UH, ON BEHALF OF IN MEMORY OF JEREMY SPEARS. JEREMY WAS BORN ON AUGUST 14TH, 1993, AND HE PASSED AWAY ON OCTOBER 25TH, 2025. JUST LAST MONTH, HE WAS BORN TO CHRIS SPEARS. AND WHILE HIS CHILDHOOD IN LONG BEACH WAS SHAPED BY THE CARE OF HIS DEVOTED GRANDPARENTS, ROSE AND MELVIN SPEARS SENIOR, THE LOVING PRESENCE OF HIS MOTHER, CHRIS REMAINED A CONSTANT THROUGHOUT JEREMY'S LIFE. HE ATTENDED JOHN MUIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND STEVEN JUNIOR HIGH. HE GRADUATED FROM MILLIKEN HIGH SCHOOL IN 2011. JEREMY LATER PURSUED TRADE SCHOOL AT LA TECH WHERE HE EARNED HIS CERTIFICATION AS A WELDER IN 2015 AND TOOK PRIDE IN THE CRAFT. FROM A YOUNG AGE, JEREMY WAS DRAWN TO THE THRILL AND FREEDOM OF SKATEBOARDING, AND BY THE AGE OF 12, HE HAD BECOME AN ACCOMPLISHED SKATER SPENDING COUNTLESS HOURS AT EL DORADO SKATE PARK AND OTHER SKATE PARKS THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH. THAT PASSION FOR SKATING EVOLVED INTO A LOVE OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO VIDEOGRAPHY. AS JEREMY LEARNED TO CAPTURE FELLOW SKATERS, ENERGY AND ARTISTRY ON FILM, FEW KNEW THAT JEREMY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HELPING TO DESIGN THE SKATE PARK AT SILVERADO PARK, A TESTAMENT TO HIS QUIET DEDICATION AND CREATIVE SPIRIT. JEREMY NEVER SOUGHT RECOGNITION FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. HE SIMPLY DID WHAT HE LOVED AND LET HIS ACTIONS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. WHETHER BUILDING, SKATING [04:35:01] OR CREATING. JEREMY BROUGHT A QUIET BRILLIANCE TO EVERYTHING HE TOUCHED JEREMY. JEREMY MARRIED HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEET SWEETHEART. HE CALLED LOLA IN 2016. THEY WELCOMED CHERISHED SON JACE, THE LIGHT OF JEREMY'S LIFE. JEREMY FOUND DEEP JOY IN FATHERHOOD TEACHING JACE TO PLAY BASKETBALL AND RELIVING THE WONDERS OF CHILDHOOD THROUGH HIS SON'S EYES. NOW, NINE YEARS OLD, JACE CARRIES FORWARD. JEREMY'S LOVE OF THE GAME AND HIS ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT. IN RECENT YEARS, JEREMY EMBRACED FITNESS AND WELLNESS, OFTEN WORKING OUT AT THE BEACH AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS. HE LOVED THE OUTDOORS AND FOUND PEACE IN NATURE, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE WATER. DESPITE FACING SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CHALLENGES, INCLUDING INCLUDING A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY. AT 18, JEREMY REMAINED RESILIENT. HE CARRIED AN ENDEARING SMILE, A QUIET STRENGTH, AND AN UNWAVERING BELIEF THAT HE COULD ACHIEVE ANYTHING HE SET HIS MIND TO. JEREMY'S LIFE WAS A TAPESTRY OF CREATIVITY, PERSEVERANCE, AND LOVE. HE WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED AND FOREVER REMEMBERED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, THANK YOU. UH, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO, UH, COUNCILMAN MAYOR KERR. JOHNS UP THERE. OH, OKAY. I ACCIDENTALLY, UH, QUEUE MYSELF UP. OKAY. WE HAVE AN ACCIDENTAL QUEUING. WE'LL GO TO MEGAN CURE. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN DUGGAN FOR THAT. UH, BEFORE I CLOSE IN MEMORY, I'D LIKE TO JUST DO A COUPLE OF BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENTS. THIS WEEK, I INVITE MY RESIDENTS TO ATTEND MY OFFICE'S NEXT CD FIVE COMMUNITY MEAL MEETING, HELD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH AT 6:00 PM AT THE WARDLOW PARK COMMUNITY CENTER. WE'LL BE JOINED BY PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE ACTING DIRECTOR STEVEN SCOTT AS HE SHARES THE INFORMATION ON PRMS DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROGRAMS. THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING FOR 2025, AND WE'LL TAKE DECEMBER OFF AND RESUME IN THE NEW YEAR. WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH. YOU CAN CONNECT WITH LBPD EAST DIVISION OFFICERS FOR A COFFEE WITH A COP FROM 1130 TO 1230 AT THE NORDSTROM RACK IN THE LONG BEACH EXCHANGE ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST. I ENCOURAGE ALL WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY TO VISIT A FREE FOOD GIVEAWAY AT LBC C'S VET STADIUM, HOSTED BY LA COUNTY SUPERVISOR JANICE HAN'S OFFICE. THIS COMMUNITY DRIVE THROUGH DISTRIBUTION WILL BE OPEN FROM 9:00 AM TO 12 WITH QUEUING OPENING AT EIGHT 30 AND IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT THOSE IMPACTED BY RECENT INTERRUPTIONS TO CALFRESH BENEFITS. SO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO ANY NEIGHBORS IN NEED. ADDITIONALLY, YOU CAN CELEBRATE HO COMING HOLIDAYS AND SUPPORT LOCAL PERFORMANCE ARTISTS THIS SEASON AT THE LONG BEACH, SHAKESPEARE COMPANIES OPEN OPENING THEIR CINDERELLA MAGICAL CHRISTMAS, UH, THIS FRIDAY, THE 21ST AT 8:00 PM AND THE SHOW WILL RUN THROUGH DECEMBER 7TH. UM, AND TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO CLOSE, UH, COLLEAGUES AS WE ADJOURN IN THE MEETING IN THE MEMORY OF ANN BURETTE, A RESIDENT OF BIXBY KNOWLES WHO PASSED AWAY JUST LAST WEEK. ANN MS. BURETT WAS A VITAL MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE AND A BEACON OF LIGHT FOR ALL WHOM SHE HELPED IN HER WORK. SHE WAS DEEPLY ROOTED IN HER FAITH AND HER CALL TO SERVE OTHERS. SHE ABSOLUTELY WOULD'VE BEEN HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO US ON MULTIPLE ITEMS, AND SHE WAS MISSED. SHE NEVER FAILED TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO OFTEN HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. MRS. BURETTE WAS A PROUD ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS, IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, FAMILIES FACING DEPORTATION AND A FIGHTER FOR EQUALITY AND JUSTICE, AND CARRIED HERSELF THROUGH THE WORLD WITH THE DISTINCT JOY AND LIGHTNESS THAT WAS ROOTED IN THE SERIOUSNESS AND THE GRAVITY OF THE JUSTICE WORK THAT SHE UNDERTOOK. SHE'LL BE DEEPLY MISSED, AND I EXPEND MY EXTEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, ALL WHO LOVED AND WERE LOVED BY HER. SHE HAS MADE A LASTING MARK ON THIS CITY, HER DEVOTION TO HER FAMILY, HER FAITH, CHURCH COMMUNITY, AND THE GREATER LA REGION. SET AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US TO DO JUSTICE, LOVE, MERCY, AND WALK HUMBLY. I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO HONOR HER LEGACY THROUGH OUR OWN GOOD WORK. VICE MAYOR YENGO HAS ALSO ASKED ME TO SHARE A FEW REMARKS ON HIS BEHALF. I'M SADDENED BY THE PASSING OF OUR LONGTIME RESIDENT AND FRIEND ANN BURETTE. SHE WAS A BELOVED MEMBER OF ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND DEDICATED HER LIFE TO JUSTICE AND WAS A COMPASSIONATE, WAS COMPASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING HER FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. SHE FOUGHT TIRELESSLY FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP WITH CLUE CLERGY AND LADY UNITED FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE, SHE HELPED ESTABLISH THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND AND SUPPORTED FAMILIES FACING DEPORTATION. SHE WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED WITH CLUE'S, GIANTS OF JUSTICE AWARD, AN HONOR MY WIFE RETIRED COUNCILMAN ANTONIO REYES. IRAN WAS PROUD TO PRESENT THIS AWARD, CELEBRATED ANNE'S DECADES OF FAITH ROOTED ORGANIZATION AND HER COMMITMENT TO SHOW UP FOR THOSE IN THE STRUGGLE. SHE WAS A PASSIONATE EDUCATOR AND ESL TEACHER AND A POWERFUL VOICE FOR WOMEN AND WORKERS FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY. SHE WAS ONE OF THE WARMEST AND MOST WELCOMING PEOPLE YOU COULD EVER MEET. WE CONSIDER HER A DEAR FRIEND, ANN'S HUSBAND, DAN, AND ALL WHO KNEW HER CAN TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING HER THAT HER IMPACT ON THE CITY WILL ENDURE. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, THE SEVENTH DISTRICT, WE CLOSE TONIGHT'S MEETING IN MEMORY OF ANN BURETTE, [04:40:01] A TEACHER ADVOCATE, AND TRULY A GIANT OF JUSTICE, REST IN POWER. OKAY, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS KERR AND DURANGO FOR THAT TRIBUTE. UM, MY ANNOUNCEMENT IS, UM, WE WILL NOT BE HOSTING OUR LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, A COMMUNITY MEETING AT LOS ALTOS LIBRARY, UH, NEXT WEEK DUE TO THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. SO WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN DECEMBER. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.