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ORDER.[CALL TO ORDER]
I CALL ON DINA FOR THE ROLL[ROLL CALL]
CALL.OKAY, ITEM NUMBER ONE IS TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 22ND, 2026 COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES.
DO I HAVE A MOTION I SECOND? ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, COMMISSIONER COMMENT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[2. 26-54738 Recommendation to receive and file a report on the Long Beach Public Utilities Department’s Community Budget outreach plan. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT ON LONG BEACH PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY BUDGET OUTREACH PLAN.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE? I SECOND.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE JOY CONTR, OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER.
SHE'LL BE DOING THE PRESENTATION TODAY ON OUR, UM, COMMUNITY PRESENTATION ABOUT THE BUDGET, WHICH REALLY INTENDS TO TELL THE STORY OF HOW RATE PAYER FUNDS ARE INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE WATER, SEWER, AND GAS SERVICES.
AND GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
SO TO HELP INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL BUDGET AND RATE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM IS CURRENTLY REACHING OUT TO CITY COUNCIL OFFICES, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND CUSTOMERS AT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM EVENTS IN ORDER TO ENGAGE THEM ON HOW THEIR UTILITY BILL PAYS FOR A VITAL WATER AND GAS AND SEWER SERVICES.
AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S FY 27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, ALL COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS WILL BE HELD PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL PROP TWO 18 HEARING CUSTOMERS WILL BE INFORMED ABOUT ONGOING AND UPCOMING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS WILL BE INVITED TO ENGAGE IN THE PROPOSITION TWO 18 PROCESS.
SO I PRESENT TO YOU TODAY THE APPROVED COMMUNITY BUDGET PRESENTATION THAT WILL HELP PAINT A BETTER PICTURE OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO THE GREATER LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.
LET'S, LET'S GET INTO THE FUN PART.
SO LONG BEACH UTILITIES RATE PAYER DOLLARS INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WITH EVERY 23 CENTS FROM YOUR UTILITY BILL, THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY GETS STRONGER.
EVERY CENT IN DOLLARS PUT INTO THE WORK AT LONG BEACH UTILITIES.
THE GOAL OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO EXPLAIN HOW UTILITY RATES ARE INVESTED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN SAFE, RELIABLE, AND AFFORDABLE UTILITY SERVICES.
TO UNDERSTAND WHY THESE INVESTMENTS MATTER, IT'S HELPFUL TO START WITH THE ROLE THAT UTILITIES PLAY EVERY DAY.
WE PROVIDE MORE THAN JUST WATER, SEWER, AND GAS.
IN FACT, WE PROVIDE SERVICES THAT HELP MEET MOST FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS MUST BE CAREFULLY MONITORED AND REGULARLY MAINTAINED TO PREVENT HAZARDS, OUR DEDICATED TEAMS CONTINUOUSLY INSPECT, MAINTAIN, AND UPGRADE NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE TO KEEP RESIDENTS, CUSTOMERS, AND VISITORS SAFE.
BEYOND SAFETY, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO PLAYS A ROLE IN PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH.
SAFE DRINKING WATER AND ITS TREATMENT ARE CRITICAL FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH.
THE DEPARTMENT ENSURES THAT ITS DRINKING WATER MEETS STRICT FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATORY STANDARDS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
OUR WORK OFTEN HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT IT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE HEALTH OF EVERY CUSTOMER.
DID YOU KNOW WE ALSO PROTECT OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT? A WELL RUNNING WASTEWATER SYSTEM PROTECTS OUR LOCAL WATERWAYS FROM CONTAMINATION.
PREVENTING BACKUPS AND CLEARING OUR SEWER SYSTEM FROM BLOCKAGES PROTECTS THE HUNDREDS OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN LONG BEACH.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS A KEY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT IN ONE WE TAKE SERIOUSLY.
SO YOU MAY WONDER, HOW ARE ALL OF THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES PAID FOR AT LONG BEACH UTILITY? YOUR UTILITY BILL SUPPORTS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
EVERY MONTH, YOUR BILL IS REINVESTED DIRECTLY INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY.
EVERY PIPELINE REPAIRED, HUMP MAINTAINED, AND SYSTEM UPGRADED IS SUPPORTED BY THESE INVESTMENTS.
NOW, TO KEEP THESE SERVICES RUNNING, A WIDE RANGE OF RESOURCES ARE REQUIRED.
THERE ARE FOUR KEY AREAS THAT KEEP LONG BEACH UTILITIES RUNNING, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, LABOR AND WORKFORCE, COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS.
DAILY MAINTENANCE KEEPS SYSTEMS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY SKILLED AND CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS WORK AROUND THE CLOCK, MANAGING THE COST OF WATER
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SUPPLY, NATURAL GAS, AND THE SYSTEMS NEEDED TO DELIVER THEM.REPLACING AGING PIPELINES AND UPGRADING FACILITIES HELPS IMPROVE RELIABILITY.
AT LONG BEACH UTILITIES, WE OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
OUR TEAMS MONITOR SYSTEMS RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AND MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE AT ALL TIMES.
THIS CONSTANT READINESS ENSURES A RELIABLE UNDERGROUND UTILITY SERVICE SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY ABOVE GROUND.
WHAT OUR GREAT CITY HAS TO OFFER, SPENDING TIME IN NATURE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND WITH COMMUNITY WITH EACH OTHER.
SO, RELIABILITY TODAY ISN'T ENOUGH.
LONG BEACH UTILITIES, WE'RE PREPARING FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE.
LIKE MANY AGENCIES, WE ARE TRANSFORMING CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES.
OUR PLANNING FOCUSES ON BUILDING A RESILIENT FUTURE FOR A COMMUNITY BY ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
THIS INCLUDES OFFERING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE WATER CONSERVATION, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT HOME, PARTNERING WITH CUSTOMERS TO COMMIT THEIR LAWNS TO NATIVE PLANT LANDSCAPING, AND PROVIDING ANNUAL REBATES FOR CUSTOMERS AND MULTI-FAMILY HOMES.
ANOTHER WAY WE'RE PREPARING FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE IS, BY NO SURPRISE, INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
PROACTIVE INVESTMENT HELPS PREVENT SYSTEM FAILURES, MAINTAIN ACCESS TO THESE VITAL SERVICES.
MUCH OF THE NATION'S UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE WAS BUILT SEVERAL, SEVERAL, SEVERAL DECADES AGO.
SO REGULAR UPGRADES ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM SERVICE, RELIABILITY AND EFFICIENCY.
SOME OF THESE EXAMPLES YOU MIGHT SEE OUT AND ABOUT ARE FIRE HYDRANT FLUSHING TO MAINTAIN FIREFIGHTING CAPABILITY, INSPECTING OR EXPECTING FOR CROSS BOARDS TO PREVENT SEWER BACKUPS, RESPONDING TO REPORTS OF WATER LEAKS AND REPAIRING ANY SIZE MAIN BREAK.
AND MAINTAINING GAS METERS TO PROVIDE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WITH A PEACE OF MIND WHILE INVESTING IN, IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT AFFORDABILITY REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
LONG BEACH UTILITIES IS COMMITTED TO BALANCING SERVICE, RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LONG BEACH UTILITY DEPARTMENT OFFERS DISCOUNTS FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS AND TO CUSTOMERS WITH DISABILITIES.
LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE IS JUST ONE APPLICATION AWAY.
CUSTOMERS CAN REQUEST A FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PLAN AND ALSO VISIT OUR NEW, MY UTILITY PORTAL TO MAKE IT EASY TO TRACK YOUR CONSUMPTION.
WE HOPE THIS PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS HOW YOUR UTILITY BILL PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN BUILDING A BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE.
BECAUSE AT LONG BEACH UTILITIES, WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE DESERVES SAFE AND RELIABLE DRINKING WATER, NATURAL GAS, AND SEWER SERVICES, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, GREAT.
SO IS THIS THE PRESENTATION THEN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVING TO CITY COUN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS? WHAT, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THIS PRESENTATION? THIS IS YOUR CORE MESSAGING.
SO AFTER SOME, UH, COLLABORATION WITH OUR FINANCE TEAM, UM, AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, WE DECIDED IT WOULD BE RATHER TELL US A STORY, A KIND OF HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT LONG BEACH UTILITIES IS.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL X OF 35 TO 40 SLIDES.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T REALLY WANT, UH, A LECTURE, LECTURE OF SORTS WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
SO HAVE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW AND A LITTLE BIT TELL OUR STORY OF WHAT WE DO.
SO THIS WILL BE THE PRESENTATION ALONG WITH OTHER COLLATERAL MATERIAL SUCH AS THOSE UTILITY ASSISTANCE, UH, PROGRAM INFORMATION THAT WILL DELIVER TO CITY COUNCIL, UM, TOWN HALL MEETINGS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND AT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAMS. OKAY.
UM, I GET, I'M, I'M A LITTLE WORRIED THAT IT'S STILL PRETTY HIGH LEVEL, QUITE FRANKLY.
UM, THE, THE LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING OUT TO NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS DIFFERENT.
SO I, THIS WOULD WORK GREAT, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME GROUPS, BUT NOT FOR OTHERS.
I DON'T, I DON'T, I SEE SOMETHING OF A STORY HERE, BUT IT'S NOT VERY ENGAGING.
IT'S VERY, UM, TUTORIAL, UM, WITH A LOT OF BIG WORDS.
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SO I THINK HOW, HOW IT'S PRESENTED VERBALLY, WHAT YOU SAY WITH IT, UM, NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ENGAGING.I, I JUST, I DON'T, AND I KNOW I'M ASKING A LOT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE, WE'RE USED TO THIS LANGUAGE, WE UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I'M CONCERNED.
NO, THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK.
COMMISSIONER MCGUIRE, UM, I'M SORRY, CHAIR MCGUIRE, IF I MAY JUMP IN.
THE PRESENTATION THAT JOYCE SHARED WITH US IS, UM, AS SHE SAID, IT IS THE BASELINE FOR COMMUNITY BUDGET CONVERSATIONS.
BUT DEPENDING ON WHO OUR AUDIENCE IS, UM, THERE MAY BE OTHER MATERIAL THAT IS LAYERED ON TOP, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, ONCE WE START OUR COMMUNITY BUDGET, I'M SORRY, OUR, OUR BUDGET, ARE WE CALLING THEM BUDGET WORKSHOPS? WE, WE CAN'T USE THAT WORD
UM, THAT MATERIAL THAT IS PUBLISHED AS PART OF THE, THOSE COMMITTEE AGENDAS CAN BE OVERLAID ON TOP OF, UM, THE STORY THAT LUM BEACH UTILITIES IS TRYING TO TELL ABOUT WHAT THOSE DOLLARS, UM, WHERE THOSE DOLLARS GO.
BECAUSE THAT IS A QUESTION THAT WE GET OFTEN.
PEOPLE WANNA KNOW WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING AND WHY DO YOU NEED SO MANY OF MY DOLLARS? MM-HMM
UM, AND SO THIS PRESENTATION GIVES US, UM, SOMETHING CONCRETE TO POINT TO AS WE EXPLAIN WHY.
BUT OF COURSE, UM, IT DOESN'T EXPLAIN ALL OF THE, THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLKS MIGHT HAVE.
I'D, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE, OH, I GUESS MORE, MORE, UM, MORE DRAWINGS OR WHATEVER THAT COULD COMMUNICATE WHERE THE MONEY GOES.
YOU KNOW, LIKE IN TERMS OF THAT DROP OF WATER, WHAT'S IN IT, YOU KNOW, ALL ALL THE, THE, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU'VE GOT, ALL THE POINTS ARE RIGHT HERE, YOU KNOW, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY AND, AND ALL THE THINGS TO DELIVER, YOU KNOW, THE AFFORDABLE, SAFE, CLEAN WATER THAT WE NEED.
BUT YEAH, I, I JUST FEEL LIKE, UM, THAT, THAT WE NEED TO HIT OUR MARKET A LITTLE BIT MORE THOUGHTFULLY.
AND I'M REALLY, I'M SURE YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S A REACTIVE PRESENTATION.
WHO GIVES THIS PRESENTATION WHEN YOU GO OUT? WHO, WHO IS, WHO ARE THE PRESENTERS? YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S, I IMAGINE IT'S QUITE A SCHEDULE.
I'LL LEAVE THAT TO OUR CHAIR OR GENERAL MANAGER TO ANSWER.
SO THE, THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU SAW TODAY WILL BE USED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO, UM, THE, THE MOST COMMON VENUE WILL LIKELY BE AT A COMMUNITY MEETING.
SO WE HAVE A, A LIST OF COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT WE WORK WITH, BUT THEN WE ALSO MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL OFFICES IF THEY WOULD LIKE US TO GO TO ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
AND DEPENDING ON THE SCHEDULE, IT WILL EITHER BE MYSELF OR JOY OR A**L AS THE GENERAL MANAGER.
AND IF WE NEED TO BRING OTHER FOLKS IN, UM, TO DO THAT, THEN, THEN WE WILL.
AND BEFORE WE SEND THEM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WE'LL REVIEW THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WITH THEM.
WE TYPICALLY TRY AND, AND MATCH WHOEVER MAY BE ATTENDING A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD ENGAGEMENT WITH THAT, UM, AUDIENCE BEFORE.
SO THAT THERE, THERE IS THAT, THAT CONNECTION THERE.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS THE TYPE OF MESSAGING THAT WE'LL BE SHARING WITH OUR CET MEMBERS.
SO IN AN EVEN MORE INFORMAL SETTING, UM, AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, WHETHER IT'S, UM, DRAGON BOAT RACE OR, UM, THERE'LL BE SUMMER CONCERTS COMING UP AT CONCERTS IN THE PARK.
UM, THIS WILL BECOME, UH, AN HOPEFULLY AN EASY WAY FOR OUR CET MEMBERS TO, AS THEY'RE SAYING HI TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE COMING UP TO OUR BOOTH TO SAY, YES, UM, WE ARE GOING THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS.
YES, THERE WILL LIKELY BE RATE INCREASES, BUT HERE'S HOW WE'RE USING YOUR DOLLARS IN OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THE OTHER THING IS CERTAINLY HOW WE COMPARE WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF OUR AFFORDABILITY AND, AND OUR, I DON'T THINK OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE ACTUALLY, I'M LOSING MY VOICE, HAVE OUR OWN, UM, LOT, A LOT OF OUR WATER COMES FROM OUR OWN AQUAPHOR, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THEN THAT'S A REAL POINT OF PRIDE FOR LONG BEACH.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GIFTED IN MANY WAYS THAT, AND THE, THE FACTORS THAT ENABLE US TO BE MORE AFFORDABLE.
'CAUSE PEOPLE ONLY KNOW HOW BIG THE BILL IS, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT HOW IT COMPARES WITH ANYONE ELSE 'CAUSE THEY FEEL THEIR OWN PAIN.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MITIGATE THAT.
GLORIA, YOU HAVE LOTS OF CON IDEAS ON THIS.
UM, I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY THOROUGH.
UM, I THINK YOU, YOU HIT EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEEDED TO HIT.
I, I UNDERSTAND WHERE MAYBE YOU WERE COMING FROM CHAIR MCGUIRE.
UM, IF YOU, IF YOU TOOK THIS OUT AND DID THIS WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THEY MAY JUST KIND OF GLOSS OVER, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
UM, I WROTE DOWN AS YOU WERE TALKING, THIS IS WHAT WE DO,
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THIS IS WHAT WE DO.AND I, I FELT IT WAS VERY THOROUGH.
AND THEN I WROTE DOWN 24 7, AND THEN THE SONG CAME OUT INTO MY HEAD, THIS IS HOW WE DO IT.
WHAT'S THAT SONG THAT THEY SING?
AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SONG THAT WE SHOULD PUT A VIDEO TOGETHER BECAUSE IT IS VERY THOROUGH IN TERMS OF THINGS.
ONE THING THAT I WISH WE COULD DO IS SOMEHOW CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.
NOT US, BUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, UM, IF THE ISSUES ARE AFFORDABILITY AND RELIABILITY, IT SHOULD REALLY BE RELIABILITY AND THEN AFFORDABILITY.
BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT THERE'S A CHANCE THAT WE MAY BE, WE WE'RE IN A, YOU KNOW, WE STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN THE LIFESTYLE AND THE WAY WE USE OUR WATER, BUT EVERYBODY'S JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT DOLLAR, WHICH IS IMPORTANT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE AREAS WHERE WE CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT I THINK MAYBE, UM, I THINK EVERYTHING THAT'S IN HERE PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE IN HERE.
MAYBE THERE WILL THE, A VIDEO, A FAST VIDEO THAT YOU COULD MAYBE PUT, YOU KNOW, A SONG TO IT, UM, WITH THIS SORT OF THING.
BUT I, I THINK THE MESSAGE IS THERE.
I THINK IT MAYBE JUST MAYBE TWEAK IT A BIT.
NO, I'M NOT GONNA SING THE SONG.
UM, I THINK YOUR INPUT IS ALL VERY IMPORTANT AND IT HELPS SHAPE THE PRESENTATION.
A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL PIECES OF INPUT.
AS, AS JOY WAS PREPARING THIS PRESENTATION, SHE WAS REFLECTING ON A COMMON EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAD.
AND I WAS THINKING OF DIFFERENT AUDIENCES.
SO WHEN WE SAY CITY COUNCIL, CITY COUNCIL HAS TWO ELEMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE.
ONE IS THE ACTUAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND WE'LL BE BRIEFING THEM ABOUT THE BUDGET BECAUSE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE GONNA RECEIVE IS INDEED AS THE CITY COUNCIL, THEY WILL BE ASKED TO ACT ON THE BUDGET WHEN THAT TIME COMES IN SEPTEMBER.
SO THAT'S ONE AUDIENCE, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER THEMSELVES PERHAPS IN OFFICE.
AND SO THAT PRESENTATION WOULD BE A VARIATION OF THIS.
THERE'S GONNA BE MUCH MORE DETAIL IN IT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL NUMBERS.
'CAUSE IN ESSENCE, THAT'S THE RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS ASKED TO ADOPT IN SEPTEMBER.
THERE'S THE OTHER ELEMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
AND IN ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS, OUR REFLECTION OF THAT AUDIENCE WAS THAT WE WERE A FRACTION OF AN ENTIRE PRESENTATION.
SO AN ENTIRE EVENING, WE WERE AFFORDED 10 MINUTES, UH, ABOUT THE ISSUE OF BUDGET.
AND SO THIS PRESENTATION HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAD AT THAT MOMENT.
THE AUDIENCE WAS RECEIVING A DIFFICULT PIECE OF NEWS.
UM, INVARIABLY THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF THE RESPONSE OF THE COMMUNITY WAS, CAN YOU JUST TELL ME FOR THE ASSISTANCE THAT YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE, HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT? HOW DO I GO ABOUT DOING THAT? WHO DO I CALL? WHAT DO I DO? IN THE BRIEF TIME THAT WE HAD, THAT WAS THE DOMINANT FORM OF THE DISCUSSION, KNOWING THAT BUDGET AND RATES WERE GOING TO COME, AND THE DIFFICULT PROPOSAL, THAT BUDGET WAS INDEED GOING UP AND RATES WERE UP.
SO IT'S WITH THAT CONTEXT IN MIND THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHAPE THIS AND ADD DETAIL, BUT WE'LL BE MINDFUL OF DIFFERENT AUDIENCES THAT TAKE PLACE INVARIABLY WITH THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND WITH THE COMMUNITIES, WE'RE GOING TO BE AFFORDED, UH, AN ALLOTMENT OF TIME, WHICH IS SOMEWHERE MAX 15 MINUTES AND POSSIBLY AS SHORT AS 10 MINUTES, UH, IN THAT PRESENTATION.
SO YES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONVEY THE DETAILS OF WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING, HOW IT GETS USED, HOW DO I COMPARE, AND AT THE SAME TIME, TO BUILD ON THAT ASPECT OF THIS IS WHAT WE DO AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.
THIS IS WHAT'S EMBEDDED WITHIN THE SERVICE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.
SO I HOPE THAT HELPS YOU AND GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT.
UM, AND MAYBE GOING BACK TO WHAT, UM, CHAIR MCGUIRE SAID, IF, IF MAYBE A COUPLE OF SENTENCES WHEN WE GO OUT ABOUT, AND I GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT, THAT SOMEONE IN ON OUR COMMISSION AND DIRECT ONE OF THE DIRECTORS AT MET SAID, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DELTA, YOU EITHER GET THEM THROUGH FACT OR FEAR.
WELL, THERE'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH THERE.
SO IF YOU START IT OUT BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE STATE OF WATER IN OUR, IN OUR, HERE'S THE ISSUE OF WATER IN OUR STATE.
THE FACT IS WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, LOWER, LOWER, UH, SOAK.
WE HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE COLORADO RIVER WE'RE LOOKING AT VERY BRIEFLY AND, AND TALK ABOUT THE LEVIES OR VERY BRIEFLY, AND THEN GO INTO, UM, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS, LET'S BRING IT DOWN TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, THE DELIVERY OF WATER, RELIABLE WATER FOR LONG BEACH AND HOW WE DO IT.
AND THEN KIND OF GO FROM THERE.
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NEED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, I WISH THE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY WOULD UNDERSTAND, UH, THAT A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVE RAMIFICATIONS AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS.AND THAT'S, UH, WATER RELIABILITY IN THIS STATE.
UM, I THINK THAT FEAR IN FACT, WOULD DEFINITELY HELP GRAB ATTENTION.
BUT TO PAIR THE FEAR, IN FACT, WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM HOPE, RIGHT? AND ALSO, WE ARE THE HOPE, RIGHT? WE ARE THE HOPE, RIGHT? YEAH.
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK 24 7, 3, 5 DAYS A YEAR.
IT'S A VERY HUMBLING EXPERIENCE TO, UM, BE THE SPOKESPERSON THAT, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO THAT, THAT, UM, AND WE DO TAKE A LOT OF THAT FOR, FOR GRANTED, OF COURSE.
SO I THINK FINDING A WAY TO TELL THAT STORY TO SUCH A DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN LONG BEACH, ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE, RIGHT? UH, RACIALLY, GENDER, UH, SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
THERE'S JUST DIFFERENT WAYS, DIFFERENT STORIES THAT WILL HIT DIFFERENTLY.
SO, UM, I THINK WE ALL BELIEVE IN THE ITERATIVE PROCESS.
SO WE'LL START, AS DIANA SAID, UH, AS A BASELINE FOR THIS, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ONLY GET BETTER FROM HERE.
SO THIS IS AN ELEMENT TO WHAT YOU SAID.
UM, IF I THINK ABOUT THE WAY YOU CONVEYED IT, AND I AM BEYOND WATER, BECAUSE AFTER ALL IT'S THE PRESENTATION FOR BUDGET AND RATES ON WATER, GAS, AND SEWER.
THERE'S AN ELEMENT WHERE THE RESOURCES THEMSELVES ARE FACING CONSTRAINTS, CHALLENGES.
SO THERE'S CHALLENGES IN WATER, THERE'S CHALLENGES IN GAS AND SEWER IS A REFLECTION OF WATER.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE CHALLENGES, THEY RUN ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, AND THE NARRATIVE AND THE STORY THAT WE PROVIDED IS A STORY OF SERVICE THAT'S NECESSARY.
UM, GAS HAS AN EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE NATION WHERE INATTENTION TO THE SERVICE, INATTENTION TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS DRAMATIC CONSEQUENCES.
UM, NATURAL DISASTERS, EXPLOSIONS AND RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND SO FORTH ARE DIFFICULT THINGS TO GRAPPLE WITH.
BUT THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE INVESTMENT.
INDUE WATER SERVICE HAS ITS OWN REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WATER IS SAFE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
SO IN THOSE CHALLENGES, IN THOSE CHALLENGES, THERE'S A LEVEL OF SERVICE AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE MUST GUARANTEE EVERY DAY, REGARDLESS OF THE CONSUMPTION THAT YOU HAVE.
AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IN THE BUDGET IS COSTS GO UP AND CONSUMPTION GOES DOWN, IS WHAT INVARIABLY REFLECTS ITSELF IN THE RATES NOTWITHSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING.
WE DO OFFER ALWAYS THAT WE TRY TO MEASURE UP AGAINST OTHER UTILITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHERS AND PROVIDING A VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO YOUR REQUEST TO DO COMPARISON IS CORRECT, AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A MESSAGE WITH REGARDING THAT.
SO I DID THAT AND THAT WAS ABOUT MAYBE, SO, SO SOMETHING ALONG THOSE THEMES.
I THINK TAKING YOUR INPUT TODAY, WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDED AND, AND THE TIMELINE HERE, IS IT LIKE JUNE, JULY AHEAD? WHEN DO YOU, I KNOW IT GOES WITH THE BUDGET, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT ALL OF THAT FIRST, BUT WHAT'S YOUR TIMELINE TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, DIANA, TO JOIN IN ON THAT? YEAH, WE INTEND TO START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO SHARE THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, UM, AT THE MOMENT.
UM, WE'LL ALSO CONSISTENTLY DIRECT, UM, WHOEVER WE'RE SPEAKING WITH BACK TO OUR, TO OUR WEBSITE BECAUSE AS OUR BUDGET, OUR, SORRY, OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS PROGRESS, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT IS ADDED ONLINE.
UM, SO FOR ANYONE WHO'S VERY INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING THAT, UM, WE CAN'T SEE THEM EVERY TIME WE HAVE A, A FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT WE CAN GIVE THEM A WEBSITE TO GO TO WITH UPDATED INFORMATION.
UM, AS THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE, UH, SCHEDULED, OUR GOAL IS TO INVITE FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROP TWO 18 HEARING PROCESS BECAUSE, UM, THOSE INCREASES TO WATER, SEA RATES ARE EXTREMELY LIKELY.
AND SO THIS IS A, A WAY TO GET PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE SORT OF PROGRAMS WE OFFER, UH, FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY, WATER CONSERVATION, OR THE DISCOUNT PROGRAMS. OKAY.
UM, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENT? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
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THE MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE CARIES ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO[3. 26-54739 Recommendation to receive and file a report on Government Affairs advocacy work from January to March 2026. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ADVOCACY WORK FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 2026.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE? AND I SECOND.
AND WE HAVE DIANA TANG PRESENTING.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN MCGUIRE AND COMMISSIONER CORDERO.
UM, I'M PLEASED TO STAND UP HERE TO PINCH IT AS OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PERSON,
UM, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH THE PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES THAT THE FULL BOARD ADOPTED IN NOVEMBER.
WE'VE BEEN USING THAT DOCUMENT IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND SO THIS PRESENTATION IS JUST A, A SNAPSHOT OF THE KIND OF INTERACTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR.
SO AGAIN, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PUBLIC POLICIES PRIORITY DOCUMENT.
UM, THIS COVERS WATER, SEWER, AND GAS, AND THEN SOME GENERAL KIND OF UTILITY TENANTS THAT WE HOLD TRUE TO OUR UTILITY, WHICH IS, UM, KIND OF THE COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABILITY, CONSERVATION, RESILIENCY, ALL OF THOSE KEY ELEMENTS THAT JOY JUST SPOKE ABOUT IN HER PRESENTATION.
UM, THAT IS A PICTURE OF TONY FOSTER, MYSELF, AND, UM, HEATHER HAMILTON.
THIS IS YOUR GAS PROCUREMENT TEAM.
WE DID LEAVE DENNIS BEHIND SO HE COULD BUY GAS BACK HERE AT LONG BEACH UTILITIES ON THAT DAY.
UM, BUT AT THE CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ASSOCIATION ADVOCACY DAY IN SACRAMENTO, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OUR UTILITY PARTNERS, UM, PUBLIC UTILITY PARTNERS IN SACRAMENTO.
WE HAD A NICE DAY OF WORKSHOPS, UM, BUT THEN ALSO SOME TIME TO MEET WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL.
AND SO WE TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, UM, THE OFFICE OF, UM, SENATOR LENA GONZALEZ AND THE OFFICE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH LOWENTHAL, JUST TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM THAT WE HAD THAT BOARD ADOPTED PUBLIC PRIORITIES DOCUMENT THAT WE'VE ENGAGED IN EFFORTS LIKE, UM, JUDICIAL STREAMLINING FOR PURE WATER, AND THEN ALSO TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY MEASURES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN OUR OWN CITY, UM, RELATIVE TO WATER, SEWER, AND GAS, PRIMARILY ON THE GAS SIDE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING STATE LAW ON, UM, DECOMMISSIONING, WHICH YOU ALL HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WITH OUR GTI UPCOMING GTI STUDY, UM, LATER THIS YEAR.
UM, WE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH OFFICIALS AT THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE ADOPTED AN EXTENSION TO WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE CAP AND TRADE PROGRAM.
NOW IS THE CAP AND INVEST PROGRAM.
THIS IS OF COURSE CALIFORNIA'S LANDMARK, UM, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTION PROGRAM WHERE THERE ARE CREDITS THAT ARE, UM, TRADED IN AN OPEN MARKET SETTING TO OFFSET GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AS PART OF OPERATIONS.
SO AS A NATURAL GAS UTILITY, NOT AS THE WATER UTILITY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL GAS UTILITY PORTION OF OUR DEPARTMENT, WE PARTICIPATE IN THE CAP AND INVEST PROGRAM.
THAT PROGRAM WAS SET TO EXPIRE IN 2030.
IT HAS BEEN EXTENDED, UM, AND NEW REGULATIONS WILL BE FORTHCOMING, UM, RELATIVE TO THAT, MOST IMPACTFUL TO OUR UTILITY AND REALLY TO OUR ENTIRE CITY IS THE ALLOWABLE USES FOR THESE ALLOWANCES.
SO IF YOU'LL RECALL ANNUALLY, THIS BOARD APPROVES, UM, AB 32 PROJECTS FOR FUNDING OF WHICH THE CITY ALSO PARTICIPATES IN.
UM, AND THAT HAS FUNDED, UM, IN YEARS PAST CITY ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS, UM, SOME CITY, UM, I THINK ENERGY, OR I'M SORRY, WEATHERIZED ROOFS.
UM, THE PROGRAMS ALSO SUPPORTED, UM, UTILITY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND DEANS SHOP AS WELL.
SO IT'S BEEN A, A PRETTY WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS. UM, AT THE CORE OF IT, THE STATE WAS INTERESTED PREVIOUSLY IN REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
AND THEY'RE, UM, PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF RATE PAYERS.
AND THERE WERE SOME RESTRICTIONS TO THAT AS WELL GOING FORWARD IN THIS NEW ITERATION OF CAP AND INVEST.
AND THE STATE IS LOOKING TO LIMIT THE USE OF THOSE CAP AND INVEST ALLOWANCES ONLY TO PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH FOSSIL FUELS.
SO NOTHING TO DO WITH GAS APPLIANCES, NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING THAT IS FOSSIL FUEL BURNING.
AND SO, UM, OUR COMMENT LETTER REALLY SPEAKS TO THE CHALLENGE THAT WOULD POSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, A LOT OF THE HOMES IN LONG BEACH ARE OF AN OLDER HOUSING STOCK, AND SO TO RETROFIT THAT, UM, IS, IS VERY COSTLY.
SO WE WONDERED AS TO THE COST BENEFIT OF, UM, OF THE, OF THE INVESTMENTS OF GREENHOUSE GAS ALLOWANCES, BECAUSE ESPECIALLY IN THOSE OLDER HOMES, THOSE OLDER HOMES ALSO HAVE, TEND TO HAVE OLDER APPLIANCES AND SIMPLY REPLACING A NATURAL, A NEW NATURAL GAS STOVE, I'M SORRY, REPLACING AN OLD NATURAL GAS STOVE WITH A NEW NATURAL GAS STOVE ITSELF HAS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTION BENEFITS AND WOULD NOT NEED REALLY ANY INFRASTRUCTURE RETROFITS TO THE HOME AT ALL.
[00:30:01]
IT'S A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD REPLACEMENT PROJECT THAT HAS, IN OUR OPINION, A HIGH, UM, BENEFIT TO, TO THAT HOME.SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING CARB TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE DOING.
UM, REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT WE ARE ON RECORD AS ASKING FOR THAT BECAUSE OF OUR OLDER HOUSING STOCK AND OUR, AND THE DIVERSITY OF, UM, ECONOMIC STATUS IN OUR CITY, UM, AS WELL.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU, UM, MAY NOT TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATE WITH GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, BUT IS, UH, SUCH A KEY PART OF OUR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE ARE SO OPERATIONALLY AND WORKFORCE DRIVEN.
SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, UM, SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS IN THE WORK.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT IS APPLYING FOR FEDERAL APPROPRIATION DOLLARS TO FUND THEIR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO EXPOSE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DIFFERENT, UM, ELEMENTS OF THE WATER WORKFORCE INDUSTRY.
WE WILL BE HOSTING A TOUR FOR THIS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS PART OF THEIR SPRING BREAK HERE COMING UP SOON.
WE, OF COURSE, HAVE OUR OWN ACADEMY PROGRAM THAT IS NOT FUNDED BY FEDERAL DOLLARS, BUT DOES INVOLVE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE AS WELL, AND A MILLION DOLLARS IN, UM, CMUA GRANT FUNDS.
SO THAT IS, UM, HOPEFULLY WRAPPING UP SOON, BUT KEEPING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UM, TOP OF MIND AND A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION HELPS KEEP OUR PROGRAMS CONNECTED AND, UM, THE CREDIBILITY UP WHEN IT COMES TIME TO APPLY FOR NEW DOLLARS, EVEN INTERNALLY FOR OURSELVES.
AND SO THAT BRINGS ME TO, UH, MY RECOMMENDATION WAS, IS TO RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ADVOCACY WORK FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, 2026.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE ALL OF THIS COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY OBVIOUSLY, AND THE NETWORKING AND PARTNERSHIPS AND JUST A LOT GOING ON IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
AND I SEE TOO, I REALLY LIKE THIS CARB THING THAT YOU'RE DOING,
UM, JUST ONE MORE LITTLE THING.
UM, THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OUTREACH, JUST WONDERING IF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ARE INCLUDED, LIKE ST.
ANTHONY, YOU'VE REACHED NOT JUST THE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A, THERE'S A HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT OF THE CURRICULUM THERE.
THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE TOURING OUR FACILITY, UM, I THINK THIS MONTH ARE COMING TO US THROUGH WDS WORKFORCE PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S NOT ONE THAT WE'RE SELECTING.
UM, BUT AS A UTILITY, WE HAVE, UM, I SUPPOSE INVESTED MORE TIME PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS THAT DO HAVE ENERGY OR UTILITY RELATED CURRICULUM.
SO IF THERE ARE SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE NOT, UM, YET BUILT THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH, UM, WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THEM.
UM, INTERESTED IN THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT VERY MUCH.
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
SO, IS THE ACADEMY THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, OR IS IT SEPARATE? THAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
AND, UM, IS THAT, IS THIS THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE DONE THAT OR WE'VE DONE IT FOR A WHILE.
WE, AS THE UTILITY, HAVE HAD AN ACADEMY PROGRAM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WE TEND TO RUN IT WHEN WE HAVE ENOUGH VACANCIES IN THAT POSITION SO THAT, UM, WHEN, WHEN OUR CANDIDATES ARE GRADUATING FROM THE ACADEMY, WE HAVE POSITIONS HERE FOR THEM TO FILL.
UM, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
AND SO THE PROGRAM AND THE OUTREACH FOR THE PROGRAM HAS, HAS GROWN BECAUSE OF THAT.
SO IS THERE ANY CORRELATION? ARE WE DOING ANYTHING WITH METROPOLITAN ON THIS? WE ARE NOT DIRECTLY DOING ANYTHING WITH METROPOLITAN FOR OUR ACADEMY, BUT BECAUSE OF, UM, THIS TYPE OF NETWORKING AND CONVERSATION ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICULARLY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, UM, WE DID RECENTLY ATTEND A A RAND WORKSHOP OR RAND WATER WORKSHOP DEVELOPMENT AT WHICH METROPOLITAN WAS PRESENT ALONG WITH LA COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS, UM, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER WATER UTILITIES IN THE REGION, UM, IN, IN ADDITION TO LABOR UNIONS WITH WORKERS IN THOSE JOBS.
I, I THINK, I THINK SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, SOMEONE BROUGHT IT UP TO ME AT METROPOLITAN THAT THERE WAS AN INTEREST THEY HAD IN WORKING WITH LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, AND I'LL GIVE YOU HER NAME SURE.
UM, THE WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT, THAT'S, THAT'S THEIR PROGRAM.
WE'RE JUST GIVING THEM THE TOUR, CORRECT? YES.
UH, IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC,
[00:35:01]
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, COMMISSIONER, COMMENT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.THE MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE CARRIES THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Communications Committee on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.]
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A NON AGENDA ITEM? SEEING NONE.THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS NOW CLOSED.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
A MEETING IS ADJOURNED.