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IT IS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY.
IT IS 9:05 AM AND I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE THURSDAY, MAY 21ST, 2026 PARKS OF RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING, UH, FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
DIRECTOR SCOTT, CAN YOU PLEASE ROLL CALL? YES.
COMMISSIONER ALLEN HERE, COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON.
UH, COMMISSIONER SHOUL HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE COMMISSIONER HIGA IN TRANSIT ON HER WAY, AND SHE MAY BE LATE.
UH, VICE CHAIR
UM, AND, UH, AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ASK THAT WE DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLEASE STAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE OVERALL.
DIRECTOR SCOTT, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT OF ASHLEY CENT AS OUR NEW COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER.
SO AFTER AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH TO FIND THE VERY BEST, THOUGH WE HAD IT RIGHT HERE, UH, IN OUR VERY OWN SHOP.
AND, UH, ASHLEY BRINGS, UH, TO THE TABLE, UH, MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE RECREATION INDUSTRY.
UH, THE VAST MAJORITY HERE IN LONG BEACH, AND FOR THE LAST 13 OR SO YEARS, HAS SERVED AS, UH, ONE OF OUR RECREATION SUPERINTENDENTS.
AND SO SHE HAS BEEN IN EVERY PART OF, UH, THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.
SHE KNOWS OUR PARKS INSIDE AND OUT, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE HER JOIN, UH, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM IN PARKS, REC, AND MARIE.
WELCOME, ASHLEY TO THIS NEW ROLE.
SO, UM, AND NOW, UH, DO WE HAVE A DIRECTOR, SCOTT, DO WE HAVE, UH, ANY PRESENTATIONS? YES, WE DO.
UH, WE HAVE OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH PRESENTATION, SO THIS WILL BE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.
AND I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF TO ANDREA, WHO IS REPRESENTING OUR EMPLOYEE RECREATION EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION COMMITTEE.
UM, WE ALWAYS HAVE A GREAT HONOR OF SURPRISING, UM, ONE OF OUR PEOPLE THAT WORK IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND, UM, I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO PRESENT THIS INDIVIDUAL.
I ALSO NOMINATED THIS INDIVIDUAL, SO I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT I GET TO, UM, THEY'RE GONNA KNOW WHO THEY ARE AS SOON AS I START READING IT.
THEY'RE MY PEER, THEY'RE MY FRIEND.
I'VE WORKED WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
SO SUPER EXCITED TO THEM TO GET THIS RECOGNITION FOR APRIL.
ANDREA BROWN IS THE RECORDATION ASSISTANT AT STEARNS PARK, ENSURING THE SAFE, WELCOMING, AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR HER COMMUNITY SHE SERVES BEYOND HER PARK DUTIES, ANDREA HAS BECOME A VITAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE.
SHE PROVIDES, UM, VALUABLE INCLUSION TRAINING TO THE PRM TEAM, AS WELL AS OUTSIDE CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA PARKS RECREATION SOCIETY DISTRICT 10 JEDI, WHICH IS JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE, SHE HELPS OUR ORGANIZATION AND CITIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA NAVIGATE TOWARD A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE.
THIS YEAR, ANDREA HAS ALSO STEPPED INTO THE LEADERSHIP ROLE AS A CO-CHAIR OF THE CRS TRAINING COMMITTEE.
THIS COMMITTEE PROVIDES HANDS-ON TRAINING TO OVER 300 STAFF THAT WILL HELP MAKE SUMMER GREAT FOR ALL WAGES IN ANDREA BROWN, YOU THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER LADIES FOR YOU, BUT I'M GONNA BRING UP ASHLEY AS HER MANAGER.
UH, LIKE ANDREA SHARED, UM, ANDREA'S BEEN A LONG TIME EMPLOYEE OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
UH, ANDREA'S BEEN WITH US, UH, GREATER THAN 25 YEARS NOW.
UM, SHE AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER, OH,
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ALL OF THOSE YEARS, UM, IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.UM, ANDREA HAS REPRESENTED PARKS IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.
SHE HAS OVERSEEN PARKS IN NORTH LONG BEACH, CENTRAL AREAS DOWNTOWN.
SHE AT EAST SIDE NOW, UM, SHE CURRENTLY OVERSEES STERNS PARK, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR BUSIEST PARKS WITH USER GROUPS, WITH, UM, SUMMER PROGRAMS, UM, THE HUSTLE BUSTLE, THAT ALL.
UM, WHAT WHAT ANDREA ALSO DOES IS, WHICH IS REALLY REMARKABLE, WHICH I OFTEN, UM, I OFTEN MARVEL AT, IS HOW SHE CHECKS IN WITH STAFF, UM, IN VERY SPECIAL WAYS.
SO SHE'S THE PERSON THAT WILL DROP OFF FLOWERS AT YOUR DESK OUT OF THE BLUE.
UM, SHE REMEMBERS THINGS, SO SHE'LL CIRCLE BACK AND CHECK IN.
AND SO NOT ONLY DOES SHE REALLY CHECK IN ON COMMUNITY AND ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS WHAT THEY NEED AND THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD, AND SHE'S RESPONSIVE, SHE CHECKS IN WITH OUR STAFF.
AND SO SHE UPLIFTS OUR TEAM SO THAT ON HARD DAYS, THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE THAT WILL WORK ALONGSIDE THEM, THAT WILL, UM, THAT WILL UPLIFT AND KIND OF, UM, IMPACT THEIR MOOD AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY, THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE, UM, THAT THEY'RE REALLY VALUED.
UM, THAT IS A REALLY SPECIAL THING ABOUT ANDREA.
AND SO, UM, THAT IS WHAT SETS HER APART FROM, FROM A LOT OF OUR TEAM, UM, IS THAT SHE JUST REMEMBERS THE LITTLE THINGS ALL THE TIME.
UM, EVEN IN A BUSY DAY WHEN, WHEN THINGS ARE UNPREDICTABLE, UM, THAT IS WHO ANDREA IS.
AND SO I ALSO HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING HER WORK WITH ME.
WE DO EQUITY TRAININGS TOGETHER.
AND SO SHE'S MY EQUITY PARTNER, UM, AND HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST YEAR DOING EQUITY TRAININGS WITH OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE HAVE DONE COUNTLESS TRAININGS TOGETHER.
WE TRAVEL AROUND THE CITY WITH LIKE A LITTLE TRAINING DUO.
AND SO, AND, AND I LEARNED FROM HER CONSTANTLY.
SHE IS, SHE IS, UH, SHE HAS TRAINED, SHE HAS, SHE HAS, UM, AN EXPERTISE AS IT RELATES TO INCLUSION, AND IT IS A PRIVILEGE THAT SHE IS WITH OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, UH, I, I, I HAVE THE BEST TIME OUR DAYS TOGETHER DOING TRAININGS BECAUSE SHE, SHE LOVES IT.
THOSE INTERCESSIONS, THEY, THEY, SHE CONNECTS WITH THEM.
AND SO IT'S REALLY SPECIAL FOR ME TO BE HERE IN THIS HONOR TO REPRESENT YOU AND, AND, AND SHARE ALL THE WAYS THAT YOU CONTRIBUTE TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? WE'LL, NOW HAVE THE COMMISSIONER COME UP.
IT'S ALSO MY JOB TO TAKE PICTURE.
WELL, THANK YOU EVERYONE AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
UM, AND LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COMMISSIONER HI.
ARRIVED AT NINE 10 AND IS HERE ACTIVE AND PRESENT.
WE NOW MOVE ON TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA AND A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF THURSDAY, APRIL 16TH.
UH, AND THEN THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THURSDAY, APRIL 16TH, UH, OF 2026.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVE SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, THEN MOTION CARRIES.
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UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE AN UPDATE REGARDING THE DRAKE CHAZ PARK AS IT RELATES TO THE DEPARTMENT'S, UH, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION, MARINE.UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
UM, HERE, AND, UH, DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE A REPORT? WE DO HAVE A REPORT AND WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION IN JUST A MOMENT.
UH, BUT RECALL, UH, COMMISSIONERS, THIS WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU REQUESTED AN UPDATE ON.
UM, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BRING THIS TO YOU THIS MORNING.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, ONE OF OUR PARTNERS FROM PUBLIC WORKS, UH, CATHERINE WYNN.
SHE IS OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS PROGRAM MANAGER.
HOPEFULLY I GOT THAT CORRECTLY.
UM, AND, UH, SHE'LL BE PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW ON THE DRAKE CHAVEZ PROJECT.
SO THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING, UH, PROJECT FOR THE CITY.
UM, A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM, UH, THE AREA, UH, INCLUDING DRAKE PARK, CHAVEZ PARK, AND A CONNECTION IN BETWEEN AND EVEN SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, SPACE.
AND SO CATHERINE WILL KIND OF WALK US THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
UM, AND, UH, THIS WILL BE A, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE KIND OF A LENGTHY PROJECT.
UM, THIS WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO COMPLETE, BUT THIS IS ONE THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO, UH, BE MOVING FORWARD.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD, I JUST WANTED TO ADD ABOUT $3.7 MILLION TO THIS PROJECT, UH, THIS PAST TUESDAY.
I THROUGH FUNDS
AND SO, UH, I'M GONNA LET THE ACTUAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT GIVE THE PRESENTATION AND, UH, HAND IT OFF TO CATHERINE.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCOTT, AND GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
UM, THIS PRESENTATION IS ACTUALLY THE SAME PRESENTATION I PROVIDED AT OUR COMMUNITY WORKSHOP BACK IN APRIL.
SO IF SOME OF YOU ARE THERE, THIS IS A REPEAT.
UM, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NEW, I'LL WALK THROUGH KIND OF SLOWLY.
UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY TWO PROJECTS IN ONE, SO I'M PROVIDING TWO LESSONS.
UM, SO I'LL JUST KIND OF BREEZE THROUGH SOME OF IN COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER IS OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT,
UM, MY DESIGN TEAM IS LED BY STAFF LANDSCAPE URBANISM, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL SUB, UM, CONSULTANTS WORKING WITH US.
UH, THE ROBERT GROUP HAS BEEN DOING, UH, LEADING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CHARGE.
UM, SO AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, OUR GOAL WAS TO SHARE THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HAD BEEN COLLECTING FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
UH, WE WANTED TO SHARE A DRAFT CONCEPT OF THE DRAKE CHAVEZ CONNECTION PROJECT, AND THEN THE OVERALL DRAKE CHAVEZ MASTER PLAN, WHICH YOU SEE HERE IN TEAL, THIS LARGER PIECE, UH, WE HAD DONE SOME SITE ANALYSIS.
WE COMPILED SOME OF OUR RESEARCH AND WE SHARED OUT HERE OUR EXISTING CONDITIONS.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE SITE CONSTRAINTS OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THEN WE HAD AN INTERACTIVE ACTIVITY WITH THE COMMUNITY GETTING THEIR INPUT ON WHAT KINDS OF PROGRAMMATIC PRIORITIES THEY WANT TO SEE IN THE MASTER PLAN.
SO, JUST, UM, SOME BACKGROUND.
THE CITY ACQUIRED THESE PROPERTIES BACK IN 2006, THESE RED PARCELS ON THE LEFT WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING PARKLAND.
UM, THIS REALLY SET OFF THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS BETWEEN 2007 AND 10, WHICH WAS FORMALLY CALLED THE GREAT JOB AS GREEN BELT MASTER PLAN.
AND THEN IN 2019, THE MASTER PLAN WAS UPDATED TO INCLUDE SOME MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, NAMELY THE SHORELINE DRIVE REALIGNMENT HERE AND THE SHOEMAKER BRIDGE PROJECT.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE LBMA PHASE TWO.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS, UH, MASTER PLAN, UH, REFLECTS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE DRAKE CHAVEZ SOCCER FIELD.
UM, THIS VISION PLAN REALLY FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
FOR THIS PARCEL HERE, WHICH WE CALL THE DRAKE CHAVEZ CONNECTION, UH, THERE WERE FOUR WORKSHOPS DONE WITH THE WILMORE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, UM, THE FEEDBACK WAS FOCUSED ON WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMMATIC, UM, YOU KNOW, PRIORITIES DO YOU WANT TO SEE AT THIS PARCEL.
UH, JUST WALKING THROUGH SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE SHORELINE DRIVER ALIGNMENT, THIS IS AN IMAGE OF EXISTING CONDITIONS NOW.
AND, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE SHORELINE DRIVE IS GOING TO BE PUSHED TO THE WESTERN EDGE ADJACENT TO THE LA RIVER.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME INTERIM CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING HERE WHERE THE SHORE SHOEMAKER BRIDGE WILL GET REPLACED HERE.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY WE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THIS GREEN OPEN SPACE ONCE THOSE TWO MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED.
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A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW OF ALL THE DIAGRAMS, SO I'LL KIND OF BREAK IT DOWN INTO PIECES.SO THIS IS THE DRAKE TRAVIS CONNECTION PARCEL, WHICH I HAVE A DRAFT CONCEPT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY.
UH, THIS IS SHOWING ONCE THE SHORELINE DRIVE HAS BEEN REALIGNED, WE NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SPACE.
UM, AND THEN THIS IS SHOWING WHEN THE NEW SHOEMAKER BRIDGE WILL GET RELOCATED, WE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THOSE GREEN SPACES, WHICH ARE, IS CURRENTLY INACCESSIBLE RIGHT NOW.
SORRY,
JUST WANT MAKE SURE THAT, UH, EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE SCREEN AND FOLLOW.
UM, THE PROJECT SITE I'LL FOCUS ON NOW IS THE DRAKE CHA CONNECTION.
HERE IT IS, UH, ADJACENT TO THE WILMORE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, IT'S SPELLED THIS BY WESTCHESTER PLACE, UH, SEVENTH STREET TO THE SOUTH.
UM, A PORTION OF THE SITE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A, A NOTCH CUTOUT.
THIS IS PART OF LB MUST FACE TWO PROJECT.
SO WE HAVE KIND OF LIKE A, A CLEAVER SHAPE OF A PARCEL.
UM, SO HERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, OF A CLOSEUP OF THE PARCEL.
AND, UM, JUST TO WALK BACK ON SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THE FUNDING.
THE PROJECT STARTED OUT IN 2019 WITH A GRANT FROM THE PORT OF LONG BEACH.
UM, IT WAS A LITTLE UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS.
UH, WE STARTED SITE INVESTIGATION AND WE QUICKLY REALIZED THIS IS NOT ENOUGH FUNDING FOR US TO PROCEED.
UH, THIS IS ALSO TIED IN WITH WHEN WE DID THE, UH, VISIONING WORKSHOP FOR THE MASTER PLAN.
UM, WE COLLECTED THAT FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, BUT, UM, WE, WE REALIZED IT JUST WASN'T GONNA BE ENOUGH FOR, UM, US TO PROCEED.
UH, THEN WITH COVID COMPLICATIONS AND, AND LIMITED FUNDING, THE, THE PROJECT WAS PUT ON PAUSE.
UM, THEN IN 2024, THE CITY ALLOCATED A MILLION DOLLARS OF PARK IMPACT FEES TOWARDS THE PROJECT, WHICH ENABLED US TO REINITIATE THE PROJECT IN 2025.
UH, WE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE RNC, THE RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY AND LA COUNTY, UH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS, UM, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO COMPLETE OUR DETAILED DESIGN, OUR ENGINEERED DRAWINGS.
AND THEN JUST THIS YEAR, JUST ON TUESDAY, WE GOT, UH, APPROVAL TO GET AN, UH, ANNUAL ALLOCATION FOR, UM, 3.75 MILLION.
THIS WILL, UM, NOT COMPLETELY FUND THE PROJECT, BUT IT GETS US CLOSER TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
UH, WE ARE USING THIS, UM, ADDITIONAL FUNDING AS LEVERAGE, AS MATCH FOR ADDITIONAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE SEEKING THIS SUMMER.
UH, THE SITE IS FOUR AND A HALF ACRES.
IT WAS A FORMER MTA YARD USED TO MAINTAIN BUSES.
UM, SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THEY'RE BIG HEAVY VEHICLES.
UH, THE ENTIRE PARCEL IS COVERED IN A 10 INCH CONCRETE SLAB, RIGHT? SO IT HAS TO WITHSTAND THE WEIGHT OF ALL THOSE BUSES TRAVELING AROUND THE SITE.
UM, THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO REMOVE THE CONCRETE.
MAKES IT VERY COST PROHIBITIVE TO GET RID OF THAT MUCH CONCRETE.
SO WE HAVE TO THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT HOW OUR FUNDING IS BEING USED TO IMPROVE THE SPACE.
HOW DO WE REPURPOSE THIS CONCRETE IN A WAY THAT STILL DELIVERS, UH, A PARK AND RECREATIONAL, UM, OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO BALANCING OUR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.
UM, THERE ARE A FEW STRUCTURES ON THE SITE THAT WE'VE EVALUATED FOR REPURPOSING.
UM, SOME OF THEM DON'T MEET SEISMIC OR STRUCTURAL CODE.
UM, SOME OF 'EM DO, UH, WHICH WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE REPURPOSE AND REPROGRAM FOR, UH, FUTURE PROGRAM, FUTURE PARTS PROGRAMMING.
SO THESE ARE THE TARGET HOLES THAT WE CARRY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
WE REALLY WANTED TO KEEP EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT AT THE FOREFRONT.
UM, AGAIN, MAINTAINING THE EXISTING CONCRETE IS SOMETHING, UM, THAT'S, IS A GOAL JUST BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL, UM, CONSTRAINTS.
UM, WE WANT TO, UH, CREATE FLEXIBLE SPACES THAT ALLOW FOR, YOU KNOW, A VARIETY OF USES.
AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT, UM, NATIVE PLANTING, DROUGHT TOLERANT LANDSCAPING IS INFUSED OR POSSIBLE.
UM, SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY BUSY, UH,
[00:20:01]
IN 2021, THERE WAS AN ONLINE SURVEY AND AN IN-PERSON SURVEY.AND WHEN WE REINITIATED THE PROJECT, WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, SINCE COVID PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES HAVE CHANGED, WE JUST WANNA REVALIDATE IT.
ARE, ARE THE SAME NEEDS THE SAME, HAVE ANY, HAS ANYTHING CHANGED? SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO REACH OUT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND GET THAT FEEDBACK TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH.
UM, WE'VE HAD, UH, AN ONLINE SURVEY WHICH GOT OVER 500, UH, RESPONSES.
WE'VE DONE IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS, POP UP EVENTS, VIRTUAL EVENTS, YOU NAME IT.
AND WE'RE STILL CONTINUING, UM, IN, INTO, UH, 2026.
UH, WE'VE DONE, SOME OF MY FAVORITE ENGAGEMENTS HAVE BEEN WITH THE YOUTH.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH CESAR CHAVES ELEMENTARY, UH, SCHOOL AND EDISON ELEMENTARY TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK ON WHAT KIND OF AMENITIES THEY WANT TO SEE.
UM, ALSO YOUTH THAT POP UP EVENTS.
WE WERE AT THE AQUARIUM FOR FAMILY NIGHT, UM, HOST BY CB ONE AND ALSO THE, UM, EVENT AT MOULA FOR MARCOS.
AND THEN WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, UH, BASKETBALL, UM, ROLLER SKATING, SKATEBOARDING.
UH, PEOPLE WEREN'T REALLY INTERESTED IN RE USING THE MTA BUILDING AS A REPURPOSE MULTI-PURPOSE HALL.
UH, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON SHADE.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
UM, THIS IS SHOWING A VENN DIAGRAM ABOUT HOW ALL OF THE PRIORITIES HAVE KIND OF SHIFTED OR CHANGED OR REMAIN THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
SO IN THE MIDDLE, YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT, UH, RESTROOM SHADE STRUCTURES AND DOG PARKS COUNT, UH, HAS BEEN A HIGH PRIORITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I THINK ONCE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND SHARE ABOUT THE CONCRETE, UM, CONDITION, THEY REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED A DOG PARK HERE, BUT MAYBE NOT AT THIS SPECIFIC PARCEL BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT A DOG PARK ON CONCRETE.
THAT'S NOT THE BEST USE OF, UM, SPACE.
AND WE, WE WANT A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR, OUR PET.
SO DOG PARK IS STILL A HIGH PRIORITY, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS NOT IS NOT THE IDEAL SITE.
UM, OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, UH, WE HAVE ON THE SITE AND, AND PLACEMENT OF PROGRAMMING IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PARCEL.
IT'S ADJACENT TO A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
SO THINKING ABOUT QUIETER, CALMER PROGRAMMING, LIKE WALKING PATHS OR, UM, COMMUNITY GARDENS.
SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT CALMER ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PARCEL.
THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, STREET THERE.
UM, WE THINK WE CAN ACTIVATE IT WITH A LOT MORE ACTIVITY.
SO PICKLEBALL, SKATE PARK, UM, BASKETBALL, THAT KIND OF HIGH ACTIVATION ENERGY ON THAT SIDE OF THE
UM, WE'VE LOOKED AT SOME PRECEDENT, IMAGES AND INSPIRATION TO THINK ABOUT HOW CAN WE CREATE VIBRANCY AND, UM, ENERGY ON THE SITE USING COLOR, UM, AND SURFACE TREATMENT AND HOW TO CREATE A FUN ENVIRONMENT.
UM, WE'VE ORGANIZED OUR PROGRAMMING BASED ON PLAY PAUSES, WHICH IS, UM, THESE KIND OF SPHERES OF PROGRAMMING WITH BOLD SURFACES AND GRAPHICS AND, UM, PAINTED PATHWAYS THROUGHOUT.
ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE, WE HAVE OUR PARKING LOT, NEARLY 40 SPACES, UM, JUST TO THE WEST OF THAT IS THE LB MUS PHASE TWO PROJECT, WHICH IS A SEPARATE PROJECT.
AND THEN KIND OF MOVING DOWN, WE HAVE THE CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA FOR CHILDREN'S, UH, TWO THROUGH FIVE AND FIVE THROUGH 12.
THERE IS A SPACE HERE IN THIS YELLOW CIRCLE.
UM, THERE'S A, A STRUCTURE HERE, WHICH IS A WASH STATION, WHICH IS EXISTING.
IT'S USED TO LIKE CLEAN THOSE BUSES.
WE'RE GONNA REPURPOSE THAT AS A SHADE STRUCTURE.
UM, AND THEN THIS IS THE MCA BUILDING.
WE'RE GOING TO REPURPOSE THAT AS A MULTI-PURPOSE OUTDOOR INDOOR SPACE FOR ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING.
UM, WE'VE HEARD PICKLEBALL IS UP AND COMING IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY WANT MORE COURTS.
SO WE'LL, UH, INCLUDE THEM HERE.
THERE'S A FLEXIBLE GATHERING PLAZA.
THIS IS FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES.
ROLLER SKATING, SCOOTERING, UH, IMPROMPTU DANCING.
UM, WE HAVE SKATE PARK AND A BASKETBALL COURT.
AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE SITE WE'LL HAVE A WINDING PATHWAY FOR WALKING.
UH, AS PART OF OUR PROJECT, WE ARE INCORPORATING THE WILMORE HERITAGE GARDEN.
UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY
[00:25:01]
WORKED WITH, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT ON IMPLEMENTING A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAS SINCE, UM, BEEN DAMAGED.SO WE'LL INCORPORATE THAT AS PART OF OUR PROJECT AND, UH, REINSTATED.
UH, AND THEN THROUGHOUT WE'LL INCLUDE LIGHTING, UH, SECURITY CAMERAS, UH, SHADED SEATING AREAS, DRINKING FOUNTAINS.
UM, YEAH, AND THEN THIS IS ANOTHER VIEW, JUST KIND OF SHOWING IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, UH, WITH SOME IMAGES OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT, UM, IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
AND THEN THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MTA BUILDING.
WE'RE INCLUDING RESTROOMS AS PART OF THE, UH, RENOVATION OF THIS SPACE, UH, WE'LL INCLUDE TWO A DA STALLS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE FROM THE EXTERIOR.
AND THEN THREE STALLS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.
UM, WE'RE THINKING OF THIS SPACE AS A PLACEMAKING OPPORTUNITY, SO DRAWING PEOPLE IN, CREATING EXCITEMENT, UM, TREATING THE FACADE WITH A, A BRIGHT, VIBRANT COLOR TO ATTRACT PEOPLE THERE.
AND, UM, WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE AN OFFICE SPACE FOR PARK STAFF FOR FUTURE PROGRAMMING AND STORAGE NEEDS.
SO HERE'S A RENDERING OF WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE.
UH, THIS IS JUST SHOWING THE WALKING PATH AND PURPLE KIND OF THE FUTURE COLORS.
THE CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA, THE FUTURE GATHERING PLAZA.
THIS IS REALLY FLEXIBLE FOR, UH, POTENTIAL FARMER'S MARKET POP UP POPUPS OR, UH, MECADO TYPE EVENTS.
UM, OR THAT IT COULD BE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A COMMUNITY GARDEN TO COME UP WITH GREEN PLANTERS.
IT, IT'S REALLY A FLEXIBLE SPACE, UM, TO ALLOW FOR A VARIETY OF USES.
UH, YOU CAN SEE PICKLE BALLS AND THE PICKLEBALL COURTS IN THE KIND OF BLUISH TEAL COLOR IN THE BACK.
AND THEN ON THE RIGHT TOMATO COLOR IS THE, UH, NTA BUILDING.
AND THEN THIS IS VIEW FROM THE SOUTH SIDE.
UM, LOOKING NORTH, WE HAVE BASKETBALL COURTS ON THE RIGHT, WE HAVE A SKATE PARK ON THE LEFT.
UH, IN THE MIDDLE WE SEE THE FLEXIBLE GATHERING PLAZA.
YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE DANCING AND ROLLER SKATING IN THAT SPACE.
OUR, UH, COMMUNITY WORKSHOP KIND OF DOVE INTO GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT KIND OF PLAY ELEMENTS THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THE CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA.
UH, WE GOT FEEDBACK ON WHAT KIND OF SKATE ELEMENTS PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE IN THE SKATE PARK.
A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, UM, AND OUR KEY STAKEHOLDERS IS THAT SHADE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT WILL BE REALLY HOT, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL OF THAT CONCRETE.
SO HOW ARE WE, UH, INCORPORATING MORE SHAPE SALES, MORE PLANTINGS, UM, REFLECTIVE COOLING, UM, PAVEMENT PAINT.
UH, SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'RE TAKING, UM, BACK TO OUR DESIGN TEAM AND, AND BUILDING INTO OUR DESIGN AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO, UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SO I, I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED THE, YOU KNOW, 10 INCHES OF CONCRETE.
IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE TO REMOVE? IS THAT, UM, NONE OF IT CAN BE REMOVED BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE.
I WAS WONDERING YEAH, THINKING ABOUT SHADE STRUCTURES, THINKING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND HOW IMPORTANT TREES ARE.
UM, AND SO I'M NOTICING IN THE RENDERING THESE TREES LOOK TO BE IN, IN PLANTERS AS OPPOSED TO IN THE GROUND.
SO THERE'S, IT'S KIND OF, UH, BEYOND THE POSSIBILITY TO PLANT ANYTHING IN THE GROUND OR NO, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT STRATEGIC CUTOUTS OF THE CONCRETE SO THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE IN GROUND PLANTING.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL FURTHER LOOK INTO AS WE PROGRESS IN THE DESIGN.
BUT AS FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE, WE'RE GONNA BE INCORPORATING MORE LANDSCAPING AND, UM, OUR TEAM IS LOOKING AT KIND OF SHAPE STUDIES AND HOW WE CAN PLACE TREES IN, YOU KNOW, VERY OPTIMAL EFFICIENT SPACES TO ALLOW FOR THE MOST COVERAGE AS POSSIBLE.
UM, SO IT, IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND COMMISSIONERS, I GUESS WE START BY SAYING, DO COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YES.
I DON'T THINK SHE, I THINK THAT'S JUST A PAUSE.
I HAVE MORE, THERE'S A LOT MORE PRESENTATIONS.
MAYBE IF WE WANT TO JUST, UH, OH, I'M SORRY.
NO, BUT IT'S SUCH A GREAT PRESENTATION BECAUSE THESE, IT'S REALLY TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS, PROJECTS, BUT ARE REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY GOING TO BE CONNECTED.
AND SO THIS FIRST ONE WAS REALLY ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THAT FOUR AND A HALF ACRES OF THE FORMER MTA LOT.
[00:30:01]
THEN CATHERINE WILL GET INTO KIND OF THE BROADER, UH, AREA WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, ACREAGE GREEN SPACE OPPORTUNITIES.THINK OF WHERE THAT LONG BEACH SIGN IS DOWN ON, UH, UH, SHORELINE DRIVE.
I ALWAYS THINK OF IT AS THE SEVEN 10.
IT'S ACTUALLY SHORELINE, UH, AND BEING ABLE TO INCORPORATE THAT AND ACTUALLY USE IT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT IS UNUSABLE BECAUSE OF, OF THE ROADS.
AND I'M SORRY, I'M GONNA GIVE IT BACK TO CATHERINE
AND SO I'M JUST GONNA BE GETTING INTO THE SECOND PROJECT RIGHT NOW.
THE SECOND PROJECT, SO I'LL GO OVER SOME OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS OF THE ENTIRE SITE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE SITE CONSTRAINTS OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEN THE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, UM, ALLOWED, UH, FOLKS TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMMATIC PRIORITIES THEY WANT TO SEE IN THE AREA.
UH, JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE FUNDING.
WE HAVE 1.5 MILLION OF FUNDING FOR, UM, PLANNING, ENGAGEMENT, TECHNICAL STUDIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
FOR THIS, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO PROCEED WITH DETAILED DESIGN, AND I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR CONSTRUCTION.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK, UH, FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE.
UH, SO, UM, THE LOCATION OF DRAKE IS, IS REALLY CENTRAL, UH, IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH.
IT'S ACCESSIBLE FROM THE WILMORE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD AND DOWNTOWN.
IT CONNECTS TO THE LA RIVER AND THE WATERFRONT, UM, PROVIDES, UH, PARK ACCESS AND EQUITY FOR WEST LONG BEACH.
AND ONCE IT'S COMPLETE, IT WILL CONNECT 60 ACRES AND PRETTY SPACE, WHICH IS AMAZING IN DOWNTOWN WHERE WE'RE VERY BUILT UP.
UM, IT'S ALREADY A GREAT PARK, BUT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CREATE INVESTIGATION.
UH, SO EXISTING CONDITIONS, THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW.
YOU CAN SEE THE SHORELINE DRIVE REALLY CUTTING RIGHT THROUGH THE PARK SPACE.
IT, UH, LEAVES THE, THE WEST SIDE OF THE PARK COMPLETELY INACCESSIBLE, UM, UNLESS YOU MAKE A MAD DASH ACROSS THE
UM, AND THEN, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS IMAGE, THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL TREE CANOPY, WHICH IS AMAZING, RIGHT? UM, WE KNOW FROM OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN THAT OUR DAYS ARE ONLY GETTING HOTTER.
AND FROM THIS, UM, HEAT MAP, YOU CAN SEE THAT RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE PARK THERE.
UM, THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE IS HOTTER THAN AVERAGE DAYS IN LONG BEACH.
SO THIS, UM, PARK IS SEEN AS LIKE AN OASIS AND A NATURAL COOLING DESTINATION.
AND WE REALLY WANNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL TREE CANOPY.
AND HERE YOU CAN SEE AN IMAGE ON THE GROUND.
OUR CONSULTANTS WERE, UM, BRAVE ENOUGH TO CROSS THE FREEWAY.
UH, SOME OTHER SITE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED IS THAT THERE ARE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'LL HAVE TO WORK AROUND, UH, MAINLY THE SHORELINE DRIVE INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE SOME NEW STREET NETWORKS THAT WE'RE, UM, INCORPORATING INTO THE SITE.
UM, THIS RIGHT HERE WILL BE A NEW INTERSECTION.
WE HAVE THE COUNTY FLOOD, UH, CONTROL PIPELINE, UM, UH, CON EDISON SUBSTATION THAT WILL PLAN AROUND.
AND THEN, UM, SOME FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
UH, FUTURE PUMP STATION IS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTED AND A DETENTION BASIN.
UM, I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE
SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, OH, THESE TREE CLEARINGS AND KIND OF PROGRAMMING, UM, COULD, COULD MAKE SENSE.
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT CONNECTIONS BOTH FOR PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES AND BICYCLISTS AS THEY MANEUVER THROUGHOUT THE SITE.
AND ALL THAT COMBINED TOGETHER, WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING THESE KIND OF NODES OF ACTIVATION POPPING UP.
UH, SO PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE'RE OUR BRAINS ARE WORKING.
AND THEN WE PUT TOGETHER A MODEL, UH, AT THE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP WHERE PEOPLE COULD KIND OF WALK AROUND THIS GIANT TABLE, TAKE A REALLY CLOSE LOOK AT, UM, HOW THESE LAYERS ARE ALL CONNECTED.
AND WE ASKED FOLKS TO GIVE US OUR, THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THESE DIFFERENT ZONES OF ACTIVATION, WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMMING THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS PART OF, UM, THESE DIFFERENT ZONES.
UH, SOMETHING TO NOTE AS WELL AS THAT THE FEATURE PARK SPACE, IS THAT A LOWER GRADE THAN THE EXISTING, UH, SENSOR CHAVEZ PARK? SO WE'RE THINKING OF WAYS OF HOW WE BRING, UM, FOLKS DOWN INTO THE SITE AND HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT GRADE CHANGE.
[00:35:01]
ARE WE, ARE WE DOING SOMETHING GRADUAL? ARE WE LEVEL IT OUT? THOSE ARE ALL THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT AS WELL.UM, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE HAD A SURVEY, UH, AN ONLINE SURVEY, UM, BACK IN THE FALL AND EARLY WINTER, UH, WE RECEIVED OVER 500 RESPONSES.
AND, UM, WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HOW DO PEOPLE USE PARKS TODAY? AND A LOT OF FOLKS USE PARKS FOR WALKING, PICNICKING, UM, VIEWING WILDLIFE.
AND WE ASK THEM, WELL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN YOUR FUTURE PARK? HOW WOULD YOU, YOU LIKE TO USE THIS SPACE? AND THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS WANTED TO PRESERVE, UM, WILDLIFE SUPPORT, BIODIVERSITY, UH, REALLY IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, UH, AND WATER QUALITY, REDUCE CLIMATE IMPACT, WHICH IS AMAZING BECAUSE, UH, WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL TREE CAN FEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.
UH, SOME OF THESE, UH, PRECEDENT IMAGES IS WHAT WE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO GET THEIR CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING.
UM, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF PROGRAMMING YOU COULD IMAGINE IN THESE FUTURE SPACES.
UM, AN OFF LEASE DOG PARK IS SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD CONSISTENTLY FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE IT WITHIN THE MASTER PLAN.
UM, WE'VE ALSO HEARD VIEWING EVENT MODS FOR, FOR VIEWING PARTIES, UH, A DESTINATION ADVENTURE PARK FOR KIDS FOR, UH, A PLAYGROUND.
UH, SOME MORE ACTIVE RECREATION LIKE SKATE PARKS OR BMX, UH, TRUMP TRACK PUMP.
UM, AND THEN, UH, OTHER PASSIVE, UH, AMENITIES LIKE A, A PROMENADE OR WALKING TRAILS.
UH, WE'VE ALSO HEARD SOME, UM, DESIRE FOR CONCESSIONS AS WELL.
SO THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR TIMELINE.
UH, WE WENT TO THE COMMUNITY BACK IN THE SPRING TO GET FEEDBACK, UM, ON THE DRAKE TRAVIS CONNECTION PROJECT.
I MOVED INTO THE DESIGN PHASE.
UM, I'LL BE FINALIZING MY CONCEPT DESIGN AND SHARING THAT BACK OUT LATER THIS SUMMER.
FOR THE DRA MASTER PLAN, WE'RE STILL DOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, GETTING FEEDBACK ON THE PROGRAMMATIC PRIORITIES.
UH, WE DO HAVE AN EVENT WITH CD ONE COMING UP IN JUNE AT THE RESOURCE FAIR.
SO I'LL SET UP MY MODEL AND GET PEOPLE'S FEEDBACK ON PROGRAMMING.
UM, ONCE THAT FEEDBACK IS COLLECTED, WE WILL CREATE A DRAFT MASTER PLAN AND SHARE THAT OUT, OUT WITH THE COMMUNITY AGAIN AND GET MORE FEEDBACK ON IT.
UM, AND WITH THE MASTER PLAN, WE'RE HOPING TO FINALIZE THAT SOMETIME IN THE FALL WITH THE CONNECTION PROJECT.
I'LL BE LOOKING FOR MONEY
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION, VERY COMPLICATED, AND JUST LOOKING AT ALL THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS TO TWO PROJECTS, IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING.
SO, UH, DIRECTOR, DID YOU YEAH, NO, UH, BEFORE YOU GET INTO Q AND A, JUST WANNA SAY HOW EXCITING THIS IS, UH, FOR OUR PARKS ORGANIZATION TO BE ABLE TO ADD ALL THIS ADDITIONAL ACREAGE, UM, TO THAT COMMUNITY IS REALLY A GAME CHANGER.
AND STARTING WITH THE CONNECTION PROJECT, WHICH IS THAT FOUR AND A HALF ACRE, UM, FORMER MTA LOT, UH, THEN MOVING INTO THE MASTER PLAN AREA, THERE IS SO MUCH POTENTIAL AND SO MUCH ABILITY TO, UH, BRING MORE AMENITIES TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY HAPPENING, UH, IN THE DRAKE, IN IN CHAVEZ PARK AREAS.
UM, THERE HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE, UH, CONVERSATION ABOUT A DOG PARK AT CHAVEZ PARK.
UH, JUST LAST WEEK, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A, UH, FACILITY USE PERMIT, UH, FOR THE OPERATION OF A LATINO CULTURAL CENTER OUT OF THE GENERAL
UM, WHICH IS A GREAT ADDITION, UH, NOT ONLY TO THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY, BUT TO THE, THE ENTIRE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.
AND SO TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THESE, UM, THESE OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW IS HUGE.
AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO ADD TO THAT, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY EXCITING AND REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'LL LOOK BACK AT THIS AS A GENERATIONAL PROJECT.
UM, ADDING ALL OF THESE ADDITIONAL AMENITIES IN SPACE TO THAT IS GONNA BE HUGE.
SO I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS HAVE THE COMMISSIONER'S QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, YES, COMMISSIONER TY SMITH.
SO THIS IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD AS CATHERINE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT.
I WANNA THANK CATHERINE AND ACKNOWLEDGE CATHERINE FOR ALL OF YOUR VISIONARY AND HARD WORK AND REALLY ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WHEN SOME OF US DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS ENOUGH, YOU ALL STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND PROVIDED MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT I'VE KNOWN ABOUT SINCE THE DAYS
[00:40:01]
OF BONNIE LOWENTHAL, WHEN BONNIE WAS THE COUNCIL MEMBER.AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN I WORKED FOR NOW STATE SENATOR LINA GONZALEZ TO WORK ON THIS AS WELL.
THIS IS ALMOST MULTI-GENERATIONAL, AND SO IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
UM, I'VE LIVED IN THE WILMORE FOR 15 YEARS, SO FOR ME, THIS IS BEYOND IMPORTANT.
THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER BEING PART OF OUR HISTORIC LATINO NEIGHBORHOOD IS DEEPLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND ALSO A PASSION OF MINE AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T GET TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON IT.
UH, BUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING INCORPORATES WHAT OUR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNDER-RESOURCED WILMORE COMMUNITY REALLY NEEDS.
AND SO, IF I CAN EVER BE OF SUPPORT BEYOND THIS ROLE, YOU KNOW HOW TO FIND ME.
AND IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO, AS A CITY EMPLOYEE, AS TO GET NEGATIVE AND AGGRESSIVE FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE.
SO I REALLY APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR GRACE, YOUR COMMITMENT TO, UM, THIS WORK, BECAUSE THIS WORK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER THINGS.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? UM, COMMISSIONER, WE'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS UPDATE.
UH, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE, THE KIND OF VISION THAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT REALIGNMENT.
UH, I, YOU KNOW, I, I, WHEN I DRIVE TO THE AREA, I GET WHAT THE PLANNERS OF THE DAY WE'RE LOOKING AT.
BUT YOU LOOK AT TODAY, IT'S LIKE THIS IS ALL THE SPACE THAT COULD BE USED BY THE COMMUNITY, UH, THAT IS CRISSCROSSED BY ROADS, WHICH HAS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, APPLICA IMPLICATIONS, IT ALSO, YOU KNOW, PARK EQUITY IMPLICATIONS.
SO I'M, I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THE CITY MOVING ALONG.
AND, AND, AND WE'LL STARTING TO LOOK AT THIS COMPREHENSIVELY.
I I DID HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONNECTION.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, CONCERN ABOUT URBAN HEAT AND THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT WHERE, UH, KIND OF DENSER BUILT COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCED HOTTER TEMPERATURES THAN, UH, THAN LET'S SAY AREAS OF MORE GREEN SPACE.
UM, I, I DEFINITELY AGREE THAT'S A CONCERN.
UH, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE'S SOME SHADE CONCEPTS IN THERE.
UM, I THINK YOU MAY NEED SOME MORE SHADE IN THAT AREA BECAUSE IT IS, YOU KNOW, MY, YOU KNOW, HAVING WORKED IN DOWNTOWN LA MY FIRST THOUGHT WHEN I HEAR CONCRETE PARK IS, UH, PER SQUARE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, HAS A LOT THAT, YOU KNOW, IS A PRETTY, YOU KNOW, UNDERUTILIZED, UNDER ACTIVATED AND VERY, VERY HOT SPACE HAVING WALKED IN THAT AREA MULTIPLE TIMES.
SO I THINK SHADE MIGHT BE SOMETHING, AT LEAST JUST FROM THESE CONCEPT PLANS, OF COURSE YOU HAVE UNDERSTANDING YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED HERE.
ANOTHER THOUGHT THAT I HAVE IS WITH, YOU KNOW, I DO AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF LIKE, THE COLORS, USING COLORS TO TRY TO BRING IN AND ACTIVATE PEOPLE OR ACTIVATE THE PARK SPACE.
UM, PAINT AND CONCRETE IS, WE'VE SEEN WITH SOME OF OUR SKATE PARKS CAN BE PRETTY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE.
UH, EVEN WITH, UH, LIKE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PROTECTIONS WE GIVE, UH, DIFFERENT LIKE PROTECTIVE COATINGS.
UH, SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S LIKE THE CURRENT THOUGHT ABOUT LIKE HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GONNA PROTECT LIKE THE, THE PAINT COLORING AND LIKE THE TYPE MAINTENANCE THAT'S GONNA BE NEEDED FOR, UH, TO, TO MAKE SURE THE PART CONTINUES LOOKING GOOD INTO THE FUTURE ONCE IT'S BUILT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, QUESTION.
UM, YEAH, SHADE IS SOMETHING WE'RE DEFINITELY HOPING TO INCREASE ON THE SITE AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DO THAT, UM, COST EFFECTIVELY AND, AND WITH ADDITIONAL PLANS ON THE, UM, PAINTING AND, AND SURFACE TREATMENT.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WITH SKATE PARKS THERE'S HIGH, YOU KNOW, IMPACT.
UM, AND IT IS HARDER TO MAINTAIN.
WE ARE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE MAINTENANCE BUREAU, THEY ARE GIVING US FEEDBACK ON THAT KIND OF TREATMENT.
UM, WE HAVE A, A SKATE PARK DESIGNER ON OUR TEAM.
SO INSTEAD OF PAINTING IN THE SKATE PARK AREA, WE'RE THINKING OF TREATING THE CONCRETE DIFFERENTLY JUST TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE, THE DIFFERENT SPACES.
SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, UM, A PAINTING TREATMENT, BUT IT'S MORE LIKE HOW DO WE CREATE TEXTURE OR, UH, DELINEATE BETWEEN THE TWO, PAINT THE PROGRAM AREAS.
AND IF, IF I MAY, UH, MADAM CHAIR ONE, ONE OTHER THOUGHT, SINCE WE ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE GOING THROUGH THAT SPACE, YOU MENTIONED LIKE AIR POLLUTION CONCERNS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF ROAD TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH THERE.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT LIKE PHYSICAL BARRIERS, UH, PLANT BARRIERS BETWEEN THE PARK SPACE AND WHERE THAT ROAD IS GOING? BE IT, YEAH.
SO THERE'S A KIND OF THIS GREEN, UH, PLANTING AREA WHERE THE WIL UM, GARDEN IS THAT ALREADY HAS SOME
[00:45:01]
EXISTING TREES AND WE'RE HOPING TO INCREASE THAT AS WELL.UH, LIKE VICE CHAIR SMITH, I'M ALSO A FORMER DISTRICT ONE CHIEF OF STAFF WHO HAS WORKED ON THIS PROJECT AT VARIOUS POINTS OVER THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS.
SO IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE ITS EVOLUTION, INCREDIBLE TO SEE IT FINALLY GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE IT IS BECOMING MORE THAN JUST, UH, AN IDEA ON A PIECE OF PAPER.
AND SO, UH, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF THIS.
UM, I, OF COURSE, I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THERE NOT BEING MONEY FOR CONSTRUCTION YET, BUT DO WE HAVE AN ANTICIPATION OF, UH, MONEY THAT'S IDENTIFIED TO GO AFTER, IN A BEST CASE SCENARIO, WHAT A SHOVELS IN THE GROUND LOOK LIKE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? YEAH, WE, SO WE DID GET A CHUNK OF THE 3.75 MILLION FROM LA COUNTY.
UM, WE DO HAVE OUR EYES SET ON PROP FOUR FUNDING, WHICH IS BEING RELEASED THIS SUMMER.
SO I'M GOING FOR OUR URBAN GREETING GRANTS, UM, WITH THE CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY, ALSO WITH THE RIVERS MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY.
SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND FINGERS CROSSED WE WILL, UH, RECEIVE.
SO, UM, I WILL BE SEEKING LETTERS OF SUPPORT
SO I, I KNOW WE MENTIONED AND, AND CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER BEING THERE.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THE BIG LOOMING NAME CHANGE OF THE PARK, RIGHT? AND SOME OF THE OTHER KIND OF MORE CULTURAL SENSITIVE THINGS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE DISCUSSING AS IT RELATES TO THESE LARGER PROJECTS AS WELL.
SO I'M WONDERING, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE KIND OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES OR AREAS WHERE WE'VE DONE SOME OUTREACH FOR THE LARGER LATINO COMMUNITY, THE LARGER NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY, TO BRING IN SOME OF THOSE MORE CULTURAL ASPECTS OF THIS SPACE AND OF THIS AREA? UM, 'CAUSE WE'RE DOING SUCH A LARGE RENOVATION, RIGHT? MAYBE SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, A HISTORIC WALKING PATH OR TELLING THE STORY OF FOLKS THAT LIVED IN THAT AREA PRIOR TO, OR AS WE KIND OF THINK BEYOND JUST NAMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND LIKE ACTUAL CULTURAL SENSITIVITY TO STUFF.
HAS THAT BEEN CONSIDERED OR IS THAT PART OF THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD? YEAH, SO WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGING MEMBERS OF, UM, THE TEAM THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER.
SO
WE'VE BEEN GETTING FEEDBACK ON KIND OF WHAT THE PROGRAMMATIC PRIORITIES ARE.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE THAT ENGAGEMENT, UM, ON, UH, NATIVE, UH, TRIBAL CONSULTATION.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL INCORPORATE AS WELL AS WE PROGRESS IN THE DESIGN PROCESS.
AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP, WHEN I THINK THE PLANNING ON A PARK WAS WHAT KIND OF SLIDE IS GONNA BE IN THERE, WHETHER IT'S A ROCKET OR A CASTLE OR WHATEVER, I AM JUST SO AMAZED AT THE PLANNING THAT GOES INTO OUR PARK, SO COMPLIMENTS ON THAT AND GETTING THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED.
UM, I LOVE THAT WE'RE GONNA FINALLY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT BIG STRIP OF, OF, OF THE AREA THAT MIGHT BE THE PLACE FOR THE DOG PARK.
UM, BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING SO MUCH MORE SPACE IF WE CORDON OFF SOME OF IT JUST FOR DOGS, I, I COULD LIVE WITH THAT.
COMPLIMENTS ON HAVING PARKING.
HAVING PARKING FOR A PARK IS HUGE AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT.
I DO HAVE A CONCERN OVER THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE CEMENT.
UM, WHEN YOU DO CEMENT NOW, YOU CAN PUT TONE IN IT, BUT, BUT IT'S GONNA BE SO BRIGHT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE PAINT EVERYWHERE.
SO EVEN IF IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S DARKER THAN WHAT IS THERE, JUST SO IT ISN'T BRIGHT AND, AND REFLECTING THE SUN.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE STEVE ONGOING BUDGET WHEN THIS GETS APPROVED.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PARKS HAS BEEN VERY, AND WE THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR HELPING WITH COUNCIL ON THAT.
WILL WILL A FINAL PLAN COME TO US FOR APPROVAL WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT? UH, YES.
COMMISSIONER HIA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? UM, WELL, SO I ALREADY ASKED MY QUESTION
UM, JUST WANNA ECHO WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING.
UM, JUST, UH, KNOWING GROWING UP IN THIS AREA, KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT THE PARKS ARE TO MYSELF, BOTH GROWING UP AND, AND MYSELF AS A PARENT NOW, UM, KNOWING THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS IS JUST REALLY AWESOME.
UM, CLEARLY A, A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK GOING INTO IT.
UM, I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE TOP THREE REASONS THAT PEOPLE USE PARKS HAS TO DO WITH WILDLIFE VIEWING.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S HARD WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH ACTIVATION AND PROGRAMMING AND CONCRETE AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS CAN MAKE IT SO THAT WILDLIFE ENDS UP BEING SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE, A LITTLE BIT LOWER ON, ON, UM, THE PRIORITY LIST.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY, UH, ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO MAYBE ENCOURAGE SLASH OBVIOUSLY IF WE, IF WE PUT IN A DOG PARK, IT WILL MAKE IT SO THAT NATURAL WILDLIFE IS LESS LIKELY TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE THERE.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THAT WAS PART OF, I DIDN'T SEE
[00:50:01]
ANYTHING IN HERE SPECIFICALLY AROUND WILDLIFE VIEWING.YEAH, I THINK, NOT SPECIFIC TO VIEWING, BUT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, RETAINING THE TREE CANOPY, THERE ARE ELEMENTS IN THE DIFFERENT ZONES THAT I POINTED OUT WHERE WE'VE ASKED FOLKS, YOU KNOW, DO YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS, GO BACK HERE? UM, THERE'S, THERE'S OPTIONS IN ZONE ONE TO DO KIND OF LIKE A BIOFILTRATION BASIN OR DO WE WANT TO KEEP IT, YOU KNOW, MORE PASSIVE LIKE AN EVENT LAWN.
SO THAT STILL ENCOURAGES WILDLIFE TO, YOU KNOW, USE THE SPACE AS IT IS.
UM, THERE WAS AN OPTION TO DO A DOG PARK HERE AS WELL.
AND THEN IN ZONE TWO IN THIS, UM, KIND OF MIDDLE AREA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT, BUT WE'RE NOT PLANNING ANY PROGRAMMING WHERE THERE'S DENSE CLUSTERS OF TREES.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT KIND OF PRESERVES THE HABITAT THAT IS ALREADY BEING USED BY WILDLIFE.
SO, CAN I JUST ADD SOMETHING? SO I LIVE VERY CLOSE TO THERE ON AN URBAN FARM, AND I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SO MUCH, WE HAVE SO MANY URBAN WILDLIFE CRITTERS THAT I REALLY DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO WORRY THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A SPACE
IF ANYTHING, I, I'M LIKE, IF ANYTHING THIS CREATES SAFE PASSAGES, IT CREATES STRONGER AND MORE, UM, CONNECTED PASSAGES, ALMOST LIKE A WILDLIFE PASSAGE.
UM, WE USE, I MEAN, ON THE FARM WE'RE REALLY USED TO THEM AND I THINK A LOT OF OUR WILMORE BOOKS ARE, BUT THIS DEFINITELY WILL CREATE MUCH MORE DESIGNATED SPACE WITHOUT HAVING TO CROSS THE SEVEN 10.
SO WE WILL DEFINITELY PROBABLY BE SEEING MORE
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S NO NEED TO BREAK HOME FOR THE COYOTES.
WE DON'T GET A LOT OF COYOTES GOING.
I WOULD ONLY HAVE TWO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
FIRST OF ALL, I MAY HAVE MISSED WHAT IS THE SURFACE THAT'S GONNA BE ON THE WALKING PATH OF THE MASTER PLAN? YES.
THE ONE THAT GOES, YEAH, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT POINT YET, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST GETTING FEEDBACK ON KIND OF PROGRAMMATIC PRIORITIES.
UM, UNTIL I GET FUNDING FOR DESIGN, WE WON'T GET INTO THAT LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY.
AND THEN, UM, I ALSO HAD, UH, THOUGHTS SORT OF ALMOST DISAPPOINTMENT ON THIS, UH, UH, PERCENTAGE OF USAGE, UM, WHICH IS ON PAGE 39 OF YOUR REPORT.
UM, I WAS SURPRISED THAT SO LITTLE SKATEBOARDING AND, YOU KNOW, ET CETERA, I, I THOUGHT THE RATIOS WERE A LITTLE, UM, NOT NECESSARILY REFLECTIVE OF THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO? YOU'VE GOT 536 RESPONSES, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY A SKEWED AUDIENCE, RIGHT? SO IT IS WHAT IT IS.
BUT I BET THERE'S MORE SKATEBOARDERS THAN YOU THINK, OR MORE, YOU KNOW, ET CETERA.
YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT OBSERVATION.
SO THIS IS WHY WE COUPLE IT WITH, UH, IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT.
EVERY SINGLE TIME I GO TO A A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, I HEAR A LOT ABOUT SKATE PARK AND THE FEEDBACK I'VE GOTTEN FROM SOME STAKEHOLDERS IS TO EVEN EXPAND IT.
SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, USING BOTH TOOLS TO GET FEEDBACK.
AND HOW BIG DO YOU THINK THAT'S, YOU'RE NOT IN THAT DESIGN PART YET? SO FOR THE, FOR THE SKATE PARK, WE ARE, UM, DOES IT COMPARE TO LINCOLN PARK OR, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE THE SIZE OF LINCOLN PARK, WHERE NOW WE HAVE IT AT, UM, 5,000 SQUARE FEET, A LITTLE OVER 5,000 SQUARE FEET, BUT WE'VE HEARD THAT THEY WANT MORE, SO WE'RE THINKING OF INCREASING IT TO MAYBE 10.
UM, SO, AND, AND THERE'S, FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD, THERE'S MORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR A LARGER SKATE PARK.
SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE'RE, WE'RE THINKING THROUGH.
AND NOW WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, AND I SHOULD COMMENT THAT, IS THIS WHERE WE HAVE THREE MINUTES ON, LIKE YOU YEAH.
UM, THAT, UH, WE, UH, HAVE TO RESTRICT THE CONVERSATION TO THREE MINUTES, UH, SO THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH EVERYBODY.
ARE THERE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS, UH, PROJECT? YES.
STATE YOUR NAME, UM, FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
THIS IS JASON TO DOWNTOWN, RIGHT? YES.
SO WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE STAYING IN THE HOTELS TO WALK DOWN TO THIS GREEN SPACE? YES.
THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER, UH, ADVANTAGE OF IT.
IT'S LIKE HAVING A, A PARK THAT PEOPLE COULD GO TO AFTER THE CONVENTION CENTER OR WHATEVER.
THE GREEN SPACE WOULD BE AN, IT'S A BENEFIT NOT ONLY FOR THE RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.
SO THE HILTON EXPANSION IS RIGHT HERE, SO IT'S ADJACENT TO THE
UH, I NOTICED THERE'S A, UM, REFERENCE TO BOTH THE BROOKLYN AND THE CHICAGO URBAN PARKS.
AND I LIVED IN CHICAGO FOR 27 YEARS, AND IN FACT THAT
[00:55:01]
MAGGIE DALY PARK DOES GET A LOT OF TOURISTS, UH, VISITORS FROM MICHIGAN AVENUE HOTELS.IS THE, THE LOW, THE LOW AREA, WAS THAT EVER A WETLANDS IS NEXT TO THE RIVER, RIGHT? UH, IT IS, UM, RIGHT NEXT TO THIS LEVEE.
SO, UM, IN OUR RESEARCH WE HAVEN'T FOUND THAT IT WAS FORMERLY WETLANDS, UM, BUT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO TREAT WATER IN THE LOW AREA AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, UM, SOME WATER DETENTION BASINS AS PART OF THE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? YES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS JESSICA ANA AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RO CHA.
WE WILL BE, UH, FACILITATING THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER.
UM, I'VE LIVED IN THE CITY FOR OVER 54 YEARS.
WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE FROM COLORADO IN 1964, WE MOVED RIGHT ON FOURTH AND MAIN.
SO VERY FAMILIAR WITH CESAR TRAVIS PARK, UM, AS A RESIDENT, BUT AS A, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDER FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES.
UM, WE'VE ACTIVATED OVER 80 EVENTS AT CHAVIS PARK DURING THE TIME WHEN
AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE OVER 60 ACTIVATIONS AT THE PARK PROVIDING EDUCATION, WELLNESS WORKSHOPS, ACTIVATING AMPHITHEATER.
UM, BUT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ACTIVATION OF THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER.
THIS WILL PUT LONG BEACH ON THE MAP, NOT ONLY LOCALLY WHERE WELL OUR RESIDENTS, BUT REGIONAL PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND VISIT THE EXHIBITS, THE WORKSHOPS, THE PERFORMING ARTS THAT WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE.
SO IT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TOURISM, UM, NOT ONLY LOCAL REGIONALLY, BUT WHEN PEOPLE COME AND VISIT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR THE PARTNERSHIP, FOR THE INVESTMENT.
THIS IS INNOVATION AT ITS BEST.
UM, WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY HERE AND ALSO THE
UM, WE'LL BE HAVING, UH, ADULT AND YOUTH AMBASSADORS, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL HELP US WITH THE DESIGN, UM, WITH THE CENTER AND THE ACTIVITIES.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, UM, PARTNERSHIP AS WELL.
AND THEN I HAVE ARIANA HERE WHO WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER AND, UM,
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY, HEARING NONE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT AND EXCITING PROJECT EXPLANATION.
UH, WE HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE AT THE NEXT STEP.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE WHOEVER IT WAS THAT BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION, UH, THAT WE MADE THIS HAPPEN.
AND WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UM, UH, THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER OR SMITH TO RECEIVE AND FILE THIS REPORT.
ALL IN FAVOR? A OPPOSED? OKAY.
SO WE ARE NOW ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, A RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FEE WAIVER REQUESTS OUTLINED AT ATTACHMENT A IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEE WAIVER POLICY DIRECTOR.
SCOTT, DO WE HAVE A REPORT? YES.
UH, OUR STAFF REPORT WILL BE GIVEN BY, UM, ASHLEY GRIS, OUR NEW COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER.
WE HAVE EIGHT B WAIVERS TO PRESENT THIS MONTH.
UH, THE FIRST, UM, ASSOCIATED RADIO AMATEURS IN LONG BEACH, UH, NOT A NEW GROUP, ARE REQUESTING $601 IN PERMIT AND SPECIAL USE FEES TO BE WAIVED TO HOST A RADIO CLUB OVERNIGHT COMMUNITY EVENT, UH, TAKING PLACE AT RECREATION PARK IN OPEN SPACE, UM, TO BE HELD JUNE 26TH THROUGH JUNE 28TH.
UM, THERE WILL BE NO REVENUE OR FEES PAID.
THERE WILL BE NO EE GATE REVENUE.
AND THE ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE FOR THIS EVENT IS 28 PEOPLE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE LOS S NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS REQUESTING TO HOST A CONCERT IN THE PARK COMMUNITY COMMUNITY CONCERT, PLURAL, CONCERTS, $745 OF PERMIT AND SPECIAL USE FEES TO BE WAIVED.
UM, THIS IS NOT A NEW GROUP, NOT A NEW EVENT.
UM, ALSO, UM, TAKING PLACE AT, WELL, OR I SHOULD SAY, TAKING PLACE AT LOS ER'S PARK IN OPEN SPACE, UM, TO BE, UH, TAKING PLACE AUGUST 5TH AND AUGUST 12TH OF THIS YEAR.
PAID NO EDE GATE REVENUE AND ESTIMATED TENANTS OF 250 PEOPLE.
UH, WE HAVE THE FRIENDS OF WILLOW SPRING PARK,
[01:00:01]
NOT A NEW GROUP, NOT A, UH, A NEW EVENT.UH, A CONCERT IN THE PARK COMMUNITY CONCERT TO, UH, BE HELD JUNE 21ST AT WILLOW SPRINGS IN PARK OPEN SPACE, UH, $294 IN PERMANENT SPECIAL USE FEES TO BE WAIVED.
UM, ZERO REVENUE, ZERO FEES, PAID ZERO, UH, GATE REVENUE AT EL DORADO EAST.
UH, A HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE ESTIMATED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE PARTNERS OF PARKS, UM, WITH A FRIENDS OF MIRACLE ON FOURTH STREET PARK.
NOT A NEW GROUP, NOT A NEW EVENT.
UM, ARE REQUESTING $229 IN PERMANENT SPECIAL USE FEES TO BE WAIVED TO HOST, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL CELEBRATION, COMMUNITY EVENT TAKING PLACE AT MARATHON AND FOURTH STREET PARK IN OPEN SPACE ON JUNE 27TH.
UM, ZERO EL DORADO EAST GATE REVENUE AND ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE, 40 PEOPLE.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE CLIMB CENTRAL LONG BEACH, NOT A NEW GROUP, FORMERLY A O, SORRY, A-C-A-O-C SEVEN, SORRY.
UM, IS REQUESTING $787 OF FEES TO BE WAIVED TO HOST, UH, AND ACTIVATE MACARTHUR PARK, UH, COMMUNITY EVENTS, MULTIPLE EVENTS.
AND, UM, TAKING PLACE ON AUGUST 6TH, THE 13TH, THE 17TH, AND THE 20TH.
UH, THIS IS AGAIN IN MACARTHUR PARK, OPEN SPACE, ZERO REVENUE FEES, PAID ZERO OF OUR EAST GATE REVENUE, UM, AND 25 PEOPLE ESTIMATED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE.
ALSO CLIMB, UH, CENTRAL LONG BEACH.
UM, NOT, AGAIN, NOT A NEW GROUP, BUT A NEW EVENT.
UH, PARK ACTIVATIONS, COMMUNITY EVENTS.
UM, REQUESTING $679 IN PERMIT AND RENTAL FEES TO BE WAIVED.
UM, THIS, THESE PARK ACTIVATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE MACARTHUR PARK SOCIAL HALL.
UH, THEY ARE, THEY HAVE PAID A $400 REFUNDABLE SECURITY DEPOSIT.
THERE IS NO GATE REVENUE AND ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE IS 25 PEOPLE, UM, AT EACH OF THE ACTIVATIONS.
CLIMB CENTRAL LONG BEACH IS ALSO REQUESTING TO DO ADDITIONAL PARK ACTIVATIONS AND REQUESTING $235 IN PERMANENT RENTAL FEES TO BE WAIVED TO HOST PARK ACTIVATION COMMUNITY EVENTS.
UM, OVER THE COURSE OF JUNE 13TH THROUGH AUGUST 17TH, UM, TAKING PLACE AT MACARTHUR PARK IN THE BASKETBALL COURTS.
UH, ZERO REVENUE FEES PAID NO GATE REVENUE, AND 25 PEOPLE ESTIMATED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE PARTNERS OF PARKS.
NEW EVENT, UM, HOSTING PEP CROWNING CEREMONY AND RESOURCE FAIR REQUESTING $641 IN FEES AND PERMANENT RENTAL FEES TO BE WAIVED.
THEY ARE PAYING $440 IN STAFF FEES.
UM, THIS IS A COMMUNITY EVENT, CROWNING CEREMONY RESOURCE FAIR, HOSTED AT RECREATION PARK IN THE VAN SHELL OPEN SPACE AREA.
THIS IS TAKING PLACE MAY 30TH.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING 250 PEOPLE IN
COLLECTIVELY, WE WOULD BE WAIVING, UM, $4,211.
I DID FORGET TO, UH, ASK FOR A MOTION
I SHOULD PROBABLY RECUSE MYSELF DUE TO MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE, UH, PRINCE OF WOOD SPRINGS PARK.
NOW, UM, UH, WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS ASK COMMISSIONERS IF THEY HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
THEN WE GO TO THE PUBLIC, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, UH, FEE WAIVER REQUESTS THIS MONTH? I ONLY HAVE ONE.
WHEN DOES MUNI BAND START OR WILL IT BE DONE? IT WILL BE DONE BEFORE THIS.
IT'LL, IN FACT, THAT'S KIND OF THE PLAN.
THEY, THEY KIND OF DO MORE AFTER THAT.
SO FROM THE PUBLIC, I GENERALLY WE GO DOWN THE LIST AS IT WAS.
SO IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM ASSOCIATED RADIO? AMATEURS OF LONG BEACH? YES, THANK YOU.
I'M WITH THE ASSOCIATED RADIO AMATEUR FOR LONG BEACH, AND JAN IS OUR PRESIDENT THIS YEAR.
UM, ASSOCIATED RADIO, AMATEUR OF LONG BEACH IS A NONPROFIT 5 1 3 C.
BEEN WITH CITY OF LONG BEACH SINCE 1928.
UM, EVERY YEAR WE PARTICIPATE IN THE, UM, NATIONWIDE FIELD DAY, COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER STATES AROUND THE
[01:05:01]
UNITED STATES, AS WELL AS AROUND THE WORLD.UM, WAS KIND OF STARTED RIGHT AROUND 1933 EARTHQUAKE WHEN, UH, COMMUNICATION WAS CUT OFF AND WE WERE COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER STATES, PEOPLE WERE STILL ALIVE OUT HERE,
UM, THE EVENT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.
WE TRY AND BRING IN MORE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO GET THEM INTERESTED IN RADIO COMMUNICATIONS AND THE SERVICE THAT IT PROVIDES.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY ATTENDANCE IS GOING DOWN IN RADIO COMMUNICATION, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT UP.
I KNOW MY 13-YEAR-OLD REALLY LOVES GETTING ON THE RADIO NOW.
UM, SO, UH, THE MORE PEOPLE WE CAN GET THERE, THE BETTER.
UM, WHAT YOU GONNA KNOW IS KIND OF LOW, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE CONFIRMED WITH.
THE MORE PEOPLE WE CAN GET, WE DO HAVE ONE REQUEST THAT THE, UH, SPRINKLERS ARE TURNED OFF AT THE PARK BECAUSE ELECTRONIC RADIOS AND WATER DON'T ALWAYS MIX.
AND ARE THERE, IS ANYONE HERE FROM LOS CERRITOS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION? THANK YOU.
UH, AND FRIENDS OF WILLOW SPRINGS.
I SEE YOUR WONDERFUL SWEATSHIRTS.
I DID NOT GET THE MEMO ABOUT THE SWEATSHIRTS.
I AM A, UH, RESIDENT OF SOUTH WRIGLEY FOR 15 YEARS, UH, MUSICIAN.
AND I'M ARTS COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ARTS COUNCIL HERE IN LONG BEACH.
UH, I'M REPRESENTING WITH MAKE, UH, FRIENDS OF WILLOW SPRINGS MAKE MUSIC LONG BEACH.
THIS IS A PROGRAM, UH, FROM THE OVERALL MAKE MUSIC DAY.
IT'S A 40 YEAR CELEBRATION THAT TAKES PLACE EVERY DAY, EVERY YEAR ON THE JUNE 21ST AS A SUMMER SOLSTICE.
IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL WAY TO CELEBRATE MUSIC.
UH, SO IT'S REACHED OVER 2000 CITIES IN MULTIPLE COUNTRIES.
I'M BRINGING IT BACK TO LONG BEACH AFTER A LITTLE HIATUS OF COVID.
UM, I'M PARTNERING WITH FRIENDS OF WILL SPRINGS PARK HERE TO BRING, UH, GREAT PROGRAMMING TO THIS PARK ON 21ST.
UH, THIS DAY IS FREE AND ACCESSIBLE, POP-UP MUSICAL PERFORMANCES ALL OVER THE CITY.
WE HAVE, UH, A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, HAPPENING OVER THE CITY, DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, DIFFERENT AREAS, AND PARKING RULES.
BRINGS PARK HERE IS THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO BRING THIS EVENT TO THE OUTDOOR PARK SPACES.
UH, AGAIN, FREE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE, TO THE, UH, PUBLIC.
AND, UH, HAPPY TO BE HERE AT WILL SPRINGS.
THIS IS SORT OF AN OFFSHOOT OF OUR FRIENDS OF OUR, UH, WILL SPRINGS EXPERIENCES.
UH, I SAW HIM SPEAK AT A REGULAR ASSOCIATION MEETING AND I CONTACTED HIM AND SAID, CAN YOU HELP? 'CAUSE I KNEW WE WERE, WE HAVE, WE'RE ALSO ON HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT LATER FOR MY ENTRY PERMIT, AND I THOUGHT, CAN YOU HELP ME GET A PERMIT? AND WE'LL, WE'LL DO THIS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE BRINGING, I, I ACTUALLY WANT HIM TO EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE DOING SOMETHING CALLED ALBUM ATTACK.
AND, UH, THIS, AND I'LL LET HIM EXPLAIN IT.
UH, ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH ALBUM ATTACK HERE IN THE MUSICAL COMMUNITY? THIS IS HOSTED BY MY FRIEND JESSE WILDER.
THE CONCEPT IS ONE, HE FORMS A BAND TO COVER ONE ALBUM FRONT TO BACK, UH, AT DIFFERENT PLACES.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PLAYING, UH, A CAKE ALBUM WITH HIM.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH CAKE BAND CAKE, I'VE ALSO PLAYED BASS FOR THE OKAY.
COMPUTER BY RADIOHEAD ALBUM ATTACK.
WE'D DO IT VINE AND WE'D DO IT IN DIFFERENT PLACES THIS YEAR, INSTEAD OF DOING ONE BAND EQUALS ONE ALBUM, TRYING TO ACTIVATE MORE MUSICIANS IN THE COMMUNITY BY HAVING ONE, BY HAVING MULTIPLE BANDS COVER ONE ALBUM, EACH BAND WILL TAKE ONE SONG OFF THE ALBUM AND IT'LL PLAY THE ALBUM ITS ENTIRETY FROM COMING BACK.
UH, THIS IS AN OFFSHOOT OF WHAT I DID SOMETHING WHEN I WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE A, UH, SIMILAR PROJECT UP IN LOS ANGELES WHEN I WAS LIVING THERE.
I'M TRYING TO BRING IT BACK TO THE CITY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S AN AWESOME WAY TO DO ONE, MAKE MUSIC, WHICH IS THE POINT OF THE DAY TWO, INCORPORATE PARKS, UH, INTO THE WHOLE SCENE.
THREE, ACTIVATE OUR LOCAL MUSICIANS BY HAVING A LOT OF 'EM COME TOGETHER FOR THIS ONE KIND OF A LOCALLY BELOVED LITTLE, UH, ACTIVITY THAT IMPACTS ON THE HOUSE.
I THINK THIS IS A COOL WIN-WIN AWAY FOR THIS, FOR THE EVENT AND FOR THE, SAY IT AGAIN.
WHAT IS THE ALBUM? OH, THE ALBUM WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THIS YEAR IS, UM, DAVID BOWIE'S RISE THE BALL START.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE MULTIPLE BANDS COME TOGETHER TO PERFORM EACH SONGS BY ACOUSTICALLY IN THE PARK.
WILL IT BE AT LONG VIEWPOINT OR WILL IT BE FURTHER DOWN? LONG VIEWPOINT.
ALTHOUGH I THINK WE'RE GONNA TRY AND DO A LITTLE WALK TO IT, SO WE'LL YEAH.
GO HIKE BEFORE THE MUSIC SOUNDS.
UM, AND LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER CHAZ HAS LEFT THE ROOM BECAUSE OF HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH WILLOW SPRINGS.
UM, NOW, PARTISAN PARKS, FRIENDS OF MIRACLE ON FOURTH STREET PARK IS ENTERING ANYONE HERE FROM THAT GROUP? YES, I'M HERE.
DO YOU HAVE THIS BEAR THOMPSON? I, UM, WE'VE BEEN HAVING OUR, UH, MIRACLE PARK ON FOURTH STREET.
UM, WELL, THE PARK IS LIKE A LITTLE PARK, AND WE STARTED ON OUR WASTE STATION POLLINATOR HABITAT.
AND THEN YOU REMEMBER I WAS HERE LAST YEAR TALKING ABOUT IT.
THE PARK USED TO BE INHABITED A LOT BY HOMELESS PEOPLE, BUT SINCE WE PUT IN THE PLANTER BOXES WITH THE, UM, MILKWEED AND THE CATERPILLARS AND THE,
[01:10:01]
UM, PEOPLE WOULD ATTEND THE PARK A LOT MORE.PLUS THEY LOCKED THE PARK AT NIGHT, WHICH REALLY HELPS A LOT.
AND SO WE ALSO HAVE A FESTIVAL IN THE SUMMERTIME FOR THE KIDS, AND WE MAKE BUTTERFLY LITTLE HAVE STORY TIME.
WE MAKE, WE MAKE CRAFTS LIKE THIS.
AND I DON'T, WE, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, ABOUT THE MONARCHS AND THEY GO AROUND TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PARK AND THEY CAN READ ABOUT THE MONARCH AND THIS, THE CYCLE OF THEIR LIFE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING THE LIFE OF THE MONARCHS AND ALL THE POLLINATORS.
AND SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH JUST ABOUT ANY QUESTIONS? NO, THANK YOU.
AND IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM CLIMB CENTRAL LONG BEACH? OKAY.
AND THEN LAST PARTNER'S IN THE PARKS REGARDING THE PET CROWNING CEREMONY? YES.
I'M THE PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER FOR PARTNERS OF PARKS.
UM, THIS IS OUR FIRST EVER COMPETITION LOOKING TO CROWN LONG BEACH'S FAVORITE PET.
IT'S ACTUALLY A FUNDRAISER FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
UM, SO I WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS FEE WAIVER THAT'S HELPING US GIVE MORE MONEY BACK TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.
I BELIEVE WE JUST REACHED THE $10,000 MARK AND WENT THROUGH OUR FUNDRAISING, UM, EFFORTS SO FAR.
UM, NOT ALL OF THAT IS GONNA GO BACK TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
THAT'S JUST ALL OF THE CASH THAT WE'VE BROUGHT BACK.
WHAT'S ALL BROUGHT IN SO FAR? SO I THINK WE'RE ALMOST TO $8,500 FOR THE SHELTER.
SO OUR GOAL IS TO GET TO $10,000 FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER BY THE END OF OUR COMPETITION.
UM, AND SO ON THAT DAY, WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE ALL OF OUR, UH, ENTRANCE AND SOME OF OUR TITLE SPONSORS ARE GONNA HAVE INFORMATIONAL TABLES AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES HAS ALSO AGREED TO BRING OUT THE ADOPTION WAGON.
UM, SO IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY FUN DAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE PETS AT HOME, BUT ALL PETS ARE WELCOME AND THEIR LEASHES AND THEIR BACKPACKS, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO TRAVEL WITH THEM,
UM, AND YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UH, FROM COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ORI SMITH REGARDING THE FEE WAIVERS.
AND CAN SOMEONE RETRIEVE COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, PLEASE.
SO NOW WE GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, A RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS RECREATION MARINE, OR MANAGEMENT DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE PERSONAL SERVICES AND INSTRUCTION AGREEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS.
UH, ATTACHMENT A OF THE AGREEMENTS AS NEEDED.
ALRIGHT, DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE A REPORT? UH, YES WE DO.
UH, ASHLEY
THESE CLASSES ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO WALL PAGES.
CLASS INSTRUCTORS ARE SELECTED AS A RESULT OF AN APPLICATION PROCESS BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENTAL REC REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT SOLICITATION OF WHAT ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDS.
WE HAVE TWO PERSONAL, UH, SERVICES AGREEMENTS TO PRESENT TO YOU.
WE HAVE THE LONG BEACH ROWING ASSOCIATION IS, UM, INTENDING TO HOST ROWING CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH AT THE PEAK ARCHER GROWING CENTER AT MARINE STADIUM AND ADJACENT WATERWAYS.
UM, FROM THE TERM OF JUNE 1ST TO 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2028.
WE ALSO HAVE THE SEWING LAB OF LOS STOS, UH, PRESENTING, UH, AN AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE SOME CLASSES FOR YOUTH, POTENTIALLY LARGER AUDIENCES DOWN THE LINE.
BUT INITIALLY WITH YOUTH, UM, FROM JUNE 1ST, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2028.
THIS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SEWING LAB IN LONG BEACH ON ANAHEIM STREET.
WE ALSO HAVE
I CAN'T, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? DIRECTOR, DO WE OPEN THIS TO THE FLOOR? I YOU CAN.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE SEWING LAB.
I COULD HAVE USED THE SEWING LAB 'CAUSE I DON'T SETTLE.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GENIUS IDEA TO DO LIFE SKILLS, SO, AND MAKE IT FUN.
AND THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT IN A PARKS AND REC FACILITY, RIGHT? MM-HMM
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THESE? OKAY.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR? WHAT? OH, IS THERE ANY M SORRY, I WAS LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC, BUT I
[01:15:01]
DIDN'T MAKE IT CLEAR.DO WE HAVE ANYONE HERE FROM EITHER OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? THANK YOU.
UH, NOW WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER OR SMITH SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN ON THESE, UH, TWO, UH, PERSONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS.
AND NOW WE GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
BECAUSE OF MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE, UH, BOARD OF THE FRINGE OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK, I MUST RECUSE MYSELF YET AGAINST.
I JUST THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOUR GROUP IS SO ACTIVE THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP, IT'S NOT LIKE
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ.
WE WILL SEE YOU IN A FEW MINUTES.
UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A RECOMMENDATION AUTHORIZED DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND MARINE TO EXIT, EXECUTE A NEW RIGHT OF ENTRY PERMIT WITH LONG BEACH HERITAGE, A CALIFORNIA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION ON BEHALF OF FRIENDS OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.
FROM JUNE 1ST, 2026 TO MAY 31ST, 2028 WITH TWO TWO YEAR RENEWALS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND MARINE FOR THE ACTIVATION OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK THROUGH ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMMING, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND TRAIL CLEANUP EVENTS.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
UM, AND DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE A REPORT? YES, WE DO.
CHAIR, UH, SHE BE OUR PARTNERSHIPS OFFICER DID PROVIDE THIS REPORT.
SO FOUNDED IN 2022, PRINCIPAL VILLAGE SPRINGS PARK IN THE VOLUNTARY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING AND PRESERVING THE NATURAL CITY OF WILL SPRINGS PARK.
THE GROUP RAISES AWARENESS OF THE PARK BY OFFERING FREE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES.
THAT INCLUDES EVENTS SUCH AS THE WINTER OBSERVATIONS AT LONGVIEW POINT, POETRY MEETINGS, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY SESSIONS, MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AND PRESENTATIONS ON THE PARK HISTORY.
THEY ALSO HOST A RESTORATION FRIDAY EVENT ON THE SECOND FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH TO SUPPORT NATIVE HABITAT RESTORATION.
VILLE SPRINGS OPERATES UNDER THE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP OF LONG BEACH HERITAGE, SUPPORTED BY ITS MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS.
LONG BEACH HERITAGE HAS BEEN THE LEADING RESOURCE FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION IN LONG BEACH SINCE 1980.
SO THIS PROJECT IS FORMALIZED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE.
THE FRIEND OF WILLOW SPRING, THEY PROPOSED ENTER INTO THIS RIGHT OF ENTRY PERMIT.
THE PERMIT WILL ALLOW
SOME ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE MONTHLY MEETINGS.
THEY TYPICALLY DO ABOUT EIGHT, UM, EXPERIENCES PER YEAR, BUT IT COULD BE MORE OR LESS.
UM, MONTHLY CLEANUP EVENTS CURRENTLY HELD ON SUNDAYS, BUT COULD EXPAND TO ANOTHER DAY OF THE WEEK.
UM, UH, THEY'RE LOOKING AT A CERTIFIED NATURALIST PROGRAM TO START IN THE SPRING OR SUMMER OF 2027, WHICH WOULD BE A MEETING FOR A MINIMUM OF 40 EDUCATIONAL HOURS OVER APPROXIMATELY 10 WEEKS.
MOST OF THE SESSIONS WILL BE HELD ONLINE AND AT LEAST EIGHT HOURS OF FIELD EXPERIENCE OVER IN WILLOW SPRINGS PARK.
UM, AND ALSO OTHER COMMUNITY EDUCATION ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO THIS ACTION IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT, PREPARE AND OTHER PARK USERS BY OFFERING ACCESSFUL PROGRAMMING, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CLEANUP EVENTS.
THE TERM WOULD BE JUNE 1ST, 2026 TO MAY 31ST, 2028, WITH AN OPTION OF TWO, TWO YEAR RENEWAL PERIODS AFTER THAT.
THERE ARE NO EXPECTED COSTS FROM THIS RECOMMENDATION BEYOND THE NORMAL BUDGETED MAINTENANCE AND STAFF COST OF THE PARTICULAR PARTS.
AND THIS REQUEST IS ALIGNED WITH OUR PARTS MAKE LONG BEACH PARTS RECREATION MARINE STRATEGIC PLAN AS A PROPOSED SUSTAINABILITY AND PARKS STEWARDSHIP.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS, UM, ASK ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE AND THEN WE'LL GO OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? UM, THOUGHTS? YEAH.
SO I, HAVING BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR, I, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS THIS IS YEAR FOUR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, ANYWAY, I, I THINK IT'S JUST SO AWESOME TO SEE HOW MUCH THE PARK HAS JUST BECOME A PARK.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF, A HUGE AMOUNT OF THAT IS DUE TO THAT 'CAUSE SEE THE FRIENDS OF LITTLE PARK, UM, JUST SEEING IT GO FROM KIND OF A AREA THAT EXISTED TO SOMETHING THAT'S CONSTANTLY BEING ACTIVATED.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY DOING FEE WAIVERS, CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT, AT NEW EVENTS, AND IT'S JUST SO INCREDIBLE.
UM, SO I DON'T LIVE IN THE AREA.
I VISIT VERY INFREQUENTLY, BUT I AM DEFINITELY A FRIEND OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK, SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD, YOU KNOW, GET, GET ONE OF THOSE.
[01:20:01]
JUST, JUST HUGE KUDOS TO YOU GUYS.UM, I, I LOVE SEEING WHERE THIS PARK CONTINUES TO GO.
JUST LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH JANE SHAMA IS LIKE, THINKING ABOUT THE LASTING IMPACT OF A PLACE LIKE THIS.
UM, AND IT'S SUCH, SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE, NOT JUST A, A REGULAR PARK, BUT THE, THE, UH, NATIVE PLANTS, THE NATURAL ASPECT OF IT.
SO JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
CAN COMMISSIONER TI SMITH? SO I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO BECOME YOUR OWN NONPROFIT AT SOME POINT.
I THINK YOU, YOUR ORGANIZATION, YOUR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZA ORGANIZING IS AMAZING.
AND SO THERE'S CLEARLY, LIKE YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE FOLLOWING YOU, WHO WANNA BE PART OF YOUR MOVEMENT.
SO AS SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE BUSINESS OF SUPPORTING NONPROFITS, I REALLY SEE THAT IN YOUR FUTURE.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BREADTH OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.
IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE ALL THAT ACTIVATION AND DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.
IT USED TO BE, UM, IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
IT'S NOW DISTRICT FIVE, BUT, UH, I CONSIDER IT MY PART.
SO, UH, I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND I'M GRATEFUL.
AND NOW, UH, WOULD LOVE YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE KIND THOUGHTS.
THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE FINE WORDS.
UM, WE ACTUALLY LOVE BEING UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF LONG BEACH HERITAGE THAT THEY OFFER SO MUCH THAT WE, UM, AS MUCH AS WE ARE, YOU KNOW, GROWING, WE STILL ARE SMALL.
AND THE PEAK, THE CORE GROUP IS SMALL.
AND SO IT HELPS US TO BE UNDER THE LONG BEACH HERITAGE.
AND SOME, AND IT WOULD BE GREAT AT SOME POINT IF YOU COULD BECOME A OWN NON-PROFIT, BUT WE DON'T SEE THAT AS, I MEAN, MAYBE THAT'S A FIVE YEAR PLAN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S NOT, I'M PLANTING THE SEED
UM, YOU JUST REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE, UM, EXPANSIVE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO THERE.
WE FEEL A LITTLE BIT LIMITED TO JUST INVITATION ONLY.
AND NOW WE CAN BE MORE ADVERTISING OF WHAT WE DO AND GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN IT.
I MEAN, THE WHOLE MISSION OF OUR GROUP IS TO EXPOSE, WILL BRING PARK TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND WE REALLY JUST, I HAD PLANTED THIS SEED IN BRENT'S MIND WAY BACK WHEN, AND WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PUT IT TOGETHER.
AND THEN WE STARTED DOING MORE THINGS AND WE'RE LIKE, WELL, MAYBE WE CAN PUT IT TOGETHER.
AND, AND SHE REALLY HELPED, UM, GET US TO HONE IN ON THIS.
SO, AND, AND ALSO CHRIS, WHO'S NOT HERE, HAS BEEN A REALLY BIG GUIDE FOR US.
HE COMES TO OUR MEETINGS AND I CALL HIM A MEMBER.
'CAUSE EVERYBODY WHO COMES TO A MEETING IS A MEMBER.
SO YOU'RE A MEMBER JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY YOU'RE A MEMBER.
THAT'S NOT, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY OUTTA T-SHIRTS, BUT WHEN WE HAVE THEM, YOU KNOW.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, I HOPE YOU GUYS APPROVE IT AND, UM, WE'LL BE ON OUR WAY FOR BIGGER AND GREATER THINGS.
WELL, I THINK IT'S TIME TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GONNA APPROVE THAT THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
YOU WERE GRANTED KUDOS,
SO WE NOW CAN MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
UH, THAT IS A RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS RECREATION MARINE TO EXECUTE A RIGHT OF ENTRY PERMIT AT ANY OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WITH THE BELMONT HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND UNINCORPORATED NON-PROFIT ASSOCIATION.
TO IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN THE RED CAR GREEN BELT FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.
FROM JUNE 1ST, 2026 TO MAY 31ST, 2028 WITH TWO TWO YEAR RENEWAL PERIODS, UH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS RECREATION.
MAUREEN, UH, CAN I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? SO MOVED.
AND, UM, DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE A REPORT? WE DO.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, SHERWIN BE WILL PROVIDE THE STAFF REPORT.
UM, THE BELMONT HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION IS A VOLUNTEER DRIVEN NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUA OF LIFE IN THE BELMONT HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE ASSOCIATION IS MADE OF HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS, AND LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
SO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, UM, AT THE RED PARK GREEN BELT, IT SITS ON A DIAGONAL STRIP OF LAND BETWEEN PARK AVENUE AND
IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD RECREATIONAL SPACE WITH A WALKING AND BIKING PATH, SEVERAL SEATING AREAS AND
[01:25:01]
LANDSCAPING MADE UP OF CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS.SINCE THE PARK OPENED, SOME OF THE PLANTS HAVEN'T THRIVED OR HAVE DIED OFF TO HELP RESTORE THE AREA TO ITS ORIGINAL DESIGN.
THE ASSOCIATION IS PROPOSING TO REMOVE INVASIVE PLANTS, ORGANIZED VOLUNTEER CLEANUPS TO CLEAR DEBRIS PLANT CITY APPROVED CALIFORNIA NATIVES AND ADMIR AND SOIL CONDITIONERS TO SUPPORT HEALTHIER PLANT GROWTH.
APPROVAL OF THE RIGHT OF ENTRY DOES NOT, IT'S NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE DEPARTMENT OR DEPART FUTURES.
THE TERM, AGAIN, IS FOR TWO YEARS, JUNE 1ST, 2026 TO MAY 31ST WITH TWO TWO YEAR EXTENSIONS.
AND THE ASSOCIATION WILL BE REQUIRED TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT REGARDING ONGOING STEWARDSHIP AND MAINTENANCE, AS WELL AS GIVING APPROVAL FOR THE TYPE OF PLANS AND LETTING US KNOW WHEN THEY ARE DOING THAT.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT ON THAT.
UM, AND THIS REQUEST IS ALSO ALIGNED WITH OUR PARK MAKE LONG BEACH STRATEGIC PLAN AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY STEWARDSHIP.
SO WE WILL ASK COMMISSIONERS IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND THEN GO TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON, HAVING DONE THIS JOB, I LOOK AT THE INSURANCE AND A NON INCORPORATED GROUP.
THE, THE RISK MANAGER IS OKAY WITH WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR AND GET THIS, THIS INSURANCE HONOR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU'VE TAKEN A MOTION, CORRECT? YEAH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM I YEAH, I, I GUESS 'CAUSE I, I, I AM A NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL.
I'M CONFUSED BY THE UNINCORPORATED NON-PROFIT.
BECAUSE TYPICALLY NONPROFITS ARE INCORPORATED, SO MAYBE IT'S LIKE, JUST LIKE A, AN ERROR.
NO, WE'VE ACTUALLY RAN THIS THROUGH WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY ATTORNEY BOTH HAD GIVEN US APPROVAL ON THIS.
BUT WITH THE DOWN POCKET STATUS, DID REVIEW ALL OF THEIR DOCUMENTS AND EVERYTHING, AND IT'S BEEN VETTED PRIOR TO COMING TO YOU.
I FIGURED THE CITY ATTORNEY IN THE UNINCORPORATED PIECE AS WELL.
BUT YES, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FINANCES, AND THAT IS, UH, WHEN THERE ARE EXPENSES RELATED TO, FOR EXAMPLE, NEW PLANTING AT ALL, DOES THE PARK DISTRICT PAY FOR THAT OR DO THEY FUNDRAISE FOR IT OR THEY WILL BE FUNDRAISING.
WAS COMMISSIONER I WAS GONNA SAY ON THE UNINCORPORATED NON-PROFIT THING, I THINK IT COULD ALSO BE LIKE FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A FISCAL SPONSOR BUT AREN'T THEMSELVES INCORPORATED, LIKE
I'M ON BLUE LA UH, WHICH HAS, UH, WHICH IS ACTUALLY HAS FISCAL SPONSOR INSTEAD BEING IN SOME ORGANIZATION.
THIS INTERESTING THOUGH, IT IS LISTED AS A 5 0 1 C3 IN THEIR, IN THEIR DOCUMENT.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT BEFORE, BUT YOU'LL LOOK INTO THAT FOR US.
AND THEN WE DID CONSULT WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY PRIOR TO BRINGING THIS BOARD.
AND IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM THE BELMONT HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION? YES, SIR.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE BELMONT HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.
WE ARE AN INCORPORATED, UH, 5 0 1 C3.
THE STATE DOES HAVE A, UM, POSITION FOR IT.
WE LED TO THE, UM, PARK PARKS AND REC PEOPLE WORK THERE.
BUT THE REASON WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE THIS SUBGROUP IS BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME TO US AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PARK.
WE'VE SEEN IT KIND OF CHANGING OVER THE YEARS FROM ITS INITIAL, UM, INITIAL PLANS.
AND SO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IS JUST TRY TO HELP THE PARK WORK WITH PARKS AND RECS, MAINTENANCE ISSUES, AND TO TRY TO, UM, REESTABLISH SOME OF THE NATIVE PLANTS THAT WERE THE ORIGINAL VISION OF THE PARK.
AND SO WE WAS WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES, STUDENTS.
IT'S GONNA BE A REAL POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? HEARING? NONE.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER OR SMITH SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH GROUPS FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND ALL OF US, UH, WE NOW COULD GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MONTHLY DIRECTOR'S HIGHLIGHTS FOR MAY OF 2026.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW AS WE PREPARE FOR SUMMER, AND SO I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP THIS BRIEF, BUT, UM, JUST KNOW YOUR PARKS, UH, IN REC OPERATIONS ARE REALLY, UH, REALLY WORKING HARD TO MAKE THIS UPCOMING SUMMER.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE BEST POSSIBLE, UH, FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND MEMORIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
WE'VE ALREADY CONGRATULATED AND WELCOMED ASHLEY AS OUR NEW, UH, BUREAU MANAGER, SO VERY HAPPY TO DO THAT.
UH, IF ANYBODY IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO THIS FRIDAY NIGHT,
[01:30:01]
UH, WE WILL BE HAVING WHAT WE CONSIDER OUR UNOFFICIAL KICKOFF TO SUMMER CONCERT, UM, AT SIX O'CLOCK AT CONDUCTOR LARRY CURTIS CONCERT PARK, UH, THERE AT MARINE STADIUM.AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, UH, AN EIGHTIES BAND RADIO ROYALTY PERFORMING.
UH, BUT IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT.
UH, ENJOY, BRING A, YOU KNOW, BRING DINNER.
UH, WE WILL HAVE EVENTS FOR KIDS, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, BOUNCE HOUSES AND, AND, UH, BALLOON ANIMAL AND ARTS AND CRAFTS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
IT'S JUST A REALLY FUNNY THING.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD, UH, TO THAT THIS FRIDAY AT SIX O'CLOCK.
AND THEN JUST, UH, FAST FORWARDING AT THE END OF THE SUMMER.
WE ALSO THEN HAVE A YEAR END OR A SUMMER END CONCERT TO KIND OF CLOSE OUT OUR SUMMER ACTIVITIES.
SPEAKING OF SUMMER, UH, WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD ON OUR SUMMER HIRING.
UH, RECALL, WE BRING ON HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, UH, FOR OUR SUMMER ACTIVITIES ACROSS ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. DAY CAMPS, BE SAFE, UM, DROP IN FUN DAYS, MOVIES IN THE PARK, MUNICIPAL BAND, EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF IN TERMS OF PARK PROGRAMMING.
WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE ON TO HELP SUPPORT, UH, THOSE EFFORTS.
UH, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER, UH, PERMIT APPROVAL BY THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, LAST WEEK.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD, UH, TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM.
WE, OF COURSE, WILL MAINTAIN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMING, UH, STILL AT VIRGINIA OR IS A COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT WE WILL BE SHARING, UH, WITH CENTRAL CHILD WHO WILL BE, UM, IMPLEMENTING THE, UH, LATINO CULTURAL CENTER.
SO DURING THE DRAKE CHILD PRESENTATION, WE TALKED A BIT ABOUT FUNDING THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL ON, UH, TUESDAY NIGHT.
AND THAT WAS A REALLY MONUMENTAL REASON FOR OUR PARKS ORGANIZATION.
WE WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE OVER $17 MILLION TO PARK RELATED PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY.
YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER THIS, BUT, UH, LA COUNTY VOTERS APPROVED A PARCEL TAX ABOUT ONE AND A HALF CENTS AT THE TIME, UH, PER SQUARE FOOT OF, UH, IMPROVED PROPERTY, UH, THAT GOES TO SUPPORT PARKS AND, AND RECREATIONAL, UH, FACILITIES, AMENITIES, NEW PARKS, UH, ACROSS LA COUNTY.
AND SO EACH YEAR WE GET ABOUT $2.7 MILLION, UH, FROM THAT ASSESSMENT.
UM, AND THE 17 MILLION IS REALLY THE ACCUMULATION OF SEVERAL YEARS OF, UH, THOSE ANNUAL, UH, RECEIPTS.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECTS ARE TOUCHING EVERY, UH, CORNER OF THIS, UH, COMMUNITY.
UM, THE CITY IS ACTUALLY BROKEN OUT, UH, BY THE COUNTY INTO FIVE DIFFERENT STUDY AREAS.
AND SO EACH ONE OF THOSE STUDY AREAS GETS A CERTAIN ALLOCATION EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
AND SO WE BASICALLY USED EVERY DOLLAR WE HAVE IN, UH, EACH OF THOSE FIVE STEM AREA ACCOUNTS, UH, TO SUPPORT PARKS IN THOSE, UH, PARTICULAR AREAS.
UH, THERE WERE, I THINK, 19 PROJECTS IN TOTAL THAT, UH, RECEIVED FUNDING.
14 OF THOSE WERE PROJECTS THAT WERE ALREADY IN THE CITY'S ELEVATE 28 PLAN.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THIS FUNDING HAVE OTHER, UH, FUNDING SOURCES AS WELL.
WE REALLY FOCUSED ON ELEVATE 28 PROJECTS, 'CAUSE THOSE ARE ALREADY IN THE WORKS.
AND OUR GOAL WAS TO USE THIS MONEY TO BE ABLE TO FINISH PROJECTS.
UM, NOW THERE ARE A FEW PROJECTS LIKE DRAKE CHAVEZ, WHERE WE'RE GONNA STILL NEED, UH, SOME MORE MONEY, BUT THOSE ARE THE REALLY BIG PROJECTS.
UM, AND THOSE ARE GONNA TAKE TIME TO KIND OF COBBLE TOGETHER THOSE DIFFERENT, UH, FUNDING OPTIONS.
BUT, UM, A GOOD MAJORITY OF THESE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO COMPLETE PROJECTS.
UH, SO NEW PLAYGROUNDS, UM, NEW RESTROOMS, NEW AMENITIES IN OUR PARKS.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
UH, THIS PAST SATURDAY AT OUR THREE, UH, COMMUNITY POOLS, WE HOSTED A FREE WATER SAFETY DAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR, UH, LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.
BY THE TIME WE START, UH, OR BY THE TIME WE MEET NEXT IN JUNE, WE WILL ALREADY BE IN OUR SUMMER PROGRAMMING, WHICH MEANS WE WILL HAVE, IN ADDITION TO THE, THE PROGRAMS I JUST MENTIONED, WITH RESPECT TO THE HIRING, WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE OUR SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM, UM, IT'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, THROUGH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, UH, TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OFFER FREE LUNCH PROGRAM, UH, TO, UH, STUDENT AGE, UH, KIDS, UM, IN FROM LWSD WHILE THE SCHOOL, UH, IS OUTTA SESSION.
UH, WE WILL ALSO BE IMPLEMENTING OUR DODGERS DREAM TEAM, WHICH IS OUR, UH, YOUTH SPORTS, UH, PROGRAM FOR BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FOR OUR KIDS.
AND THIS IS, UH, ACROSS THE CITY, SO PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MORE POPULAR, UH, SPORTING ACTIVITIES,
[01:35:01]
UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.AND IT'S THROUGH A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE, UH, LA DODGERS FOUNDATION WHO HELPED, UH, FUND THE FIELD MAINTENANCE.
AND THEY PROVIDE UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FOR OUR STAFF.
AND SO, UH, REALLY WONDERFUL, UM, WONDERFUL, UH, PARTNERSHIP AND OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR LONG BEACH CHIEF.
UH, AND THEN JUST A COUPLE OF PROJECT UPDATES, UH, THIS PAST MONDAY, UH, PUBLIC WORKS ALONG WITH PARKS REC MARINE HOSTED A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, KIND OF SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAD TODAY, UM, WITH, UM, UH, STAKEHOLDERS AND INTERESTED, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS REGARDING THE, UH, MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK INVESTMENTS.
UH, THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES GOING INTO THAT.
UH, THAT, UH, PROJECT IS GOING TO INCLUDE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH, UM, HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE IT'S RECEIVED, UH, SOME INVESTMENT.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, DOLLARS, UH, FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE VISION PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED BY THIS, UH, BODY BACK IN 2024.
AND, UH, SO IT'S GONNA BE LOOKING AT, UH, NEW OR UPDATED AMENITIES WITHIN, UH, THE PARK OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO GREAT FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THAT ONE.
AND THEN FOR THOSE RECREATIONAL VOTERS, UH, YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOWS, LAUNCH RAMP IS CLOSED FOR PROBABLY ABOUT THE NEXT SIX OR SO MONTHS, UH, AS IT GETS A COMPLETE, UH, REWORK.
AND, UH, SO, UH, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IMPROVING THAT, PARTICULARLY SINCE THAT WILL BE A HUB FOR SOME OF OUR, UH, OLYMPICS ACTIVITIES, UH, IN 2028.
AND SO THOSE ARE MY UPDATES, UH, FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE DIRECTOR? I JUST, I WANT TO COMMENT, IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GO TO ONE OF THESE LA DODGER THINGS, SEEING ALL THOSE, EVEN THOUGH I'M AN ANGEL GUY,
WHICH IS SAD RIGHT NOW, YOU SEE ALL THOSE KIDS IN THEIR LITTLE WHITE AND BLUE DODGER UNIFORMS RUNNING AROUND WITH SMILES ON THEIR FACE.
IT IS JUST SUCH AN AMAZING PROGRAM FOR THE DODGERS, AND GREAT TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS TO MLK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE DIRECTOR? OKAY.
IS THERE ANYTHING FOR THE WORLD PARTIES IN THE PARKS, ANYTHING HAPPENING IN THE WORLD? YEAH, AND SO MORE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING OUT, UH, PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, UH, FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
BUT THE CITY IS WORKING REALLY HARD, UH, TO PROVIDE SOME ACTIVATION OPPORTUNITIES BOTH DOWNTOWN, UH, LINCOLN PARK, UH, LA GALAXY.
WE WILL BE PROVIDING SOME, UH, UH, ACTIVITIES AND, UH, SESSIONS FOR KIDS, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME VIEWING PARTIES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY AT VARIOUS PARKS.
THOSE, UM, HAVE NOT BEEN FINALIZED YET, BUT THE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING OUT TYPICALLY, PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
CAN I COMMENT ON THAT? I WAS WITH MAYOR RICHARDSON WHEN HE COMMENTED ON, UM, AND EXPANDED A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT DIRECTOR SCOTT SAID THAT THERE WAS DISAPPOINTMENT THAT WE WERE NOT GONNA BE HOSTING GAMES, WHICH IS A VERY COSTLY PROCESS FOR THE CITY, BUT INSTEAD THE GALAXY IS FUNDING US TO HAVE THESE PLACES FOR KIDS TO OBSERVE FOR ALL OF US TO GO AND WATCH THE GAMES LIVE ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IT'S NOT COSTING US ANY, SO RIGHT.
UM, ARE WE READY FOR ONE MORE? YES, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, AS A FRIENDS OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK THAT, UM, WE, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS THE $500,000 FOR THE WETLANDS, UM, PROJECT, AND I JUST WANNA SAY WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT? HARRY DON.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, UH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HIGA.
WE NOW GO TO OUR LAST ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, RECOMMENDATION TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSIONER MEETINGS.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
UM, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS TO BRING UP? UM, I JUST HAVE A REQUEST.
I WOULD, I LOVED WHEN WE WERE AT THE SENIOR CENTER, UM, AND I THINK IT WAS THE SECOND COUNCIL DISTRICT WHERE WE HAD OUR MEETING.
I KNOW SUMMERS COMING UP, SO I DON'T WANNA PUT ANY BURDENS ON STAFF, BUT I, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING OUTSIDE OF WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, UM, IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
SO, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY, NOT DOWNTOWN, BUT SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN HERE IN DOWNTOWN WHEN WE WERE
[01:40:01]
THAT'S MY, PERHAPS IN THE FALL.YEAH, I WAS THINKING FALL MIGHT BE GOOD.
IS THAT BEING NOTED? THANK YOU.
JUST CHECKING ON THE PARK EQUITY REPORT NEXT MONTH.
WE WILL BE COMING TO THE FULL COMMISSION, UH, IN THE JUNE, UH, MEETING.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING, UH, TO TRY TO BRING EACH OF THESE REQUESTS BACK, UM, USUALLY ABOUT ONE A MONTH.
AND SO NEXT WILL BE MARK, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
WHAT WAS THAT? I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT IT WAS.
OKAY, WE, UH, WITH REGARD TO FUTURE ELEMENTS, WE HAVE TWO.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
SO NOW, UM, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSIONERS ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR CON UH, COMMENTS UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY, I'M GONNA START, SO PLEASE.
UH, I, I ACTUALLY HAVE AN INJURY, SO I'M GONNA SIT OKAY.
BUT STATE YOUR NAME AND MY NAME IS TRACY KETE.
I'M REPRESENTING 50 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE CARSON PARK AREA, AND I WROTE SOMETHING SO HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T GO PAST THREE MINUTES.
I SAID I'M REPRESENTING OVER 50 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE CARSON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD REGARDING ONGOING NOISE DISTURBANCE, TIDE TO ACTIVITIES OF THE LONG BEACH, POA PARK AND EL DORADO PARK EAST.
SINCE SEPTEMBER, 2025, RESIDENT RESIDENTS HAVE SUBMITTED A FORMAL PETITION, MULTIPLE WRITTEN COMPLAINTS, AND DIRECT SHIP, DIRECT AVERAGE TO CITY DEPARTMENTS.
DESPITE THESE CONSISTENT EFFORTS OF COURT ISSUES REMAIN UNSOLVED.
THIS IS NOT A SINGLE INCIDENT, IS A REOCCURRING QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
THE RES THE RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING AMPLIFIED MUSIC AT LEVELS THAT CAN BE HEARD AND PHYSICALLY FELT INSIDE THEIR HOME.
WE'RE NOT JUST HEARING MUSIC, WE'RE FILLING BASE VIBRATIONS THROUGH WALLS, WINDOWS AND FLOORS.
THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS THAT THE DISHES EVEN RATTLE IN PEOPLE'S HOMES.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS, THIS IS HOW IT'S IMPACTED PEOPLE, RESIDENTS ARE BEING FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES ON WEEKENDS JUST TO ESCAPE THE NOISE.
OTHERS ARE UNABLE TO REST IN THEIR, THEIR OWN HOME DUE TO EARLY MORNING STARTS.
AND EVENTS THAT RUN BEYOND AGREED UPON TIMES.
WE HAVE RESIDENTS RECOVERING FROM SURGERY AND ILLNESS, INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS WHO ARE BED BOUND AND OF, AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM HAVE NOBILITIES JUST TO LEAVE.
AND OUR CORE FOCUS TO ENDURE PROLONGED NOISE FOR HOURS AT A TIME.
THIS IS NOT AN OCCASIONAL INCONVENIENCE.
THIS IS AN OUT, AN ONGOING DISTURBANCE TO BASIC LIVING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP RECOVERY AND ABILITY TO FILL AT PEACE IN YOUR OWN HOME.
THESE DISTURBANCES APPEAR TO BE A VIOLATION OF THE CITY NOISE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING LBMC, CHAPTER 8.80, AND POTENTIALLY OTHER APP APPLICABLE, AH, AGAINST RE REGULATIONS RELATED TO PERMITTED EVENTS ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC NUISANCE.
WE DO, WE DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME MOVEMENT ON THE POA, BUT, UM, THEY, THEY NO LONGER GONNA DO BANDS, BUT YET IT STILL HAS NOT CHANGING THE, THE NOISE AT ALL.
UM, THE AMPLIFIED SOUND HAS HAVE PRODUCED THE SAME LEVEL OF DISRUPTION.
SO WHILE THE FOREMAN HAS CHANGED, THE IMPACT HAS NOT.
THERE IS ALSO A STRUCTURAL ISSUE THAT MUST BE RECOGNIZED.
THE PARK IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT FOUR, WHILE THE RESIDENTS MOST IMPACTED LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE.
THIS CREATES A GAP IN ACCOUNTABILITY WHILE RESIDENTS RE UH, CONTINUE TO ABSORB THE IMPACT.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR EVENTS TO STOP.
WE'RE ASKING FOR RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT, CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT, AND RESPONSIBLE CO COEXISTENCE THEIR SOLUTION.
THE SOLUTIONS WE ARE, UH, PROPOSING ARE NOT, UM, THEORETICAL.
THEY'RE ALREADY IN USE IN CITIES ACROSS THE, UH, THE COUNTRY, SAN DIEGO AND AUSTIN.
DIRECTIONAL SOUND AND, AND, AND EVENT PLACEMENT REQUIRING STAGES AND SPEAKERS TO BE, UM, MOVED AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL HOUSEHOLDS.
UH, THERE'S LOS ANGELES USES A TIERED PERMITTING AND ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM WITH DENIAL AND DECIBEL LIMITS BY TIME OF DAY, IMMEDIATE CITATIONS OR SHUT DOWN FOR VIOLATION AND PERMIT DENIAL FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS, WHICH IS CONSTANT AT EL DORADO PARKS.
UM, UH, CITIES OF LIKE PASADENA AND IRVINE.
HIGH IMPACT EVENTS TO MOVE IN APPROPRIATE VENUES LIKE AMPHITHEATER, STADIUMS, OR COMMERCIAL ZONES.
AN APPROACH THAT COULD, UM, INCLUDE FACILITIES LIKE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE AND IN SOME, UH, MUNICIPALITIES.
AUTOMATIC SOUND LIMITING TECHNOLOGY IS REQUIRED TO ENSURE AMPLIFIED MUSIC CANNOT BE, CANNOT EXCEED LEGAL THREATS, THRESHOLDS, REMOVING THE BURDEN FROM RESIDENCE ENTIRELY.
BASED ON THIS PROVEN APPROACH, WE ARE ASKING THE CITY TO, UH, TO RELOCATE EVENTS TO MINIMIZE RESIDENTIAL IMPACT.
ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE CLEAR DECIBEL AND BASE LIMITS REQUIRE, REQUIRE REAL TIME SOUND MONITORING AT EVENTS, ASSIGN
[01:45:01]
A SINGLE POINT OF ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT.STRENGTH AND PERMIT CONDITIONS.
RENTER EDUCATION AND PENALTIES INCREASE PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT DURING KNOWN HIGH IMPACT EVENTS.
ADDITIONAL PRACTICAL STEPS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY.
POST VISIBLE SIGNAGE WITH MUNICIPAL CODE AND DECIBEL LIMITS REQUIRE EVENT INSURANCE TIED TO NOISE COMPLIANCE CREATE A SHARED, ENFORCED PROTOCOL BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.
ESTABLISH BUFFER ZONES, NEAR RESIDENTIAL EDGES OF PARKS REQUIRE ADVANCED NOTIFICATION OF LARGE EVENTS.
AT ITS CORE, THIS IS ABOUT RE RE RESTORING TRUST AND PROTECTING RESIDENTS' RIGHTS TO LIVE THEIR HOME IN THEIR HOMES WITHOUT, UM, WITHOUT, WITH ONGOING DISRUPTION.
RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE NOT, RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR HOME MANAGE ENFORCEMENT THEMSELVES OR ENDURE REPEAT VIOLATIONS JUST TO HAVE EXISTING ORDINANCE RESPECTED.
WE ARE NOT HERE ONLY TO RAISE CONCERNS.
WE ARE HERE OFFERING CLEAR, REASONABLE, AND PROVEN SOLUTIONS.
I'VE HAD NOBODY RESPOND BACK TO ME EXCEPT FOR ONE PERSON.
HER NAME IS JOY WARREN IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT EVER CONTACTED US BACK.
I HAVE A, I HAVE A PETITION WITH 50 HOUSEHOLDS.
I COULD HAVE HAD THOUSANDS, BUT I'M NOT GONNA KNOCK AT PEOPLE'S DOORS AT THIS POINT.
IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING SITUATION.
I'VE LIVED IN CARSON PARK FOR 20 YEARS.
AND THE, THE BIG CULPRIT IS A POA PARK IN EL DORADO, PARK EAST IS OUT OF CONTROL.
I NEGLECTED TO MENTION THAT AS NON AGENDA ITEMS, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO RESPOND.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT.
I, I WOULD LIKE JUST ONE CLARIFICATION.
CARSON PARK IS SOUTH OF MCBRIDE SCHOOL AND CAMPFIRE.
WE'RE ON STEVEY AVENUE AND THAT'S, WE'RE JUST GETTING DESTROYED.
YOU GUYS, IF I HAVE VIDEO AND I, I HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS COULD HEAR.
IF YOU GUYS LIVE WHERE WE LIVE, THERE'S NO WAY YOU'D WANNA SELL YOUR HOUSE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND FIVE.
I'VE GOTTEN NO RESPONSE FROM ANYBODY EXCEPT FOR JOY.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS COLLEEN.
I'M ACTUALLY WITH TRACY AND ROBERT AND MARTIN, PHILLIP, MARCY, AND PHIL.
UH, WE'RE ALL HERE ON THE SAME THING, BUT I, WHAT I HAVE TO MENTION, I WANNA BACKTRACK A MINUTE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET TO, I DIDN'T GET TO COMMENT ON, UH, NUMBER EIGHT.
AND MY COMMENT IS, COULD WE PLEASE BRING THIS TO THE AGENDA NEXT TIME? OH, WE, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT ONE 'CAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN CLOSED, SO, OKAY.
BUT I HAD TO, UM, I'M SORRY YOU DIDN'T GIVE A CHANCE FROM FOR US TO STAND UP DURING THAT ONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT TIME.
UH, I'M HERE WITH COLLEEN TRACY, MY NEIGHBORS.
UM, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT THEY SAID, UH, BASICALLY I'M GONNA CALL THIS, UH, COMPLETE DISREGARD TO A NEIGHBORHOOD CARSON PARK, UH, REPEAT IN VIOLATION TO CITY ORDINANCE 8.80 AMPLIFIED MUSIC.
UM, WHEN I SAY MUSIC, I'M REFERRING TO AN ARMY OF MODIFIED VEHICLES.
THEY COME TO THE, UH, EL DORADO GOLDEN GROVE AREA OF THE PARK.
YOU PERMITTED OR NOT PERMITTED? NO RELEVANCE.
THEY ASSEMBLE RIGHT THERE ALL OVER THE PLACE IN NON-PAR SPACES, ALL OVER THE GRASS.
AND THEY BLAST THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH AMPLIFIED MUSIC.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU, IT'S NOT MUSIC.
IT IS JUST LIKE, IF YOU COULD COME TO HIS WINDOWS, IT'LL RATTLE THIS BUILDING.
IT WAS PROBABLY BY THE WORST, UM, THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT.
WE HAD TO LEAVE AT 7:00 AM 'CAUSE IT WAS ALREADY GONE.
WE CAME BACK AND MET WITH, UH, MEGAN.
SHE, SHE, UH, HER AND MEGAN, KURT, SHE EXPERIENCED IT.
UM, UH, YES, WE CALLED, UH, YOU GOT A PHONE CALL BACK FROM SUPERMAN, BERNARD, AND EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT IT WAS COMPLETE CHAOS OUT OF PATROL.
POLICE WOULD NOT COME NEAR UNLESS SOMEONE WILL GET HURT.
AND THEY SAY, WELL, THEY HAVE A PERMIT.
WELL, PERMITS DOES NOT ALLOW DISTURBANCES.
UM, BASICALLY WHAT IS COMING DOWN TO IS WE'RE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET HURT BEFORE ANY ACTION.
IT, IT, HERE'S, UH, THE, THE LETTERS AND PETITION SENT.
AND WELL, HOPEFULLY SOMEONE DOESN'T GET HURT.
'CAUSE IT'S, UH, NOT A FRIENDLY GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.
[01:50:02]
'CAUSE THEY DON'T CARE.AND POLICE, I'M TELLING YOU, THEY DON'T COME CLOSE TO, WE'VE HAD TWO COPS TELL US THAT, UM, THAT WE COULD DO A CITIZEN'S ARREST, WHICH IS HILARIOUS TO ME.
AND THEY SAID THAT MYSELF OR ROBERT CAN PHYSICALLY GO WALK UP TO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE AND DO A YEAH.
IT'S THE, THE, THE COMEBACKS OR THE REBUTTAL WE GET FROM THE CITY IS, IS QUITE COLORFUL.
UH, MY NAME'S PHILLIP AND I'M PART OF THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE EAST SIDE, UH, CROSS STREETS OF STEVE LEE AND FLO VISTAS.
AND, UH, JUST LISTENING TO THE GROUP AND, AND TRACY'S COMMENT AND WATCHING THIS EVOLVE OVER YEARS.
MY WIFE AND I, UH, WALK FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
EL DORADO PARK, NORTH COLORADO, SOUTH HARWELL.
AND YOU GO IN THERE ON A, UH, A MONDAY MORNING AFTER A WEEKEND AND YOU SEE TRAFFIC AND YOU SEE DAMAGE.
THE DEPARTMENT RECENTLY BEEN PAID.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT.
BUT THE SIGNS THAT SAY NO PARKING ANYTIME ARE VIRTUALLY IGNORED.
BUT IF YOU GO IN THERE ON THE SATURDAY OR THE SUNDAY WHERE THESE ACTIVITIES ARE HAPPENING, YOU SEE CARS PARKED EVERYWHERE AND YOU KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST DAMAGING THE GRASS FROM THEIR TIRES ROLLING ACROSS, BUT THE LIQUIDS RUNNING FROM THEIR CAR.
UH, HYDRAULIC COMPETITION WHERE THEY'RE BOUNCING THE GUARD BACK AND FORTH ON THE FRESH PAVEMENT.
I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE, THE, THE DEPTH OF THE CONCRETE HAS TO BE AT THE MPA BUILDING IN THE, IN THE NEW PROJECT.
BUT IN THE PARK, IT'S JUST REGULAR SHAVED STREET.
IT'S NOT BILLED FOR THE HYDRAULIC BOUNCING UP AND DOWN.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, UM, I, I THINK SOME OF THE CONTROLS WOULD BE IDENTIFY WHO IS THE GROUP COMING IN AND SET LIMIT.
HOW MANY CARS DO YOU HAVE COMING IN? WE SPOKE TO THE, THE WOMAN AT THE GATE, THE
AND SHE SAID, OH, THEY SAID THERE WOULD BE A THOUSAND PEOPLE.
THERE WERE, THERE WERE MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
AND THEN WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THEM TO LEAVE, WE APPROACHED, WE WERE MAKING OUR WALK AT 6:00 PM WHEN THEY WERE LEAVING THE PARK.
EVERY CAR IGNORED THE STOP SIGN ROLLED RIGHT ON THROUGH.
SO THIS ISSUE IS MORE THAN JUST NOISE.
IT'S, IT'S CONTROL, IT'S REGULATION.
WE NEED TO ENFORCE THE PARKING.
IT'S POSTED, NO PARKING ANYTIME.
I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE BIKE TRAIL AND ELECTRIC BIKES RIDING ON THE BIKE ROAD WHERE IT'S POSTED.
NO ELECTRIC BIKE, NO MOTORIZED BIKES.
BUT WE'RE HERE FOR TRACY, WE'RE HERE FOR THE NOISE.
I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT THE HOW BEAUTIFUL DORADO PARK IS.
IT'S NOT, NOT THAT WAY ANYMORE.
THEY HAVE LOW RIDING CARS THIS LAST, THE LAST EVENT THAT DESTROYED THE BRAND NEW SPEED BUMPS, ALL THE, THE BIKE LANES THAT YOU GUYS, EVERYONE THE MONEY.
WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE TAXPAYERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.
ARE THERE, IS THERE ANYBODY NEW THAT HASN'T YET SPOKEN? OKAY, GO AHEAD RASHID.
UM, COULD YOU BRING BACK PARK RANGERS, WEREN, THEY SORT OF GOING AROUND THE PARK AND CHECKING THOSE THINGS.
I LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO LOS CTOS PARK AND IT'S A PARTY PARK EVERY WEEKEND.
THERE'S LOTS OF PARTIES GOING ON THERE.
WE, THERE IS A NOISE PROBLEM SOMETIMES, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK PARK RANGERS COULD BE USED TO MONITOR THOSE THINGS AT THE PARKS.
THEY COULD SPEND $30 MILLION ON THE POLICE ACADEMY, BUT THEY CAN'T PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, WE APPRECIATE IT.
THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST TIME YOU HEAR FROM THIS, SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
OH, WAS THERE ANOTHER COMMENT OR SOMEONE WANTING TO SPEAK? IS THERE ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? CAN I SPEAK AGAIN? NO, IT DIDN'T.
ONLY WE THOUGHT THERE WAS ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE BACK.
SEEING THAT THANK YOU DIRECTOR.
AND, AND I KNOW I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK ON THIS AS A, A PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM, BUT, UM, WE CERTAINLY DO HEAR THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE, UM, ARE WORKING INTERNALLY, UM, ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY TO, UH, LIMIT SOME OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MENTION TO THE SPEAKERS TODAY, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND HAVE A CONVERSATION, HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE, AND I COULD SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING, UH, INTERNALLY WITH SOME OF OUR PARTNERS IN, UM, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, THE CITY SPECIAL EVENTS OFFICE, AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU.
[01:55:01]
SO VERY MUCH.ALRIGHT, NOW STAFF COMMENTS? YES, SIR.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ HAS TO LEAVE, WASN'T AROUND 11 O'CLOCK.
UM, SO WE WILL BEGIN, UH, WITH THE STAFF COMMENTS.
UH, BUREAU MANAGER ASHLEY GRIS.
I, WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO HEAR MUCH MORE FROM ME AFTER MY DIRECTOR HIGHLIGHTS.
UM, AGAIN, I JUST DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT'S GOING INTO THE PREPARATIONS FOR THIS SUMMER AND, AND THE HIRING THAT'S HAPPENING THROUGH RECREATION, BUT ALSO ON OUR MAINTENANCE TEAMS. UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST, UH, THE PROGRAMS THAT WE SEE THIS INFLUX OF PEOPLE IN THE SUMMER, IT'S THE PARKS AS WELL.
AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE APPROPRIATELY STAFFED TO, UM, HANDLE ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL, UH, PEOPLE COMING INTO OUR PARKS.
AND THE SPECIAL, YOU HAVE THE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES LIKE SUMMER FOOD, WHICH CREATES A LOT OF ADDITIONAL TRASH AT EACH OF THE PARKS.
AND SO OUR MAINTENANCE TEAMS ARE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.
ALRIGHT, COMMISSIONER HIGA? UM, SURE.
FIRST OF ALL, UM, AS THIS IS OUR MAIN MEETING, I HAVE A PERSONAL TRADITION OF, UH, AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THANKING GLADYS AND HER TEAM FOR, UH, EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO OVER THE SUMMER.
SO, ASHLEY, I GUESS IT'S YOUR TURN
UM, SO, UH, AS A, AS A SCHOOL TEACHER, UM, JUST THE TRANSITION BETWEEN, UH, THE KIDS BEING IN OUR CARE AND THEN BEING IN YOUR CARE IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE TO ME.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU AND THE TEAM ARE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE AND OCCUPIED DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
UM, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING THEM BACK IN THE FALL.
UM, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO, SPEAKING OF TRANSITIONS, UM, MY SON IS, UH, TONIGHT OFFICIALLY PLAYING HIS LAST, UH, REC BALL GAME HERE AT, UH, LOS ALTOS AT, UM, AT THESE, UM, THE, THE BASEBALL FIELDS HERE.
HE'S BEEN HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS.
THIS IS, UM, THIS IS HIS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
HE'LL DO ALL STARS AND THEN HE'LL BE TRANSITIONING OVER TO WHALEY FOR THEIR PONY PROGRAM.
BUT, UM, JUST, IT'S, IT'S A MOMENTOUS OCCASION FOR OUR FAMILY.
I JUST WANTED TO TO MENTION JUST HOW IMPORTANT THESE PARKS THIS AREA HAS BEEN FOR OUR FAMILY AND, AND JUST FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING THAT THE PARKS, UH, DEPARTMENT HAS DONE TO MAKE THIS A SPECIAL TIME FOR US.
SO THANK YOU COMMISSIONER MARIA SMITH.
YEAH, I REALLY APPRECIATE PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN HOWEVER WE CAN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WANT TO HEAR YOU.
UM, I ALWAYS EMPHASIZE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING COME UP IN OUR PARKS AND I SAY THAT GENERALLY SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN HEAR THAT AND EXPERIENCE THAT.
SO EXCITED ABOUT ALL THAT'S GOING ON FOR WHAT WILL BE FORMALLY KNOWN AS CHAVEZ DRAKE PARK.
UM, LOTS OF GOOD THINGS TO SUPPORT, UM, OUR PART OF THAT, PART OF THE CITY.
AND, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING WONDERFUL REPORTS FROM YOU, ASHLEY.
UM, WE'RE SO THRILLED THAT YOU'RE HERE AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SUCH A COMMITMENT TO THIS DEPARTMENT 'CAUSE WE WORKED TOGETHER YEARS AGO.
UH, I JUST WANNA ECHO SAYING THANK YOU TO COMING HERE.
THAT'S, UH, ALWAYS A BIG DEAL, RIGHT? WE THIS NORMALLY THIS ROOM IS EMPTY AND SO IT MEANS SOMETHING WHEN FOLKS COME AND SHARE AND WAIT THROUGH THE MEETING TO SHARE, UM, THEIR EXPERIENCES.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR GIVING US THAT PERSPECTIVE OF AN AREA THAT WE'RE NOT IN AND IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION ON.
UM, AND ALSO WANT TO SAY HAPPY SUMMER, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S OUR BUSY SEASON
SO AS WE BRACE FOR ALL OF THAT, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU IN ADVANCE TO THE TEAMS FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING.
COMMISSIONER LEWISON, YESTERDAY I WAS OUT IN CORONA FOR WHAT'S CALLED THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ADAPTIVE OPEN FI.
UH, FIVE YEARS AGO, THE USGA UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION CHANGED THEIR RULES TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITIES.
AND, UH, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VERSION OF THAT'S BEEN OUT IN CORONA FOR THREE YEARS.
THEY'RE GONNA TAKE A BREAK NEXT YEAR AND WE'RE GONNA HOST THAT HERE IN LONG BEACH.
AND SO, UM, THE DIRECTOR AND AMERICAN GOLF HAVE, UH, BEEN WORKING ON THAT.
BUT NEXT MAY, I BELIEVE WE WILL BE AT EL DORADO PARK.
AND IT IS JUST AN INSPIRATIONAL THING.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST LIMBS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS AND HAD, UH, MENTAL, UH, DISABILITIES GETTING OUT THERE PLAYING GOLF, IT'S SO INSPIRING.
IT MAKES ME FEEL ROTTEN FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT MY SHOOTING 80 LAST WEEKEND,
UH, SO I WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THAT, BUT IT'S AN INSPIRATIONAL THING AND IT'LL BE A REALLY GOOD THING FOR LONG BEACH.
UH, SOME OF YOU WERE HERE THREE YEARS AGO TODAY WHEN ANIMAL SERVICES
[02:00:01]
BROUGHT IN MY ADORABLE PITS WHO ARE NOW BIG AND FAT SASSY.WELL, THEY'RE NOT FAT ACTUALLY.
THEY'RE VERY TRIM AND SLIM AND BEAUTIFUL AND THEY'VE MADE MY LIFE BETTER.
SO ANYONE AND EVERYONE SHOULD ALWAYS SPREAD THE WORD THAT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER IS THE BEST PLACE TO GET NEW PETS WHO CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
UM, AND I THINK WITH THAT, WE MEETING IT'S A JOURNEY AT 1105.