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[CALL TO ORDER]
AFTERNOON EVERYONE.I'D LIKE TO CALL THE TRANSACTION AND USE TAX CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER FOR JUNE THE FOURTH, 2026.
[ROLL CALL]
CALL THE ROLE COMMISSIONER EMMY? MEMBER OOK.PRESENT VICE CHAIR HOWER, PRESENT CHAIR CRUZ.
UM, FOR THE RECORD, MEMBER EMMY IS EX, UH, IS UNEXCUSED FROM THE MEETING.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? OKAY.
UH, IF WE CAN READ THE FIRST ITEM OF THE AGENDA, PLEASE.
[1. 26-55185 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Transactions and Use Tax Citizens’ Advisory Committee meeting of Thursday, April 2, 2026. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF THURSDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2026.OKAY, SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR THIS ITEM? SO WE HAVE THE TABLETS TODAY, SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND, UM, SELECT.
SO IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MEMBER OCHOA AND SECONDED BY INTO, UM, MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CORRECTIONS FOR THE MINUTES BEING NONE? UH, WE WILL TAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE MINUTES, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.
UM, SO I GUESS RIGHT NOW WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR A VOTE THEN.
SO PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM, PLEASE.
[2. 26-55198 Recommendation to receive and file an update on the Long Beach Police Department’s use of Measure A funding. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE AN UPDATE ON THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT'S USE OF MEASURE A FUND FUNDING.ALL RIGHT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND FOR THIS ITEM, IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MEMBER HOWER, VICE CHAIR HOWER AND MEMBER INUK.
SO I'LL NOW HAND IT OVER TO STAFF FOR A PRESENTATION.
ONCE OUR FANTASTIC, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT
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TAKES THEIR SEAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THEM TO PROVIDE THE UPDATE.I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT AN UPDATE ON FISCAL YEAR 25.
MEASURE A INVESTMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING POSITIONS, MAINTAINED POSITION ENHANCEMENTS, PROGRAM OUTCOMES, AND ONE-TIME CAPITAL USES.
BEFORE WE GET INTO SPECIFIC INVESTMENTS FOR FY 25, WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORIC IMPACT OF MEASURE A ON POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFFING LEVELS.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE TRA TRAJECTORY OF SWORN STAFFING LEVELS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2005 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2025.
AT THE PEAK AND FISCAL YEAR OH EIGHT, THE DEPARTMENT HAD 1002 SWORN POSITIONS.
THE DEFICITS CREATED BY THE GREAT RECESSION DROVE THAT NUMBER DOWN TO A LOW OF 802 FTE IN FISCAL YEAR 13 IN FISCAL YEAR 17, MARKED THE FIRST YEAR OF MEASURE A FUNDING.
SINCE THEN, THE DEPARTMENT HAS STEADILY REBUILT SWORN STAFFING WITH MEASURE A SUPPORT.
IN FY 25, WE ARE BUDGETED FOR A TOTAL SWORN COUNT OF 824 FTE AT ALL RANKS.
OF THOSE 140 POSITIONS OR 17% ARE FUNDED BY MEASURE A WITHOUT MEASURE, A STAFFING WOULD REMAIN AT PRE MEASURE A LEVELS WELL BELOW WHAT IS NEEDED TO MEET THE SERVICE DEMANDS OF A CITY OF THIS SIZE.
OUR PRESENTATION TODAY WILL WALK THROUGH EACH OF THE MEASURE A INVESTMENT AREAS.
THIS INCLUDES POSITIONS RESTORED, SUPPORTING SOUTH DIVISION OPERATIONS ACADEMY, STAFFING AND POSITIONS ENHANCED SUCH AS QUALITY OF LIFE OFFICERS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY BIKE TEAM AND THE JAIL CLINICIAN ONE-TIME USES INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY, LA RIVER ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP, OPERATIONS AND COMPLETION OF POLICE ACADEMY REBUILD.
PHASE ONE IN FY 25, MEASURE A FUNDED THE MAINTENANCE OF 110 POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.
DUE TO THE LACK OF GENERAL FUND SUPPORT, THESE POSITIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS PATROL DIVISIONS SERVING ALL AREAS OF THE CITY, NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST.
MAINTAINING THESE POSITIONS HAS ENABLED THE DEPARTMENT TO SUSTAIN CURRENT RESPONSE TIMES IN SERVICE LEVEL CITYWIDE.
THE DATA ON THIS SLIDE COVERS A FULL FY 25 PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
LBPD RESPONDED TO 191,000 DISPATCH CALLS FOR SERVICE IN FY 25, AVERAGING 524 CALLS PER DAY.
AVERAGE PRIORITY ONE RESPONSE TIME WAS 5.6 MINUTES, WHICH REMAINS BELOW NATIONAL BENCHMARKS.
OFFICERS ALSO SEIZED 935 FIREARMS DURING THIS PERIOD.
MEASURE A FUNDS ALLOWED FOR THE RESTORATION OF PATROL OPERATIONS IN SOUTH DIVISION, FUNDING EIGHT SWORN AND TWO PROFESSIONAL STAFF POSITIONS.
SOUTH DIVISION COVERS THE AREA SOUTH OF ANAHEIM BOULEVARD TO THE OCEAN FROM CHERRY TO THE LA RIVER, ONE OF THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AND ACTIVE PATROL AREAS IN THE CITY.
IN FY 25 SOUTH DIVISION OFFICERS RESPONDED TO 53,935 DISPATCH CALLS AND 44,156 SELF-INITIATED PATROL INVESTIGATIONS FOR A TOTAL OF 98,091 CALLS FOR SERVICE SOUTH DIVISION PERSONNEL ALSO PARTICIPATED IN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK, MEET AND GREETS COMMANDER FORUMS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITY EVENTS, MERE FUNDS NINE SWORN POSITIONS DEDICATED TO THE POLICE ACADEMY AND TRAINING OPERATIONS, INCLUDING FULL-TIME BASIC ACADEMY, RECRUIT INSTRUCTION, RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES, AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND REVISIONS.
HAVING DEDICATED TRAINING STAFF IS CRITICAL TO SUSTAINING THE DEPARTMENT'S RECRUITMENT PIPELINE AND ENSURING NEW OFFICERS ARE TRAINED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.
IN FY 25, THE ACADEMY PRODUCED CLASS 99, WHICH GRADUATED 25.
OFFICERS MEASURE A FUNDS TWO OF EIGHT QUALITY OF LIFE OFFICERS WHO FOCUSED ON OUTREACH TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS USING A HOUSING FIRST APPROACH.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
IN FY 25 QUALITY OF LIFE OFFICERS MADE 7,384 CONTACTS WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
OF THOSE CONTACTS, 310 RESULTED IN TEMPORARY HOUSING PLACEMENTS, 33 IN PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENTS, AND 21 IN ENROLLMENT IN THE HOMEWARD BOUND PROGRAM.
QUALITY OF LIFE OFFICERS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN 2083 CITY WIDE CLEANUP OPERATIONS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY BIKE TEAM OR NSBT WAS ESTABLISHED AS PART OF THE CREATION OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BUREAU.
IN FY 23, MEASURE A FUNDS 11 NSBT OFFICER POSITIONS IN FY 25 NSBT OFFICERS CONDUCTED 2,132 COMMUNITY OUTREACH RESPONSES MADE 839 BUSINESS CONTACTS CONDUCTED 826 PARK AND BEACH PATROLS AND ATTENDED 111 COMMUNITY EVENTS.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEASURE A FUNDS A FULL-TIME JAIL CLINICIAN EMBEDDED IN THE LBPD JAIL.
THE CLINICIAN HELPS IDENTIFY INMATES
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WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ALLOWING FOR EARLY INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT PLANNING TO ASSIST WITH THE TRANSITION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF REINCARCERATION UPON RELEASE.THE CLINICIAN ALSO OFFERS TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO INMATES WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.
IN FY 25 MERE PROVIDED $2.6 MILLION IN ONE-TIME, FUNDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY.
SPECIFICALLY, THESE FUNDS SUPPORTED DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS ON THE MOTOROLA PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM, WHICH ENABLES OFFICERS TO COMMUNICATE ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WITH STATE COUNTY AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE AGENCIES.
IN FY 23, 2 $0.4 MILLION IN MEASURE A FUNDS WERE APPROVED FOR A TWO YEAR OUTREACH AND CLEANUP INITIATIVE.
ALONG THE CITY'S RIVERBEDS FUNDING CARRIED FORWARD INTO FY 25 AND FY 25.
$431,190 WAS EXPENDED ON OUTREACH AND CLEANUP ACTIVITIES ALONG THE RIVER BEDS, WHICH ALLOWED POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFF TO PARTICIPATE IN 26 CLEANUP EVENTS, INCLUDING THE LA RIVER, SAN GABRIEL RIVER, COYOTE CREEK, LOS CERRITOS CHANNEL, AND THE DOMINGUEZ GAP.
THIS PROGRAM OPERATED THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS CLEAN TEAM AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT OUTREACH WORKERS WITH LBPD, QUALITY OF LIFE OFFICERS PROVIDING COORDINATION AND ACCESS SUPPORT.
FY 25 ALSO SAW THE COMPLETION OF THE LONG AWAITED POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY, A MILESTONE YEARS IN THE MAKING AND MADE POSSIBLE IN LARGE PART THROUGH $25.6 MILLION IN MEASURE A FUNDING AS PART OF TOTAL A TOTAL PHASE ONE PROJECT COST OF $33.1 MILLION.
THE ACADEMY REBUILD REBUILD PROVIDES 13,000 SQUARE FEET OF MODERNIZED TRAINING FACILITIES AND INVESTMENT THAT POSITIONS THE DEPARTMENT TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND DEVELOP LONG BEACH LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND OPERATIONAL READINESS.
THE COMPLETED FACILITY INCLUDES STATE-OF-THE-ART RECRUIT AND A OTC CLASSROOMS, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES FOR THE TRAINING AND TACTICAL SUPPORT DIVISION, A RENOVATED FIRESIDE ROOM AND FITNESS BUILDING, AND A BRAND NEW LOCKER ROOM BUILT TO SUPPORT A RECRUIT CLASS OF 100.
THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT ACADEMY STAFF AND PD PERSONNEL WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON PEACE OFFICERS, PEACE OFFICERS STANDARDS AND TRAINING KNOWN AS POST TO ENSURE THE NEW FACILITY MET THE EXACTING STANDARDS FOR CERTIFICATION OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY.
CLASS 100 LAUNCHED IN JANUARY OF 2026 MARK IN THE FIRST RECRUIT CLASS TO TRAIN IN THE NEW ACADEMY AND THE LARGEST RECRUIT CLASS IN LBPD HISTORY.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR FY 25 MEASURE A YEAR END UPDATE.
WE APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE'S TIME AND ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, PRESENTATION.
UM, I DID HEAR ABOUT THAT Y'ALL WERE DOING CLASS 100 AND YOU WERE GOING FOR SOME BIG NUMBERS.
DID Y'ALL HIT THE A HUNDRED? YES, SIR.
WE HIRED OVER A HUNDRED, UH, RECRUITS AND WE STARTED THE ACADEMY WITH 98.
OKAY, SO, UH, MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PRESENTATION? GO AHEAD.
I'M, UH, THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.
UM, I I DIDN'T GET YOU GUYS' NAMES AND BACKGROUND.
I'M THE FINANCE AND FACILITIES ADMINISTRATOR.
I'M COMMANDER MICHAEL RICHENS.
I AM THE COMMANDER OF THE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT DIVISION, AND TODAY I'M ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF SUPPORT BUREAU.
IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT SPREAD OF THE SPENDING AROUND THE CITY, WHETHER HOMELESSNESS OR BIKE TEAMS OR IN THE JAILS.
UM, IS THERE A, UM, AN EQUITY MEASUREMENT THAT WE LOOK AT AS FAR AS POPULATION OR HOUSING DENSITY OR CRIME HOTSPOTS OF HOW WE DECIDE THE ALLOCATION OF THE MEASURE A FUNDING? UM, NOT THAT I AM AWARE OF AT THIS TIME.
UM, THE FUNDING HAS A LONG HISTORY OVER THE YEARS AND SO MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE BEGAN WITH, UM, BACK IN FISCAL YEAR 17 HAVE CARRIED FORWARD, UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
THEY'RE SOMEWHAT STRUCTURAL IN NATURE, SO SUCH AS THE SOUTH DIVISION AND, UM, MANY OF THE STRUCTURAL PROGRAMS WE DISCUSSED.
UM, SO I I CAN GET YOU MORE DETAILS ABOUT HOW THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE BACK THEN.
UM, ALSO I DO, I DO SEE LIKE EXAMPLE SOUTH DIVISION, UH, POSITIONS.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE TIME FUNDING AND ONGOING FUNDING? I KNOW THERE'S BEEN PAST DISCUSSIONS AND, AND I'M RELATIVELY NEW STILL, BUT, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE INVEST IN AN ONGOING EXPENSE THAT WILL CONTINUE FORWARD IN THAT POSITION, BUT I I MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE A BETTER EXPLANATION THAN I CAN AND THE TWO.
SO AS A, UH, SAID ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL FUNDING, SO WHEN MEASURE A WAS FIRST ADOPTED IN FY 17, UM, SEVERAL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS WERE, UM, BUILT INTO THAT BUDGET AS STRUCTURAL FUNDING.
SO THAT MEANS EACH FISCAL YEAR, UM, THE MONEY CARRIES FORWARD INTO THE FOLLOWING FISCAL
[00:15:01]
YEAR TO FUND THE SAME OPERATION.AND THEN AS, UM, FUNDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE, IF THERE'S A A SURPLUS YEAR, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THEN THE COUNCIL WOULD VOTE ON, UM, ADDITIONAL ONETIME USES IN THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR.
SO AS WE MENTIONED, THE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND THE, UM, RIVERBED CLEANUP, UM, OVERTIME FUNDING THOSE WERE USES THAT, UM, REALLY A ONETIME PROJECT THAT WE COULD COVER WITH ONETIME FUNDS.
AND I GUESS THE, THE FUNDING REALLY IS DEPENDENT ON THE ECONOMY AS A SALES TAX REVENUE THAT YOU CAN'T SAY FOR CERTAIN EVERY YEAR IT'S GONNA BE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE KIND OF EBB AND FLOW.
IS THAT ACCURATE OF THE REVENUES? UH, YES.
MEMBER, I COULD TAKE THAT QUESTION.
FOR THE ACTUAL PROJECTION FOR MEASURE A, WE DO PROVIDE AN OUT YEAR PROJECTION FOR THE REVENUE.
WE DO, UH, PROJECT A STEADY GROWTH OF REVENUE APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 3% YEAR OVER YEAR.
AND WE DO PLAN THOSE REVENUES, BUT WE DON'T ACTUALLY PROGRAM OR ADOPT THAT BUDGET.
WE ONLY ADOPT A BUDGET ONE YEAR AT A TIME, BUT WE DO SHOW A ROADMAP OF WHERE WE'RE HEADING AT TIMES, THERE COULD BE A PROJECTION THAT WE, THE MEASURE A EXCEEDED THE PROJECTION IN THE FISCAL YEAR THAT RESULTS IN ONE TIMES.
THAT'S A EXAMPLE OF WHERE ONE TIMES CAN BE GENERATED.
AND AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE COUNCIL, UH, MAKES THE, BRINGS A REVIEW OF HOW THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE SPENT AND ALONG TO THIS COMMITTEE AS WELL TO SEE HOW TO PROGRAM THOSE ONE TIME DOLLARS.
IF THE PROJECTION DOES EXCEED THE, UH, OR I'M SORRY, THE PERFORMANCE DOES EXCEED THE PROJECTION.
WE DON'T STRUCTURALLY PROGRAM THAT UNTIL WE GET A UPDATED PROJECTION INTO THE, UH, BUDGET DEVELOPMENT CYCLE.
AND JUST CLOSING, I SEE WE WE'RE GOING TO 170 POSITIONS FUNDED VERSUS 110 IN FISCAL YEAR 25.
SO THERE, THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS, UH, GROWING OUR FTE AND, AND MEASURE JB SHORTENING OUR ABILITY TO HIRE PLUS INCENTIVES, UH, TO RETAIN AND LATERAL FOLKS.
UH, AS JUST LAST QUESTION, WHAT'S NEXT ON THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT LIST? I MEAN, I KNOW WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY, WE'VE GOT THE TRAINING CENTER.
IS THERE, IS THERE ANOTHER, UH, POLICE RELATED CAPITAL PROJECT COME IN OR, OR NEEDED, I GUESS? UM, WE ARE WORKING ON A PHASE TWO OF THE ACADEMY.
SO WE MENTIONED PHASE ONE COMPLETED, AND, UM, CLASS 100 IS IN OPERATION RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT PHASE TWO WAS RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WE'RE WORKING WITH, UM, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ON A, UM, BUILD OF A COMPLETE OBSTACLE COURSE.
UH, SO WE'LL TAKE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW.
IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.
AND LAST CHANCE FOR MEMBERS, ANY OTHER LAST DISCUSSION? OKAY, SO CLERK, IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE FOR ACCEPTANCE.
OH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALREADY BEEN.
I CAN TAKE A VERBAL IF YOU'RE HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY.
ALRIGHT, CLERK, IF WE CAN PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM.
[3. 26-55199 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the Office of the City Attorney regarding the Brown Act and Robert’s Rules of Order. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING THE BROWN ACT AND ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.AND IF I CAN HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR THIS ITEM.
MOVED BY, UH, VICE CHAIR HOWARD AND, UH, SECONDED BY MEMBER INTU TOOK.
SO BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION, I WAS JUST CURIOUS ON THIS ITEM, 'CAUSE WE, WE ALL TAKE A A, A COURSE ON THE RALPH, THE BROWN ACT AND THE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDERS.
IS, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL GOING THROUGH THROUGH ALL THE COMMISSIONS TO GO THROUGH THESE AGAIN WITH A LITTLE DIFFERENT INFO? YES.
CHAIR CRUZ, WE DO THIS ANNUALLY FOR ALL OF THE COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS.
SO THIS IS JUST PART OF THE CITY ATTORNEY ROAD SHOW.
SO THIS IS, THIS IS GONNA BE MORE BECAUSE I LOOKED AT IT AND IT'S PRETTY WELL CLOSE TO THE SAME ONE THAT WE HAD TO TAKE ONLINE.
SO THIS IS JUST INTENDED TO BE A REFRESHER.
WE DO IT FOR ALL THE COMMITTEES.
SO THEN LET ME GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR THE QUICK PRESENTATION.
HELLO, I AM ASHLEY STONE, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY.
I WILL AIM FOR QUICK, BUT THAT IS UNLIKELY.
WE ARE HERE AS AN ANNUAL REFRESHER FOR OUR BROWN ACT, UH, RULES AND ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER AS WELL.
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IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC CONCERNS OVER INFORMAL AND UNDISCLOSED MEETINGS HELD BY LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.AND THIS IS CALIFORNIA'S MAIN SUNSHINE LAWS.
SO WHERE THE SUN SHINES, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TRANSPARENCY THERE AND MEETINGS OF PUBLIC BODIES AND THE WRITINGS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO BE OPEN TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY.
AND SO THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES ARE THAT ALL MEETINGS MUST BE OPEN AND PUBLIC ACTIONS AND DELIBERATIONS MUST BE TAKEN OPENLY.
ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS AND ONLY MATTERS ON THE AGENDA MAY BE DISCUSSED.
AND SO WE WANT TO AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY, AND THIS HELPS, UM, AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPROPERLY DISCUSSING LOCAL AGENCY BUSINESS WITHOUT THE PUBLIC PRESENT.
THIS ALSO HELPS PROTECT, UH, DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF PARTIES APPEARING BEFORE THE BODY.
SO, WHO IS SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT? AS OUR MEMBERS ARE WELL AWARE, THEY DO APPLY TO OUR COMMITTEE HERE, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY APPLY TO ALL LEGISLATIVE BODIES, COMMISSIONS, UH, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS CREATED BY THE CHARTER.
THAT OF COURSE INCLUDES CITY COUNCIL.
THEY, UM, IT APPLIES TO, UM, A BODY OR ENTITY THAT RECEIVES FUNDS FROM THE CITY AND THEIR GOVERNING BODY, INCLUDING, UM, IN GOVERNING BODY, INCLUDING A COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND, UM, THIS DOES NOT APPLY, HOWEVER, TO TEMPORARY AD HOC COMMITTEES MADE UP OF SOLELY OF COMMISSIONERS AND, UM, CONSTITUTING LESS THAN QUORUM.
SO WE GOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT LAST YEAR.
TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE PROHIBITED.
UM, ONE IS SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS, AND THIS MEANS THAT EACH COMMUNICATION INVOLVES LESS THAN A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS, BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE COMMUNICATION IN THE SERIES INVOLVES THE MAJORITY OF THE BODY OUTSIDE OF A NOTICED PUBLIC MEETING.
SO THERE ARE A FEW WAYS OF DESCRIBING DIFFERENT WAYS OF THESE PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS.
ONE OF THEM IS HUB AND SPOKE LIKE A BICYCLE WHEEL WHERE, UH, ONE MEMBER CONTACTS ALL OR A MAJORITY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS.
ANOTHER IS A DAISY CHAIN, MUCH LIKE HOW WE PLAY WITH FLOWERS AS CHILDREN, UH, ONE MEMBER CONTACTS ANOTHER MEMBER AND THEN THAT MEMBER CONTACTS ANOTHER MEMBER AND SO ON AND SO FORTH UNTIL MORE THAN THE MAJORITY OF THE BODY HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR SUBJECT MATTER.
IT CAN ALSO HAPPEN BY REPRESENTATIVE ONE MEMBER'S, REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT, OR INTERMEDIARY, UH, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY COMMUNICATES WITH THE MAJORITY OF OTHER MEMBERS.
SO HAVING YOUR STAFF DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT ISN'T OFFICIAL, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATION, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE BODY.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES EMAILS, TEXTS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO IT'S NOT JUST A IN-PERSON COMMUNICATION AND OUR DIGITAL AGE, IT INCLUDES ANY FORMS OF DIGITAL, UM, AND EMAIL, UH, COMMUNICATION, WHICH DO INCLUDE EMOJIS IF ANYONE WAS CURIOUS.
UM, SO JUST TO DELVE INTO SOME EXAMPLES, SO FOR HUB AND SPOKE, A MEMBER CONTACTS ALL OTHER MEMBERS ON THEIR BODY TO ENSURE THAT THEY VOTE YES TO SUPPORT AN ITEM.
THIS IS A HUB AND SPOKE COMMUNICATION FOR DAISY CHAIN MEMBER.
BLUE CONTACTS MEMBER GREEN, AND THEN MEMBER GREEN CONTACTS, MEMBER ORANGE AND MEMBER ORANGE CONTACTS MEMBER PINK.
ONE SORT OF A WATERFALL OR DAISY CHAIN COMMUNICATION CONSTITUTES, YOU KNOW, IT'S ESSENTIALLY ONE LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SAME THING.
AN EXAMPLE OF PROHIBITED COMMUNICATION BY REPRESENTATIVE IS MEMBER GREEN'S PARTNER VOLUNTEERS AT SEVERAL NONPROFITS WHERE OTHER MEMBERS, VOLUNTEER GREEN'S PARTNER ENDS UP ASKING MORE THAN A MORE MAJORITY OF THE BODY IF THEY SUPPORT THE ITEM TWO, THAT WOULD BE PROHIBITED.
AND JUST LOOKING TO EMAIL TEXTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, AN, UM, MEMBER BLUE POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT AN ISSUE.
AND THEN IT'S LIKED BY MEMBER GREEN, IT'S SHARED BY A MEMBER ORANGE, AND IT'S COMMENTED ON BY MEMBER PINK AND RETWEETED BY OUR NEW MEMBER AQUA.
AND SO THESE ARE ALL JUST, YOU KNOW, CLEAR EXAMPLES OF HOW WE INTERACT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
PLATFORMS CAN ENGAGE, UM, THE BUSINESS OF THE BODY THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE AND MUST BE IN A PUBLIC MEETING WITH PUBLIC NOTICE.
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NOT MEAN THAT THERE ARE CHANNELS IN WHICH YOU ARE ALLOWED TO COMMUNICATE.SO WHAT KINDS OF COMMUNICATION ARE ALLOWED THAT IS INDIVIDUAL CONTACT BETWEEN A MEMBER OR ANOTHER PERSON OR MEMBER.
UM, AND IT ALLOWS MEMBERS TO SPEAK WITH CONSTITUENTS, ADVOCATES, CONSULTANTS, REPORTERS, STAFFS, AND COLLEAGUE COLLEAGUES, EXCUSE ME.
AND, UH, A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS MAY COMMUNICATE AT A CONFERENCE THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, A LOCAL PUBLIC MEETING, OPEN MEETING OF ANOTHER BODY, OR AT A SOCIAL OR CEREMONIAL EVENT.
SO PLEASE DON'T CANCEL ANY LUNCHES THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON THE CALENDAR SO LONG AS YOU DO NOT, UH, DISCUSS ANY MATTERS, UM, OF THE BODY DURING THESE EVENTS.
SO NON-BUSINESS RELATED TOPICS TO CHITCHAT ABOUT, UM, AND UNDER THE BROWN ACT, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S AGENDA.
WE FOLLOW THE AGENDA POSTING REQUIREMENTS FOR MEETINGS.
AND SO THAT MEANS THAT REGULAR MEETING AGENDAS MUST BE POSTED 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
AND SPECIAL MEETINGS REQUIRE, UM, AGENDAS TO BE POSTED 24 HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING.
AND THOSE ARE SPECIAL MEETINGS FOR AN AGENDA DESCRIPTION.
BRIEF GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EACH ITEM SHOULD BE INCLUDED.
IT SHOULD INCLUDE THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF THE MEETING.
IT MUST INFORM THE SCOPE OF THE BODY'S INTENDED PLANS SO THE PUBLIC CAN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO PARTICIPATE.
AND IT MUST BE POSTED IN A LOCATION FREELY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
SO THE POINT IS THAT, UM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN BE WELL INFORMED AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO ATTEND.
SO WHERE CAN MEETINGS BE HELD? THEY, UH, MUST BE HELD WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY UNLESS, UH, A SPECIFIC EXEMPTION APPLIES AND MEETINGS MUST BE ACCESSIBLE UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990.
NOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN RIGHTS BESTOWED WITHIN THE BROWN ACT TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER ON THE AGENDA AND WITHIN THE BODIES SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, EVEN IF NOT ON THE AGENDA, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECORD THE MEETING WITH AN AUDIO OR VIDEO TAPE RECORDER, OR TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS IN A NON-DISRUPTIVE MANNER.
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REVIEW AGENDAS AND OTHER WRITINGS DISTRIBUTED TO A MAJORITY OF THE BODY, AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ATTEND WITHOUT REGISTERING OR IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES.
THEY ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO WITNESS VOTES, UH, AND ALL VOTES MUST BE CAST IN PUBLIC EXCEPT FOR VOTES ALLOWED IN CLOSED SESSIONS.
SO NO SECRET BALLOTS ARE ALLOWED.
NOW, THE Y IS IMPORTANT OF COURSE, AND WITH LEGAL, UM, UM, WITH, YOU KNOW, LAWS IN PLACE, THERE ARE, UM, CONSEQUENCES FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS CIVILLY.
AND, UH, A VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT, UM, CAN INCLUDE AN ACTION TO PREVENT FUTURE VIOLATIONS OR TO INVALIDATE CERTAIN ACTIONS THAT VIOLATED THE BROWN ACT.
THAT COULD ALSO INCLUDE COSTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES TO, UH, UH, BE AWARDED TO THE SUCCESSFUL PARTY.
AND THERE MIGHT BE CRIMINAL, UM, LIABILITY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, PUNISHABLE AS A MISDEMEANOR IF INTENDED TO DE DEPRIVE THE PUBLIC OF INFORMATION.
SO THAT'S THE OVERVIEW ON THE BROWN ACT, AND I'M JUST GOING TO TURN TO SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.
SO THE CHAIR RUNS THE MEETING CONSISTENT WITH THE BROWN ACT BYLAWS AND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER DECISIONS ARE MADE BY A MAJORITY VOTE.
THE COMMISSION SHOULD CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS ORDERLY AND EFFICIENTLY.
EVERY MEMBER AND ALL VIEWPOINTS SHOULD HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND BE HEARD BEFORE.
VOTING RULES SHOULD HELP AND NOT HINDER ROLE OF THE CHAIR.
GENERALLY INTRODUCING BUSINESS IN PROPER ORDER PER THE AGENDA, GETTING THROUGH THE AGENDA ITEMS IN A TIMELY MANNER, DETERMINING IF A MOTION IS IN ORDER, KEEPING DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON THE AGENDA ITEM AND ENFORCING TIME LIMITS FAIRLY AND NEUTRALLY FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
THE ROLE ALSO INCLUDES ENSURING CLEAR DECISIONS ARE MADE, RECOGNIZING COMMISSIONERS WHO WISH TO SPEAK, ENSURING DEBATE IS CONTROLLED TO ENSURE FAIRNESS, BALANCE AND EFFICIENCY.
ENSURING EVERY MEMBER AND ALL VIEWPOINTS HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND BE HEARD, ACTIVELY LISTENING TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL POINTS OF AGREEMENT AND TESTING THOSE POINTS FOR ACTUAL AGREEMENT,
[00:30:01]
MANAGING ANY CONFLICTS THAT MAY ARISE DURING, DURING THE DISCUSSIONS REGARDING MOTIONS.ONCE A COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR, THEY MAY MAKE A MOTION.
THE MOTION MUST BE SECONDED BY ANOTHER MEMBER.
THE MOTION IS THEN DEBATED OR VOTED UPON.
TYPICAL MOTIONS ARE A MAIN MOTION.
SECOND FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
THE CHAIR MUST CALL FOR A VOTE.
AND AGAIN, SECRET BALLOTS ARE PROHIBITED UNDER THE BROWN ACT.
IF THE VOTE IS A TIE, THAT MEANS THE MOTION FAILS SINCE A TIE IS NOT A MAJORITY.
WE CAN TAKE A POLL, BUT THAT IS MY OVERVIEW AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PRESENTATION? UH, YOU HAVE ONE? NO, I DO.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD PRESENTATION.
UH, I DID DO MY AB 1, 2, 3, 4 TRAINING TWICE
UM, SO, UH, BUT THE VERY GOOD SUMMARY, UM, QUESTION I, I'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN AND, UM, WHERE STAFF WILL DO, UM, A SERIAL MEETING OR SERIAL INQUIRIES ON POLLING VOTES AND ASKING, UM, I, I THINK THAT EVEN, I KNOW FOR US TO DO THAT, OR AS A COMMISSIONER GOVERNING BODY IS NOT ALLOWED UNDER THE BROAD ACT, BUT IS IT ALLOWED FOR STAFF MEMBERS TO DO THAT TYPE OF, UH, COORDINATING TALLY AND INFORMATION PRIOR TO A VOTE ON, ON SOMETHING THAT'S COMES BEFORE A BODY? YEAH, JUST, YOU KNOW, BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT THE STAFF HAS TO COORDINATE CERTAIN BUSINESS OF THE BODY STAFF CAN, UH, REACH OUT INDIVIDUALLY TO ALL THE MEMBERS, BUT THOSE RESPONSES ARE NOT SHARED.
SO THERE'S NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES.
I GUESS IF THEY DID SAY, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER SO-AND-SO AND COMMISSIONER SO-AND-SO SUPPORT THE PRESENTATION OR OPPOSE A PRESENTATION, THAT'S WHERE IT CROSSES THE LINE.
AND THERE'S NO INFORMATION THAT IS BEING DISCLOSED FROM CITY STAFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT ANY INCLINATION, ONE OR THE OTHER, OR ANY INFORMATION JUST GENERALLY THAT WOULD BE, UM, A VIOLATION OF THE, OF THE BROWN RAT ACT.
SO, AND WHENEVER THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, UM, OUR OFFICE WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH, UM, CITY STAFF TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE NO VIOLATIONS.
AND THEN THE, THE LAST QUESTION ON THE, I GUESS, OH, UH, UM, SOMETHING ELSE TO ADD.
NO, IF I UNDERSTOOD YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY, COMMISSIONER STAFF SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT IF THEY'RE GOING FROM ONE COMMISSIONER TO THE OTHER TO GAUGE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE ON SOMETHING AND THEN SHARE THAT.
YEAH, THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT.
I DEFINITELY CONCUR WITH THAT.
AND SO IF THAT'S WHAT WAS ASKED, I APPRECIATE THE CLARITY ON THE RECORD.
THAT WAS WHAT I WAS, NO, YEAH.
THAT, THAT'S NOT, NOT THAT IT'S HAPPENED HERE AT THE CITY.
UM, I GUESS THE QUESTION FOR, UM, ENFORCEMENT OF THE BROWN ACT, WHAT BODY DOES IT GO TO? 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S FPPC, BUT WHO, WHO ENFORCES THE BROWN ACT? IF THERE IS A VIOLATION IN COMPLAINT, WHO, WELL, WHAT I CAN SPEAK TO, DOES IT GO TO CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? EXCUSE ME.
SORRY, I, SORRY I SPOKE OVER YOU.
BUT YEAH, IF WE DO RECEIVE A NOTICE OF BROWN ACT VIOLATION, THAT AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND, GOES THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THEN EXTERNALLY, DOES IT GO ANYWHERE? YOU KNOW WHAT, I, I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND, BUT I CAN FIND OUT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
SO NOW WE WILL TAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.
SEEING NONE, BEING NONE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON AND CALL FOR VOTE PLEASE.
AND IF WE CAN PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM.
[4. 26-55200 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the Office of Ethics and Transparency regarding updates to the Ethics program. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY REGARDING UPDATES TO THE ETHICS PROGRAM.AND MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THIS ITEM? WHO WOULD LIKE TO MOVE? UH, NEED A SECOND.
UH, THANK YOU MEMBER IN TOOK FOR THE MOTION, AND, UH, THE SECOND BY MEMBER OCHOA.
UM, TURN IT OVER TO STAFF NOW, PLEASE.
[00:35:01]
THANK YOU, CHAIR.I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN A YEAR OR SO SINCE I SAW YOU.
UM, BUT GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN.
AND WELCOME COMMISSIONER INTU.
I'M THE ETHICS OFFICER FOR THE CITY.
TYPICALLY, THE ROAD SHOW IS ASHLEY, UH, AS WE CALL IT INTERNALLY.
UM, USUALLY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL JOIN ME TOO.
HE'S, UH, JEFF IS UNABLE TO JOIN, BUT THIS IS AN INITIATIVE IN PART THAT THE MAYOR, UM, REALLY ENCOURAGED US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, SO HERE REPRESENTING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS WELL.
SO, JUST REALLY BRIEFLY, UM, THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY.
WE'RE A SMALL TEAM, UM, AND REALLY OUR MISSION IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
IT'S TO BUILD TRUST AMONG THE PUBLIC, OUR EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS, AND TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, UH, SO EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC AND OFFIC, OR NOT THE PUBLIC, BUT OFFICIALS, UH, CAN MAKE DECISIONS AS STEWARDS OF PUBLIC RESOURCES.
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AN INVESTIGATORY OR ENFORCEMENT OFFICE, A LOT OF, MOST OF WHAT WE DO IS REALLY GROUNDED IN GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ETHICS HELPLINE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL, UH, TO EMPLOYEES.
WE OFFER ADVICE, UM, ALWAYS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
UM, A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE GET.
THERE'S THAT LEGAL LINE, UM, THAT I LEAN INTO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UH, FREQUENTLY TO HELP ME ANSWER THOSE.
AND THEN TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC TRUST.
SO IN THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY, WE MANAGE THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT PROGRAM, WHICH WE GET THOUSANDS OF REQUESTS EACH YEAR.
SO SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST YEAR, UM, WE LAUNCHED A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC ROADMAP FOR ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY.
WE ADVANCED A UNIFIED CITYWIDE ETHICS FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS NOW CALLED THE FAIR ACT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL WANNA PAY ATTENTION TO.
UH, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ETHICS COMMISSION AND IS NOW WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH CITY COUNCIL PROCESS.
UM, BUT WHAT IT DOES IS BRINGS TOGETHER, UH, LAWS AND POLICY BEST PRACTICES AND PROCESSES INTO ONE ORDINANCE.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD GUIDANCE, BUT IT'S SCATTERED.
SO AGAIN, THIS WILL, UH, THIS WORKS TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER INTO UNDER ONE ORDINANCE.
WE ALSO DEVELOPED A FRAMEWORK FOR ETHICAL DECISION MAKING, AND I'LL SHOW THAT TO YOU IN JUST A MOMENT.
AND THEN WE BUILT OUT A MASTER COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION PLAN, AND THEN CONTINUE TO DO OUTREACH LIKE WE'RE DOING TODAY.
AND THIS IS JUST, UM, JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHAT OUR FRAMEWORK IS.
THIS IS THE RESOURCE THAT WE SEND OUT TO EMPLOYEES, AND IT'S REALLY JUST A PRACTICAL TOOL, UH, TO HELP EMPLOYEES, UH, NAVIGATE DECISIONS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY, UH, CLEAR.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR, UM, AGAIN, THE FAIR ACT WORKING ON, UH, TOOLS AND RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE FRAMEWORK, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF TARGETED, UH, TRAINING THIS YEAR, REALLY FOCUSED ON OUR MANAGERS AND OTHER LEADERSHIP, UM, REFRESHING THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE, WORKING ON SIMPLIFYING ETHICS AND MAKING IT RELATABLE.
AND THEN AGAIN, UH, JUST, UH, MARKETING OUR HELPLINE AND THAT WE'RE HERE FOR GUIDANCE, UH, MAKING SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE OFFICE EXISTS.
SO I JUST WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT ADVISORY BODIES DO AND WHY ETHICS MATTERS.
SO WE KNOW THAT OUR ADVISORY BODIES ADVISE, RECOMMEND, AND INFORM, AND THAT WHEN YOU MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, TO CITY COUNCIL, TO THE MAYOR, SOMETIMES TO THE CITY MANAGER, UH, YOU'RE REALLY INFLUENCING CITY DECISIONS WHICH HELP SHAPE PUBLIC TRUST.
SO WHAT YOU DO REALLY MATTERS.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA SEE A COUPLE POINTY FINGERS AS WE MAKE OUR WAY TO THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
THESE ARE JUST FRIENDLY REMINDERS.
SO ANNUAL REPORTS, UH, THOSE ARE DUE THIS MONTH, USUALLY ON JUNE 1ST, FORM 700.
WELL, BACKING UP TO THE ANNUAL REPORTS, THESE ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A GOOD WAY FOR YOU TO, UH, SHOW THE MAYOR, COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON AS A COMMISSION.
FORM 700, THOSE ARE ANNUALLY DUE ON APRIL 1ST.
AND THEN COMMISSION MEETINGS MUST BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT, YOUR BYLAWS AND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
[00:40:01]
SINCE ASHLEY JUST DID.IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT YOU, UH, PRACTICE UNBIASED DECISION MAKING.
UH, COMMISSIONERS MUST REMAIN IMPARTIAL.
AND OBJECTIVE DECISIONS SHOULD BE BASED ON THE RECORD FACTS AND ADOPTED CRITERIA.
AND REMEMBER THAT EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF BIAS CAN UNDERMINE PUBLIC TRUST.
AND THERE IS A COMMISSION THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN.
AND, UM, SO THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDE IT IN THE PRESENTATION.
NOW, IT'S CRITICAL THAT YOU GUYS MAKE YOUR DECISIONS BEHIND THE DAIS AND NOT BEFORE YOU GET BEHIND THE DAIS WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, A REMINDER THAT ONLY THE CHAIR OR ANOTHER MEMBER FORMALLY AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION MAY SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION.
SO THIS APPLIES TO, OF COURSE, ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL AND OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS, EMAILS OR LETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.
UH, WE SEE THIS FREQUENTLY, NOT INTENTIONALLY, UH, BUT IT COUNTS TO FOR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND THEN SIGNATURES, ENDORSEMENTS, OR PUBLIC STATEMENTS.
SO AGAIN, IF, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSION WANTS TO SUPPORT AND YOU WANNA SEND THE CHAIR OR SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE CHAIR TO SPEAK ON WHAT IT IS YOU'RE SUPPORTING, UH, YOU WOULD NEED TO VOTE ON THAT JUST TO MAKE IT FORMAL.
THIS MATTERS, AGAIN, BECAUSE FORMAL PROCESSES, THEY HELP ENSURE THAT STATEMENTS MADE OUTSIDE OF YOUR MEETINGS REFLECT THE COMMISSION'S COLLECTIVE POSITION.
OF COURSE, YOU CAN SPEAK PERSONALLY AS A RESIDENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE ON, WE'RE IN ELECTION SEASON RIGHT NOW.
IF THERE'S A LONG BEACH CANDIDATE THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO SUPPORT AND SHOUT IT OUT FROM THE MOUNTAINTOPS, YOU CAN DO THAT.
YOU JUST CAN'T, UM, DO IT AS A COMMISSIONER.
AND IF YOU HAVE A CITY MERCHANDISE AT HOME, YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T WEAR THAT.
SO NO TRUCKER HATS, NO POLOS THAT SAY LONG BEACH.
YOU JUST TOUCHED BRIEFLY ON AB 1234.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REQUIRED TRAININGS THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE.
YOU ALSO HAVE THE STATE AND CITY REQUIRED HARASSMENT TRAINING FOR CALIFORNIA EMPLOYEES.
ANNUALLY, YOU'VE GOT THE CITY REQUIRED CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS.
THAT'S THE 30 MINUTE, UH, VIDEO.
AND THEN WHEN YOU FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE, YOU'VE GOT, UM, A COUPLE ME OR A COUPLE TRAININGS REQUIRED BY THE MAYOR.
ALL OF THESE TRAININGS LIVE AND LEARN, AND YOU SHOULD, UH, HAVE A LEARN ACCOUNT.
IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT, JUST TALK TO YOUR STAFF.
WE ALSO HAVE A TEAM, UM, IN HR THAT CAN HELP WITH THAT.
AND THEN THE, I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
WELL, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AB 1234 ETHICS AND CODE OF AND R CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS? SO THE INFOGRAPH ON YOUR RIGHT JUST BREAKS IT DOWN FOR YOU, IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
MOST OF THE CALLS I RECEIVE ARE FROM EMPLOYEES CONFIDENTIAL AND ANONYMOUS.
IF THE PERSON CHOOSES TO BE ANONYMOUS.
YOUR ROLE IS ADVISORY, NOT INDIVIDUAL AUTHORITY.
SO AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE COMMISSION'S BLESSING, UH, BEFORE YOU SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION.
FORMAL APPROVAL PROCESSES MATTER.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMAIN FAIR, IMPARTIAL AND NON-BIASED.
LIKE ASHLEY'S TRAINING WAS EXPLAINING TO YOU, FOLLOW MEETING RULES AND PROCEDURES AND THEN COMPLETE YOUR REQUIRED TRAININGS.
AND WE KNOW THAT IF YOU DON'T REDO THE REQUIRED TRAININGS ON TIME, YOU WILL GET, UH, REPEATEDLY HARASSED BY LEARN UNTIL YOU GET THOSE IN.
AND OF COURSE, ASK WHEN YOU'RE UNSURE.
AND THESE ARE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE CURRENT.
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT, ESPECIALLY THE ETHICS GUIDE FOR LONG BEACH CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES.
THIS IS MANAGED BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IS A GREAT OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO ABIDE BY AS APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR COMMISSION BOARD AND COMMITTEE HANDBOOK, UH, THAT'S MANAGED BY OUR CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND THAT IS MY PRESENTATION FOR THIS YEAR.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
UM, MEMBERS, ANY QUESTION ON THIS PRESENTATION? ALL MEMBER INTU.
SORRY TO BE THE CHATTY PATTY TODAY.
UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR PRESENTATION REALLY WELL.
I'VE, UM, I, I'VE GONE THROUGH THE TRAINING, I'VE REVIEWED THE, UM, ETHICS
[00:45:01]
HANDBOOK.I SEE IT'S FOR COMMISSIONERS AND EMPLOYEES.
IS IT ONLY FOR EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY'RE ON WORK HOURS? OR DOES IT COUNT WHEN THEY'RE NOT ON WORK HOURS? I THINK THAT'S A LEGAL QUESTION.
COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I CAUGHT THE FIRST HALF OF THAT.
I WAS, UM, REFERENCING THE, UM, ETHICS GUIDE FOR CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES.
UH, AND I WAS ASKING IF IT WAS APPLICABLE TO EMPLOYEES ONLY WHEN THEY'RE DURING WORK HOURS HERE AT WORK OR HERE WITHIN THE CITY PROPERTY? OR DOES IT COUNT WHEN THEY'RE NOT ON CITY HOURS AND SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY? OH, JUST GENERALLY IF THE ETHICS RULES APPLY, DOES IT? YEAH.
DOES IT ONLY APPLY WHEN YOU'RE AT WORK OR DOES IT, IS IT BROADER? WELL, IT APPLIES TO ANYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO THEIR WORK.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE A GEO LOCATED SITUATION, BUT IF IT, IF, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND IT THAT THEY PERTAIN TO THE BUSINESS THAT YOU ARE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING FOR THE CITY.
SO I, UH, HESITATE TO SAY NO, BUT I WILL SAY THAT IT APPLIES TO, YOU KNOW, YOUR ROLE, UM, AS AN EMPLOYEE OR WHATEVER THE ROLE IS WITH THE CITY.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER I CAN GIVE YOU.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO DELVE INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT AND SEE IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD LATER ON.
SO WE'LL NOW TAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.
SO LET'S, UH, CLERK, CAN WE PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE? MOTION IS CARRIED.
AND LET'S PLEASE READ THE LAST ITEM.
[5. 26-55201 Recommendation to receive and file a report from current Ad Hoc Committee; discuss anticipated Ad Hoc Committees for upcoming projects; and, if appropriate, take action to dissolve or create Ad Hoc Committees. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
FIVE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT FROM CURRENT AD HOC COMMITTEE, DISCUSS ANTICIPATED AD HOC COMMITTEES FOR UPCOMING PROJECTS, AND IF APPROPRIATE, TAKE ACTION TO DISSOLVE OR CREATE AD HOC COMMITTEES.MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY MEMBER HOWER AND SECONDED BY BY MEMBER OCHOA.
SO, UH, CAN WE HAVE AN AD HOC REPORT? WHO'S GONNA PROVIDE THAT? I WANNA SAY WE, WE STARTED THE DISCUSSION LAST MEETING AND WE WERE RUNNING OUTTA TIME, AND I WAS JUST LOOKING OF OUR, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF
I KNOW WE GAVE A KIND OF SUMMARY.
WE YEAH, BUT WE WERE RUNNING OUTTA TIME.
WE DID NOT, UM, HAVE A FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION AFTER THAT.
NO, I THINK MAYBE WE NEED TO CARRY, CARRY FORWARD.
PERHAPS WE SHOULD CARRY FORWARD AND HAVE A, WE DID NOT HAVE A FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION, UH, IN THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, SO PERHAPS WE SHOULD CARRY FORWARD AND FINALIZE OUR PRESENTATION NEXT MEETING.
I, AND I, I'M JUST LOOKING BACK AT MY NOTES.
MAYBE I'LL JUST SUMMARIZE, UM, FROM LAST TIME.
AND I, I THINK THE GOAL WAS HOW DO WE PREPARING FOR THE BUDGET AND MAKING SURE, PREPARING OUR LETTER AND THE PROCESS.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE THE BUDGET IS RELEASED, BUT CERTAINLY THERE'LL BE ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED IN LATE SEPTEMBER.
UH, I KNOW IT HAS TO BE ADOPTED, I THINK BY OCTOBER 1ST.
SO OUR NEXT, UH, CAC MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 6TH, AND THE BUDGET HAS TO BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC NO LATER THAN AUGUST 2ND.
AND WE HAVE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 15TH.
AND I THINK THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT WAS WHETHER WE WANTED TO HAVE THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AND REVIEW THE PROCESS TO SEE IF, IF WE WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND TRY TO DRAFT A RECOMMENDATION.
BECAUSE BOTH THE LAST TWO YEARS IN ATTEMPTING TO TRY TO OFFER OUR THOUGHTS AND PROCESS IN ANY OF IT, IT WAS ALWAYS DELIVERED TOO LATE.
AND SO BY THE TIME ANYTHING GOT DRAFTED BY US BECAUSE OF THE TIME OF OUR MEETINGS, IT WAS, IT SO FAR WENT ALONG THAT IT, THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF VOTING.
AND, AND SO, AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU GUYS, HOPEFULLY THE THING WAS HOPING WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, REMEMBER THAT YOU KIND OF KNOW THE PROCESS OF THE CITY AND WHETHER THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD ADVISE THE GROUP AS A WHOLE AND, AND ON THE CALENDAR WHETHER WE WANTED TO TRY TO
[00:50:01]
DO SOMETHING.BUT, AND I, AND I KNOW THIS YEAR'S GONNA BE A VERY INTERESTING YEAR, SO I THOUGHT, THOUGHT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE VERY IMPORTANT IF WE WERE GONNA DO ANYTHING BECAUSE, UH, THIS IS GONNA BE THE TIGHTEST BUDGET FOR A WHILE.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS AFTERWARDS THE BUDGET SHOULD BE A LOT NICER, BUT THIS YEAR EVERYBODY'S GONNA TAKE A HIT.
AND IF I COULD JUST INTERJECT WITH A PERSPECTIVE, OUR, ONCE THE BUDGET IS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC, SO NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE DETAILS OR ANYTHING OF IT, OR THE RECOMMENDATIONS ALSO FOR MEASURE A.
SO ONCE THAT IS PUBLIC, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY SEE IT IS AFTER AUGUST 2ND.
SO AUGUST IS THE PRIME TIME FOR ENGAGEMENT.
WE HAVE OUR BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT ARE HELD ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
WE HAVE OUR BUDGET HEARINGS, WHICH ARE HELD AT COUNCIL MEETINGS ON A WEEKLY BASIS AS WELL.
SO THE ENGAGEMENT IS PRIME TIME IN AUGUST.
THAT'S WHEN THEY START HEARING THE COMMUNITY CONSTITUENTS COMMITTEES PROVIDE THEIR LETTERS OR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND ULTIMATELY ON ADOPTION NIGHT IS WHEN ALL OF THOSE THINGS COME TO FRUITION AND THEY DECIDE AND DISCUSS AND ADOPT THE BUDGET.
AND, AND THEN THE CHALLENGE BEING WAS THAT IF WE ARE MEETING IN LIKE WHAT THE FIRST, SECOND WEEK OF AUGUST, THEN IF THERE'S GONNA BE A CONVERSATION WE HAVE TO MEET AGAIN TO AGREE ON THOSE COMMENTS AND THAT BECOMES THE DILEMMA.
YEAH, NO, I I IT'S GREAT TO HE TO HEAR WHAT THE SEQUENTIAL TIMING THAT WE DO HAVE AN AUGUST MEETING.
UM, I MEAN, AT THAT MEETING WE CAN COME PREPARED AND, AND VOTE AS A GROUP OF WHAT ITEMS, YOU KNOW, ONCE THE BUDGET'S OUT, WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A PRIORITY OR A LIST OF FIVE, SIX THINGS THAT WE WANT TO PUT IN A LETTER AND WE'LL VOTE ON THAT.
AND THEN WE CAN, WE CAN PER, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE COUNCIL.
I KNOW PREVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT, UM, ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BUDGET CHAIR AND I, I DON'T THINK THE MEETINGS, I DON'T THINK IT WAS COMMITTEE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED.
UH, BUT, UM, COUNCILMAN, JODY, RICK, SO IS THE CHAIR THAT WE, WE CAN ASK TO BE ON, UH, AN AGENDA FOR THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE TO SHARE OUR LETTER AND PERSPECTIVE AND SPEAK.
UM, AND THE, AND THE NICE THING ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE ON THE AGENDA, YOU'RE NOT LIMITED TO THE THREE MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I MEAN, WE COULD GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT ANY, WANT ANY MEETING OR COMMITTEE MEETING YOU WANT AND SAY, UM, OUR PERSPECTIVE, BUT YOU GET MORE TIME TO HAVE A DISCUSSION IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING VERSUS THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING AND AT THE FINAL DAY THAT THE BUDGET'S GONNA BE ADOPTED, WHICH IS REALLY ALMOST TOO LATE TO PUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN.
BUT THERE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE, AS AS WAS SHARED, THERE'S MULTIPLE MEETINGS, UH, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT'S HAPPENING IN AUGUST.
AND I THINK IF WE CAN COME INTO OUR AUGUST MEETING READY FOR THAT AND DECIDE AS A GROUP, THEN WE CAN GO FORWARD IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER TO SHARE, UM, THAT, AND THEN, AND THEN REQUEST THAT WHATEVER WE'LL KNOW BY OUR AUGUST MEETING WHAT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING TIMING ARE.
SO THAT WAY WE CAN, I, I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY AS A BODY, WE PROBABLY VOTE ON WHAT WE, WE WANT TO SAY IS OUR FIVE OR SIX THINGS.
AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, GIVE AUTHORITY TO THE CHAIR TO GO AND PR YOU KNOW, REQUEST A PRESENTATION AT A COMMITTEE MEETING WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION WHEN WE GET TO YEAH.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE MISSED THE, THE, THE THING LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE, WE, WE DIDN'T KNOW OR WE ASKED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK, UH, TO COUNCIL ON IT.
AND, AND I THINK STAFF ADVISED US, YEAH, OKAY, YOU CAN DO THAT, YOU CAN DO IT ON THIS NIGHT.
BUT WE WERE IN LINE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND, AND BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY SPEAKERS, I, I MADE THE PRESENTATION AND I HAD ONE MINUTE AND, AND I, I DON'T THINK MY PRESENTATION WAS VERY GOOD 'CAUSE I WAS SO UPSET,
BUT WE, AT LEAST WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE HIM THE, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION OR THE THOUGHTS.
BUT THE, THE, THE SAD PART ALSO WAS THAT WE DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE BACK.
AND, AND MAYBE THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER PIECE ADDED.
SO I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE RIGHT, IF IF WE PRESENT IT TO THE COMMITTEE, AT LEAST YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AS AN AGENDA TO DISCUSS IT.
AND THEN, AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION THAT Y'ALL MIGHT WANNA CONSIDER FOR IF THERE'S GONNA BE ANY MORE THOUGHTS PROCESS, DO WE WANT TO ASK FOR A RESPONSE BACK, UH, AS TO, OKAY, WE, WE HEARD THIS, BUT NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT.
OR YES, WE THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, WE'LL EXPLORE IT FOR THE FUTURE.
'CAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS, IS THERE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO TO NEXT SCHEDULE THE SCHEDULE THE NEXT, UM, FACILITY ASSESSMENT, CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND COMPARE THE PRIOR ONES, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN OVER FIVE YEARS SINCE THE LAST FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND BEST PRACTICES IS THAT CITIES SHOULD BE DOING THAT EVERY FIVE TO EIGHT YEARS AND COMPARING THEM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A COMPARISON SINCE THIS THING HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
[00:55:01]
UM, SO IT MIGHT BE NICE, JUST AGAIN, A GOOD GAUGE TO SAY IS INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVING? SO SOMETHING TO EXPLORE, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.AND IF WE CAN EACH OF US, THE ITEMS THAT WE WANT TO INCLUDE IN THE LETTER, DRAFT IT OUT, MAYBE WE CAN SEND IT TO STAFF AHEAD OF TIME TO COMPILE IT.
I DUNNO IF WE PUT ON A SCREEN OR TALK THROUGH EACH ONE SO WE CAN FINALIZE THE LANGUAGE.
SO YOU CAN MAKE A SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A BEST PRACTICE FROM AMERICAN SOCIETY CIVIL ENGINEERS OR WHAT, UH, TO BE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT, UH, THE ASSESSMENT WE WANT TO HAVE OR RECOMMEND.
UM, AND IF I CAN JUST BRIEFLY, I'LL, I'LL GO THROUGH THE FIVE, UM, ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSSED AT OUR AD HOC MEETING BACK IN MARCH, UM, THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I GOT THE CHANCE TO SHARE AT ALL.
BUT, UM, ONE OF THE ITEMS WE AGREED ON WAS INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REGARDING MEASURE A SPENDING.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST SEEMS LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS NOT ENOUGH.
OR MAYBE THERE'S, IT'S HAPPENING, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR OR ALL CONSOLIDATED THAT THIS IS THE MEASURE A COMMUNICATION PLAN HAPPENING OUT EXTERNALLY.
UH, WAS ONE ITEM, UH, WE, WE RECOMMENDED HOSTING A, AN ANNUAL MEASURE, A STATUS TOWN HALL TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PRESENT THE INFORMATION ON WHAT IS BEING SPENT AND HOW IT'S HAPPENED.
AND VERY SIMILAR TO HERE, UM, HOW AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, UP TO THE CITY TO FIGURE OUT.
WE DID TALK ABOUT ANNUAL AUDITS, UH, PRESENTED TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ALREADY HAPPENS OR IF THAT'S WHAT THE CITY AUDITOR DOES OR I, I KNOW IN AT THE COLLEGE WE HAVE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS OF OUR BUDGET AND BOND FUNDING EVERY YEAR.
TYPICALLY ON OUR LIKE PROP 55 OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES, THERE'S AN ANNUAL AUDIT PRESENTATION.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE MISSED THAT OR IF THAT ALREADY HAPPENS OR THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS HERE, BUT THAT WAS, UH, AN ITEM DISCUSSED.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT AN INVENTORY AND CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF CITY OWNED BUILDINGS.
I THINK WE TALK A LOT ABOUT STREETS AND ROADS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ALL THE PROPERTIES.
AND I REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN, WHEN THE NEW CITY HALL WAS GONNA BE, UH, CONSIDERED THAT EVERYBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO COME IN HERE AND WAS SUPPOSED TO ELIMINATE OFF SITE OFFICES.
BUT I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CASE TODAY.
UM, AND THEN LAST WAS REALLY TRYING TO, UH, CORRECT AND CLARIFY A LOT OF THIS MISINFORMATION.
UM, A LOT OF NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS, UM, THAT IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE THAT, YOU KNOW, KINDA LET IT GO UNRESPONDED OR UNDISPUTED PEOPLE START TO TAKE IT AS IF THERE REALLY IS A PROBLEM OR THERE REALLY IS SOMETHING HAPPENING THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
UH, BUT WE THOUGHT LIKE, IS THERE, UH, AN ANNUAL FACT SHEET OR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION SHEET THAT CAN TAKE SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE AND PROPERLY RESPOND TO IT.
AND THEN IF PEOPLE SAY SOMETHING LIKE, OKAY, LET ME POST A LINK TO THE FACT SHEET, YOU KNOW, AND PUT TOGETHER OFFICIALLY BY THE CITY, YOU KNOW, TO, TO COMBAT SOME OF THE, THE MISINFORMATION.
ESPECIALLY WE'RE IN SUCH A NEWS DESERT AND LONG BEACH, IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET INFORMATION OF, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT WORK THAT THIS IS THE SALES TAX MEASURE DOES IS IS NOT EASY TO COMMUNICATE.
BUT JEN, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD THAT WE TALKED ABOUT? I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE, THE BUDGET.
THE RELEASE OF THE BUDGET THEN IS ON, HAS TO BE RELEASED BY AUGUST 2ND, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND AUGUST 2ND IS A SUNDAY I THINK.
YES, IT'S OUR CHARTER DATE THAT NEVER CHANGES.
SO IT WILL MOST LIKELY BE BEFORE THAT DATE, BUT UH, CHARTER MANDATED IS NO LATER THAN AUGUST 2ND.
YEAH, FRIDAY AT FOUR 30, RIGHT? IT'LL BE
SO, SO WHAT I'M HEARING YOU GUYS SAY IS THAT, UM, THE BUDGET'S GONNA BE RELEASED ON THE 31ST.
YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO CONSIDER AND, AND MEET PRIOR TO THE AU OUR AUGUST MEETING, POTENTIALLY DRAFT SOME SUBJECT TOPICS TO ADDRESS IN A POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATION.
AND THEN AT OUR AUGUST MEETING, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SESSION WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BRING THOSE UP AND WE WILL EDIT IT THEN AND THERE SAY, YES, WE'RE AGREEING ON THIS POINT AND NO CHANGES IN LANGUAGE.
AND HERE WE'RE SOMEBODY MIGHT SAY, I DON'T, SO SO YOU WANNA KIND OF HAVE A LITTLE WORK SESSION? YEAH, I MEAN, USE OUR MEETINGS A DELIBERATIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DECIDE AS A GROUP ON WHAT LANGUAGE TO ADVANCE AND, AND THAT I THINK THAT, AND I GUESS A QUESTION I HAVE FOR STAFF, IS IT APPROPRIATE, AND I KNOW WE GOT OUR BRU ACT TRAINING, IF BOARD MEMBERS SEND YOU THEIR IDEAS DIRECTLY AND YOU HAVE IT, UH, AHEAD OF TIME FOR CONSIDERATION OR DISCUSSION,
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OR IS THAT, SHOULD WE WAIT AND PEOPLE JUST BRING THEIR OWN PIECE OF PAPER WRITTEN UP? SO IF THE AD HOC IS MEETING OUTSIDE OF OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS, THAT'S OKAY.SO YOU GUYS CAN CONSOLIDATE, WRITE THE LETTER AND BRING IT TO THE MEETING AND HAVE THE WORKING MEETING ON AUGUST 6TH.
UM, YOU CAN SEND IT TO ME IF YOU WANT ME TO ATTACH IT TO THE AGENDA OR TO FORMAT IT, BUT, UH, CONTEXTUALLY I MOST LIKELY CAN'T ADD TO IT 'CAUSE IT'S FROM YOU AND YOUR WORDS.
UH, BUT YOU BOTH AS THE AD HOC, UH, CAN, CAN COLLABORATE ON THAT TOGETHER AND NOT VIOLATE THE BROWN ACT.
WELL, I GUESS FOR EVERYONE'S PARTICIPATION, WE COULD NOT, PEOPLE CANNOT SEND THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE IN A LETTER THAT WOULD BE A VIOLATION.
THEY HAVE TO, AND THE THEY'D HAVE TO BRING IT TO THE REGULAR MEETING.
THAT COLLABORATION WOULD HAPPEN LIVE ON AUGUST 6TH, THOUGH.
YOU COULD, WE COULD EDIT IT LIVE.
I COULD PROBABLY HAVE IT UP HERE AND HELP, UM, MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT EDITED AND THEN WE CAN ADOPT IT AND MOVE IT FORWARD AFTER THAT.
AND JUST, JUST TO CLARIFY, SO WE'LL HAVE THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, WE'LL WORK ON A DRAFT LETTER, BUT THE NON AD HOC COMMITTEE MEMBERS, IF THEY HAVE THINGS THEY WANT TO INCLUDE IN A LETTER, THEY SHOULD SEND IT DIRECTLY TO YOU BEFORE THE MEETING AND YOU'D HAVE IT AS EDITABLE TEXT? UH, SO OR IS THAT NO, JUST FOR A POINT OF CLARITY, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE THE MEMBERS THAT ARE CREATING THE DRAFT.
THEY SHOULD BE PREPARED TO BRING A, LIKE, YOU KNOW, AS FINALIZED AS POSSIBLE, LIKE OFFER OF A DRAFT TO THE AUGUST 6TH MEETING.
AND THEN IN THE EVENT THAT ANY NON, UM, AD HOC MEMBERS, IF, IF, YOU KNOW, IF ANY OF THE NON AD HOC MEMBERS HAVE IDEAS, THEN THEY WOULD NEED TO BRING IT, UH, UP DURING THAT AGENDA ITEM ON AUGUST 6TH.
AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SORT OF, UH, AMENDED AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE AD HOC IS THE COMMITTEE WHERE YOU'RE WORKSHOPPING THE LETTER.
AND I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE, THE LETTER, THE LAST LETTER CAME OUT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, UM, OF THAT MOMENT.
SO YOU'LL BRING THE DRAFT LETTER ON AUGUST 6TH AND THEN THE BODY WILL, UH, AMEND IT.
AND WITH THE IDEA THAT YOU WOULD, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU CAN HAVE A FINALIZED VERSION FOR THAT MEETING BECAUSE THE NEXT MEETING FOR THE COC IS WELL AFTER BUDGET SEASON.
SO THIS IS YOUR SORT OF MOMENT TO COME TOGETHER AS A WHOLE BODY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MODIFY THE LETTER AND FINALIZE IT AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
AND IF I COULD MAYBE INTERJECT ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE INTERPRETATION, PERHAPS ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IF YOU THINK THAT PERHAPS CHAIR CREWS WILL MAKE A SUGGESTION DURING YOUR COLLABORATION DISCUSSION AND HE ALREADY HAS THE LANGUAGE THAT HE WANTS TO INCLUDE, AND IF HE WANTS TO SEND IT TO ME IN ADVANCE, I CAN SAVE IT IN MY INBOX TO HAVE LIVE, FOR ME TO UPDATE.
BUT I WILL NOT SHARE IT WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
SO IF YOU WANT ME TO ADMINISTRATIVELY HAVE IT READY TO GO HERE IN MY SPACE, I CAN HAVE THAT READY.
UH, 'CAUSE I THINK THERE WOULD, IT WOULD BE TAKE LONGER IF CHAIR CRUZ WAS GOING TO READ FROM SOMETHING HE WAS GONNA SHARE, AND I'M TRYING TO TAKE NOTES TO MAKE SURE I'M CAPTURING IT CORRECTLY.
SO ADMINISTRATIVELY I CAN SAVE IT IN MY INBOX AND GET READY TO ROLL ON AUGUST 6TH.
UH, BUT I WILL NOT PUT IT IN THE LETTER IF THAT MAKES SENSE UNTIL THE MEETING.
I, I, I ACTUALLY THINK THIS TIMING IS REALLY GOOD.
UM, I MEAN, WE'LL HAVE A, A FIRST LOOK AT THE BUDGET, UM, PROBABLY ONE OF THE VERY FIRST LOOKS, I MEAN IT'S LITTLE HAVE US STUDYING IT VERY EARLY ON MM-HMM
AND, UM, KIND OF A FIRST A, A VERY EARLY, UM, UH, PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF A LETTER.
SO I, I ACTUALLY THINK THIS TIMING WORKS OUT REALLY NICELY.
ROLANDO, GO AHEAD, MEMBER 2, 2, 2 LAST QUESTIONS.
DOES, UH, I KNOW THE BUDGET'S A VERY BIG DOCUMENT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF PULLS OUT AND DOES A MEASURE A PORTION OR, UM, OR IF THAT'S IN THE BUDGET.
THERE'S A APPENDIX ABOUT MEASURE A, UH, THAT MAKES IT EASIER OF WHERE TO FIND THE RELEVANT, UH, TOPICS.
IS THAT, UH, YES, MEMBER FOR EVERY ANNUAL BUDGET WE PRESENT A BALLOT CHAPTER SECTION, WHICH WILL HAVE SPECIFIC HIGHLIGHTS FOR MEASURE A AND SCHEDULES TO SHOW HOW THE FUNDING WILL BE SPENT.
SO IT'LL BE EASILY IDENTIFIED AND PULLED OUT.
AND LAST QUESTION FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
UH, WHAT DO WE WANNA CALL THAT AGENDA ITEM SO THAT IT'S PROPERLY TITLED AND ACTIONABLE? IS IT ANNUAL LETTER FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT? IS IT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CALL IT.
I, I THINK LAST YEAR WE JUST SAID A RECOMMENDED DRAFT LETTER TO BE REVIEWED, UH, OR RECOMMENDED DRAFT LETTER FROM THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE IS IS THE
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WAY WE HAD AWARDED IT LAST YEAR.YEAH, WE CAN MIRROR THE LANGUAGE FROM LAST YEAR.
UM, ALSO JUST, IT COULD POTENTIALLY COME THROUGH OUR STANDING AD HOC AGENDA ITEM, BUT IF WE JUST WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING, WE CAN DO THAT AS, AS WELL.
SO WE CAN LOOK AT A PRIOR AGENDA AND JUST FOLLOW THAT FORMAT.
MAYBE, MAYBE THE, UH, THEY COULD DO BE A TWO AGENDA ITEM OF A AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORT BACK AND THEN, UH, VOTE ON A LETTER FINALIZATION THAT WAY.
I LIKE THAT IT MIGHT BE CLEAN.
AND, AND I THINK FOR CLARITY, I THINK WE PROBABLY WOULD WANNA SAY THAT WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE SOONEST IF, IF, IF THE, THE DROP DEAD DEADLINE IS JULY 31ST FOR THE BUDGET TO THE PUBLIC? UH, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN RECOMMEND OR ASK STAFF TO SPECIFICALLY SEND THE BUDGET DIRECTLY TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND HIGHLIGHT THE SECTION THAT IS ABOUT MEASURE A SO THAT EVERYONE HAS IT? SO THAT'S THE FIRST PIECE.
YOU WOULD GET THAT BY JULY 31ST.
AND THEN THE SECOND PIECE OF CLARITY WOULD BE THAT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WOULD ENSURE THAT THEIR DRAFT BE SENT TO STAFF.
BECAUSE IF THE AGENDA ITEM AND PACKAGE IS SENT 72 HOURS BEFORE THEN THAT LETTER, THAT WOULD GIVE THE NON-AD HOC COMMITTEE MEMBERS 72 HOURS TO AT LEAST HAVE THAT DRAFT OF REPORT TO LOOK AT IT.
THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY HEARTBURN, YOU CAN BE READY TO PREPARE THAT AND SAY, HERE'S MY HEARTBURN.
AND THEN, AND THEN, AND THEN SEND IT.
MAYBE LIKE SHE'S SUGGESTING IF IT'S ANY REALLY MAJOR CHANGES, SEND THE CHANGES AND SHE CAN KIND OF SHOW THE TWO UP ON THE TOP.
IT IT'LL BE A LOT EASIER TO WORK THROUGH.
YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK JAN AND I ARE DO ANYTHING THAT HAS HEARTBURN RELATED RIGHT
UM, COULD, COULD ONE OF YOU, UM, SEND US A, A NOTICE OF WHEN THAT 72 HOURS WHEN YOU WILL BE SENDING OUT THE PAPERWORK SO THAT WE CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHEN, WHAT OUR DEADLINE IS TO GET IT TO YOU AND THAT'S REASONABLE FOR YOU AND REASONABLE FOR US? YES.
WE HAVE A LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO POST THE AGENDA, UH, FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS.
SO WE WILL SEND YOU THAT DATE BASED ON OUR AUGUST 6TH DATE AND WHEN WE WOULD JUST SEE MATERIALS FROM YOU BY.
AND I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SEND, ONCE THE BOOK IS PUBLIC, I'M HAPPY TO SEND THE LINK TO THE FULL BOARD AND I CAN UH, NOTE WHAT PAGE MEASURE A IS ON SO THAT WAY YOU CAN JUMP CONTROL F RIGHT TO IT.
AND UM, JUST TO ADD, UM, ANY MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT DO HAVE THOUGHTS, I KNOW WE DISCUSSED EMAILING THEM, BUT I WOULD JUST PERHAPS ALSO BRING HARD COPIES FOR ALL THE MEMBERS TOO AND DON'T CC ANYBODY ELSE.
'CAUSE THAT'S CALLED HARD COPY DAISY CHAIN, RIGHT? OR EMAILS.
ANY LAST COMMENTS BY THE MEMBERS? I DO WANT JUST AS A POINT OF ORDER, UM, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A NEW MEMBER, UM, FOR MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC, YOU CAN REQUEST MEASURE A RELATED INFORMATION FROM STAFF AS PART OF YOUR LETTER.
SO, UM, THAT WOULD NOT NEED TO BE AGENDIZED AS YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH THE LETTER.
IN ADDITION TO THE BUDGET, UM, IF THERE'S ANYTHING MEASURE A RELATED THAT YOU MIGHT NEED, THAT WOULD JUST BE A REQUEST THAT WOULD BE NEED.
YOU JUST NEED TO SUBMIT THAT TO STAFF AND THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
AND IF IT'S RELEVANT TO THE, AND WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE BODY, THEN WE CAN, UH, ACCOMMODATE.
UH, SO I GUESS RIGHT NOW WE'LL TAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.
AND LAST, NO MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK.
CLERK, CAN WE PLEASE CALL FOR A VOTE TO RECEIVE THE REPORT? THANKS.
MEMBER OCHO, I CAN TAKE A VERBAL YES.
[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Transactions and Use Tax Citizens' Advisory Committee on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.]
OFFICIAL AT THIS TIME, WE WILL TAKE ANY NON-AG AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENTS, ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK UP AND ON AN ITEM NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM SEEING NONE, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.[ADJOURNMENT]
NO OBJECTION, I DECLARE THE MEETING ADJOURNED.