Jun 11, 2026 Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities - Revised

[00:00:09]

WELCOME EVERYONE.

[CALL TO ORDER]

AND IT IS DRUM ROLL, 1:03 PM IN THE AFTERNOON.

UM, COMMISSIONERS, IF WE CAN START WITH ROLL CALL, AND

[ROLL CALL]

WE'LL START WITH, WE'LL START WITH ART ARTHUR ROMAN COMMISSIONER, UM, MALE HISPANIC, DARK HAIRED GREEN AT THE TEMPLES.

I'VE GOT A WHEAT AND GREEN SHIRT ON WITH SOME WHITE BROWN PANTS ON TODAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS CHAKA GARBAT, VICE CHAIR AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE WITH MEDIUM LENGTH BLACK HAIR, WEARING A BLACK TOP AND A BLACK JACKET.

THANK YOU.

UM, HI, I AM GRETCHEN SWANSON.

I'M CHAIR OF K COD.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER.

UM, TODAY I HAVE A, A WHITE AND GRAY STRIPE TOP, UH, WITH A BEIGE VEST AND SOME METAL EARRINGS.

I AM A OLDER WHITE WOMAN WITH FAIRLY SHORT, CURLY WHITE HAIR.

HI, I AM CACO SECRETARY JULIE DEAN.

I'M A CA CAUCASIAN WOMAN IN A MOBILITY SCOOTER WITH SHE, HER, HER PRONOUNS.

I HAVE SHORT AUBURN HAIR GLASSES, AND I'M WEARING A BLACK FLOWERY DRESS.

I AM COMMISSIONER VONG.

MY PRONOUN IS HER.

SHE, I AM AN ASIAN WOMAN AND I AM USING A POWER WHEELCHAIR.

I HAVE SHORT GROUND HAIR.

I AM WEARING A BLUE SHIRT.

WE HAVE A, A QUORUM.

OKAY, WE HAVE QUORUM.

YES.

UM, I DO WANT TO, UH, STATE THAT COMMISSIONERS ADAMS GONZALEZ, HOPE AND JONES ARE, UM, ABSENT, UH, THERE'S AN EXCUSE ABSENCE FOR EACH OF THEM.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER OBJECTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? OKAY, SEEING NONE, UM, WE'LL, UH, MOVE ON.

UH, BEFORE I START THE, UM, REGULAR AGENDA, I DO LIKE TO NOTE, UM, WHEN IT, THERE'S SOMETHING, UM, HAPPENING AND WE HAVE SO MANY ISSUES, UH, IN THE DISABILITY, UH, COMMUNITY WORLD.

AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS ELDER ABUSE MONTH, THE MONTH OF JUNE.

AND THAT JUST BRINGS TO MIND THAT, UM, ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY, SHARED COMMUNITIES OF OLDER ADULTS AND, UH, COMMUNITIES OF DISABILITY IS A HUGE, HUGE, HUGE PROBLEM.

AND AWARENESS IS STILL CRITICAL BECAUSE FEW PEOPLE WHO, UH, EXPERIENCE ABUSE IN THESE COMMUNITIES ACTUALLY SEEK SUPPORT AND OR ARE GETTING THEIR NEEDS, UH, MET AND REPORTED AND THEN MET.

AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF ABUSE FROM NEGLECT TO THREATS TO, UH, PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.

THE LIST GOES ON AND YOU CAN ALL READ IT YOURSELF, BUT THE POINT IS, IS THAT WE HAVE A HUGE POPULATION OF OLDER ADULTS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITY IN CALIFORNIA AND CERTAINLY HERE IN LONG BEACH.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO JUST DO IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER.

AND I JUST WANNA POINT OUT, WE HAVE TOOLS.

WE HAVE BESIDES A, UM, REPORTING TO THE COUNTY, UM, IS, UH, WISE IN HEALTHY AGING, UH, IS OUR LONG-TERM AMAN SERVICE.

THEY, UH, RUN THE STATE PROGRAM HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS A GREAT PLACE TO START.

WE ALSO HAVE SENIOR POLICE PARTNERS.

WE HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH LINE HERE THROUGH, UH, THE 9 1 1 PROGRAM.

WE HAVE TOOLS HERE SO THAT IF PEOPLE SEE OR BELIEVE THEY EXPERIENCE, THERE'S SOMEONE EXPERIENCING, UM, VIOLENCE AGAINST, UM, SOMEONE THEY KNOW OR THEMSELVES.

THERE ARE SOME TOOLS, UM, AND OUR SENIOR POLICE PARTNERS AND, UM,

[00:05:01]

SO AGAIN, UH, IT'S, IT'S A, A TERRIBLE TOPIC, BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE HAVE TO FACE WITH THAT.

UM, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA.

UM, THE RECOMMENDATION

[1. 26-55422 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting of Thursday, May 14, 2026.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION MOTION? JULIE DEAN, I SECOND.

THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CORRECTIONS? IN THE MINUTES THERE IN YOUR PACKET, WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

IF ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE LINE UP TO THE PODIUM NOW.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MYRA GARCIA.

MY NAME IS MARA GARCIA AND I'M HERE NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE IMMIGRATION TOPIC.

MY INTEREST IN BEING HERE IS ALSO BECAUSE POLICE IS NOT PROPERLY TRAINED.

1 50 51 45.

THEY'RE USING 51 50 AND 51 45 TO TREAT OUR KIDS WITH AUTISM.

OUR KIDS, A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

THEY TAKE HIM AWAY FOR UP TO THREE DAYS.

AND I'M JUST GONNA ASK YOU TO SPEAK UP LOUDER AS THE INTERPRETER.

YOU'RE NOT BY THE MIC, SO I, IT'S HARD TO HEAR.

WE WANNA HEAR PAUL.

AND SO THEY TAKE 'EM AWAY FOR THREE DAYS AT THE HOSPITAL AND THEY DON'T ALLOW US TO SEE THEM.

AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY GET PUT ON MEDICATION WHEN THEY DON'T NEED IT.

OUR KIDS HAVE A LOT OF STEREOTYPES AND BEHAVIORS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT COMMUNICATE.

FOR US, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE EDUCATE THE POLICE FORCE, NOT JUST THE POLICE FORCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO EDUCATE ALL OF YOU.

I'M SORRY, BECAUSE I ASSURE YOU THAT IF YOU SAW MY SON, UM, WITHOUT KNOWING HIM, AND YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT HE HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, I HAVE A SUPPORT GROUP WITH PARENTS, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M NOT INTERESTED IN EDUCATING PARENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND I WOULD LIKE THAT, UH, THE LOGO OR THE PLACARD THAT YOU HAVE IN THE RESTROOM THAT SAYS THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY FOR THAT TO TAKE IT AWAY.

SO EITHER TAKE IT AWAY OR MAKE IT SO THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO CHANGE MY ADULT SON WHO WEARS A DIAPER IN A DIGNIFIED WAY.

THANK YOU.

AND I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MYRA, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

OKAY.

UH, WE DON'T TAKE, UH, IT'S NOT AN INTERCHANGE, AS YOU MAY KNOW.

UM, I WOULD ASK ALES IF YOU COULD GET, UM, THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION SO WE COULD FOLLOW UP APPROPRIATELY.

THAT WOULD BE, UH, SUPER.

ANY OTHER, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT, SEEING NONE IN PERSON AND THERE ARE NO MEMBERS ONLINE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE ZOOM.

AND JUST STATING FOR THE RECORD THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON-AG AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT INSTEAD OF THE MINUTES.

SO WE CAN CALL FOR THE VOTE.

WHEN YOU'RE READY, CALL FOR THE VOTE.

IF YOU'LL DO RULE CALL, OF COURSE.

COMMISSIONER ROMO.

AYE.

COMMISSIONER WONG.

THANK YOU.

UH, SECRETARY JEAN.

AYE.

VICE CHAIR GARBE.

AYE.

CHAIR SWANSON.

[00:10:01]

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL GO ON TO THE SECOND AGENDA ITEM.

[2. 26-55423 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from The LGBTQ Center Long Beach on its programs and services, including efforts to support equitable access and serve LGBTQ+ individuals with disabilities.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? AYE.

OKAY.

I'LL SECOND.

PROFESSIONAL, FONG AND ROMO.

THANK YOU.

EXCELLENT.

MAY WE HAVE A PRESENTATION? THANK YOU.

COME ON UP TO THE MIC.

SPEAK RIGHT INTO THE MIC.

HELLO? HI.

YES.

YES.

UM, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A CLICKER HERE.

IS IT? I DON'T THINK I SEE A CLICKER.

.

IT'S OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM .

HELLO EVERYONE.

JUST WAITING FOR THE SLIDES TO COME UP.

JUST GIVE US ONE SECOND.

WE'LL PUT TOGETHER THE PRESENTATION FOR YOU.

OF COURSE.

THANK YOU.

JUST KEEP BREATHING.

IT'S .

WE GO THROUGH THIS ALL THE TIME.

OH, YEAH.

HE ISN'T.

WE'LL GET IT.

THERE'S FIVE PEOPLE IN A DARK ROOM BEHIND US THAT ARE WORKING MADLY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

SO JUST RELAX.

DO WE HAVE A STATUS? WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR THE DISPLAY TO BE, OR THE PRESENTATION TO BE DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN.

I CAN'T HEAR HER.

UH, MY APOLOGIES.

WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE PRESENTATION TO BE DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

WHILE WE'RE WAITING, MAYBE YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

YEAH.

UM, THANK YOU.

UH, MY NAME IS JAY RADO.

I USE HE THEY PRONOUNS.

I AM THE MANAGER OF ANTI-VIOLENCE SERVICES AT THE L-G-B-T-Q CENTER LONG BEACH IN OUR LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

I, I HAVE, UH, SHORT BLACK HAIR, UH, SILVER HOOP EARRINGS, AND A WHITE BUTTON SHIRT.

THANK YOU.

OF COURSE.

HERE WE GO.

AWESOME.

LET'S GO.

OKAY, CLICK THROUGH.

SO I AM HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SERVICES AT THE L-G-B-T-Q CENTER LONG BEACH.

UM, I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE LAST MONTH, BUT, UM, THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THAT, BUT I'M GLAD THAT I'M HERE TODAY AND ABLE TO SPEAK

[00:15:01]

SO, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF, UM, AND MY ROLE.

AS I MENTIONED, I AM THE MANAGER OF ANTI-VIOLENCE SERVICES AT THE L-G-B-T-Q CENTER AT LONG BEACH IN OUR LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

MY ROLE THERE IS TO OVERSEE OUR ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAMMING IN OUR LEGAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

SO I LIKE TO THINK OF MYSELF AS KIND OF LIKE THE MIDDLE PERSON IN BETWEEN OUR, UH, DIRECTOR AS WELL AS OUR FRONTLINE STAFF WHO HAVE, UH, DIRECT COMMUNITY, UH, CONNECTIONS AND DO INTAKES.

SO I AM COORDINATING REFERRALS.

I AM KIND OF DOING A LITTLE BIT ON THE, A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING ON THE TEAM, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT AND ALSO, UM, MANAGING, UH, ADDITIONAL CLIENT NEEDS.

UM, I AM ALSO THE CO-CHAIR OF THE L-G-B-T-Q-I-A ISSUES COMMITTEE THROUGH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNCIL.

UH, AND THAT'S THROUGH THE LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

UM, THERE WE TALK ABOUT INTERSECTING ISSUES WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND L-G-B-T-Q-I-A ISSUES SUCH AS ACCESS TO SHELTER.

ANY OTHER ISSUES IN TERMS OF THAT INTERSECTION? I AM A CERTIFIED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSELOR AS WELL AS A SEXUAL ASSAULT CRISIS COUNSELOR.

UM, SOME OF MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE I AT THE CENTER, I, PRIOR TO HAVING A PAYROLL AT THE CENTER, I WAS AN INTERN WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

UM, THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED KIND OF MY FOUNDATION OF PROVIDING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE IN A LEGAL MANNER.

SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION.

ALSO, I GRADUATED FROM, UH, CAL STATE LOS ANGELES.

I WANTED TO DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF, OF THE MISSION AND VISION AT THE L-G-B-T-Q CENTER LONG BEACH.

OUR MISSION BEING THE L-G-B-T-Q CENTER LONG BEACH IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING EQUITY FOR L-G-B-T-Q PEOPLE THROUGH CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ADVOCACY EDUCATION PROGRAM AND SERVICES.

OUR VISION IS TO ACHIEVE FULLY AFFIRMING COMMUNITIES WHERE ALL L-G-B-T-Q PEOPLE LIVE IN HEALTH, WELLNESS AND SAFETY, WEALTH, HEALTH, HEALTH, WELLNESS, SAFETY, AND PROSPERITY.

SO I DID WANT TO GO THROUGH, UM, A NUMBER OF SERVICES AT OUR CENTER.

UM, RIGHT HERE IN THIS SECTION, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE AREAS, BUT I WILL BE GOING THROUGH OUR, UM, IN DEPTH WITH OUR ACTUAL PROGRAMS. BUT HERE, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR SOCIAL AND SUPPORT GROUPS AS WELL AS OUR, UH, L-G-B-T-Q LIBRARY.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST L-G-B-T-Q LIBRARIES, I WANT TO SAY IN CALIFORNIA, IF NOT PROBABLY IN THE UNITED STATES.

UM, ALL WITH INCLUSIVE L-G-B-T-Q BOOKS.

AND, UM, IF FOLKS ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT SOME SUPPORT GROUPS THAT WE HAVE, WE HOST A PLETHORA OF THEM AROUND DIFFERENT AREAS AND DIFFERENT TOPICS.

I WOULD DEFINITELY, UM, LET YOU KNOW TO CHECK OUT OUR, OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.

IN TERMS OF THE LIBRARY FOLKS ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY COME TO THE CENTER AND GET A LIBRARY CARD.

UM, AND WE JUST RECENTLY REVAMPED IT, SO IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN AN AWESOME PROJECT ON THAT.

SO, MORE INFORMATION@CENTERLB.ORG.

SO I WANTED TO START OFF TO TALK ABOUT OUR IN-HOUSE PROGRAMS, UM, OUR YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.

UM, TWO MAIN, TWO MAIN TOPICS THERE I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ARE MIGHTY PROGRAM, WHICH IS MENTORING YOUTH THROUGH EMPOWERMENT.

IT'S FOUR AGES, L-G-B-T-Q, YOUTH AGES 13 TO 18.

THEY MEET WEEKLY, HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMMING, UM, AND ALSO OUR YOUTH SERVICES, YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.

UM, ALSO WORKS WITH THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE L-G-B-T-Q-I-A STUDENTS WITH, UH, AFFIRMING SPACES.

AND THEY ALSO DO REALLY AWESOME PROGRAMMING THERE.

UM, AND THAT THE REALLY AWESOME THING ABOUT ABOUT THAT IS THEY'RE LOCATED, UM, I BELIEVE TWO TIMES A WEEK, UM, AT THE ACTUAL SCHOOLS.

UH, SO ACTUALLY SHOWING UP TO THE SCHOOLS AND BEING PRESENT WITH THE, UM, L-G-B-T-Q TEENS AND, AND YOUTH.

UH, OUR OTHER PROGRAM, OUR HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE FREE HIV AND STI TESTING, UM, THAT IS AVAILABLE, UH, BY WALKUP OR APPOINTMENT.

UM, AND THEN ALSO OPTIONS AROUND PREVENTATIVE CARE WITH CONNECTIONS.

WE DO HAVE, UM, NURSE PRACTITIONERS THAT ARE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT HEALTH AND ALSO MAKE CONNECTIONS TO PREP AND PEP.

OUR LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT I REPRESENT.

UH, WE DO L-G-B-T-Q INCLUSIVE AND AFFIRMING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF ANY TYPE OF CRIME.

UH, WE ALSO DO NAME AND GENDER MARKER CHANGE PETITION ASSISTANCE WHERE WE HELP FOLKS FILL OUT FORMS FOR COURT FILINGS FOR CHANGING THEIR NAME AND OR GENDER MARKER.

[00:20:01]

UM, USUALLY OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES LAST AROUND FOR SHORT TERM 15 WEEKS, BUT AFTER THAT PERIOD, IF FOLKS ARE NEEDING MORE SUPPORT OR ARE NEEDING TO, UH, GET CONNECTION TO OTHER RESOURCES, THERE ARE REFERRALS TO TRUSTED AND AFFIRMING REFERRALS, UH, THAT ARE TAILORED FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL CLIENT.

UM, AND THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM IS THAT IT IS FEE FOR SERVICE AND IT'S ON A SLIDING SCALE.

MY APOLOGIES, I DIDN'T HAVE THE SLIDE OVER THERE.

UM, THE LAST TWO, UH, SERVICES IN OUR CENTER ARE OUR HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP SERVICES.

UH, WE PROVIDE L-G-B-T-Q SPECIFIC, INCLUSIVE AND AFFIRMING SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE.

UM, THE TYPE OF SUPPORT LOOKS DIFFERENT, UM, FOR DEPENDING ON WHAT FOLKS NEED.

SO WE ASK FOLKS TO CALL AND, UH, DO AN ASSESSMENT WITH OUR, OR ASSESSMENT AND INTAKE WITH OUR TEAM TO SEE WHAT'S THE BEST FIT FOR FOLKS ON THAT.

UH, FOR OUR OLDER ADULT SERVICES, WE OFFER, UH, SOCIAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO L-G-B-T-Q, OLDER ADULTS.

UM, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS MONTHLY CALENDAR, UH, FULL OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, VIRTUAL MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS, AND WORKSHOPS.

UH, WE DO HAVE A WEEKLY, UH, WORKSHOP OR WEEKLY, UM, GROUP CALLED OUR COFFEE TALK TUESDAYS, WHICH, UM, FOLKS SHOW UP WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROGRAM EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES, SORRY, EVERY WEEK.

SOMETIMES IT'S, UH, CHATTING, SOMETIMES IT'S TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL TOPICS.

UM, THE PROGRAMMING IS, IS VERY DIFFERENT EVERY WEEK.

SO JUST TO TALK ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THE, THE INFORMATION AROUND FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES THAT COME TO OUR CENTER.

UM, COMMUN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ASKED ABOUT DISABILITY DURING INTAKES.

MOST OF OUR PROGRAMS DO ASK THAT IN OUR INTAKE PROCESS.

UH, THE FOLLOWING REPRESENT IN 2025, THE SERVICE YEAR OF CLIENTS WHO DISCLOSE LIVING WITH ONE OR MORE DISABILITIES.

UM, OUR CENTER PROGRAMMING SEES ANYWHERE FROM 19 TO 52% OF FOLKS WHO DISCLOSE LIVING WITH MORE ONE OR MORE DISABILITIES.

AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF, IT'S STILL PRETTY EARLY IN THE YEAR, AND THE, THESE SLIDES WERE DONE LAST MONTH, BUT, UH, THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE YEAR OF 2026.

AGAIN, IT COULD LOOK LIKE ANYTHING FROM 20 TO 50% OF FOLKS THAT COME IN, UM, WHO DISCLOSE THAT ARE LIVING WITH ONE OR MORE DISABILITIES.

AND WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE MANY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE IN PROGRAMMING IN TERMS OF CAPTURING THIS DATA.

AND THERE ARE DEFINITELY CONTINUOUS, UH, EFFORTS DONE ON OUR PART TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE CAPTURING THAT DATA IN A WAY THAT'S AFFIRMING AND IT'S INCLUSIVE.

SO DEFINITELY, UH, A WORK IN PROGRESS, I'D SAY.

UM, SO GOING TO EQUITABLE ACCESS.

UM, LIKE I MENTIONED, UM, WE TRACK INFORMATION TO ENSURE RESPONSIVENESS, UM, DURING, DURING THE TIME OF INTAKE.

UH, WE KNOW THAT CAPTURING DATA IS IMPORTANT WHEN SEEING, UH, WHICH COMMUNITIES WE ENGAGE WITH, WITH, AND WHICH COMMUNITIES WE ARE MISSING.

SO WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE USING, UM, THIS OPPORTUNITY AS ISSUE SPOTTING, UM, AND GETTING TO KNOW A FULL CONTEXT OF SOMEONE WHO IS APPROACHING OUR CENTER AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET A FULL PICTURE OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH, UM, AND WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANNA FOCUS, FOCUS ON WITH THEIR TIME WITH US.

UH, WE ALSO WANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO KNOW THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW, UH, KNOW THIS INFORMATION.

SO WE COULD LOOK AT THE, AGAIN, THE FULL PICTURE.

UM, OUR BUILDING HAS A LIFT FOR FOLKS WITH, UH, MOBILITY AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, UH, TO ENSURE, UH, ACCESS TO ALL FLOORS.

WE DO HAVE A, UM, A SECOND FLOOR.

SO THE LIFT IS LOCATED RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING, IN THE FRONT OF OUR BUILDING AND IS ACCESSIBLE TO FOLKS WHO NEED IT.

UM, ONE OF OUR BEST PRACTICES THAT WE DO IS WHEN FOLKS INTERACT WITH OUR COMMUNITY OR OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING, WE ASK IF, UM, THEY WOULD LIKE TO, IF THERE'S, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO WALK UP THE STAIRS, UM, OR IF THEY'D LIKE TO USE THE LIFT.

SO WE INCORPORATE THAT, UM, PRETTY REGULARLY.

[00:25:03]

AND ALSO, WE, UH, WE ARE CONNECTED WITH AN A SL INTERPRETER SERVICE WHO, UH, PROVIDE VIDEO INTERPRETATION.

UH, WE RECENTLY REDID OUR, UH, A SL INTERPRETING, UM, ACCESS.

SO WE NOW HAVE A CONTRACT WITH, UM, LANGUAGE WORLD WHO IS CONNECTED WITH, WITH OUR, OUR CENTER, UM, CONTINUED.

SO, UH, OUR DEPARTMENTS CUSTOMIZE OUR APPROACH TO SERVICES TO ACCOMMODATE COMMUNITY MEMBER NEEDS.

UH, THIS COULD LOOK LIKE VIRTUAL APPOINTMENTS OR IN-PERSON APPOINTMENTS TO MEET INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY'RE AT.

UH, WE HAVE CLIENTS WHO PERHAPS CANNOT MAKE IT INTO THE OFFICE.

SO, UM, AT ANY POINT IF FOLKS INDICATE ANY OF THAT, WE SWITCH THE APPROACH BASED ON, UH, WHAT THEIR COMFORT LEVEL OR WHAT THEIR NEED IS.

AND STAFF ON OUR TEAM ARE CONSISTENTLY SEEKING TRAININGS FOR TRAININGS AND RESOURCES TO HAVE ONGOING DISCUSSION ON HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE USING, UH, BEST PRACTICES FOR SERVING FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES.

UH, SOME OF OUR GROUP FACILITATORS HAVE EXPERTISE IN WORKING WITH FOLKS WHO ARE NEURODIVERSE, UM, BUT DEFINITELY AN AREA WHERE WE ARE OPEN TO SEEKING ANY TRAININGS AND, AND CONNECTING ON BEST PRACTICES.

UM, AND OUR LAST POINT HERE, UH, WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING, UH, THE CENTER, UH, ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

SO THAT MEANS BEING AN ONGOING DISCUSSION AND COMMUNITY, UH, WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND EXPERTS TO CAPTURE THE FEEDBACK, UH, TO IMPROVING OUR APPROACHES, OUR APPROACHES TO SERVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES.

UH, WE ENCOURAGE FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS AND IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY ACROSS ALL SERVICES AND SPACES.

THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR YOU.

UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US, WE HAVE AN INSTAGRAM PAGE, AND THEN WE ALSO, I FORGOT TO LIST IT HERE, BUT OUR WEBSITE IS JUST CENTER LB.ORG.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INQUIRIES ABOUT SERVICES, UH, WE CAN ALSO RECEIVE THAT AT THE EMAIL INFO@CENTERLB.ORG.

AND THAT IS OUR MAIN PHONE NUMBER LINE RIGHT THERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.

THANKS, JAY.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO KIND OF MOVE INTO THE COMMISSION SORT OF PROTOCOL HERE, BUT STAY, STAY THERE.

UM, ARE THERE ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS BEFORE WE START? WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE, UH, SOME DISCUSSION, UH, HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT AFTER ARTS PARKING.

IS THAT FOR PERSONS THAT ARE HOMELESS? AND WHAT IS THAT? COMMUNITY PARKING? I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF WE'RE SET UP TO RECEIVE FOLKS WHO ARE, UM, HOUSELESS IN OUR PARKING LOT.

THERE IS, THAT IS LIKE A, GENERATE A WAY TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR US, WHERE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO CAN'T FIND PARKING ON THE STREET, BUY A PARKING PASS OR A PARKING PERMIT FROM US AND CAN PARK OVERNIGHT.

UM, THAT'S THE MAIN, THE MAIN THING FOR THAT.

THANK YOU.

THANKS, JAY.

UH, JUST AS, JUST CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, DO YOU WANT CLARIFYING OR DO YOU WANT TO GO INTO DISCUSSION? WE NEED TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

OH, OKAY.

GO AHEAD.

OKAY.

UM, WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ITEM? UH, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AND OR USE YOUR ZOOM FUNCTION.

SEEING NONE.

OKAY.

EXCELLENT.

OKAY, SO, UM, WE'LL HAVE COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSION.

I JUST, JUST THE PARKING YOU'RE LOCATED ON 10TH AND ABISPO, CORRECT? FOURTH AND CHERRY? OH, I'M THINKING OF THE WRONG ONE.

RIGHT ON RETRO ROW.

I, I, I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE I SAID MY BROTHER, UM, GOES CAMPING WITH YOU GUYS.

.

OH, AWESOME.

SO I DROP HIM OFF THERE EVERY YEAR AND PICK HIM UP.

NO, I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT THE AFTER HOUR PARKING.

AND I KNOW PARKING IS A PREMIUM IN THAT AREA, SO I SEE WHY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER ROMO.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER GARBER WASTE HERE.

HI.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE CENTER IS DOING.

UM, IT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT THE DISABILITY IS BEING DISCUSSED AT THE CENTER.

I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE IN A, IN A FEW YEARS, WELL, IT'S BEEN YEARS, BUT I'M JUST GLAD THAT THERE'S, THEY HAVE SO MANY PROGRAMS THAT THEY OFFER TO OUR COMMUNITY,

[00:30:01]

THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

APPRECIATE YOU MORE.

COMMISSIONER DEAN? UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER GARBE SAID THAT, UM, IT'S SO THOROUGH.

I I USUALLY HAVE LIKE FIVE QUESTIONS AND I DON'T HAVE ANY .

UM, SO THANK YOU.

YEAH.

WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS AMAZING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY, HOLD ON.

IS KIM YES.

COMMISSIONER BONG, DO YOU HAVE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY? I'M NOT TOO SURE ON THAT.

I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK.

UM, I'M SO SORRY.

I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT RIGHT NOW.

UM, IS THERE ANYONE THAT I CAN CONTACT FOR DOUBLE CHECKING ON THAT? BUT YOU'RE GONNA FIND OUT? YES.

OKAY.

I LIKE THAT ANSWER.

OKAY.

DO YOU GUYS STILL HAVE BINGO, ? UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK MAYBE THAT MIGHT BE PART OF OUR PROGRAMMING THROUGH OUR COFFEE TALK.

I THINK IT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPENS DURING COFFEE TALK.

UM, I, I WILL ALSO ASK ABOUT IF BINGO IS STILL HAPPENING.

, THANK YOU SO MUCH, .

UM, I TOO THANK, UH, APPRECIATE THIS AND I ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE, UM, PODIUM AND THEY, THEY LOOK AT IT OR START TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WE MIGHT HAVE.

SO THAT'S REALLY APPRECIATED.

I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF, UM, THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITY.

HUGE INTERSECTION THERE.

AND I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT ABUSE WHEN I OPENED UP THE MEETING, AND THAT'S JUST A HUGE, I MEAN, I DIDN'T EVEN GO DOWN THE, UH, DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE PEOPLE ARE PERCEIVED AS MORE VULNERABLE.

UM, AND, AND WE NEED TO EMPOWER AND PROTECT, UM, UM, WISELY.

SO, UM, I HAVE TWO, UH, UH, CONSIDERATION AND A QUESTION.

ONE, DO YOU, UH, DOES THE CENTER DO CO-TRAINING WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY, LIKE POLICE, LIKE HEALTH, LIKE PARKS AND REC SO THAT THERE'S, UM, WE CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE AWARENESS AND THE, AND THE CAPACITY OF THE CENTER TO HELP SUPPORT? UM, I WOULD PROBABLY ANSWER GENERALLY ON THAT IS WE DO, UM, HAVE TRAININGS ON L-G-B-T-Q AFFIRMING SERVICES, UM, THAT COULD LOOK LIKE CONNECTIONS TO ANY OF THOSE THAT YOU NAMED.

UM, FROM WHAT I CAN REMEMBER AND FROM WHAT I RECALL, WE DO AND HAVE DONE SOME TRAININGS TO SOME OF THOSE ENTITIES.

UH, I THINK ONE OF THOSE HAS BEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE PAST.

UM, BUT OVERALL GENERAL TRAINING WE'RE OPEN TO PROVIDING FOR, FOR THOSE AREAS.

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

AND, UM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AND, AND, UH, TO COME BACK WITH US WITH ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECAUSE WE CAN HELP SUPPORT, UM, IN OUR ROLE.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK OUT FOR THAT, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UH, SENSITIZING THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY TO SOME OPPORTUNITIES.

AND THE LAST ONE, I THINK WE HAVE SOMETHING WE CAN HELP YOU WITH, WHICH I KNOW STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM, BUT WE ARE, UM, COMPLETING THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF OUR FIRST EVER SURVEY ON DISABILITY HERE IN THE CITY.

AND WE'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO COME OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT, UH, VOICES FROM YOUR, UH, COMMUNITIES ARE A PART OF THAT.

AND I'LL ASK YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO ALES IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW HIM, SO WE CAN MAKE THAT CONNECTION BEFORE THE, UM, DATA, UH, COLLECTION PROCESS CLOSES.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

YEAH.

WE'D, WE'D LOVE TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP WITH THE SURVEY.

COOL.

UM, OKAY.

WITH THAT, UM, LET'S CALL FOR THE VOTE.

COMMISSIONER ROMO.

AYE.

COMMISSIONER WONG.

AYE.

THANK YOU SECRETARY DEAN.

AYE.

VICE CHAIR GARVIN.

AYE.

CHAIR SWANSON.

AYE.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

MOTION CARRIES COFFEE TALK.

YES.

COFFEE TALK.

COFFEE TALK.

, UH, LET'S

[00:35:01]

RECOMMENDATION

[3. 26-55424 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the City of Long Beach, Community Development Department on the Housing Element and Accessibility Education and Training Program Update.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

UPDATE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? AYE.

C COMMISSIONER VONG, I SECOND.

THANK YOU.

VICE CHAIR GAR.

UM, MAY WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION? AWESOME.

SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU TOO.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS ALLISON SPINDLER RUIZ.

I'M A WHITE WOMAN WITH BROWN HAIR AND GLASSES, WEARING A BLUE, WHITE AND YELLOW FLOWER DRESS THIS AFTERNOON.

AND I AM THE CITY'S PLANNING BUREAU MANAGER.

AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY C TO INTRODUCE HERSELF AS WELL.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS ALYSSA DURAN.

I USE SHE HER PRONOUNS.

I AM AN ASIAN WOMAN WITH BLACK CURLY HAIR AND I'M WEARING A HOUNDS TOOTH BLAZER.

UM, I AM THE EQUITY SPECIALIST FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PRESENTING TO YOU ALL TODAY.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING FOR TIME AND SPACE ON YOUR AGENDA TO HAVE US HERE THIS AFTERNOON.

UM, MY TEAM AND I WERE HERE WITH YOU A FEW YEARS AGO AS WE WERE DEVELOPING THE LATEST UPDATE TO THE CITY'S, UM, HOUSING ELEMENT, WHICH IS REALLY THE CITY'S POLICY DOCUMENT FOR HOW WE SHOULD APPROACH HOUSING NEED AND, UM, HOW TO FACILITATE, UM, MEETING THOSE HOUSING NEEDS CITYWIDE.

UM, SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA DO A QUICK REFRESHER ON WHAT IS THE HOUSING ELEMENT WITH A, UH, A FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT.

GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO AND AN OVERVIEW OF THE ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM UNDERWAY.

SHARE SOME NEXT STEPS AND SOLICIT FEEDBACK.

SO WHAT IS THE HOUSING ELEMENT? ELEMENT IS JUST A FANCY WORD IN, IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO MEAN CHAPTER OF THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN.

SO EVERY CITY IN CALIFORNIA MUST MAINTAIN WHAT'S CALLED A GENERAL PLAN.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE POLICY FRAMEWORK OF HOW FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IS PLANNED FOR, UM, AND HOW WE'LL MEET THOSE VARIOUS NEEDS, INCLUDING RELATED TO HOUSING SAFETY, LAND USE, OPEN SPACE, MOBILITY AND MORE.

THE HOUSING ELEMENT IN PARTICULAR SETS GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES FOR HOUSING, AND IS REQUIRED TO SHOW HOW THE CITY WILL MEET DEMAND FOR NEW HOUSING AT ALL INCOME LEVELS, UH, PER STATE LAW.

UM, AND THE HOUSING ELEMENT ALSO LAYS OUT THE CITY'S PLAN FOR REMOVING BARRIERS TO HOUSING PRODUCTION AND, UH, CONTRIBUTING OUR FAIR SHARE OF AFFORDABLE AND MARKET RATE HOUSING.

THIS IS HOW THE DOCUMENT IS BROKEN DOWN, AND I PROBABLY DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU WHY HOUSING IS SO IMPORTANT, BUT HOUSING IS OFTEN A HOUSEHOLD'S BIGGEST EXPENSE.

NOT EVERYONE CAN EASILY ACCESS DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WE KNOW THAT SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE NEEDED, UM, TO ENSURE VULNERABLE GROUPS CAN ACCESS HOUSING.

THAT LACK OF HOUSING IS ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO HOMELESSNESS.

AND WE KNOW THAT HERE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, UM, THE, UH, NEEDS OF HOUSING ARE SO GREAT THAT HOUSING IS THE TOP, UH, SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH.

SO THE LARGEST SOCIAL PREDICTOR OF ONE'S HEALTH OUTCOMES.

SO THE HOUSING ELEMENT IS BROKEN DOWN, UM, AS SHOWN HERE.

IT REALLY, AGAIN, SETS THE POLICY AND DIRECTION FOR THE CITY AND THEN IT'S USED WHEN REVIEWING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE TO SEE WHETHER IT MEETS THE GOALS OF THE HOUSING ELEMENT.

THAT'S BOTH FOR HOUSING AND NON HOUSING PROJECTS.

AND IT ALSO GUIDES, UH, FUTURE CITY ORDINANCES THAT WE MUST DEVELOP TO IMPLEMENT THAT POLICY DOCUMENT.

SO ON THE ONE HAND YOU HAVE POLICY DIRECTION, AND ON THE OTHER HAND YOU HAVE MUNICIPAL CODES AND REQUIREMENTS.

AND WE WERE ACTUALLY HERE ON TUESDAY EVENING WITH SEVERAL OF THOSE IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, REZONING PROGRAMS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY TO ALLOW MORE HOUSING TO BE BUILT, ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES TO TRY TO GET PROJECTS TO INCLUDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAN THEY WOULD OTHERWISE, UM, AND OTHER SUCH IMPLEMENTATIONS.

SO THE HOUSING NEED IN OUR CITY IS GREAT, AND IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT, EVERY CITY IS REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF ANALYZING THAT NEED.

SO HERE'S A SUMMARY FROM OUR LATEST HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE.

43% OF ALL LONG BEACH HOUSEHOLDS ARE BY THE FEDERAL DEFINITION HOUSING COST BURDENED.

THAT MEANS THEY'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON HOUSING, WHICH WE KNOW MEANS NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR OTHER IMPORTANT NEEDS LIKE FOOD, HEALTHCARE EDUCATION.

UM, 61% OF LONG BEACH HOUSEHOLDS ARE RENTERS AND RENTERS ARE MORE ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE THAN HOMEOWNERS DUE TO POTENTIAL HIGH RENT INCREASES, OUTPACING INCOME, WHICH IS WHAT'S HAPPENED IN LONG BEACH OVER THE PAST 15 PLUS YEARS.

WE KNOW THAT INCREASING HOUSING COSTS, STAGNANT WAGES AND LIMITED HOUSING SUPPLY TOGETHER LEAD TO MANY

[00:40:01]

YOU CAN SEE OVERCROWDING RATES BY RACE AND ETHNICITY ON THE CHART IN THE RIGHT, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR, UH, LATINO POPULATION IS MOST DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THIS CHALLENGE.

HERE YOU CAN ALSO SEE OUR ANALYSIS OF HOUSING NEEDS FOR SPECIAL NEED GROUPS.

SO THE STATE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DEFINES SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSEHOLDS AS LARGE HOUSEHOLDS, SENIORS, SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY, FARM WORKERS, AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN 20 19, 20 3% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN LONG BEACH INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE SENIOR 39% OF SENIORS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A DISABILITY.

10% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A DI DISABILITY AND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA INDICATE A HIGH NEED FOR HOUSING, UH, HOUSING CONSIDERATIONS FOR THESE GROUPS.

SO HERE ARE THE SEVEN GOALS OF THE HOUSING ELEMENTS RELATED TO PRODUCING MORE HOUSING, SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROVIDING HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN GREATEST NEED, ADDRESSING THE NEEDS, THE HOUSING NEEDS OF SPECIAL POPULATIONS, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EXISTING HOUSING, ENSURING FAIR AND EQUAL ACCESS TO HOUSING, AND DELIVERING EFFECTIVE, UM, HOUSING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY.

IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I'LL TOUCH ON A FEW EXAMPLES OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THESE GOALS.

ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE SEEKING TO ADDRESS IN THIS PLAN IS THAT CERTAIN GROUPS FACE GREATER DIFFICULTY IN FINDING DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DUE TO THEIR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE HOUSING PLAN CONTAINS RELATED POLICIES LISTED ON THIS SLIDE TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE HOUSING NEEDS OF SPECIAL NEEDS RESIDENTS.

ADDITIONAL POLICIES CAN BE FOUND IN THE, UH, HOUSING PLAN SECTION AND SUCH POLICIES INCLUDE, UM, PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR HOUSING THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE, UM, SUCH AS THROUGH DENSITY, BONUSES OR OTHER SUCH INCENTIVES PRESERVING MOBILE HOME PARKS AS IMPORTANT RESOURCES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS, PROVIDING HOUSING THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED, ENCOURAGING UNIVERSAL DESIGN OF HOUSING PRODUCTS AND ENVIRONMENTS, INTEGRATING AND DISPERSING SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TRANSIT AND PUBLIC SERVICES.

IDENTIFYING STABLE REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE HOUSING TRUST FUND AS THE CITY DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A STEADY SUCH, UH, REVENUE SOURCE.

UM, AND THE CITY HAS ESTABLISHED A HOUSING TRUST FUND TO ASSIST IN THE DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND THE PURPOSE IS TO COMPLIMENT FUNDING, UH, THAT WE GET FROM OTHER SOURCES SUCH AS HOME.

AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FUND TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY TO THE EXTREMELY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD POPULATION AS WELL AS MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLD.

I ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THE, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTROL FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE AND OTHERS THAT IMP UH, INFLUENCE THE HOUSING MARKET THAT WE HAVE LESS CONTROL OF.

UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE DO HAVE VERY LIMITED GOVERNMENT OWNED PROPERTY, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME, WE HAVE OUR LAND USE AND ZONING REGULATORY PROCESSES, WHICH IS WHY, UH, MYSELF AS THE PLANNING BUREAU MANAGER, I'M HERE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THESE HOUSING ISSUES.

WE ALSO HAVE INFLUENCE OVER WHAT, UH, AMOUNT OF IMPACT FEES, NEW DEVELOPMENT PAYS, WHAT THEIR PROCESS WILL BE, UM, AND LIMITED LOCAL FUNDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HA UH, GUIDES INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAS, UH, SOME ABILITY TO INFLUENCE PRICE CONTROLS AND OTHER RENTAL MARKET INTERVENTIONS.

SOME OF THE, UM, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OUTSIDE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL ARE PART OF WHAT'S INFLUENCING THE HOUSING CRISIS QUITE A BIT.

SO STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS, EVERYTHING FROM CONSTRUCTION, LABOR, IMMIGRATION, BANKING, LENDING, AND OTHER LAWS.

WE KNOW THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS CONTINUE TO GO WAY UP AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS HAVE NOT BEEN AS AVAILABLE, UM, DURING, UM, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF, UM, IMMIGRATION, UM, AND ENFORCEMENT.

UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL TAX CREDITS ARE THE NUMBER ONE WAY THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS FUNDED.

THAT'S AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

UH, STATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS, UH, STATE PLANNING AND ZONING REGULATIONS, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS, INTEREST RATES, CONSTRUCTION, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE LIST GOES ON, BUT THERE IS, THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE HOUSING MARKET.

YOU CAN SEE HERE, UH, THE OVERALL TRENDS AND HOW MUCH HOUSING HAS BEEN BUILT OVER THE PAST DECADE.

SO YOU CAN SEE IN 2015 AND FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, WE'RE BUILDING VERY LITTLE HOUSING EACH YEAR.

AND WHEN THERE'S ALREADY NOT ENOUGH HOUSING AND VERY LITTLE NEW HOUSING IS BEING BUILT, THAT CREATES A REAL CHALLENGE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO FIND, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

YOU CAN SEE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE THOSE RATES, UM, OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS.

THE BLUE LINE SHOWS YOU, UM, THE PRODUCTION OF WHAT ARE CALLED ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, WHICH IS IN, UH,

[00:45:01]

UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ACCESSORY UNITS THAT HAVE BECOME, UM, PERMITTED BY RIGHT UNDER STATE LAW AND ARE, ARE VERY POPULAR HERE IN THE CITY.

AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE IN 2023 AND 2024 THAT DURING OUR HOMELESS EMERGENCY, WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE QUANTITY AND PACE OF, UH, HOUSING APPROVALS.

AGAIN, CONNECTING THOSE TWO ISSUES TOGETHER.

SO OVERALL, HOW, WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING IN IMPLEMENTING THE HOUSING ELEMENT? WE HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT NEW HOUSING DEVELOPED AT ALL INCOME LEVELS, THOUGH THE NEED CONTINUES TO FAR OUTPACE THE AVAILABILITY OR ABILITY TO FACILITATE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THE CHART ON THE RIGHT BREAKS DOWN WHAT'S CALLED THE CITY'S REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION.

THAT'S THE STATE TELLING US HOW MUCH HOUSING IS NEEDED IN OUR CITY.

OUR ALLOCATION FOR THE CURRENT PERIOD, WHICH IS 2021 TO 2029, IS THAT THE CITY NEEDS MORE THAN 26,000 UNITS TO MEET THE NEED THAT EXISTS HERE.

MOST OF THAT NEED COMES FROM EXISTING OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS AS WELL AS CONSIDERATION FOR POPULATION GROWTH.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE UNITS NEEDED ARE AT SOME LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY.

AND ON THE RIGHT YOU CAN SEE HOW WE'RE DOING IN PRODUCING THOSE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF HOUSING.

AND ALTHOUGH WE'RE ON PACE TO MEET THE MARKET RATE, UM, DEVELOPMENT NEEDED, WE'RE ONLY AT ABOUT 6% OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING PRODUCED COMPARED TO WHAT IS NEEDED.

AGAIN, A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT, HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE LACK OF FUNDING AND SUBSIDIES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

NEXT, IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION, THERE HAVE BEEN, UH, NEW PROGRAMS ADDED BY THE CITY TO HELP WITH HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, INCLUDING FOR, UM, FOLKS, UM, THAT MAY HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING VOUCHERS.

I MENTIONED THE PROGRESS MADE THROUGH THE CITY'S HOMELESS EMERGENCY IN 2023, AS WELL AS MAJOR CHANGES IN DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS, INCLUDING THROUGH OVERHAUL OF OUR CITY'S ZONING CODE.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A MIDTERM EVALUATION, TAKING AN EQUITY, UM, IMPACT ANALYSIS APPROACH TO LOOKING AT HOW HAVE WE BEEN DOING AND IMPLEMENTING OUR HOUSING ELEMENT.

AND WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, UM, IN JUST A MINUTE.

SO NOW I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO ALYSSA WHO'S GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH THAT ANALYSIS.

AWESOME.

SO AS ALLISON MENTIONED, WE, UM, HAVE BEEN EVALUATING THE HOUSING ELEMENT, UM, FOR ABOUT THE PAST YEAR OR SO.

AND SO OUR TEAM, UH, DEVELOPED A MULTI-PRONGED STRATEGY TO, UM, REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE PROGRESSING TOWARDS OUR GOALS, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO FAIR HOUSING AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF SPECIAL NEEDS GROUPS WITHIN OUR CITY.

UM, AND SO WE, UH, DEVELOPED, UM, A PUBLIC SURVEY AND, UH, HAD THAT AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THEN DID SEVERAL TARGETED OUTREACH EFFORTS, INCLUDING HOSTING PUBLIC WORKSHOPS, UM, DOING, PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL, UM, ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER CITY PARTNERS TO DO EMAIL OUTREACH FOR THE SURVEY AND THEN CONDUCTING, UM, IN-PERSON OUTREACH AT THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.

UM, AS WE ARE LOOKING THROUGH THIS DATA, WE'VE SEEN THAT ABOUT 50% OF RESPONDENTS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A PERMANENT OR LONG-TERM DISABILITY.

UM, A MAJORITY OF THOSE, UH, ARE PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, UM, IF NOT MULTIPLE, UH, DISABILITIES.

ABOUT A QUARTER OF RESPONDENTS WERE ABOUT 65 OR OLDER.

UM, AND I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT WHILE THESE RESPONSES AREN'T PERFECTLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LONG BEACH POPULATION, UM, WE DO SEE THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF VALUABLE INSIGHTS, UM, INTO MEASURES THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT OUR SPECIAL NEEDS GROUPS, UM, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY VALUABLE DATA HERE THAT WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH SHORTLY.

UM, SO WE ASKED RESPONDENTS TO REFLECT ON THEIR MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE SEARCHING FOR HOUSING IN LONG BEACH AND HOW EASY OR DIFFICULT IT WAS TO FIND HOUSING THAT MET CERTAIN CRITERIA.

UM, PARTICIPANTS RANKED THEIR EXPERIENCE ON A FIVE POINT SCALE FROM VERY DIFFICULT ALL THE WAY ON THE LEFT TO VERY EASY ON THE RIGHT WITH A NEUTRAL POINT IN THE MIDDLE.

UM, THE AVERAGE OF ALL THE RESPONDENTS WE RECEIVED IS DISPLAYED IN THE TEXTURED BLUE BAR, WHAT THE AVERAGE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS DISPLAYED IN PURPLE.

UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, RESPONDENTS ON AVERAGE NOTED THAT FINDING HOUSING THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS IS DIFFICULT OR VERY DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY FINDING HOUSING THAT IS HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, HAS ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES AND ACCEPTS PETS.

UM, MOST OF THE RESPONSES ARE FAIRLY CLOSE TOGETHER.

WE DO NOTE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UM, EXPERIENCE SLIGHTLY FEWER CHALLENGES WITH SOME OF THESE ITEMS. UM, AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEXT ONE.

WE ALSO ASKED RESPONDENTS, UM, WHO HAVE USED CITY HOUSING ASSISTANCE, WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS USING OUR PROGRAMS. UM, THE FORM DOESN'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS, SO THESE RESPONSES MAY REFLECT USERS, UM, IN PROGRAMS IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE THE RESPONSES

[00:50:01]

UM, IT'S USING THE SAME FIVE POINT SCALE FROM VERY DIFFICULT TO VERY EASY.

UM, AND, UH, FOR THESE QUESTIONS, RESPONDENTS, UH, ON AVERAGE INDICATED THAT USING OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS IS VERY DIFFICULT.

SO THESE WERE, UM, MORE CHALLENGING THAN EVEN THE GENERAL SEARCH FOR HOUSING INDICATED IN THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.

UM, AND IN PARTICULAR, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES NOTED THE MOST DIFFICULTY FINDING HOUSING THAT ACCEPTS VOUCHERS AND MOVING BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS USING VOUCHERS.

WE ALSO ASKED RESPONDENTS WHAT THEIR TOP CONCERNS WERE RELATED TO HOUSING.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF RESPONSES RELATED TO HOUSING SUPPLY AND AFFORDABILITY, THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED IN THE HOUSING SEARCH QUESTION WHERE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY WERE THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECTS OF FINDING HOUSING, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR SURVEY WAS TO IDENTIFY RISK FACTORS THAT MOST CONTRIBUTE TO RESIDENTS HAVING TO MOVE FROM, UH, ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER.

UM, THERE'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TREND IN THIS CHART WHERE A SLIGHTLY SLIGHTLY HIGHER PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES EXPERIENCED VARIOUS DISPLACEMENT RISK FACTORS WITH THE MOST NOTABLE DIFFERENCE BEING BETWEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF POOR LIVING CONDITIONS AND RENT INCREASES.

SORRY, CAN YOU SLOW DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT? OH YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT OF DATA.

SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA BRING IT BACK TO WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT WE ARE TAKING FROM, UM, EVERYTHING THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED.

SO WHAT WE, UH, FOUND THROUGH IN OUR PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF RESPONSES TO THE SURVEY IS THAT ALL RESIDENTS ARE IMPACTED BY OVERARCHING TRENDS IN THE HOUSING MARKET AND MACROECONOMIC IMPACTS.

UM, IN WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THE SURVEY, RESIDENTS NOTED THAT CH THEY HAD CHALLENGES ACCESSING SAFETY NETS RESOURCES BECAUSE OF PROGRAMMATIC CHALLENGES SUCH AS LONG WAIT TIMES, COMPLICATED PROCESSES, AND A LIMITED SUPPLY OF RESOURCES.

AND THEY ADDITIONALLY EXPERIENCED CHALLENGES, UM, RELATED TO A LACK OF, UH, AVAILABILITY AND RESOURCES FOR GROUPS SPECIFIC TO, UM, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIORS.

UM, AND SO WE ARE, UH, LEARNING FROM THAT THAT THERE IS STILL A QUITE PRESSING NEED FOR HOUSING INTERVENTIONS THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF, UM, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIORS.

AND THAT MAKING EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS WITHIN OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS IMPROVES HOUSING OUTCOMES FOR THE POPULATION AT LARGE.

UM, AND IN FUTURE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATES, AS WE, UH, PREPARE FOR THE NEXT CYCLE UPDATE THAT, UM, WE NEED TO BE TAKING AN INTERSECTIONAL LENS TO, UM, CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF THESE GROUPS AND, UM, TRY TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF HOUSING INSTABILITY SUCH AS AFFORDABILITY THAT IMPACT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO TO INCORPORATE TARGETED STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS, UM, THE NEEDS OF SPECIFIC POPULATIONS TO ENSURE THAT, UM, CERTAIN GROUPS AREN'T, UH, FALLING BEHIND.