[00:04:47]
UH, THIS IS TO CALL THE, UM, CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES
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MEETING, UH, TO ORDER FOR JULY 9TH, 2026.AND IT IS, ACCORDING TO MY TRUSTEE, LITTLE PHONE IS ONE OH FOUR.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU'LL PLEASE, UH, CALL RULE BY STATING YOUR NAME,
[CALL TO ORDER]
YOUR PRONOUNS, THE TITLE, UM, OF, UM, THAT YOU HAVE ON THIS BODY.AND FINISH WITH A BRIEF VISUAL DESCRIPTION.
WE CAN START WITH COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ.
UH, COMMISSIONER MARISSA GONZALEZ.
UH, I AM A CAUCASIAN FEMALE, BROWN HAIR PULLED BACK INTO A PONYTAIL AND A BLACK SHIRT THAT IS SHORT SLEEVED WITH A BIG GOLD RIBBON ON IT.
I'M COMMISSIONER STEVE ADAMS. I AM HE HIM.
AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WITH SHORT HAIR, AND I'M WEARING A RED DRESS SHIRT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER RANDY.
PRONOUNS, UH, SHAVED HEAD, CAUCASIAN MALE, MID FORTIES, FACIAL HAIR, UH, WEARING A TAN SHIRT AND EYEGLASSES STAYED.
HI, I'M KATE COD, SECRETARY JULIE DEAN.
I'M A CAUCASIAN WOMAN IN A MOBILITY SCOOTER WITH SHE HER HERS PRONOUNS.
I HAVE SHORT AUBURN HAIR GLASSES, AND I'M WEARING A LIGHT BLUE AND GREEN LEAFY DRESS.
UM, HI, I AM GRETCHEN SWANSON.
I'M AN OLDER WHITE WOMAN WITH WHITE CURLY HAIR, SHORT WHITE, CURLY HAIR.
AND TODAY I HAVE AN OFF-WHITE TOP.
SHE, HER PRONOUNS BLACK FEMALE WEARING A WHITE TOP WITH BLUE STRIPES.
UM, MALE HISPANIC SENIOR, DARK HAIR GREEN AT THE TEMPLES WHITE MUSTACHE TOE SHIRT AND CREAM PANTS.
HI, I AM COMMISSIONER ASHLEY JONES.
I'M A WHITE PRESENTING FEMALE WITH DARK BROWN HAIR PULLED BACK INTO A BUN.
I'M WEARING A BLACK LONG SLEEVE SWEATER WITH COLORFUL FLOWERS ON IT TODAY.
AND FOR THE RECORD, COMMISSIONER V IS UNEXCUSED FROM THE MEETING.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION AT THIS POINT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON.
UM, BEFORE WE READ THE FIRST ITEM, I'D JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS THE END OF, UM, C COD'S SORT OF WORKING YEAR.
UH, WE HAD OUR ANNUAL REPORT THAT WE REVIEWED IN JUNE, UM, AND IN JULY WE CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY, EVERY ANNIVERSARY, EVERY JULY, UM, THE INCEPTION OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
AND THAT SORT OF COINCIDES BE SILENT NEXT MONTH, SO WE WON'T HAVE A MEETING.
AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY CITY STAFF DOES A COMMISSION, LIKE K COD NEED TO MAKE IT RUN? I DON'T KNOW.
UM, THERE'S JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STAFF WORK, AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY GET A BREAK AND, UM, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
SO WE COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER, UM, REFRESHED, BUT WE ALSO RECEIVED, UH, AN AWARD.
UM, AT THE DISABILITY PRIDE FLAG RECOGNITION DAY, WHEN THEY RAISE THE FLAG, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU DIDN'T NOTICE ON THE WAY IN, WE HAVE OUR DISABILITY PRIDE FLAG IN THE ROW OF FLAGS.
I AM HUMBLED THAT WE RECEDE, WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO THAT THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN, UH, UH, RECOGNITION IS LAUDABLE AND ALSO AMAZING.
DO WE HAVE THE TITLE OF THE RECOGNITION? THAT WOULD BE, IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK, UH, YEAH, PUT IT IN THE RECORD.
SO IT'S, UH, A DA CHAMPION 2026.
AND AS I SAY, UM, I'M HUMBLED ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US, UM, BECAUSE WHEN WE COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER, WE'VE GOT, UM, A LOT TO DO.
UH, SO GO BACK TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
UM, DO YOU WANNA READ THAT OR SHOULD I READ THAT? SURE.
THE FIRST ITEM IS RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MEETING OF THURSDAY, JUNE 11TH, 2026.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND?
[00:10:01]
A MOTION? SECOND.THERE'S SOME MOTION AND A SECOND.
UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CORRECTIONS IN THE MEETING MINUTES?
[1. 26-55522 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting of Thursday, June 11, 2026. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
OKAY.UM, WE'LL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON LAST MONTH'S MEETING MINUTES.
IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN PERSON WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ITEM, PLEASE SIGN UP AT THE PODIUM.
NOW, IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA ZOOM, USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR DIAL STAR NINE IF YOU'RE CALLING IN BY PHONE.
AND THIS WOULD BE PER PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE MINUTES.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE MINUTES? OH, I WAS GONNA SAY, IT'S FANTASTIC YOU MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE AWARD TO RECEIVE.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE ANNUAL UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION? SECOND, SECOND.
UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
UH, MAYBE WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION.
UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY AGAIN.
UH, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR OR SO
[2. 26-55576 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the Annual Update from the Office of Ethics and Transparency. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
LOUDER.I THINK THERE'S ONE NEW COMMISSIONER, UH, SINCE I WAS HERE LAST.
UM, BUT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC WHO'S LISTENING, UM, I AM HEATHER VAN WICK.
I'M THE ETHICS OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
I MANAGE THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY, AND WE ARE HOUSED IN, UH, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
SO WHAT I DO TYPICALLY EACH YEAR IS WHAT I'LL DO THIS YEAR.
JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE DID IN 2025, WHICH SEEMS SO LONG AGO AT THIS POINT, UH, GIVEN THAT THE YEAR IS GOING BY SO QUICKLY.
AND THEN, UH, TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS YEAR.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE POINTY FINGER THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION.
UH, THAT'S JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER OF, UH, SOME, UH, RULES AND REQUIREMENTS, UH, THAT PERTAIN SPECIFICALLY TO COMMISSIONERS.
SO, WITH THAT, JUST A REMINDER, UM, THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY, WE'RE A SMALL GROUP.
OUR MISSION IS PRETTY SIMPLE, UH, LIKE YOURS.
IT'S TO BUILD TRUST AMONG THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND OUR OFFICIALS, AND TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO MAKE IMPARTIAL DECISIONS AS STEWARDS OF PUBLIC RESOURCES.
SO THE CRUX OF WHAT WE DO IS GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION.
UH, WE MANAGE A ETHICS HELPLINE.
WE OFFER ADVICE, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC TRUST.
SO WITHIN THE OET IS OUR PUBLIC RECORDS ACT PROGRAM, OF WHICH WE RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF REQUESTS EACH YEAR.
UM, ALWAYS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, INCLUDING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
UM, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL JOIN ME AT THESE MEETINGS FROM TIME TO TIME, UH, IF HE, JEFF, IS AVAILABLE.
UM, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON WITH SOCCER THESE DAYS, SO WE'RE COMPETING WITH THAT.
UM, AND THEN THIS PRESENTATION IS ALWAYS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE.
UM, SO, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR THOUGHT IMPORTANT TO DO AND THEN CONTINUED TO KEEP DOING.
SO SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST YEAR, UH, WE REALLY FOCUSED ON BUILDING A STRONGER ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY PROGRAM, UH, WHICH INCLUDED LAUNCHING A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC ROADMAP.
UH, WE ALSO ADVANCED, UH, UNIFIED CITYWIDE ETHICS FRAMEWORK, WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE FAIR ACT.
I WILL POINT OUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL WANT TO, UH, KIND OF KEEP YOUR FINGER ON.
IT'S, IT'S STILL AT THE COUNCIL, UH, STAGE OF REVIEW AND DISCUSSION.
BUT WHAT THE FAIR ACT, UH, STRIVES TO DO IS TO REALLY PULL TOGETHER ALL OF THE EXISTING, UM, POLICIES AND LAWS AND BEST PRACTICES, AND PUT THEM INTO ONE ORDINANCE THAT IS FAIRLY ACCESSIBLE FOR MOST OF US.
UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE END, IT'S STILL A LOT OF INFORMATION WITHIN ONE ORDINANCE, UM, BUT AT LEAST IT'LL BE CENTRALIZED.
AND FROM THERE, UM, OUR OFFICE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE CLERK AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REALLY, UH, MAKE THAT ORDINANCE, UH, TURN IT INTO BITE-SIZE PIECES FOR ALL OF US THROUGH OUR TRAINING AND OUTREACH.
[00:15:01]
UH, WE ALSO DEVELOPED A FRAMEWORK FOR ETHICAL DECISION MAKING.UH, WE BUILT OUT OUR MASTER COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION PLAN, AND THEN WE CONTINUED TO, UH, BUILD OUT OUR OUTREACH AND SUPPORT, UH, FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND OUR STAFF LIAISONS.
UH, SO THIS IS PART OF, UH, THAT WORK.
AND THIS IS JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF THE FRAMEWORK I JUST MENTIONED.
UM, IT'S REALLY A PRACTICAL TOOL, UH, FOR ALL OF US TO BE ABLE TO USE.
UM, AS WE KNOW, ETHICS ISN'T ALWAYS, UH, BLACK AND WHITE.
WE CAN GET INTO THE GRAY AREA A LOT.
UM, SO THE FRAMEWORK, UH, WORKS TO BREAK IT DOWN INTO A FIVE STEP FRAMEWORK, UM, TO HELP US GET TO THE BEST ANSWER GIVEN, UH, THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE DID A SOFT LAUNCH OF INITIALLY, AND THEN JUST HAVE CONTINUED TO RAMP UP, UH, THE OUTREACH AROUND OUR FRAMEWORK.
UM, YOU WILL SEE THIS AS PART OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT, THE ANNUAL CODE OF CONDUCT, UH, TRAINING MAY BE THE NEXT TIME YOU TAKE IT.
UH, IT SHOULD BE PART OF THAT TRAINING BY SEPTEMBER.
SO THIS YEAR, UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, AGAIN, THE FAIR ACT.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT OUR ETHICS COMMISSION WORKED ON FOR PROBABLY A SOLID TWO YEARS, INCLUDING THE LOBBYIST ORDINANCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO, UM, AS A HARDWORKING COMMISSION YOURSELF, I IMAGINE YOU CAN EMPATHIZE WITH ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, WE ALSO WORKED ON PRACTICAL DECISION MAKING TOOLS, INCLUDING OUR FRAMEWORK, HAVE REALLY DONE A LOT OF TARGETED, UH, OUTREACH AND TRAININGS, UH, OVER THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS OR SO, DIRECTED, UH, TOWARDS LEADERSHIP SUPPORT.
UM, REALLY WORKING WITH OUR MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS TO, TO GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED.
UH, TRAINING AND EDUCATION REFRESH, HONESTLY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALWAYS DOING.
LOOKING FOR, UH, BETTER, MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAYS TO, UH, GET OUR MESSAGE OUT THERE, GET OUR TRAININGS OUT THERE.
UM, SO DOING A LOT OF WORK AROUND THAT.
THAT IS ALL DONE IN-HOUSE AT THIS POINT.
UM, SO THAT IS A LABOR OF LOVE AND TAKES SOME TIME.
UM, BUT WE'VE GOTTEN REALLY GOOD AT CANVA AND ALL THOSE OTHER, UH, DIY DESIGN, UH, PLATFORMS. UH, CLEARER COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES THIS YEAR, REALLY, WITH THAT, WITH THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION REFRESH, REFRESH, REALLY WORKING ON, UH, MAKING ETHICS PLAIN LANGUAGE AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND, UM, AND APPLYING IT TO, TO REAL LIFE EXAMPLES AND PROMOTING OUR ETHICS HELPLINE.
SO THE CRUX OF WHY I'M HERE TODAY IS JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT IT IS ADVISORY BODIES DO AND WHY ETHICS MATTERS.
SO I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT OUR COMMISSIONS, MOST OF THEM, UM, ADVISE, THEY RECOMMEND, THEY INFORM, UH, INCLUDING K COD.
YOU REALLY SHAPE PUBLIC TRUST IN YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, INFLUENCE CITY DECISIONS.
SO I JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT YOUR ROLES DO MATTER AS SOMEONE THAT WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES AND SEES HOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS GET MADE FROM COMMISSIONS AND WORK THEIR WAY UP TO COUNCIL AND THEN BECOMING AN ACTION.
UM, ADVISORY BODIES, THOUGH YOU DON'T MAKE FINAL DECISIONS, YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IMPORTANT.
UM, AND AGAIN, THEY INFLUENCE A DOMINO EFFECT OF, OF ACTIONS, LITTLE POINTY FINGERS, ANNUAL REPORTS.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ALL ARE RIGHT ON TOP OF IT.
THOSE ARE DUE JUNE 1ST, UH, FORM 700.
THAT'S YOUR STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST.
UH, ALL OF US HAVE TO DO THAT.
WELL, NOT ALL OF US, ALL APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
AND, UM, OTHER, UH, COI MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS STAFF.
THOSE ARE DUE EVERY YEAR ON APRIL 1ST.
UH, YOU TYPICALLY START HEARING FROM OUR CITY CLERK TEAM, UH, EARLY JANUARY.
SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM PHILLIP IN A WHILE, YOU DID YOURS ON TIME, UH, COMMISSION MEETINGS, THEY HAVE TO BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT, YOUR BYLAWS AND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT VANESSA IS GONNA SPEND A LOT MORE TIME ON IN THE NEXT PRESENTATIONS, UH, OR PRESENTATION.
THESE RULES ENSURE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT DELIBERATION, EQUAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PUBLIC TRUST IN THE PROCESS.
JUST A REMINDER THAT COMMISSIONERS MUST REMAIN IMPARTIAL AND OBJECTIVE DECISIONS SHOULD BE BASED ON THE RECORD, ON FACTS AND ADOPTED CRITERIA.
EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF BIAS CAN UNDERMINE PUBLIC TRUST.
SO ALL DECISIONS MUST BE MADE BEHIND THE DAAS, NOT BEFORE YOU GET BEHIND THE DAAS.
[00:20:01]
ADVOCATING FOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA.AND AGAIN, UH, VANESSA WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
BUT, UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS, UH, OFFICIALS THAT MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL AND MAYOR, UH, THAT YOUR DECISIONS, UH, ARE UNBIASED.
ONLY THE CHAIR OR ANOTHER MEMBER FORMALLY AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION, MAY SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION.
AND K COT IS VERY GOOD ABOUT THIS.
UM, THERE'S OTHER COMMISSIONS THAT WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH, BUT I, I THINK, UM, THAT K COT IS THE MODEL WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.
UH, THIS APPLIES TO ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL AND OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS, EMAILS OR LETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, SIGNATURES, AND ENDORSEMENTS, OR OTHER PUBLIC STATEMENTS.
THIS MATTERS WHY, BECAUSE FORMAL APPROVAL PROCESSES HELP ENSURE STATEMENTS MADE OUTSIDE OF THE MEETINGS, REFLECT THE COMMISSION'S COLLECTIVE POSITION, ALIGN WITH ADOPTED OBJECTIVES.
AND AGAIN, DO NOT PROMOTE PERSONAL AGENDAS.
YOU MAY SPEAK PERSONALLY, OF COURSE, AS A RESIDENT, BUT NOT OFFICIALLY AS A COMMISSIONER, AGAIN, WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION.
UM, IN VANESSA'S LEGAL BUBBLE, THIS IS CALLED MISUSE OF AUTHORITY.
AND, UH, THAT CAN OCCUR WHEN PERSONAL VIEWS APPEAR TO BE YOUR OFFICIAL POSITION.
THESE ARE THE REQUIRED TRAININGS, UM, THAT YOU ALL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EITHER ANNUALLY OR BI-ANNUALLY.
UM, THE GOOD NEWS IS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DID NOT HAVE TO REMOVE ANY COMMISSIONERS FROM OFFICE DURING 2025.
UH, THE YEAR BEFORE, I BELIEVE THERE WERE SEVEN COMMISSIONERS, UH, PROGRAM-WIDE THAT WERE ASKED TO STEP DOWN.
UH, YOUR TRAININGS INCLUDE THE ANNUAL CITY'S CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS.
UH, BI-ANNUALLY, YOU HAVE THE STATE AND CITY REQUIRED HARASSMENT TRAINING FOR CALIFORNIA EMPLOYEES BI-ANNUALLY.
YOU ALSO HAVE THE STATE REQUIRED AB 1234 ETHICS TRAINING, WHICH LIVES AND LEARN.
UH, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE MAYOR REQUIRED, UH, TRAININGS.
I, I BELIEVE YOU ONLY TAKE THOSE ONCE WHEN YOU ASSUME OFFICE, AND THAT'S THE STRATEGIC VISION AND PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.
UM, AGAIN, ALL OF THESE TRAININGS LIVE AND LEARN.
IF YOU EVER HAVE AN ISSUE WITH YOUR LEARN ACC ACCOUNT, UH, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ARLIS AND THEN ARLIS WILL REACH OUT TO OUR LEARN TEAM.
THIS IS OUR HELPLINE I MENTIONED EARLIER.
AS A REMINDER, IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, UH, 24 7.
YOU HAVE, IT IS CONFIDENTIAL AND YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO BE ANONYMOUS.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE AN ONLINE FORM, UH, THAT'S 24 7 AS WELL.
SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS AND REMINDERS.
YOUR ROLE AS ADVISORY, NOT INDIVIDUAL.
JUST BE MINDFUL WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING PERSONALLY VERSUS OFFICIALLY, BECAUSE FORMAL APPROVAL PROCESSES MATTER.
UH, JUST TO REITERATE, IT'S CRITICAL THAT YOU REMAIN FAIR, IMPARTIAL, AND UNBIASED.
FOLLOW RULES AND PROCEDURES, COMPLETE REQUIRED TRAININGS.
AND IF YOU'RE EVER UNSURE, JUST ASK.
AND THESE ARE SOME OF OUR RESOURCES.
UH, THESE ARE ALL KEPT UP TO DATE.
UM, I LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHT THE ETHICS GUIDE FOR LONG BEACH CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES.
THIS IS MANAGED BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THIS IS, UM, A GREAT HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF ALL OF THIS.
UM, WELL, THERE'S SOME CITY STUFF IN THERE, BUT YOUR STATE REQUIREMENTS AS OFFICIALS.
SO, UM, IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
I'M SURE YOU VISITED THIS HANDBOOK ONCE OR TWICE, BUT, UM, IT'S A GOOD RESOURCE TO REVISIT EVERY NOW AND THEN, UH, JUST TO UNDERSTAND YOUR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AS APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
AND THEN OUR COMMISSION BOARD AND COMMITTEE HANDBOOK.
THIS IS MANAGED BY OUR CLERK'S OFFICE.
UM, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT IN A WHILE, THAT'S A GREAT ONE TO REVISIT EVERY NOW AND THEN.
AND THAT IS MY, UH, UPDATE FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, JUST THE, UM, TO REMIND EVERYONE BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND THEN COMMISSIONER, UH, Q AND A, UH, THERE'S A MOMENT HERE WHERE COMM COMMISSIONERS CAN ASK THE PRESENTER A CLARIFYING QUESTION.
IS THERE ANY CLARIFYING QUESTION? OK, DOKE.
UM, WE'LL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IF ANY IN-PERSON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.
IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA ZOOM, USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR DIAL STAR NINE IF YOU'RE CALLING IN BY PHONE.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, UH, QUESTIONS, UH, CONSIDERATIONS FOR HEATHER? YES, SECRETARY DEAN.
[00:25:01]
SO ON, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SLIDE THREE, UM, THE ADVANCED, UH, UNIFIED CITYWIDE ETHICS FRAMEWORK FAIR ACT.YOU SAID TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
UM, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF IT? SO, IF WE WANTED TO HAVE, IS IT, IS IT YOU GUYS? IS WE WANTED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAIR ACT AT SOME POINT TO HAVE SOMEONE COME SPEAK TO US? YEAH, YOU COULD DEFINITELY REACH OUT TO ME.
IT IS, UM, WE EXPECT IT TO COME AS A STUDY SESSION, PROBABLY REALITY OCTOBER AFTER THE BUDGET SEASON HAS CONCLUDED.
UM, SO IT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT DURING A COUNCIL STUDY SESSION.
SO THERE WILL BE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT.
BUT BEFORE THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL.
UM, SO JUST TO CLARIFY THAT, HEATHER, UM, YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A STUDY SESSION IN OCTOBER.
UM, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE SOMEONE COME AFTER THAT TO COME SPEAK WITH US TO HEAR? YOU KNOW WHAT? PROBABLY, UM, ONLY JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND FOR CONTEXT.
UM, THIS WAS RECOMMENDED A YEAR AGO, I THINK, WAS WHEN THE FORM, FINAL AND FORMAL RECOMMENDATION WENT TO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
SO THAT WAS JUNE OF LAST YEAR.
UM, NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, IT WAS, UM, BROUGHT TO CITY COUNCIL BY THE MAYOR FOR, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL.
I, IT WENT TO OUR GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY, UM, COMMITTEE.
SO IT WENT, IT WAS BEING DISCUSSED THERE FOR I THINK, AT LEAST TWO MEETINGS.
UM, AND THEN IT KIND OF BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THERE WAS A LOT MORE TO THIS THAN WHAT WE, UH, ORIGINALLY REALIZED.
SO, UM, GO E IS WHAT WE CALL IT, MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO SEND IT BACK TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL FOR FURTHER STUDY.
UM, SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW.
SO NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
WE ANTICIPATE IT'LL PROBABLY BE A TWO HOUR STUDY SESSION, SO I IMAGINE, UM, AND THEN IT'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL.
SO I, I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF PROBABLY COMING BACK TO K COD AFTER THAT STUDY SESSION, UH, TO GIVE A CURRENT PRESENTATION.
UM, ALSO ON THE, UM, THE ANNUAL REPORTS, YOU SAID DUE JUNE DUE JUNE 1ST, IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR? SO, UM, FROM THE PREVIOUS JULY 1ST THROUGH THAT POINT IN TIME, OR, I'M NOT SURE WHAT, WHAT THE BACKGROUND REASONING WAS ON THAT, BUT THAT MAKES SENSE, THE WAY THAT, UH, COMMISSION TERMS TYPICALLY FALL.
BUT I DON'T, I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A RULE OR WHATEVER, OR THE REASON.
AND THEN, UM, I'M NOT SURE IF WE KNOW A HUNDRED PERCENT WHETHER OR NOT OUR COMMISSION HAS BYLAWS, IF WE WANTED TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
AND THEN ALSO MAYBE MAKE CHANGES.
WOULD WE COME TO YOU OR ARLIS? IT WOULD BE ARLIS.
OTHERS? WELL, UH, THIS IS NO LESS THAN REMARKABLE.
THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD, UH, AS A COMMISSION.
UM, THERE'S, I I, AND I'M FOLLOWING UP ON, UM, SECRETARY DEANS.
WHEN SHOULD WE HAVE YOU BACK? BECAUSE I THINK THAT, UM, HAVING A WORKSHOP OR SOMETHING THAT GIVES US PRAGMATICS AS WELL AS THE OVERALL, UH, PHILOSOPHY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE SPIRIT AND, AND THE RULE IS AS WE GO FORWARD, WOULD BE HELPFUL.
HERE'S THE INSTANCE THAT I SEE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SITUATIONS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD, AND IT IS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE, THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE, AND SPECIFIC STANCES THAT, UM, IDENTIFIED CITY DEPARTMENTS TAKE.
AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT ETHICS, BUT THEY CONFLICT WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING PRAGMATIC, SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, SOME GROUP WANTS A AND THE OTHER GROUP SAYS, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
[00:30:01]
SO TO ME, THAT'S AN ETHICAL DILEMMA.UM, AND FOR ALL PARTIES, BUT ALSO HERE IN THE COMMISSION, HOW DO WE HELP IDENTIFY THAT DILEMMA AND ALSO HELP REDUCE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO POSITIONS AND, AND POSSIBLY GET SOME SORT OF RECONCILIATION.
NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE ME ALL THE ANSWERS TO THAT AT THIS POINT, BUT DOES THE FAIR ACT HELP US NAVIGATE THAT? OR SHOULD WE COME TO YOU AS REPRESENTATIVES OF KOD AND HAVE A CONSULTATION? I MEAN, HOW DO WE FIRST PROCEED SO WE CAN ARTICULATE WHAT WE THINK IS A, A CHALLENGE? SO I WOULD START WITH MONITORING THE TRAJECTORY OF THE FAIR ACT, BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE, THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF POLICY AND PROCESS DECISIONS THAT STILL NEED TO BE MADE BEFORE THE FAIR ACT, UM, IS SENT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR FINAL DRAFTING.
SO THERE'S GONNA BE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO RECOMMEND CHANGES OR ACKNOWLEDGE GAPS THAT YOU BELIEVE, UM, NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE ORDINANCE.
UM, I THINK TOO, BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING, I I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS CURRENTLY ENCOMPASSED IN THE FAIR ACT.
THE FAIR ACT IS MORE SPECIFIC TO LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.
AND NOT NECESSARILY IN, IN ETHICS IS SUBJECTIVE SOMETIMES, UM, DEPENDING ON THE GROUPS LIKE YOU JUST SAID.
UM, SO IT FALLS BACK TO YOUR AUTHORITY UNDER THE CHARTER TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO AS YOU BECOME AWARE, AS YOU IDENTIFY THE GAPS OR THE ETHICAL DILEMMAS, UM, THAT'S WHERE YOUR ROLE PER THE CHARTER COMES IN AND YOU MAKE RIGHT THESE FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
THAT'S, THAT IS, UM, A THOUGHTFUL AND INFORMATIVE, UM, ANSWER FOR MY, UM, QUESTION.
ANY OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS OUR PRESENTER.
AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE TAKE THE VOTE.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE RALPH M. BROWN ACT AND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND AGAIN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? A MOTION? I'LL SECOND.
UM, MAY WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION? WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS VANESSA IBARRA, AND
[3. 26-55577 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the Ralph M. Brown Act and Robert’s Rules of Order from the City Attorney’s Office. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
I AM A DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.THE PRONOUNS THAT I USE ARE SHE HER.
I AM A MEXICAN AMERICAN WOMAN WITH, UH, MEDIUM LENGTH CURLY HAIR.
I HAVE ON A TAN SUIT AND A WHITE SHIRT.
AND I'M REALLY HAPPY, UH, TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
I DON'T, UH, COME TOO FREQUENTLY, BUT WHEN I DO, I ALWAYS ENJOY MY TIME HERE.
SO I'M HERE, UH, TO GIVE A REFRESHER OR AN UPDATE, UH, ON THE BROWN ACT.
SO, YOU KNOW, HEATHER MENTIONED YOU ALL PARTICIPATED IN THIS TRAINING, UH, EITHER WHEN YOU FIRST BECAME COMMISSIONERS OR SOMETIME, UH, AFTER THAT.
AND THAT WAS A VERY DETAILED PRESENTATION.
AND THIS REALLY IS JUST INTENDED TO, UH, BRING UP THE LEGISLATION AND THE ACT AND YOUR OBLIGATIONS AS A BRIEF REFRESHER.
SO I'M GONNA GET RIGHT INTO IT.
UH, THE HISTORY OF THE BROWN ACT, RIGHT? THE, THE PURPOSE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO START OFF, UH, IT WAS ENACTED, UH, DURING A TIME WHEN THERE WAS A LOT OF BACKDOOR DEALS AND THE PUBLIC DIDN'T HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE IN ITS GOVERNMENT AND THE WORK THAT WAS BEING DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
SO REALLY THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION WAS TO BRING, UH, SUNSHINE, RIGHT? THIS IS, UH, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S SUNSHINE LAWS TO BRING SUNSHINE INTO GOVERNMENT AND LET THE PUBLIC IN, UH, AND PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND AN OPEN GOVERNMENT, UH, MEETINGS OF PUBLIC BODIES.
AND THE WRITINGS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO BE OPEN AND SUBJECT TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY.
SO WE THINK OF ANOTHER PUBLIC, UH, SUNSHINE LAW, RIGHT? A CALIFORNIA SUNSHINE LAW.
THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST, UH,
[00:35:01]
LAW, THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, UH, THAT ALLOWS, UH, THE PUBLIC, UH, TO GET ACCESS TO ALL RECORDS RELATED TO CITY BUSINESS.SO THIS IS VERY SIMILAR, WHERE THE INTENT OF THIS LEGISLATION IS TO GIVE THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WORK OF THE, THE CITY, UM, AND OF THIS COMMISSION AND ITS LEGISLATIVE BODIES, UH, AND ALSO INVITE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSIONS OF THE COMMISSION.
SOME OF THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES, THE MEETINGS ARE OPEN IN PUBLIC ACTIONS AND DELIBERATIONS MUST BE TAKEN OPENLY.
ALL THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE, AND ONLY MATTERS THAT ARE ON THE, THE AGENDA CAN BE DISCUSSED.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, UH, WE TALK JUST GENERALLY ABOUT, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THESE MEETINGS ARE OPEN, THAT YOUR DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENING IN OPEN, IN, OPEN, AN OPEN FORUM IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC, AND ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AGENDAS, RIGHT? THERE'S THIS STRICT RULE IN THE BROWN ACT THAT SAYS ONLY ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA CAN BE DISCUSSED.
AND THE IDEA IS THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS NOTICE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO COME AND, YOU KNOW, LET THE COMMISSION OR THE LEGISLATIVE BODY KNOW WHETHER THEY APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE.
UH, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THIS REALLY STRICT RESTRICTION ON ONLY ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
ONLY ITEMS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE BODY CAN BE DISCUSSED DURING THE MEETINGS.
WE WANNA AVOID APPEARANCES OF IMPROPRIETY, RIGHT? IN ORDER FOR GOVERNMENT TO FUNCTION, WE NEED THE PUBLIC TO TRUST US.
SO WE NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE BROWN ACT.
AND WE ALSO WANNA AVOID ANY APPEARANCE, UH, THAT WE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ARE DOING SOME BACKDOOR DEALINGS, RIGHT? IT HELPS AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPROPERLY DISCUSSING ITEMS AND BUSINESS OF THIS COMMISSION WHO'S SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT.
LEGISLATIVE BODIES, RIGHT? THE CITY COUNCIL.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THE CITY COUNCIL, IT'S COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES, BOARDS THAT ARE CREATED LIKE THIS, UH, ENTITY BY ORDINANCE RESOLUTION.
IT INCLUDES ALSO BODIES OR ENTITIES THAT RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE CITY AND THEIR GOVERNING BODY THAT INCLUDE A COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, AND IT DOESN'T APPLY TO AD HOC COMMITTEES THAT ARE MADE UP SOLELY OF COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE LESS OF A FOR THAT HAVE LESS THAN A FORUM.
SO WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE PROHIBITED, RIGHT? AND THERE'S GONNA BE A SERIES THAT I WANT YOU, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT FOUR DISTINCT ONES THAT CAN GET SOMETIMES MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES.
SOMETIMES YOU DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT YOU'RE ENGAGED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS, RIGHT? THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF US BEING HERE IS, UH, TO, YOU KNOW, TRY TO HELP YOU IDENTIFY IF, IF SOME OF YOUR COM UH, COMMUNICATIONS ARE, UH, FALLING UNDER ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES.
AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT, UH, SOME COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE ALLOWED.
SO WE'RE GONNA START FIRST WITH THIS, UH, DEFINITION OF SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS.
AND ESSENTIALLY, UH, WHAT IT MEANS IS YOU'RE COMMUNICATING WITH LESS THAN THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF A QUORUM, RIGHT? BUT THEN THOSE COMMUNICATIONS ADD UP EVENTUALLY TO INCLUDE THE QUORUM.
SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WE HAVE THESE FOUR, UH, DIFFERENT, UM, FORMS OF COMMUNICATION THAT WE SAY HUB AND SPOKE DAISY CHAIN BY REPRESENTATIVE AND EMAILS, TEXTS OR SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO THE HUB AND SPOKE, IT'S WHEN ONE MEMBER CONTACTS ALL, OR A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS TO TRY TO GET SOME CONS.
A DAISY CHAIN IS WHERE ONE MEMBER TALKS TO MEMBER B, AND THEN THAT MEMBER TALKS TO MEMBER C.
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, WE HAVE MULTIPLE MEMBERS THAT HAVE NOW ESTABLISHED A COMMUNICATION WITH THE MAJORITY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, UH, BY REPRESENTATIVE.
ESSENTIALLY, THE WAY THAT WE DESCRIBE THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE NOT THE PERSON THAT'S ENGAGING IN THE COMMUNICATIONS TO GET CONSENSUS BY OTHER MEMBERS ON THE COMMISSION, BUT IT'S YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, RIGHT? THIS CAN BE A PARTNER, THIS CAN BE AN ASSISTANT, THIS CAN BE STAFF.
UH, AND THE LAST IS EMAILS, TEXT MESSAGES, OR SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO WE KNOW, UH, THAT UNDER THE BROWN ACT, COMMENTING ON EMAILS THAT ARE REPLY ALL TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION OR A QUORUM, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, RIGHT? THAT TRY TO GATHER CONSENSUS, UM, UH, FROM MEMBERS ALSO, UH, ARE PROHIBITED UNDER THE BROWN ACT UNDER, UH, THESE RESTRICTIONS.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILS ABOUT HUB, UH, LIKE A DESCRIPTION OF HUB AND SPOKE.
SO THE MEMBER CONTACTS ALL MEMBERS ON THEIR BODY TO ENSURE THEY VOTE YES TO SUPPORT AN ITEM AGAIN, RIGHT? IT'S TRYING TO GET CONSENSUS BEFORE THE MEETING AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS HERE IN A PUBLIC FORUM WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE IN HERE.
UH, THE DISCUSSIONS AMONG YOU, UH, DAISY CHAIN, RIGHT? WE SAID MEMBER BLUE CONTACTS MEMBER GREEN MEMBER GREEN CONTACTS MEMBER ORANGE.
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THE WHOLE RAINBOW, UH, HAS NOW COMMUNICATED AND GATHERED CONSENSUS ON A SPECIFIC ITEM.
SO THAT'S ALSO A PROHIBITED, UH, UH, COMMUNICATION BY REPRESENTATIVE.
WE HAVE MEMBER GREEN THAT IS A VOLUNTEER AT SEVERAL NONPROFITS.
AND THAT VOLUNTEER IS TALKING TO MULTIPLE MEMBERS OR MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIVES TO GATHER CONSENSUS
[00:40:01]
ON ITEMS. THAT'S A PROHIBITED CONVERSATION.SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EMAILS, TEXTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.
HOW, UH, WE CAN DESCRIBE, UH, WE HAVE MEMBER BLUE, HE'S POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT AN ITEM RELATED TO THE BUSINESS OF THE COMMISSION.
UH, AND THEN IT'S LIKED BY MEMBER GREEN, SHARED BY MEMBER ORANGE, COMMENTED ON BY MEMBER PEAK, UH, PINK, AND THEN RETWEETED BY MEMBER AQUA.
SO ESSENTIALLY THROUGH THIS CHAIN, WHETHER IT'S TEXT MESSAGE, WHETHER IT'S A REPLY, ALL EMAIL OR A SOCIAL MEDIA POST, WE'RE GETTING CONSENSUS BETWEEN ALL MEMBERS, RIGHT? THAT'S ALSO A PROHIBITED, UH, COMMUNICATION.
OKAY? SO WHAT'S ALLOWED, RIGHT? UH, YOU MAY BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN PUBLIC EVENTS, RIGHT? UM, AND YOU ATTEND THAT EVENT.
UM, THIS IS, SORRY, I WENT AHEAD.
IT'S ON THE SLIDE THAT I AM GONNA GET TO, BUT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE I STARTED IT.
SO YOU'RE ALLOWED TO GO, UH, TO PUBLIC EVENTS AND CONFERENCES, UH, WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS IN YOUR COMMISSION.
HOWEVER, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED, UH, AGAIN, RIGHT? TO DISCUSS, UH, ITEMS THAT ARE BEFORE, UH, YOUR COMMISSION THAT ARE RELATED TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS COMMISSION TO TRY TO GET, UH, CONSENSUS SO YOU CAN TALK, UH, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
YOU CAN TALK TO STAFF, UH, AND THEN ALSO YOU'RE ALLOWED, UM, AGAIN, TO SPEAK TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN YOUR CONSTITUENT.
OKAY? LET'S TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA, RIGHT? SO, SO JUST SOME ITEMS, UH, TO KNOW ABOUT THE AGENDA, THAT THE, A REGULAR AGENDA HAS TO BE POSTED, 7 72 HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING.
AND SPECIAL MEETING, UH, AGENDAS HAVE TO BE POSTED 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, RIGHT? WE NEED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC ENOUGH NOTICE SO THAT THEY KNOW, UH, WHAT ARE ITEMS THAT ARE BEFORE THE AGENDA.
UM, AGENDA DESCRIPTIONS, RIGHT? AGAIN, THE IMPORTANCE ON WHY WE HAVE TO PROPERLY AGENDIZE ITEMS AND ONLY SPEAK TO THOSE ITEMS. SO WE GENERALLY DESCRIBE, RIGHT, A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE ITEM, UH, IS GOING TO BE.
THAT'S DISCUSSED BY THE COMMISSION, THE DATE AND TIME PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO GO, RIGHT? SO THAT THEY CAN VOCALIZE, UH, WHETHER THEY'RE IN SUPPORT, UM, OR NOT IN SUPPORT OF CERTAIN ITEMS. AND THEN WE HAVE TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ON THE SCOPE.
SO I'VE BEEN ASKED TO SLOW IT DOWN, SO I'M GONNA SLOW IT DOWN JUST A BIT.
UH, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS IF I WENT TOO QUICKLY THROUGH A SLIDE, YEAH, I'LL MAKE SURE TO GO BACK TO THAT.
YES, COMMISSIONER, DEAN, I'M SORRY, WHOEVER'S MOVING THE SLIDES, CAN THEY WAIT UNTIL SHE'S ABSOLUTELY DONE WITH THE SLIDE BEFORE MOVING ON? YEAH, THAT WOULD BE ME.
SO I'M TALKING TOO SLOW AND MOVING THE SLIDES TOO FAST,
SO AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I MAY BE COVERED THAT YOU NEED ME TO GO BACK TO, I'M HAPPY TO GO BACK TO THOSE SLIDES AND DISCUSS IT.
UH, WHERE CAN THE MEETINGS BE HELD WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY? UH, UNLESS THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC EXEMPTION THAT APPLIES.
AND THEN MEETINGS ARE REQUIRED TO BE ACCESSIBLE UNDER THE A DA.
OKAY? SO RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC.
THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO COMMENT ON ALL ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA THAT HAD BEEN GENDERIZED.
UH, FIRST BULLET, WHICH THEY ALSO CAN COME TO THE MEETING AND SPEAK TO ITEMS THAT ARE BEFORE, LIKE WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE COMMISSION AS WELL.
UH, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY COMMENTS RELATED TO EACH AGENDA ITEM.
UH, YOU CAN RECORD THE MEETING WITH AN AUDIO OR VIDEOTAPE RECORDER.
UH, YOU CAN, THE PUBLIC CAN REVIEW THE AGENDA AND WRITINGS THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED, RIGHT? WHEN YOU WALK IN, THERE'S AGENDA MATERIALS THAT ARE POSTED SO THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO THOSE.
THEY'RE ALSO ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
UH, THEY CAN ATTEND WITHOUT REGISTERING OR IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES, AND THEY CAN WITNESS ALL THE VOTES, RIGHT? WHICH IS WHAT IS OCCURRING HERE AT IN OUR COMMISSION AND ALL OF OUR, UH, LEGISLATIVE BODIES.
UH, SO VIOLATIONS, RIGHT? WHAT HAPPENS IF WE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT ARE THE RISKS? WHAT ARE THE RISKS? IF IT IS THAT WE'RE FOUND TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT? ANYONE CAN BRING A CIVIL ACTION AGAINST, UH, VIOLATORS OF THE BROWN ACT.
AND THOSE, UH, CIVIL ACTIONS CAN INVALIDATE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN IN VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT.
UH, ALSO THERE CAN BE A RECOVERY OF COST AND ATTORNEY'S FEES.
AND LASTLY, THERE ARE CRIMINAL, ALSO CRIMINAL MISDEMEANOR, UH, PUNISHMENT THAT CAN HAPPEN IF, IF THERE'S SOME, IF IT'S SHOWN THAT THERE'S AN INTENT, UH, TO DEPRIVE THE PUBLIC OF THE INFORMATION.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, GIVE JUST A FEW TAKEAWAYS, RIGHT? WHAT ARE THE, THE DO'S AND DON'TS? AND MAYBE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, 'CAUSE I MAY HAVE RUN THROUGH SOME OF THOSE QUICKLY, BUT AGAIN, IT'S A REFRESHER, RIGHT? I, I DON'T WANT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND KIND OF GET INTO TOO MANY DETAILS OF INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE ALREADY SAT THROUGH, UH, IN THAT TRAINING.
BUT SO WHAT ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO? YOU CAN TALK WITH STAFF, YOU CAN TALK WITH CONSTITUENTS, YOU CAN ATTEND COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND YOU CAN ASK LEGAL QUESTIONS RIGHT? AT THOSE COMMUNITY EVENTS.
[00:45:01]
MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS, UH, THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUSINESS WITH, RIGHT? WITH THAT DISCLAIMER, DO NOT REPLY ALL TO EMAILS THAT YOU ALL MAY BE INCLUDED ON.I KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO PREVENT THOSE TYPE OF COMMUNICATIONS, BUT JUST BE CONSCIOUS THAT YOU'RE NOT REPLYING ALL, UH, GROUP TEXT AS WELL, RIGHT? AVOIDING GROUP TEXTS BETWEEN ALL COMMISSIONERS IS A WAY, UH, TO KEEP, UH, IN LINE WITH THE BROWN APP, RIGHT? TO AVOID, UH, POLLING MEMBERS BEFORE MEETINGS, RIGHT? THAT'S ALSO, UH, A DON'T AND LIKE, OR COMMENT ON OTHER COMMISSIONERS POST ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THE COMMISSION.
THERE'S A, A RECENT UPDATE, SB 7 0 7, RELATED TO THE BROWN ACT.
AND THAT IS ALLOWING NOW IN JULY, IF WE'RE THERE TO BE, UH, REQUIRED HYBRID MEETINGS AND PARTICIPATION.
AND THERE'S ALSO, UM, SOME PROVISIONS IN THAT THAT ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY THROUGH TELECONFERENCE, UH, IF AS A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
SO JUST TWO, THERE'S MANY OTHER THINGS, BUT JUST TWO POINTS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE, UH, RELATED TO THE RECENT LEGISLATION, SP 7 0 7, I WILL STOP THERE AND I WILL TALK VERY SLOWLY IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS.
UM, JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
PUBLIC COMMENT, IF ANY PER IN-PERSON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.
NOW, IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND FEATURE OR DIAL STAR NINE IF YOU'RE CALLING IN BY PHONE.
WELL, I'M FRANCIS EMILY, CAN WE ASSIST HER WITH THE MICROPHONE? THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
JUST TO NOTE, UM, UH, FOR ACCOMMODATION, WE'RE GIVING THIS PARTICULAR, UM, COMMENT OR SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO MAKE HER COMMENT.
AND BEFORE I MAKE MY COMMENT, I WAS GOING TO ASK HER A QUESTION ON THE PRESENTATION SHE GAVE.
SO WE, ALL WE CAN DO IS TAKE COMMENTS AT THIS POINT.
I AM FRANCIS, EMILY DAWSON HARRIS, AND I'VE LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR LIKE, CLOSE TO LIKE 30 YEARS OR SO.
MY BACKGROUND IS PEDIATRIC NURSING, SO I WROTE A SPECIAL TRIBUTE FOR THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EIGHT DAY.
AND ON THE LAST LINE, I ACCIDENTALLY HAD 2016.
A TRIBUTE FOR THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY FOR THE A DA.
AND BEFORE YOU CONTINUE, UH, IS THIS RELATED TO THE BROWN ACT OR ROBERT'S RULES PRESENTATION THAT WE JUST RECEIVED? WELL, THAT'S WHAT, OH, SEE, I, I WAS GONNA MAKE MY COMMENT ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID.
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO EARLIER.
UM, WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY AWESOME PRESENTATION.
UM, WHEN I SERVED ON CAPE COD, WE DIDN'T GET ALL THOSE DETAILS AND I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S PHENOMENAL THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE DETAILS, SO IT'S WELL UNDERSTOOD AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO IT.
UM, MY QUESTION, AND I HOPE IT'S AN OKAY QUESTION, IS SOME THINGS WHEN THE COMMISSION DEALS WITH THINGS, UM, AND IT AFFECTS LIKE THE PUBLIC OR CERTAIN ENTITIES LIKE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR DIFFERENT THINGS, UM, IS THE COMMISSION ALLOWED TO ACTUALLY SPEAK TO, UM, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DISABLED TO GET THEIR CONSENSUS ON AN ITEM THAT'S GONNA LATER ON COME UP TO THE BOARD? OR DO THEY NEED TO JUST NOT SAY ANYTHING? AND WHEN IT'S AGENDIZED, THEN PERSONS CAN HAVE THEIR COMMENTS? 'CAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PEOPLE MAY BE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF, AND THEN THERE MAY BE SOME MATTERS, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE UH, COULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UM, TO KNOW ABOUT.
BUT THEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DISABILITY, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU'RE NOT AWARE, I MEAN, ALL OF Y'ALL ARE JUST REALLY AWESOME AND I, YOU HAVE GREAT INSIGHT, BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT INSIGHT.
AND SO I JUST THOUGHT I'D ASK THAT QUESTION ABOUT CAN YOU GET INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC AND THEN BRING THAT TO THE MEETING, OR SHOULD YOU JUST LEAVE IT, YOU KNOW, TILL IT COMES TO THE MEETING AND IT'S AGENDA.
MY NAME IS MAIRA GARCIA AND I HAVE A CHILD WITH 16 DIFFERENT DISABILITIES AND AUTISM.
I COME TO BE HIS VOICE SINCE HE CANNOT SPEAK
[00:50:01]
AND THE VOICE FOR MANY OTHERS WHO CAN'T DO IT AS WELL.REFERRING THE VERY INTERESTING TOPIC THAT YOU TOUCHED UPON, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE CAN AGENDIZE THE OTHER FOLKS, UM, BEFORE STARTING THE MEETING.
BECAUSE THERE ARE LOTS OF TOPICS THAT ARE EXCLUDED.
LIKE IN THE CASE OF MY SON, WHO BELONGS TO ONE OF THE MOST INVISIBLE COMMUNITIES.
THERE ARE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF TOPICS TO COVER WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
I SEE THAT ALL OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IS HERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN ARRIVE HERE ON THEIR OWN.
MANY OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS CANNOT BE HERE ON THEIR, CANNOT COME ON THEIR OWN, NOR ON ZOOM BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY THERAPY APPOINTMENTS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ONE DAY BE ABLE TO BE SITTING UP THERE SO THAT I CAN ALSO REPRESENT MY COMMUNITY.
OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? WE HAVE NO MEMBERS ONLINE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT IN ZOOM INCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, SO, UH, CONSIDERATIONS, QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS FROM, UH, THE COMMISSION TO OUR PRESENTER? YES.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH VANESSA.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WHEN OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION OR THE CITY OR THE OFFICE OF EQUITY ARE PROMOTING SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SUCH AS THE DISABILITY DATA SURVEY THAT WE ALL WANTED TO HELP PROMOTE, WE ARE ALLOWED TO SHARE OR LIKE, OR TAG FOLKS IN AN INSTANCE WHERE IT'S NOT ABOUT AN AGENDA ITEM OR VOTING, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT.
IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, I MEAN, IT, IT'S, UM, IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION AND IT IS A VERY NUANCED AREA OF THE LAW, RIGHT? SO IF THERE ARE, UH, I I WANNA PREFACE IT, IF THERE ARE ANY DOUBTS, UH, OUR OFFICE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THE NUANCES WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIFIC POSTS, SPECIFIC EVENTS.
YOU HAVE THE STAFF OF THE COMMISSION THAT IS ALSO AVAILABLE, AND YOU HAVE HEATHER WHO'S ALSO AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION JUST GENERALLY, AND WE CAN TALK MORE SPECIFICALLY, IT'S, UH, SENSITIVE BECAUSE IF IT IS THAT YOU WERE TO HAVE THAT ITEM COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION THAT SAYS THE COMMISSION WANTS TO TAKE A POSI A CERTAIN POSITION, IF IT IS THAT YOU PER PERHAPS ALL OF YOU LIKED IT, RIGHT? THAT IS ONE OF THE PROHIBITED, UH, UH, CONVERSATIONS OR DISCUSSIONS THAT WE DISCUSSED, RIGHT? SO I THINK, UH, IT CAN BE VERY SENSITIVE, ESSENTIALLY YOU WOULD ALL I SEE A LITTLE BIT OF DOUBT, RIGHT? AND IT IS A, IT'S NUANCED, RIGHT? SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE DETAILS, BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS BECAUSE IF THAT ITEM SUBSEQUENTLY CAME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, FOR THE COMMISSION TO SAY, WRITE SOME KIND OF LETTER OR WHATEVER IT IS TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THEN ALL OF YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY, UH, APPROVED ALIKE OR PUT A THUMBS UP THAT YOU'RE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
THEN THERE IS SOME GRAY AREA AND SOME FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT, UH, WE ALL AGREED BEFORE THE ITEM BECAME, UH, CAME TO THE PUBLIC FORUM TO BE DISCUSSED.
I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THE DISABILITY DATA SURVEY IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY AND THE COMMISSION IS, OR WAS TRYING TO GET OUT TO AS MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AS IT WE CREATED POSSIBLE.
IT'S SOMETHING WE CREATED AND I GUESS WE'RE NOT TAKING A LIKE, STAND ON THIS IS GREAT OR THIS IS TERRIBLE, BUT JUST WE WANNA SHARE THIS WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO COLLECT AS MUCH DATA AS POSSIBLE.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS TECHNICALLY A TAKING A
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PROMOTE IT.
'CAUSE THE COMMISSION WORKED REALLY HARD ON IT.
AND I JUST WANNA, UH, KIND OF AS A FOLLOW UP, RIGHT, THE, THE FACT THAT IT'S BEING RAISED AND DISCUSSED, AND THERE MAY BE THIS AREA, IT COULD REQUIRE JUST A LITTLE MORE, UH, REVIEW FROM OUR OFFICE TO BRING BACK TO THE COMMISSION OR TO STAFF SO THAT THAT CAN BE COMMUNICATED ON KIND OF WHAT IS PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE BROWN ACT SO THAT WE
[00:55:01]
AVOID, UH, ANYTHING THAT MAY BE A RISK.SO AM I HEARING YOU SAY THAT LIKE A, A THUMBS UP OR A LIKE, IS BE, IS CONSIDERED LIKE A SUPPORT? THAT'S HOW THAT'S INTERPRETED, BECAUSE THAT IS, THAT IS NOT, I WOULD SAY HOW MOST PEOPLE USE THAT, RIGHT? JUST BECAUSE I'M LIKING A PICTURE OF SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T MEAN I SUPPORT THE BRAND'S VALUES PER SE OF THAT PRODUCT.
UM, JUST BECAUSE I THUMBS UP AN EVENT DOESN'T MEAN I'M ATTENDING OR I'M SPONSORING IT.
UM, AND NEW INFORMATION THAT A, A THUMBS UP WOULD BE CONSIDERED THAT I AM ADVOCATING OR OR SUPPORTING WHATEVER THAT ITEM IS.
SO IT IT'S, YOU'RE RIGHT, RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT.
THAT IT, IT, BECAUSE YOU GIVE A THUMBS UP, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT YOU'RE APPROVING OR THAT IT WOULD INDICATE THAT YOU WOULD VOTE YES IF THAT ITEM BECAME, UH, CAME BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
BUT IT'S, UH, PART OF THE POLICY THAT OUR OFFICE IS DIRECTING ALL COMMISSIONERS, RIGHT? WHEN IT COMES TO EMAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, WE'RE ENCOURAGING COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, UH, TO BE CAUTIOUS OF THE WAY THAT THEY'RE PARTICIPATING ON THESE PLATFORMS BECAUSE IT COULD, UH, IF IT IS THAT ENOUGH MEMBERS, UM, CREATE SOME KIND OF CONSENSUS THROUGH REVIEWING, UH, WHATEVER THE COMMENTS ARE.
I MEAN, IT, IT'S ALL SUBJECT, IT'S NUANCED, RIGHT? THE LAW IS VERY GRAY, UH, AND IT'S NOT, UH, ALWAYS BLACK AND WHITE.
BUT AT THIS POINT, UH, WE ARE, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S RELATED TO THE BUSINESS OF YOUR COMMISSION, WHAT THE MATTERS THAT MAY BE IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING MADE.
OTHER OTHERS, HOW ARE WE DOING? UH, VANESSA? THANK YOU.
UM, UH, SOMEONE FROM THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AN ATTORNEY FROM THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ASSIGNED TO EACH COMMISSION.
IS THAT CORRECT? AND THAT'S RIGHT.
SO ARE YOU OURS? I AM, MM-HMM
SO, UH, I WORK WITH STAFF, RIGHT? UH, PART OF THE ROLE AND MAYBE I COULD HAVE, UH, DONE THAT IN AS AN INTRODUCTION.
I WAS GETTING READY TO GO INTO THE BROWN ACT.
BUT YES, I AM THE ATTORNEY THAT'S ASSIGNED TO THE COMMISSION.
I WORK WITH STAFF, UH, THAT IS GREAT.
UH, GREATLY REPRESENT YOU AND COMMUNICATES WITH OUR OFFICE IN REVIEWING AGENDAS AND APPROVING AGENDAS.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, ESPECIALLY, UH, RELATED TO THE BROWN ACT OR ANY OTHER, UH, LEGAL THAT YOU REQUIRE, SOME KIND OF LEGAL GUIDANCE, I WOULD BE THE STARTING POINT.
AND THEN, UM, ONE OTHER THING, I, UM, UH, TYLER CURRY SPOKE TO US ABOUT SB 7 0 7 A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND WE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS.
AND, UM, I'VE KEPT AN EYE ON WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH IT AT COUNCIL, AND, UM, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RESULTS.
UH, I KNOW THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS TO DO A SIX MONTH KIND OF PILOT AND THEN REASSESS IT.
UM, BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S, IT DID THE BEST JOB OF KIND OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND, UM, SO I'M JUST WONDERING, WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT? SHOULD WE ASK TYLER BACK? UM, SHOULD WE TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT? UM, 'CAUSE I KNOW WITH IT BEING A MANDATE THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS IMPORTANT FOR IT TO, AND I KNOW WE WERE ON A TIGHT DEADLINE.
SO WE HAVE A, A TEAM OF 30 ATTORNEYS IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS.
AND I ACTUALLY AM NOT THE EXPERT ON SB 7 0 7.
THERE'S ANOTHER, UH, ATTORNEY, UH, THAT HAS BEEN WORKING MORE CLOSELY ON THAT ITEM AND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE DIRECTLY TO DRAFT, UH, THE ORDINANCE AND MAKE AMENDMENTS.
AND THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF THE TRAINING AND DONE A LOT OF THE LEGAL GUIDANCE IN THAT AREA.
BUT YES, I AM, UH, DEFINITELY A RESOURCE AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH STAFF, UH, TO HEAR THOSE, UH, CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS THAT, UH, MAY STILL BE REMAINING AND WORKING BOTH WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THEN ALSO THE ATTORNEY IN OUR OFFICE, UH, THAT IT, THAT HAS BEEN, UH, MORE CLOSELY, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON THAT ISSUE TO TRY TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ONCE THAT DISCUSSION IS, WE'VE HAD THAT DISCUSSION, AND ONCE THAT INITIAL ANALYSIS HAS BEEN MADE, THEN TO HELP PROVIDE THE COMMISSION WITH SOME, UH, GUIDANCE ON WHAT ARE, UH, THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY AND WITHIN YOUR ROLE, UH, TO TRY TO CONVEY THAT,
[01:00:01]
UH, TO THE CITY COUNCIL.YEAH, YOU'RE AN ADVISORY BODY AND THERE'S WAYS FOR YOU TO COMMUNICATE TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
ONE, UH, WE HAVE A HYBRID FORMAT HERE.
UH, WE'VE HAD IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, AND I THINK OUR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN NOT SO MUCH TALKING AMONGST OURSELVES IN AN ON TOUR WAY BEHIND, YOU KNOW, THE BACK ROOM SORT OF THING IS TO GET PARTICIPATION FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I ASK YOU, WHAT ARE THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO PROMOTE PARTICIPATION? IT GOES IN LINE WITH WHAT MS. GARCIA IS SAYING.
UH, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ, WE ALL HAVE THIS INTEREST IN HEARING FROM THIS DISPARATE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE HERE.
45,000, 50,000 INDIVIDUALS IS A LOW ESTIMATE.
AND THESE ARE AWKWARD SETTINGS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THIS CLOSED ROOM, NO WINDOWS, AND THERE ARE ALL THESE RULES ABOUT WHEN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND, WHEN YOU DON'T RAISE YOUR HAND.
I'M, I'M, I LOVE IT WHEN SOMEBODY COMES AND USES TRANSLATION SERVICES, BRILLIANT.
WE NEED MORE OF THAT, BUT HAVE WATCH PARTIES.
CAN WE PROMOTE A WATCH PARTY? I MEAN, LET'S THINK ABOUT OUTSIDE OF, RATHER THAN EVERYONE TRYING TO FIND THEIR WAY TO CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS AWKWARD AT THE BEST OF TIMES, UH, THERE'S NO PLACE FOR ACCESS OR DIAL A RIGHT TO EASILY, UM, ASSIST PEOPLE TO THE DOOR.
UM, WE, WE HAVE THIS, UH, SPACE BETWEEN OUR, THE CONSTITUENTS, THE, THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE AND THIS PROCESS.
AND TO ME, THAT'S WHERE, BETWEEN ETHICS AND THE BROWN ACT AND THE LEGALITY OF IT, WE, UM, NEED TO HAVE DEFINED TOOLS.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE EACH TIME WE WANNA DO SOMETHING OUT OF THE BOX, WE HAVE TO GO AND GET IT PERMITTED AND REVIEWED, AND SOMETHING THAT'S VERY ONEROUS ON STAFF AND VOLUNTEER COMMISSION.
ARE THERE SOME READY TO MADE TOOLS THAT WE CAN USE TO HELP BUILD PARTICIPATION THAT HAVE BEEN USED BY OTHERS? HAVEN'T BEEN USED YET? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR.
UH, AND THERE'S A MECHANISM TO DO THAT.
YOUR, YOUR COMMISSION IS AN ADVISORY BODY, RIGHT? YOU'RE ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE, AND YOU, UH, I THINK EARLIER THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THERE'S BYLAWS, UH, THERE ARE BYLAWS.
UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UH, 2017, THOSE WERE ENACTED AND THEY HAVEN'T SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN AMENDED.
SO, UH, PERHAPS THE CITY CLERK OR OUR LIST IS ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE IF THERE, UM, WAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THOSE EXIST.
SO I THINK, UH, THIS BODY IS, WAS ESTABLISHED UNDER THOSE RULES, RIGHT? THOSE AUTHORITIES, THOSE DUTIES.
UH, SO THE COMMISSION WITHIN THOSE ROLES AND DUTIES CAN IDENTIFY HOW YOU CAN BE MORE PROACTIVE AND CREATIVE.
UH, AND OUR OFFICE IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL, UH, AS IT IS THAT YOU IDENTIFY, UM, ACTING WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY ON HOW TO PROMOTE, UH, MORE ENGAGEMENT AND CONVEYING THOSE, UH, THOSE VIEWS AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW IF HEATHER MIGHT HAVE SOME OTHER THOUGHTS, OR MAYBE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, UH, THE CHANGES, RIGHT? WITH SB 7 0 7 AND, AND THE LAWS, THOSE ARE ALL INTENDED TO HELP, UH, IMPROVE PARTICIPATION.
BUT I, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND, UM, THIS FRUSTRATION ABOUT, UH, GETTING PEOPLE HERE, RIGHT? AND, AND THE NEED TO, TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE MORE ENGAGED.
UH, SO I, OUR OFFICE IS HERE, UH, TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT CONTINUING DISCUSSION CHAIR, IF I MAY.
UM, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON VANESSA, THAT I THINK THAT'S THE AGE OLD STRUGGLE THAT WE AS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME, IS TRYING TO GET THE PUBLIC MORE ENGAGED.
UM, I KNOW THAT AS A STAFF LIAISON FOR ANOTHER COMMISSION, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT
[01:05:01]
CREATIVE WAYS, WHETHER IT'S HAVING A MEETING AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION, WHICH TAKES A LOT OF COORDINATING IN ITSELF.THERE, IN MY EXPERIENCE, THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT VIOLATING THE BROWN ACTOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITHOUT GOING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT STEPS OR MAKING SURE THAT THE T'S ARE CROSSED AND THE I'S ARE DOTTED.
BUT, UM, MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, AT YOUR NEXT RETREAT, MAYBE START THINKING THROUGH A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, VANESSA WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT AT SOME POINT, JUST, YOU KNOW, GIVING YOU THE YES OR NO ON WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THE COMMISSION COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH.
BUT, UM, THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION IS MAYBE START WITH A MASTER COMMUNICATIONS PLAN.
UM, I THINK WE'VE HAD OUR Q AND A.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS RECOMMENDATION TO REVIEW, DISCUSS, AND IF APPROPRIATE, APPROVE THE TRANSMITTAL OF A LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL OUTLINING CONSIDERATIONS TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE AUTISM INCLUSION EFFORTS IN LONG BEACH.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? A MOTION SECOND.
[4. 26-55578 Recommendation to review, discuss, and, if appropriate, approve the transmittal of a letter to City Council, outlining Considerations to Support and Enhance Autism Inclusion Efforts in Long Beach. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
FLOOR FOR COMMISSION DISCUSSION.YOU MEAN PRE LIKE, PRESENT IT, THERE'S NO PRESENTATION THAT YOU JUST REVIEW AND DISCUSS.
SO THERE WAS A LETTER THAT WAS SENT VIA EMAIL TO EVERYBODY, AND WE'RE JUST REVIEWING THAT LETTER THAT WAS SENT.
IT'S ALSO ON THE SCREEN IF YOU WANNA CHECK IT OUT THERE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE? ALL RIGHT.
UM, CAN WE MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT? IF THERE ARE ANY IN-PERSON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.
IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA ZOOM, USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR DIAL STAR NINE IF YOU'RE CALLING IN BY PHONE.
AND THIS IS RELATED TO THE HOUSING, OR EXCUSE ME, THE, UH, ENHANCED AUTISM INCLUSION EFFORTS IN LONG BEACH.
I AM FRANCIS EMILY DAWSON HARRIS, A LONG BEACH RESIDENT.
MY BACKGROUND IS PEDIATRIC NURSING.
UM, TOO OFTEN PEOPLE LOOK AT A PERSON AND SEE MORE SO WHAT THEY CAN'T DO WITHOUT LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO, WHAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO DO.
AND THE CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION.
AND I'LL BE OUT AND ABOUT AND I'LL SEE A LOT OF CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF DISABILITIES.
AND SOMETIMES MY SOUL JUST SINKS BECAUSE THE WAY PEOPLE ARE TREATING THEM AND TALKING TO THEM OR, OR LIKE IF A, A PERSON'S WITH THEM AND EVERYTHING, WE HAVE TO HAVE INCLUSION AND AUTISM IS A VERY DIFFICULT, UM, CHALLENGE.
UM, THERE'S SO MANY ASPECTS OF IT, OF WHICH YOU REALLY CAN'T SEE, AND IT TAKES TIME TO BE ABLE TO DECIPHER WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN READILY READ AS TO WHY THE CHILD'S DOING SOMETHING IN A CERTAIN FASHION.
UM, I HAVE BROUGHT AN ATTACHMENT THAT HAS TO DO WITH LEAP BLOWERS AND THE TOXINS EXPOSED.
[01:10:01]
I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED.I DON'T KNOW, I HAVEN'T READ THE LETTER THAT YOU HAVE, AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE MOVING THIS FORWARD.
I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE TOXINS THAT'S NOT ONLY IN FOOD, THAT'S IN THE AIR, YOU KNOW, LIKE PLASTIC AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
SO, UM, I WAS WONDERING LIKE WHEN THE CITY MAKES, UM, LOOKS AT THIS MATTER TO APPROVE IT, DO THEY HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH INVOLVED? DO THEY HAVE LIKE MAYBE, UM, THE COMMISSION FOR CHILDREN TO GET INPUT? YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
I THINK THIS CAN'T BE DONE SOLELY, YOU KNOW, JUST ONE WAY.
I THINK THE MORE INPUT THAT WE CAN GET, EVEN LIKE THE DISABLED RESOURCE CENTER IS A PHENOMENAL ORGANIZATION TO CONTACT, BUT I ALSO THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET AHOLD OF THE SCHOOLS AND SOME SCHOOLS HAVE, UM, SPECIAL, UM, PROGRAMS AND, UM, FOR CHILDREN THAT HAVE THIS TYPE OF DISABILITY, UM, I'M REALLY CONCERNED IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE TO PUT IT TOGETHER, BUT THE CHILDREN DESERVE THE BEST.
AND SO I KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA GO TO COUNCIL AND I DON'T SEE THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL HAVE ANY INPUT, YOU KNOW, IN THIS, BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAVE IT ON THE DOCKET AND, UM, I'M EXCITED.
AND THERE'S OTHER DISABILITIES CHILDREN HAVE BESIDES AUTISM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GONNA BE DRESSED LATER OR MAYBE IF THERE'S KIND OF SIMILAR TYPE OF MANIFESTATIONS MEDICALLY OR COGNITIVELY OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY, IF THAT COULD BE INCLUDED.
SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE COMING BACK.
YOU KNOW THAT SOME PARENTS OR SOME, UM, PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS CHILD WAS LEFT BEHIND, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU HAVE AUTISM.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THESE OTHER CHILDREN? BECAUSE YOU HAVE OTHER CHILDREN THAT HAVE COGNITIVE PROBLEMS, THEY HAVE SIMILAR MANIFESTATIONS TO AUTISM, BUT IT'S NOT LABELED AS AUTISM.
SO I WAS WONDERING IF THAT COULD BE LOOKED INTO WHERE THERE'S A WAY MAYBE THEY CAN BE INCLUDED.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND IF I MAY, THERE ARE COPIES OF THE LETTER DOWN HERE AT THE FRONT IN THESE AGENDA PACKETS, AND IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS MAYA GARCIA AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THIS TOPIC THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE, MY GREATEST CONCERN IS THE POLICE, JOSE, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DON'T LET US, UH, SPEAK OVER THEM AND THEY DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND THEY SAY SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE INCLUSION FOR OUR CHILDREN.
INTERIM PRIMERO, THEY IN FIRST, THEY GOING IN FIRST TO HAVE BREAKFAST OR AT THE END THEY DON'T SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE DISABILITIES.
I'VE BROUGHT MY, UH, SON HERE TO THE CHAMBERS AND MY SON HAS STEREOTYPES AND MORE THAN ONE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN HERE IN THE CHAMBERS HAS TRIED TO SILENCE HIM.
IT'S HARD FOR US AS PARENTS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.
AND WHAT'S HARDER IS TO HAVE THEM IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T ACCEPT THEM.
AND I CAN, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT EACH ONE OF YOU HAS A VOICE.
THEY'RE AT HOME BECAUSE THEY CAN'T EVEN MAKE THE DECISION WHETHER THEY WANT TO EAT TODAY OR NOT.
I'M THANKFUL THAT YOU HAD THE, UH, DISABILITY AWARENESS DAY.
[01:15:01]
MANY PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.I COME TO BE A VOICE FOR MY SON AND FOR OTHER ADULTS WHO CAN'T SPEAK LIKE HIM.
UH, I WANT TO, UH, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE, UH, I'M SORRY I MESSED UP.
UM, AND NOT JUST FOR, UH, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, WITH AUTISM CONDITION, AND I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT A DISABILITY, IT'S A CONDITION.
UH, TODAY, ONE IN 34 PEOPLE HAVE AUTISM AND MANY ADULTS HAVE AUTISM AND HAVE NEVER REALIZED IT.
I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER OPENING UP A POSITION WITHIN THIS COMMISSION TO REPRESENT THAT SPECIFICALLY.
UNFORTUNATELY, NOT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT IT'S ONE OF THE MOST INVISIBLE DISABILITIES, GIVEN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A PHYSICAL CONDITION AND IT CAN EASILY BE CONFUSED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
THEY HAVE, THEY REPEAT WHATEVER THE OTHER PERSON IS SAYING AND IT CAN SEEM AS THOUGH THEY ARE MAKING FUN OF WHAT IS BEING SAID.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FILTER AND CAN HURT PEOPLE'S FEELINGS BY BEING VERY DIRECT.
THEY DON'T HAVE A STOOL SENSE OF SARCASM, AND THERE ARE NO ACTIVITIES OR JOBS WITH DIGNITY FOR THEM.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, THIS ISSUE WITH THE POLICE FOR ALL THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE KILLING THEM.
I'LL SAY AGAIN, A POLICE OFFICER CAME TO MY HOUSE AND POINTED A GUN AT MY SON AND TOLD HIM THAT IF HE DIDN'T KNEEL, HE WOULD BE SHOT.
MY SON DOESN'T FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS.
HE HAS 16, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, DIFFERENT DISABILITIES AMONG THEM, DIFFERENT ORTHOPEDIC ISSUES.
AND THIS WAS A TRAUMA FOR ME AND MY WHOLE FAMILY.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS TO THE DISABILITY COMMITTEE AND HELP US APPROACH THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN ENGAGE WITH THE POLICE.
YOUR TIME HAS CONCLUDED YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, UH, ANY ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
UM, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? UH, STEVE AYE, COMMISSIONER ADAM
UM, DEFINITELY I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR, YOUR STORY AND YOUR LIFE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I DO KNOW THAT THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE HAD A PRESENTATION FROM THE, UH, LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY'RE DOING A, UM, THE PILOT AND THEY'RE PUTTING OUT, I BELIEVE LAST YEAR, THAT YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR, YOUR FAMILY MEMBER AND THAT WAY IF A POLICE OFFICER COMES TO YOUR, YOUR, YOUR HOME OR YOUR RESIDENCE, THEY WERE HAVING A SYSTEM ALREADY, UM, THAT THERE'S A DISABILITY OR THERE'S A, UM, ANY TYPE OF MEDICAL SITUATION SO THAT WAY YOU CAN BE HELP AND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO LONG BEACH HAVE A SPECIAL PROGRAM THAT'S THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO US, TO KOT.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE ARE AWARE OF THAT, BUT JUST TO, UM, SHARE THAT AND MAYBE WE CAN SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH, UM, THIS
[01:20:01]
RESIDENT.CAN WE CALL FOR THE VOTE? COMMISSIONER ADAMS? AYE.
AND OUR NEXT ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS RECOMMENDATION TO REVIEW, DISCUSS.
AND IF AND IF APPROPRIATE, APPROVE THE TRANSMITTAL OF A LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL OUTLINING HOUSING CONSIDERATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WITHIN THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND MIDTERM EQUITY ANALYSIS.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND? MOTION? SECOND.
AND NOW I OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION
[5. 26-55579 Recommendation to review, discuss, and, if appropriate, approve the transmittal of a letter to City Council outlining Housing Considerations for Persons with Disabilities within the Housing Element and Mid-Term Equity Analysis. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ON THE, UH, LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL, UM, OUTLINING THE HOUSING CONSIDERATIONS.WE HAD A PRESENTATION LAST NIGHT, LAST NIGHT, UH, LAST MONTH.
AND WE, UM, HAVE INITIATED, UM, A LETTER, UH, IN RESPONSE, UH, TO THAT PRESENTATION.
ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, OTHERWISE WE'LL MOVE TO, UM, FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW WOULD ALSO BE THE TIME TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO APPROVE THE LETTER TO.
UH, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO APPROVE THE LETTER TO BE TRANSMITTED.
SO NOW WE VOTE, UH, WE CAN TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO, UM, SPECIFY WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANTED TO MOVE THE LETTER FORWARD.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO UNDER, I'M NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE SENDING.
SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR THAT WELL.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW WOULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO MOVE THE LETTER FORWARD TO COUNSEL.
UM, SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PART OF YOUR DISCUSSION.
AND NO ONE SEEMS TO NEED TO DISCUSS.
SO WOULD WE LIKE TO MOVE THE LETTER FORWARD? YES.
UM, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID AND THEN AFTERWARDS WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION IF THERE IS MORE.
SO AS A PART OF THE MOTION, WE'D LIKE TO MOVE IT FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL.
IS THAT UM, ALRIGHT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT, YES.
AND NOW WE'LL DO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, IF ANY MEMBERS IN PERSON WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.
IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA ZOOM, USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR DIAL STAR NINE IF YOU'RE CALLING IN BY PHONE.
FRANCE, UH, FRANCIS, EMILY DAWSON HARRIS, I AM SO ELATED THAT YOU HAVE THIS MATTER ON THE AGENDA.
THE PLACE I LIVED, UM, PRIOR TO THIS, UM, WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE AND I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE DOOR TAKEN OFF THE BATHROOM.
I HAD TO PAY FOR THE SLIDING GLASS DOORS FOR THE SHOWER WITH THE METAL STRIP TO BE TAKEN OFF.
I HAD TO PAY FOR THE TOILET WAS WAY DOWN HERE.
I HAD TO PAY TO GET A TOILET FROM HOME DEPOT AND THEN HAVE IT INSTALLED.
AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PAY, NOT EVERYBODY CAN PAY AND SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF NEW PROP, UH, NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE BEING, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN PLANNED, THAT ARE BE COMING FORWARD.
I HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF FRIENDS THAT ARE DISABLED, UH, AND OR THEIR HEALTH IS SO SERIOUS THAT, UM, IT HAS THEM IN THE CATEGORY OF BEING DISABLED.
AND IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO ME BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE THEIR LISTS.
THEY HAVE THESE LISTS FOR A BUILDING THAT'S GONNA BE BUILT AND YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON THE LIST.
AND I THINK, UM, THE CH THE CH THE OPPORTUNITY OF THEM BEING ABLE TO BE CHOSEN, UM, IS ALMOST PROBABLY MAYBE 0.5%.
SO, UM, IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO ME WHEN I SEE PEOPLE LIVING IN CONDITIONS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE LIVING IN.
SO THESE NEW PROPERTIES THAT ARE COMING UP, I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE DONE THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE PROPERTIES ARE SET ASIDE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE DISABLED.
[01:25:01]
IT'S NOT JUST YOU ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR.IT COULD BE THAT YOU'RE DISABLED, YOU HAVE A VISUAL PROBLEM, OR YOU HAVE, UM, CERTAIN, CERTAIN THINGS HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN KIND OF WAY FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION AND NOT HAVE A COMPLICATED LIKE, YOU KNOW, BATHROOM SITUATION OR KITCHEN SITUATION.
SO, UM, THIS IS GONNA BE A WORK IN PROGRESS.
THE OTHER CONCERN IS THEY TAKE A LIST, THERE'S LIKE A LIST WHERE PEOPLE PUT THEIR NAME ON TO TRY TO GET A HOUSING UNIT.
AND, UM, IT'S AMAZING TO ME HOW SOME PEOPLE END UP GETTING THE UNIT AND THEIR NAME IS WAY, WAY, WAY DOWN ON THE LIST.
AND, UM, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE CITY WOULD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT AUTHORITY THEY HAVE WITH THESE, UM, HOUSING UNITS.
BUT I THINK THE NEW ONES SHOULD HAVE A MINIMUM OF LIKE, SAY 5% OR 10% SET ASIDE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE DISABLED AND PEOPLE THAT ARE SENIORS AUTOMATIC WHERE THOSE UNITS CANNOT BE TAKEN.
EVEN, EVEN IF THERE'S A LIST, THEY SHOULD MAYBE HAVE A SEPARATE LIST IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS AND A SEPARATE LIST IF REGULAR HOUSING.
UM, AND I HAVE A FRIEND THAT, UM, HAS GONE SEVERAL TIMES ON LIST TO GET A, A PLACE TO LIVE AND SHE'S JUST RIGHT AND LEFT BEING DENIED, ALTHOUGH THEY SAID HER NAME CAME UP.
AND THEN I THINK WHEN SHE, SHE HAS A DAUGHTER THAT'S DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, SHE HAS SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS AND I THINK THAT WHEN SHE BRINGS HER DAUGHTER IN, HER DAUGHTER CAN'T HELP.
AND SOMETIMES SHE'LL SPEAK OUT AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS AND I THINK THE INTERVIEWER IS NOT ABLE TO SEE THAT THEY'RE THERE FOR A HOUSING UNIT AND THEY'RE SEEING THE, THE DAUGHTER AS A PROBLEM AND MAYBE GONNA BE A NUISANCE ON THE PROPERTY.
SO I HOPE YOU CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE THAT HAVE CERTAIN DISABILITIES AND IT'S BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, THAT THEY'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A NICE LIFE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
'CAUSE WE ALL NEED TO BE TREATED EQUALLY.
I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE SEEN THIS A LOT IN LONG BEACH AND IN OTHER CITIES.
THERE IS NO HOUSING INCLUSION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
MANY OF THE BUILDINGS IN LONG BEACH ARE ONLY TWO STORIES AND DON'T HAVE AN ELEVATOR.
NOR DO THEY HAVE A SPACE FOR CARS THAT HAVE A WHEELCHAIR ACCESS.
UNFORTUNATELY, IN DISTRICT TWO, WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE, DRIVEWAY, WE HAD A DRIVEWAY AND THEY RAISED OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY.
THEY RAISED THE SIDEWALK FOUR INCHES.
AND UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE WITH WHEELCHAIRS CAN NO LONGER ACCESS THAT DRIVEWAY.
WE KNOW THAT THEY ONLY GIVE 10% OF NEW SPACES TO, UH, NEW TO OF SPACES, TO NEW BUILDINGS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, OWNERS PREFER TO PAY THE PENALTY TO NOT HAVE THESE SPACES.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO ERASE THIS PENALTY AND INCREASE THE SPACES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY, WITH MOBILITY ISSUES.
I HAD A FRIEND, I MENTIONED THIS THE LAST TIME
[01:30:01]
SHE SPENT TWO YEARS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE.HER WHEELCHAIR IS LIKE THIS, UH, LADY'S ELECTRIC ONE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY SHE HAD TO GO LIVE IN SAN PEDRO 'CAUSE SHE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING IN LONG BEACH.
IT'S A SHAMEFUL THAT OUR DISABLED COMMUNITY HAS TO LIVE SO MANY YEARS IN THE PASTS AND STILL LIVE, UH, HIDDEN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BY THE COMMISSION? THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF THAT, UM, WE CAN CALL THE VOTE.
THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER SIX, RECOMMENDATION TO DE TO DISCUSS CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES PARTICIPATION IN THE SECOND ANNUAL WAVES OF ABILITY EVENT TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2026 AT MARINE STADIUM IN LONG BEACH.
AND IF APPROPRIATE, DESIGNATE ONE OR MORE COMMISSIONERS TO REPRESENT THE COMMISSION BY STAFFING A RESOURCE TABLE AT THE EVENT.
[6. 26-55580 Recommendation to discuss Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disabilities’ participation in the 2nd Annual Waves of Ability event, taking place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Marine Stadium in Long Beach, and, if appropriate, designate one or more Commissioners to represent the Commission by staffing a resource table at the event. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
I MOTION.AND SECOND, AND WE CAN DISCUSS THIS ITEM.
YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, UM, MARISSA AND I BOTH WENT LAST YEAR.
UM, MARISSA, UM, UH, SPOKE AT THE EVENT UP ON STAGE AND I RECOMMEND THAT WE HAVE, UM, A TABLE OR A BOOTH, UH, AND THAT WE, UH, MAKE OUR, IT'S ONE WAY THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND HOW WE CAN LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE DO.
WE CAN HAVE HANDOUTS, WE CAN HAVE FLYERS ON, YOU KNOW, IN THE LITTLE PLASTIC TABLE TENTS.
UM, WE CAN GIVE OUT ANY, YOU KNOW, GOODIES TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR BOOTH AND, UM, AND JUST MAKE AWARE OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE DO ON THE COMMISSION.
THE, UH, THAT WE JUST HAD THE SURVEY, THE FIRST ONE EVER.
UM, AND, AND ADVISE PEOPLE OF OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS, UH, THAT WE WANT MORE PARTICIPATION AND, UM, AND ALSO MAYBE HAVE, UM, A SPEAKER REPRESENTING THE COMMISSION DO A VERY SHORT SPEECH UP ON THEIR STAGE.
IT'S A FULL DAY WITH A NUMBER OF BOOTHS WITH, UM, THE ABILITY TO GO OUT ON THE WATER, UM, IN, THEY'RE LIKE MADE UP OUTRIGGERS THAT WHEELCHAIRS CAN USE.
UM, OR THEY HAVE THEIR OWN WHEELCHAIRS AND YOU CAN BE PUT INTO THEIR WHEELCHAIR AND, UH, AND GO OUT ON THE WATER FOR A RIDE.
AND, UH, IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL DAY.
AND I MOVE THAT WE, UH, TABLE AT THAT EVENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE TABLE AT THAT EVENT.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IT WAS A GOOD MOTION AND I THINK, AND I THINK YOU'RE SUPPORTING IT.
UM, UH, SO YOU'D LIKE TO SPECIFY TABLING AND MAYBE A SHORT SPEECH AND A SPEECH IF THAT'S OPPORTUNE.
AND MIGHT WE ADD THAT YOU LEAD ON THAT SURE.
UM, ANY OTHER, UM, AND I'M ASKING THAT WE GET PARTICIPATION FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS TO, OR, OR EVEN OUR LOVELY STAFF MEMBERS, UM, TO JUST KIND OF, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE ALL DAY.
WE'LL WORK, YEAH, WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP THE PODIUM NOW.
IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA ZOOM, USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE OR DIAL STAR NINE IF YOU'RE CALLING IN BY PHONE.
FRANCIS EMILY DAWSON HARRIS, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS EVENT.
I REMEMBER A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO I WENT DOWN TO THE MARINO AND THEY HAD WHERE YOU HAD TO WEAR A SWIMMING SUIT UNDER YOUR CLOTHES.
OF COURSE I WAS ORDERED, I WASN'T ALLOWED TO WEAR A SWIMMING SUIT.
THEY DIDN'T WANT ME IN THE WATER.
[01:35:01]
A, A SPORTS OUTFIT AND I WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THEM TO ALLOW ME TO GET IN THE BOOB TUBE.IT WAS LIKE, LOOKS LIKE A DONUT PICKING ME UP AND PUT IT, AND IT WAS ATTACHED TO A BOAT AND THEY WENT OUT IN THE WATER LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE LIKE WATER SKIING.
AND IT WAS THE MOST EXCITING EXPERIENCE.
I ENDED UP WET ALL OVER SAND ALL OVER ME WHEN I GOT HOME.
SO THEN IT WAS KNOWN THAT, UM, I GOT IN THE WATER.
THAT PERSON SAID, NOW YOU KNOW, FRANCIS, YOU'RE JUST TO GO TO OBSERVE.
SO I JUST AM, UH, AND HOPEFULLY THE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO THIS AND, UM, I'M JUST TICKLED PINK, SO TO SPEAK.
AND, UM, I WAS WONDERING AT THESE EVENTS IF YOU COULD HAVE LIKE A SURVEY FORM IN TERMS OF ONE FOR LIKE, FOR CHILDREN'S INPUT AND ONE FOR ADULT'S INPUT.
AND THEN YOU CAN THEN MAYBE FORM AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE SURVEY FORMS AND BRING THEM IN AND TRY TO, BECAUSE THERE'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR Y'ALL TO DO EVERYTHING AND YOU CAN'T BE GOING TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES AND STUFF.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'LL BE TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE THERE.
AND I THINK THAT BE A AWESOME WAY TO GET THE INPUT THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE AT THIS EVENT.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
AND, UH, I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE AND HELPING OUT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMISSION? UH, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
NO FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMISSION.
CAN WE CALL FOR THE VOTE? UM, I, SO I, I'D LIKE TO JUST SUGGEST THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO ASSIST YOU IN COORDINATING THIS, CAN YOU PLEASE IDENTIFY WHO IS INTERESTED AND AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPATE THE DAY OF THE EVENT SO WE CAN REACH OUT TO ALL OF YOU WITH THE DETAILS.
SO WHEN WE HAVE, WHEN WE HAVE JULIE, UM, YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT TONY IS ASKING MORE, MORE THAN A FOLLOW UP? I THINK IT'D BE BENEFICIAL FOR US TO IDENTIFY WHO CAN PARTICIPATE TODAY.
I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THE HAND IS RAISED.
ARE WE, WE'RE RAISING OUR HAND, INDICATING OUR INTEREST IN POTENTIALLY, SO IF, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, CAN YOU JUST RAISE YOUR HAND? IS THAT OKAY? TONY WANTS US TO RAISE OUR HANDS IF WE'RE INTERESTED.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ.
WHERE ARE WE? WE'RE AT ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT FROM CURRENT AD HOC COMMITTEES.
DISCUSS ANTICIPATED AD HOC COMMITTEES FOR UPCOMING PROJECTS, AND IF APPROPRIATE, TAKE ACTION TO DISSOLVE OR CREATE AD HOC COMMITTEES.
[7. 26-55523 Recommendation to receive and file a report from current Ad Hoc Committees; discuss anticipated Ad Hoc Committees for upcoming projects; and, if appropriate, take action to dissolve or create Ad Hoc Committees. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE AD HOC? YEAH.SO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR, UM, THE AUTISM, UH, THE LETTER FOR AUTISM, UM, UH, SUPPORT MM-HMM
IT'S, IT'LL GO TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL PULL TOGETHER, UM, OR PROVIDE IT TO A GROUP WITHIN THE CITY, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
AND WE'LL JUST BE HERE FOR KIND OF SUPPORT.
UH, ONE CONSIDERATION WAS TO SEE IF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION COULD TALK INDIVIDUALLY WITH MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, UM, TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS OR, UM, QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE REGARDING, UH, THAT, UM, LETTER.
IS THAT SOMETHING THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE COULD CONTINUE TO WORK ON? THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A FORMAL ACTION TO ALLOW THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO CONTINUE REPRESENT THE, UM, COMMISSION.
SO THERE'S NO MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS JUST TO
[01:40:01]
DISCUSS AD DISSOLVE AD HOCS.AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE CAN AMEND THE MOTION TO INCLUDE THAT.
BUT WE WOULD ALSO NEED A, SOMEONE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO AMEND.
AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO MAKE, HAVE SOMEONE TO SECOND THAT.
BUT FIRST I WOULD SUGGEST DISCUSSING YOUR OTHER AD HOC COMMITTEES IF THERE ARE OTHER AD HOC COMMITTEES.
AND THEN WE CAN, UM, MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
UH, THE SECOND AD HOC IS THE DISABILITY SURVEY DD, WHATEVER IT IS.
UM, AND I KNOW EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW IF WE'VE MADE OUR THOUSAND AND ALL.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE DON'T KNOW
I CA I HAVE TO BREAK IT TO YOU RIGHT IN THE FRONT.
WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL OUR RESEARCH TEAM IS BACK, BUT WE THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE.
WE'VE HAD A PHENOMENAL, UM, TIME OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE MORE WE GO OUT, THE MORE WE GET, THE MORE WE LEARN.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALES AND, UM, NARE WHO, UM, JUST TURNED DOWN THE CHARM AND, UH, NO ARMS WERE TWISTED.
UH, WE ACTUALLY GOT, UH, SOME FABULOUS, UH, FEEDBACK THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO WE'RE STILL CONDI, UH, UH, CONTINUING TO MEET.
AND OUR RESEARCH TEAM FROM CAL STATE LONG BEACH SHOULD BE COMING BACK, UM, EARLY TO MIDGUT.
IS IT STILL OPEN? I WAS HOPING NO ONE WOULD ASK THAT.
SO IS THE QUESTION IS, IS THE, UM, SURVEY STILL OPEN? YES.
IT'S OPEN ONLINE, BUT WE ARE NOT ACTIVELY PURSUING COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
THEY'LL, THERE MAY BE A PROPOSAL, UH, BY THE RESEARCH TEAM, UH, LATER THIS SUMMER, BUT RIGHT NOW, UH, YES, IT REMAINS OPEN.
IF YOU'RE READY FOR THAT, WE CAN TAKE A VOTE.
UH, DID YOU WANT TO AMEND THE A? YES, THE MOTION.
AND WHAT WOULD THE, THE AMENDMENT BE? THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE WITH THE AD HOC COM COMMITTEE FOR AUTISM, UM, AWARENESS TO CONTINUE ITS ACTIVITIES TO ASSIST COMMUNICATION WITH INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, WE HAVE THE MOTION MADE BY YOU.
IS THERE A SECOND ON THIS? UH, AMENDMENT.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? SURE, OF COURSE.
UM, FRANCIS, EMILY DAWSON HARRIS, I WAS WONDERING IF WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW, IF THAT COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE MATTER.
YOU ALREADY HAD TO BE COMMUNICATING, YOU KNOW, WITH THE MAYOR AND EVERYTHING, INSTEAD OF HAVING IT IN THIS COULDN'T WHAT YOU WANNA DO WITH THIS BE INCLUDED WITH THE OTHER MATTER REGARDING AUTISM? THANK YOU.
REGARDING AUTISM AND AWARENESS.
SO I, I APPLIED, I REQUESTED THE, UM, FOR AUTISM AND THE, THEY SAID, NO, I'M NOT GIVING UP.
WE NEED TO HAVE A MARCH FOR AWARENESS LIKE I HAD, UH, REQUESTED.
AND THE OTHER DAY SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT THERE, THERE'S NO FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
AND, AND I ASKED, WELL THEN WHY IS THERE FOR LGBT? WE'RE GONNA KEEP, UH, STRUGGLING FIGHTING SO THAT ON APRIL 2ND, WHICH IS GLOBAL AUTISM DAY, LONG BEACH, HAVE A MARCH AND A DAY OF AWARENESS.
WE'RE ONLY JUST INTERESTED IN MAKING THE COMMUNITY MORE AWARE
[01:45:01]
AND EDUCATED ABOUT AUTISM.WE'RE, UH, WE WANT TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DISABILITIES, UM, CHILDREN WHO ARE STRUGGLE WITH EMPATHY, THAT THAT HURT THE FEELINGS OF OUR CHILDREN THAT CAN BE BULLYING, THAT BECOMES SO SEVERE THAT ENDS UP IN THEIR DEATH.
WE WANT TO END ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY WHO HAVE DISABILITIES IN ANY COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
WE NEED TO OPEN THESE SPACES UP AS WELL TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
THERE AREN'T ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES OR IN WHEELCHAIRS WHO NEED TO CHANGE A DIAPER.
THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL OF PARKS WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN GO AND PLAY ON THE SWINGS IN A WHEELCHAIR.
AND THERE AREN'T MALLS OR SHOPPING CENTERS WHERE WE CAN TAKE OUR CHILDREN BEFORE IN ROSE, THERE WAS ONE, BUT THEY REMOVED IT.
AND WHAT'S COMING FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS HORRIBLE.
THEY WANT TO ONCE AGAIN INSTITUTIONALIZE ALL OF OUR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LIKE THEY DID IN THE SIXTIES.
WE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY, AND I CONSIDER MYSELF AMONG THE COMMUNITY, I HAVE A FEW DISABIL MYSELF.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE ALLOWING FOR THERE TO BE THESE TYPES OF, UH, RETRIBUTIONS.
AND INSTEAD EVEN ALLOWING THEM TO CLOSE THE DOORS ON US, WE NEED TO OPEN THE DOORS.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO ADD, IF WE COULD HAVE A LIST IN THE POLI WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY CAN BE AWARE THAT THERE'S A PERSON THERE WITH AUTISM AND THEY DON'T REACT LIKE ANY OF YOU ALL, SO THAT THEY DON'T KILL THEM.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND IF YOU ARE ATTENDING THE MEETING IN ZOOM AND WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME, PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND FEATURE.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT AND NO FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMISSION.
SO, UH, AT THIS TIME WE'LL TAKE NON-AG AGENDA, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AND I URGE PEOPLE TO USE THIS FOR THINGS NOT ALREADY SHARED.
WE'VE GONE FAIRLY DEEP AND I RESPECT THE EFFORTS.
UM, SO OUR, IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL ITEMS D ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THIS BODY, I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD SHARE THEM AT THIS TIME.
IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PERSON IN, EXCUSE ME, IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN PERSON WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT, UH, NOT THINGS NOT ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE LINE UP THE PODIUM.
NOW, IF YOU'RE JOINING VIA ZOOM, USE THE RAISED HAND FEATURE OR DIAL STAR NINE OF CALLING IN BY PHONE.
UM, THERE'S TWO ATTACHMENTS THAT I BROUGHT THAT I WANT YOU TO HAVE.
[01:50:01]
TO, TO THE LADY OVER THERE AS HAS TO DO WITH, UH, UNHEALTHY PARTICLES BLASTED BY LEAF BLOWERS.AND, UM, IT'S PRETTY EXTENSIVE.
I HAVE RESEARCH ARTICLES THAT I PUT TOGETHER.
I WENT TO COUNCIL LIVE AND TOOK THIS PROJECT.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMPLICATIONS LIKE CHILDREN, IT CAN CAUSE BREATHING IN THESE PARTICLES CAN CAUSE CHILDREN, UM, AFFECT CHILDREN THAT HAVE NEURODEVELOPMENT DISORDERS AND ASTHMA PERMANENT HEARING, HEARING.
BUT MY CONCERN, THE WIND VELOCITY OF LEAF BLOWER IS GREATER THAN A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE, GREATER THAN 165 MILES AN HOUR.
A LADY THAT'S PREGNANT MICROSCOPIC PIECES IS IN THE AIR THAT YOU BREATHE IN.
YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU'RE BREATHING IT IN.
IT GETS IN HER AND IT GETS IN THE BABY.
THEY'VE DONE RESEARCH IN, THEY FOUND THAT THESE TOXINS THAT ARE GETTING IN THE MOTHER ARE GETTING IN THE CHILD.
THE CHILDREN ARE COMING WITH ALL KINDS OF HEALTH CONDITIONS.
THERE'S AN ESCALATION OF CANCER IN CHILDREN OFF THE CHART.
LIKE 2025 CHILDREN A DAY IN THE UNITED STATES ARE BEING, UM, DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
I UNFORTUNATELY ENDED UP WITH A TUMOR IN THE BACK OF MY SINUS AND HAD MASSIVE NO NOSEBLEEDS.
AND I HAD, AND I NEARLY DIED BLEEDING OUT.
LESSER NOSE AND THROATED CEDARS.
AND WHEN HE GOT THE TUMOR OUT, HE FOUND LITTLE PIECES OF SAND AND GLASS AND THINGS FROM TREES AND STUFF IN ME.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT I HAD THIS PROBLEM.
SO, UM, IT'S TOO MUCH INFORMATION TO GIVE AND IT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.
I ALSO GAVE YOU A ARTICLE THAT HAS TO DO WITH EMF PROTECTION.
ALL OF Y'ALL ARE EXPOSED TO COMPUTERS, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S NO WAY TO AVOID IT.
I HAVE THIS WATCH THAT I WEAR ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I HAVE THE BATTERY UNDERNEATH GOING THROUGH MY BODY.
HELP PROTECT THE EMF WASTE GOING THROUGH MY BODY, CAUSE ME TO HAVE HEALTH RISKS, HEALTH, HEALTH CHALLENGES.
SO, UM, LOOK AT IT AND, UM, THE WATCHES, I MEAN, I'M NOT TELLING YOU TO SUPPORT THIS COMPANY.
I'M TELLING YOU TO, UM, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
THERE'S EVEN THINGS YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR HOME TO PROTECT YOURSELF.
OKAY? ALSO, THERE'S, UM, UM, VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME.
I HAD THREE POLICE REPORTS THAT WERE FILED.
I WENT TO GET 'EM, THEY WERE MISSING.
AND THE WITNESS REPORT IS MISSING.
AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME, BUT I'M SURE IF IT HAPPENED TO ME, IT'S HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE.
AND IT CAN BE CATASTROPHIC BECAUSE INDIVIDUALS CAN QUALIFY FOR MONEY FROM THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME.
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THESE REPORTS, YOU CAN'T GET THE MONIES FOR THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME.
SO I HAVE LIKE 16 DOCTORS, I HAVE ASTRONOMICAL MEDICAL BILLS, THANK GOODNESS I HAVE GOOD INSURANCE.
BUT THE COMPLICATIONS FROM WHAT HAPPENED TO ME SHOULD NOT BE MY INSURANCE PAYING FOR IT OR ME PAYING FOR IT WHEN I QUALIFIED FOR THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME.
SO I THINK THIS IS A MATTER THAT CAN WE, WE CAN LOOK IN, YOU KNOW, LATER ON, AND I JUST WANT TO HAVE THAT FOR INFORMATION AND PURPOSES.
NOW I HAVE A POEM THAT I WANNA READ TO YOU ATTRIBUTE FOR THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE A DA CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.
KCU CELEBRATE THE SIGNING OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISPLAY ACT 1990, A LANDMARK FREEDOM DOCUMENT.
SURELY THE A DA ADDS A RAY OF LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS SEEN BY THE, BY THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND.
SURELY THE A DA BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS BY PROVIDING BETTER ACCESS.
SURELY THE A DA LESSENS THE NEAR COMPLETE SILENCE HEARD BY THE HEARING IMPAIRED OR DEAF, SURELY THE A DA UNVEILS INSIGHT REGARDING PHYSICAL, HIDDEN COGNITIVE OR MENTAL DISABILITIES.
SURELY THE A DA REFLECTS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.
SURELY THE A DA RECOGNIZES A UNIQUE YET POWERFUL HUMANITY WITHIN THE SOULS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
SURELY THE CITY'S COMMITMENT COMPLYING WITHIN INTENT AND THE SPIRIT OF THE A DA OF 1990 IS NOTEWORTHY.
PEOPLE WITH ABILITIES AND DISABILITIES LET YOUR VOICES SOAR HIGHER THAN AN ANGLE IN THE SKY.
BELIEVE THAT YOUR DIVINE AND VICTORIA'S PURPOSE IN LIFE DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
NOW, GO FORTH, INSPIRE MANKIND BY YOUR GENEROUS SPIRIT.
CELEBRATE THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF
[01:55:01]
THE A DA ON JULY 26TH, 2026 BY WEARING BLUE.UM, EH, I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE, FOR THE INTERPRETATION TO BE HERE EVERY TIME I COME.
CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC PLEASE? THANK YOU.
IS THIS, IS THIS BETTER? YEAH, I HAVE TO CALL EVERY WEEK, I THINK TO FIND THEM BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO BEING PART OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, WE ALSO HAVE THAT ISSUE WITH THE INTERPRETATION.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE ORGANIZATION I HAVE, WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCILWOMAN ZEN ABOUT HAVING INCLUSIVE BUSINESSES LIKE COFFEE SHOPS WHERE OUR DISABLED, UH, CHILDREN CAN EAT AND, UH, WORK.
AND WHILE THEY ARE THERE WORKING, THEIR PARENTS CAN TAKE SEMINAR WORKSHOPS IN PRINTING SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO LEARN HOW TO PRINT T-SHIRTS THAT, UH, RAISE DISABILITY AWARENESS ABOUT AUTISM.
AND WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE IS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A SENSORY BASED GYM, GIVEN THAT WE DON'T HAVE ONE HERE FOR ADULTS.
I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON THAT PROJECT WITH YOU ALL, GIVEN THAT EVERYTHING IS ALMOST ALL DEDICATED TOWARDS CHILDREN AND OUR ADULTS ALSO HAVE NE UH, NEEDS.
AND WITH THAT, I THINK, IS THAT FAIR TO SAY WE'VE CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT? YES.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
OH, UM, COMMISSIONER ROMO WOULD WANTED TO, I I I HAVE A COMMENT, BUT IT WAS, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, TRANSLATION.
COMMISSIONER ADAMS HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE IS, AND SHE ASKED IF, IF, IF THE POLICE COULD HAVE A LIST OF PERSONS WITH DIFFERENT DISABILITIES.
AND COMMISSIONER ADAMS STATED THAT THERE IS, THERE WAS A PRESENTATION AND THERE IS, THERE IS A TOLL WHERE THEY CAN REGISTER, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS TRANSLATED AND MADE AWARE TO THE WOMAN THAT WAS ASKING, UM, NOT TO GET INTO THE DISCUSSION.
AND WE PLANNED TO HAVE THEM COME BACK AND, AND GIVE DETAILS THAT DOES NOT EXIST AT THIS TIME.
IT'S, THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT AT THAT TIME.
UM, OKAY, WHERE ARE WE? WE CAN MOVE ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS WHEN YOU'RE READY.
I WAS WONDERING IF AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING, UM, YOUR TEAM WOULD BE ABLE TO LET US KNOW HOW AND WHAT IS APPROPRIATE TO POST ABOUT THE WAVES OF ABILITY EVENT AND OUR PARTICIPATION IN IT.
UM, AND SHARING OR LIKING, UM, OR COMMENTING, UM, SO THAT WE CAN HELP TO PROMOTE THAT EVENT AND OUR PARTICIPATION
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
WHILE FOLLOWING THE RULES.UH, YEAH, JUST FOR THE, THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, BUT YES, WE CAN, WE CAN BRING TONY CAN YOU SPEAK UP? YES.
UM, NOT TO ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION, BUT YES, WE CAN BRING BACK SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU.
SECRETARY, DEAN? UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ADD AN ITEM TO
[02:00:01]
OUR SEPTEMBER AGENDA.EXCUSE ME, SECRETARY DEAN, IF YOU CAN TURN YOUR MICROPHONE OFF.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ADD AN ITEM TO OUR SEPTEMBER AGENDA TO FOLLOW UP ON THE LETTER WE SENT TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO THE QUEEN MARY AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC AND WILLOW SPRINGS PARK.
UM, I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN WE SENT THE LETTER, BUT IT WAS AT LEAST A YEAR AGO, I WOULD SAY, AND WE NEVER GOT ANY KIND OF RESPONSE.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, UM, ADD THAT TO OUR, UM, MEETING OUR NEXT MEETING AS WELL.
YOU GUYS REMEMBER THAT ONE, RIGHT? SO DO, IS THAT A YES? I I'M NOT GETTING WHAT? OKAY, SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE CAPE COD, UH, RECOGNITION AWARDS THAT COME OUT EVERY OCTOBER.
AND UM, I THINK THERE WERE FOLKS HERE, UH, THAT I'M LOOKING AT TO MY RIGHT THAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT WHAT THE RULES ARE.
'CAUSE WE'VE DONE IT A CERTAIN WAY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
I THINK WE'VE DONE IT FOR THREE YEARS.
SO IF WE COULD GET THAT CLARIFIED IN SEPTEMBER, THAT WOULD BE SWEET.
DO WE NEED TO CREATE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO, UH, NOMINATE AND SELECT THOSE? SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS OKAY.
WE HAD WAS DO WE NEED THAT? UH, WHAT, WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED TO DO? YEP.
BUT CAN I, HI, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU OF THAT.
THIS IS THE, UM, IT'S NOT A DISCUSSION SECTION, YOU'RE JUST PROVIDING UPDATES AT THIS TIME.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE'VE COME TO THE END OF THIS K COD MEETING.
SO WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE'S SOME, DO YOU WANNA SEE IF STAFF HAS ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? HE GOING AT 3 0 1? WE WILL CLOSE OUT THIS MEETING.
QUESTION, UM, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT STAFF DOESN'T HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SO JUST, UH, UH, A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT AGAIN, UH, AS, UH, CHAIR, UH, PERSON SWANSON MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, THAT KK RECEIVED THE IDA CHAMPION AWARD.
AND SO THERE'S SEVERAL, UH, CERTIFICATES FROM DIFFERENT, UH, DIGNITARIES RECEIVED, UH, REGARDING THE AWARD.
AND SO THAT'S, I'M JUST GONNA PASS THIS AROUND IF YOU GUYS, UH, WANTED TO LOOK AT IT.
HAVE I STEPPED OVER? ANYONE STEPPED ON THEIR FOOT? NO.
ARE WE ADJOURNED? YOU CAN ADJOURN THE MEETING IF READY.
WE'RE NOW ADJOURNED OFFICIALLY AND FORMALLY.
AND FINALLY, THANK YOU ALL AT 3 0 2.