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MADAM[00:10:03]
CLERK, I THINK WE'RE, WE HAVE A, WE OWN QUORUM, SO WE TO GO AHEAD AND WE ROLL.WILL YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING? WHAT WE'RE DOING, HOW WE'RE GONNA FUNCTION TODAY? THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING TO HEAR THE BUDGET HEARINGS FOR,
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UH, PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027, BUDGET FOR PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE AND LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE DEPARTMENTS.WE WILL HEAR THE PRESENTATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE LIMITED TO THE BUDGET HEARING.
THERE IS NO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS MEETING.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU HAVE A POINT COMMENT THAT YOU, THAT THEY MUST BE RELATED TO THE BUDGET.
NO POINT COMMENT WITH ANY OTHER TOPIC OTHER THAN THAT.
SO THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING, DEALING WITH THE BUDGET.
UH, UH, WHEN WE GONNA DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOTION OF SILENCE
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
SINCE I AM, UH, ONE THING, EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE TO, UH, HAVE US MORE HEADS WISHES AS WELL.WE'RE ON A GOOD BUDGET HEARING TODAY.
WE'RE ON OUR LAST LEG OF, UH, BUDGET EARRINGS.
WE HAVE ONE MORE NEXT WEEK, AND THEN THAT'S IT.
THEN WE GO THROW A MONTH FOR THE BUDGET.
SO WISHES IS, WELL, LET'S GET A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THEN WE DO THE FLAG FOR THEM.
PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE AND JOIN ME WITH A FLAG FOR THEM.
READY TO BEGIN? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE BAR EMPHASIS.
ITEM ONE IS A REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO CONDUCT A BUDGET HEARING TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR
[1. 26-55920 Recommendation to conduct a Budget Hearing to receive and discuss an overview of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget for Parks, Recreation and Marine and Library, Arts, and Culture Departments. (Citywide) Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
2027 BUDGET FOR PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE AND LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT CITYWIDE, IF I CAN GET A MOTION IN A SECOND.SO WE READY TO START THE, THE, UM, PRESENTATIONS.
SO, UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR SCHEDULING THIS MEETING TODAY.
WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE A MEETING ON THIS DARK TUESDAY.
UM, UH, BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO DURING THE BUDGET AND WE ADVERTISE THAT SO THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GO THROUGH SO MANY DEPARTMENTS, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET CYCLE.
AND SO, UH, THIS IS OUR FOURTH, UH, WEEK OF GOING WITH, UH, THE COUNCIL, UH, TO REALLY DIVE DEEP INTO THE BUDGET.
UH, THE FIRST WEEK WE WENT INTO THE REASONS FOR THE REDUCTIONS, HOW ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE PARTICIPATING, UH, GIVEN THE SCALE OF THE REDUCTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY.
UH, THEN WE LOOKED AT THE REDUCTIONS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.
UH, THEN WE LOOKED THE NEXT WEEK, UH, FOR POLICE, UH, REDUCTIONS THAT WERE NECESSARY AS WELL AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH.
UH, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA BE REVIEWING THE PROPOSALS FOR, UH, PARKS, REC, AND MARINE AND LIBRARY SERVICES.
AND THEN NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE, UH, DIVING INTO OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, UH, AS WE START TO GET CLOSER TO ADOPTION, UH, AND, AND HEAR THE REDUCTION, UH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MODIFICATIONS FROM BUDGET OVERSIGHT AND COUNCIL DELIBERATION.
I WILL START, UH, WITH PARKS, REC AND MARINE, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO LIBRARIES.
SO I WILL INTRODUCE OUR DIRECTOR, UH, STEVEN SCOTT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE DEPARTMENT OF OF PARKS, RECREATION, MARINE AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 27.
OUR DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS A CONSTANT AND PROFOUND
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PRESENCE ACROSS LONG BEACH.DESPITE THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AHEAD, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR PEOPLE, OUR PLACES, AND OUR PROGRAMS. BEFORE GETTING TOO DEEP INTO THE PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST RECOGNIZE THE CLOSE TO 1000 PRM EMPLOYEES, OUR VOLUNTEERS, AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO MAKE OUR MISSION POSSIBLE AND HELP US DELIVER GOLD MEDAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO SPEAKING OF KEY SERVICES, UH, WE PROVIDE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC SPACES.
WE OFFER NEEDED RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS.
WE ESTABLISH AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PARK ECOSYSTEM.
OUR ANNUAL BUDGET ALIGNS RESOURCES WITH CARRYING OUT THESE IMPORTANT KEY SERVICES IN FULFILLMENT OF OUR PARKS.
MAKE LONG BEACH STRATEGIC PLAN.
CONTINUING WITH OUR KEY SERVICES, WE STRIVE TO ENSURE A DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC WORKFORCE, MANY OF WHOM ARE FROM THE AMAZING COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
WE BUILD INNOVATIVE AND LASTING PARTNERSHIPS, WHICH ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
DURING CHALLENGING TIMES LIKE THIS, WE CONNECT CLEARLY AND TRANSPARENTLY WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND WE WORK HARD TO CREATE FINANCIALLY SECURE AND RESILIENT OPERATIONS.
AND LASTLY, JUST WANTED TO SHOW, UH, SOME NUMBERS UP HERE ON THE SCREEN THAT REALLY TALKS ABOUT THE VOLUME OF WHAT WE PROVIDE TO THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.
UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE ARE STEWARDS OF 166 PARKS ENCOMPASSING CLOSE TO 3000 ACRES.
WE HAVE SIX MILES OF COASTLINE, AND WE OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE VARIOUS AMENITIES THAT ARE PRESENTED ON THIS SLIDE FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.
SO NOW I'D LIKE TO SPEND A FEW MOMENTS ON SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
FIRST, FOCUSING ON OUR IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIPS, OUR PARTNERSHIPS IN ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
THIS YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS LISTED AT THE TOP LEFT OF THIS SLIDE, UM, TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR ANIMALS IN OUR CARE, RESULTING IN 95% LIVE RELEASE RATE FOR DOGS, AND 85% FOR CATS.
TRULY EXCEPTIONAL WORK BY OUR TEAM AND OUR PARTNERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SUCH AS SOWING THE SEEDS OF CHANGE AND ADVENTURES TO DREAM LIVE AT THE SHELL.
AND CITY DEPARTMENTS LIKE HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS AND POLICE HELP US ACTIVATE AND PROGRAM OUR SPACES THANKS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO THIS SUMMER PROVIDED 13 POSITIVE PARK ACTIVATIONS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, REACHING CLOSE TO 3,500 RESIDENTS.
WE ALSO ENJOYED ACTIVATING OUR PARKS DURING THE FIFA WORLD CUP WATCH PARTIES, SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING AGAIN IN A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE OLYMPICS.
WE HAVE OTHER PARTNERS ON THIS SLIDE THAT PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAN'T PROVIDE ALONE.
WE RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE REGIONAL PARKS AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT FOR THREE NEW COMPETITIVE GRANTS, TOTAL IN CLOSE TO $5.7 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK, THE 10TH STREET GREEN BELT, AND A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE FREE YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL PROGRAMS TO OVER A THOUSAND LONG BEACH YOUTH.
AND WE GET REGULAR SUPPORT FROM OUR FRIENDS OF LONG BEACH ANIMALS OR
THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF THE VALUED PARTNERSHIPS THAT ALLOW US TO MULTIPLY OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT IN THE AREA OF, UH, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
UH, OUR ACCOMPLISHES OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE MANY.
UH, WE HOSTED THREE JOB FAIRS THIS YEAR, UH, CONNECTING WITH CLOSE TO 400 JOB SEEKERS.
WE SERVED OVER 4,800 MEALS TO YOUTH THIS SUMMER.
WHILE THE SCHOOLS WERE OUTTA SESSION, WE ALSO FULFILLED 54,000 MEALS FOR OUR SENIOR, UH, POPULATION.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE HOSTED NINE SPECIAL EVENTS IN RECOGNITION OF MAY AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH, AND THIS SUMMER WE OFFERED 41 FREE MOVIES, 37 FREE CONCERTS IN OUR PARKS TO THOUSANDS OF OUR RESIDENTS.
WE OFFERED YOUTH EVENTS LIKE THE DAY OF SPORT UP AT HOUGHTON PARK.
WE SENT 70 KIDS FROM OUR CITY TEEN PROGRAMS TO AN OVERNIGHT CAMP AT CAMP, UH, AT, UH, LAKE CASTAIC AS THEY LEARN HOW TO, UM,
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YOU KNOW, HOW TO, UH, HANDLE THE, UH, OVERNIGHT CAMPING, BUT ALSO A CURRICULUM OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.AND THEN, UH, AFTER NEARLY A DECADE, UM, WE BROUGHT BACK OUR INTEREST CITY, UH, SWIM MEET, WHERE WE HAD PARTICIPANTS FROM ALL THREE OF OUR POOLS GETTING THEIR FIRST TASTE OF COMPETITIVE AQUATICS PROGRAMMING AND COMPETITION.
AND THEN FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, WE MANAGED OVER 7,000 INTAKES AND HELPED MORE THAN 1500 ANIMALS FIND FOREVER HOMES THROUGH ADOPTION.
CONTINUING WITH OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME PROJECT MILESTONES FROM THE LAST YEAR, LIKE THE OPENING OF THE NEW RAMONA PARK SIGNATURE PLAYGROUND COMPLETION OF COMMUNITY CENTER IMPROVEMENTS AT ADMIRAL KIDD AND DRAKE PARKS, THE REOPENING OF AN IMPROVED MARINA VISTA PARK, AND THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE 51ST STREET GREEN BELT AND THE NEW BELMONT POOL.
AND TO STEAL A TERM FROM THE MAYOR, THESE CRITICAL IN FUND STRUCTURE PROJECTS HELP PROVIDE A LEGACY OF PLAY AND ENRICHMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND THEN THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACHIEVED BY OUR VARIOUS MAINTENANCE TEAMS, BOTH IN THE PARK SIDE AND THE BEACHES AND WATERWAYS.
SO GREAT WORK TO THOSE MAINTENANCE TEAMS. SO CLEARLY WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT THIS YEAR.
THE FISCAL YEAR 27, HOWEVER, WILL PRESENT SOME BUDGETARY CHALLENGES FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AS WE ARE HEAVILY SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
AS WE DEVELOPED OUR BUDGET PROPOSALS, WE WERE CHALLENGED AS WERE ALL DEPARTMENTS, WITH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE AND HOW TO REDUCE, LOOKED AT COMPASSION SAVED MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, RECREATION PROGRAMS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT OPERATIONS.
TAKING PROPORTIONATE CUTS ACROSS ALL OF THOSE AREAS REALLY DID NOT MAKE SENSE AS IT WOULD PUT US AT RISK OF REALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO DO ANY OF THOSE EFFECTIVELY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WORKED HARD TO PRIORITIZE PRESERVING OUR MAINTENANCE BUDGETS.
OUR PARKS MUST REMAIN CLEAN, GREEN, SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY.
WHETHER THEY'RE COMING FOR A PARK PROGRAM OR EVENT OR TO SELF RECREATE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PARKS ARE WELL MAINTAINED.
WE COULD HAVE THE BEST PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD, BUT IF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT OUR PARKS ARE UNSAFE AND UNKEMPT BECAUSE OF LACK OF MAINTENANCE, THEN THE PROGRAMS WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO WITH AN EYE TOWARD EQUITY, WE DEVELOPED A BUDGET THAT TRIES TO LIMIT MAINTENANCE REDUCTIONS, BUT STILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO DELIVER CORE RECREATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ALBEIT AT REDUCED SERVICE LEVELS.
SO THIS FIRST SLIDE OF REDUCTIONS REPRESENTS OUR RECREATION PROGRAM REDUCTIONS.
AND YOU SEE THERE, THERE ARE A NUMBER HERE, UH, STARTING WITH, UM, THE REDUCTION TO OUR ELDORADO NATURE CENTER.
THIS IS A CLOSURE ON TUESDAYS, WHICH WOULD BRING OUR, UH, DAYS OF SERVICE FROM SIX TO FIVE BEING CLOSED ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS.
UH, SECONDLY, WE HAVE THE HOMELAND CULTURAL CENTER CLASSES THAT WOULD GO FROM FOUR TIMES A MONTH TO TWO TIMES A MONTH.
WE WOULD STILL BE PROVIDING THE SAME CLASSES JUST LESS FREQUENTLY.
AT LINCOLN PARK, WE'RE LOOKING TO REDUCE PROGRAMMING FROM SIX HOURS A DAY TO THREE HOURS A DAY, REALLY TRYING TO KIND OF MATCH WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF KIDS AND FAMILIES IN THOSE LATER AFTERNOON HOURS.
WHEN SCHOOLS ARE OUT OF SESSION, WE'RE LOOKING TO REDUCE OUR MANAGEMENT FEE BY 7% AT BOTH OF OUR RANCHOS TOTALING CLOSE TO $66,000, AND ELIMINATING A RECREATION ASSISTANT POSITION, WHICH MEANS THOSE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES WILL NEED TO BE SPREAD ACROSS THE REMAINING RECREATION ASSISTANCE.
IN OUR BE SAFE PROGRAM, WE ARE LOOKING TO, UM, REDUCE THE HOURS OF SERVICE FROM THREE HOURS PER EVENING TO TWO HOURS PER EVENING RECALL.
THIS IS OUR IMPORTANT YOUTH AND, UH, FAMILY VIOLENCE, UM, PROGRAM WHERE WE, UH, KEEP OUR PARKS OPEN AT 11 SITES FOR ADDITIONAL HOURS IN THE EVENING TO KEEP YOUTH AND FAMILIES ACTIVE.
UM, OUR WRAP PROGRAM, AND I KNOW WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT ALREADY, BUT, UH, WE ARE, UH, STOPPING OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WRAP PROGRAM.
UH, THAT IS GONNA SAVE ABOUT $270,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND.
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BY WAY OF SOME CONTEXT.IF WE HAD TO TAKE THAT $270,000 AND APPLY IT TO OTHER AREAS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, THAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF REDUCING SIX OF OUR FREE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO SIX PARK SITES WOULD ESSENTIALLY NEED TO CLOSE, UH, FOR THAT $270,000 REDUCTION.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE LOOKED AT WRAP, BECAUSE WE KNEW AT THE END OF THE DAY AS A SERVICE PROVIDER TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THEY THROUGH THEIR RFP PROCESS, WOULD FIND OTHER PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, MEANING THE KIDS AND THE FAMILIES WOULD NOT BE HARMED BY US NOT PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROGRAM ANY LONGER.
WE ARE LOOKING AT ELIMINATING THE TEEN CENTER AT CHAVEZ PARK.
UM, UH, THAT LOCATION IS A PARTICULARLY DIFFERENT, UH, DIFFICULT LOCATION AS IT'S NOT NEAR A HIGH SCHOOL, LIKE SOME OF OUR OTHER TEEN PROGRAMS. HOUGHTON PARK TEEN PROGRAM RIGHT NEXT TO JORDAN MCBRIDE TEEN PROGRAM RIGHT NEXT TO POLY, THIS ONE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET KIDS TO THAT PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE LOWER PARTICIPATION NUMBERS THERE.
THE SUMMER SWIM PROGRAM AT L-B-U-S-D SITES, THAT'S JORDAN AND MILLIKEN, WE ARE LOOKING AT REDUCING THAT BUDGET.
WE HAVE NOT ACTUALLY USED THAT BUDGET FOR ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE, WHICH WAS PROVIDING, UH, SUMMER SWIM ACTIVITIES AT THOSE TWO SITES.
UM, WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THE DISTRICT IS USING, UH, THOSE POOLS FOR EITHER OTHER PROGRAMMING OR THEY'VE BEEN IMPACTED BY CONSTRUCTION.
UH, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THOUGH, WITH THAT BUDGET, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE IT TO OFFER ADDITIONAL LEARN TO SWIM PROGRAMS AT OUR OTHER, UH, MUNICIPAL POOLS.
AND THEN LASTLY, UH, THE ELIMINATION OF THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AT STERNS CHAMPIONS PARK.
AND SO, UH, WHILE WE TRY VERY HARD TO REALLY MAKE REDUCTIONS IN STREAMLINE ACTIVITIES, THIS IS ONE WHERE WE ARE PROPOSING AN ELIMINATION, AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE PARTICIPATION NUMBERS JUST AREN'T HIGH ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THE CONTINUED, UH, INVESTMENT.
I DO WANNA SAY, HOWEVER, THOUGH, THE FUND DAYS PROGRAM, THAT THOSE ARE THE PRO FREE DROP IN RECREATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED WHEN THE SCHOOLS AREN'T IN SESSION DURING THE SUMMER, DURING WINTER AND SPRING.
THOSE ARE STILL GONNA CONTINUE AT THAT PARK, AS WILL THE SUMMER DAY CAMP.
IT IS JUST THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
SO, UH, ACTUALLY ONE MORE BACK, I'M SORRY.
UM, SO I DID WANNA POINT OUT THOUGH ON THIS SLIDE, THERE ARE FIVE ITEMS THAT THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED FULL RESTORATION OF.
UH, THOSE INCLUDE THE EL DORADO NATURE CENTER THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH PARTNERS OF PARKS, UM, HOMELAND CULTURAL CENTER CLASSES BE SAFE, THE CHAVEZ PARK TEEN CENTER, AND THE REDUCED MANAGEMENT FEE FOR THE RANCHOS.
SO THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON FOR THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WILL BE SOME PARK MAINTENANCE REDUCTIONS, INCLUDING A REDUCTION OF WEED ABATEMENT ACTIVITIES IN OUR PARKS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A PILOT PROGRAM TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT WAYS OF MANAGING OUR WEEDS WHILE REDUCING THE USE OF TRADITIONAL HERBICIDE APPLICATIONS.
WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING A REDUCTION TO OUR GROUNDS LANDSCAPING SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITIES, WHICH WILL LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO DO SPECIAL PROJECTS IN THE PARKS, LIKE NEW PLANTING, UM, OPPORTUNITIES.
AND WE'RE ALSO EXTENDING OUR PARK TREE TRIMMING, UH, CYCLE FROM SEVEN YEARS TO EIGHT YEARS, UH, MATCHING THE CYCLE PROPOSED BY PUBLIC WORKS FOR THEIR STREET TREES.
WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING BUDGET RED, UH, REDUCTIONS TO OUR MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES BUDGET FOR OUR FACILITIES DIVISION, MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO PURCHASE PAINT, LUMBER, LOCKS, ALL THE THINGS THAT, UH, GET VANDALIZED IN OUR PARKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND WE ARE ELIMINATING A VACANT POWER EQUIPMENT REPAIR MECHANIC POSITION.
THESE MAINTENANCE CUTS ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO ANY PARTICULAR PARK PROGRAM OR DISTRICT, BUT REDUCE OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO OCCURRENCES OF VANDALISM AND ADDRESS URGENT REPAIRS CITYWIDE.
LASTLY, WE LOOKED AT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS AND AREAS WHERE WE COULD CONSOLIDATE ADMINISTRATIVE REDUCTIONS TOTAL MORE THAN NINE FTE, INCLUDING RESTRUCTURING STAFFING AT THE SILVERADO PARK FOR OUR OPEN GYM PROGRAM THAT WILL NOT ADDRESS OR CHANGE OUR EXISTING, UH, HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE GYM PROGRAM.
AND WE ARE REALIGNING OUR STAFFING
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FOR AFTER SCHOOL AND FUN DAY PROGRAM TO BETTER MATCH OUR, UH, PARTICIPATION LEVELS.BUT TO STRESS HERE, WE ARE KEEPING THE SAME HOURS, WE ARE KEEPING THE SAME LOCATIONS, UH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF UM, STERNS.
UH, THIS IS JUST A STAFFING CHANGE IN SUPPORT OF THOSE, UH, OPERATIONS.
AND THEN WE ARE ALSO MAKING WHAT I WILL CALL A BUDGET CORRECTION TO ELIMINATE THE BUDGET FOR THE DIVORCE PARK AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH ACTUALLY CLOSED BACK IN 2018.
CAMPFIRE HAS HAD A PRESENCE UP AT THAT PARK SINCE THAT TIME.
UH, WE HAVE USED THAT BUDGET REALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, UH, OVERSIGHT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THAT PROGRAM SINCE THAT TIME.
SO THERE WOULD BE NO IMPACT TO DEFOREST PARK AS A RESULT OF THIS REDUCTION.
UM, ALSO PROPOSED IS ELIMINATING A VACANT MANAGEMENT POSITION IN OUR COMMUN COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU.
THIS IS A, UH, VACANT RECREATION SUPERINTENDENT POSITION.
AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT REORGANIZING BY MOVING OUR PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION OUT OF OUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS BUREAU INTO OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU TO FOSTER GREATER COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE AND RECREATION FUNCTIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE DEPARTMENT WILL ELIMINATE A FAILED ADMINISTRATIVE AID POSITION IMPACTING OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES SUCH AS PROCUREMENT.
AND WE WILL, WE WILL REDUCE STAFF HOURS AND SUPPLIES IN OUR COMMUNITY INFORMATION OFFICE BY FOCUSING MORE ON DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS AND LESS ON THE, UH, TRADITIONAL TIME CONSUMING TO PRODUCE PRINTED VERSIONS.
SO IN SUMMARY, THERE ARE ABOUT $2.8 MILLION PROPOSED IN REDUCTIONS.
THIS DOES NOT REFLECT THE FIVE AREAS OF, UH, RESTORATION THAT THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 28 AND A HALF FTE.
SO WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO SPEND JUST A MINUTE ON OUR EMPLOYEE IMPACTS BECAUSE THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, TO UNDERSTAND.
SO OUT OF THE 28 AND A HALF FTES, A LITTLE OVER 19 OF THEM ARE IN OUR RECREATION LEADER SPECIALIST OR RLF POSITIONS.
THESE ARE THE POSITIONS THAT OUR PART-TIME SEASONAL NON-CAREER POSITIONS THAT WE USE TO HELP SUPPORT OUR RECREATION PROGRAMMING.
THE, THE BUDGET FOR THESE MAY SHOW 19.34 FTE, BUT REALLY THE HUMAN IMPACT IS GREATER THAN THAT.
THAT'S BECAUSE TYPICALLY MULTIPLE NON-CAREER EMPLOYEES CAN CHARGE AGAINST ONE BUDGETED FTE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THE NUMBERS OF IMPACTED POSITIONS LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE IMPACTED FTE, WHETHER THEY'RE WORKING 10 HOURS A WEEK OR 25 HOURS.
THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE CRITICAL TO SUPPORTING ALL FACETS OF OUR SEASONAL RECREATION PROGRAMMING.
THESE STAFF REDUCTION PROPOSALS ARE VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE A DEPARTMENT THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO PEOPLE BY PEOPLE.
OUR PEOPLE, UM, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE, YOU KNOW, NEW INTO THE WORKFORCE STUDENTS, YOUNG ADULTS.
UH, IT REALLY, UM, KIND OF CAPTURES ALL OF DIFFERENT, UM, EMPLOYEE STATES.
I DO WANNA POINT OUT THOUGH THAT WHEN WE DO MAKE, UH, REDUCTIONS OR ELIMINATIONS OF THESE NON-CAREER POSITIONS, THESE RLS POSITIONS, THE DEPARTMENT KEEPS THE STAFF MEMBER IN OUR PAYROLL SYSTEM.
SO WHEN A POSITION BECOMES AVAILABLE OR ADDITIONAL HOURS BECOME AVAILABLE IN ANOTHER PROGRAM OR AT ANOTHER PARK SITE, THEY WILL BE PRIORITIZED TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE, UH, POSITIONS BEFORE WE GO OUT AND LOOK FOR NEW EMPLOYEES ON THE OUTSIDE.
SO DESPITE THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, THERE ARE A FEW AREAS WHERE THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO STRATEGICALLY INVEST, SUCH AS IN SUPPORT OF OUR SENIOR MEAL PROGRAM, WE'RE ABLE TO STRUCTURALLY, UH, BUDGET OUR, UM, PARK ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP ACTIVITIES.
SO WE'VE HAD THOSE, UH, OVER THE YEARS.
YOU SEE, WE, WE GO OUT AND WE ACHIEVE, YOU KNOW, FIVE, 600 ENCAMPMENT CLEANUPS EACH YEAR.
BUT THOSE HAVE BEEN BUDGETED, UH, HISTORICALLY WITH ONE-TIME FUNDS.
SO EVERY YEAR, AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE HAVE TO COME FORWARD AND ASK FOR FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS ACTIVITY.
NOW THESE, UH, FUNDS WILL BE STRUCTURALLY BUDGETED, SO DOESN'T REPRESENT A SERVICE ENHANCEMENT, IT'S REALLY JUST A MATTER OF TAKING IT FROM FUNDED BY ONE-TIME SOURCES
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TO STRUCTURAL SOURCES.UM, AND WHILE THEY'RE, AND WE ARE ALSO, UH, LOOKING AT, UH, NEW REVENUES TO HELP FILL SOME OF OUR, UH, GAPS, TRUST FUNDS AND GRANT FUNDS, WHICH WILL ALL HELP OUR GENERAL FUND, UH, ACTIVITIES IN PARKS, REC, AND MARINE.
WHILE THERE ARE NO BUDGET CUTS CONTEMPLATED FOR OUR BEACHES AND WATERWAYS, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT WORK THAT OUR TEAMS DO IN KEEPING THOSE AREAS WELL MAINTAINED AND SAFE FOR OUR RECREATIONAL BOATERS, COMMERCIAL BOATERS AND VISITORS TO OUR COASTLINE.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES HAVE ALSO BEEN PROVIDED FOR THINGS SUCH AS THE ONGOING SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE THAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED AT THE COLORADO LAGOON OPEN CHANNEL.
I'M HAPPY FY 27 INCLUDES THESE IMPORTANT ENHANCEMENTS, BUT STILL WE FACE VERY REAL CHALLENGES.
THE RISING COSTS IN ANIMAL CARE MEDICAL SERVICES CHALLENGES, OUR ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY, UH, DELIVER COMPASSION.
SAVE OPERATIONS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE TO PROVIDE, UH, AS WE'VE HEARD FROM ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE, THEN WE'LL NEED TO START PULLING RESOURCES FROM OTHER AREAS TO SUPPORT THOSE AREAS.
UH, ONE OF THE AREAS THAT IS OF PARTICULAR, UM, CONCERN HERE IS LIKE WITH OUR WATER, UM, UTILIZATION.
SO WE ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST WATER USERS IN THE CITY.
MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT WE GET OUR WATER FOR FREE FROM THE WATER DE FROM THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.
WE PAY FOR THOSE, UH, FOR THAT COMMODITY AS WELL.
AND AS THEIR RATE INCREASES GO UP EVERY YEAR, IF WE DON'T HAVE BUDGET, UM, INCREASES TO CORRESPOND WITH THOSE RATE INCREASES, THAT MEANS WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO, UH, WATER LESS.
OUR EXISTING BUDGET IS NOT GONNA GET US AS FAR AS IT USED TO BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING MORE PER UNIT.
UM, THERE ARE ALSO ONGOING COSTS RELATED TO THE IMPACTS OF VANDALISM AND NON-TRADITIONAL PARK USES.
AND MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS TODAY ARE FREE OR LOW COST.
BUT OVER TIME, IF WE SEE MORE REDUCTIONS IN THESE AREAS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FACE THE TOUGH DECISION DETERMINING CAN WE STILL PROVIDE FREE OR LOW COST RECREATION PROGRAMS. WE TRY VERY HARD TO KEEP THOSE COSTS LOW OR FREE BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT COSTS TO BE A BARRIER OF ENTRY TO OUR RECREATION PROGRAMS. SO AMID CHALLENGES, THERE ARE ALSO OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I WANNA START WITH PARTNERSHIPS.
AND I KNOW I'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS, UH, ALREADY, BUT, UH, STRONG PARTNERSHIPS HELP US TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT OUR DEPARTMENT CAN'T DO ON ITS OWN.
AND AS NEW TECHNOLOGIES EMERGE, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STREAMLINE, UH, OUR PROCESSES.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO REPLACE OUR PARKS RESERVATION AND REGISTRATION SYSTEM AND ALSO OUR MARINA MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, WHICH WILL IDEALLY SAVE US TIME AND MONEY OVER TIME, WHILE ALSO IMPROVING OUR CUSTOMER'S USER EXPERIENCE.
GRANT FUNDING AND NEW REVENUE STREAMS ARE VITAL TO HELP OFFSET COSTS AND MOVE PROJECTS FORWARD.
AND CAPITAL PROJECTS WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR BOND WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND ADDITIONALLY, AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR ROLE IN THE 2028 OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPIC GAMES, WE KNOW THAT OUR PARKS, MARINAS, AND BEACHES ARE, WILL PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE, NOT ONLY PROVIDING A POSITIVE GAMES EXPERIENCE FOR GLOBAL VISITORS, BUT ALSO FOSTERING A LEGACY FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME.
SO IN CLOSING, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UH, OUR WORK MUST REMAIN RE ROOTED IN PROVIDING RESULTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE PARKS ARE IMPORTANT.
AS WE RECOGNIZED LAST MONTH, PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER, PARKS MAKE LONG BEACH, OUR SERVICES SHAPE IDENTITY SUPPORT FAMILIES, CONNECT NEIGHBORS, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLAY, FOR SOCIALIZATION, FOR PERSONAL ENRICHMENT, AND FOR BETTER HEALTH.
SO I'M DEEPLY PROUD OF OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET RE REFLECTS DIFFICULT DECISIONS, BUT ALSO A COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING IMPORTANT SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU DIRECTOR SCOTT AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
[00:40:01]
OUR COMMENTS, UH, LATER, BUT IT'S GREAT TO SAY YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE, WE'VE BEEN WITH SOUTH.HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT? DEPARTMENT? ABOUT 13 YEARS.
AND YOU TRULY CARE IF I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST PARK STAFF ANYWHERE IN AMERICA.
EVEN A DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR, YOU'RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER QUALITY PARK SERVICES.
UH, AND SO WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE COUNCIL DELIBERATION.
LET'S TEE UP THE NEXT PRESENTATION PLEASE.
UH, NEXT UP WILL BE LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE, UH, GOING OVER THEIR, UH, BUDGET PROPOSAL.
SO I WILL INTRODUCE OUR, UH, OUR DIRECTOR, KATHY DELEON AND HER TEAM.
YEAH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I AM KATHY DEION, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE.
AND TODAY I AM JOINED BY OUR DEPARTMENT BUDGET ANALYST EILEEN HUNTER.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR FY 27 EVERY DAY.
I AM GRATEFUL TO LEAD A PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM IN A CITY THAT TRULY LOVES ITS LIBRARY AND SEES ITS VALUE.
THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVE FROM OUR RESIDENTS, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND EVEN OUR FELLOW DEPARTMENTS, IS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE AND IS ANOTHER REASON LONG BEACH LEADS THE WAY IN TERMS OF INVESTING IN AREAS THAT CREATE LONG-TERM POSITIVE CHANGE THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, LITERACY, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.
THIS PAST YEAR AND A HALF, WE AS A DEPARTMENT REVISITED OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND DEVELOPED A NEW ONE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THAT EMPHASIZES THREE MAIN GOALS.
ONE, LEARNING FOR LIFE, HELPING PEOPLE TO EXPLORE LEARNING AND LITERACY AT ANY AGE.
TWO CULTURE THAT CONNECTS MAKING THE LIBRARY A PLACE WHERE ARTS AND CULTURE COME ALIVE AND ARE CELEBRATED.
AND THREE, FUTURE READY SPACES.
KEEPING OUR LIBRARIES WELCOMING, SAFE AND INCLUSIVE.
THE LIBRARY PLAYS A KEY ROLE ALSO IN ADVANCING THE CITY'S OVERALL 2030 STRATEGIC VISION.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS CRITICAL TO SUPPORTING THE CITY'S GOALS OF PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, EQUITY, EDUCATION, WELLNESS, AND DIGITAL INCLUSION.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS SLIDE, WE ARE DOING PRETTY WELL TO ADVANCE OUR OWN STRATEGIC GOALS AS WELL AS THE CITIES.
OUR PROGRAMS THAT HIGHLIGHT LONG BEACH CULTURES ARE BOOMING.
THIS YEAR'S VIDA LATINA PROGRAM SERIES FOR LATINX HERITAGE MONTH WELCOMED OVER 1600 PARTICIPANTS.
THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT IS FROM OUR FIRST EVER LOW RIDER EVENT, WHICH EMBRACED COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS.
WE LAUNCHED A FREEDOM TO READ INITIATIVE CALLED BOOKS UNBOUND, WHICH OPENS UP OUR EBOOK CATALOG FOR USE BY YOUTH IN AREAS AFFECTED BY BOOK CENSORSHIP.
IN THE PREVIOUS BUDGET CYCLE, COMMUNITY ASKED FOR MORE PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND SENIORS AND WE LISTENED.
AS A RESULT, WE INCREASED OUR PROGRAMS TARGETING ADULTS BY 50% AND OUR NEW AND IMPROVED SPACES AT THE HEART LIBRARY PATIO.
THE OUTDOOR COURTYARD AT MICHELLE OBAMA AND THE CHILDREN'S TERRACE AT BILLIE JEAN KING MAINE HAVE ALLOWED US TO OFFER MORE ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE, LIKE HEART LIBRARY'S, PLANT SWAP AND SEED LIBRARY OUTDOOR YOGA AT MICHELLE OBAMA, THE CAREER ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY, WHICH WELCOMED 130 GUESTS AT BILLIE JEAN KING AND THINGS LIKE LIVE MUSIC.
IN FISCAL YEAR 25, WE BECAME THE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE.
AND IN FISCAL YEAR 26, WE THE CITY'S FIRST CULTURAL AFFAIRS OFFICER.
HAVING STARTED IN FEBRUARY 26, UM, THE DIVISION HAS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED A GREAT DEAL AND IS MAKING HEADWAY TOWARDS DEVELOPING MORE STREAMLINED ARTS AND CULTURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND ADVANCING SOME OF THE CITY'S HIGH PROFILE CULTURAL INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE HISTORICALLY BLACK CULTURAL DISTRICT, THE HIP HOP IN LONG BEACH EXHIBIT, AND THE LGBTQIA PLUS CULTURAL DISTRICT.
OH, SO THESE FIGURES OFFER A MORE STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF ALSO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LIBRARIES RIGHT NOW.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAD 3.3 MILLION LIBRARY RESOURCES USED OUR SO FAR.
THIS YEAR WE CIRCULATED OVER 2100 CALIFORNIA PARKS PASSES, WHICH ALLOW, BASICALLY IF YOU HAVE THE TAG, YOU CHECK IT OUT, YOU CAN GO TO ANY STATE PARK AND GET PARKING FOR FREE.
WE INCREASED VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION BY 26%.
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT WE HOST AT ALL OF OUR LIBRARIES, UM, PER MONTH IS ABOUT 190.
AND WE ADDED OVER 500 THOU 55,296 NEW ITEMS TO OUR COLLECTION.
[00:45:01]
A FEW OTHER NOTABLE NUMBERS THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE SLIDE, UM, THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS THAT WE HAD NEARLY 70,000 ACTIVE CARDHOLDERS, WHICH MEANS THAT APPROXIMATELY 15% OF OUR POPULATION USES LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKS, DIGITAL RESOURCES AND COMPUTERS.10,000 OF THESE CARDHOLDERS WERE CHILDREN.
WE HAD CLOSE TO 765,000 VISITS TO OUR LIBRARIES AND FISCAL YEAR 25 AND OFFERED 2,600 PROGRAMS AT WHICH THERE WERE 79,000 ATTENDEES.
FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, WE ANTICIPATE A 4% INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE, BRINGING US TO JUST OVER 790,000 VISITS.
SO WHEN CONSIDERING REDUCTIONS AT THE SCALE THAT WE WERE ASKED TO MAKE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT, THAT NUMBER WAS $1.47 MILLION.
WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
WE CHALLENGED OURSELVES TO FOCUS ON CORE SERVICES, MEANING LITERACY BOOKS, ACCESS TO RELEVANT, TIMELY, ACCURATE INFORMATION, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND SAFE AND INCLUSIVE SPACES.
THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SO I'D LIKE TO CALL OUT, WE DID MAKE A LITTLE MISTAKE ON THE GRAPH AT THE BOTTOM.
SO THE GRAPH AT THE BOTTOM SHOWS PER CAPITA SPENDING ON BOOKS, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY INCORRECT.
WHAT THAT 1.5 ACTUALLY REFERS TO IS THE NUMBER OF BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTION PER RESIDENT.
SO WHAT THIS GRAPH DOES ILLUSTRATE, OH, SO FOR THAT, FOR US, THAT EQUATES ABOUT A BOOK COLLECTION OF ABOUT 700,000 ITEMS. WHAT THE GRAPH DOES STILL SHOW, UM, IF YOU TAKE OFF THE DOLLAR SIGNS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, IS THAT FOR A POPULATION OF OUR SIZE, OUR LIBRARY COLLECTION, MEANING THE NUMBER OF BOOKS AND RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE IS VERY SMALL RELATIVE TO OTHER CITIES.
YOU'LL SEE US WE'RE ON THE FAR RIGHT.
SO ONE OPTION WE DID CONSIDER WAS A REDUCTION, A DRASTIC REDUCTION OF OUR BOOK BUDGET.
WE DECIDED AGAINST THIS OPTION BECAUSE TO NOT PURCHASE BOOKS OR REDUCE WHAT WE SPEND ON BOOKS DOES AN INCREDIBLE DISSERVICE TO OUR LIBRARY PATRONS, THOSE 70,000 ACTIVE CARDHOLDERS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
OUR INDUSTRY HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE.
WHEN YOU DON'T BUY BOOKS OR HAVE THE BOOKS PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW, THEY WILL STOP COMING IN THE DOORS AND GO TO OTHER LIBRARIES.
BY NOT BUYING BOOKS, YOU'D BE WEAKENING OUR CORE VALUE OF ACCESS TO LITERATURE AND RELEVANT AND TIMELY INFORMATION IN LIBRARIES.
IT'S BECOME COMMONPLACE TO SAY A LIBRARY IS MORE THAN JUST BOOKS, BUT AT ITS HEART OF HEARTS, A LIBRARY STILL IS.
BOOKS HIGH AND HIGH QUALITY BOOKS ARE A FUNDAMENTAL RESOURCE THAT PATRONS EXPECT.
I'M REMINDED OF A STATEMENT THAT ONE OF OUR LIBRARIANS AT BURNETT LIBRARY MADE RECENTLY.
SHE SAID, WE CAN'T KEEP DOGMAN BOOKS ON THE SHELF.
IF YOU'RE A PARENT OF LITTLE ONES YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT OR SOON WILL HEAR ABOUT DOGMAN, A SERIES WRITTEN BY DAVE PIKE, ALSO OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS FAME NAME BURNETT IS NEXT DOOR TO BOBBY SMITH ELEMENTARY.
AND THEIR PRIMARY AUDIENCE ARE THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT VISIT THAT LIBRARY EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL.
HEARING THAT STATEMENT MADE MY LIBRARIAN HEART VERY HAPPY.
THAT SINGLE STATEMENT SAYS SO MUCH ABOUT OUR LIBRARIES.
IT MEANS THAT CHILDREN ARE CHECKING OUT BOOKS AND WE'VE ALL SEEN THE NEWS, RIGHT, THAT THERE'S A LITERACY CRISIS HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.
CHILDREN ARE CHECKING OUT BOOKS, SO MANY BOOKS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO MEET THE CURRENT DEMAND.
IT MEANS THAT CHILDREN ARE EXCITED TO READ AND FOR SOME THEIR ONLY WAY OF GETTING THEIR HANDS ON DOGMAN IS BY VISITING ONE OF OUR LIBRARIES.
IT MEANS THAT KIDS IN THE BURNETT NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY, I MEAN, SORRY, IN THE BURNETT NEIGHBORHOOD IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH, ONE OF OUR CITY'S MOST DENSELY POPULATED AND ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS WANT TO READ.
THEY NEED BOOKS AND WE CAN, WE CAN AND HAVE HELP MEET THAT NEED.
I TRIED TO THINK OF A BEST OF THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY TO EXPLAIN WHY HAVING A STABLE SOURCE, A BUDGETED LINE ITEM FOR BOOKS IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR MISSION.
AND THIS STORY WAS IT, THIS BASICALLY SUMMED IT UP FOR ME.
ANOTHER OPTION WE LOOKED AT WAS KEEPING OUR CURRENT HOURS, BUT CLOSING TWO LIBRARIES.
WE ALSO CONSIDERED IMPLEMENTING A REGIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE MODEL WITH SIX LOCATIONS VERSUS 12 THAT WOULD BE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
IN THE END, WE DETERMINED THAT GIVING BACK THE STAFFING WE GAINED IN FISCAL YEAR 23 IN ORDER TO ADD MONDAYS AT FIVE LIBRARIES, A SIXTH DAY OF SERVICE GOT US CLOSEST TO OUR TARGET REDUCTION WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR CORE SERVICES AND MISSION.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN OPTION THAT NO ONE WANTS.
YOU CAN SEE IT BASED ON THE ROOM HERE TODAY,
IT WAS A VERY, VERY TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE.
BUT IN ORDER FOR OUR DEPARTMENT TO DO OUR PART
[00:50:01]
TO SOLVE THE CITY'S SHORTFALL WHILE BALANCING OUR MISSION AS A PUBLIC LIBRARY, THIS OPTION MAKES THE MOST FISCAL SENSE IN THE LONG RUN.SO THIS TIMELINE, UM, ON THIS SLIDE SHOWS OUR HISTORY OF SIX DAY SERVICE.
UM, WHAT IT ACTUALLY ALSO DOESN'T SHOW IS BACK TO 2007, WE HAD ABOUT TWICE THE AMOUNT, TWICE THE AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT WE HAVE NOW, RIGHT? UM, AND SO THIS TIMELINE SHOWS THAT IN 2015, THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM THEN COUNCILWOMAN SUSIE PRICE, WE COMMENCED A PILOT PROGRAM AT BAYSHORE NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY TO DETERMINE THE DEMAND FOR SUNDAY HOURS.
IT WAS ALL OVERTIME USING ONE TIMES SEEING SUCCESS AT THE ONE LOCATION.
WE KEPT THESE HOURS AND ADDED IN MORE LOCATIONS ALL WITH OT OR OVERTIME.
UM, AND ONE TIME FUNDING THROUGH EARLY 2020 COVID SHUT US DOWN THAT YEAR AND THERE WAS NO FUNDING FOR SUNDAY HOURS IN 2021 AND 2022.
IN FISCAL YEAR 23, WE SAW OUR FIRST STRUCTURAL BUDGET ADD OF $1 MILLION TO ADD STAFF TO EXPAND LIBRARY HOURS TO MONDAYS.
WE ADDED PERMANENT POSITIONS AT MICHELLE OBAMA AND EL DORADO AND USED $258,000 OF LBRA FUNDS TO FUND OVERTIME AT THREE OTHER LIBRARIES.
AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS ALAMITOS HEART AND BURNETT THROUGH PART OF FY 25, BRINGING US TO OUR TOTAL GOAL OF ADDING MONDAYS TO FIVE BRANCHES.
IN AUGUST OF 2023, WE OPENED ALAMITOS HEART AND OBAMA FOR EXTRA HOURS.
ALAMITOS WAS CHOSEN AT THE TIME OF THE SUBSTITUTE FOR BAY SHORE, WHICH WAS CLOSED AT THAT TIME FOR RENOVATION.
IN FISCAL YEAR 24, WE STARTED MONDAYS AT BURNETT AND EL DORADO.
AND IN JANUARY, 2025, BAYSHORE REOPENED AND WE SWITCHED SIX TO EIGHT HOURS FROM ALAMITOS TO BAYSHORE.
WE USED MONEY CARRIED OVER FROM THE END OF THE LBRA PROGRAM TO SUPPORT NON-STRUCTURAL OVERTIME HOURS.
IN FISCAL YEAR 26, WE RECEIVED A STRUCTURAL AD OF $140,000 TO CONTINUE OVERTIME HOURS AT BURNETT HART AND BAYSHORE LIBRARIES, BRINGING US TO A TOTAL OF FIVE LIBRARIES STRUCTURALLY FUNDED THROUGH A HYBRID OF BUDGETED POSITIONS AND OVERTIME.
SO THE DEPARTMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT THE LEAST IMPACTFUL REDUCTION TO THE COMMUNITY IS TO REVERSE OUR BUDGET GAINS IN THE PAST FEW FISCAL YEARS BY RETURNING TO 34 HOURS OF SERVICE AT MOST LOCATIONS, EXCEPT FOR MAIN LIBRARY, WHICH HAS 38.
WE MAINTAIN ACCESS TO ALL 12 LOCATIONS, WOULD NOT HAVE TO CLOSE ANY LIBRARY COMPLETELY.
AND WE PRESERVE, PRESERVE CORE SERVICES SUCH AS BOOKS AND PROGRAMS. WE HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR SIX DAY SERVICE AT FIVE LOCATIONS FOR ROUGHLY TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
AND OUR STATISTICS SHOW THAT MONDAYS HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY EMBRACED BY LIBRARY USERS FOR THE FIVE SIX DAY BRANCHES, WHICH ARE MICHELLE OBAMA, EL DORADO, HEART, BURNETT, AND BAYSHORE.
THIS GRAPH SHOWS THE TOTAL AVERAGE ATTENDANCE PER DAY OF THE WEEK AT ALL, UH, AT ALL LOCATIONS COMBINED.
SO FOR THOSE FIVE LIBRARIES, LIKE SO FOR AN EXAMPLE ON A MONDAY, YOU SEE A LITTLE OVER 1100 PEOPLE.
UM, THE DAYS THAT WE SERVE, THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ARE MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS.
ON WEDNESDAYS WE ARE OPEN ONE LESS HOUR AT ALL LOCATIONS, HENCE THE DROP IN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE.
AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, WE WORK A SINGLE SHIFT WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AS OUR ONLY TIME THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO TRAINING, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, HAVE STAFF MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BY REVERTING TO OUR PREVIOUS FIVE DAY STAFFING MODEL OF TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH STAFF TO RUN A SINGLE SHIFT BASED ON A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK, MEANING ALL BRANCHES MAINTAIN THE SAME SCHEDULE AND HAVE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT THEY NEED TO OPERATE FIVE DAYS A WEEK WITHOUT ANY STAFFING REDUNDANCY.
BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF OUR STAFF ARE FULL-TIME CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES WITH LABOR PROTECTION, WE ARE UNABLE TO OPERATE A SIX DAY SCHEDULE WITH A FIVE DAY STAFFING MODEL BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ASK A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE TO WORK SIX DAYS A WEEK OR SPLIT SHIFTS EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
IT'S WORTH NOTING ALSO THAT SOME LIBRARY SYSTEMS ARE ABLE TO OPEN FOR MORE DAYS WHILE MINIMIZING STAFF COSTS BECAUSE MANY LIBRARY SYSTEMS RELY HEAVILY ON PART-TIME UNBENEFITED EMPLOYEES TO STAFF THEIR LOCATIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH, THEIR MAIN LIBRARY IS OPEN 65 HOURS PER WEEK VERSUS OURS, WHICH IS OPEN 38 HOURS.
BUT THEY CAN DO THAT BECAUSE THEIR STAFF IS COMPRISED OF 75% PART-TIME UNBENEFITED EMPLOYEES AND 25% FULL-TIME.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? UM, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GO BACK TO FIVE DAYS? PRIMARILY IT MEANS REDUCING THE POSITIONS NECESSARY FOR THE ADDITIONAL DAY OF SERVICE.
WE PROPOSE TO CUT THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS, WHICH REGAINED THROUGH THE STRUCTURAL EDITION OF THAT SIXTH DAY AT EL
[00:55:01]
DORADO AND MICHELLE OBAMA, WHICH E EQUALS TO ONE PAGE, WHICH IS TWO PART-TIME POSITIONS, ONE GENERAL LIBRARIAN, FOUR LIBRARY ASSISTANTS, AND FIVE LIBRARY CLERK ONES.DUE TO THE SHIFT IN SERVICE NEEDS, WE ARE ALSO REDUCING ONE PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATE AT BILLIE JEAN KING, MAINE.
THAT WAS PAID FOR BY MEASURE US FUNDS.
OF THE 14 POSITIONS IMPACTED, FOUR WILL BE VACANT AND 10 STAFF MEMBERS WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE ORDER OF LAYOFF.
WE ARE HOPING THAT WHEN THE BUDGET OUTLOOK IMPROVES, WE CAN REGAIN AT LEAST SOME OF THESE POSITIONS.
WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING PROPOSING A REDUCTION OF THE $140,000 OF STRUCTURAL OVERTIME FOR MONDAYS AT THE OTHER THREE BRANCHES.
AND THERE WILL BE SOME IMPACT TO PROGRAMS AT THESE LOCATIONS BECAUSE NATURALLY, WHEN A LIBRARY ADDS STAFF, IT IS ABLE TO EXPAND ITS PROGRAM OFFERINGS.
SOME OF WHAT WAS GAINED IN TERMS OF PROGRAM INCREASES IS EXPECTED TO BE LOST BECAUSE OF THE REDUCED STAFFING.
OTHER REDUCTIONS ARE ALSO BEING PROPOSED IN ORDER TO FULLY MEET OUR REDUCTION TARGET.
WE'LL ALSO BE REVERSING THE GAINS IN OUR FACILITY MAINTENANCE TEAM, REDUCING OUR FACILITY STAFF BY ONE GENERAL MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT AND RETURNING THEIR TRUCK TO FLEET.
THE REMAINING FUNDING GAP IS MADE UP OF A NUMBER OF SMALLER REDUCTIONS.
FIRST, WE ARE ESTIMATING REDUCING $38,000 FOR POWER WASHING AND VILLAGE IN KING MAINE.
COSTS FOR SECURITY WILL DECREASE DUE TO THE LOSS OF MONDAYS UP TO FIVE LIBRARIES.
AND WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO CUT IN A VERY MINOR WAY FROM OUR LIBRARY MATERIALS BUDGET, PROBABLY TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT FIVE OR $6,000 TO REACH OUR REDUCTION TARGET.
BUT THIS HAS BEEN POSITIVELY IMPACTED BY THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO, UM, DESPITE THE DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR FACILITIES NEEDS STILL HAVE NOT CHANGED.
UM, WE ARE COLLABORATING, COLLABORATING WITH PUBLIC WORKS ON PROJECTS AT FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THIS COMING YEAR, USING $2.2 MILLION OF AB 32 ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUNDS.
WE ARE REPLACING THE ROOF AT EL DORADO AND ADDING ENERGY EFFICIENT AND A DA EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS.
WE ARE REPLACING WINDOW PANES AT BURNETT TO BE ENERGY EFFICIENT, ADDING $200,000 TO THE REPAIRS FOR A TOTAL OF $700,000 USING ELEVATE 28 MEASURE A FUNDS.
WE ARE REPLACING THE ROOF AND FACILITATING, FACILITATING ANCILLARY REPAIRS AT BRUIT FOR 700,000.
WE ARE ALSO REPLACING THE MARK TWAIN FIRE ALARM AND OTHER COMPONENTS AS INFORMED BY THE CURRENT FACILITIES CONDITION ASSESSMENT FOR $500,000.
THESE CIP PROJECTS ARE CRITICAL AND LONG OVERDUE.
FURTHER DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WILL RESULT IN COSTLY EMERGENCY REPAIRS AND UNEXPECTED LIBRARY CLOSURES.
EXAMPLES OF THIS VERY RECENTLY INCLUDE DANA LIBRARY'S PARTIAL ROOF COLLAPSE AND EL DORADO LIBRARIES, OCCASIONAL CLOSURES FOR VARIOUS MAINTENANCE NEEDS.
A FEW YEARS BACK WE HAD TO CLOSE CLOSE EL DORADO FOR A FEW DAYS BECAUSE WE HAD WASPS ENTER THE LIBRARY, UM, BECAUSE THEY GOT IN THROUGH THE ROOF HOLES AND NESTED AND CAME INTO THE PUBLIC PART OF THE LIBRARY.
SO LASTLY, WE ARE USING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN SAP FUNDS TO CREATE MULTILINGUAL SIGNAGE AT 12 LIBRARY LOCATIONS.
ANOTHER LONG OVERDUE LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT.
SO WITH THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS, THESE ARE THE OPEN HOURS THAT WE'LL BE RETURNING TO AT OUR 12 LIBRARIES.
THIS IS BASICALLY THE SAME OPERATING SCHEDULE WE HAD IN FISCAL YEAR 21 AND IN FISCAL YEAR 22.
OTHER CHALLENGES INCLUDE THE LOSS OF FUNDING FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS.
WE'VE REACHED THE END OF, OF A FOUR YEAR FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GRANT OF $1.3 MILLION IN TOTAL FOR SEED STEAM SUMMER CAMP.
OUR GOAL FOR FY 27 IS TO REBRAND THE PROGRAM AS THE MOBILE CREATIVITY LAB AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE SUMMER CAMP MODEL AND UTILIZE MEASURE US AND FOUNDATION FUNDING TO FUND THE PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM WILL BE LESS INTENSIVE, BUT WILL HOPEFULLY BROADEN ITS REACH TO MORE YOUTH ACROSS THE CITY.
OUR FIVE YEAR ESL GRANT OR ENGLISH WAS A SECOND LANGUAGE GRANT FROM THE STATE ENDED IN JUNE, 2026, RESULTING IN AN ANNUAL LOSS OF ABOUT $85,000.
AS SUCH, WE WILL BE MODIFYING HOW WE OFFER AS ESL PROGRAMS AND WILL NO LONGER HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER.
THE TOTAL FOR THAT GRANT WAS $423,000 OVER FIVE YEARS.
AND THE ZIP BOOK PROGRAM, A SERVICE WHERE PATRONS COULD REQUEST A BOOK NOT OWNED BY LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY AND HAVE IT SENT TO THEM DIRECTLY WHEN UNFUNDED AT THE STATE LEVEL RESULTING IN A LOSS OF APPROXIMATELY $20,000.
THIS WAS A WELL USED SERVICE THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN DISCONTINUED.
SO WE ARE CHOOSING TO SEE THIS YEAR AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFOCUS ON
[01:00:01]
OUR CORE MISSION AS A DEPARTMENT AND REEVALUATE AND RE-ENVISION OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.WE ARE ASKING OURSELVES, DOES THIS PROGRAM MEET THE GOALS OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN? ARE WE BEING INTENTIONAL? HOW DOES THIS REALLY SERVE OUR RESIDENTS? WITH THE MAYOR'S EMPHASIS ON YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THE STRONG BEACH INITIATIVE, WE'LL BE UTILIZING MEASURE US FUNDING DRIFT DIFFERENTLY THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST OH, IN PREVIOUS CYCLES.
AND WE'LL SEEK TO ENGAGE WITH A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT CAN PROVIDE MENTORSHIP AND SERVICES TAILORED TOWARDS HIGH RISK JUSTICE, JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH.
WE WILL BE INCREASING OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LA COUNTY AND OTHER REGIONAL LIBRARY JURISDICTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PHOTO ON THE TOP RIGHT CORNER IS FROM THE ONE BOOK ONE COAST AUTHOR EVENT WHERE PUBLIC LIBRARIES UP AND DOWN THE WEST COAST ENCOURAGE PATRONS TO ALL READ THE SAME BOOK.
THIS YEAR'S TITLE WAS, THEY CALLED US ENEMY BY GEORGE TAY.
AND I HAD THE WONDERFUL HONOR OF CO INTERVIEWING MR. TEKE ALONG WITH LA COUNTY LIBRARY DIRECTOR SKY PATRICK.
THE ADDITION OF THE FENCE ON THE BILLIE JEAN KING MAIN TERRACE HAS ALSO MADE A DRASTIC DIFFERENCE FINANCIALLY AND OPERATIONALLY DUE TO LOWERED COSTS TO REMEDIATE VANDALISM AND INCREASE SAFETY.
THE INSTALLATION OF THE FENCE HAS RESULTED IN LESS CALLS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HAS ROUGHLY HALVED OUR DOCUMENTED NUMBER OF LIBRARY CODE OF CONDUCT INFRACTIONS.
VISITORS TO BILLIE JEAN KING MAINE HAVE MADE NUMEROUS POSITIVE COMMENTS TO STAFF ABOUT THE IMPROVED OVERALL ENVIRONMENT, BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE LIBRARY.
AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPANDING OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS ON THE TERRACE.
IN THE COMING MONTHS, THERE WILL BE MORE LIVE MUSIC HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES AND IN THE COMING AND COMING EARLY NEXT YEAR, WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'LL BE WORKING THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY TO BRING BACK THE BLACK AUTHORS FESTIVAL IN THE EARLY PART OF 2027.
I, IN CLOSING, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR COUNCIL, OUR MAYOR, AND OUR CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR THEIR SUPPORT DURING THIS ARDUOUS BUDGET TRANSITION.
THANK YOU ALSO TO OUR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.
WOO-HOO
I THINK OUR, OUR LIBRARIES MIGHT BE, MIGHT BE THE MOST POPULAR DEPARTMENT, I WOULD SAY.
MM-HMM
WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, MADAM CLERK, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE HAVE IT LISTED HERE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP? WE HAVE 42 PEOPLE, UH, SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE SPEAKERS ARE IN PERSON.
OH, IS THAT INCLUDING ONLINE? THAT IS INCLUDING ONLINE.
SO UNDER THE RULES BEYOND 30, IT GOES TO 60 SECONDS.
SO WE GIVE EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
SO MADAM CLERK, GO AHEAD AND PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO COUNCIL DELIBERATION.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND KEEP IT RAISED.
WHAT, SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? IN ZOOM? THE SPEAKERS NEED TO RAISE THEIR HAND AND WE WILL BE TAKING THE ZOOM CALLERS FIRST.
WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS IN ZOOM THAT RAISE THEIR HAND.
NANCY WU, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
THERE'S A LOT OF BACKGROUND NOISE COMING FROM YOUR SPEAKER.
CAN YOU CHECK YOUR MICROPHONE, MS. WU? SORRY.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR COMMENT? AGAIN, WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF BACKGROUND STATIC.
MS. WU, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THE SECOND ZOOM CALLER, WE'LL COME BACK TO MS. WU.
[01:05:01]
N****R N****R, I MADE YOU OUTTA CLAY.DOES THAT COMPLETE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT? MA'AM, THAT CONCLUDES YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
CAN WE TRY AND GET MS WU BACK ON THE LINE? WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO IN-PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
CAN SPEAKERS ONE THROUGH 10 PLEASE LINE UP AT THE LECTERN.
IF YOU HAVE A CARD NUMBERED ONE THROUGH 10, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE LECTERN.
PLEASE LEAVE YOUR CARD AT THE LECTERN WHEN YOU'RE DONE SPEAKING.
ALRIGHT, SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JULIE DEAN AND I'M ASKING THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER TO RECONSIDER THE PROPOSED CUTS TO LONG BEACH'S LIBRARY SYSTEM, INCLUDING REDUCED STAFFING AND CLOSING FIVE LIBRARIES ONE ADDITIONAL DAY EACH WEEK.
I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT LOSING THAT DAY OF ACCESS MEANS FOR FAMILIES WHO RELY ON OUR LIBRARIES AS SAFE PLACES FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND TEENS.
NOT EVERY PARENT HAS A MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NINE TO FIVE WORK SCHEDULE.
AND FOR THOSE FAMILIES LEAVING, SORRY.
HAVING A LIBRARY AVAILABLE ON AN ADDITIONAL DAY CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.
IT CAN PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR A YOUNG PERSON TO SPEND TIME, READ, USE TECHNOLOGY, WORK ON SCHOOLWORK, PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM, OR SIMPLY BE SOMEWHERE POSITIVE AND SUPERVISED.
AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS ALONGSIDE THE CUTS BEING PROPOSED TO PARKS, REC, AND MARINE.
THESE CUTS WILL ALSO REDUCE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AND PLACES AVAILABLE TO OUR YOUTH.
MEANWHILE, MANY NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE LOSS OF FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT FUNDING.
TAKING, TAKING INDIVIDUALLY EACH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HONORABLE MAYOR.
UM, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT THIS PROCESS ESSENTIALLY PITS COMMUNITIES AND INTERESTS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, DEPARTMENTS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER FOR THIS LIMITED POOL OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US.
AND WHAT YOU'D ACTUALLY FIND IF YOU LOOK CLOSER, AND I HOPE THIS IS A MESSAGE YOU'LL TAKE AWAY, IS THAT THERE'S CONNECTIVE THREADS BETWEEN HERE.
I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM TO BE INSTATED AND CONTINUED AS IT IS TO CONTINUE THIS GLUE.
BUT WE'RE HERE AND YOU'LL SEE MANY OF US THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS THAT ARE HERE ADVOCATING FOR OTHER THINGS.
PARKS AND REC LIBRARIES ARE A CORNERSTONE TO US.
AND THE PROCESS WE DID, SO MANY OF OUR TEAMS WORKED AT THAT AT THE LIBRARIES THIS YEAR.
TWO OF OUR EVENTS WERE HELD AT LIBRARIES THIS YEAR.
THAT'S A GLUE THAT MEANS CONNECTIVITY.
THE BSRA THAT, UH, JULIE AND I ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF.
WE USED TO MEET AT THE LIBRARY ON BAYSHORE IN ORDER TO HAVE OUR GROUP MEETINGS THERE.
WHEN YOU TAKE THESE THREADS APART, IT DESTROYS OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A PERSON, UH, I'LL SAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER ONE.
HI, I'M SUSAN REDFIELD AND I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF LIBRARIES, UH, BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THEY ARE AND OTHER PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS.
UH, MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, THE LONG BEACH POLICE CHIEF JIM MCDONALD REMINDED US THAT LIBRARIES ARE AMONG THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES A STRONG COMMUNITY PROVIDES ITS CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS SPEAKING PARTICULARLY ABOUT VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE.
HE SAID, AND I QUOTE, LOW INCOME AT RISK STUDENTS FIND THAT A LIBRARY IS OFTEN THE QUIET ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN STUDY AND HAVE COMPUTER ACCESS AND ASSISTANCE.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, OUR CITY PROSECUTOR DESCRIBED LIBRARIES AS QUOTE, PART OF THE SMART CRIME UH, PREVENTION STRATEGY.
I'M EMBARRASSED ABOUT HOW LITTLE MONEY WE SPEND ON OUR LIBRARIES.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIX THIS? I HAVE FIVE IDEAS.
UH, CREATE A ONE YEAR LIBRARY BRIDGE FUND, UH, AS THE FOUNDATION TO LEAD A SPECIAL PUBLIC PRIVATE CAMPAIGN GENERATE.
I'M SORRY, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED, MA'AM.
UH, SPONSORSHIP LIBRARY HOURS AND LOOK FOR SAVINGS.
LEAVE LEAVE THAT LI LIST WITH THE CLERK, IF YOU WILL.
[01:10:01]
HI, MY NAME IS ASHLEY JONES.I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARTNERS OF PARKINSON.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE COVERING THE DEFICIT, UM, TO FUND THE NATURE CENTER ON TUESDAYS.
WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH DIRECTOR SCOTT WHEN HE CAME TO US WITH THIS PROPOSED DEFICIT AND WITH 600,000 VISITORS, UNIQUE VISITORS PER YEAR, UM, COVERING SIX DIFFERENT GENERATIONS, WE FELT THIS WAS SUPER IMPORTANT AND ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION.
UM, I DO WANNA BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE DOING THIS WITH OUR OWN DEFICIT BUDGET.
WE ARE NOT PULLING 1 CENT OUT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE NATURE CENTER ACCOUNT, UM, THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE RESERVED FOR WHAT MEMBERS INTENDED THEM FOR.
SO WHATEVER WE DO NOT RAISE, WE'LL BE PULLING FROM OUR PERSONAL RESERVES.
THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE $30,000 WE'VE GIVEN OUT IN YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS.
THE $10,000 FOR HSA FUNDING, UM, THE 15 GRAND WE CAME UP WITH FOR ANIMAL CARE.
SO HOW YOU CAN HELP US IS BY GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
IT STARTS WITH LONG BEACH GIVES OUR RECIPIENT WILL BE THE NATURE CENTER SEWING THE SEAS.
UH, NATURE CENTER WILL BE OUR RECIPIENT.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERNAT, UM, FOR PARTNERING WITH US ON THIS.
WE SPOKE WITH YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED.
LET'S HERE FOR PARTNERS OF PARK STEPPING UP.
I GET, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING SOME OF YOU GUYS, BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME'S RYAN SANDERS.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
I AM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF PARTNERS OF PARKS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF DIRECTOR SCOTT.
I THINK HE'S DONE A GOOD, FAIR JOB OF KEEPING THE PARKS AS ACCESSIBLE AND IDENTIFYING WAYS TO STILL KEEP THE PROGRAMS GOING.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO REFERENCE THAT WE AS PARTNERS OF PARKS ARE A GOOD SOURCE FOR ALL OF YOU IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS.
AND FOR DIRECTOR SCOTT TO HELP COME TO US WHEN WE NEED TO RAISE MONEY FOR THINGS TO BE THERE AS BODIES AT THESE PARKS WHEN EVENTS HAPPEN.
WE HOST SOME OF OUR OWN EVENTS.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A VERY HARD JOB.
UM, AND I KNOW MR. MOCA, THIS IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.
UM, BUT THERE IS SOME OF US WHO ARE ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT AND WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP WITH THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BUDGET SEASON.
MY NAME IS NADI SCHUSTER AND I, I AM MEMBER PROUD SHOP STEWARD AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND PARKS AND REC SERVICES DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT A LOT ABOUT ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND ABOUT THE NEED TO KEEP THEM GOING AND WHICH I AGREE.
BUT OUR PARKS AND OUR LIBRARIES ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL.
THEY'RE GATES TO THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S SAFE SPACES FOR OUR CHILDREN.
THERE'S SAFE SPACES FOR ADULTS.
THEY PROVIDE CALM AND A CHAOTIC WORLD.
I, AS A CASE MANAGER WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, HAVE USED THE LIBRARY SERVICES.
SO MANY TIMES MY CLIENTS HAVE GOTTEN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS THROUGH THE LIBRARY SERVICE.
THEY'VE LEARNED HOW TO PERFECT OUR, UM, EXCEL SKILLS, THEIR WORD SKILLS TO BETTER ALIGN TO FINDING JOBS THAT PAY MORE AND NO LONGER BE UNDEREMPLOYED OR UNEMPLOYED.
WE CANNOT GET RID OF THESE SERVICES OR DOWN DWINDLE THESE SERVICES BECAUSE WE'VE MISMANAGED BUDGETS FOR YEARS TO COME.
WE NEED TO DO BETTER, BETTER BY OUR RESIDENTS, BY OUR CHILDREN, AND BE THAT EXAMPLE THAT WE WANNA BE NOT JUST FOR THE 2028 OLYMPICS, BUT GOING FORWARD, BE THE GOLD STANDARD.
I WORK FROM HOME, BUT I DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING, SO I'VE BEEN WALKING TO MY LOCAL LIBRARY, MARK TWAIN, TO WORK FROM THERE EXCEPT FOR MONDAYS.
MARK TWAIN IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS, SO I DRIVE TO A DIFFERENT LIBRARY.
SINCE THERE'S NONE OPEN WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, THIS IS ALREADY NOT IDEAL.
AND IF THE PROPOSED BUDGET PASSES, LONG BEACH WILL HAVE NO LIBRARIES OPEN ON SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS.
I WILL TRAVEL TO A DIFFERENT CITY TO USE THEIR LIBRARY ON MONDAYS.
MY TAXES ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT BEING USED EFFICIENTLY IF I'M DRIVING TO ANOTHER CITY TO USE THEIR RESOURCES.
THE WAY THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS HAVE BEEN APPLIED ARE STRATEGIC.
HOWEVER, OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES SHOULDN'T EXPERIENCE THIS DEGREE OF REDUCTIONS, IF ANY.
THEY'RE ONLY OPEN SEVEN HOURS PER DAY ON THE DAYS THAT THEY ARE OPEN.
IT SEEMS THAT OUR LIBRARIES ARE ALREADY OPERATING UNDER REDUCED HOURS.
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT 'CAUSE I HAVE A LOT MORE
HELLO? UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION.
THEY ARE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AN EQUITABLE CITY.
OUR PETITION TO PROTECT LIBRARY SERVICES HAS GATHERED OVER 6,200 SIGNATURES AND RAISED NEARLY $10,000 OF UNSOLICITED DONATIONS TO THE FOUNDATION.
THIS IS A VERY CLEAR SIGNAL THAT LONG BEACH STANDS WITH ITS LIBRARIES.
EVERY DAY RESIDENTS RELY ON OUR BRANCHES FOR HOMEWORK HELP, JOB APPLICATIONS, INTERNET ACCESS, AND ESSENTIAL
[01:15:01]
RESOURCES.AS WE JUST HEARD FROM THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THESE TOOLS AT HOME AND THAT IS WHY ACCESS MATTERS.
AS YOU FINALIZE THIS BUDGET, I ASK YOU TO PRESERVE MONDAY SERVICES AT THE FIVE NEIGHBORHOOD BRANCHES CURRENTLY AT RISK AND PROTECT THE JOBS OF OUR HARDWORKING LIBRARY STAFF MEMBERS.
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, CUTTING HOURS IN JOBS REDUCES ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE CITY TO BUILD A LONG-TERM VISION FOR OUR LIBRARIES.
PLEASE PROTECT OUR CITY'S BELOVED LIBRARIES AND LET'S BUILD THE FUTURE OF LONG BEACH LIBRARIES TOGETHER.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH LIO.
I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, A PUBLIC LIBRARIAN AND A PROUD IAM SHOP STEWARD.
THIS WEEK OUR LIBRARIES ARE BEING ASKED TO STAY OPEN UNTIL 9:00 PM TO SERVICE COOLING CENTERS BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME HEAT AND WE WANNA DO THAT.
BUT THE CITY IS RECOGNIZING THAT LIBRARIES ARE ESSENTIAL PLACES FOR RESIDENTS TO GO WHEN THEY NEED SAFETY, AIR CONDITIONING AND SUPPORT.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT LIBRARY STAFF WILL BE LAID OFF AND THAT LIBRARY HOURS WILL BE REDUCED BY CUTTING AN ENTIRE DAY OF SERVICE.
KATHY SAID IT'S BARE MINIMUM STAFFING, AND IN CASE YOU DIDN'T REALIZE THAT, THAT'S ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE.
THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'VE HAD 352 INCIDENTS AT OUR LIBRARIES.
OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT THAT, BUT WE'VE ALSO PROPOSED A HAZARD PAY WITH OUR UPCOMING CONTRACT, WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN DENIED, BUT I GUESS THAT'S FOR ANOTHER DAY.
WHEN THE COMMUNITY NEEDS US MOST DURING EXTREME HEAT EMERGENCIES, ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, WE NEED MORE STAFF, NOT FEWER.
I GUESS THAT'LL PROBABLY BE THE END OF IT.
YOU CANNOT CUT THE PROVERBIAL FAT WHEN WE ARE ALREADY SKIN AND BONES.
THANK YOU JUST, JUST ONE MOMENT.
CAN I GET THE NEXT 11 OR 10 SPEAKERS? 11 THROUGH 20 TO LINE UP AT THE PODIUM? IF YOU HAVE A PINK CARD WITH 11 THROUGH 20, IF YOU CAN LINE UP.
AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE SPEAKING, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR CARD AT THE LECTERN.
I'M JAQUAN WILLIAMS. I'VE BEEN A PATRON AT THE LIBRARY FOR DECADES ON END, AND, UM, I'M NOT LIKING WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE LIBRARIES WITH THE BUDGET CUTS AND THE REDUCING OF HOURS.
AND I WAS TOLD THAT MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY IS GONNA BE CLOSED ON MONDAYS, POSSIBLY STARTING IN OCTOBER.
AND I BEGGING WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT YOU GUYS, THAT MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY DOES NOT CLOSE ON MONDAYS IN OCTOBER.
I'M HOPING THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, AND I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN GOING TO MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY ON MONDAYS ON MOST, MOST OF THE WEEK ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO USE ALL THE NECESSARY RESOURCES.
AND THERE'S A STUDIO OVER THERE TOO THAT I FREQUENT OVER THERE.
AND, UM, I JUST HOPE YOU GUYS, UH, THE LIBRARY DOES NOT HAVE TO CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC ALL OVER AGAIN, SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED.
I'VE, UM, LIVED IN LONG BEACH SINCE 1990.
I'VE WORKED AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SINCE 2017, AND I'M A PROUD IAM LOCAL 1930 MEMBER.
UM, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PICTURE THAT, UM, BOTH OF THE DIRECTORS GAVE DOES NOT REALLY SHOW ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT WILL NOT, WILL GO AWAY WITH THE STAFFING CUTS.
UM, I AM CURRENTLY CO-COORDINATOR OF THE CREATIVITY LAB AT THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY.
MY POSITION WILL END ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.
IT WAS GRANT FUNDED, SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A LINE ITEM.
IT DOESN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE A CUT.
AND YES, WE WILL CONTINUE SOME SERVICES.
MY COLLEAGUE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SOME SERVICES, BUT IT WILL NOT BE THE SAME.
AND I JUST WANNA READ A FEW SECONDS OF THIS LETTER FROM THE, UM, CUBO.
UM, DEAR MEMBERS OF LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL, I'M WRITING ON BEHALF OF CUBO ORGANIZING PROJECT, A FILIPINO AMERICAN CULTURAL NONPROFIT BASED IN LONG BEACH IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY'S CREATIVITY LAB PROGRAM COORDINATED BY GABRIEL GAE AND JACKIE VILE.
AND I DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ THE ALL, BUT THEY, WE URGE CITY COUNCIL TO FUND THE PROPOSAL THAT KEEPS CREATIVITY LABS COORDINATING.
MA'AM, YOUR TIMES CONCLUDED AND FUNDS THE LIBRARY IN FULL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR RICHARDSON, VICE MAYOR ORANGA, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE GALLERY.
SINCE THE AGE OF 18 MONTHS, MY CHILD'S CONSIDERED THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, A SECOND HOME FROM INFANT STORY TIMES TO TODDLERS SING-ALONGS TO CRAFTING CIRCLES, AND NOW RESEARCHING SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS.
MY CHILD AND ALL OF HER LITTLE FRIENDS HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH,
[01:20:01]
L-G-B-T-Q, PRIDE MONTH, AND ALL OF THE CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL AND STEM EVENTS THAT THEY HAVE.AND AS YOU KNOW, OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE MORE THAN WAREHOUSES FOR BOOKS.
AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO CALL LIBRARIES OUR SECOND HOME.
IN OUR TRAVELS TO THE 12 NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES IN THE SYSTEM, WE'VE SEEN SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN TROUBLED BY BULLIES, FINDING REFUGE IN BOOKS ABOUT DRAGONS AND WIZARDS.
WE'VE SEEN GAY AND NON-BINARY YOUTH FINDING SAFE SUPPORTIVE SPACES WITH THE TEEN CENTERS.
WE'VE SEEN NEW PARENTS STRUGGLING WITH POTTY TRAINING, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, FINDING RESOURCES THROUGH BOOKS AND WORKSHOPS, SENIORS, ENGLISH LEARNERS WITH CONVERSATION CLUBS.
IF YOU GO THROUGH WITH THESE BUDGET REDUCTIONS AND LAY OFF THE PEOPLE IN THOSE PHOTOS, YOU WILL BE LAYING OFF UP TO FIVE PEOPLE AT OUR LIBRARY AND OUR STORY TIMES.
AND PLEASE CONSIDER THEIR CHILDREN TIMES CONCLUDED AND THE LIBRARIANS.
SOME THINGS I LOVE TO SEE AT THE LIBRARY ARE KIDS AND PARENTS MEETING AT STORY TIME, THEM BECOMING FRIENDS AND GOING TO THE PARK TOGETHER.
KIDS DOING RESEARCH FOR SCIENCE PROJECTS OR THEIR OWN PERSONAL CURIOSITY, WHICH IS MY FAVORITE BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING VERY URGENT AND EXCITING, LIKE THE MOST DANGEROUS JELLYFISH OR LEARNING ABOUT THE ARCTIC, OR, YOU KNOW, IT GOES ON.
UM, AND LIBRARIES ARE BEING DEFUNDED AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL AND ALSO LOCALLY AT OUR LONG BEACH SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO DURING THIS TIME, I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE THE LIBRARY, UH, FINDING FUNDING BECAUSE CLEARLY EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY ARE IMPORTANT TO THIS CITY, AND LIBRARIES ARE A PROACTIVE WAY TO PROVIDE THAT, UM, FOR PEOPLE.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, YESTERDAY THE LIBRARY BEING OPEN ALLOWED 14 1,457 PEOPLE TO SEEK REFUGE IN THE AC.
UH, PLEASE CONSIDER THESE THINGS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I AM ALISON BRUH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RANCHO CERRITOS.
I AM JOINED BY DEBORAH CASTRO, CHAIR OF RANCHO CERRITO ALAMITOS AND, AND ANDREW CHAVEZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF RANCHOS ALAMITOS.
WE WANNA THANK THE MAYOR, MAYOR RICHARDSON, CITY MANAGER TOM MOCA IN THE COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RANCHOS IN THE PROPOSED 27 BUDGET.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS THE RANCHOS SERVE LONG BEACH IS THROUGH EDUCATION.
TOGETHER WE WELCOME THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS FROM SCHOOLS ACROSS EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT WITH IMMERSIVE PROGRAMS. MORE THAN HALF THE SCHOOLS WE SERVE ARE TITLE ONE SCHOOLS AND BUS, BUS TRANSPORTATION THAT'S UNDERWRITTEN BY BOTH RANCHO FOUNDATIONS.
SO COST IS NOT A BARRIER FOR MANY CHILDREN.
A SCHOOL TOUR IS THEIR FIRST TIME TO THE RANCHO.
BEYOND EDUCATION, FREE ADMISSION AND FREE OR LOW COST PROGRAMS MAKE THE RANCHOS WELCOMING AND ACCESSIBLE TO FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE LONG BEACH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, PARTNERSHIP AND INVESTMENT IN THE RANCHOS AND MAKING THEM ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY GENERATION IN LONG BEACH.
BOB LIVINGSTON, DISTRICT FOUR MEMBER OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SLIDE THAT DIRECTOR SCOTT SHOWED ABOUT THE FTES.
WE KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE THAT IT SAYS THAT IT WILL NOT IMPACT THE PROGRAMS THAT MUCH, BUT WE KNOW THAT FEWER STAFF MEANS TOUGHER PROGRAMS. UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT THESE REC LEADER POSITIONS.
WHAT HE DID NOT MENTION AS MANY TIMES, THESE ARE THE FIRST JOBS THAT THESE PEOPLE GET.
THEY'RE RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH.
THIS IS THE FIRST JOB THAT THEY GET.
IT'S 17 OR 19 FTES, BUT THAT IS DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE.
SO WE, THEY SAY THERE'S NOT GONNA BE AN IMPACT OF THE PROGRAMMING.
I IMPLORE YOU, I KNOW YOU HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS AND EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS TO TAKE KITS.
I IMPLORE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A DOUBLE WHAMMY.
THIS IS KIDS HAVING FEWER PROGRAMS AND THIS IS PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT GONNA GET THEIR FIRST JOB.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISIONS.
I'M FROM NORTH LONG BEACH AND, UH, MICHELLE OBAMA IS MY, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY.
I WOULD NOT HAVE BECOME A PAGE WITHOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE LIBRARY.
SO IT'S KIND OF CRAZY THAT YOU GUYS ARE CUTTING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATE THREE, I'VE SEEN SO MANY KIDS BECOME SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE AT THE MAIN LIBRARY BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR PERSON.
AND IT'S VERY HARD OUT, OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GONNA BE A LOT HARDER, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE NOT CONNECTING WITH ANYONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THEM OR TALKS LIKE THEM OR EVEN KNOWS ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO PLEASE RECONSIDER AND YEAH.
ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
HELLO, I'M RUBY AND I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF IAM AND I.
I'M ALSO THE CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN AT THE MICHELLE OBAMA
[01:25:01]
LIBRARY.UM, MY PREVIOUS ROLE AS AN OUTREACH LIBRARIAN PROVED THAT THE MOST IMPACTFUL, UH, LIBRARY WORK OFTEN HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF THE WALLS OF THE LIBRARY.
I HAVE MET WITH COMMUNITY COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY.
I MET WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO OTHERWISE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO GETTING TO THE LIBRARY.
UH, THE OUTCOME OF THE BUDGET COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UH, THESE, THESE PAST MONTHS PROVED THAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR AND NEEDS THE LIBRARY.
ABOUT 45% OF I AM MEMBERS ARE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS.
WE DESERVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT PAYS US A LIVABLE WAGE.
INSTEAD OF MEETING OUR DEMANDS, YOU COUNTER WITH A WEEK LONG FURLOUGH FOR NON-ESSENTIAL STAFF DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
A TIME OF FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL STRAIN FOR MANY WHO IS ESSENTIAL.
IS IT THE LIBRARY STAFF WHO ARE ASKED TO WORK UNTIL 9:00 PM FOR THE LIBRARY TO SERVE AS A COOLING CENTER.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES PARKS AND REC.
WE DEMAND A GENERAL WAGE INCREASE, FAIR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, LAYOFF STAFF, REDUCE PUBLIC RESOURCES, LOSE PUBLIC TRUST.
SO JASMINE, HELLO, MY NAME IS JASMINE FLORES.
I'M PART OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, I AM AND I'M THE PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATE THREE AT THE LIBRARY.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE MY POSITION IS AT RISK OF BEING ELIMINATED IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
I'M CURRENTLY THE ONLY YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATOR AT THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM WHOSE PRIMARY FOCUS IS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH TEENS AND DRESSING MENTAL HEALTH.
EVERY DAY I WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR LIBRARIES WHO ARE NAVIGATING STRESS, ANXIETY, ISOLATION, ACADEMIC PRESSURE, FAMILY CHALLENGES, AND MANY OTHER REALITIES THAT COME WITH BEING A TEENAGER.
I NOT ONLY PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION, BUT I OUTREACH TO OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOLS AND L-B-U-S-D-I CREATE PROGRAMS ON ACTIVITIES SPECIFICALLY FOR TEENS AND OUR YOUNG ADULTS PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES AND HELP MEET THE LIBRARY.
A PLACE WHERE TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED AND SEEN.
MY ROLE IS PREVENTION AND EDUCATION, AND I HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE RECOGNIZE WHEN THEY BE STRUGGLING, NORMALIZE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND CONNECT THEM WITH APPROPRIATE RESOURCES AND SERVICES.
THIS IS WHAT MAKES SUBSID SO VALUABLE.
THE LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WHERE OUR, IN OUR CITY, WHERE A TEENAGER CAN WALK THROUGH THE DOORS WITHOUT NEEDING AN APPOINTMENT, WITHOUT NEEDING INSURANCE, AND WITHOUT HAVING TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY NEED HELP BEFORE THEY CAN ACCESS A SAFE SPACE.
I WANNA SAY MORE THINGS, BUT THE MINUTE TIME IS KIND A CRAZY RIGHT NOW.
HELLO, MY NAME IS RICHARD CDO AND I AM A LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY EMPLOYEE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CENTRAL ROLE THAT LIBRARY SERVICES PROVIDE TO THE CITY AND TO ASK TO PLEASE DEEPLY CONSIDER NOT CUTTING FUNDING TO A VERY SPECIAL AND ESSENTIAL RESOURCE.
WITH CUTS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE, THE LIBRARY WILL BECOME AN EVEN MORE ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
WE PROVIDE AT-RISK YOUTH WITH A SAFE SUPERVISED PLACE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, DEVELOP SKILLS, ATTEND WORKSHOPS, AND STAY ENGAGED RATHER THAN BEING OUT ON THE STREETS.
WE PROVIDE OLDER ADULTS WITH FREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING SOCIAL CONNECTION, TECHNOLOGY ACCESS, AND MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES WHEN THEY MAY NOT HAVE OTHER AFFORDABLE OPTIONS.
AND WE ALSO HELP OUR NEURODIVERGENT RESIDENTS WITH INCLUSIVE WORKSHOPS, PROGRAMS WHERE THEY CAN DEVELOP PRACTICAL SKILLS, CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE.
AND LASTLY, WE HELP OUR FAMILIES AND JOB SEEKERS WITH FREE ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, TECHNOLOGY AND, UH, A LOT OF OTHER STUFF.
BUT AS OTHER CITY RESIDENTS BECOME HARDER AND HARDER, ACCESS THE CITY BECOMES EVEN MORE, MORE IMPORTANT.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS FERRAZ VY, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND PROUD UAW MEMBER.
I'M HERE TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THE PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS TO THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
LIBRARIES ARE THE CO CORNERSTONE OF OUR CITY'S SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
AS MANY HAVE SHARED WITH THEIR OWN EXAMPLES.
THEY'RE NOT JUST WAREHOUSES FOR BOOKS, THEY'RE THE GLUE HOLDING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER.
THEY SERVE AS VITAL COOLING CENTERS DURING DEADLY HEAT WAVES, SAFE HAVENS FOR KIDS AFTER SCHOOL, AND RARE PUBLIC SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIMPLY EXIST AND CONNECT WITHOUT SPENDING MONEY WHEN WE CAN.
WHEN WE CUT MONDAY SERVICE AT BRANCHES, WE ARE STRIPPING AWAY A LIFELINE.
IN SOME CASES, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR AN ELDERLY RESIDENT DURING AN EXTREME WEATHER EVENT IS ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS LIBRARIES.
PLEASE INVEST IN OUR SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND, AND REJECT THESE CUTS.
IS IT TIME TO CALL THE REMAINING THE NEXT 10, JUST A MOMENT.
IF YOU HAVE A CARD WITH 21 THROUGH 30, CAN YOU PLEASE LINE UP THE LECTERN? ALRIGHT, SO TRY TO STAY IN THE ORDER OF THE, THE CARDS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF OUR CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, UH, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY APPEARS TO
[01:30:01]
ALSO BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE THE FRAIL PRO PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT THE MOST PEOPLE ON OUR COMMUNITY SEEM TO BE THE FIRST IN LINE, UH, ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.
I REQUEST THAT YOU BECOME CREATIVE WHEN FINALIZING THE CUTS, ESPECIALLY, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE LIBRARY.
THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE PRESENTED THEIR PROPOSALS, BUT PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE IS A GOOD SAMARITAN CREED THAT SAYS, DO THE MOST GOOD FOR THE MOST PEOPLE.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNG, UH, THE LIBRARY WAS A SANCTUARY FOR ME FROM ROUGH STREETS.
AND NOW TODAY, THE LIBRARY IS A SANCTUARY FOR THESE TEMPER FLUCTUATIONS THAT WE HAVE AND ALSO IN SOME PARTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN LONG BEACH TOUGH STREETS.
SO I REQUEST THAT YOU HONOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND REALIZE THAT HEALTHY LIBRARIES ARE ESSENTIALLY OR ARE ESSENTIAL FOR HEALTHY SOCIETIES.
WE CAN'T, YOU'RE TIMES CONCLUDED, SIR.
PEOPLE IN THE BLUE IN UH, COUNTIES.
HELLO KAREN RE SIDE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS FOR ONE MORE WEEK.
AND, UH, IF YOU BELIEVE IN OUR SENIORS, NONE OF OUR SENIORS WANNA SEE ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS. CUT.
PARKS AND LIBRARIES ARE OUR THIRD SPACES.
WE HAVE TO RE-LOOK AT HOW WE FUND AND PROVIDE SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK A LOT OF THESE SERVICES WE DID OUR SENIOR FEST AT THE LIBRARY, OVER 300 SENIORS, TWO THIRDS OF THEM HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE LIBRARY, DIDN'T HAVE LIBRARY CARDS.
WE ARE NOW UTILIZING OUR RESOURCES TO FULL ADVANTAGE.
AND I THINK, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR GIVING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MONEY TO INVESTIGATE MEDICARE AND MEDI-CAL REIMBURSEMENTS.
I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT OF OUR SERVICES AND LET'S LOOK AT SOME KIND OF BOND ISSUE OR TAX INITIATIVE.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO SUPPORT THE EXCELLENT SERVICES.
LEMME GET THROUGH OUR PARKS AND LIBRARIES.
I AM A PROUD PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE AS WELL AS AN IAM MEMBER.
YOU CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT A CITY BY ITS BUDGET, UH, TO ITS CREDIT.
THE CITY'S BEEN FAIR ASKING ALL DEPARTMENTS TO PITCH IN AND HELP MAKE UP THIS SHORTFALL.
BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONSIDER HOW THE IMPACTS TO SOME OF THESE CUTS ARE BEING CONCENTRATED AND WILL AFFECT SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS INSIDE OF THE CITY.
FOR INSTANCE, LIBRARIES SERVE AS IMPORTANT PLACES WHERE CHILDREN CAN WAIT SAFELY AFTER SCHOOL UNDERNEATH SUPERVISION WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR A PARENT TO COME PICK THEM UP.
IF WE CUT SERVICE ON MONDAY, WE ELIMINATE THAT AND THEY HAVE TO GO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE.
UH, OVER THIS LAST FEW DAYS THAT WE'VE SEEN THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN THE CITY HAVE BEEN WITHOUT POWER, UH, LIBRARIES SERVE AS VERY IMPORTANT COOLING AND HEATING CENTERS.
SO WHEN WE HAVE CUTS LIKE THIS, PEOPLE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.
UH, I HAD A LOT MORE WRITTEN, BUT I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 10 MORE SECONDS LEFT, SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT, YOU CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT A CITY BY ITS BUDGET.
WHAT ARE THEY GONNA SAY ABOUT US THIS UPCOMING YEAR? THANK YOU.
GREG JOHNSON, BOARD MEMBER OF THE ARTS COUNCIL FOR LONG BEACH.
I'M HERE TODAY TO, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA JUST TELL YOU, AS AN ARTS CULTURE AND MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR BASED HERE IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH, I CAN ATTEST THAT THAT LIBRARY IN LONG BEACH IS OUTSTANDING.
I'VE BEEN A PART OF SO MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THERE.
IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO TO CUT IT SO DEEPLY.
MAYBE JUST THINKING OUT LOUD, IF I HEAR ALL OF THE OBJECTIONS ON TODAY, WE CAN JUST SLICE OFF A BIT OF THE REVENUE FROM OUR BRAND NEW AMPHITHEATER AND SLIDE IT OVER TO THE LIBRARY.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ASKING YOU FOR $50,000 WORTH OF YOUTH ARTS CONTEST THAT'S BASED IN THE LIBRARY.
I'M BARBARA SOSA, PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
IT IS TIME FOR THIS MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER TO START WALKING THEIR TALK REGARDING FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY.
YOU ALL SAY YOU ARE SUPPORTERS AND YET THE BUDGET YOU WANT TO ADOPT IS DISGRACEFUL.
FOR A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS SEEN DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES IN SERVICE LEVELS AND ACCESSIBILITY, THE LIBRARY IS BEING ASKED TO MAKE PERMANENT REDUCTIONS TO ITS BUDGET.
WHERE I COME FROM, THAT'S NOT THE WAY YOU REWARD PEOPLE WHO EXCEED THEIR GOALS.
OUR LIBRARY OPERATES 12 FACILITIES WITH AND INTERACTS WITH PATRONS MORE THAN 1,260,000 TIMES ANNUALLY WITH ONLY 200
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EMPLOYEES.WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY IS HAVING FINANCIAL ISSUES, BUT THIS IS NO TIME TO SPEND LESS ON LIBRARIES THAT PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AT BEST, THE CITY SHOULD BE INCREASING.
AT VERY LEAST, IT SHOULD MAINTAIN THE CURRENT BUDGET, MA'AM TIMES CO CONCLUDED AT NO CUTS.
UH, I WILL SKIP OVER THE HEATING AND COOLING PORTION THAT'S BEEN COVERED.
WHAT THIS LIBRARY SYSTEM ALSO PROVIDES IS EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION, WHICH IS CRI UH, CRITICAL FOR THE WORLD THAT WE CURRENTLY LIVE IN.
THE FACT THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT CUTTING AN ADDITIONAL DAY AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER CUTS THAT WERE NOT LISTED SUGGESTS TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT KEEPING AN EDUCATED POPULACE, WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
I WAS WONDERING, I WAS LOOKING AT THE CALIFORNIA LIBRARY.
THEY HAVE DATA THAT SHOWS FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT YOU INVEST, YOU GET AN AVERAGE OF THREE TO $6 FOR RETURN IN VALUE.
THE FACT THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT CUTTING THIS BUDGET SO SIGNIFICANTLY TELLS ME THAT YOU REALLY DON'T FOCUS OR CARE ABOUT GIVING THIS SERVICE DESK.
ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
IF YOU STILL HAVE A CARD NUMBER, 31 THROUGH 40, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE LECTERN.
SAGE MCGEE, DISTRICT TWO, I'M HERE FOR THE LIBRARY.
IS THE VIBE A VIBE? CITY ILLITERACY?
THIS HUB CITY IS SOMEHOW CHRONICALLY BROKE.
AND MANAGER MOCA'S OWN PRESENTATION BLAMED IT ON US, THE CITIZENRY FOR BEING TOO POOR.
WHERE ARE THE BRIGHT IDEAS? WHERE ARE THE PROPOSALS? MR. MAYOR, WHERE ARE THE IDEAS? COUNSEL, WHERE IS YOUR FIGHT? UH, HERE ARE, I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY REVENUE RAISING IDEAS OUT OF ANY OF YOU.
IN THE FACE OF THESE DEVASTATING PUBLIC JOB LOSSES AND LIBRARY CUTS, HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR YOU.
COMING OUTTA MY OWN CRANIUM, A COMMERCIAL VACANCY PENALTY TO INCENTIVIZE ALL THOSE EMPTY STOREFRONTS TO FINALLY BE LEASE SAN FRANCISCO DID IT.
IT WOULD EARN SOME SWEET SALES TAX, BRING STREET VENDORS AT THE BEACH INTO THE FOLD TO ENCOURAGE MORE OFF SEASON BEACH ACTIVITY INSTEAD OF BEING FLATTERED ILLEGAL LIKE IT IS NOW.
THESE ARE JUST SOME ALL THANK YOU.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN NEELY.
I AM, UH, A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
I'M SORRY, IS THERE A MICROPHONE ON? SORRY.
I CAN, IS THAT BETTER? OKAY, JUST BRING IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
UM, I AM DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
I AM UNEMPLOYED AND I'M A STUDENT AT LBC IN LBCC IN THE LIBRARY TECHNICIAN PROGRAM.
I AM LOOKING AT GRADUATING THIS DECEMBER AND I AM FEARFUL OF THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
I FREQUENTLY USE LIBRARIES, UM, TO STUDY AND, AND USING THOSE RESOURCES AT THE LIBRARIES TO EXPLORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, AND I WAS HOPEFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, INVESTING IN LIBRARIES WOULD BE AN INVESTMENT IN ITS EMPLOYEES AND ECO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, EXCUSE ME, CAREER EXPANSION.
WHERE IS THAT? I'M NOT SEEING THAT.
UM, EMPLOYEES AREN'T JUST AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR CURRENT JOBS.
UM, THAT'S RISKING CURRENT, EXCUSE ME, FUTURE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND EMPLOYMENT.
IF WE CAN'T INVEST IN THAT, WHERE ARE WE GONNA GET THOSE EMPLOYEES WHEN WE DO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO OPEN THEM BACK UP AGAIN? UM, EXCUSE ME.
UH, ANOTHER UH, POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS, UM, A REDUCTION IN FUNDING, STAFFING AND HOURS AVAILABILITY.
UM, IN LONG BEACH IS INVESTING IN LOCAL RESIDENTS, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND CAREER EXPANSION.
THESE ARE REALLY A HARD AX TO FOLLOW.
UM, MY NAME IS JOAN POLANCO AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH MARINA BOAT OWNERS ASSOCIATION, WHICH ADVOCATES FOR THE 3 3300 SLIP HOLDERS IN MARINA ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.
THE MARINA IS THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL MARINA IN UNITED STATES AND IS ONE OF THE LONG BEACH'S GREATEST PUBLIC SUCCESS STORIES.
IT WILL BE ON DISPLAY TO THE GLOBAL AUDIENCE DURING THE OLYMPIC GAMES, MAKING THIS THE TIME TO INVEST IN, PROTECT AND ELEVATE TO A WORLD CLASS ASSET.
THE MARINA IS AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE
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DRAWING VOTERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE REGION, UM, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE.ALL SLIP HOLDERS CONTRIBUTE TO LONG BEACH SCHOOLS AND AMENITIES BY PAYING LONG LOS ANGELES COUNTY TA PROPERTY TAXES ON MARINA SLIPS AND OUR BOATS.
AND WHILE MAKING IT RELAT MAKING RELATIVELY FEW DEMANDS ON SERVICES.
UM, I, AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY I'M SURE A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR EVERYONE MADE EVEN HARDER BY THE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS.
AND MA'AM, YOUR TIME PRIORITIES AS YOU, AM I DONE? YES.
YOU CAN JUST WANTED TO THANK THAT TO THE CLERK, DISTRICT THREE AND THE MARINE BUREAU AND WE SUPPORT THE MARINA BUDGET.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR REX, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MANAGER MOCA.
I AM A 35 YEAR RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND A CONSTITUENT OF CD SEVEN FOR 22 YEARS.
I AM A BUSINESS OWNER AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER.
I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OUR LIBRARIES AND ASK THAT THERE BE NO CUTS TO FUNDING FOR OUR LIBRARIES.
OUR LIBRARIES PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.
CITIZENS WHO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE COMPLICATED CONTEMPORARY WORLD WITHOUT ACCESS TO FREE COMPUTERS AND HELPFUL STAFF WHO CAN HELP THEM.
THE PROPOSED CUTS TO THE LIBRARIES ARE A SMALL PERCENTAGE, HOWEVER, CUTS TO LIBRARY STAFF AND FACILITY HOURS WILL PROFOUNDLY IMPOVERISH OUR COMMUNITY AT A TIME WHEN OUR CITY IS TRYING TO GROW.
WE ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC AND BUILD UP OUR CITY.
AND AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE LOOKING TO WELCOME THE WORLD TO LONG BEACH.
IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CRIPPLE THESE ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES.
MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED, UGH,
THEY WILL DO DISPROPORTIONATE HARM.
LET'S FIND A WAY TO PRESERVE FUNDING TO THE LIBRARIES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I AM ANDREW CHAVEZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS FOUNDATION.
OUR GARDENS ARE MORE THAN BEAUTIFUL SPACES.
THEY'RE LIVING HISTORIC RESOURCES THAT REQUIRE SPECIALIZED CARE AT BOTH RANCHOS, THAT INCLUDES HISTORIC TREES LIKE OUR MORTON BAY FIGS AND LANDSCAPES THAT TELL LAYERED STORIES OF LONG BEACH HISTORY.
MAINTAINING THESE SPACES IS NOT LIKE STANDARD PARK MAINTENANCE.
IT TAKES HORTICULTURAL EXPERTISE, CAREFUL PLANNING, AND ONGOING STEWARDSHIP.
THESE LANDSCAPES LIKE OUR HISTORIC STRUCTURES, OUR CITY ASSETS, THOUGHTFUL CARE TODAY ENSURES FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN LEARN FROM AND ENJOY THESE PLACES.
THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND TO PARKS DIRECTOR STEVEN SCOTT FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND HONORABLE COUNCIL.
I AM BUSINESS REP AND RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO EVERYBODY, BUT WE WANT SOME ACTION.
I I WANT TO EMPHASIZE PARKS AND REC AND LIBRARY.
YOU HEARD AT THESE PROGRAMS, THEY'RE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEY PREVENT A MISBEHAVIOR, I'LL CALL IT BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF CRIME AND NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME ONE.
WE WANNA, WE WANNA PREVENT BAD BEHAVIOR BEFORE IT GETS TO PD.
'CAUSE GUESS WHAT? THAT'LL SAVE PD COSTS.
SO PLEASE WEIGH THESE PROGRAMS MORE HEAVILY.
PUT IT IN A PUBLIC SAFETY SPHERE AND THINK ABOUT THAT AS YOU'RE, AS YOU'RE MANAGING AND JUGGLING THIS, AND ALSO SCRUTINIZE YOUR MANAGERS.
YOUR MANAGERS ARE GIVING YOU RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDAS AND THEY DON'T OFTEN ALIGN WITH WHAT, WHAT YOUR VALUES ARE AND WHAT OUR VALUES ARE.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE A DEEPER DIVE OF WHAT'S PRESENTED TO YOU.
ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR COUNCIL.
AND UM, BUT I'M HERE TODAY AS A TRUSTEE OF THE IAM.
UM, 40 48% OF OUR MEMBERS ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND, UH, WE DO VALUE OUR LIBRARIES.
AND I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW THE LIBRARY HAS IMPACTED ME.
UH, RIGHT NOW I'M IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I'VE, MY KIDS HAVE GONE TO LIBRARY IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND THEY'VE GONE TO SCHOOL IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
SO DURING THE SUMMERS, UM, I SPENT MOST OF MY SUMMERS AT THE LIBRARY, AT THE PARK.
SO IT WAS AT MARK TWAIN LIBRARY.
AND THEN I WOULD GO EAT LUNCH WITH THE FREE LUNCH PROGRAM.
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THEY EVEN HAD LIKE THE SNACKS AT 10 30 AND THE SNACKS AGAIN AT 12, UH, TWO 30.SO, UM, BACK THEN BOOKS, BOOKS WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF BOOKS AT HOME.
SO I USED THE BOOKS OVER THERE AND, UM, IT KEPT ME OFF THE, IT KEPT ME OFF THE STREETS.
AND, UM, NOW THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED FOR THE KIDS TO KEEP 'EM OFF THE STREETS, TO KEEP 'EM ENGAGED.
UM, UM, MY, UH, GIVE YOU GIVE THE TIRE THAT I'VE BEEN, MY NAME IS MR. WALKER AND, UM, I'M, I LIVE BY MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY.
AND, UM, QUITE FRANKLY, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL LIBRARIES.
'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A PROBLEM THAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN AMERICA EVER SINCE THE INDIVIDUAL WHO I WOULD NOT GIVE CREDIT TO, IT FEELS LIKE AMERICA IS DEVOLVING INTO A COMBINATION OF MIKE JUDGE'S IDIOCRACY AND 1984 MINUS THE SATIRE OF THE FORMER AND THE, UH, SOCIAL COMMENTARY OF THE LATTER.
AND IT FEELS LIKE THESE WEIRDOS ARE AGAINST LIBRARIES.
WHAT'S THEIR BEEF AGAINST LIBRARIES.
MAYBE THEY'RE PROJECTING SOME KIND OF LITERACY PROBLEM OR SOMETHING, BUT THEY'RE WEIRDOS.
IF YOU'RE AGAINST LIBRARIES, IF ARE AWARE, WEIRDO, I DON'T CARE.
SO I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT LIBRARIES.
I'M, OF COURSE I GO TO MARCEL, UH, OBAMA LIBRARY AND THIS IS WHAT I'M DOING.
I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT LIBRARIANS AND LITERACY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR REGISTER AND MEMBER MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
CITY MANAGER, UM, TOM MOCA, JESSICA QUINTANA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CENTRO CHA, THE LARGEST LATINO SERVING AGENCY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
ALMOST 50% OF THE POPULATION HERE CUTTING THE LIBRARIES.
OUR PARKS, OUR CORE SERVICES THAT, THAT ARE REALLY, ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HIGH PRIORITY OF OUR CITY.
UM, WE, WE, WE SEE OVER, SINCE OUR ORGANIZATION BEING IN EXISTENCE IN LONG BEACH, WE'RE A ROOTED GRASSROOTS AGENCY.
SO WE DO COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION.
WE DO JOB TRAINING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND WE ARE OPERATORS OF THE NEW LATINO CULTURAL CENTER.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE, UM, PARKS AND RECREATION IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
BUT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE COURSE SERVICES OF LIBRARIES AND OUR PARKS AND RECREATION THAT HAVE CULTURALLY AFFIRMING PLACES AND SAFE SPACES AND RECREATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, STAY STANDING.
UM, WE GOTTA FIND THE MUD BUDGET TO DO THAT.
WE UNDERSTAND FEDERAL CUTS, WE'VE ENDURED THAT AS WELL TOO.
BUT AS A CITY SERVICE, PARKS, LIBRARIES, RECREATION ARE, ARE FIRE TIMES ALL COURSE SERVICES THAT THE NOT PROGRAMS SERVICES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR RICHARDSON AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M DEBORAH CASTRO, CHAIR OF RANCHO LOS ALAMEDAS FOUNDATION.
I WANNA THANK MAYOR RICHARDSON, CITY MANAGER TOM MONICA AND THE COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RANCHOS IN THE PROPOSED FY 27 BUDGET.
AT THE HEART OF THE RANCHOS ARE OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS AT RANCHO LOS ALAMEDAS ALONE.
WE HAVE 150 VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF HOURS EACH YEAR, THE EQUIVALENT OF APPROXIMATELY SEVEN FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
AND THEY WORK ALONGSIDE OUR DEDICATED STAFF TO WELCOME VISITORS, SUPPORT PROGRAMS, AND CARE FOR THESE EXTRAORDINARY PLACES.
RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS IS ALSO A 24 7 OPERATION.
OUR HORSES, GOATS, CHICKENS AND VISITING ANIMALS REQUIRE CARE EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, ALONG WITH OUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS, COLLECTIONS, AND GARDENS.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE 2028 OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPIC GAMES.
WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO WELCOME VISITORS AND HOST CORPORATE COMMUNITY EVENTS AS PART OF OUR OLYMPIC ACTIVITIES, SHOWCASING LONG BEACH'S HISTORY, LANDSCAPE AND HOSPITALITY.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR COUNCIL COREY ALLEN HERE ON FIRST ON BEHALF OF LISA DE SMITH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARTS COUNCIL, TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND WORK TOGETHER.
WE ARE ASKING IF YOU CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE YOUTH ART CONTEST, WHICH WAS A $50,000 ALLOCATION.
UM, AS YOU ARE DISCUSSING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THINGS TO CHANGE.
THAT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM FOR EMERGING ARTISTS AND WORKING YOUTH, UM, IN OUR CITY.
SECONDLY, AS A PARKS COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR A LOT OF THE RESTORATIONS THAT ARE IN YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT I HOPE YOU ALL HEAR A THROUGH LINE TONIGHT THAT WHAT IMPACTS OUR PARKS, IMPACTS OUR LIBRARIES, WHAT IMPACTS OUR LIBRARIES, IMPACTS OUR PARKS.
A CUT TO ONE IS A STRAIN ON THE OTHER.
THEY ARE INTERTWINED TOGETHER.
AND SO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT AS YOU WORK TO RESTORE SOME OF THESE THINGS, KNOW THAT THE CUTS TO OTHERS WILL ONLY FURTHER
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STRAIN THOSE, THOSE RESTORATIONS.AND SO YOU HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THOSE TWO TOGETHER, NOT SEPARATE, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SERVE AS THE AMBASSADORS THAT OUR PARKS AND OUR LIBRARIES ARE TO THE COMMUNITY, TO VISITORS, TO NONPROFITS THAT UTILIZE THOSE SERVICES.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL BRING THE DEPARTMENT HEADS UP SO WE CAN BEGIN Q AND A.
FIRST OF ALL, THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT.
THIS WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST TURNOUT SO FAR DURING THE BUDGET SEASON, UH, FOR THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS, PARKS AND LIBRARIES.
UH, SO TO OUR WORKERS, TO OUR PATRONS, OUR LIBRARIANS, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR COMING OUT AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS.
THE DECISIONS AREN'T, AREN'T FINAL, AREN'T MADE, BUT YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO TRULY FIND OUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE AND FORCE, YOU KNOW, CHOICES.
AND THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS.
AND SO THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IT STARTS OFF, THE MANAGER GOES THROUGH WITH THEIR DIRECTORS AND THEY SAY, HEY, THESE ARE THE CHOICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA PROPOSE.
THEN THE MAYOR GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND SAY, HEY, WE WANNA RESTORE THIS OR MAYBE FIX THAT.
BUT IT'S NOT IT, IT'S NOT GONNA SAVE EVERYTHING.
WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THAT'S WHEN THE COMMUNITY REALLY GETS TO TALK TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT WHATEVER ELSE MAY TAKE PLACE.
SO THIS IS A PART OF THE PROCESS.
UH, I, I ALSO, UH, THINK, UH, COREY, OUR COMMISSIONER, UH, NAILED IT.
THERE IS A THROUGH LINE, THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS AND THAT'S INTENTIONALLY WHY THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE IS A DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN PARKS AND LIBRARIES.
IT'S ABOUT HOW WE INVEST IN FAMILIES, OR HOW WE INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUTH, AND HOW WE PREVENT VIOLENCE FROM HAPPENING BEFORE IT BECOMES A A PROBLEM.
WE, WE'D RATHER INVEST IN OPPORTUNITY THAN INCARCERATION.
AND, AND BY PROVIDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, THAT'S HOW WE, UH, ENSURE WE HAVE SAFE COMMUNITIES.
SO THAT'S INTENTIONAL AND WE'RE A CITY WHO DOES CERTAINLY BELIEVE IN THAT.
SO WHEN IN THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS, AND, UH, DIRECTOR SCOTT, THANKS FOR HIGHLIGHTING IT.
THERE WAS A CLEAR THEME IN THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON PARKS.
UM, AND THE EMPHASIS WAS TO GO IN AND REALLY LOOK AT LIMITING ANY IMPACTS TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS. THAT'S WHY THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO SAVE THE FUNDING FOR THE BE SAFE PROGRAM, THE TEEN CENTER AT CHAVEZ PARK HOMELAND CULTURAL CENTER.
THEY'RE ALSO, UH, WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OUR RANCHOS AND PARTNERS OF PARKS.
SO IN AREAS WHERE, YOU KNOW, I WILL TELL YOU, WE DON'T INVEST ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN OUR, OUR RANCHOS, RIGHT? WE, LIKE, IF WE WERE NOT FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WORK WITH US TO RAISE MONEY EVERY YEAR, WE WOULD NOT BE IN THE SHAPE THAT IT'S IN.
SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND THAT HELPS US TO SAY, LET'S PRIORITIZE NOT CUTTING THEM 'CAUSE THEY ACTUALLY DESERVE MORE FUNDING.
I WOULD SAY THE SAME WITH THE NATURE CENTER.
BY STEPPING UP, THAT HELPS US TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, WE ARE LEVERAGING PRIVATE DOLLARS TO CONT KEEP THE NATURE CENTER OPEN LIBRARIES.
WE ARE SO PROUD THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
MANY CITIES CONTRACT THEIR LIBRARIES OR THEY HAVE NO LIBRARIES AT ALL.
AND, UH, IT'S OVER THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, MANY PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED UP AND BEEN ENGAGED IN ADVOCATING LI FOR THE LIBRARIES TO PROTECT OUR LIBRARIES.
AND THAT'S WHY THE YOUNG MAN FROM OBAMA LIBRARY SAID, IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT LIBRARIES, YOU'RE A WEIRDO.
'CAUSE WE LOVE LIBRARIES IN IN LONG BEACH.
AND, AND I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, I CAN REMEMBER, LIKE, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION IN TALKING ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, PILOTS WERE DONE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPANDED SERVICES IN THEIR DISTRICT.
I CAN REMEMBER NOT HAVING A LIBRARY IN THE DISTRICT.
I CAN REMEMBER PUSHING FOR THE MICHELLE OBAMA NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY JUST TO HAVE A LIBRARY BEFORE WE EVEN CAME UP WITH THE NAME MICHELLE OBAMA JUST HAVING A LIBRARY.
SO WE HAD TWO COUNCIL DISTRICTS REALLY PUSHED INTO THE NORTH BRANCH, WHICH I MEAN, IF ANYBODY REALLY REMEMBERS THE NORTH BRANCH, IT WAS INADEQUATE.
IT IT FOR 90,000 PEOPLE, A FIFTH OF CITY'S POPULATION WAS INADEQUATE.
SO WE PUSHED TO BUILD THE LARGEST, MOST MODERN NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD BRANCH IN THE CITY, AND WE DELIVERED IT.
AND SO IT, IT REALLY RESONATES WHEN WE HEAR LIBRARIANS AND PATRONS SAY, HEY, MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHANGED BECAUSE I'VE BEEN AT THAT LIBRARY.
SO THIS, THIS, SO THESE ARE CH CHOICES THE COUNCIL DOES NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO WANNA MAKE.
AND WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, TO PRESERVE THESE QUALITY SERVICES BECAUSE WE KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH PEOPLE COUNT ON THOSE SERVICES.
SO I ALSO KNOW BY MANAGING THESE DEPARTMENTS, WE HAD SOMETIMES HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES.
AND ONE THAT WILL, I WILL LIFT UP IS, UH, TOM, YOU GOT SOME HITS.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDAYA HAS GOT SOME HITS, GOT SOME HITS ABOUT THAT FENCE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, BASED ON THE REPORTS AND BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING,
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THAT WAS THE RIGHT CALL.BECAUSE LIBRARIES SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE FOR FAMILIES TO USE AND SHOULD BE SAFE.
AND WE ARE IN A GREAT CLIMATE.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND USE THAT TERRACE.
AND I CAN REMEMBER THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT TERRORIST IS, IS ACCESSIBLE.
SO THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA INVEST IN SHELTER.
WE'VE INCREASED OUR SHELTER CAPACITY BY 84%, BUT THE LIBRARY IS NOT A SHELTER.
AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE LIBRARIANS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE A HARD CALL AND MAKE A DECISION.
NO MATTER, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF DRAMA, BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT CALL.
SECOND THING, IT'S 10 YEARS SINCE OPENING THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY.
I'M HOPING THAT YOU'RE PLANNING SOMETHING BIG FOR THE 10 YEARS OF THE OBAMA LIBRARY.
THAT'S JUST A PERSONAL REQUEST FROM THE MAYOR
AND, AND, AND I WILL SAY I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER BACK THEN.
WE PUSHED TO GET THE FIRST LADY HERE.
AND YOU KNOW, I CAN REMEMBER, UH, WE HAD SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WEREN'T ON, ON BOARD WITH THE NAME AT THE TIME AND THE PRESS TELEGRAM PUT OUT A ARTICLE THAT SAID, DO NOT NAME THE, THE LIBRARY, THE MICHELLE OBAMA.
YOU GUYS REMEMBER THAT? DO NOT NAME THE LIBRARY.
'CAUSE SHE HAD NO CONNECTION TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT THEY COMPLETELY WERE MISSING, UH, THE WHOLE POINT.
LIKE, YOUNG PEOPLE HELPED NAME THAT LIBRARY.
EVERYTHING ELSE IN NORTH LONG BEACH WAS NAMED AFTER NATIONAL FIGURES OR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE COLIN POWELL, UH, GRANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SO IT, THERE'S A ALREADY A THEME OF NATIONAL FIGURES, BUT THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO TRY THAT AGAIN AND TRY TO GET THE FIRST LADY OUT HERE.
UH, I COULD, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LITTLE MORE JUICE NOW.
I MEAN, SHE'S NOT IN OFFICE ANYMORE.
I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER WHEN WE TRIED LAST TIME AND THE MAYOR NOW I'M HAPPY TO HELP.
SO WE SHOULD TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, THE OTHER THING, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM ON THE MONDAYS, LET'S BE CLEAR ON THIS.
UM, THERE'S A TOUGH CHOICE THAT THEY WERE GIVEN.
AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOU THINKING THROUGH PUBLICLY, UH, THE DECISION OF CLOSING DOWN AN UNDERPERFORMING BRANCH OR, OR GOING BACK TO, UM, FIVE DAYS CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE CITY.
BUT I THINK THAT WAS THE RIGHT CALL.
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO CLOSE ANY BRANCHES.
BUT THAT SAID, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO PRESERVE THOSE SERVICES AND FIGURE THAT OUT FOR THOSE MONDAYS NOW.
BUT I WILL WAG MY FINGER A BIT.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD CONSISTENTLY FIVE DAYS AND WE HAD JUST EXPANDED SOME BRANCHES AND WE BUILT THE DOWNTOWN BILLIE JEAN CANYON.
WE BUILT OBAMA, AND WE WERE AT FIVE DAYS.
AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER THIS STORY, BUT I REMEMBER THIS VIVIDLY.
COVID HAPPENED AND OUR REVENUE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AS A CITY.
AND WE WERE THROWN INTO CUT SCENARIOS, JUST LIKE THE NATIONAL POLITICS AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMIES INFECTING OUR BUDGET.
NOW, WE HAD A DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION AT, AT THE TIME THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS AT THE TIME, ALLOCATED DOLLARS TO HELP BAIL CITIES OUT BECAUSE THERE WAS A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO, EVERYONE KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH COVID.
AND WE WERE IN A MOMENT WHERE THE GOAL WAS TO PRIORITIZE SAVING WHAT WE HAD EXISTING JOBS LIKE PRESERVING THOSE SERVICES.
BUT THE CITY COUNCIL MADE A DECISION TO ADD A DAY IN A, IN A, IN NOT A GREAT FISCAL YEAR TO ADD MONDAY SERVICES.
AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY THAT'S A MIS THAT WAS A MISTAKE.
ADDING SERVICES WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A STRUCTURAL SURPLUS TO PAY FOR THOSE SERVICES OVER TIME MEANS WHEN THOSE FEDERAL MONIES GO AWAY, YOU NOW ARE FAITH CONFRONTED WITH A TAKEAWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE THESE FISCAL PRACTICES, THESE ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES THAT SAY DON'T ADD STRUCTURAL COSTS WITH ONE TIME FUNDING.
THIS IS A LONGSTANDING PRINCIPLE.
THIS IS LIKE, IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE TO DO SO BECAUSE IT LEADS TO AN UNSTABLE FISCAL SITUATION.
AND OUR RESIDENTS, OUR PATRONS AND OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE FISCAL STABILITY.
NOW, BACK IN 2023 WHEN THIS WAS ADDED, THE FIVE-YEAR PROJECTED DEFICIT BACK THEN WAS $91 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.
WE WERE BALANCING OUR BUDGET WITH ONE TIME FEDERAL DOLLARS.
AND IN, AND, AND, AND IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS WE HAD VACANCIES FROM THE GREAT RESIGNATION.
AND YOU LEVERAGE THOSE VACANCIES TO FILL THE GAP.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, IF, AND IF WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO CON PRESERVE THIS, LET'S JUST MAKE THIS A REMINDER THAT SOMETIMES TAKING THE ONE TIME DOLLARS TO GET A QUICK WIN IS G IS IT'S GONNA COME BACK ON YOU IN THE FUTURE.
AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SMARTER DECISIONS BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR EMPLOYEES DEPEND ON THIS.
SO IF WE SOLVE THIS, AND THIS IS A MESSAGE TO, TO LIBRARIANS, ADVOCATES LIKE WE WANT, WE SUPPORT OUR LIBRARIES, BUT THEY JUST SAID IT RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A UNION SHOP.
IT, WE, WE CAN'T DO THE STUFF HUNTINGTON BEACH IS DOING.
WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL WITH EVERYTHING WE INVEST IN BECAUSE IT COSTS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WE, WE, WE CARE ABOUT THESE SERVICES, BUT WE CAN'T USE ONE TIME DOLLARS GRANT, DOLLARS RESERVES TO MAKE STRUCTURAL, UH, TO MAKE STRUCTURAL ENHANCEMENTS
[02:00:01]
TO A BUDGET.WE HAVE TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL WITH THIS BUDGET.
SO THAT'S ME AS A MAYOR WAVING OUR FINGER.
IF WE FIGURE THIS OUT, THE COUNCIL FIGURES THIS OUT THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE VERY, VERY DISCIPLINED IN THE FUTURE.
BECAUSE ONCE WE GET THROUGH THIS DEFICIT, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, UH, NEXT YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE SHOW NEXT FOUR YEARS WE STRAW OUR FIRST SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL SURPLUS.
SINCE COVID, WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT.
AND THIS IS, AND, AND WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THIS PLAN AND GET THROUGH THIS YEAR, BUT WE CAN'T BLOW IT.
THIS IS WHAT, THIS IS THE TYPE OF STABILITY THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR WORKERS DESERVE.
SO FORGIVE ME FOR WAGGING MY FINGER A BIT, BUT WE PUT OURSELVES IN THIS SITUATION AS A CITY AND WE SHOULD JUST NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
ALRIGHT, THAT SAID, LET'S, UH, LET'S GET TO IT.
UM, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE A LIST OF COUNCIL MEMBERS TEED UP.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH ACTUALLY COUNCIL MEMBER X.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, UM, FRAMING, UM, THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT, UH, HISTORICALLY, UH, THE, OUR OUR BUDGET CONDITIONS, THE DECISIONS IN WHICH HAVE LED US HERE, UM, AND THEN US HAVE A CONVERSATION HOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD.
UH, SO, UH, THANK YOU TO, UH, BOTH OUR PARKS DIRECTOR AND OUR, OUR LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE, RIGHT? SORRY, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION, MARINE AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
UM, I'M GONNA START WITH YOU, UH, UH, DIRECTOR SCOTT.
UM, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE DISCUSSED THE FISCAL YEAR 27, 20 27 BUDGET, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU, UH, YOU CONTINUE TO BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT RIGHT, ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING HERE WITH OUR BUDGET.
UM, AND REALLY I THINK DOING A GOOD JOB OF PRIORITIZING SERVICES, THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE CAN, I DON'T WANNA SAY THOUGHTFULLY, BUT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO, TO TRIM, RIGHT? IN ORDER TO, TO MEET THOSE, THOSE, UM, THOSE FUNDING REDUCTION TARGETS, RIGHT? AND IT'S A HARD DECISION TO MAKE, BUT I THINK I THANK YOU FOR BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT AND PRESENTING YOUR RATIONALE, UH, AROUND THE, AROUND THOSE DECISIONS.
UM, I KNOW THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REDUCTIONS WE'RE PROPOSING FOR PRM.
AGAIN, IT'S NEVER EASY TO FIND SAVINGS WHEN EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND GOES DIRECTLY TOWARDS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, BUT TO UNDERSTAND WHY THESE CUTS ARE STRUCTURED IN THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE CITY AT THE LARGEST CITYWIDE PICTURE, WHICH IS WHAT THE MAYOR JUST SHARED, RIGHT? WE, YOU KNOW, TO CLOSE OUR STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, ALL DEPARTMENTS WERE ISSUED THAT SAME 7% SAVINGS, RIGHT? UM, AND BY ADOPTING THAT SHARED RESPONSIBILITY MODEL ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY, UM, WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO PROTECT THE CORE PROGRAMS THAT ARE, UM, UH, THAT OUR RESIDENTS DEPEND ON.
SO, YOU KNOW, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO JUST UPLIFT THAT EVEN IN, UH, BUDGET, UM, YOU KNOW, BUDGETS UNDER FISCAL CONSTRAINTS LIKE OURS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE STILL NEVER STOPPED INVESTING, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR PARKS, IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, RIGHT? SO WHILE WE'RE SEEING REDUCTIONS SOMEWHERE, WE'RE ALSO SEEING INVESTMENTS OTHER PLACES.
AND SO I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THOSE THAT I NOTICED, UM, IN THE BUDGET.
UM, SO ONE WAS THE $10,000 FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES ASSOCIATION TO CONTINUE OUR SENIOR MEAL PROGRAM.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, WE HAVE A SENIOR PROGRAM AT THE, AT HOUGHTON PARK.
I'VE GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND HANG OUT WITH OUR OLDER ADULTS THERE AND KNOW HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATE, UM, THE INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT, UH, INTO THEIR PROGRAMMING AND OFFERING THOSE FREE AND LOW COST MEALS, UM, TO, TO OUR OLDER ADULTS AND SENIORS.
UM, THE $325,000 IN INVESTMENTS FOR THE ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP SERVICES IN OUR PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, RIGHT? AS WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT MAKING, YOU KNOW, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ACCESSIBLE, UM, AND AVAILABLE TO THE, TO THE WHOLE PUBLIC.
AND THEN SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR NORTH LONG BEACH AND CD NINE, THE MILLION DOLLARS OF MEASURE A DOLLARS SET ASIDE FOR OUR HOUGHTON PARK SPORTS COMPLEX, RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS IN TOTALITY, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE STILL, WE'RE STILL INVESTING, RIGHT? AND STILL TRYING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY, UM, AND ENGAGEMENT, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF, LIKE, I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU, UM, DIRECTOR SCOTT.
UM, SO ONE WAS, UH, WAS RELATED TO THE, UM, LA COUNTY REGIONAL PARK AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT.
SO THE BUDGET NOTES THAT THE SHIFTING MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR COMPLETED MEASURE A PROJECTS, UM, TO THE LA COUNTY REGIONAL PARK AND OPEN DISTRICT.
AND SO IT SAYS THE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING PROGRAM WILL SAVE THE GENERAL FUND ABOUT $250,000.
UM, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT, UM, HOW THAT WORKS AND HOW WE UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS, AND THEN HOW THEY'RE ALLOCATED, UM, PRIOR TO THE SHIFT? YES.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
SO THE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMPLETED PROJECTS THAT WERE FUNDED BY COUNTY MEASURE A.
SO NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH CITY, UH, MEASURE A FUNDS AND RECALL EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE, UH, ALLOCATED CLOSE TO $17 MILLION WORTH OF ACCUMULATED, UH, MEASURE A FUNDS FOR PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY.
AS THOSE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETE, WE CAN THEN TAP INTO THIS MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING DOLLARS TO HELP US PROVIDE THE MAINTENANCE AT THOSE COMPLETED, UH, PARK PROJECT
[02:05:01]
LOCATIONS, WHICH WILL SAVE US, IT'S REALLY COST AVOIDANCE FROM HAVING TO, UH, INVEST ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR THE ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE NEEDS.AND THEN CAN YOU GIVE US A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF PARK PROJECTS IN THE CITY THAT FALL UNDERNEATH THAT FUNDING MODEL? YEAH, AND SO IF YOU REMEMBER THE, THE LIST FROM, UH, THIS PAST MAY WHEN WE BROUGHT IT FORWARD, THERE WERE, THERE WERE PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY.
SOME OF THEM WERE, UM, UH, PLAYGROUND PROJECTS.
WE HAD A DOG PARK IDENTIFIED THE NEW POOL, UH, FOR, UM, FOR BOTH, UH, THE BELMONT POOL AND THE RAMONA PARK, UH, FUTURE POOL OPPORTUNITY.
THOSE WERE ALL PROJECTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED TO BE FUNDED BY, UH, COUNTY MEASURE A FUNDS.
AND THOSE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR, UH, USE OF THE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING DOLLARS.
UM, ACTUALLY, AND I THINK I'M LOOKING AT THE REST OF MY QUESTIONS, AND I THINK YOU ANSWERED ALL THE REST OF MY QUESTIONS, ACTUALLY, AS PART OF YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, SO, UM, I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO OUR WONDERFUL DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE.
UM, AND AGAIN, UH, KATHY, YOU DID NOT HAVE A, UH, AN EASY, UM, SET OF DECISIONS TO MAKE, RIGHT? AND WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE, UM, WITH, YOU KNOW, A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES AND SOLUTIONS TO, UM, WHAT WE'RE WE, UH, WHAT WE'RE ENCOUNTERING IN OUR, OUR LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE.
AND SO, UM, BUT JUST KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I SEE YOU, I SEE THE WORK, I SEE, YOU KNOW, I GO TO THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? I, I KNOW THE WORK OF OUR LIBRARIANS, HOW DEDICATED THEY ARE.
UM, MY KIDS GO THERE, RIGHT? AND HANG OUT WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE CHILDREN, OUR LIBRARIANS IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTIONS, RIGHT? AND SO I JUST REALLY, I JUST WANNA SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF OUR LIBRARIES, OUR LIBRARIANS, AND JUST THE VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES, UM, THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE, RIGHT? WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR LIBRARIANS, WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT FOLKS THAT, THAT CHECK OUT BOOKS, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FRONTLINE COMMUNITY SERVICE, UM, MEMBERS, RIGHT? THAT ARE ASSISTING FAMILY, SENIORS AND STUDENTS.
YOU KNOW, IT MEANS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE, UH, BRINGING IN THEIR BOOKS, RIGHT? THEY'RE BEING SHELVED, AND THEN SOMEBODY IS COMING AND BEING ABLE TO PICK UP THAT BOOK, RIGHT? YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, WAS IT CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS? UM, AND ALL
SO IT TAKES LONGER FOR A RETURN BOOK TO END UP IN THE HANDS OF ANOTHER PATRON.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT MEANS REDUCED REFERENCE DESK COVERAGE DURING PEAK HOURS, RIGHT? SO PEOPLE ARE, ARE WAITING LONGER FOR SPECIALIZED RESEARCH, YOU KNOW, DIGITAL, DIGITAL LITERACY SUPPORT.
UM, AND SO, UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S, THAT THOSE ARE HARD DECISIONS, UM, TO MAKE.
UM, AND THEN I DO WANNA LIFT UP, AND YOU MENTIONED THIS IN YOUR PRESENTATION, UM, AROUND THE LOSS OF THAT CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY GRANT SUPPORTING OUR ENGLISH AND SECOND LANGUAGE, UM, UH, PROGRAM.
UH, WHICH IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THAT FUNDING EXPIRED.
UM, I DO WANNA LIFT UP THE FACT THAT, UH, OUR MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY IS ALSO LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO OUR LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITY.
UM, AND SO ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF PARTNERING WITH A LOT OF OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS, UM, IS THAT THEY OFFER THE, UH, PROGRAMMING AS WELL.
AND SO I DO WANNA LET PEOPLE KNOW, UM, THAT WE HAVE, UH, ESL CLASSES THROUGH, UH, LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
WE HAVE ESL CLASSES THAT ARE THROUGH THE HIGHER EDUCATION, UM, NORTH LONG BEACH HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITY.
SO I WANT TO ASSURE PEOPLE, UM, THAT WE AS A, AS A, AS A CITY FAMILY, RIGHT, ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE UPLIFTING THAT AND WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROGRAMMING, THOSE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, UM, STILL EXIST.
UH, I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UM, UH, UH, UH, DIRECTOR DE LEONE.
UH, SO ONE WAS, UM, WAS AROUND THE, UM, THE ONE CITY HALL PROGRAM.
SO, UM, THIS IS A PROGRAM, IT'S A SYSTEM THAT USES A CENTRAL HUB FOR THOSE OF WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR FOR ACCESSING ALL CITY SERVICES, INCLUDING THE LIBRARY.
UM, AND IN THE BUDGET BOOK, IT'S BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
UM, AND SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, UM, WILL THE CITYWIDE OPERATORS, AND SO I WAS WONDERING, AS WE'RE TRANSITIONING INTO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, UH, WILL CITYWIDE OPERATORS RECEIVE THAT DEDICATED AND SAME SPECIALIZED TRAINING? UM, SO SPECIFICALLY, WILL THIS TRAINING ENSURE THAT THEY'RE FULLY EQUIPPED TO HANDLE, UH, THE COMPLEX INQUIRIES RELATED TO THE LIBRARY ACCOUNTS, DATABASES, ET CETERA? UM, BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, STAFFING, POTENTIAL STAFFING REDUCTIONS, UH, OTHER WAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE ACCESSING OUR SERVICES AND GETTING THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ARE STILL THERE.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, REALLY UPLIFTING THE WORK THAT WE DO, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO, UM, WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS THE, UH, LIBRARY CLERK THAT WAS BASED IN THE MAIN LIBRARY, UM, RUNNING WHAT WE CALL OUR CITY SOURCE PROGRAM.
SO CITY SOURCE IS, UM, IF YOU RECALL, IN THE OLD CITY HALL, THERE USED TO BE A RECEPTION DESK.
AND, UM, THOSE STAFF MEMBERS WERE ACTUALLY, UH, I DON'T WANNA MISSPEAK, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE LIBRARY CLERKS.
AND WHAT THEY DID IS THEY ACTED AS BASICALLY THE RECEPTIONIST FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
[02:10:01]
YOU CALL THE CITY LINE, IT'S ACTUALLY, YOU THINK YOU'RE CALLING CITY HALL, BUT REALLY WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING NOW IS ACTUALLY CALLING BILLIE JEAN KING MAIN LIBRARY.AND SO THAT PHONE NUMBER GOES TO OUR LIBRARY CLERK THAT'S DEDICATED AND TRAINED.
UM, WE HAVE BACKFILL FOR HER AND, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND SO BASICALLY WHAT IT IS, IT'S FUNDING THAT WE GOT FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT TO FUND THAT, UM, PARTICULAR POSITION.
AND SO, UM, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT DOING IS SORT OF, UH, RETHINKING HOW THAT HAPPENS, RIGHT? AND, AND REALLY JUST SORT OF LIKE, IS THERE A WAY TO CHANGE HOW WE DELIVER THAT SERVICE AS A CITY? AND SO I AM UNSURE OF WHAT T'S PLAN IS TO, UH, REPLACE THAT SERVICE, BUT I COULD IMAGINE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME COMMUNICATION BETWEEN US JUST IN TERMS OF THE TRAINING THAT WE OFFER TO OUR STAFF AND WHAT OUR STAFF WAS TRAINED TO DO.
AND SO TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S LIKE NOT A, A GAP THERE IN SERVICE.
AND ONE THING THAT HAS CHANGED IS BACK THEN WE NEVER HAD A, UM, CALL CENTER WHERE PEOPLE COULD CALL.
UM, AND SO THAT WAS THE ONE NUMBER THAT IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHO ELSE TO CALL, YOU WOULD CALL THAT NUMBER.
UH, WE HAVE SINCE INVESTED IN, UH, A ONE CALL CITY HALL TYPE, UM, FORMAT WHERE YOU CAN CALL INTO A NUMBER AND IT HELPS ROUTE YOU, THE TECHNOLOGY ROUTES YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
SO, UM, THAT'S THE 5, 7, 0, 500 OR 5,000 NUMBER.
AND SO, UM, WE HAVE SEEN A BIG DROP OFF IN THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL TAKES, UH, BECAUSE OF THAT SYSTEM.
AND THEN, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, CAPTURE SOME OF THOSE CALLS IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE THAT CURRENTLY TAKES LOTS AND LOTS OF CALLS EVERY DAY.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST THING I JUST WANNA TO, TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, AND I SAW THIS AS PART OF THE BUDGET AS WELL, UM, IS I THINK A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THINK, UH, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS LOOK AT OUR, OUR BUDGET YEAR TO YEAR, RIGHT? AND SOMETHING THAT I REALLY NOTICED THAT WAS STUCK TO ME WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE, THE LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE BUDGET IS THAT FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, YOUR BUDGET HAS ALMOST ESSENTIALLY STAYED THE SAME, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE LOSING A NUMBER OF POSITIONS, RIGHT? AND I THINK THAT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT WE AS A CITY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A UNION TOWN, WE WANT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, PAY PEOPLE A LIVING WAGE, BUT WAGES ARE, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR, THAT'S OUR'S, OUR BUSINESS EXPENDITURE, RIGHT? AND SO AS WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, INCREASING PEOPLE'S WAGES, ET CETERA, OVER YEAR, THOSE, THOSE INFLATIONARY, UM, IMPACTS, UH, AFFECT US ALL RIGHT? AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST YEAR AND YOU LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, IT'S ESSENTIALLY FLAT.
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE LOSING, WE'RE LOSING STAFFING AND I'S LIKE, THAT'S THE REALITY WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OUR CITY BUDGET.
AND SO, AGAIN, UM, AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, DIRECTOR DEION.
AGAIN, I DON'T ENVY YOUR POSITION, UM, THAT WE ARE IN.
I DON'T ENVY ANY OF OUR POSITIONS, BUT I THANK YOU FOR BEING THOUGHTFUL AGAIN, AND FOR ALSO PRESENTING THE DIFFERENT, UM, SOLUTIONS, RIGHT, THAT YOU CONSIDERED, UM, AND WHY YOU CHOSE THE ONE THAT YOU DID.
COUNCIL MEMBER KERR, UH, YES, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
UH, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCOTT AND DIRECTOR DELEON FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
UM, THANK ALL OF YOU AS WELL FOR COMING OUT AGAIN TO SHARE.
SO WEEK AFTER WEEK, WE HAVE FOLKS COMING AND TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO US.
AND WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE IS THAT EVERYTHING IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MOST PEOPLE, UM, WHICH MAKES THAT EVEN HARDER.
SO I WANNA THANK, UH, BOTH OF YOU FOR, UM, GIVING US PRESENTATIONS WITH, UM, THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IN MIND, BALANCED BY THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU BOTH BRING TO THE POSITIONS AND WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE TRUE ABOUT YOUR DEPARTMENT AND YOUR STAFF.
UM, I SAID IT AT THE FIRST BUDGET HEARING, I WILL REITERATE.
IT WAS SAID BY MANY PEOPLE TODAY.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN IN THIS PROCESS IS THE OVERLAPPING IMPACT THAT, THAT EACH DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET WILL HAVE ON VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
AND THAT AS WE TALK ABOUT STANDALONE BUDGETS, WE CAN LOSE SIGHT OF HOW THEY OVERLAP AND PROVIDE CORE SERVICES FOR REALLY, UM, IMPORTANT POPULATIONS, INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION.
UM, THERE'S A THROUGH LINE, NOT JUST OF TONIGHT, BUT OF LAST WEEK, WE SAW IT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE WAY THAT ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS INTERACT.
SO ONE THING I AM PROUD OF, OF THIS CITY IS THE WAY THAT WE KNOW ALL OF YOU AS DIRECTORS WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE COMPLIMENTARY AND SUPPORTING SERVICES AND SORT OF HAVING EACH OTHER'S BACK IN DIFFERENT SPACES.
UM, WHICH AGAIN, DOESN'T MAKE THIS ANY EASIER, UH, FOR ANY OF US.
UM, SO I'LL START WITH, UH, DIRECTOR SCOTT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU AND I JUST HAD A BRIEFING ON MONDAY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOROUGH PRESENTATION THAT ANSWERED MANY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE.
I THINK THE OTHER THING IS, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED POTENTIALLY, UM, BUT IT IS THE SPACES THAT PEOPLE ARE UTILIZING IN NEW WAYS BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN.
AS PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO WORRY ABOUT MONEY AS CONTINUE AS INFLATION CONTINUES TO HIT EVERY SINGLE FAMILY, WE FIND MORE FAMILIES USING PARKS FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND FOR GATHERINGS AND FAMILY REUNIONS, ALL OF WHICH HAPPENED AT ONE SINGLE PARK IN OUR DISTRICT OVER THE WEEKEND.
[02:15:01]
YOUR CONCERN ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THESE SERVICES, UM, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THAT WITHIN THE BEST OF OUR BUDGET ABILITY.
YOU ACTUALLY ANSWERED MY ONLY QUESTION.
I WAS GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NATURE CENTER.
I WANT TO THANK PARTNERS OF PARKS, UH, FOR STEPPING UP TO, UH, DISCUSS THAT.
AND WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE WEEKS BEFORE THINGS SETTLE.
I DO WANNA SHOUT OUT ALL OF THE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE ROOM.
UM, DIRECTOR SCOTT, YOU PUT IT IN YOURS AS WELL AS DIRECTOR DE LEON.
WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TODAY ARE PEOPLE WHO NOT ONLY CARE DEEPLY, UM, POTENTIALLY WORK AT OR VOLUNTEER AT.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO RAISE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMMING AND BOTH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS.
AND I WANT TO THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO, WHETHER, UM, WE TALK ABOUT ANIMAL CARE AND OLBA AND CANINE KISMET AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE KEEPING DOGS AND CATS HEALTHY AND ALIVE TO LIBRARY FOUNDATION AND FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY WHO ARE DOING ACTIVE WORK EVERY DAY, UM, TO FUNDRAISE, UH, FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
SO A SPECIAL, UM, RECOGNITION FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, UM, WHO ARE STEPPING UP TO, UH, TO SUPPORT IN EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU, DIRECTOR SCOTT, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UH, DIRECTOR DE LEON, THANK YOU, UH, FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO EVERY DAY.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT BEFORE THIS MEETING, I WAS OVER AT BILLIE JEAN KING, UM, IN THE SPECIAL SELECTION SPECIAL SECTION ON THE FIRST FLOOR, DOING RESEARCH ON AN ITEM THAT MY OFFICE IS WORKING ON.
AND I HAD TREMENDOUS HELP AND SUPPORT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND RESOURCES FROM THE 1940S TO GET US INFORMATION.
AND SO WE TALK ABOUT LIBRARIES AND ALL THAT WE DO.
UM, I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THE WAY THAT YOU WALKED US THROUGH YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS ON ALL OF THE OPTIONS YOU HAD IN FRONT OF YOU AND WHY YOU CHOSE THESE PARTICULAR, UM, CUTS OR PROPOSED CUTS IN LIGHT OF THE LARGER SYSTEM.
UM, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE US GO TO A REGIONAL SYSTEM.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE US CUT TWO LIBRARIES COMPLETELY, 'CAUSE WHICH ONES WOULD THEY BE? THAT KIND OF CONVERSATION.
SO, UM, THAT YOU CAME TO US WITH WHAT YOU FEEL IS THE BEST OF REALLY AWFUL CHOICES THAT SIT IN FRONT OF YOU AND EVERY DEPARTMENT.
I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL, UM, AS A LIBRARY USER, ACTIVE LIBRARY USER AND LEVER.
UM, I DO WANNA THANK YOU SPECIFICALLY FOR TALKING ABOUT THE VALUE OF MATERIALS WITHIN THE COLLECTION AND THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE.
RICK ODI WAS TALKING ABOUT RESEARCH AND PEOPLE HAVING UP TO DATE MATERIALS AT THEIR FINGERTIPS AS A CORE LIBRARY SERVICE.
WE KNOW OTHER CITIES HAVE LOOKED AT MAYBE NOT CONTINUING TO FUND MATERIALS, AND THAT HAS NOT WORKED OUT WELL, UM, THE FOLLOWING YEAR BECAUSE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WEREN'T MATERIALS THE NEXT YEAR EITHER.
AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE COME TO YOU ASKING FOR, AS SOMEBODY SAID, THE LATEST AND GREATEST AND NEWEST, UM, EDITION.
AND THAT THE MATERIALS BUDGET ISN'T JUST FOR WHAT'S NEW, IT IS FOR REPLACING WHAT GETS WORN OUT.
UM, I AM GLAD THAT OUR CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS DAYS ARE OVER IN OUR HOUSE, UH, AS THOSE WERE RECYCLED.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY CHILDREN, UM, CHECK OUT A SINGULAR BOOK.
ONE OF THOSE BOOKS PROBABLY GETS TAKEN OUT BY HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN A YEAR, AND SOMETIMES KIDS AREN'T THAT GREAT AND SOMETIMES THEY FALL APART.
AND THE ABILITY TO REPLACE ITEMS LIKE THAT IS REALLY CRITICAL TO THE WORK AS WELL.
UM, SO I, AS YOU KNOW, I HAD AN ITEM WITH BUDGET OVERSIGHT AND I APPRECIATE THEM WALKING US THROUGH WHY WE CAN AND CAN'T USE CERTAIN FUNDINGS FOR DIFFERENT, UM, POSITIONS OR FUNDING SOURCES.
I DID WANT TO GO BACK, I'M NOT PICKING ON THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET, UM, BUT I, I AM A LITTLE BIT, I DO WANNA GO BACK TO PAGE 114 OF THE BUDGET BOOK WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE SAP FUNDS OF $150,000 FOR MARKETING.
I'M WONDERING, AND THIS IS A QUESTION MAYBE THE CITY MANAGER CAN ADDRESS OR YOU CAN BRING BACK IN A MEMO, WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS CRITICAL AND THAT, UH, MARKETING IS IMPORTANT FOR THAT WORK.
UM, BUT OF THAT $150,000, IF WE WERE TO SAY TAKE A PORTION OF IT, LIKE 75,000, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WITHIN THAT SAME GROUP FUND IS OUR CULTURAL AFFAIRS MATERIAL LINE ITEM OF $50,000.
SO WONDERING IF IN ADDITION TO THAT $50,000, IF WE LOOKED AT TAKING 75 OR A HUNDRED HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THAT OTHER LINE ITEM AND MOVING IT INTO THAT BUDGET WITH THE EXPLICIT USE FOR CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, NOT PROGRAMMING, BUT CULTURAL EV YOU KNOW, WORK AND EVENTS AT EVENTS, NOT POSITIONS AT OUR BRANCHES.
AND SO WE KNOW THAT IF WE GO TO A FIVE DAYS, FIVE DAYS ACROSS, THAT MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE WORKING THOSE FIVE DAYS ARE GONNA BE DOING EVEN MORE THINGS.
AND THAT POTENTIALLY TAKING EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY AND MOVING IT OVER TO SUPPORT CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, WHICH WE KNOW THE LIBRARIES HAVE DONE FOR GENERATIONS AND DECADES, UM, CAN BE AN ENHANCEMENT.
[02:20:01]
ASK THAT THE, THE CITY MANAGER AND THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CONSIDER THAT, UM, ON PAGE 115 AND 114.AND I KNOW WE'RE HAVING LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND, AND ARE THERE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, UH, CITY MANAGER, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
AND I THINK COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT SOME OF THIS.
UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION, UH, TO BENEFIT, UH, BOTH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS.
NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER THRASH.
UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, UH, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR HAVING THIS SPECIAL MEETING, UM, AND TO OUR PUBLIC FOR BEING SO ROBUST AND COMING OUT TODAY, UH, TO PATRONS, TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT IAM FOR SHOWING UP ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES.
UM, JUST VERY, VERY HEARTFELT AND A A STRONG SENSE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN COMMUNITY BASED ON EVEN THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE HERE TODAY, UM, THAT IT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT, UM, TO OUR STAFF, UM, THAT'S HERE TODAY, BOTH OF OUR DIRECTORS WHO HAVE, UH, PRESENTED, UH, YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW, UH, FAMOUS AND IMPORTANT YOU'D BE, UH, FOR TODAY'S MEETING.
UM, BUT THIS IS QUITE A HIGHLIGHT, UM, TO OUR BUDGET CYCLE AS WE GO THROUGH FOR 2027.
SO I'M GOING TO START WITH, UM, DIRECTOR SCOTT.
UM, AND JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, THE DECADES PLUS OF EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'VE HAD WITH OUR CITY, THE 3000 ACRES OF LAND THAT YOU OVERSEE, UM, THE 50,000 MEALS THAT YOU'VE SERVED TO BOTH OUR YOUTH AS WELL AS OUR SENIORS AND COMMUNITY, UM, AND OTHER INCREDIBLE ENGAGEMENT EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE AT OUR PARKS.
UM, THESE, AS YOU KNOW, WITH OUR BRIEFINGS, UH, I DO MY OWN PARK AUDITS, GO OUT THERE AND TELL YOU, HEY, HERE'S WHERE WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, UM, AND ASSISTANCE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THE COMMUNITY'S LOVING A PARK IN A CERTAIN WAY, UM, THAT NEEDS, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND YOU ALWAYS COMING THROUGH.
AND I APPRECIATE, UM, THAT, SO MY QUESTIONS TODAY, UM, CENTER ON ISSUES RELATED TO EQUITY AS WE CONSIDER, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CUTS THAT WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE, UM, AND THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, UM, AS A COUNCIL THAT WE'LL HAVE TO CONSIDER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS STRUCK ME IS THAT I ASKED FOR AN ANALYSIS BY OUR HR DIRECTOR EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT CAME BACK, UM, IN A MEMO AND IT SHOWED THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR, UM, TENDS TO HIRE MORE RESIDENTS FROM 9 0 8 0 5 THAN SOME OF THE OTHER DIVISIONS.
AND THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE ENTRY LEVEL OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR CITY, WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND THE WAY THAT YOU'VE DESCRIBED SOME OF THE, UM, CUTS THAT MAY HAPPEN TO THIS DEPARTMENT, I THINK ARE GOING TO HAVE ACUTE EFFECT ON THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I REPRESENT AS A RESULT.
UM, I REALLY AM, UH, ASKING HERE THAT WE CONSIDER MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR LB WIN TO SPECIALIZE IN THE KINDS OF WORKERS THAT WE TEND TO HIRE WITHIN YOUR DIVISION.
IF FOR SOME REASON THEY NO LONGER HAVE POSITIONS WITHIN OUR CITY, SO MAKING SURE THAT UNDERSTANDING THEIR EXPERTISE AROUND YOUTH, AROUND THE, UH, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, UM, AND OTHER AREAS THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON WITH, UH, YOUR DEPARTMENT, THAT THAT LB WIN, UH, OFFICER HAS A CHANCE TO CONNECT THEM TO OTHER RESOURCES WITH SPECIAL CONSIDERATION TO HOW THOSE SKILL SETS CAN BE USED IN THE MARKETPLACE, UM, GOING FORWARD.
SO I'M ASKING YOU AND IMPLORING YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
THEN, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THINKING ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THAT RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING REDUCTION, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR.
I WAS SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE REDUCTION IN SERVICES AT SHEARER PARK, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE FEW PLACES THAT'S NEAREST OUR PUBLIC HOUSING FACILITY THAT'S HERE IN THE CITY THAT OFFERS FREE AND LOW COST SUPPORT TO OUR FAMILIES AND TO OUR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS WE CONSIDER PROGRAMMING, UM, REDUCTIONS THAT, UM, THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT MOST HEAVILY RELY ON FREE AND REDUCED ACCESS TO RESOURCES WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT.
ANY COMMENT THERE, DIRECTOR SCOTT? UH, WELL, NO, THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND, AND CERTAINLY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS OF IMPORTANCE TO US AND OF CONCERN TO US AND, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE THINK ABOUT AS WE EVALUATE SOME OF OUR BUDGET PROPOSALS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS THINK ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO BE HARMED BY THIS CHANGE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO DO,
[02:25:01]
UH, THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, AND CERTAINLY WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.AND I APPRECIATE YOU ABSOLUTELY LIFTING THAT UP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR SCOTT.
THERE WERE SEVERAL IDEAS THAT WERE FLOATED HERE THIS EVENING FROM AMONG THE PUBLIC, EVEN AMONG MY COLLEAGUES, UM, AND, UH, DIRECTOR KATHY AS WELL, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GONNA RAISE OTHER REVENUE.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I CERTAINLY WOULD ENCOURAGE, UM, DIRECTOR SCOTT TO CONSIDER IS WE HAVE THE FACILITIES AND BASED ON THE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BUDGETS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE FACILITIES.
I'D LOVE TO SEE US CONSIDER A CALL FOR PARTNERS, UM, AND CALL FOR PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE ARE ENCOURAGING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO MIGHT, COULD USE OUR PARKS TO BE ABLE TO DO SO IN SPACES AND PLACES WHERE WE HAVE HAD REDUCTION IN SERVICES AS A WAY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE UP FOR, UM, SOME OF THAT.
I KNOW THIS PAST SUMMER, FOR EXAMPLE, MY CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN SOME OF THE SUMMER CAMPS, AND WITH SOME OF THE THIRD PARTY PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE, WE WERE ABLE TO EXTEND, UM, OUR SERVICES WITHIN OUR PARK.
SO A ONE, A CALL FOR PARTNERSHIPS I THINK WOULD BE AN INTERESTING WAY TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITY.
YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT CLEAN, SAFE GREEN SPACES WITH OUR PARKS, UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE STRUCTURAL FUNDING THAT'S BEEN SET ASIDE FOR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
UM, BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, IF PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN OUR PARKS, THEY WILL NOT USE OUR PARKS.
UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, I NO, NO NEED TO ANSWER A QUESTION, BUT, UM, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING HOW DO WE MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T REOCCUPY THE SPACE IN OUR PARKS? WHAT'S OUR OUTREACH STRATEGY? SO I'M SURE YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, TO TRY AND IDENTIFY WAYS TO MANAGE THAT.
THEN I WAS VERY, VERY PLEASED TO HEAR ABOUT THE LA COUNTY MEASURE MEASURE A MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE DOLLARS, UM, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE 51ST STREET GREEN BELT IN OUR DISTRICT, UM, AND WONDERING, MY GOD, HOW WILL WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS MAINTAINED? SO TELL ME, IS THAT ON THE LIST OF POTENTIAL, UM, PARKS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THAT RESOURCE? YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE 51ST STREET GREENBELT.
IF IT DID IN FACT, UH, INCLUDE LA COUNTY MEASURE A, THEN YES, IT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING DOLLARS.
UM, AND THEN I THINK THAT I AM GOING TO CLOSE OUT MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU, DIRECTOR SCOTT.
UM, MR. MAYOR, I KNOW I'M PAST MY TIME AND WELL, I CAN QUEUE UP AGAIN OR I CAN CONTINUE AS MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE, AND NO, JUST TAKE A FEW MORE MINUTES AND KNOCK IT OUT.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S BEEN AROUND THE 10 MINUTE MARK.
UM, SO DIRECTOR KATHY DE LEON, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
YOU ARE QUITE A GEM FOR OUR CITY, UH, IN TERMS OF YOUR LIBRARY AND EXPERTISE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO CULTURE, UH, FOR ALL WITHIN OUR CITY.
UH, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IF YOU COME TO THIS CHAMBER, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO, WHOEVER YOU ARE WITHIN THIS CITY, YOU CAN HEAR YOUR LANGUAGE, YOU WILL SEE, UH, YOUR CULTURE ON DISPLAY, YOU WILL SEE YOUR FOOD, YOU WILL HEAR THE MUSIC, UM, AND ALL THOSE THINGS I THINK CAN ALSO BE SAID ABOUT OUR LIBRARIES AS WELL.
SO I HAPPEN TO BE THE ONLY DISTRICT WITHIN THE CITY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A LIBRARY, AND I SHARE THEN A LIBRARY WITH, UH, THE NINTH DISTRICT WITH THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY.
UM, SO THERE IS A NEED FOR A 13TH LIBRARY WITHIN OUR CITY,
SO, UM, COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE FOR YOU.
FIRST, I'LL START OUT WITH AN IDEA THAT I WAS QUITE INSPIRED BY BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION.
WHILE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE DONE RAISING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE DOGMAN BOOKS OR CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS BOOKS, I HAVE A LITTLE BOY IN MY HOUSE WHO HAS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM THAT EXIST, EVERY BIRTHDAY, EVERY HOLIDAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT AS YOU CONSIDER WHAT YOU NEED IN YOUR COLLECTION, WE MAY JUST ABOUT TO BE REACHING A POINT WHERE IF YOU DID A CALL FROM ME REGARDING DONATING THOSE BOOKS, UH, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT MAYBE OTHERS WITHIN OUR CITY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.
AND MUCH LIKE THE RED CROSS OFFERS PEOPLE BADGES DIGITALLY, UM, AND JUST SMALL INCENTIVES FOR DONATING, ESPECIALLY THOSE VERY POPULAR, UH, BOOKS THAT ARE NO LONGER NEEDED WITHIN THEIR HOMES.
UM, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING WE MIGHT CONSIDER WITHIN OUR CITY WHERE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY OTHER FAMILIES WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
SO I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO EXPLORE A LIBRARY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM LIKE THAT.
AS WE CONSIDER IN COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE WHERE WE HAVE NO LIBRARY, WE
[02:30:01]
HAVE LIMITED RESOURCE IN TERMS OF SPACE.WE BARELY HAVE ANYWHERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO GATHER FOR A THIRD SPACE.
AND YET WE HAVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO ON A SATURDAY ON A OR ON A SUNDAY WOULD WANT ACCESS TO OUR FACILITIES.
MIGHT WE BE ABLE TO OFFER, EVEN IF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A RATE THAT WE COULD MAKE AVAILABLE THE SPACE ON A DAY THAT WE ARE NOT OPEN, IF THE ORGANIZATION IS ABLE AND WILLING TO PAY FOR THE COST OF OPERATION DURING THAT TIME.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED? YES, DEFINITELY.
UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE OFTEN DO EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER HOURS OR, OR NORMAL HOURS SOMETIMES ON OUR OFF DAYS.
IT JUST SORT OF DEPENDS ON WHAT THE ORGANIZATION IS AND WHAT THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM IS, LIKE, WHO'S INVITED, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND SO WE DEFINITELY TRY OUR BEST TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR THAT.
UM, SO MUCH OF WHAT WE HEARD, UH, TODAY IS RELATED TO LIBRARIES NOT JUST BEING A PLACE TO CHECK OUT THE BOOKS, BUT THERE'S ALSO SOCIAL SERVICES AND SOME OF THE STAFF.
UH, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO IN COMMUNITIES AROUND SOCIAL SERVICES.
UM, JUST REMIND US, KATHY, JUST SO THAT EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC HAS SOME SENSE OF WHAT ELSE THE LIBRARY OFFERS, UM, FROM A SOCIAL SERVICE STANDPOINT.
UM, SO ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO ADD IN THE LAST COUPLE BUDGET CYCLES AND SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT PUTTING ON THE TABLE IS, UM, THAT WE DO WORK WITH OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO, UM, ENGAGE A FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKER THAT'S BASED OUT OF BILLIE JEAN KING MAIN LIBRARY.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE SEVERAL HEALTH EDUCATORS THAT WE ALSO WORK WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HOUSE AND TO STAFF THAT HELP AND SUPPORT US IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
THERE'S ONE BASED AT MICHELLE OBAMA, UM, ONE BASED AT MARK TWAIN, AND THEY KIND OF MAKE THEIR ROUNDS TO, TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE CAN CONNECT TO SERVICES, UM, EVEN INTERNALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, UH, KNOW THAT THERE'S A PATRON IN NEED AT A BRANCH THAT MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE A REGULAR HEALTH EDUCATOR, WE COORDINATE, WE WORK TOGETHER, WE SAY, HEY, CAN YOU, YOU KNOW, UM, GET ME THAT PATRON'S INFORMATION, LET ME CONNECT YOU TO THE SOCIAL WORKER.
AND WE REALLY TRY TO BRIDGE, UM, SORT OF THE CONNECTION THAT WAY.
AND SO, UH, WE'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB THESE LAST FEW YEARS.
AND, AND EVEN DESPITE EVERYTHING HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE TALK ABOUT THE FENCE, UM, EVERYONE IS WELCOME INSIDE OUR LIBRARY, UH, EVERYONE.
AND SO MEANING THAT, UM, THE LIBRARY IS OFTEN THE SAFEST SPACE TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE SO THAT THEY CAN GET CONNECTED TO THE SORT RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
SO THAT'S, UM, ONE OF THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.
WE ALSO OFFER, UM, ADULT LITERACY, UM, SERVICES.
THAT'S A, A, A STATE FUNDED PROGRAM THAT WE, UM, ARE REBUILDING WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.
AND SO WE WERE CALLED LONG BEACH READS, BUT I THINK WE'RE GONNA SHIFT TO A DIFFERENT NAME THAT'S KIND OF MAKES MORE SENSE, WHICH IS LIKE LONG BEACH ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, AND THE IDEA IS TO, TO BE ABLE TO, UM, ENGAGE ADULTS, UM, WHO NEED TO NEED THOSE SKILLS TO IMPROVE THEIR JOB SITUATION, TO IMPROVE THEIR ECONOMIC SITUATION.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ADULTS OUT THERE THAT NO ONE, NO ONE REALIZES ACTUALLY HAVE VERY LIMITED READING ABILITY.
AND SO I THINK, UM, OUR ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM IS A REALLY GREAT RESOURCE THAT IS UNDERUSED AND THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE GROW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LIFTING THAT UP AND SHARING THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU TO BOTH DIRECTOR SCOTT AND DIRECTOR DA LEON FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT TONIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR WHAT THEY REALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THESE ARE REALLY DIFFICULT BUDGET TIMES.
UM, I'M GONNA START WITH YOU DIRECTOR SCOTT, AND IN THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PRESENTATION YOU TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PART THE BEAUTY OF PARKS AND THE WORK THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT GOES IN DOES IN PARKS TO MAKE THEM NOT LOOK UNKEMPT.
SO MY QUESTION IS PRETTY SPECIFIC TO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE PARKS ALL OVER THE CITY THAT YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF.
THIS IS ABOUT THE REDUCTION IN WEED ABATEMENT ACROSS THE CITY, AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET MOVES THE DEPARTMENT FROM MONTHLY WEED ABATEMENT SERVICES TO VERY LIMITED SERVICES ACROSS MOST OF THE CITY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU TO EXPLORE SOME WAYS TO EXPAND THE USE OF, UM, RIGHT OF ENTRY PERMITS AND FRIENDS OF PARKS GROUPS.
SO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORHOOD
[02:35:01]
ORGANIZATIONS CAN HELP MAINTAIN DESIGNATED AREAS IN COORDINATION WITH YOUR MAINTENANCE TEAMS. I DO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S SAFETY LIABILITY TRAINING AND LABOR CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GROUPS IN DISTRICT THREE WHO HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING WITH THINGS IN THE PARKS THAT MAYBE WE AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE AS MUCH OF, UM, BECAUSE OF OUR BUDGET.WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THIS IN FUTURE MONTHS, BUT I WANNA RAISE IT BECAUSE, UM, WE HAVE MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WANNA VOLUNTEER AND HELP WITH OUR PARKS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO KEEP THEM CLEAN AND WELL MAINTAINED.
SO I JUST WANNA ASK, UM, IS THAT SOMETHING YOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD CONSIDER AND HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PURSUE IN THE NEXT YEAR? UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, WE LOVE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO HELP REINVEST BE THAT MONEY OR SWEAT EQUITY INTO OUR, UH, PARKS AND OPEN SPACES.
WE HAVE A ROBUST FRIENDS OF, UM, PROGRAM, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, FRIENDS OF THE VARIOUS PARKS, FRIENDS OF WILLOW SPRINGS, FRIENDS OF BIXBY PARK, AND WE REALLY DO RELY ON THEM FOR A LOT OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
AND SO CERTAINLY THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES, THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS IN THAT AND, UH, DEFINITELY OPEN TO HAVING FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MORE.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR MY, MY COLLEAGUES FOR QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE PREVIOUS, PREVIOUSLY ASKED BOTH ABOUT PARKS AND REC AND ABOUT OUR LIBRARY.
SO DIRECTOR DE LEON, UM, I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS PRIORITIZED KEEPING ALL 12 LIBRARY LOCATIONS.
I THINK THAT THAT IS A, A A POINT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE YOU LOOKED AT A MODEL THAT IS GOING TO OFFER SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY, AND I FEEL THE PAIN OF THE POTENTIAL OF CUTTING THAT SIXTH DAY.
UM, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE FACING DIFFICULT TRADE-OFFS.
SO YOU AND I HAVE HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY AS WE'VE TALKED MORE AND MORE, THE TAKEAWAY FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS IS LIBRARIES ARE LOVED BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO.
AND, UM, WHETHER IT'S KIDS WITH DOG MAN OR UM, SENIORS WHO ARE WORKING ON COMPUTERS, LIBRARIES ARE IMPORTANT.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE FACING TOUGH DECISIONS.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THE, UM, THE, THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO, UH, PRESENT SOMETHING TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, VICE MAYOR, YOUR THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR QUESTIONS AND THEIR COMMENTS.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I KNOW YOU TOOK A BIG PART OF YOUR AFTERNOON TODAY TO BE HERE WHERE YOU COULD HAVE BEEN HAVING A DRINK, GOING SHOPPING, GO SEE A MOVIE, BUT YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE THE, UH, ISSUES THAT ARE WE'RE DEALING WITH TODAY ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES.
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, UH, MR. SCOTT, THAT I WAS A PEC MYSELF 50 YEARS AGO, BUT IT, NOT, NOT, IT WASN'T MY FIRST JOB.
I WAS WORKING THROUGH COLLEGE AND I WORKED EVERY SUMMER DURING SUMMER BREAK TO WORK WITH THE PARKS RECREATION DEPARTMENT OF VALLEY COUNTY.
SO I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF REC SPECS IN THE COUNTY, THE PARK SYSTEM, AND, UH, YOU'RE RIGHT, WHAT FTE CAN BE SIX, SEVEN, MAYBE EIGHT REX MIX THAT PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED, UH, SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND WHAT HAVE YOU LIKE, LIKE THOSE.
THERE WAS A TIME, HOWEVER, THAT I DID QUESTION THE, UH, INTEGRITY OF A RE BANK BECAUSE THEY WERE USED ALL THE TIME TO WHERE LIKE, WE HIRE 'EM, YOU USE 'EM ALL THE TIME, HIRE 'EM FULL TIME.
BUT I UNDERSTAND NOW WITH THE LOGISTICS OF BUDGETS AND WHAT GOES ON THAT
[02:40:01]
IT, IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO AND IT'S A DIFFICULT TASK.IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE EMPLOYED AND KEEP PEOPLE WORKING AND KEEP SERVICES, NAVAJO SERVICE GOING FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I I COMMEND YOU ON, ON, UH, KEEPING THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST IN YOUR, IN YOUR THINKING FOR, UM, PEOPLE WHO NEED THE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE EXPECT OF POSITIONS, PRETTY MUCH LIKE ANY OTHER, OTHER POSITIONS THAT ARE USED OUT THERE, LIKE WITH THE, UH, THE NOT COURIERS AS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, NONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS USED QUITE FREQUENTLY AND, UH, TO, TO PROVIDE THE MUCH NEEDED SERVICES.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, WE ALWAYS LOOK AT WHAT WE GONNA MAKE IN CUTS.
AND YOU ALWAYS THINK OF THE LOWEST, THE LOWEST FRUIT, AND THOSE ARE SPECS, THE LIBRARY CLERKS, THE, UH, THE, OUR CAREER POSITIONS.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU LOOK AT THAT YOU CAN CUT.
BUT WHEN WE ALL DO HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE POSITIONS, WE'RE CUTTING SERVICES TO PEOPLE, TO OUR PUBLIC, AND WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT AND WHEN, WHAT IT MEANS.
SOMEBODY MENTIONED IT EARLIER TODAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, YOU KNOW, WELL, A BUSY KID AND A TIRED KID IS A SAFE KID AND IT MAKES IT FOR, FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE, THAT MAKES THEM SAFER AS OPPOSED TO BEING OUT THERE, DOWN THERE, UH, E-BIKES AND CREATING PROBLEMS. SO MEAN THERE'S, UH, YOU GO TO THE LIBRARIAN PARKS, YOU PROVIDE WONDERFUL SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE TO DIVERSION DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS TO GET KIDS INTO LIBRARIES AND GET KIDS INTO RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN OUR PARK.
SO MY, MY HATS OFF TO MOST OF YOU FOR, FOR THOSE PURPOSES, ONE OF, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANNA EMPHASIZE IS THAT I THINK MANY YEARS AGO, I'M OLD WHEN I REMEMBER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A, A MAILING MEASURE, UH, BEFORE THE PUBLIC THAT FAILED TO FINANCE
BUT FOR ME, I WAS THIS SOMEWHAT OF A, A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR ME.
AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, THAT I WANNA LOOK AT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT OF BEING ABLE TO GET LIBRARIES FUNDED RELATING TO ME IN THE FUTURE.
KEEP THE BACK, KEEP UP THAT FIGHT OF WANTING TO FINANCE LIBRARIES IN OTHER WAYS AS WELL.
EXCUSE MY VOICE, IT COMES AND GOES.
UH, SO AS I LEAVE THE YEAR, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THE, THE FIGHT IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR, LIBRARIES ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR, AND THEY'RE WORTH ALL THE EFFORT THAT WE CAN PUT IN MUSTER INTO TO TRY TO KEEP THEM FULLY FUNDED AND MORE SO GET HER 13TH LIBRARY, GET HER, GET HER HER LIBRARY IN THE, IN HER DISTRICT.
AND LET'S GET, LET'S GET THE PROGRAMS GOING IN PARK RECREATION.
AND WE MIGHT NEED THEM EVEN MORE SO IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OTHER THAN THOSE COMMENTS BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW THEN, ALL RIGHT.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M WITH YOU AND I WANT TO SEE A STRONG LIBRARY AND STRONG RECREATION PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT, OUR LAST, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERMAN.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS HERE TODAY.
YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB AND REALLY COMMUNICATED, UH, YOUR PASSION FOR THESE ISSUES.
UM, THE TOPICS TONIGHT ARE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ME.
WE HAVE THE GREAT FORTUNE IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT.
THEY BE HOME TO SEVEN PARKS, TWO LIBRARIES, UH, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND A RANCHO.
UM, WE HAVE, I'VE TAKEN THAT, UM, ALL THOSE ASSETS AND I, AND I'VE, I'VE TRANSLATED THAT INTO A DUTY.
I THINK OUR OFFICE HAS TO SUPPORT ALL THOSE ENTITIES.
[02:45:01]
OF OUR DECADE LONG HISTORY OF USING SAVINGS FROM OUR OFFICE, OPERATING BUDGET TO FUND MANY PROJECTS, UH, IN THE NATURE CENTER, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT, UM, THE RANCHO ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.AND, UH, THROUGH REDISTRICTING WE INHERITED ALL OF EL DORADO PARK.
SO, UM, BUT I WANT TO REMIND EVERYTHING THAT OUR OFFICE OPERATING BUDGET IS BEING CUT TOO.
SO, UH, THERE'S EFFECTS ALL OVER, UH, CITYWIDE.
UM, AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, AND I DO HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION, BUT, UM, TO DIRECTOR SCOTT, UH, JUST IN THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS BROUGHT UP IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, AND YOU MENTIONED WE ABATEMENT IN YOUR PRESENTATION, AND YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME TOMORROW ON THIS ONE, BUT I'M, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, VECTOR CONTROL IN, IN THAT WE DO HAVE SEVEN PARKS IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT THAT ARE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE GREATER LOS ANGELES COUNTY VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT AND ON OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO I'D LIKE TO JUST DISCUSS THAT TOPIC WITH YOU, UH, AT A CERTAIN POINT BECAUSE WE'RE, UH, WELL ACTUALLY AUGUST 20TH WAS WORLD MOSQUITO, UH, DAY, SO, UH, WE'RE IN THAT SEASON.
UM, BUT REALLY, UM, AND, AND FOR THE LIBRARIES, I, I JUST LIKE TO SAY ACTUALLY WE, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TWO LIBRARIES.
IN THE FOURTH BEFORE RE REDISTRICTING, WE HAD THE BRUIT LIBRARY, AND THEN AFTER REDISTRICTING WE HAD EL DORADO.
BUT WE'VE ALWAYS MAINTAINED, UH, LOS ALTOS, AND I SHOULD SAY THAT WE'VE REALLY UTILIZED THAT BECAUSE, UM, FOR 11 YEARS WE'VE HELD A COMMUNITY MEETING THE DARK TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, UH, AT THE LOS ALTOS LIBRARY, WHICH I SHOULD PUT THIS NOTICE OUT.
WE START AT 5:30 PM AND THOSE WHO CAN HEAR ME NOW, NOW I'M GONNA BE LATE.
I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA MAKE THAT, UH, 5:30 PM MEETING TONIGHT.
UM, BUT ANYWAY, WE'VE, WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO MAINTAIN THAT CLOSE RE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR, UH, LIBRARIES AND I REMEMBER A LOT OF FUNDING THEY PROVIDED FOR BRUIT, WHICH COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE IS NOW THE BENEFICIARY OF THAT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR THAT WINDFALL.
UH, ANYWAY, UH, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, UH, FOR THE, THE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.
AND, UM, WE JUST, COUNCIL ITSELF HASN'T WEIGHED IN ON THIS YET.
IF, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS, THESE ARE, UH, THE CITY MANAGERS AND MAYORS, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS NOW.
SO WE HAVE ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS TO, TO, UM, VOICE OUR OPINION.
THAT'S OUR FINAL, UH, COUNCIL COMMENT.
UH, SO THAT CONCLUDES THIS, THAT CONCLUDES THIS WEEK'S HEARING.
WE'LL BE BACK, UH, UH, NEXT WEEK WITH PUBLIC WORKS OPERATING AND CIP, HUH? YEAH.
I THOUGHT I HEARD DAWN SAY SOMETHING.
SO THAT'S STREETS, SIDEWALKS, MAINTENANCE, UH, ALL OF THOSE ISSUES ARE WHAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING.
AND THEN WE GO INTO THE FINAL DECISIONS ON THE BUDGET.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
UH, YOU NEED TO ANYTHING ELSE VOTE TO CONTINUE THE HEARING? WELL LET, YEAH, LET'S VOTE TO CONTINUE THE HEARING TILL NEXT WEEK.
YOU AIN'T LET ME GET TO IT YET.
COUNCILMAN DUGGAN, ARE YOU AN AYE, AYE.
THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.