* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON [00:00:01] PRESENT. COMMISSIONER REDFIELD. HERE. COMMISSIONER SH. SHE'S ON OR SHE'S GONNA BE A FEW MINUTES LATE. COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ HERE. COMMISSIONER ALLEN HERE. VICE CHAIR HEGA HERE. AND CHAIR UKI SMITH HERE. YEAH. THANK YOU. SO WHY DON'T WE DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO IF YOU'RE ABLE TO RISE, PLEASE DO SO. PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, THE FLAG FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. JUSTICE. THANK YOU. AND THEN DIRECTOR. I THINK WE'VE GOT PRESENTATIONS. PRESENTATIONS. OKAY. SO JUST THE EMPLOYEE. OH, WE'VE GOT EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH PRESENTATIONS, WHICH WE ARE GOING TO DO NOW. UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HANDLE THOSE, DIRECTOR SCOTT? YEP. UH, SO I'D LIKE TO, IS HEIDI HERE, UH, OUR CHAIR OF OUR ERC TO RECOGNIZE OUR, UH, LATEST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCOTT. UM, HELLO COMMISSIONERS. SO WE ARE HAVING A GREAT DAY. UM, WE ARE HERE WITH ERC, OUR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION COMMITTEE, UM, TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES IN PARKS AND RECREATION MARINE. UM, THIS ONE IS GONNA BE A SURPRISE TODAY, WHICH IS ALWAYS EXCITING. YAY. SO THIS NUMBER OF OUR TEAM WAS NOMINATED TWICE, UM, DURING THIS NOMINATION PERIOD, WHICH IS ALWAYS GREAT WHEN YOU GET TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE NOMINATING THEM, UM, FOR THEIR HARD WORK, UM, THAT THEY PROVIDE. SO I'M GONNA READ YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PERSON AND UM, SAY THEIR NAME. UM, BUT OUR NOMINATION, THE FIRST ONE IS BASICALLY THEY WANNA JUST NOMINATE THIS PERSON BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB STEPPING INTO AND ACTING POSITION, UM, THAT SUPPORTS OUR PAYROLL TEAM. UM, AND THE OPERATIONS. WHY THEY'VE HAD SOME OUTAGES OF TEAM MEMBERS IN THE DEPARTMENT BASED ON DIFFERENT LEADS. UM, THEY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, UM, AND NAVIGATING IT REGARDLESS OF THE TASK. THEY STEP INTO HELP. UM, THERE'S NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL FOR THEM. UM, THEY'RE ALWAYS DOWN TO JUST STEP IN. UM, THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY AND SUPPORT AND WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS. THE NEXT PERSON WROTE PRETTY MUCH THEY'RE CURRENTLY OVERSEEING TWO ROLES, UM, AND NO ONE WOULD EVER KNOW, UM, THAT THEY'RE UNDER, YOU KNOW, OVERSEEING TWO ROLES. THEY'RE EFFICIENT, PROACTIVE, RESPONSIVE, AND THOUGHT THOROUGH IN THEIR WORK AND A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH AND ALWAYS HAS A SMILE FACE NO MATTER HOW BUSY THEY ARE. UM, SO THIS, UM, MONTH, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE JESSICA MARTINEZ. THAT'S OKAY. THERE WERE NO PICTURES. PICTURE. SHE HAS STEPPED IN AS OUR ACTING FOR THE LAST, I WANT TO SAY, FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS. I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND SHE'S HAD TO HELP OUT OUR PAYROLL TEAM TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS PAID. SHE'S, YOU KNOW, HAD TO DEAL WITH ANY, UM, SITUATIONS WITH STAFF AND, YOU KNOW, BUDGETS AND THINGS GOING ON. AND SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO HIRE PEOPLE. SO WE REALLY JUST APPRECIATE AND ALL OF OUR BUREAUS APPRECIATE HER SUPPORT. SO COME ON OVER HERE. MICHELLE MASON, WHO IS HER, UM, MANAGER IN HER, UH, BUREAU. SO SAY A COUPLE WORDS BEFORE YOU GIVE . UM, SO SHE'S PROBABLY LIVID AT ME RIGHT NOW. TOLD, I TOLD MY TEAM OUR VERY FIRST BUREAU MEETING THAT HONESTY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME. AND THEN I TURN AROUND AND LIE TO HER TO GET HER HERE. UM, AND SHE ALMOST WENT TO CITY HALL THIS MORNING, SO THANK GOODNESS THAT WAS ALMOST A DISASTER TOO. UM, BUT I'VE BEEN HERE A MONTH AND A HALF TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN. AND, UM, I HAVE DEFINITELY HAD MORE COMMUNICATION WITH JESSICA THAN ANYBODY ELSE ON THE TEAM. UM, WHICH JUST SHOWS ME SHE'S REALLY, REALLY BUSY AND REALLY, REALLY WORKING HARD AND DEFINITELY DOING MORE THAN ONE JOB. UM, SO NOT ONLY DID SHE STEP INTO THIS ACTING ROLE TO DO TWO ROLES, BUT SHE STEPPED INTO A VERY TYPICAL ACTING ROLE 'CAUSE OF THE BUDGET CUTS AND THE PRODUCTION AND FORCE AND JUST SOME OF THE VERY UNFUN THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THIS POSITION. UM, SO, BUT SHE'S STEPPED UP AND SHE'S DONE IT ALL AND SHE'S LEARNED IT ALL. DON'T CRY. . I THINK SHE'S CRYING 'CAUSE SHE'S OUT OF THIS ON MONDAY. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GO BOTH WAYS. UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A NEW AO STARTING ON MONDAY AND HOPEFULLY WILL RELIEVE SOME OF THE, THE PRESSURE THAT'S BEEN PUT ON HER. 'CAUSE SHE HAS HAD A TON OF PRESSURE PUT ON HER, BUT HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB. [00:05:01] UM, I, HER TEAM IS HERE. THIS IS HER WHOLE TEAM HERE TO SUPPORT AND SOME OF OUR BUREAU AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE VERY PROUD AND VOTING IN THE BACK. UM, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU JESSICA. THIS IS PERFECT TIMING. WELL DESERVED IN ABOUT FOUR DAYS. YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO GET MUCH SOONER , BUT UNTIL THEN, WE'LL BE STILL SPEAKING A LOT. I'M SURE. CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME. UM, JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO RECOGNIZED ME AND REALLY APPRECIATED. AND, UM, I LOVE PARKS AND I LOVE BEING HERE. AND UM, IT'S, IT HASN'T BEEN EASY, BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I CARE ABOUT WHAT WE DO. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. UM, AND I, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE SO MUCH IS JUST OUR STAFF REALLY. LIKE, WE HAVE REALLY GREAT STAFF WHO ARE JUST AS DEDICATED AS ME. IF NOT, YOU KNOW, A MILLION TIMES MORE. AND WHENEVER SOMEONE OUT TO ME, I'M HAPPY TO HELP THEM BECAUSE I THINK EDUCATION ABOUT WHAT WE DO IS VERY IMPORTANT AND, UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S ALSO NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED SOMETIMES. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY OR APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. HERE, DO YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO HOLD SOMETHING? UM, HERE CAN HELP YOU WITH THE SUN. THERE YOU GO. BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS THERE, MICHELLE. EXCUSE ME. OKAY, SO BEAR WITH ME. I'M GONNA TAKE SEVERAL THIS FINE. UM, DOWN ON YOUR SIDE. ALRIGHT. BIG SMILES, RIGHT? BEAR WITH ME FOR A COUPLE MORE. WE'RE GONNA DO PORTRAIT MODE NOW. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. YAY. CONGRATULATIONS. APPRECIATE THAT. I LOVE OUR PARKS. DID WE GET A NEW TABLECLOTH? I FEEL LIKE IT'S SHAPED DIFFERENTLY SOMEHOW. YEAH, YOU GET SNACKED PEOPLES FILE OUT. OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. UM, OUR FIRST ITEM IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING A THURSDAY, AUGUST 20TH, 2026. CAN I GET A MOTION? SO MOVED. THANK YOU. A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND. UH, THAT WAS COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON AND FOR THE RECORD, UM, COMMISSIONER SCHOEN HAS JOINED US. UM, ALL THOSE IN FEBRUARY, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES. OUR SECOND ITEM IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE AN UPDATE REGARDING OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT FROM THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THAT MOVE SECOND, UH, I THINK THAT WAS CHAVEZ. YES, CHAVEZ. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND SECOND BY ALAN. AND NOW I'M GONNA HAND THAT OVER TO DIRECTOR SCOTT TO LEAD. GREAT. THANK YOU, YOU SO MUCH. SO, UH, THIS MORNING COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE ARE GONNA RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON, UH, THE, UH, OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN THAT IS BEING UPDATED RIGHT NOW BY OUR PARTNERS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. AND, UH, THEY WERE HERE MAYBE OVER A YEAR AGO TO GIVE A PRESENTATION AND A STATUS UPDATE AT THAT POINT IN TIME. AND SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO COME BACK AND PROVIDE, UH, THE COMMISSION WITH WHERE, UH, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF THAT UPDATE. AND THEY'LL BE GOING THROUGH A, UH, PRESENTATION TO PROVIDE YOU THAT UPDATE AND SOME OF THE FINDINGS OF WHAT, UH, THEY HAVE, UH, SEEN SO FAR THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. SO I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF TO ALLISON SPINDLER RUIZ, WHO IS OUR MANAGER OF THE PLANNING BUREAU IN, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO WALK US THROUGH THE UPDATE. AND I KNOW SHE HAS HER TEAM HERE WHO WILL ALSO BE ASSISTING IN THAT. SO ALLISON, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU STEVE. AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING. UH, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE. THAT IS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. UM, IT'S REALLY NICE TO GET TO SEE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. UM, AGAIN, MY NAME'S ALLISON. I OVERSEE THE PLANNING BUREAU IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UM, AND COMMUNITY [00:10:01] DEVELOPMENT IS REALLY ALL ABOUT HOW DO WE HELP, UH, CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES, UM, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. SO THE PLANNING BUREAU HAS KIND OF A UNIQUE ROLE IN THAT WE DO POLICY MAKING AND, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DATA ANALYSIS TO INFORM THAT POLICY AND PLANNING EFFORT. UM, BUT A LOT OF OUR WORK IS ACTUALLY A REGULATORY ROLE. SO, UM, WHEN, WHEN SOMEONE WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW OR PULL A BUILDING PERMIT, REVIEWING, UM, WHETHER THAT'S ALLOWED IN THAT LOCATION OR IF SO, UNDER WHAT RULES? UM, SO WE HAVE A GROUP OF PLANNERS THAT DO BOTH THE POLICY WORK, UM, AND THE REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION WORK OF ALL OF THAT. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REQUIRED OF ALL CITIES IN CALIFORNIA IS TO MAINTAIN WHAT'S CALLED THE GENERAL PLAN. THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE YOUR CONSTITUTION OF LAND USE. WHERE ARE YOU GOING? WHAT'S YOUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, UM, GOALS, POLICIES, AND, UM, HOW DO YOU GET THERE? UM, AND ONE OF THOSE REQUIRED CHAPTERS OR WHAT, WHAT THEY CALL ELEMENTS IS THE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENTS. UM, SO WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE EFFORTS. UM, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO INTRODUCE MY TEAM. I'VE GOT THREE OF OUR AMAZING PLANNERS HERE TODAY. UH, CARLY LOVE, WHO'S THE PLANNER AND PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE OPEN SPACE ELEMENT IS ALSO JOINED BY MARCOS LOPEZ AND SHAW, UM, WHO ARE DOING, UH, SOME REALLY GREAT WORK ON THIS EFFORT AS WELL. UM, SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO THEM FOR A PRESENTATION. THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. AWESOME. HI EVERYONE. SO HERE TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE MAINLY FOCUSING ON, UM, WHERE THE STATUS OF THE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT IS TODAY. UM, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE ROBUST OUTREACH WE DID IN THE PAST YEAR. SO, UM, LIKE OUR DIRECTOR, UH, STEVE SCOTT SAID, UH, WE WERE HERE LAST JULY OF LAST YEAR, SO WE HAVE A LOT TO UPDATE YOU ON. YEAH. UM, WE ALWAYS WANNA START WITH, UM, THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, UH, THAT WE ARE NOT THE TRADITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS, UH, WITH THIS INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. SO WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE GABRIELINO TONGS PEOPLE AS THE TRADITIONAL LAND CARETAKERS OF THE ALGAR LOS ANGELES BASIN SOUTHERN CHANNEL ISLANDS, AND PAYS OUR SPECS TO THE HANNU VETO, UH, OUR ANCESTORS, UH, HI OUR ELDERS AND THE A YOHI INCOME, UH, PAST, PRESENT AND EMERGING. UH, SO LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT HOW, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW PLANNING INFORMS AND SUPPORTS PARK DEVELOPMENT. PROPERTY THAT IS DESIGNATED AS PARK OR OPEN SPACE IS HIGHLY REGULATED AND GENERALLY RESTRICTED FROM BEING DEVELOPED. THAT MEANS IF A PARCEL OR PIECE OF LAND IS ZONED OPEN SPACE THAT PREVENTS THAT SPACE FROM BEING DEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING ELSE. SOMETHING LIKE A COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL OR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN PROJECTING OUR OPEN SPACES THAT WE HAVE TODAY. PARK DEVELOPMENTS PAY PARK IMPACT FEES TO HELP FUND PARK DEVELOPMENT, WHICH MEANS THAT WHEN PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT COMES IN FOR OUR PERMITS, THEY PAY PARK DEVELOPMENT FEES THAT WE CAN USE TO CREATE NEW PARKS FOR OPEN SPACES. SO THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE BUILD OUT, WE HAVE APPROPRIATE OPEN SPACE THAT WE, UM, THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT. SOME VERY LARGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP NEW PARK SPACE IF THERE'S SUFFICIENT NEXUS AND PROPORTIONALITY. SO IT'S REALLY RARE THAT WE HAVE PROJECTS LARGE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE BRAND NEW PARKS TO COME OUT OF IT. BUT SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND WITH EVERY OPPORTUNITY, WE TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT, WHERE WE CAN REQUIRE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW PARK AND WE CAN REQUIRE THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT PARK OVER TIME BY THE DEVELOPER. SO IT COMES AT A REDUCED COST TO OUR CITY. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE OUR PARK PLANS. SO A LOT OF THE PARK VISIONING THAT YOU ALL DO HERE, UM, AND FUTURE PARK DEVELOPMENT HAS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, INCLUDING THE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT, OSRE FOR SHORT. AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICIES, OUR PROGRAMS, OUR GOALS, UM, IS CONS CONSISTENT WITH ALL WHAT YOU ALL DO HERE AND BETTER FACILITATE THAT. AND THEN WE HAVE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TO THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN MUST BE FOUND CONSISTENT TO, WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, INCLUDING THE OSRE. SO EVERY YEAR WHEN THE BUDGET GOES OUT AND THERE'S, UM, MONIES ALLOCATED TO PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE PROJECTS LISTED, UM, PROJECT LISTED AND ANTICIPATED IN THE LONG TERM ARE CONSISTENT WITH OUR GENERAL PLAN AND SPECIFICALLY OUR OSRE AS WELL. UM, SO LET'S START HIGH LEVEL, LIKE WHAT IS THE OPEN SPACE ELEMENT? THE OPEN SPACE ELEMENT IS A LONG TERM POLICY DOCUMENT, UM, PLANNING THE COMPREHENSIVE PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF OPEN SPACE LAND. AND IT DISCOURAGES THE PREMATURE AND UNNECESSARY CONVERSION OF OPEN SPACE LAND TO URBAN USES. OPEN SPACE CAN BE DEFINED AS A COUPLE OF THINGS. UM, SPECIFICALLY IF ANY PARCEL OR LAND OR WATER THAT IS ESSENTIALLY UNIMPROVED AND DEVOTED TO AN OPEN SPACE USE. SO OPEN SPACE USES CAN INCLUDE THE PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, MANAGED PRODUCTION OF RESOURCES, OUTDOOR RECREATION, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, AND TRIBAL RESOURCES. SO SOME OF THESE APPLY A LITTLE BIT MORE TO OUR CITY THAN OTHERS. UM, WE REALLY DO VALUE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECT AND OUTDOOR RECREATION, UM, PART, [00:15:01] UM, HERE IN THE CITY. AND WE WANT TO ALWAYS HIGHLIGHT HOW DOES OUR WORK AFFECT, UM, MAYBE WHAT WE SEE IN OUR CITY, THE URBAN BUILD OUT, UM, KIND OF USE THIS AS A GUIDE FOR LAND USE, DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF OPEN SPACE THROUGH OUR PERMITTING AND ENTITLEMENT PROCESS. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR, AND I THINK THIS IS MORE RELEVANT TO SPEAKING OUTSIDE OF THIS COMMISSION, THAT THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT REGULATE WHAT THIS DEPARTMENT DOES ON A DAY TO DAY. IT DOES NOT ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO YOU ALL. UM, WISH IT DID 'CAUSE WE GAVE YOU WAY MORE . UM, SO WHY DO WE UPDATE THE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT? UM, SENATE BILL 1425 WAS PASSED AT THE STATE LEVEL REQUESTING CITIES TO BEGIN UPDATING BY JANUARY 1ST, 2026. WE ALSO HAD MAYOR REX RICHARD'S A HUNDRED DAY PLAN CALLING FOR THE OPEN SPACE ELEMENT TO FOCUS ON RESIDENT OPEN SPACE ACCESSIBILITY, HOW CAN WE INCREASE WALKABILITY TO OUR OPEN SPACES AND THE LONG BEACH CLIMATE ACTION PLAN PLAN, WHICH ADDRESSES CLIMATE CHANGE BY MITIGATING AND ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE. AND IT CALLS ON US TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND GREEN SPACE, PARTICULARLY IN PARKS AND GREEN SPACES AND COMMUNITIES MOST VULNERABLE TO EXTREME HEAT AND AIR QUALITY CLIMATE IMPACTS. AND WE KNOW EXTREME HEAT WAS REALLY BAD THESE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. SO ON THE OTHER END PLANNING COMMISSION PRESENTED TO THEM LAST WEEK, UM, THEIR ROLE IS TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENT AND, UH, RECOMMEND ADOPTION TO CITY COUNCIL. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE THIS COMMISSION'S ROLE, UM, WHO HAVE THE AUTHORITY OVER ALL LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES. UM, ALSO RECOMMENDING THE ACQUISITION OF NEW LAND FOR PUBLIC PARKS AND PUBLIC RE UH, RECREATION. AND YOU ALL ALSO AUTHORIZE ISSUE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS AND AGREEMENTS RELATED TO LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES CONTROLLED AND OPERATED BY THE CITY. SO ALWAYS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE WORK THAT WE DO, IT DOES NOT HINDER THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. UM, AND IT PREPARES YOU ALL TO EITHER DO THE WORK DAY TO DAY, UM, BUT ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO APPLY FOR GRANTS WITH THE POLICY LANGUAGE WITHIN OUR OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT. SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE, UM, ROBUST COMMUNITY OUTREACH THAT WE'VE DONE TO DATE. WE'VE FINISHED OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND WE, THIS IS LIKE A SUMMARY OF IT AND I'LL DELVE INTO WHAT EACH OF IT MEANS. BUT WHEN DOING OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY, WE RECEIVED 1,502 COMMUNITY SURVEYS BACK RESPONSES, WHICH IS REALLY HIGH FOR OUR DEPARTMENT. WE CONDUCTED FOUR TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS AND MEETINGS. WE PRESENTED AT FIVE DIFFERENT, UM, COMMISSIONS TO REALLY, UM, TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY AND, UM, OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE PUBLIC FEEDBACK. WE ATTENDED 19 COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND POPUPS. UM, SIX RESIDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM MEETINGS, TWO PRESS RELEASE RELEASES, AND EVEN A RADIO SHOW . SO LET'S JUST START TALKING ABOUT THAT. UM, COMMUNITY OUTREACH SURVEY. THAT SURVEY WAS OPEN FOR THREE MONTHS. UM, IT WAS AVAILABLE ONLINE. AND IN ADDITION TO BEING AVAILABLE ONLINE, WE ALSO WANTED TO HAVE THAT FACE TO FACE WITH OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE SURVEY ONLINE. THEY MAY HAVE DIGITAL ACCESS ISSUES. SO WE ALSO HAD THESE IN-PERSON MEETINGS ATTENDING, UM, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY GROUP MEETINGS ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT ALSO, UM, OTHER CITYWIDE EVENTS INCLUDING MOVIES IN THE PARK. UM, AND THAT GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY ANSWER QUESTIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING IN PARKOUR CITIES OR PARKOUR AREAS OF THE CITY OR, UH, THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER. SO WE GAVE THEM PAPER AND PEN, THEY WERE ABLE TO FILL IT OUT AND WE WERE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THE SURVEY WAS TRANSLATED INTO OUR THREE CITY LANGUAGES AND WE HAD TRANSLATORS AT EACH OF OUR EVENTS TO HELP BRIDGE ANY LANGUAGE GAPS THAT EXISTED. WE ALSO DID MULTIMEDIA PROMOTIONS THAT INCREASED SURVEY MARKETING. SO NOT ONLY DID WE PROMOTE ACROSS OUR CITY WITH SOCIAL MEDIAS, WE HAD ADS RUNNING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WE HAD, UM, ACTUAL SURVEYS MAILED TO HOUSEHOLDS, RANDOM HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE, AND THEN WE HAD THAT RADIO SHOW, WHICH IS REALLY FUN FOR ME. . SO THERE, UM, I WANNA PREFACE THAT THE COMMUNITY RESULTS ARE, UM, FOCUSED ON WHAT USER EXPERIENCE ARE. THEY'RE, WHENEVER I TALK TO ANYONE, UM, WHEN CONDUCTING THE SURVEY OR ANECDOTALLY EVERYONE JUST PRAISES THIS DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. SO VERY MUCH THESE SURVEYS ARE RELATED TO USER EXPERIENCE. AND WE ALSO WANNA, UH, RECOGNIZE THAT SURVEY BIAS IS A VERY REAL THING. PEOPLE WHO TAKE SURVEYS TEND TO POLARIZE THEIR OPINIONS TO EXTREME NEGATIVES OR EXTREME POSITIVES. AND SO WE'LL HAVE DIFFERENT OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, UM, THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT KIND OF BALANCES THIS. UM, BUT I WANNA TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SURVEY SO THAT YOU ALL KNOW, UH, WHAT PEOPLE KIND OF ARE SAYING AND HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR WORK. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE OVERALL QUALITY OF PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES, WE AS A MAJORITY RECEIVE POSITIVE RATINGS. UM, BUT WE WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT THE BARRIERS TO PARK FACILITY AND PROGRAM USAGE, [00:20:01] UM, THE TOP FIVE BARRIERS TO USING PARKS ARE NOT FEELING SAFE, LACK OF RESTROOMS, NOT WELL MAINTAINED, LACK OF PLACES TO GATHER AND LACK OF FREEZING REAL SPACE. AND THAT'S VERY LARGELY A THING THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IN PLANNING ABOUT HOW WE DESIGN OUR PARKS TO FEEL MORE SAFE TO, UM, TO HAVE PLACES TO GATHER AND TO REQUIRE MAYBE MORE TREES OR GREEN SPACE THAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL MORE AT HOME. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, WE DON'T HAVE HIGH PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT DO PARTICIPATE HAVE VERY POSITIVE, UM, RESPONSES THAT DO PARTICIPATE. SO WE JUST REALLY DO NEED TO GET MORE PEOPLE OUT SUPPORTING THESE PROGRAMS. UM, 'CAUSE WE KNOW THEY'LL LOVE IT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THIS, UM, QUESTION WAS GEARED TOWARDS HOW DO WE RATE RANK THE PRIORITY SERVICES THAT OUR PARK SYSTEM PROVIDES SO THAT IT'S STATISTICAL RESPONSES AND RESULTS THAT WE CAN USE IN FUTURE GRANT ENDEAVORS, UM, AND POTENTIALLY U-N-C-I-P ENDEAVORS. AND THAT IS RESTROOM MAINTENANCE, TRASH LITTER, WASTE PICKUP, AND GRAFFITI REMOVAL AND VANDALISM REPAIR. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT UNMET AMENITY AND FACILITY NEEDS, WE, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US IN PLANNING TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE NEW THINGS THAT WE CAN BRING TO OUR PARKS IF WE HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO SO. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR INDOOR BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL COURTS, NATURAL CONSERVATION AREAS AND SPLASH PADS, WHICH I THINK REALLY ALIGNED WITH THAT EXTREME HEAT, UH, EVENT THAT WE HAD. UH, THE AMENITIES AND FACILITIES THAT WERE RANKED MOST IMPORTANT TO S THAT WE ALREADY HAVE TODAY ARE BEACHES, MULTI-USE, NATURAL TRAILS, NATURAL AREAS, CONSERVATION AREAS, AND OUR COMMUNITY GARDENS. SO WE WANT TO WORK TO PRESERVE THOSE THROUGH OUR PERMITTING PROCESS AS WELL AS OUR DAY TO DAY PROCESSES AS WELL. THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES WERE RATED AS, UM, HIGH PRIORITIES, UH, FOR AMENITIES AND FACILITIES. UM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PROGRAMMING, SO WE WANT TO USE THOSE MULTI-USE NATURAL TRAILS, THOSE BEACHES, THOSE NATURAL CONSERVATION AREAS, PICNIC, PICNIC AREAS IN SHELTERS, THE CONCEPT OF UNIVERSAL ACCESS, WHICH MEANS EVERYONE OF ANY ABILITY CAN USE OUR PLAYGROUNDS AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. OUTDOOR WALKING AND JO JOGGING TRACK AND OUTDOOR PERFORMING ARTS. AND WHAT WAS UNIQUE ABOUT OUR CONSULTANTS THAT WE HELPED DO THIS SURVEY WAS, IS THAT THIS, THESE QUESTIONS WERE SIMILARLY ASKED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE, THE THE NATION. UM, SO WE HAVE USEFUL BENCHMARKS. UM, THEY'RE NOT THE TELL ALL OF HOW WE WILL PROGRAM AND DESIGN GOALS AND DEVELOP THOSE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, BUT IT, IT, IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IN OUR, UM, OPEN SPACE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE DON'T, WE, UM, THE NATION OUTPACES, UM, WE OUTPACED THE NATION IN TERMS OF FEELING SAFE, UM, AND WE COULD DO BETTER IN TERMS OF PERMITTING FOR MORE RESTROOMS, UM, AND AS WELL AS THE FEELING OF ACCESS TO OUR, UH, PARKS AS WELL. SO IN ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY SURVEY, WE DID ALSO HAVE A RESIDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM. THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE REGULAR PUBLIC INPUT TO THE PROCESS. UM, AND SPECIFICALLY WE WANTED RESIDENTS FROM PARK FOUR CITY PARTS OF THE CITY, THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS BECAUSE THEN THEY CAN TAKE PART IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. UM, SO THE RLT WAS MADE UP 10 RESIDENTS AND WE MET UP WITH THEM SIX TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF SIX MONTHS. THE PURPOSE OF THE RESIDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM WAS TO PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS NOT ONLY WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE US INPUT ON THE OPEN SPACE ELEMENT FACE TO FACE OR WITH TRANSLATION GUIDANCE, UM, BUT IT WAS ALSO TO PROVIDE AN UNDERSTANDING OF OUR COMPLEX LAND USE PROCESS. SO HOW DOES THE PERMITTING PROCESS WORK? HOW DID THE ENDOWMENT PROCESS WORK? AND HOW THEY CAN GET INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR OPEN SPACES. AND OVER THE COURSE OF THOSE, UM, SIX MEETINGS, CURRICULUM RANGE FROM UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY OF PARKS AND THE HISTORY OF REDLINING AND WHY SOME AREAS OF OUR CITY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE TO BEING IN THE FIELD, BEING DOING WALK AUDITS, TO SEEING WHAT DO WE DO AS PLANNERS TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE IN OUR, UM, OPEN SPACES THROUGH OUR PERMITTING PROCESS. AND, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT OUTCOME OF THE, UH, RLT WAS THIS VISION IN AN OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT, YOU ALWAYS WANNA HAVE A VISION THAT GUIDES THE NEXT STEPS OF DEVELOPING THE GOALS, THE POLICIES AND THE PROGRAMS. ALL OF THESE GOALS, POLICY PROGRAMS, NEED TO HELP IMPLEMENT THIS VISION. SO THE VISION THAT THEY CAME UP WITH AS A TEAM IS WE ENVISION A LONG BEACH OPEN SPACE SYSTEM THAT IS CLIMATE RESILIENT AND HONORS ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OCEAN AND LAND WITH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WHERE URBAN GROWTH COEXISTS AND BALANCE WITH NATURE, WELLBEING, SAFETY AND AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. AND I ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WE ALSO DID GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS WITH TRIBES, WHICH IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART, UM, AND REQUIREMENT OF THE CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 18, UM, WHERE WE ARE REQUIRED TO CONSULT EARLY ON WITH TRIBES, UM, WHEN BEFORE AMENDING OR ADOPTING ANY CHANGES TO OUR GENERAL PLAN. UH, IN ADDITION, THESE EARLY [00:25:01] GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT MEETINGS, UM, HELPED US BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND IDENTIFY WHAT ARE KEY PRIORITIES DO TRIBES HAVE, UM, FOR WRITING ANY GOALS. WE WANNA START AT GROUND ZERO, DEVELOP THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND HAVE THEIR, THE LAY THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE, THEY VIEW THEIR NATURAL AND OPEN SPACE AND THE LENS THAT THEY VIEW IT TO REALLY COLOR HOW WE WRITE OUR POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND OUR GOALS AND TITLE CONSULTATION WILL CONTINUE TO GO OUT THROUGH THE ENTIRE, THE, THE REST OF THE OSRE PROCESS. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF OUR TIMELINE. SO WE STARTED MEETING WITH OUR CONSULTANTS IN THE WINTER OF 2024 TO THE 2025. WE HAD, UM, CHEMISTRY STUDY STUDY SESSIONS. WE HAD ROBUST COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGHOUT THE SPRING, SUMMER LEADING INTO THE FALL. UM, AND, BUT HOWEVER, IN WINTER OF, UM, IN 2025 TO 2026, WE DID HAVE TO PAUSE WORK WITH OUR CONSULTANTS DUE TO FISCAL, UM, RESOURCES BEING CONSTRAINED. UM, AND IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO A DECLINING REVENUE. SO OUR WORK WITH WAS PAUSED AS AN EMERGENCY FISCAL MEASURE. UM, PLANNING HAS BEEN WORKING, WORKING ON THE UPDATE INTERNALLY, BUT AS LOWER CASE AS WE BALANCE ALL OF OUR PERMIT AND ENTITLEMENT PRO UH, PROJECTS IN ADDITION TO OUR NEXT PLANNING WORK. AND THE NEXT STEPS ARE TO IDENTIFY FISCAL RESOURCES, JUST TO RESTART WORK WITH CONSULTANTS OR TO HAVE A REDUCED SCOPE OF WORK TO COMPLETE IN-HOUSE AND CONTINUE WITH TRIBAL CONSULTATION. UM, YEAH, SO AS WE'RE CLOSING OUT, CARLY JUST KIND OF WALKED YOU THROUGH A LOT OF THE PROCESS WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST YEAR. SOME OF THE INITIAL FINDINGS WE'RE DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN ANY FEEDBACK YOU MAY ALL HAVE. YOU SAW THE INITIAL DRAFT VISION STATEMENT THAT OUR RESIDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM PUT TOGETHER. I BELIEVE OVER 50 PEOPLE APPLIED FOR THOSE 10 SLOTS, UM, ACROSS THE CITY, BUT FOCUS IN OUR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE CITY. UM, AND THAT WAS A REALLY SUCCESSFUL MODEL. UM, BUT THAT'S JUST THE FIRST DRAFT. SO, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE VISION, UH, WE'RE ALSO STARTING TO FLESH OUT GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT'LL THEN HELP US DEVELOP THE SPECIFIC POLICIES WHICH COMPRISE THE DOCUMENT ITSELF. UM, AND THOSE PRINCIPLES INCLUDE CLIMATE RESILIENCE. WE KNOW THAT'S CRITICAL. UM, AND THAT INCLUDES, UM, EQUITY AND EQUITY AND RESILIENCY. WE'RE REALLY NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH. WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD OFF THE 2022, UH, PARTS OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT STUFF IN THERE TO BUILD FROM, UM, UH, THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE TO PRIORITIZE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING CENTRAL LESS IN NORTH LONG BEACH, BALANCING THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PARK SPACE WITH THE NEED FOR SUFFICIENT MAINTENANCE. WE KNOW THAT'S A HUGE CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN BUDGETS ARE MORE AND MORE CONSTRAINED, UH, FOR YOU ALL AS THEY ARE FOR US. UM, AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT IT'S CHALLENGING WHEN THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL PARK SPACE. ARE WE GONNA BE ABLE TO NOT JUST BUILD THEM, BUT ALSO MAINTAIN THEM WHILE STILL MAINTAINING WHAT WE HAVE TODAY? SO HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO FIND THAT BALANCE, UM, HAVING CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND APPROACHES TO CREATING OPEN SPACE SUCH AS THROUGH THE RIGHT OF WAY? WE ALL LIVED THROUGH EARLY COVID WHEN OUR, OUR STREETS WERE OUR BIG, UM, A BIG PART OF OUR OPEN SPACE NETWORK AND THERE WERE MANY TIMES CLOSED OFF TO CARDS. UM, AND OUR STREETS AND RIGHT OF WAYS ARE ACTUALLY OUR BIGGEST AMOUNT OF PUBLIC LANDS IN THE CITY. SO HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THOSE RIGHTS OF WAY, UM, IN THE LONG TERM AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR OPEN SPACE NETWORK? AND THEN RECOGNIZING THE CONNECTING TO THE HOUSING CRISIS. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED ENGAGING WITH PARKS AND REC STAFF AND PUBLIC WORK STAFF ACROSS THE CITY ON THIS ELEMENT UPDATE, WE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THE CHALLENGES OF MAINTENANCE, UM, WITH A BIG CONNECTION TO OUR UN AUTONOMOUS POPULATION. AND WE KNOW THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF BEING UNHOUSED IS NOT OF HOUSING AND HOUSING BEING TOO EXPENSIVE. UM, UH, HOUSING IS MUCH OF WHAT WE DEAL WITH HERE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. UM, AND THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN, UM, OUR, UM, HOUSING CRISIS AND MAINTENANCE AND MAINTENANCE COST FOR PARTS IS REAL. HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON BOTH OF THOSE THINGS AT THE SAME TIME? UM, SO THESE ARE JUST KIND OF SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS ON GUIDING PRINCIPLES. WE'RE VERY INTERESTED, UM, IN FEEDBACK YOU MAY ALL HAVE AS WE TRY TO TAKE IT BACK TO DEVELOP A DRAFT PLAN. UM, THE, THE BUDGET TO, TO DO ALL THIS WORK, INCLUDING THE STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT SURVEY CARLY TALKED TO YOU ABOUT AND THE EXTENSIVE OUTREACH THAT WAS ALL PAID FOR THROUGH, UM, A FEE THAT, UH, THAT OUR DEVELOPMENT, UM, THE DEVELOPMENT PERMITS PAY. UM, IT'S SORT OF AN ADDED FEE FOR HELPING US UPDATE THE GENERAL PLAN BECAUSE DEVELOPMENT HAS SLOWED WAY DOWN. UM, BUT THERE'S A LOT LESS OF THAT REVENUE AVAILABLE. SO WE'RE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT DO, ARE WE ABLE TO DO ALL THAT WORK IN HOUSE? WHAT TECHNICAL PIECES DO WE NEED TO PAY A THIRD PARTY TO HELP US WITH? UM, OR, OR HOW DO WE MOVE THAT FORWARD? IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM ALL DO THE WORK IN HOUSE. THEY'RE VERY BUSY PROCESSING PERMITS AND PROJECTS AND THAT KIND OF THING. UM, BUT BECAUSE OF THAT SLOW DOWN, WE'RE, WE'RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO REWORK ALL THAT. SO, UM, THAT'S KIND OF A LITTLE MORE COLOR TO TO WHERE WE ARE. UM, BUT DEFINITELY EXCITED FOR ANY FEEDBACK, UH, THE COMMISSION MAY HAVE ON THESE TOPICS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA DO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION. AND SO I JUST WANNA, UM, GIVE CHRISTINE A MOMENT TO TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS A VERY FULL MEETING WHERE WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON ENSURING OUR COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO PARKS. [00:30:01] SO, UM, I'M GONNA KEEP PUBLIC COMMENT AT THREE MINUTES FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT. SO, CHRISTINE, ARE YOU READY WITH THE TIMER? OKAY. SO IS THERE ANYBODY WISHING TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS VERY COMPREHENSIVE REPORT? I'M INTERESTED. OKAY. PLEASE STAND UP AND SAY AND GIVE YOUR NAME. YEAH. UM, MY NAME IS CHRIST LONGTIME PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH, BORN HERE. UM, I, I'M REALLY IMPRESSED BY THE STATEMENT THAT THE TEAM CAME UP WITH THE VISION STATEMENT. I, I KIND OF WONDER WHY THAT WAS SUCH A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT IT'S REALLY A, A BEAUTIFUL VISION STATEMENT. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. UM, I WANTED TO SAY THAT I WANTED GET, KIND ASK IF YOU REACHED OUT, BECAUSE WE'RE FROM SIERRA CLUB, WE HAVE A LOCAL PASSPORT FROM VERY INVOLVED WITH THE CITY, MOSTLY CRITICAL. THAT'S HOW WE DO IT. UM, BUT WE WERE, WE WERE NOT CONTACTED AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU DID CONTACT ANY ENVIRONMENTAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS. AND IF NOT, WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT BECAUSE THERE'S PLENTY OF GROUPS NOT NECESSARILY LOCATED IN LONG LIKE OUR TASK FORCE IS, BUT THAT HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS AND CONCERNS. SO THAT'S AND ORGANIZED LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL. SO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. AND THEN I WANTED TO SAY AS FAR AS ACCESS GOES, WHEN WE GO OUT, WE DID SURVEYS REGARDING, UH, CONSTRUCTION OF THE POOL, UH, IN THE, ALONG THE BEACH, UH, REBUILDING OF OUR HOME POOL, WHICH IS IN THE WEALTHIEST WIDEST . AND WE WERE OPPOSED TO THAT, ESPECIALLY ON THE SAND. AND WE SEE NOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH SEA LEVEL RISE, RIGHT? SO, UH, BUT WHEN WE WENT OUT AND DID SURVEYS, WHICH WE DID OF THE COMMUNITY, WE FOUND THAT, THAT WHEN WE GO AND ASKED WE WHAT THEY WANT IN, IN A LOT OF THESE AREAS, THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT WANTING TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM. AND, AND SO I WOULD, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO PURSUE THAT BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS SUGGESTED BUILDING A POOL IN NORTH LONG BEACH, BUT WE HAVE A HUGE HISTORY AND WE'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT SLIDESHOW WITH YOU OF AN EQUITY WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESS, NOT ONLY TO GREEN AND OPEN SPACE, BUT ALSO TO THINGS LIKE WANTING TO SWIM. AND WHEN PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT HABIT IN THEIR FAMILY, THEY WOULD, MIGHT PREFER A BASKETBALL COURT OR, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS. BUT SWIMMING IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SO WE, THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER, THAT'S KIND OF, I'M SURE I'VE USED THAT MY THREE MINUTES, SO THANK YOU. IT'S A GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. UM, ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SURE, I WILL. UM, AND THEN THE, THE, HOW THIS WORKS, THREE MINUTES PUBLIC COMMENT CAN BE FOR EVERY AGENDA ITEM, CORRECT? CORRECT. SO IT'S JUST FOR OTHER THINGS. TOTALLY. SO GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND THEN CHRISTINE, I'LL TAKE THE TIME, ISN'T IT JUST FOR YEAH, JUST FOR THIS SESSION, JUST FOR THIS ITEM. IT'S JUST FOR THIS ITEM. OKAY. MY NAME IS KIMBERLY AND THEN I CAN START. UM, I WANTED TO ECHO HER COMMENTS ABOUT ACCESS TO, UM, SWIMMING LESSONS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, AS A PARENT OF THREE KIDS, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN LOOKING TO. UM, AND IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO FIND OR THE AMOUNT OF CLASSES THAT ARE OFFERED IN THE PARKS AND REC, UM, CLASSES GET FILLED UP REALLY FAST. AND THEN ACCESS TO POOLS IN ALL THE COMMUNITIES. THERE, THERE ISN'T IN ALL THE COMMUNITIES, LIKE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OF, WE'RE KIND OF LIKE NORTH LONG BEACH, UM, IT'S HARD TO FIND A POOL. SO, I MEAN, LUCKILY I FINANCIALLY AND ABLE TO, UM, SIGN THEM UP FOR, UH, THE YMCA, WHICH IS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND DO SOME LESSONS THROUGH THERE. BUT I KNOW EQUITABLY THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES THAT CAN'T AFFORD THOSE LESSONS. AND WE'VE EVEN USED, UM, BECAUSE PARKS AND RECS DOES DO A, UM, LEARNING TO BE A, UH, YOUTH, UM, I FORGET WHAT THAT'S CALLED, BUT THE LIFE, YEAH, THE LIFEGUARD. SO I'VE ACTUALLY USED THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A FREE, IT'S FREE TO TAKE. AND I SIGNED MY KIDS UP THAT FOR THAT TO GET ADDITIONAL SWINGING EXPERIENCE, UM, THROUGH THAT PROGRAM. UM, AND THEN I JUST WANNA ECHO IT BACK TO THE, UM, UH, SURVEY ABOUT PARKS FEELING SAFE. UM, I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG THING THAT WE, UM, NEED TO FOCUS ON THE SAFETY AND THE MAINTENANCE. UM, I'M CLOSE TO LAKEWOOD PARKS AND WHEN WE WERE GOING TO PARKS EVERY DAY WITH MY LITTLEST ONE, I WOULD PRIORITIZE THOSE LAKEWOOD PARKS. 'CAUSE I KNEW I'D FEEL SAFE AND I KNEW THE RESTROOMS WOULD BE OPEN AND OPERABLE AND USABLE. AND SO I THINK THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KEEP FOCUSED ON. UM, HOW ARE, HOW ARE OTHER CITIES ABLE TO DO IT? UM, AND TWICE A WEEK I'M OVER AT CARSON, UM, THE CITY OF CARSON AT THE, THE FORESEE PARK. AND I'VE NEVER FELT UNSAFE. THE RESTROOM'S ALWAYS BEEN ACCESSIBLE AND USABLE. UM, AND THE PARK'S PACKED. LIKE, I'M JUST BLOWN AWAY ABOUT HOW PACKED THAT PARK IS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT THAT I'M OVER THERE. LIKE, EVERYONE'S USING IT AND I'M LIKE, HOW CAN WE GET OUR PARKS PACKED HERE? [00:35:01] UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM? OKAY, SO I'M GONNA TAKE IT TO THE COMMISSION. UM, 'CAUSE I'M SURE WE'VE GOT SOME BURNING QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS OR INSIGHTS. SO WHO'S GOT THEIR, OH, I SEE COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON FIRST. ON, ON, UH, PAGE SIX OF YOUR SLIDE. THERE'S A MAP. WHAT ARE THOSE LITTLE CIRCLES THAT GO ALONG RIGHT THROUGH WEST SIDE AND CENTRAL LONG BEACH? I CAN'T, MY READING WITH MY READERS, I CAN'T READ WHAT THOSE ARE. THEY'RE CIRCLE DOTS. IT'S SHOWING YOU A RADIANCE AROUND THE METRO, A LINE. OH, OKAY. UM, SO YOU'RE JUST SEEING WHERE'S, WHERE'S THAT HIGHEST QUALITY TRANSIT? OH. SO ON YOUR, ON YOUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY STRUGGLE, WHETHER IT'S AN EMPLOYEE OR IN THIS COMMISSION, IS IF WE HAVE AVAILABLE FUNDS, DO WE SPEND THEM ON BUYING MORE LAND TO GET OPEN SPACE, OR DO WE SPEND IT ON MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING OR ADDING AMENITIES TO THE ONES WE'VE GOT. AND AS I'VE STRUGGLED WITH OVER THE YEARS, I'M LIKE 51 OR MORE PERCENT ON LET'S BUY THE DAMN SPACE FOR PARKS. WE'LL FIND THE MONEY AFTERWARDS TO, UM, TO IMPROVE THEM AND MAINTAIN THEM. SO PUT ME DOWN FOR GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON BUY MORE LAND, BUY MORE PARKS. THANK YOU. OKAY, COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, THANK YOU FOR THIS, UH, PRESENTATION. REALLY, I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOOD INFORMATION. UM, JUST A COUPLE THOUGHTS, A FEW QUESTIONS. SO, UH, ONE I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES AND PARK FOUR COMMUNITIES. UH, IT, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY CAN LOOK AT THE MAP AND SEE WHERE THE PARKS ARE LOCATED AND THEN YOU OVERLAY THAT WITH DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, RACIAL INFORMATION, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE INCOME. UH, AND THERE'S DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS GONNA BE A HUGE DISPARITY. HAS LONG BEEN A HUGE DISPARITY. AND, UH, I KNOW THIS IS REALLY WORKING, HAS BEEN WORKING, TRYING TO CORRECT THAT AND, UH, GLAD TO SEE THAT IT'S TELLING THAT, THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS ALSO INCLUDING IN ITS ITS CONSIDERATIONS. UM, ONE QUESTION I DID HAVE, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I I, IN READING THROUGH KIND OF LIKE WHAT THE SURVEY RESPONSES WAS AND KIND OF WHAT THE PRIORITIES FOR THE PAR, UH, FOR THE PLANNING, UH, COMMISSION OR PLANNING DEPARTMENT ARE FOR IN TERMS OF THE PARKS. UM, BUT ONE THING THAT WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT IS ALSO PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY, PROTECTION OF, OF, UH, THE LAND IN THOSE AIR IN, IN THE PARKS THEMSELVES. SO COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ALSO WHERE THAT MAY FIT WITHIN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT SCHOOLS? SURE. UM, LET'S GO SO WE GET ALL YOUR THOUGHTS. UM, I THINK THAT'S A HUGE IMPORTANT PART OF IT. UM, AND MAYBE IT COULD BE AN ADDED ONE THAT WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO WEAVE IN ON THE GUIDED PRINCIPLE SIDE. UM, BUT YOU SAW ON THE SURVEY RESULTS HOW THAT ACCESS TO NATURAL, NATURAL AREAS AND WALKING AREAS IS A HUGE PRIORITY. WE KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, EL DORADO NATURE CENTER, HOW THE LOVE OF THAT IS. WE KNOW, UM, THAT WE, WHEN WE DO RESTORE THE NATURE, SUCH AS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WETLANDS, UM, IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE CITY, THAT IT HAS, UM, UH, SO MANY IMPACTS, SO MANY POSITIVE BENEFITS, UH, AND CO-BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITY THAT HELP, THAT'S SOMETHING COMMUNITY'S LOOKING FOR THAT HELPS WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT. UM, AND ALSO HELPS WITH THINGS LIKE, UM, AIR QUALITY AND BIODIVERSITY. UM, SO, UH, THAT STRATEGY FOR NATURAL WORKING LENS IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT, UM, IN THE UPDATE. GOT IT. AND WE CAN DEVELOP LIKE A POLICY GOAL PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY LISTED TO ADDRESS ENCOURAGING, UM, NOT JUST BIODIVERSITY IN OUR NATURAL SPACE, BUT URBAN BIODIVERSITY AS A REALLY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR, UH, WHOLE HOLISTIC PLANNING. GREAT. AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THAT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, A GOOD OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO ENGAGE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. FULL DISCLOSURE, I WORK FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL NON-PROFIT, SO, UH, DEFINITELY, UH, YOU'LL HEAR AND APPRECIATE THAT THAT THAT THOUGHT AND THAT RESPONSE. UH, ONE OTHER QUESTION, IF I MAY TO YOU MAD CHAIR IS ON THE SAFETY ISSUE. I KNOW THAT IT'S ALWAYS TOUGH BECAUSE THERE'S ALL, THERE'S THE, THE PERPETUAL PERCEPTION THAT THIS IS LIKE THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME TO LIVE IN. AND I KNOW STATISTICALLY THAT'S NOT THE CASE, BUT PERCEPTION ALSO MAKES REALITY. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ON THE PARK SIDE TO ACTIVATE PARKS TO ENHANCE SECURITY, THINGS LIKE THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS THAT OBVIOUSLY OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY CAN DO. POLICE, UH, THE DEPART AMBASSADORS PROGRAM, ET CETERA. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS LIKE HOW THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT CAN BE INVOLVED IN TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT PERCEPTION? YEAH, SO, UM, YOU DEFINITELY HIT ON ONE OF 'EM, WHICH IS WE KNOW WHEN WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE AND IT'S ACTIVE, THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE FEEL MORE SAFE. UM, BUT FROM PLANNING, WE ALSO LOOK, LOOK THOUGHTFULLY AT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. SO IS THERE GOOD LIGHTING? ARE THERE GOOD LINES OF SIGHT? OR THE TREES TURN TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND THERE'S NOT KIND OF A DEAD SPOT WHERE SOMETHING, UM, UNSAFE COULD HAPPEN. UM, ARE WE THINKING ABOUT THE [00:40:01] DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT AND THEN HOW THAT WORKS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF YEAR WHEN IT GETS DARKER, UM, LATER IN THE EVENING. UM, AND THEN VISIBILITY NOT JUST WITHIN THE PARK, BUT TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY. AND ARE, ARE THERE THOSE LINES OF SIGHT? DOES IT FEEL INTERCONNECTED? UM, AND DOES THERE FEEL A SENSE OF COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP SO THAT IT CAN, UH, FEEL SAFE AND SECURE? SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN WE REVIEW PARK PLANS. BUT ALSO, UM, AS WE DEVELOP POLICIES, WE JUST HAD A GROUP OF, I THINK 10 OF OUR STAFF GO THROUGH, UM, AN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, UM, SAFETY TRAINING, A FIVE DAY TRAINING TO LEARN THOSE PRINCIPLES IN GREATER DETAIL AND DO SOME ASSESSMENTS INCLUDING OF, OF LOCAL PARK SPACE ON HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THOSE. CUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. I'M GONNA GO TO THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE. IS THERE, UH, NO. NO. OKAY. COMMISSIONER REDFORD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FIRST I WANNA ECHO CARLENE, THIS WAS A TERRIFIC REPORT AND YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. PARDON ME. I BET ALL THREE OF MY QUESTIONS ARE NOT UNDER YOUR JURISDICTION, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT THE LAND ACROSS FROM CITY HALL, BUT IS VACANT BEHIND THE PARKING STRUCTURE. YES. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT OPEN SPACE? YES. SO THAT'S, UH, THE LOCATION OF FORMER CITY HALL THAT WAS, UM, TORN DOWN, UM, WHEN THE NEW CITY HALL WAS BUILT, UM, UH, AROUND 2019. UM, AND SO IN, UH, 2016, THE CITY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT CALLED THE DESIGN, BUILD FINANCE, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN, IT'S A LONG ACRONYM, D-V-S-O-M, WHICH BASICALLY, UM, EXCHANGED THAT LAND FOR THE LAND WHERE OUR CITY HALL IS NOW. UM, WE STILL OWN THAT LAND, BUT WE AGREED TO GIVE IT TO A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPER TO DEVELOP HOUSING, NEEDED HOUSING IN THE AREA, UM, IN EXCHANGE, UH, FOR, UM, THOSE MAINTENANCE, UM, AND OPERATION RIGHTS. AND SO, UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR, UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, DID THE FINAL APPROVAL, UM, TO ALLOW THAT DEVELOPMENT TO MOVE FORWARD. SO THOSE 729 HOUSING UNITS, UH, WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION EITHER LATER THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR. SO THEY WILL BE DONE BY THE OLYMPICS MAYBE. UH, CONSTRUCTION USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 24 MONTHS, SO I DON'T THINK IT'LL BE DONE BY THE OLYMPICS. THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL HOPE. UM, THE, THE FOLKS THAT PLANNED TO ORIGINALLY, SO THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN APPROVAL IN LATE 2019 OR VERY BEGINNING OF 2020 TO DO THIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE FINANCIAL MARKETS WENT PRETTY CRAZY IN 2020 AND THAT DEVELOPMENT BECAME FINANCIALLY INFEASIBLE. THERE WERE ACTUALLY THREE DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS THAT TRIED TO MAKE IT WORK AND, AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO. UM, AND SO A GROUP CAME BACK AND ASKED FOR A MODIFICATION TO THEIR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO MAKE IT MORE, UH, FEASIBLE AS TO TODAY'S FINANCIAL CONDITIONS. AND ESSENTIALLY THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A LOT MORE RETAIL IN THE PROJECT THAT THEY'VE HAD TO TAKE OUT BECAUSE THE RETAIL MARKET IS NOT WHAT IT WAS PRE COVID OR IN 2016. UM, SO THAT APPROVAL, YEAH, LIKE I SAID, GOT DONE IN MARCH. THEY'LL PROBABLY STILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY THE TIME OF THE OLYMPICS. SO WE'RE HAVING TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE HEAVILY ENSURE THAT THOSE WALKWAYS AND ACCESS POINTS ARE CLEAR FOR 2028 SOMEWHERE. OKAY. DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE'LL BE ONE PARK THERE OR IS LINCOLN PARK CONSIDERED ENOUGH? LINCOLN PARK IS THE MAIN PARK SPACE OF THAT AREA, BUT FROM THE ALINE STATION, UM, YOU'LL HAVE THAT DIRECT WALKWAY FROM THE ALINE STATION THROUGH LINCOLN PARK, THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT TO CITY HALL. SO IT'LL BE A STRAIGHT, UM, UH, WALKWAY PROMENADE THAT'LL HAVE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO IT, THAT, THAT HELPS, UH, EX UH, CONNECT THE PARK MORE BROADLY. GOOD TO KNOW. MAY I ASK, UM, IS IT RELATED TO THE PRESENTATION? YES, YES. OKAY. UM, THE COMMENT ABOUT, UM, PROGRAM ATTENDANCE, AND I AGAIN DOUBT THAT THAT'S PART OF YOUR JURISDICTION, UH, IN TERMS OF THINKING HOW TO INCREASE PROGRAM ATTENDANCE, RIGHT? YEAH. SO I CAN TAKE THAT. I THINK WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, THIS WAS BASED ON THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS. UH, BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE DO, UH, QUITE A BIT OF MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS. UH, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH SOME OF THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS OUT THERE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH TO TRY TO GET, UH, THEIR CHILDREN INTO OUR PROGRAMS. UH, YOU KNOW, WE MARKET EXTENSIVELY TO OUR SENIOR POPULATION AND OUR TEENS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY, UH, WE WOULD ALWAYS LOVE TO HAVE MORE. UM, BUT, UH, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ACTIVELY DOING WHAT WE CAN TO GET, UH, PEOPLE INTO OUR PARKS AND OUR PROGRAMS. AND I THINK SOME OF THE OTHER SURVEY RESPONDENT, UH, RESPONSES WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AND DO THEY KIND OF, UH, PLAY OFF OF EACH OTHER. UH, ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS, UH, AS WE WERE DEVELOPING OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR WAS, UH, TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND MAINTENANCE CONCERNS. AND IF PEOPLE PERCEIVE THE PARKS NOT TO BE CLEAN, SAFE, AND WELCOMING, THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME TO OUR PROGRAMS. AND IF WE, UM, YOU KNOW, SO WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS OUR RESOURCES ON, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM SOME OF THE OTHER SURVEY RESPONSES ON MAINTENANCE. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. THIS WAS A, THIS WAS A CUT YEAR, UH, FOR FY 27, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. UH, OUR DEPARTMENT CUT ABOUT $2.8 MILLION. UH, BUT WE WORKED [00:45:01] VERY, VERY HARD TO PRESERVE OUR MAINTENANCE BUDGETS SO THAT THAT PERCEPTION, UH, ISN'T SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES. PEOPLE KNOW OUR PARKS ARE CLEAN, SAFE, AND WELCOMING. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD, BUT IF PEOPLE ARE UNSURE ABOUT COMING TO THE PARK, THAT DOESN'T MATTER. AND SO WE WORK VERY HARD ON PRESERVING THAT. UH, WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PARK AMBASSADOR PROGRAM AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN. UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE, UH, CLEANLINESS AND AVAILABILITY OF OUR PARK RESTROOMS, UH, WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT, UM, IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR PARK RESTROOMS EVER SINCE THE FULL AMBASSADOR PROGRAM HAS, UH, BEEN IMPLEMENTED. AND SO CERTAINLY, UM, YOU KNOW, WHILE THIS WAS A GREAT UPDATE AS WELL, WE CAN ALSO TAKE SOME OF THE FINDINGS OF WHAT WE HAVE SO FAR AND KIND OF UTILIZE THAT IN SOME OF OUR DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. THANK YOU. I, I JUST SAID, I ACTUALLY COMPLETED THIS SURVEY AS A WEST SIDE RESIDENT AND UM, UM, MY RESPONSES WERE SO DIFFERENT THAN THAN THE AVERAGE. UH, UM, BUT I DO HAVE TO SAY SAFETY OF COURSE IS ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES. AND MY LAST COMMENT WAS, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE AMPHITHEATER, AND AGAIN, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT YOUR JURISDICTION, BUT GETTING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OUT TO THAT AMPHITHEATER. OH, I KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT PROGRAM ATTENDANCE IS THAT I USUALLY GO TO SOMETHING IF A FRIEND INVITES ME, YOU KNOW, LET'S GO TOGETHER. I WONDER IF WE COULD IMPLEMENT LIKE A INCENTIVE, YOU KNOW, YOU GET DISCOUNT OR YOU BRING A GUEST. I MEAN, YOU BRING SOMEBODY AND THEY SIGN UP, YOU GET A HALF OFF OR WHATEVER, WHATEVER. JUST AN IDEA. OKAY. UM, YOU'RE DONE. OKAY. COMMISSIONER ALLEN. UM, YES, THANK YOU AGAIN. THIS WAS GREAT AND SOME OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. I I HAD A COUPLE OTHERS. UM, IT'S SPECIFICALLY ON THE SURVEY RESULTS. UM, DO WE KNOW THE BREAKDOWN OF WHAT DISTRICTS THOSE COME FROM? 'CAUSE I DO THINK THAT THAT INFORMS, UM, OBVIOUSLY IF, IF FOLKS THAT HAVE A PARK WANT A SPLASH PAD AND FOLKS THAT NEED A PARK AND THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT A SPLASH PAD MM-HMM . I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW KIND OF WHERE THOSE SURVEY RESULTS CAME FROM. YEAH, SO I MAYBE, UH, IT WAS ACTUALLY PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE GRANULAR. SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE SURVEY RESULTS WHERE WE TRY TO IDENTIFY THE INCOME BRACKETS. WE ALSO DID RENTER VERSUS HOMEOWNER. WE DID RACE, WE DID A, A VARIETY OF DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS TO IDENTIFY THOSE MORE GRANULAR QUESTIONS. UM, SO WE HOPE TO PRESENT IT AS PART OF THE DRAFT. WE DIDN'T GET TO THAT, UM, FORMAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE, UH, PRODUCT, UM, SO FAR WITH OUR CONSULTANTS. UM, BUT WE CAN SEE KIND OF WHERE, UH, THERE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUST INJUSTICE OR CERTAINLY LACK OF PARKS IN NORTH, CENTRAL AND WEST. UM, THOSE EXPERIENCES AND THOSE USER EXPERIENCES TEND TO LEAN MORE NEGATIVELY OR THE INABILITY TO ACCESS THOSE FACILITIES. SO WE DO HAVE THE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, WE HAVE AN ANALYZED IT BY COUNCIL DISTRICT, BUT THE, WE DID A MAIL SURVEY THAT WAS STATISTICALLY VALID AND REFLECTS CITYWIDE. AND THEN WE DID THOSE FOCUSED IN PERSON OUTREACH THAT WAS, UM, MOSTLY FOCUSED IN UNDERSERVED PARK, FOUR AREAS OF THE CITY, SO CENTRAL WEST. GOT IT. YEAH, I DO THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S BALANCED AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW SURVEY PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH ACCESS OFTEN TAKE SURVEYS MORE THAN PEOPLE WITHOUT. AND SO HOW WE BALANCE THAT OUT. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO KNOW ON THE TRIBAL INFORMATION, I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT IT. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'LL BE IN FUTURE PRESENTATIONS, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST SAY THAT I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HEAR WHAT THOSE PRIORITIES ARE FROM THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY, UM, AS WE CONTINUE THIS DEVELOPMENT. 'CAUSE WE GIVE A LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THEN DON'T QUITE GIVE TOO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE. SO MAYBE IF WE CAN JUST ADD THAT IN FUTURE PRESENTATIONS. THE MAIN REASON WAS FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALITY IN OUR GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT AGREEMENTS. UM, SO AS WE ACTUALLY DEVELOP, COLLABORATE THOSE, UM, POLICY DIRECTION AND PROGRAMS, UM, THAT'S WHEN IT'S WHEN WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LIKE, HEY, THESE WILL BE PUBLIC. IS IT OKAY IF WE PUBLICIZE THESE? THAT'S WHEN WE'LL OF COURSE PRESENT. SO MAYBE EVEN THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. 'CAUSE I, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO KNOW. AND THEN THE LAST THING I HAD IS I DIDN'T SEE ANY KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OR CALL OUT FOR PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY, UM, IN THESE KIND OF GUIDING PRINCIPLES. SO PEOPLE WITH FIELD CHAIRS OR FOLKS THAT HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES. SO, YOU KNOW, I AM CERTAINLY IN, IN AGREEMENT WITH ALL OF THE KIND OF NATURAL HABITAT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO ACCESS THAT SOMETIMES IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE REALLY GOING HARD ON NATURAL, THEN THAT MAKES IT POTENTIALLY INACCESSIBLE FOR OTHERS. AND SO MAKING SURE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN FUTURE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OR DOCUMENTS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIFIC, UM, FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING THAT TOP OF MIND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LAND ACQUISITION PART. OKAY. VICE CHAIR. YEAH. UM, SO JUST A COUPLE THINGS. SO FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, AS [00:50:01] EVERYONE'S BEEN SAYING THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION, UM, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED, ESPECIALLY WITH JUST THE, THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, THE NUMBER OF TIMES AND NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS THE, UH, COMMUNITY WAS INVOLVED. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, WANTED TO, AS, AS ALWAYS, UM, DIRECTOR SCOTT REFERENCED THE PERCEPTION OF CLEANLINESS AND WELCOME AND, AND, AND SAFETY. AND I THINK IT REALLY OFTENTIMES DOES START WITH THE PARK RESTROOMS. AND I KNOW THAT'S LIKE MY THING, BUT LIKE I, I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE THAT'S, THAT'S THE CASE BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO BEING ABLE TO USE THE RESTROOMS AND FEELING LIKE THEY'RE SAFE AND FEELING, AND THAT THEY'RE CLEAN AND EVERYTHING, THAT THE CLEAN RESTROOMS ALSO LETS PEOPLE KNOW THAT SOMEONE'S TAKING CARE OF THEM, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE NOT, SO EVEN IF YOU DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT SOMEONE IS THERE OR HAS BEEN THERE RECENTLY OR IS COMING SOON. AND SO IT DOES ADD TO THAT TOO. SO, UH, UM, I, I ECHO OUR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL WHERE IT'S LIKE WHEN WE GO TO NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, SOME OF THOSE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AROUND, UM, KEEPING OUR RESTROOMS CLEAN. AND 100% HAVE SEEN A, A, A HUGE, UH, IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, BUT WONDERING HOW MUCH FURTHER WE CAN GO, BECAUSE I DO, I DO THINK IT'S CONNECTED WITH SOME OF THOSE OTHER, UM, CONCERNS. I WAS ALSO INTERESTED ON, UM, ON THAT, UH, SLIDE 15 BECAUSE, UH, WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE AMENITIES AND FACILITIES MOST IMPORTANT TO RESIDENTS, IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN WE ARE TALKING IN THE COMMISSION ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, PARK DEVELOPMENT OR ABOUT LAYOUTS FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, CONSTRUCTION, WHATEVER, WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON PLAYING FIELDS AND COURTS. AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH INVOLVED IN THAT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT DO WE WANT TO SEE FROM THIS PARK? AND A LOT OF TIMES IT IS TALKING ABOUT LIKE BASKETBALL, PICKLEBALL, WHATEVER IT IS, LIKE PLAYING FIELDS AND COURTS. BUT THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THE TOP, UH, THE TOP RANKED IMPORTANT TO RESIDENTS WERE MORE OF THOSE NATURAL AREAS AND NOT THE COURTS AND PLAYING FIELD. SO THAT MAKES ME WONDER WHETHER THE SURVEYS ARE NOT REACHING THE SAME GROUPS OF PEOPLE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HAVING A COMMUNICATION AND THAT THERE'S LIKE A, A DIALOGUE THERE BETWEEN THESE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONE PARCEL OF LAND, IT CAN'T BE BOTH A BASKETBALL COURT AND LIKE A, A NATURE WALK, RIGHT? SO THINKING ABOUT, UM, HOW ARE WE REACHING BOTH GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT SEEM TO HAVE VERY DIFFERENT, UM, VERY DIFFERENT PRIORITIES. SO I WONDER IF YOU HAVE A MOMENT, I'LL ALSO SAY THAT THE FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE UHHUH . THE SECOND QUESTION IS ABOUT WHAT'S EXISTING THAT WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE AS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE VALUE TODAY. UM, SO I THINK THOSE DO GO HAND IN HAND IN TERMS OF IF WE'RE DEVELOPING NEW PARKS, WE SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER THESE TOP PRIORITIES. AND WHEN WE CONSIDER ABOUT LIKE DAY TO DAY HOW WE ALREADY HAVE OUR PARK SPACES, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THOSE SO THAT THOSE RESIDENTS, UM, VALUE CONTINUE FOLLOWING THOSE BEACHES AS MULTI-USE NATURAL TRAILS. BUT DEFINITELY, YEAH, AND I DO SEE THAT HOWEVER, THE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FIRST BULLET POINT, IT'S TALKING ABOUT INDOOR BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL, RIGHT? WHICH IS, WHICH ISN'T THE SAME AS FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE OUR BASKETBALL COURTS HERE, RIGHT? SO WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE PARK, I'M SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE USING THE BASKETBALL COURTS, I'M SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE USING THE SOCCER FIELDS, THAT SORT OF THING, BUT IT'S NOT LISTED ON THE SECOND BULLET POINT AS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES, WHICH MAKES ME WONDER ARE THE PEOPLE USING THE BASKETBALL COURTS NOT TAKING THE SURVEY? RIGHT? AND THEN, THEN HOW DO WE MAKE, MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT THEY WANT AS WELL? YEAH. THANK YOU. OKAY. COMMISSIONER SEAN? YEAH, SORRY. UM, A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I WANTED TO KIND OF JUST ECHO ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS COMMISSIONER ALLEN MADE IN REGARDS TO THE DISTRICT KIND OF RECAP AND FOCUS. I THINK ALSO LOOKING AT THAT MIDDLELAND PIECE AND HOW THE COLLECTION LOOKED DISTRICT BY DISTRICT, UM, BECAUSE I THINK IF THAT WAS UTILIZED AS A MAIN ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUTREACH, WHAT DOES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT SURVEYS OF GROUPS, WHAT DID THAT LOOK LIKE? AND THEN AGAIN, JUST ECHOING REALLY MORE CONTEXT ON THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, AS SOMEONE THAT WORKS WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, THE MORE INFORMATION AND CONTEXT WE CAN GIVE THE BETTER. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THERE AND JUST KNOWING, SHARING THAT REALLY HELPS IN THAT PROCESS. SO THANK YOU. OKAY. AND NOW I'LL GO . UM, SO I LOVE THE, UM, IT'S A GREAT START WITH AN ACTIVE AND INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHICH WE, AS SOMEONE WHO USED TO WORK FOR A CITY A VERY LONG TIME AGO, WE DON'T, T AND I CAME FROM A COUNCIL OFFICE . UM, WE DON'T TYPICALLY SEE THAT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE INTENTIONALITY ABOUT BEING VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT WHO WAS SELECTED TO BE ON THAT LEADERSHIP GROUP. AND SO HOPEFULLY THOSE FOLKS CAN STAY ENGAGED IN SOME WAY THAT THEY ARE UPDATED, THAT THEY'RE STILL PART OF THE LARGER PROCESS. I'M SURE THEY WERE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BEGIN WITH. AND SO THIS HAS ONLY HELPED THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR CONNECTION WITH THE CITY IN A REALLY DIFFERENT WAY. UM, SO APPRECIATE THAT. UM, I ALWAYS, AS THE COMMUNITY, AS THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGER, I ALWAYS LOVE ME [00:55:01] A GOOD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN. SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT START TO THE VISION STATEMENT. WHAT THEY DID AS THAT GROUP WAS VERY POWERFUL. ANYTIME WE CREATE A VISION STATEMENT, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO INCLUDE. AND SO I DO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ALLEN ON ACCESSIBILITY. UM, THE MORE AND MORE THAT WE SEE FAMILIES WHO REALLY STRUGGLE WITH CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND AS, AS WE ALL GET OLDER, UM, WE ALL GET SPECIAL NEEDS. AND SO THAT STUFF IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND I KNOW THAT OBVIOUSLY THE NATURE CENTER IS OUR JEWEL AND WE'VE GOT THAT SMALL LITTLE TRAIL THAT'S ACCESSIBLE. BUT I OFTEN SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE, UH, WHEELCHAIR BOUND OR WALKER BOUND. AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS THE MOM WHO'S USING A WALKER, THERE'S NO WAY SHE COULD EVEN GET DOWN PART OF THAT TRAIL. AND I UNDERSTAND THE LANDSCAPE AND ALL THAT, BUT THAT IS GOING TO BECOME A BIGGER AND BIGGER ISSUE FOR US AS OUR POPULATION CONTINUES TO AGE AND WONDERFULLY LIVE. SO, UM, THANK YOU ALL. I THINK THAT THERE WAS ONE MORE COMMENT. YEAH. I HAD, I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON, UH, COMMISSIONER REDFIELD SECOND QUESTION. IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR YOUR ANSWER TO COMMISSIONER ALLEN THAT THERE IS MORE GRANULARITY TO THIS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUMPED OUT WAS 80% OF RESIDENTS ARE NOT ACTIVELY DOING. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SURVEY CAN FIND OUT IF THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT THAT WE AREN'T PROVIDING OR IF THEY WOULDN'T DO IT AND WE ARE PROVIDING EVERYTHING WE NEED. JUST A QUESTION YEAH. TO LOOK AT. WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THE, UM, REPORT AND SEE IF WE CAN PULL THAT OUT. UM, WE DID, WE HAVE COMPLETED WITH OUR SURVEY CONSULTANT. YEAH. UM, BUT WE CAN MAYBE ALWAYS ASK 'EM LIKE, HOW DID YOU GET TO THE METHODOLOGY AND WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION CAN YOU PARSE OUT? 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T PAY . YEAH. YOU SEE THESE SURVEYS AND THE THING THAT JUMPED OUT TO ME WAS, WAS THE SAFETY, WHICH PEOPLE ARE GONNA ANSWER THAT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE GONNA GO STRICT. BUT THE 80% OF RESIDENTS NOT USING OUR PARKS MAKES ME ALMOST CRY. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING THAT WE'RE NOT. THANK YOU. THANKS. THAT'S A GREAT POINT. UM, OKAY. ANY, ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION? IS THERE LIKE ANYTHING BURNING? OKAY, WE'RE GONNA WRAP THIS UP. WE'RE GONNA BE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, THE WONDERFUL PRESENTATION, UM, AND MAKING THAT CONNECTION. 'CAUSE WE'RE ALL CONNECTED IN SOME WAY WITH THIS WORK, NO MATTER IF WE KNOW IT OR NOT. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. SO, UM, WE'VE GOT A VERY GOOD, YES, WE'VE GOT A FIRST BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE. RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FEE WAIVER REQUESTS OUTLINED IN ATTACHMENT A IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEE WAIVER POLICY. CAN I GET A MOTION? SECOND? UH, I DIDN'T QUITE HEAR WHO THE FIRST WAS. OKAY. AND THEN THE SECOND. OKAY. I AM GOING TO HAND THIS OVER TO DIRECTOR SCOTT. YES. THANK YOU, CHAIR. SO WE ARE GONNA HAVE ASHLEY , OUR MANAGER OF COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES, PROVIDE THIS STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UH, WE HAVE C SIX D WINGER REQUESTS, UH, FOR APPROVAL. UH, THIS MONTH WE HAVE A, A RETURNING GROUP, UM, EXCUSE ME. THE BLOCKHEAD BRIGADE IS PROPOSING TO HOST A NEW EVENT ON OCTOBER 10TH. THIS IS PIT BULL APPRECIATION DAY TO TAKE PLACE AT MARINA VISTA PARK OPEN SPACE. THIS IS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR. UH, THE AMOUNT FEES PROPOSED TO BE WAIVED IS $229 IN PERMANENT SPECIAL USE FEES. THERE WILL BE, UH, $0 IN REVENUE AND FEES PAID. THERE IS NO EDE GATE REVENUE AS IT'S, UM, AT DE AND THE ANTICIPATED ATTENDANCE IS 100 PEOPLE. THE SECOND, UH, REQUEST IS ALSO NOT A NEW GROUP. UM, THIS IS NOT A NEW EVENT THAT THIS IS, UH, THE MONG ASSOCIATION OF LONG BEACH IS PROPOSING TO HOST THE HMONG NEW YEAR FESTIVAL, UM, TO TAKE PLACE, UM, A CULTURAL EVENT AT EL RDO PARK EAST ON DECEMBER 11TH. ACTUALLY, IT'S OVER THE COURSE OF DECEMBER 11TH THROUGH THE 13TH. THIS IS A CULTURAL EVENT. UM, THE AMOUNT OF FEES PROPOSED TO BE WAIVED IS $2,690. THERE IS ALSO, UH, $978 IN SECURITY DEPOSIT AND STAFF FEES THAT WILL BE PAID. THERE WILL BE EDE GATE REVENUE AND THERE IS AN ANTICIPATED SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY PEOPLE ESTIMATED IN ATTENDANCE. THE THIRD, UH, REQUEST IS A NEW GROUP AND IT IS A NEW ACTIVITY. IT IS A WEST COAST. DISC GOLF GROUP IS PROPOSING TO HOST A DISC VAULT TOURNAMENT TO TAKE PLACE AT EL DORADO PARK. WEST DISCAL [01:00:01] AND OPEN SPACE AREA IS A SPORTING EVENT TO OCCUR ON TUESDAYS BETWEEN, UH, OCTOBER 6TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 10TH. UH, WE, THEY'RE PROPOSING, UM, OR WE ARE PROPOSING TO WEIGH $579 AND 50 CENTS AND PERMIT AND SPECIAL FEES. UH, THE, THERE WILL BE FEE REVENUE AND FEES PAID $579 AND 50 CENTS IN OTHER FEES PAID. THERE IS NO EDE GATE REVENUE. THERE IS ANTICIPATED 40 PEOPLE PERMIT, UM, ATTENDING PERMIT. UM, THE, THE NEXT UH, P WAIVER REQUEST IS WITH CLIMB CENTRAL LONG BEACH, NOT A NEW GROUP, UM, NOT A NEW EVENT. PROPOSING TO HOST A HARVEST FESTIVAL, A COMMUNITY EVENT AT MACARTHUR OAK SPACE PARK, OCTOBER 17TH OF THIS YEAR. THIS IS A COMMUNITY EVENT. UM, THERE WE ARE PROPOSING TO WAIVE $229 IN PERMANENT SPECIAL AGE FEES. THERE IS ZERO REVENUE AND $0 IN REVENUE IN IN FEES PAID. THERE IS NO EDE EIGHT REVENUE AND THEY'RE ANTICIPATING A HUNDRED PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. THE NEXT PERMIT, UM, UP, I'M SORRY, THE NEXT FEE WAIVER, UM, IS, UH, NOT A NEW GROUP. IT IS, UM, PARTNERS OF PARKS IN, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FORENSIC BIXBY PARK. IT IS NEW EVENTS, HOWEVER, UM, PROPOSING TO HOST COMMUNITY CONCERTS, A FALL CONCERT SERIES, UM, TO TAKE PLACE, UH, ON MULTIPLE DATES IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, UM, SEPTEMBER 18TH, SEPTEMBER 25TH, OCTOBER 2ND, OCTOBER 9TH AT BIXBY PARK VAN SHELL PROPOSING TO WAIVE $1,111 IN RENTAL AND PERMIT FEES. THERE WILL BE 1020 $4 IN STAFF FEES PAID. UM, THERE IS NO ED GATE REVENUE AND IT ANTICIPATED 100 PEOPLE WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AT EACH EVENT. THE LAST, UH, YOU EVER UP FOR APPROVAL IS ALL AGAIN, PARTNERS OF PARKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AMIGOS BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. NOT A NEW EVENT, UM, A HALLOWEEN CAR, CAR, I'M SORRY, HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL, A COMMUNITY EVENT TO BE, UM, HELD AT BBY PARK BAN. SHE ON OCTOBER 25TH OF THIS YEAR, UM, PROPOSING TO WAIVE $310 IN RENTAL AND PERMIT FEES. $320 IN ZAP FEES WILL BE PAID. THERE IS NO EDE GATE REVENUE AND IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT 100 PEOPLE WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FEES WAIVED, UM, AMONGST THE SIX PERMITS WOULD BE $5,140 AND 50 CENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO FIRST, 'CAUSE UM, I THINK THERE MAY BE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE THERE. WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS AND TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY HERE, UM, REPRESENTING THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO SHARE ABOUT THEIR EVENT OR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE ON THE LIST IS BLOCKHEAD BRIGADE. IS ANYBODY HERE FROM BLOCKHEAD BRIGADE? OKAY. IS ANYBODY HERE FROM THE MONG ASSOCIATION OF LONG BEACH? WEST COAST DISC GOLF? OH, GREAT. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. I'M RYAN SMORE. UH, I RUN SMALL EVENTS FOR DISC GOLFERS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. UM, I RUN HUNTINGTON BEACH DISC GOLF COURSE. I RUN EVENTS AT DAVID BAKER GOLF COURSE. I'M JUST TRYING TO DO A SMALL THING FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, BRING PEOPLE IN, UH, SET UP A, A SAFE SPACE FOR THEM TO PLAY. IT'S A-P-D-G-A SANCTIONED EVENT, SO THEY'RE GETTING A RATING ON THEIR ROUND. SO ANY PLAYERS THAT ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS GOLF ARE ABLE TO COME PLAY IN A RAID TOURNAMENT WEEKLY. UH, YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN A SIX WEEK PERIOD TO DO THIS. UM, JUST TRYING TO MAKE EVERYBODY IN THE PARK HAPPY AND DO SOMETHING NICE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. UM, CLIMB CENTRAL LONG BEACH PARTNERS OF PARKS, FRIENDS OF BIXBY PARK. HI. CAN I JUST DO BOTH? I'M HERE FOR BOTH. YOU SURE CAN. OKAY. SO, HI EVERYBODY. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU GUYS AGAIN. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH ALAMEDO BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THAT'S GONNA BE CANDACE. UM, SO GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. OH, I'M SORRY. MY NAME IS ALIYAH KAHN. I'M FROM PARTNERS WITH PARKS AND PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS, . UM, SO WE HAVE TWO GROUPS THAT ARE OUR FISCAL PARTNERS. WE'RE VERY LUCKY AS PARTNERS IN PARKS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UH, AND TO HELP THEM FACILITATE THEIR EVENTS AND PUT OUR NAME ON IT, BUT THEY DO ALL THE HARD WORK. UM, SO I'M JUST HERE TO HOPEFULLY ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THEIR FEE WAIVER. THESE PEOPLE DO AMAZING WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THEY ACTIVATE OUR PARK SPACES. UM, THEY GIVE THOSE 80% OF RESIDENTS WHO DON'T USE OUR PARK SPACES A REASON TO GO TO THE PARK. UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO. SO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE, THE APPLICATION. THANK YOU, AALIYAH. OKAY, NOW I AM GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO THE, UM, COMMISSION. OH YEAH. ANYBODY ELSE [01:05:01] FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. SO NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE BACK TO THE COMMISSION. ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONERS WITH QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, THOUGHTS ON THESE ACTIVITIES? I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. DOES THE DI DO YOU CHARGE FOR THE THE DISC GOLF? DO YOU CHARGE THEM A SMALL FEE JUST TO ADMINISTRATIVE? IT'S A SMALL FEE. UH, THE PDGA TAKES A DOLLAR. UM, WE HAVE THE INSURANCE FEES. UH, THERE'S AN ACE POOL THAT THEY PAY INTO. SO IF THEY HAVE TO GET A HOLE IN ONE, THEN THEY WOULD WIN MONEY OUT OF THAT. I'M A GOLFER. WE KNOW ABOUT HOLY WINE . THAT MEANS A LOT MORE IN DISC GOLF THAN I BET . YOU GOTTA, THESE ARE MINIMAL. IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE THAT WE'VE APPLIED FOR, UM, THEN I WILL BE ABLE TO RUN THE EVENT. OTHERWISE, I'D BE PRICING MYSELF OUT OF THESE PEOPLE. THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY IN THIS GOLF. I'D BE PRICING MYSELF OUT OF THEM SHOWING UP. SO IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN I DON'T THINK THAT I'LL RUN THE EVENT AT ALL. THANK YOU. UM, HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS SEE, UH, THE POSITIVITY ABOUT IT. UM, I, I DO A REALLY GOOD JOB. I'M, UH, ALWAYS THERE EVERY WEEK. EVERYBODY KNOWS ME IN THE COMMUNITY TOO. SO IF YOU WERE TO ASK ANY DISC GOLFERS, THEY WOULD BE LIKE, OH YEAH, RYAN, WE KNOW HIM. HE DOES THE HUNTING. TIM BEACH, THIS GOLF COURSE. HE RUNS ALL THE EVENTS. UH, UM, YEAH. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. CHAIR COMMISSIONER REDFIELD. OH, THANK YOU. YOU'RE ALMOST CHAIR FOR A MINUTE, SO THANK YOU. UM, I PLAY, UH, TENNIS AT EL DORADO AND I WALK THROUGH, IT'S ALWAYS FILLED WITH ALL THESE DISC GOLFERS. YEAH. AND THEY'RE VERY GRACIOUS TO LET THE PEOPLE WALK THROUGH IF YOU'RE GONNA, IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY. EVERYBODY'S SUPER FRIENDLY AND NICE. IT'S, UH, IT KIND, IT IS JUST SMALL POTATOES, YOU KNOW. SO MY QUESTION IS, AS WE'RE WALKING THROUGH IN AND OUT KIDS, ET CETERA, UM, IF THERE'S A TOURNAMENT, IS IT GONNA BE DO, IS IT RIGHT THERE, YOU KNOW, BY THAT WALKWAY? SO, UH, I WOULD BE SETTING UP A TENT. RIGHT? DO YOU KNOW WHERE A HOLE ONE'S TEE PAD IS? SO IF YOU WALK DOWN THE SIDEWALK TO THE TENNIS COURTS, UM, THET PAD IS JUST LEFT OF THAT SIDEWALK. SO I'D BE SETTING UP IN THE OPEN SPACE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK. UM, IT'D BE A SHOTGUN START. SO WHEN WE START THE EVENT, HE KNOWS WHAT THAT IS. UH, EVERYBODY WILL GO TO DIFFERENT HOLES, SO THERE WOULD NEVER BE REALLY A BIG GATHERING THERE. AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT I CAN'T TAKE ANY MONEY IN THE PARK OR ANYTHING, SO THEY'D BE PAYING ONLINE BEFORE THEY SHOWED UP. SO WE JUST GATHER UP REAL QUICK AND THEN THEY WOULD ALL GET SENT OUT TO DIFFERENT HOLES. OKAY. I JUST WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY IN TERMS OF DISCS FLYING. YES. IT'S REALLY COOL. WE WOULDN'T CARRY INSURANCE THROUGH THE PDGA. UM, THEY, PEOPLE KEEP OUT. EVERYBODY LOOKS OUT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. UH, THEY, YOU HAVE THE PARK HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY INJURIES IN THE PAST, BUT IT'S PRETTY RARE THAT SOMEBODY DID. THANKS. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? OKAY. SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON AND VOTE, ALTHOUGH, UH, WE'VE GOT A FIRST BY COMMISSIONER SCHOEN, A SECOND BY COMM, UM, VICE CHAIR HIGA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE A AYE. GREAT. THANK YOU. UM, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IF YOU WERE HERE FOR, FOR THIS . ALRIGHT. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD LUCK. HAVE FUN. OKAY. SO WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION NUMBER 26 DASH 215 FROM THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC, A LIBRARY FOUNDATION, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION TO HOST THE GRAPE EXPECTATIONS GALA, GALA, OR GALA AT LINCOLN PARK ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2026. THAT WILL INCLUDE THE CONSUMPTION AND SALE OF ALCOHOL WITH PARAMETERS DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE. SO CAN I GET A FIRST? SO MOVED A SECOND. A SECOND. THANK YOU. AND I BELIEVE THAT COMMISSIONER REDFIELD, YOU NEEDED TO, UM, RECUSE YOURSELF IN THIS WITNESS. YES. AND IN THIS CASE TO WHOEVER RECUSE MYSELF THERE OR OUTSIDE? OUTSIDE. OUTSIDE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. SO I'VE SAT ON THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION BOARD FOR OVER 20 YEARS. YEAH, I KNOW. SO WE'LL GIVE HER A MOMENT TO STEP OUT AND THEN, UM, WE WILL SHIFT AND THEN DON'T WORRY, WE WON'T FORGET YOU WHEN WE'RE DONE. UM, AND THEN WE'LL SHIFT IT OVER NOW TO DIRECTOR SCOTT. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CHAIR. UH, WE HAVE ANNE HUDSON, ONE OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS, UH, ANALYST HERE TO PROVIDE THE STAFF REPORT ON [01:10:01] THIS APP. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. SINCE 1996, THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION HAS FUNDRAISED AND ADVOCATED FOR THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY. ON SEPTEMBER 27TH OF THIS YEAR, THE FOUNDATION WILL BE HOLDING THEIR 23RD GREAT EXPECTATIONS. GALA FUNDS RAISED FROM THE EVENT WILL BENEFIT THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY AND SUPPORT FREE LIBRARY PROGRAMS SUCH AS EARLY LITERACY, STEM, AND STEAM WORKSHOPS AND JOB SEARCH RESOURCES. AT THIS YEAR'S GALA, THE FOUNDATION WILL HONOR THE DOLLY PARTONS IMAGINARY LIBRARY WITH THE LIBRARY LEADERSHIP AWARD. AND SHARON WISEMAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONERS WITH THE DUREN FAMILY AWARD ADMITTED TO THE GALA IS BY INVITATION ONLY AND WILL INCLUDE A LIVE AUCTION SPEAKERS AND A VIDEO PRESENTATION. ATTENDANCE IS ESTIMATED AT 500 GUESTS BECAUSE ALCOHOL WILL BE SERVED AT DINNER. UNDERAGE GUESTS WHO MAY ATTEND WILL BE GIVEN A WRISTBAND, SO SERVERS CAN EASILY IDENTIFY WHO MAY BE SERVED. ALCOHOL DINNER WILL BE SERVED BY CATERING STAFF ON THE TERRACE OVERLOOKING LINCOLN PARK. THE STAGE AND PROGRAM WILL BE HELD ON THE TURF AREA OF LINCOLN PARK. A PRIVATE SECURITY FIRM HAS BEEN RETAINED AND WILL BE ON SITE FOR THE EVENT FROM SET UP TO TEAR DOWN. THIS EVENT IS EXPECTED TO HAVE LITTLE OR NO IMPACT ON PROGRAMMING AT THE PARK. AND WE DO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE FOUNDATION HERE TODAY IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. GREAT. COMPLETES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. UM, SO WHAT DO I DO? SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS TO PUBLIC COMMENT. SO IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PATTY? OKAY. OH, WELL WHY DON'T WE TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FORCE AND THEN WE'LL GO TO PATTY. OKAY. OKAY. GO AHEAD AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE. GO AHEAD ANNE. GO AHEAD ANNE. UH, ANNE TRELL THO THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME PEOPLE HERE THAT, UH, KNOW THAT I AM VERY OPPOSED TO SERVING ALCOHOL IN THE PARK. UH, IT STARTED WITH, UH, WHEN A PAY TO PLAY SPORTS COMPLEX WAS GOING TO BE PUT IN EL DORADO PARK AND SELL ALCOHOL THERE. AND, UH, I AM NOT A TEA TOLER, BUT I REALLY THINK WE HAVE A, A PRESIDENT OF NOT HAVING ALCOHOL IN THE PARK. AND, UH, I THINK IT'S A GOOD ONE. I THINK PEOPLE DRINKING AND DRIVING AT OUR MENACE IS ON THE ROAD. AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE ALCOHOL AT EVERY EVENT. UH, I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING THE LIBRARY. UH, I'M A MEMBER OF FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND I THINK THIS SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL WAY TO RAISE MONEY, BUT I REALLY DO NOT THINK DO ALCOHOL WAS APPROPRIATE IN PARK. I YOU OKAY, PATTY? HI, MY NAME IS PATTY LEE AND I'M WORKING WITH THE LIBRARY AT PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION ON THIS EVENT. AND I DO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS. THE, UH, WINE TASTING EVENT. UH, THE WINE IS REALLY ONLY SERVED AT DINNER, UH, AS A PRECAUTIONARY RELIABILITY. UM, WE DO SERVE COFFEE AND WATERS AND I HAVE PERSONALLY ATTENDED THIS EVENT FOR AT LEAST SIX YEARS. AND, UM, I CAN'T VOUCH FOR ANY EVERYONE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S A VERY NICE AND IT'S A VERY RESPECTED AND RESPECTFUL EVENT. UM, WE ARE PLANNING TO, UM, HOST THE DOLL PARTON FOUNDATION IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY THIS YEAR. AND, UM, WE ALSO, TO ANOTHER POINT, UH, WE'LL BE SERVING NON-ALCOHOL, UH, WINE AND NON-ALCOHOL, SOFT DRINKS AND DRINKS. SO, UM, EVERYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK. GREAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? I GUESS I'LL MAKE A PHOTO COMMENT. OKAY. HOLD ON. THERE'S A, OH, SORRY. WE'RE GONNA GO TO KIMBERLY FIRST. UM, UH, I HAVE A SHOP DOWN THE STREET, UM, ON FIRST STREET FROM LINCOLN PARK. MY NAME'S KIMBERLY LAHAM. UM, AND I WALK THROUGH LINCOLN PARK A LOT. SO ANYTIME I HEAR OF ACTIVATIONS OR USING THAT PARK FOR SOMETHING, I GET REALLY EXCITED. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT EVENT. I DO HAVE QUESTIONS NOW THAT WE HAVE THE GATED FENCE AROUND THE LIBRARY. WILL THE EVENT JUST BE INSIDE OF THE GATE OR IS IT SPREAD OUT ON THE LAWN OF [01:15:01] THE LINCOLN PARK OR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT, UM, I'M EXCITED TO SEE AN EVENT IN LINCOLN PARK. GREAT. THANK YOU. AND IT LOOKS LIKE PATTY CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THE QUESTION. I HAVE THE ANSWER THAT THE PART IS ENCOMPASSED INTO THE EVENT AND IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AS WELL. WE HAD TO SHIFT SOME OF IT WITH THE, THE NEW RENOVATION REMODELING ON THE TERRACE. OKAY. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. WELL, YEAH, THAT WAS KIND OF GONNA BE A QUESTION I HAD TOO ABOUT, I JUST, LIBRARY IS PRETTY BIG. THE BOYER ALONE COULD, IT SEEMED LIKE IT COULD ACCOMMODATE THE DINNER AND THE TERRACE WITHOUT HAVING THE FENCE OFF THE PARK. BUT JUST ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I WANT TO ECHO ANN'S COMMENTS ABOUT ALCOHOL. YOU KNOW, WE ARE A COUNTRY OF ALCOHOLICS AND THIS IS, THIS HAS MAYBE CHANGED A LITTLE WITH THE POT SMOKERS GETTING SOME MORE SPACE AND ALSO A LOT MORE PRIVILEGE. THE IDEA THAT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOW SMOKING POT AND ALL THESE CONCERT EVENTS IS JUST, TO ME, IN, IN OUR PARKS. IT'S REALLY UNACCEPTABLE. BUT I, I REALIZE THIS IS A SMALL GALA AND, AND I'M SURE IT'S GONNA BE LOVELY AND I'M SURE YOU'RE GONNA IMPROVE IT, APPROVE IT AS IS. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, UNLIKE A LOT OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT, UH, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE, I THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC BLAMES THE ALCOHOLIC AND DOESN'T SEE HOW OUR CULTURE, HOW OUR CULTURE IS SO INVESTED IN, IN ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM. AND THIS GOES ALONG KIND OF A PARALLEL WITH THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY. AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BECOME ACCOUNTABLE FOR CREATING, UH, UH, SOCIAL SITUATIONS IN WHICH THIS HAS JUST BECOME A NORM WHEN IT REALLY CREATES SO MUCH HARM AND SO MUCH RISK FOR THE PUBLIC. OKAY. IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE I WRAP IT UP? OKAY, NOW I'M GONNA TAKE IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND LET'S SEE ANYBODY ON THIS SIDE? COMMISSIONER, UH, SO FOR KIMBERLY, YOU CAN'T SEE, WE DO HAVE A MAP AND IT DOES SHOW MY QUESTION. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A FENCE THAT GOES AROUND QUITE A BIT OF THIS PERIMETER. WHAT KIND OF FENCE IS THAT? IS IT JUST LIKE BIKE RAILS, LIKE WE'VE JUST NOW PUT AROUND THE KENNEDY CENTER TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM IT FALLING ON THEM? OR IS IT, SO WE DO HAVE TEMPORARY FENCING THAT IS STANDARD. IT'S, UH, PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED AND SAFE SAFELY, UH, STABILIZED BY OUR RENTAL COMPANY. AND THAT ONLY ENCOMPASSES THE AREA THAT IS IMPACTED THAT WE WOULD BE USING. RIGHT. OTHER SECTIONS AND AREAS OF THE PARK ARE STILL READILY AVAILABLE AND, UM, PEOPLE ARE MISSING. SO THAT IS LIKE THE FENCES THAT GO TWO, UH, POLES INTO A THING ON THE GROUND. IT'S NOT JUST LIKE BIKE, BIKE LEVEL. NO. UHUH. NO, IT'S A GOOD, PROBABLY SIX FEET, SIX FOOT TALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR, OKAY, I WILL GIVE MY OWN PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, THIS IS A GREAT EVENT FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, THIS FILLS THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET. SO EVERYBODY REMEMBER THAT THIS FILLS THE BUDGET THAT THE CITY CAN'T FILL. THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS PASSIONATE ABOUT LITERACY, THAT IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ACCESS, THAT EVERYBODY DESERVES ACCESS. SO, UM, THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL ORGANIZATION THAT DOES SPECIAL THINGS FOR THIS CITY. UM, AND, UM, UH, IT'S A DYNAMIC EVENT THAT REALLY SEEKS TO, UM, TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. SO THERE YOU HAVE IT FOR ME. SO I AM GONNA MOVE FORWARD ALL THOSE IN. I HAVE A, UM, FIRST BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SCHOEN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. OKAY. CAN WE GO GET, UM, COMMISSIONER ? THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'RE NOT USED TO THE CALL MEETINGS, ARE WE? Y'ALL JUST DESERVE THE WORD OUT. I'LL WAIT UNTIL COMMISSIONER GETS BACK. INTERESTING. THERE. SHE'S OKAY. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE. RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE, UH, TO APPROVE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION NUMBER 26 DASH 360 8 FROM PARTNERS THE PARKS, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO HOST A FUNDRAISER TITLED SOWING THE SEEDS AT EL DORADO NATURE CENTER ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2026. THAT INCLUDES THE SALE AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGES WITH PARAMETERS DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE, OR DETERMINE THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY DOES NOT PROVIDE OVERALL PUBLIC BENEFIT AND DENY SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION 26 [01:20:01] DASH 360 8 FROM PARTNERS OF PARKS, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO HOST A FUNDRAISER TITLED, SOWING THE SEEDS AT EL DORADO NATURE CENTER, DISTRICT FOUR. CAN I GET A MOTION? A SECOND? OKAY, LET'S DO THIS, UH, CHAIR, UH, DIRECTOR SCOTT. A REPORT? YES. UH, THANK YOU CHAIR. SO ONCE AGAIN, ANN HUDSON, OUR PARTNERSHIPS ANALYST, WILL PROVIDE THE STAFF REPORT ON THIS THANK YOU. PARTNERS OF PARKS WILL BE HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL SOWING THE SEEDS FUNDRAISER ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH, EL EL DORADO NATURE CENTER FROM 5:00 PM ALONG WITH RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT PARK ACTIVITIES AND NEW SCHOLARSHIPS. A PORTION OF THE FUNDS RAISED WILL BE USED TO RETAIN CURRENT HOURS AT THE EL DORADO FUTURE CENTER. THE EVENT WILL ALSO HONOR BRETT DENNIS, PAST DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE, MEGAN CARR, FIFTH DISTRICT COUNCILWOMAN AND JEFF KING, PAST PRESIDENT AND PARTNERS OF PARKS AND THE OWNER OF KING FINANCIAL. THE FOOTPRINT OF THE FUNDRAISER WILL BE WITHIN THE EL DORADO NATURE CENTER AND LIMITED TO THE EPI THER AREA. PARTICIPANTS WILL ENJOY A SILENT AUCTION, LIVE JAZZ COMBO BAND, HOR D DS FROM LOCAL RESTAURANTS, A VARIETY OF BEVERAGES, WHICH WILL INCLUDE BEER AND WINE. THE ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE IS 150 GUESTS. UH, THERE WILL BE NO GATE REVENUE COLLECTED AS A PART OF THIS EVENT. PARTNERS OF PARKS VOLUNTEERS WILL HELP NATURE CENTER STAFF WITH TRASH COLLECTION AFTER THE EVENT. AND PRIVATE SECURITY HAS BEEN SECURED TO, UH, WATCH OVER THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT. UH, THE EVENT IS EXPECTED TO HAVE LITTLE OR NO IMPACT ON PARK GOERS OR PROGRAMMING. AND WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE AUDIENCE. GREAT, THANK YOU. UM, LET US TAKE IT TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. UM, IS THERE, WHO IS, HI EVERYONE, MY NAME IS ALIYA. I'M THE PARTNERS OF PARKS PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER. UM, SO THIS YEAR SOWING THE SEEDS, UM, IS A LITTLE BIT MORE IMPORTANT THAN YEARS PAST. I MEAN, IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT, BUT WITH SOME OF THOSE BUDGET CUTS THAT STEVE MENTIONED, PARTNERS OF PARKS DID AGREE TO STEP UP AND FUND, UM, A A BIG, IT'S NOT THAT BIG, BUT, UH, ABOUT $36,000 TO HELP, UH, MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SERVICE HOURS AT THE EL DORADO NATURE CENTER. SO THIS YEAR, ALL OF OUR FUNDRAISING ACTIVITY IS REALLY LARGELY DEDICATED TO THE EL DORADO NATURE CENTER. WE'RE GONNA BE THERE AT THE SPACE. UM, WE HAVE AMAZING FOOD FROM LOCAL, UH, PROVIDERS. UM, THE BEERS COMING FROM A LOCAL, UH, BREWERY. UM, SO IT'S REALLY A NICE COMMUNITY EVENT WHERE WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR PARK SPACES AMAZING, BUT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO ENHANCE THOSE SPACES. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. UM, AND YEAH, THANK YOU. I'M NOT GONNA ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU GUYS HAVE THEM. IS THERE OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, ON THIS ITEM AND CONTROL? AGAIN, IN PAST YEARS I HAVE NOT ATTENDED THIS, UH, EVENT, ALTHOUGH I DONATE TO PARTNER TO PARK EVERY YEAR. UH, I DO NOT GO TO THIS ONE BECAUSE OF THE ALCOHOL. I AM VERY OPPOSED TO ALCOHOL IN THE PARK. AS YOU'VE HEARD, UM, I HEAR THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING BEER. IS THERE OTHER TYPES OF ALCOHOL THAT ARE GOING TO BE SOLD HERE BESIDES BEER AND WINE? AND, UM, I'M ALSO, I I YOU HAVE THE SECURITY THERE. UH, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE A LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL THAT IS SOLD TO ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL OR, AND, UM, HOW DO YOU, UH, DETERMINE WHETHER A PERSON IS ABLE TO DRIVE AFTER THIS A EVENT? THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. YEAH. SO WE WILL HAVE OUR SECURITY, UH, POSTED, ONE AT THE BAR, ONE AT THE GATE, ONE FLOATING THROUGHOUT THE EVENT JUST TO TRY TO MAINTAIN SOME ORDER. UH, ALCOHOL IS GONNA BE LIMITED TO BEER AND WINE. WE, WE SECURED A TEAM OF DAILY, UH, BEER AND WINE PERMIT FROM A BC. SO WE'LL BE SERVING ONLY BEER AND WINE. WE WILL, UH, WE WILL STOP SERVING ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THE EVENT ENDS. WE'LL PUT OUT COFFEE DESSERT PASTRIES TO TRY TO, UM, ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS YOU HAVE. UM, BUT YEAH, WE'RE ALL ADULTS. WE'RE GONNA DO OUR BEST TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND HAVE THE, A GREAT FUNDRAISER. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME PLANS TO KIND OF ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. THAT'S IMPORTANT. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YEAH, STAND UP. UM, I JUST HAD A QUESTION. SO JUST GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN. I'M, I'M SORRY. THAT'S [01:25:01] OKAY. THAT ANNA CHRISTENSEN, UM, AS AN INDIVIDUAL. UH, THE, THE OTHER EVENT WAS BY INVITATION ONLY, WHICH SEEMS KIND OF STRANGE TO ME 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S KIND OF A NOBLE BELIEF. THEY PROBABLY RAISED SO MUCH MONEY BECAUSE YOU SAID THEY RAISED, THEY ARE YOU, ARE YOU REFERRING TO THIS ITEM? THE FORMER EVENT? AS I SAID, SO I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU PROBABLY GET IS SOME REALLY WEALTHY PEOPLE THAT, THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE AS VERY EXCLUSIVE EVENTS. SO MY QUESTION ON THIS IS, IS THIS ALSO BY INVITATIONAL? THAT'S MY QUESTION. UM, ANYBODY IS ALLOWED TO PURCHASE A TICKET. THEY'RE FOR SALE ON OUR WEBSITE. IT IS OPEN TO EVERYBODY. UM, AND IN FACT, IF YOU ARE ONE OF OUR FISCAL PARTNERS, WE OFFER HALF PRICE TICKETS, UM, FOR THOSE FISCAL PARTNERS. SO THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S BETTER TO HAVE, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, SOME TICKETS THAT HAVE BEEN DONATED BACK BY SPONSORS. SO THOSE ARE GOING TO SOME OF OUR PARTNERS THAT CANNOT AFFORD THAT HALF PRICE TICKET EITHER. OKAY. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY, I'M GONNA TAKE IT BACK UP HERE. UM, I'M GONNA START THIS WAY 'CAUSE I KEEP STARTING THAT WAY. SO COMMISSIONER, OH, EXCUSE ME. UM, MY ONLY, UH, COMMENT IS THAT THIS COMES AT ON SEPTEMBER 28TH AND HERE IT IS JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY. WHAT IF WE VOTED NO AND ALL THOSE TICKETS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SOLD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? UM, DO WE HAVE A DEADLINE OR A, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, A MONTH IN ADVANCE? SO LIKE WHAT WAS THE PROCESS AND WHY IT WAS LATE? YES. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING FOR STAFF. I THINK THIS IS A STAFF QUESTION. PERHAPS I DON'T, YEAH, SO I'LL I'LL START WITH THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY WE TRY TO GET THESE THINGS TO THE COMMISSION AS FAR IN ADVANCE. UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S, OFFICE OFFICE SPECIAL EVENTS. SO A LOT OF THE TIMING IS GONNA REALLY DEPEND ON, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED AND, UH, SOME OF THOSE ADDITIONAL PLANS, UH, BE THAT FOR, UH, THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL OR IF TRANSPORTATION'S EVER NEEDED, UH, TRANSPORTATION PLAN. THOSE THINGS ARE REVIEWED AND, UH, APPROVED IN ADVANCE. UM, SO YES, IDEALLY, UH, THIS WOULD ALWAYS COME AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. UH, JUST IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, UH, IT IS COMING BEFORE YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS, UH, BEFORE EVENT. OKAY. OTHER COMMISSIONER? YEAH. UM, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE QUESTION AND CONCERN FROM COMMISSIONER REDFIELD WORKING A LOT WITH STATE AGENCIES. ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE HABITS THAT WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE IS STAFF COMING TO, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT NECESSARILY PARK STAFF, BUT STAFF COMING TO A CITING BODY AND SAYING, WE NEED TO APPROVE THIS AND KIND OF JAMMING THE COMMISSION OR JAMMING THE, THE, THE, UH, THE, THE, THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BODY. UM, AND I JUST WOULD REALLY HOPE AND URGE TO AVOID THAT SITUATION HERE. AND I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME AT THE STATE LEVEL AND REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO THIS PARTICULAR COMMISSIONER. SO, OKAY. SO IS THERE OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENT? DID YOU ALREADY GO? NO. OKAY. UM, I, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SELLING ALCOHOL. IS THIS A FIRST, I DON'T REMEMBER PAYING FOR ALCOHOL AT THIS EVENT IN THE PAST AND I DON'T REMEMBER APPROVING, WELL, I THINK WE DID AT THE LOBSTER FEST 20 YEARS AGO, BUT IT, IS THERE NOT AN ISSUE WITH COMMERCE IN THE PARK? I KNOW THEY SAY THEY GOT AN A, B, C LICENSE, BUT IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH COMMERCE IN THE PARK IF THEY ARE SELLING IN THE PARK? AND IF WE ARE, WE AS A DEPARTMENT IS NOT GETTING A, A RENT OR A PERCENTAGE FOR THE USE OF THE PARK AND FOR COMMERCE IN THE PARK. HMM. IT'S A DRINK TICKET SYSTEM, BUT YOU HAVE TO BUY THE, YOU HAVE TO BUY THOSE, THOSE GO BEYOND THEIR DRINK TICKETS. IS IT PART OF THEIR TICKET PACKAGE? OKAY. SO THEY'RE NOT PURCHASING, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S PART OF THEIR FUNDRAISING PACKAGE. YEAH. WHERE YOU GET TICKETS IF YOU BUY A TICKET. RIGHT. FOR OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. OKAY. I JUST, THE WORD SALE JUMPED OUT AT ME. I OKAY. I DON'T RECALL DOING IT. SOUNDS LIKE YOU GET TICKETS AS PART OF YOUR FEE. SORRY. SO, UM, YOU, YOU, AALIYAH IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE ABOUT TO SAY, YOU SAID IF THEY GO BEYOND THEIR DRINK TICKET, THEN WHAT? SO IF, IF THEY, THEN I DON'T KNOW, THEY WOULD HAVE TO EITHER PAY ONLINE OR DO SOMETHING ELSE, BUT WE ARE NOT GONNA DO THE EXCHANGE OF CASH BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET THAT ADDITIONAL, MY, MY CONCERN IS ALLEVIATED ON THAT PART. , IF I MAY REAL JUST REALLY QUICKLY YES, BECAUSE I, I HEARD SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS FROM, FROM, UH, THE AUDIENCE. THIS ISN'T A CRITICISM. MY, MY COMMENTS WERE NOT A CRITICISM OF YOUR EVENT OR ANY OF THE EVENTS COMING UP. IT WAS JUST MORE ABOUT HOW IT WAS HANDLED ON THE CITY SIDE. SO YES, I DO DO AGREE IT APPLIES TO THE OTHER EVENT AS WELL. WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS ONE FOR A LONG TIME. BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT A COMMENT ABOUT YOUR EVENT. SO IT'S A COMMENT ABOUT HOW THE CITY'S PROCESSED IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO I AM GONNA SHARE THAT, UM, [01:30:01] I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO PARTNERS THE PARKS FOR STEPPING IT UP SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT, UM, SOME OF OUR SERVICES DON'T GET INTERRUPTED. AND SO THAT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DO SEE THE NONPROFIT SECTOR STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED, THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE CITY IN THIS REALLY DYNAMIC NEW WAY. SO, UH, IT'S WHAT WE'RE USED TO DOING, BUT WE'RE JUST GETTING MORE HIGHLIGHTS AND WE LOVE THAT. SO THANK YOU PARTNERS OF PARKS. UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE. WE HAVE A FIRST FROM COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON AND A SECOND FROM VICE CHAIR HIGA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OKAY. AND NOW WE'RE IN THE PART OF THE AGENDA WHERE I AM GOING TO HAND THIS OVER TO VICE CHAIR HIGA TO RUN THIS MEETING, UM, AS I AM THE CHAIR FOR THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH BUSINESS ALLIANCE. SO THAT MEANS ALYSSA GOES OUTSIDE FOR THIS NEXT ITEM. CAN I GET THE GAVEL AND EVERYTHING? IT'S EXCITING. DON'T GET TOO EXCITED. ANYONE GOES IN THREE MINUTES INVITE. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO TAKE OVER TO, UH, PRESENT ITEM NUMBER SIX ON OUR AGENDA. SO THIS IS HOLD ON. THE RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PARTS RECREATION AND MARINE TO EXECUTE A REVOCABLE USE AND RIGHT OF ENTRY PERMIT AND ANY OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS WITH THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION FOR THE COORDINATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AT EAST VILLAGE ARTS PARK. LOCATED AT ONE 50 ELM AVENUE FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR WITH THREE ONE YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE. AND THIS IS IN DISTRICT ONE. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR THAT? I'LL MOVE. OKAY. SECOND. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND CAN WE HAVE A REPORT? WE DO. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BRING THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING. UH, THIS IS FOR THE ACTIVATION OF, UH, ONE OF OUR EVENT SPACES. WE'LL CALL IT. THIS IS THE EAST VILLAGE ARTS PARK. AND, UH, ANNE HUDSON'S GONNA PROVIDE A, A QUICK, UH, OVERVIEW OF WHAT THIS RELATIONSHIP WILL LOOK LIKE AND WHAT SOME OF THE INTENDED, UH, BENEFITS OF THE ACTIVATION OF THE EAST VILLAGE ARTS PARK WILL BE. SO I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF TO ANNE ONCE AGAIN TO PROVIDE THE STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU. UH, THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OPERATING ON BEHALF OF COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS IN THE LONG BEACH DOWNTOWN AREA. THE ALLIANCE IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING AND PROMOTING DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THE ALLIANCE HAS PROPOSED STARTING A NEW PROGRAMMING PILOT FOR THE EAST VILLAGE ARTS PARK WITH THE ALLIANCES, THE FISCAL SPONSOR, A COMMITTEE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL ACTIVATE THE PARK WITH PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TO INITIATE THE PILOT. FAMILY ARTS PROGRAMMING WILL BE HELD ON THE, DURING THE SECOND SATURDAY EAST VILLAGE ART WALK AND QUARTERLY DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ART AND DESIGN WALK. AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR, THE ALLIANCE WILL DECIDE ON THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AT THE START. THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIST OF RODRIGO ANTE, UH, PLACEMAKING MANAGER AT THE ALLIANCE, AND TWO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ACTUALLY REQUESTED THE ALLIANCE SPONSOR THE ACTIVATION IN THE PARK. THE COMMITTEE MAY BE EXPANDED, HOWEVER, THE COMMITTEE WILL NOT EXCEED BY PARTICIPANTS AND WILL BE ACTING AS AN INFORMAL ADVISORY GROUP. ALL EVENTS WILL BE FREE TO ATTEND AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IF THE ALLIANCE WISHES TO HOLD OTHER EVENTS AT THE PARK, THEY MAY DO SO WITH ADVANCE APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR OR DESIGNEE. THE USE PERMIT IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON PARK USERS AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND WILL ACTIVATE A PARK THAT IS OFTEN LOCKED DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. THE TERM OF THIS PERMIT WILL BE OCTOBER 26 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026 TO SEPTEMBER 31ST, 2027 WITH THREE ONE YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS. AND THAT IS, UH, 'CAUSE IT IS A PILOT AND WE WANT TO BE, MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ADJUST AS NEED BE. UH, THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PAY FOR ELECTRICITY AND WATER AND PROVIDE MAINTENANCE AS ALLOCATED IN THE APPROVED BUDGET AS AVAILABLE. THE ALLIANCE WILL DEPLOY ITS SAFE, ITS CLEAN AND SAFE TEAM FOR POST-EVENT MAINTENANCE. THIS REQUEST IS ALIGNED WITH THE PARKS MAKE LONG BEACH PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE STRATEGIC PLAN AS IT EXPANDS CULTURAL EVENTS AND PROMOTES PARKS STEWARDSHIPS. AND WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE AUDIENCE ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. UH, BEFORE I THROW IT TO PUBLIC COMMENT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS ITEM IN THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, I HAD SOME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE. SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE REST OF THE COMMISSION IF THAT WAS NEEDED, THAT IT [01:35:01] SOUNDS LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE ARE VOTING ON WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO ENTER INTO KIND OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE TO ACTIVATE THIS PARK. SO THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING THAT WE'RE VOTING ON. IT'S MORE HANDING IT OVER TO THEM TO DO PROGRAMMING TO ACTIVATE THIS TINY PARK. AND THAT'S THAT. HOPEFULLY THAT'S CLEAR. 'CAUSE IT WAS NOT CLEAR TO ME , SO. OKAY. UM, SO ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? YEAH, GO AHEAD. IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME. I'M RODRIGO RODARTE FROM THE ALLIANCE, UH, PLACEMENT MANAGER. I WAS, UH, JUST REFERENCE, SO I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP. AND, UM, UH, JUST TO SPEAK ON WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, I THINK, UH, THE ALLIANCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, IN ADDITION TO OUR CLEAN AND SAFE SERVICES FOR DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH, WE DO, UH, MAKE AN EFFORT TO ACTIVATE PUBLIC SPACES AND PROGRAM THEM. UH, SO THIS IS IN LINE WITH THAT. WE, UH, THE EAST VILLAGE, UM, ARTS DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR HAS, UM, A LITTLE BIT OF A, A LACK OF ACCESS TO MAIN SPACE. UH, SO THIS IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY SPACES THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM OTHER THAN KIND OF CROSSING OVER TO LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, WALKING TO PROMENADE SQUARE PARK OR, UH, LINCOLN PARK. UH, SO THIS IS WRITTEN IN THERE, UH, DIRECT VICINITY AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REQUESTS FROM THE COMMUNITY, UM, KIND OF SPEARHEADED BY KIMBERLY LATHAM, WHO'S HERE FROM, UH, THE ANISE SHOP, UH, AND SOME OTHER LOCAL SHOP OWNERS AND SOME MOMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUST TO HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO THIS PARK WITHOUT HAVING TO KIND OF APPLY FOR A, A, A PERMIT EVERY TIME THEY WANT TO, UM, HAVE, YOU KNOW, A SMALL GATHERING OR SOMETHING IN THERE. SO THIS WOULD JUST PROVIDE US, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF STREAMLINE THOSE ACTIVITIES. WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING TO HELP THESE, UH, ACTIVITIES GET OFF THE GROUND. AND THEN AS MENTIONED, WE HAVE OUR, UM, CLEAN AND SAFE STAFF ARE USUALLY AROUND IN THE EAST VILLAGE ARTS DISTRICT. SO, UM, WE CAN PROVIDE THINGS LIKE HELPING CLEAN UP OR PROVIDING SOME EQUIPMENT WHERE, WHERE NEEDED, UM, OR IF THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE, WE'RE KIND OF ON HAND TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. AND, UM, YEAH, THIS IS JUST IN LINE WITH OUR, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S, UH, I MENTIONED EARLIER OF, OF APPROVING AND PLANNING MORE, UM, OPEN SPACES. THIS IS PART OF OUR EFFORT TO KIND OF ACTIVATE THE ONES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO SOME OF THE SPACES IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH IN PARTICULAR. THAT'S OUR JURISDICTION. UM, AND THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? UM, AND YOUR NAME AGAIN FOR THE, FOR THE RECORD. UH, MY NAME IS KIMBERLY LAHAM, UM, AND THE EAST VILLAGE ARTS PARK. UM, FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, IT IS A LOCKED PARK. SO LIKE A LOT OF OUR PARKS IN THE CITY THAT YOU HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO, WE DON'T, UM, OUR COMMUNITY KIND OF CALLS IT LIKE THE SECRET GARDEN, OR EVEN VISITORS THAT WALK PAST. THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT IS THIS BEAUTIFUL OASIS THAT WE HAVE TO, TO LOOK THROUGH A BEAUTIFUL IRON ARTISTIC MOSAIC GATE TO PEER INTO? BUT WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO IT IF IT'S NOT, UM, IN A PERMITTED EVENT OR, UM, USED, UM, IN THAT ASPECT. SO WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOU GUYS AND THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE THAT HAS THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO, UM, CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY TO THE CIVIL PARK SPACE. AND, UM, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. ALSO, UM, THE NEW SENIOR CENTER, UM, IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT ONCE THEY MOVE IN THERE, THAT WE CAN HAVE EVEN MORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THEM USING THIS SPACE. AND SO, UM, I DREAM OF A FUTURE WHERE EVERY TIME YOU WALK PAST THAT PARK, IT'S OPEN BECAUSE SOME PARTNERSHIP IS, IS ACTIVATING IT AND USING IT, AND THEN THAT ALLOWS ACCESS TO ANYONE. WE GET A LOT OF TOURISTS IN DOWNTOWN, SO THEN THAT ALLOWS THEM TO COME INTO THIS CASE FREELY. AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT. UM, I WANTED TO MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT. THE OTHER PERSON, IT'S, IT'S A SLIPPER OF A PARK THAT'S, THAT'S GATED. SO IT'S ONE OF OUR ONLY DOWNTOWN SPACES THAT IS, UH, REALLY SAFE FOR LITTLE KIDS TO PLAY IN 'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM RUNNING INTO THE STREET OR DIFFERENT STUFF LIKE THAT. UM, AND ONE OF THE, UM, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR USING THIS PARK, SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF CHILDCARE. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT AS A CITY, IF WE CAN BUILD IN CHILD SUPPORT, UM, WITH THESE COMMISSION MEETINGS AND THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS, SO, UM, YOUNG PARENTS CAN HAVE A VOICE IN THESE ROOMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? THANKS. MY NAME'S JEAN RASCON FROM THE SAN ANTHONY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I'M ALSO A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT AND WALK BY THAT PARK. I WALKED BY IT LAST NIGHT AND IT'S RUNNING AND OPERATED BY A HOMELESS CAT. VERY AGGRESSIVE, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. SO IT NEEDS SOME ACTIVATION, RIGHT? AND WHEN YOU WALK AROUND DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH, YOU SEE A LOT OF YOUNG MOTHERS AND YOUNG COUPLES WITH, WITH BABY STROLLERS. SO THEY'RE GONNA NEED ACCESS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, OPEN SPACE. WE'VE [01:40:01] DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH GUM, COMBINE PARK, WHICH WAS WITH THAT ACTIVATION, UH, WITH EVENTS. AND WE KNOW IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. SO WE'RE REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT. THANK YOU. AND ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? I'M GONNA MAKE A COMMENT. UM, THERE, I BELIEVE THIS MIGHT BE A PRIVATELY OWNED SPACE, BUT THE FIRST COMMUNITY ORGANIC GARDEN ON ONE OF THE VERY FIRST WAS RIGHT THERE ON FIRST STREET AT, AT ELM. UM, AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SMALL COMMUNITY GARDEN THERE. AND RECENTLY IT'S BEEN DESTROYED BY AN OWNER WHO SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PARKING LOT. BUT I THINK, I THINK IT, IT REALLY IS, UM, IMPORTANT TO REALIZE HOW, HOW VALUABLE EVEN THESE SMALL SPACES CAN BE FOR COMMUNITIES. AND I, I, I KNOW PEOPLE UP IN THE OPEN AREA ATE AND TRUST THAT THEY WORK WITH COMMUNITY AND THEY SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE CLOSED. THEY HAVE THEIR GARDENING AND, AND LOTS THIS SIZE, LIKE THIS ONE DOWNTOWN. AND WE CAN LOOK AT THAT ALSO IN TERMS OF THIS PLAN. BUT I HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT AND I WOULD ONLY HOPE THAT IT WOULD, WOULD BE ABLE TO BE OPEN ALL THE TIME, UH, AND NOT JUST FOR SPECIAL EVENTS. AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE TABLE? YES, UH, AS THE PERSON WHO PRESENTED THE ONE IN 2017 TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL ACTIVATION BEFORE COVID, I THINK THIS IS GREAT. THAT IS A WONDERFUL ASSET AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU IN MAKING IT WORK EVENTUALLY. TO HAVE IT OPEN ALL THE TIME WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON. ANYONE ELSE ON THIS ITEM? NO. OKAY. UM, I JUST WANTED TO, TO ECHO THOSE COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON. I, I ALWAYS REALLY APPRECIATE WHEN A NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION COMES TOGETHER AND SAYS, THIS IS OUR SPACE AND THIS IS WHAT WE NEED FROM THAT SPACE. SO HEARING ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, UM, THAT CAN HAPPEN IN THIS PARK AND THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS IS, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UM, OKAY, SO WE HAD A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER REDFIELD. WE HAD A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER ALLEN, I BELIEVE. IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AND ANY OPPOSED? OH, OKAY. THAT DOES PASS UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL FETCH OUR CHAIR. SEE YOU ONE SECOND. SECOND , THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. FEEL FREE TO LEAVE IF YOU NEED TO. WE DIDN'T NEED YOUR VOTE . I, I HOPE NOT. AND I APPRECIATE MY FABULOUS DOWNTOWN FOLKS BEING HERE FOR SO LONG. OKAY, SO WHERE AM I AT? WE ARE AT, UM, NUMBER SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MONTHLY DIRECTOR. HIGHLIGHTS. OH, I NEED TO READ THE NUMBER. TWO SIX DASH 5 5 9 6 5 RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MONTHLY DIRECTOR HIGHLIGHTS FOR SEPTEMBER, 2026. CAN I GET A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND, SECOND, SECOND. AND THAT WAS SECOND. THANK YOU. I GOTTA FI DETERMINE LIKE THE BARITONE OF THE VOICE. . UM, SO I'M GONNA, UM, SHIFT THIS OVER TO DIRECTOR SMITH. GREAT. UH, THANK YOU CHAIR. SO, UH, GONNA BE KIND OF QUICK, UH, THIS MONTH, BUT, UH, WANTED TO GO OVER A FEW OF, UH, THE HIGHLIGHTS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS JUST KIND OF A SNAPSHOT, A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF EVERYTHING THAT OUR TEAM IS DOING DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AND SO WISH, UH, I COULD PUT DOWN EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT THIS IS REALLY JUST A, A 30,000 FOOT LOOK AT THINGS. SO STARTING OFF WITH OUR PROGRAMMING, WE ARE NOW IN OUR FALL PROGRAMMING. UH, NOW THAT SUMMER IS BEHIND US. UH, WE HAVE BEGUN OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. WE HAVE THAT AT 17 SITES ACROSS THE CITY. UH, WE HAVE A YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM FOR THE FALL THAT IS, UH, PICKING UP, I THINK REGISTRATION'S OCCURRING NOW, UH, FOR OUR FALL SEASON, WHICH IS FLAG FOOTBALL AND VOLLEYBALL. AND SO, UH, GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUTH TO BE INTRODUCED TO NEW SPORTING OPPORTUNITIES, UH, STAY ACTIVE WITH OTHER PEOPLE. UM, THEN WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THIS WEEKEND IS THE 42ND ANNUAL CALIFORNIA COASTAL CLEANUP. AND SO, UH, YOU MAY RECALL THAT OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, HELPS COORDINATE ALL OF THOSE CLEANUP ACTIVITIES ALONG, UH, THE COAST. AND EVEN WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE'S ACTUALLY A SITE, UH, IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH WHERE WE WILL BE DOING A CLEANUP AS WELL. AND SO, UH, I THINK WE HAVE EIGHT OR NINE SITES IDENTIFIED. AND SO THOSE ARE ON YOUR SHEET. BUT, UH, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, YOU CAN GO TO ANY OF THOSE SITES. IT'S FROM NINE TO 12, DROP IN FOR AS LONG AS YOU ARE ABLE TO, UH, PARTICIPATE. UH, A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. UH, I THINK IT'S BEEN MENTIONED ONCE OR TWICE, UH, THE HEAT THAT WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING AND, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE. UM, SO [01:45:01] OUR DEPARTMENT IS REALLY INVOLVED, UH, WITH SOME OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTAL, UH, STAKEHOLDERS LIKE THE LIBRARIES AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHERE WE ACTIVATE, UH, OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AS COOLING CENTERS. AND SO, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WE HAVE, UH, ACTIVATED, UH, SIX COMMUNITY CENTERS TO SERVE AS DEDICATED, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, COOLING CENTERS. ON A FEW OF THOSE CASES, I THINK WE EVEN EXTENDED BEYOND OUR NORMAL, UH, PROGRAMMING HOURS TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITY HAS, UH, COOL PLACES TO GO AND RELAX IF THEY DON'T HAVE, UH, THOSE RESOURCES AT HOME. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE AS A DEPARTMENT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO. WE OFTEN HEAR OF THE LIBRARIES, UH, ALSO BEING OPEN, AND THEN A FEW OF OUR HEALTH, UH, FACILITIES AS WELL, UH, KIND OF STAYING ON, UH, THAT TOPIC. UM, WE ARE PREPARING FOR AN EL NINO EVENT THIS FALL. UM, AND ALL OF THE MODELS ARE SHOWING A LOT OF RAINFALL, UH, COMING, UH, TO OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THIS FALL, WHICH IS KIND OF A, A DOUBLE SIDED COIN FOR US, UH, AS A PARKS ORGANIZATION WITH LOTS OF OPEN SPACE AND GREEN SPACE. WE LOVE, UH, THE WATER, UH, COMING FROM MOTHER NATURE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO, UH, IRRIGATE ON OUR OWN. UH, WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT. BUT THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THINGS, IT DEFINITELY, UH, CAN IMPACT US. WE HAVE A LOT OF AGING FACILITIES WHERE, UH, THERE ARE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, LITTLE LEAKS, UM, AND THOSE ABSOLUTELY, UH, IMPACT US. AND SO ERIC'S TEAM IS WORKING REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW IN PREPARATION FOR SOME OF THESE ACTIVITIES COMING UP. UH, HIS TEAMS ARE OUT ON THE ROOFS OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, CLEANING THE RAIN GUTTERS, MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL OF THE DRAINS, UH, ARE FREE, UH, AND NOT, UH, IN ANY WAY COVERED, WHICH COULD, UH, WIND UP IN FLOODING. AND SO, UH, OUR TEAMS ARE BEING PROACTIVE, UH, NOT ONLY IN THE UPLANDS PARKS AND UPLANDS FACILITIES, BUT ALSO OUR, UH, MARINE BUREAU AS WELL ALONG, UH, THE COASTLINE, UH, ENSURING THAT OUR, UH, COASTAL ASSETS, UM, ARE, UH, READY FOR THIS REALLY HEAVY IMPACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE. UM, LAST NIGHT, UH, ATTENDED A HOUTEN PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING WHERE, UH, COMMUNITY AND, AND RESIDENTS, UH, AROUND, UH, HOUGHTON PARK HEARD ABOUT FOUR DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY, UH, GOING TO BE, UH, STARTING UP VERY SOON AT HOUGHTON PARK. USUALLY WE HAVE THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND IT'S FOR ONE PROJECT. THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR FOUR PROJECTS AT THE PARK. AND SO, UH, DEFINITELY REALLY EXCITING TO SEE, UH, A NUMBER OF, UH, IMPROVEMENTS MOVING FORWARD. UM, THE BIG ONE, I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL FOUR OF 'EM, BUT IS A BRAND NEW PLAYGROUND. UH, A REAL SIGNATURE DESTINATION PLAYGROUND. UH, THE, THE RENDERINGS LOOK ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, UM, TO COVER, UH, NOT ONLY OUR LITTLE ONES, UH, NEEDING PLAY, UH, AREA, BUT UP TO, UH, EVEN AGE 12. SO, UH, WITH THAT DESIGN IS VERY IMPORTANT. ADDITIONAL TREES, UH, SHADE STRUCTURES, ENSURING THAT THE HEAT IMPACTS ARE ADDRESSED. AND THOSE ARE PART OF THE, THE DESIGN FOR, UH, THAT PLAYGROUND PROJECT, WHICH SHOULD BE KICKING OFF A LITTLE BIT LATER, UH, THIS YEAR. UH, AND THEN, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET. THAT'S THE BUDGET THAT STARTS ON OCTOBER 1ST. UH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT, UH, REPORTED ON, UH, THAT, UH, BUDGET. SO MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, THERE WAS A $58 MILLION STRUCTURAL SHORTFALL IN THE, UH, GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS. WERE OBVIOUSLY, UH, ALL ASKED TO BE PART OF THAT SOLUTION. UH, I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER DURING THE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION ELEMENT, SOME OF OUR PRIORITIES FOR WHAT ARE WE ABLE TO REALLY PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN. AND OUR FOCUS REALLY IS ON OUR MAINTENANCE, UH, OPERATIONS AND MAINTAINING THOSE BUDGETS TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE. UM, AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WHILE THERE WERE SOME MINOR, UH, REDUCTIONS IN OUR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, WE ACTUALLY DID GET A RESTORATION FROM THE BOC OF CLOSE TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, UH, FOR SOME OF OUR GROUNDS LANDSCAPING, UH, ACTIVITIES. BUT, UM, WE ALSO RECEIVED SOME RESTORATIONS FROM THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF OUR PROGRAMMATIC, UH, REDUCTIONS. AND SO A COUPLE EXAMPLES THERE WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT REDUCING, UH, THE HOURS OF SERVICE FOR OUR BE SAFE PROGRAM. THAT'S OUR SUMMER, UH, PROGRAM, UH, FOR EXTENDED HOURS INTO THE EVENINGS AT 11 PARKS, UH, ACROSS THE CITY. WE WERE LOOKING TO GOING FROM THREE HOURS IN EVENING TO TWO HOURS EVENING, THAT, [01:50:01] UH, REDUCTION WAS ACTUALLY RESTORED. SO NO CHANGES, UH, TO THAT BUDGET. UH, WE ARE LOOKING AT REDUCING SOME TEAM PROGRAMMING AT, UH, THE GENERAL ZA UH, COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WAS RESTORED FULLY. SO NO REDUCTIONS THERE. UM, UH, MEMBER FROM PARTNERS OF PARKS TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE FULL FUNDING FOR THE OPERATIONS OF OUR NATURE CENTER. THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO REDUCE, UH, AVAILABLE, UH, SERVICE HOURS AND OPEN HOURS THERE. AND SO THAT, UH, WAS TAKEN OFF THE TABLE, BUT THERE WERE SOME PROGRAMMATIC, UH, REDUCTIONS, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD. WE TRIED VERY HARD NOT TO ELIMINATE ANYTHING REALLY TO REDUCE WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER WHEN TIMES GET BETTER, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET TO ADD BACK VERSUS TO START NEW ALL OVER AGAIN. AND SO THAT WAS OUR APPROACH, UM, WAS TO TRY TO FIND THOSE AREAS WHERE WE COULD SCALE BACK WITHOUT HAVING TO ELIMINATE FULL PROGRAMS. AND SO WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT. AND THEN LASTLY, UH, WE GET TO RECOGNIZE, UH, AN EMPLOYEE EVERY MONTH, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING. UH, AND THEN ONCE A QUARTER, THE CITY AS A WHOLE WILL GO AND RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES AS EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. AND ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO THIS BODY RECOGNIZED, UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO, HILTON RENOLDS FROM OUR MARINE BUREAU, IS BEING RECOGNIZED AS A CITYWIDE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. AND HE WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THIS UPCOMING TUESDAY, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. SO BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO HILTON. HE DOES GREAT WORK AND VERY, VERY WELL DESERVED. AND THAT IS MY UPDATE. OKAY, GREAT. SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT OUT THERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, AND WE ARE RUNNING CLOSE TO TIME, SO I AM GONNA LIMIT THIS TO ABOUT TWO MINUTES IF WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. UM, THERE IS ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END, SO, BUT I WANNA BE AWARE OF THE TIME. IT'S 10 54, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. , MY NAME IS KIMBERLY LAHAM. I DIDN'T, UH, I HAD TO STEP OUT TO USE THE RESTROOM, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR IF YOUTH SPORTS WAS AFFECTED AT ALL ON THE, UM, BUDGET, UM, THING. BUT AS A YOUTH SPORTS MOM, UM, I HAVE A 15-YEAR-OLD, A 13-YEAR-OLD NOW A 6-YEAR-OLD, AND THEY'VE ALL GONE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM. IT'S AN AMAZING PROGRAM, LIKE HOW EQUITABLE IT IS. UM, A LOT OF, UH, YOUTH SPORTS, UH, THAT ARE OFFERED TO US ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE. AND THE FACT THAT, UM, OUR CITY, UH, ENABLES PEOPLE TO DO IT OR I THINK IT, I THINK THEY JUST UPPED THE FEE, BUT LIKE $15 TO PLAY YOUTH SPORTS IS AMAZING. I LOVE THAT IT ALSO ACCESSES EACH NEIGHBORHOOD PARK SO WE CAN WALK TO OUR PRACTICES INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TRUCK ALL THE WAY TO LIKE A DIFFERENT CITY TO GO TO A PRACTICE. UM, I ALSO, THE VALUE TOO WITH, UM, WHAT I'VE SEEN IS MY BOYS KNOW KIDS FROM DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OF YOUTH SPORTS. AND I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SPECIFICALLY AS LIKE, UM, SAFETY ASPECTS AND GETTING YOUTH ENGAGED AND KNOWING EACH OTHER, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE CAN SEE THINGS WITH GAMES AND TERRITORIES HAPPENING. AND WHEN YOU PUT IN PLACES LIKE NEW SPORTS WHERE THEY PLAY TEAMS AND KNOW KIDS FROM OTHER DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY BEAUTIFUL THAT HAPPENS WITH THAT. UM, SO I JUST WANT TO, UM, ADVOCATE FOR YOUTH SPORTS AND FOR THE FUNDING FOR THAT. AND, UM, I MAKES A VERY VALUABLE, UM, THING. I KNOW I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. AND, UM, I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN WORKING WITH ONE WEEK UNIFIED TO PUT IT ON PEACH JAR, WHICH GOES INTO THE INBOX OF ALL PARENTS. UM, I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE PERSONALLY WORKED, UM, WITH EMAILING PARTS AND REC BECAUSE I'M LIKE, HEY, I DON'T SEE THE YOUTH FOOTBALL SIGNUPS YET ON PEACH JAR. LIKE, SEND THAT THROUGH BECAUSE WHAT WE RECEIVE AS A A PARENT, I RECEIVE ALL THESE CLUB SPORTS ON THERE AND IT'S LIKE $200 AND YOU HAVE TO TRY, GAMES ARE IN VEGAS AND THAT'S JUST NOT, NOT SUSTAINABLE OR EQUITABLE FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES. SO I THINK THERE MORE FAMILIES THAT KNOW JUST BECAUSE, THANK YOU. JUST TO COMMENT HER COMMENT, MY SON PLAYED GOLF AT TON PARK AND HE JUST LEARNED TO LOVE GOLF AND, AND UM, SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW, ALL THE SPORTS AND THINGS THAT MOM ROBERTON, I'M A BIG ADVOCATE FOR THE SWIMMING LESSONS AND I NOTICED THAT SOME OF THEM, I BELIEVE WERE, WERE GOING TO BE CUT. I JUST WANT TO, BUT WHAT, WHAT I, I CAN'T HELP BUT HAVE A SENSE OF OUTRAGE HAVING WORKED SO HARD TO TRY TO POINT OUT WHAT A MISTAKE IT WAS TO SPEND $105 MILLION TO BUILD A SWIMMING POOL ON THE BEACH WHEN WE HAVE SEA LEVEL RISE, AND ESPECIALLY TO BUILD IT IN THE WEALTHIEST WHITE COMMUNITY. AND I'M JUST WONDERING HOW [01:55:01] MUCH DID THE PEOPLE PLAYGROUND COST? BECAUSE HU PARK WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SITE, OR IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SITE OF EVENTUAL POOL IN NORTH PALM BEACH. AND WHEN YOU SAID FOUR PROJECTS, OF COURSE I WAS HOPING, BUT OF COURSE NOT. IT'S, IT'S A PLAYGROUND AND, AND OF COURSE IT'S APPRECIATED AND NEEDED, BUT WHERE'S THE EQUITY? THIS IS SO OUTRAGEOUS, AND IT'S NOT , BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND. THIS HISTORIC, UH, EQUITY, THIS HISTORIC SYSTEMIC RACISM IS STILL HERE. IT'S NOT ANYTHING IN THE PAST. WE MIGHT NOT HAVE REDLINING, BUT WE MIGHT AS WELL. WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESSIBILITY TO KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE, YOU GO TO THE BEACH, BUT WHAT IF YOU CAN'T SWIM? IT'S NOT THE SAME, IT'S NOT THE SAME EXPERIENCE AT ALL. AND, AND WE KNOW THIS AND WE, WE, WE HEAR STORIES AND, AND IT, IT'S PROVEN THAT SOME OF OUR PARKS AND REC PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE LEEWAY SAILING PROGRAM, PEOPLE DON'T PARTICIPATE IN IT, NOT EVEN WHEN IT'S OFFERED FREE TO, TO COMMUNITY GROUPS BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF THE WATER. SO WE HAVE A LONG, LONG WAY TO GO AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS CAN DO TO HELP US GET THERE. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY, I'M GONNA TAKE IT BACK UP HERE. IS THERE ANY COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL THOSE, UH, WE'VE GOT A FIRST BY COMMISSIONER, UH, VICE CHAIR HIGA, AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. GREAT. THANK YOU. SO WE'RE ON TO OUR, UM, FINAL AGENDA ITEM, AND THAT IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, UM, 2 6 5 5 9 6 6. RECOMMENDATION TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETINGS. SEVEN. THANK YOU. A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO, UM, THIS IS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN US ON THIS ITEM AND SO, UM, ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORTH OR QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER ALLEN? YEAH, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN GOVERNANCE, BUT IF NEEDED TO COME HERE, UM, ABOUT GETTING A PRESENTATION FROM OUR TEAM AND PARTNERS AT PARKS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE, WHAT THE WORK THEY DO AS THE NEWEST COMMISSIONER. I'M STILL LEARNING SOME OF THESE THINGS AND I KNOW THAT THEY PLAY A PRETTY INTEGRAL PART WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS A FISCAL SPONSOR. UM, SO IF WE CAN GET A, KIND OF, CAN BE A COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, HOW THEY WORK WITH US, WHAT ABOUT THAT FORMAL RELATIONSHIP IS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD, GOOD INFORMATION FOR US. AND, AND WE HAVE THAT ONE NOTED, UH, COMMISSIONER. UH, SO WE WILL CERTAINLY BE WORKING WITH, UH, POP TO IDENTIFY A MEETING WHERE THEY CAN COME BACK, UH, AND PRESENT. UH, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA WAIT A, A MONTH OR TWO ON THAT. THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON THE SEWING THE SEEDS. UH, WE WILL BE GOING TO COUNCIL, UH, WITHIN PROBABLY THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE, UH, MEETINGS, UH, FOR AN UPDATED, UH, AGREEMENT WITH PARTNERS AT PARKS. AND SO, UH, SOME INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED THERE AS WELL. GOT IT. GREAT. AND, UH, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, THANK YOU. WE HAD TALKED ABOUT A FIELD TRIP. ARE WE STILL THINKING ABOUT DOING THAT? WE ARE. AND IN FACT, WE'RE LOOKING AT NOVEMBER, UM, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT MCBRIDE PARK, UM, AS, UH, OUR FIRST KIND OF OFFSITE, UH, MEETING IN A, IN A WHILE. UM, SO MORE TO COME ON THAT, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOVEMBER AND A GRIND MARK. GREAT. GOOD. THANKS. OKAY. SEEING NO, NO OTHER COMMISSIONERS JUMPING IN HERE, UM, WE HAVE A, A FIRST BY COMMISSIONER REDFIELD AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SCHOEN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. RIGHT. THAT PASSES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, DID I DO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT? I DIDN'T DO PUBLIC COMMENT, DID I? I DID. OKAY, THANK YOU. OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE ON TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF OUR MEETING. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR. SO THIS, YOU CAN, FOR THIS PARTICULAR PART OF PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU CAN COMMENT ON ANYTHING RELATED TO PARKS AND RECREATION OR THE CITY. UM, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO RELATE TO AGENDA ITEM. UM, SO I AM GOING TO PUT IT OUT THERE. WHO WOULD LIKE TO RIGHT BACK HERE. HI, I'M DR. MELODY CURTIS ANDREWS, AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF THE LONG BEACH PERFORM ARTS COLLECTIVE. AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING SHOWS AROUND LONG BEACH TO INCREASE THE CULTURAL EQUITY AND ALSO HUMAN RIGHTS. AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST AND SPECIAL PRESENTATION. FIRST OF ALL, DR. MARY SHUTTLEWORTH OVER THERE IS THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDER, PRESIDENT OF [02:00:01] YOUTH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD. AND IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND, THIS MAN IS A DEAR FRIEND AND A MENTOR, DR. AR, WHO WAS HEAD OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION FOR THE UNITED NATIONS UNTIL HE RETIRED AND HE FLEW IN FROM ZURICH. SO TO GIVE YOUR PRESENTATION TO THANK YOU FOR, FOR THE CULTURAL WORK YOU DO, AND WE WANT TO PASS OUT BOOKLETS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS. WE ARE SAD THAT OUR BUNNY MOTHER CHERYL BE, IS OUT WITH COVID. AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THREE YEARS. WE THANK PARTNERS IN PARK. AND SO IF YOU WOULD ALLOW AMBASSADOR, UM, YES, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. THE PRESENTATION. IT'S NOT THE FINAL PRESENTATION, BUT WE WANT TO THANK MR. SCOTT. YOU HAVE THE MOST AMAZING STAFF AND WE ARE SO HONORED. AMBASSADOR. YES. PLEASE JOIN US UP HERE, AMBASSADOR. WE FLEW FROM ZURICH. WE'RE DOING A PE, INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY CONFERENCE TOMORROW, UH, THAT SHE AND I HAVE PUT TOGETHER. AND HE FLEW IN FROM ZURICH TO BE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, AMBASSADOR, UM, A CHAIRPERSON, UH, SMITH, I'LL BE BRIEF WITH THESE NAMES. HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS. I'M OVERWHELMED BY THE COURTESY EXTENDED TO ME TO COME AND SAY A WORD OR TWO FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS ANGLE OF HUMAN LIVES. AND YOU ARE DEALING WITH ISSUES OF CULTURE BECAUSE THAT'S US. THAT'S WHERE ALL HUMAN BEINGS MEET. WE ALL EAT, WE ALL PLAY, WE ALL SLEEP, WE ALL GREET EACH OTHER. AND THAT'S CULTURE. AND IT GIVES ME GREAT JOY TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN HUMAN RIGHTS, BECAUSE I WAS INTRODUCED AS A RETIRED HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION ADVISOR FROM THE UNITED NATIONS. IT REALLY MEANS, UH, THE IDEA OF THE GOLDEN RULE THAT YOU DO TO OTHERS EXACTLY AS YOU WANT THEM TO DO TO YOU. AND THAT'S REALLY CULTURE. THAT'S THE SENSE. AND I WAS INVITED BY MY VERY SPECIAL FRIEND AND SISTER, DR. MARY SHUTTLEWORTH. WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. AND THEN OF COURSE, THROUGH HER I HAD THE JOY AND HONOR TO MEET MY SISTER, DR. ANDREWS, MELANIE ANDREWS. NOW I'VE GOT VERY FEW WORDS TO SAY HERE. I WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE YEAR, THE DAY OF PEACE FOR THE WORLD. AND THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL GIFT GIVEN TO ME BECAUSE IT JUST HAPPENS THAT I WAS BAPTIZED AS A BABY WITH A GREEK NAME, WHICH MEANS PEACE. I, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT UNTIL I GOT INTO BUSINESS LOOKING FOR WHAT IS PEACE. BUT ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE, I'VE BEEN LISTENING. UM, THE ENGLISH I SPEAK IS NOT EXACTLY THE ENGLISH YOU PEOPLE SPEAK, BUT I THINK I'M FULL AND UNDERSTOOD. IT'S A VERY GREAT JOB YOU ARE DOING FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY, FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND QUITE FRANKLY FOR THE WHOLE WORLD. AND IT'S IN THIS VEIN THAT I FEEL I SHOULD EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE TROUBLE YOU TAKE. LOOKING FOR FUNDS, LISTENING TO PEOPLE, WE CALL THEM CIVIL SOCIETY. PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE ENGAGED IN THINGS POLITICAL, BUT REALLY IN ISSUES OF CULTURE AND LIVES OF PEOPLE. I'M VERY HONORED AND IT'S A BIG PRIVILEGE. I DON'T THINK I NEED TO SAY MORE. WE, WE'LL BE SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER DURING THE REAL NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE. NOW, I THINK I AM, WE HAVE AN AWARD. WE HAVE A BIG AWARD, BUT THIS IS A STANDIN AWARD. OH, GREAT. SO WHY DON'T BOARD AND TO MR. SCOTT, WOULD IT BE OKAY IF WE TOOK A PICTURE, UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS BOOKLET'S FOR ALL OF YOU? AND YOU AND I AM [02:05:01] WITH PARTNERS IN PARKS AND WE HAVE SHOWS COMING AND WE WILL BE, MR. SCOTT KNOWS I'M LIKE A RASH AND CHERYL LYNN. SO SHE'S SO, UH, SAD THAT SHE'S NOT HERE BECAUSE WE'VE WORKED ON THIS. SHE HAS COVID, UM, SO LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE TECHNICAL THING. TOMORROW WE HAVE A CONFERENCE INVOLVING SO MANY PEOPLE, YOU'RE ALL INVITED. AND WE'LL BE SIGNING THE INTERNATIONAL DECLARATION OF PEACE THAT GOES FROM LONG BEACH TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO SAY THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY WITH LOVE. AND, AND LARRY, IF YOU COULD PASS OUT THE BOOKLET THAT THAT'S OKAY. AND WOULD IT BE OKAY IF WE TOOK A PICTURE YES. AS COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF. OKAY. WE, WE'LL DO THAT AFTER THE PERMIT. SO IF YOU WANNA DO THE PRESENTATION NOW, WE'LL TAKE THE PICTURE. OKAY, LET'S DO THAT. YOU CAN READ THE CERTIFICATE IF YOU WANT TO CERTIFICATE. I'M TRYING TO READ THE CERTIFICATE. JUST READ THE CERTIFICATE. ALLOW ME TO READ THE CERTIFICATE. UH, INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE, 2026. CERTIFICATE APPRECIATION, CITY OF LONG BEACH, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE WITH SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR VALUED CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 2026. AND FOR HELPING PROMOTE THE UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AS A FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING MORE PEACE IN THE WORLD. THAT IS THE CERTIFICATE. WE HAVE THIS BIG PLAQUE IT GOES INSIDE OF, BUT SHE HAS IT AT HOME. OH WOW. OKAY. SO WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? WHY DON'T WE TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE AMBASSADOR? BUT THAT'S A HECK OF A WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE. SO GRATEFUL. YOU COLLEGE, YOU SHE'S CRYING, HUH? COME OVER HERE. OKAY. OH, PERFECT. WE'RE HOPING IN FUTURE TIMES TO WORK WITH SISTER CITIES TO GET OUR CHILDREN TO GO TO SOME OF THE LOCATIONS THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRAVEL AND GET HUMAN RIGHTS HERE. LEMME DO ONE AND THEN I'LL GRAB YOUR PHONE. OH. SO WHEN YOU ASK SOMEONE TO DO A SPEECH AND THEY COME FROM ZURICH, THAT'S A FRENCH YES. I TRAVEL DESSERT. IT IS FAR SWITZERLAND'S BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL. HE'S FROM WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU. BLACK MOSA. YES, I REMEMBER THAT. GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE SUB HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME. OKAY. YOU KNOW, THANK YOU. HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE TOMORROW. OKAY. GIVE IT TO MRS. SMITH. OH, THANK YOU. AND I'LL MAKE SURE SHELY GETS THIS. YEAH. AND WE HAVE THIS WHOLE BIG THING THAT GOES IN THIS ONE TOO. OKAY, PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME. DO A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE. SO WE'LL GO BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WISHING? HI GUYS. UM, MY NAME IS ALIYA, SO I'M JUST GONNA REALLY, UH, BRIEFLY RUN THROUGH. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EVENTS COMING UP WITH PARTNERS OF PARKS. UM, MAYBE WE'LL ANSWER CORY'S INQUIRY A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE CAN COME BACK WITH A PRESENTATION. BUT OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS, WE HAVE FOUR MAJOR EVENTS. THIS SATURDAY, LIKE STEVE MENTIONED, IT IS COASTAL CLEANUP DAY. WE [02:10:01] ARE GONNA BE OUT AT THE BELMONT SHO PIER, AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE AT THE JUNE APPAREL BEACH LOT HOSTING SITES, UM, CO-HOSTING SITES FOR THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL CLEANUP DAY. UM, WE'RE GONNA BE TABLING THERE, PARTICIPATING IN THAT CLEANUP AND WEIGHING PROCESS. UM, THAT'S THIS COMING SATURDAY, NEXT THURSDAY, AS YOU GUYS MIGHT KNOW FROM SO SHIRT IS LONG BEACH GIVES. WE ARE GOING TO BE DEDICATING OUR LONG BEACH GIFTS FUNDRAISING TO THE EL DORADO NATURE CENTER THIS YEAR. THAT'S A PRETTY BIG EVENT FOR US COMING UP NEXT WEEK. SORRY, AFTER THAT ON THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE HAVE SOWING THE SEEDS. UM, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON. I KNOW YOU PURCHASED A TICKET THIS YEAR. IF ANYBODY ELSE IS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING ONE, THEY'RE STILL AVAILABLE. UM, AND THEN AFTER THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER EVENT WE ARE, WHICH IS KIND OF GOES HAND IN HAND WITH CALIFORNIA COASTAL CLEANUP DATE. IT IS A CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT, WHICH PASSED IN 1976, ESTABLISHED THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION, THE QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL WE ALL KNOW, UM, OVERSEE OUR PUBLIC RIGHT AND ACCESS TO THE BEACHES. SO WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION TO HOST THIS FREE RESOURCE AND COMMUNITY FAIR. UM, THERE'S GONNA BE LIVE MUSIC. THERE'S GONNA BE, UH, INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS FROM PARTNERS UP AND DOWN THE STATE THAT WORK WITH THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION. WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME COASTAL COMMISSIONERS THERE, SOME LOCAL ELECTEDS, UM, AND A DJ. IT SHOULD BE A REALLY FUN, ENGAGING PARTY. WE'RE THERE TO ACTIVATE THE BEACH AND CELEBRATE WHAT MAKES LONG BEACH SO SPECIAL, THE BEACH. UM, AND YEAH, I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS CAN FIND THE TIME TO JOIN US OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS. WE'VE GOT A REALLY BUSY MONTH AHEAD OF US, BUT, UM, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. ON TOP OF THAT, ALL OF THE AMAZING DAY LEFT, BUT ALL OF THE AMAZING PARTNER EVENTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM, YOU GUYS KNOW WHERE TO FIND US. BUT I REALLY WOULD IMPLORE YOU TO JOIN US WHERE POSSIBLE IF YOU GUYS CAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? UM, MY NAME IS KIMBERLY LAHAM AND, UM, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAME UP ABOUT THE FORMER, UM, CITY HALL SITE AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE A DEVELOPMENT. UM, IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT VICTORY PARK IN DOWNTOWN. I THINK IT'S, UH, A PARK THAT WE OVERLOOK, BUT IT'S A PARK THAT I USE, UM, DAILY AND I SEE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE USE IT. AND I KNOW VICTORY PARK WAS, UM, AQUA PARK, THOUGH THAT RESIDENTIAL AREA THEY WORKED CLOSELY WITH, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THERE WERE SOME PROTECTION FOR VICTORY PARK BECAUSE IT DATES WAY BACK TO THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS. AND SO IF WE CAN BUILD IN WITH THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT'S HAPPENING IN CITY HALL, IF WE CAN BUILD IN, UM, OPEN SPACES WITH THAT, THAT ALLOWED IT, IT LOOKED LIKE A REALLY GOOD PARTNERSHIP. THE AQUA AND THE VICTORY PARK, IT'S, UM, THERE'S BUS STOPS THERE. I SIT ON THE BENCH UNDERNEATH THE SHADED TREE. I SEE RESIDENTS HAVING THEIR DOGS, UM, USE THAT OPEN GREEN SPACE. I SEE, UM, KIDS RUNNING UP AND DOWN THAT LITTLE HILL. AND IT'S SUCH, IT'S SUCH A DELIVER THAT I THINK PEOPLE DON'T EVEN REALIZE IT'S ACTUALLY A PUBLIC PARK, BUT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S ADJACENT TO THIS RESIDENTIAL AREA. SO I THINK IF WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP IN THIS NEW CITY HALL HOLE THAT WE HAVE, UM, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THERE. UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE REALLY QUICKLY, UM, WHEN MY 15-YEAR-OLD, UM, HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY, WE DONATED A TREE TO EL DODODO PARK. UM, HE PICKED EL RE PARK BECAUSE IF HE KNEW IT WOULD BE A SAFE SPACE TO DONATE A TREE AND HAVE HIM GROW UP WATCHING THAT TREE. AND UM, EVERY TIME WE GO TO ELDER RIVER PARK, WE TAKE A PICTURE OF HIM WITH THAT TREE AND HE'S 15 NOW. AND THE LAST TIME WE WENT TO THE PARK, IT WAS, UM, IT WASN'T THERE ANYMORE. AND SO, UM, WE KNOW TREES HAVE DISEASES OR THINGS HAPPEN, BUT I THINK, UM, IF WE CAN LOOK IN COMMUNICATION WHEN PEOPLE DONATE TREES TO PARKS AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THAT TREE, JUST SOME COMMUNICATION. SO IT'S NOT JUST LIKE YOU GO THERE AND YOU SEE THE STUMP AND THAT TRADITION OF HOW, I MEAN, HIS GRANDFATHER HELPED TO THINK THAT, OH, TO PLANT THAT TREE, HE'S NO LONGER WITH US. SO IT'S JUST, I, THERE ARE TREES IN OUR CITY THAT HAVE MEANING. IF WE CAN CONNECT THAT WITH HOW, JUST WHAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, UM, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR, UH, AN EXPLANATION OF WHY THAT HAPPENED AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT I THINK JUST, UM, ADVOCACY FOR KEEPING THAT LINE OF COMMUNICATION OPEN. AND I KNOW WITH, IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS, SO MAYBE PEOPLE IN THAT POSITION HAVE LEFT. UM, BUT UM, YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? YEAH. UM, OUR, OUR LEWIS SARITA WEAPONS TASK FORCE SENT OUT, UM, A MEMO TO THE CITY. I DON'T THINK THIS WAS LAST MONTH. [02:15:01] AND WE CAME IN AND TALKED TO YOU AS WELL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN, UM, IN HARRY RIDGES MEMORIAL PARK WITH THE BIRD BURRY. AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL THAT THAT INFORMATION WAS FORWARDED TO YOU. WE HAD A LOT OF DETAILS. IT WAS A LONG EMAIL. IT WOULD BE A QUESTION THAT YOU GOT IT AND YOU HAVE IT. HOPEFULLY WE REVIEWED IT AND YOU UNDERSTAND ALL THE CITY, STATE, AND EVEN FEDERAL LAWS THAT ARE BEING VIOLATED BY THE SPECIAL EVENTS OFFICE IN THE PARK. AND, UM, AND WE WERE, I WAS GRATEFUL YESTERDAY. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS SHUTTLE SERVICE THAT HAS RAILINGS ALMOST PERMANENTLY NOW INSTALLED IN THE ROOKERY IN THE PARK. AND, UM, I DON'T THINK IT, WE WERE EVEN AI CAN BE HELPFUL, BUT CAN ALSO BE SOMEWHAT MISLEADING. AND AI WAS SAYING, OH NO, THE GENERAL SERVICE ISN'T IN THE PARK. THAT'S, THAT'S THE LONG BEACH TRANSIT. SO WE HAD, SO I CALLED, WAS CALLING LONG BEACH TRANSIT, WE'RE SO NICE, SO RECEPTIVE, SO OPEN AND, AND KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT. SO I MUST HAVE MADE LIKE EIGHT OR NINE CALLS AROUND TO PUBLIC ORDERS. I CALLED PARTS AND DIRECT MAINTENANCE OUR OFFICE JUST TO FIND OUT WHO'S PUTTING UP THE SURVEILLANCE. IT STILL HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, BUT IT DOES NOW APPEAR. I FINALLY CALLED SPECIAL EVENTS, WHICH IS SUPPOSEDLY A REACHING A MEETING BETWEEN OUR, UH, THE SIERRA CLUB AND, UH, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, WHICH WAS I GUESS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR BUILDING THE AM. RIGHT. SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS MEETING AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TO MEETING WITH YOU, MR. SCOTT, SETTING THAT UP, HOPEFULLY TODAY. AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT'S, IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING AND I THINK A LOT OF IT'S JUST COMMUNICATION ISSUES BETWEEN DIFFERENT, UH, EVEN LONG BEACH AGENCIES. BUT, BUT THINGS GET, LIKE IN THIS CASE, THINGS GET DIFFICULT TIME WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE A CHANGE TIME. WE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, GO AHEAD ANN CANTRELL. AND, UM, I AM STILL WONDERING WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE REPORT ON THE WEED ABATEMENT STUDY, UM, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT. DISCUSS FOR YOUR COMING MEETINGS. COULD YOU GIVE ME A TIMELINE AS TO WHEN THAT REPORT'S GONNA HAPPEN? WE HAD THAT, SO WE, WHEN DID WE HAVE THAT? WE NOT, WE, WE HAD THE, THE LAST ONE EARLIER IN THE YEAR. I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER IF THAT WAS LIKE MARCH OR APRIL. MARCH. YEAH, I MEAN THAT WAS PRETTY RECENT, MARCH, APRIL. AND THERE WAS A REQUEST BY THE COMMISSION THOUGH TO COME BACK WITH AN UPDATE, UH, ONCE WE HAD SOME, UH, EXPERIENCE UNDER OUR BELT ON IT. AND SO, UH, IT'S STILL BEING WORKED ON. UM, BUT THE REPORT DID COME TO COMMISSION MARCH, APRIL, UH, TIMEFRAME. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY. MARCH. MARCH, YEP. YEP. OKAY. UH, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENT. SO WE ARE GONNA TAKE THIS BACK TO APPEAR AND WE'RE GOING TO DO ANNOUNCEMENTS. I'LL GO AROUND THE TABLE LIKE WE USUALLY DO. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO SHARE. UM, OR JUST IN FALL SEASON AND ALL THINGS FALL SPORTS AFTER SCHOOL AND ADJUSTING TO, UM, SOME NEW PROGRAMS THAT, YEAH. GREAT. THANK YOU. UM, JUST QUICKLY, AS, AS THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER, OBVIOUSLY DATA AND NUMBERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. UM, BUT LIKE COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON SAID, I WAS VERY, UH, NOT HAPPY WITH THE NUMBERS OF THE 80% OF FOLKS DON'T UTILIZE OUR PROGRAMS. UM, HOWEVER, AT THAT VERY MOMENT, I THINK YOU COULD HEAR OUT IN THE HALLWAY, , THAT WAS, IT WAS IRONY AT, AT ITS BEST, RIGHT? SO, UH, YES, IRON IS BEST. SO I JUST WANNA SAY DATA AND NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THEY DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY. SORRY. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. UM, THAT'S ALL FOR ME. SO WE'LL TAKE IT BACK HERE, ERIC. MORNING COMMISSIONER. UH, JUST ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. STEVE KIND OF TOUCHED ON, UH, FOR US AS, UH, STORM PREVENTION, UH, MAINTENANCE. SO OTHER THAN THAT, UH, TAKING IT DAY BY DAY, UH, HAD THE ABILITY TO KIND OF, FROM THE SUMMER AND NOW WE JUST TRY TO GET FOCUS AND GET READY FOR THE RAINY SEASON AND, UH, JUST REALLY, AND SO FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR THUS FAR, WE'VE, UM, COMPLETED. THANK YOU. YOU'VE HEARD ENOUGH FROM ME ALREADY. . OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. SO WE'LL DO, WE'LL TAKE IT BACK TO THE COMMISSIONER'S THEN. NO COMMENT. NO COMMENT. UH, I DO AS AN ANNOUNCED ONE, LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE CITY'S, UH, SEEDS OF RESILIENCE [02:20:01] PROGRAM, WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE THIS COMING TUESDAY AT CITY HALL. I THINK IT'S TUESDAY, TUESDAY. BETTER LOOK IT UP. UM, AND THE SEEDS OF RESILIENCE, HIS RECORD IS, UM, SORRY I CAN'T FIND THE WORD. UH, UH, CELEBRATED OUR 250TH ANNIVERSARY AS A COUNTRY. YOU REMEMBER THAT CALIFORNIA DECIDED NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN WASHINGTON, BUT IN FACT, EACH CITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS HAVING ITS OWN, UH, CEREMONY AND PARTICIPATION. OURS IS CALLED SEEDS OF RESILIENCE AND IT'LL BE IN THE PLAZA OF CITY HALL. IT'S OVER THE PUBLIC AND IT'S RUNNING ALL DAY. I LEMME JUST CONFIRM, I APOLOGIZE. HERE WE GO. HERE IT'S, UH, HERE, UM, SATURDAY THE 22ND, THIS, I'M SORRY, THIS COMING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, UH, FROM NOON UNTIL SEVEN AT THE CITY HALL PLAZA. WE'RE WELCOME TO JOIN AND LEARN ABOUT WHY OUR CITY IS SO RESILIENT. THERE ARE DOZENS OF PRESENTATIONS. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON? I AM GOOD. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ALLEN. COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ. JUST TWO QUICK THINGS. UH, ONE, UH, AT WILLOW SPRINGS PARK, I KNOW I MENTIONED THIS IN A PRIOR MEETING, I TOOK PICTURES THIS TIME, UH, THERE IS UNFORTUNATELY GRAFFITI ON THE, UH, MURAL THAT'S ALONG THE CEMETERY, UH, LINE. SO IT'S PRETTY PROFANE. I'LL SEND THAT FOR, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT CLEANED UP SOON. ONE OTHER THING, ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE, LAST NIGHT I WAS AT, UH, SILVERADO PARK, UH, DURING THE EVENING AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEEING THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY ACTIVATION THERE. GRANTED THE EASTERN SIDE OR EASTERN SIDE OF THE PARK, WHICH IS WHERE THE BASEBALL DIAMONDS ARE, WAS DARK AND YOU, THERE WASN'T MUCH GOING ON. BUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THE PLAYGROUND AREA, LOTS OF FAMILIES, CLASSES GOING ON, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT WAS REALLY, REALLY BRAVE TO SEE AND SEEING THAT HAPPENING IN THE WEST SIDE AS WELL. UH, SO JUST WANTED TO THANK PARK STAFF FOR THAT. OKAY, NOW IT'S MY TURN. IT'S LONG BEACH GIVES, IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED YOUR NONPROFITS YET, YOU HAVE UNTIL NEXT THURSDAY, WHICH I THINK IS THE 24TH. UM, PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY EVEN IF YOU KNOW FOR YOU THAT IS THE SMALL GIFT TO MANY NONPROFITS. WE ARE CARRYING A HEAVY LOAD WITH LOTS OF CANCELLATION OF FUNDING. MM-HMM . SO YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR INDIVIDUAL DOLLAR SUPPORT MAKES A BIGGER DIFFERENCE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW. SO I AM A WALKING COMMERCIAL, I'M A WALKING COMMERCIAL FOR THE NEXT WEEK. UM, WEARING THE SAME LONG BEACH GIVES MERCHANDISE. SO, UM, THAT'S MY 2 CENTS. WE DID, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE DID RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM, UM, RENEE SCHNEIDER ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH. IT WAS REGARDING THE BAYSHORE ROLLER HOCKEY RINK THAT WAS EMAILED TO ALL COMMISSIONERS. SO, UM, THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED INTO THE RECORD, SO HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY READ IT. SO THIS WAS A LONG MEETING. I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS. IT IS 1125. LET'S ADJOURN IT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.