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LongBeachCC_04162019_19-0353

Speaker 1: Okay. Let's see. Next item that's been moved up is item number 11. Madam Clerk, please read. Speaker 2: Communication from Councilmember Urunga, Councilwoman Gonzales, Vice Mayor Andrews and Councilmember Richardson. Recommendation Receive and File Status Report by Central Asia and California State University, Long Beach on the economic profile of the Latino community in Long Beach. Speaker 1: CA, Councilmember Yu Ringa. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mayor. I'm very pleased to welcome the members of the community to come here and talk about the impact of Latinos in the economy here in Long Beach as well as originally. We had a nice conference a couple of months ago at the the Convention Center, which was very informative and provided a lot of good information about how we can all work together to create a better economy. So I'm very pleased to welcome Professor Armando Vazquez Ramos and our newest elected professor. Elected professor. Professor at Cal State Long Beach, an elected member of the Board of Education, Juan Martinez. So I don't know which one of you is going to be making the presentation tonight, but you're certainly welcome to come forward and get it going. We're also joined by the executive director of Central Cha. Jessica Quintana. Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Councilman Harrington, and thank you so. Speaker 3: Much for the opportunity to be here today. Speaker 2: Bear Garcia, Members of the City Council. Speaker 3: City Manager Pat West. Speaker 2: We're thrilled to be here tonight. As you know, the organization is the largest Latino serving agency in the city of Long Beach. Speaker 3: And we're. Speaker 2: Bringing today the first Latino Economic Impact Data Report for the city of. Speaker 3: Long Beach. Speaker 2: If you can imagine, this data report has never been done in this city. Speaker 3: And. Speaker 2: You know, we were very fortunate. Speaker 3: To be able to be commissioned by the state of California. Speaker 2: Department of Social Services, to be able. Speaker 3: To uplift this data. Speaker 2: For years, we've been telling the story and the needs of the Latino community. Speaker 3: But, you know, we needed to be able to have a data and a. Speaker 2: Roadmap to be able to help guide some of the decisions, you know, with our families and youth and children here in the city of Long Beach. So we're just thrilled and pleased today. More excited, you know, for the first time, really having this. Speaker 3: Partnership with the university. Speaker 2: With our city government, with our community leaders that are here today. I know you see some of the folks sitting in the audience. And so this really took and a labor of love. Speaker 3: Love, a little nervous. But, you know, we launched. Speaker 2: The first ever Latino Economic Summit. Speaker 3: We held a Latino. Speaker 2: Economic roundtable to really look at the data and discuss, you know, what are some of the challenges, what are some of the successes? You know, what are we doing right? What are we doing wrong? And then really looking at our communities, you know. Speaker 3: Where are our Latino families? Where are our children, where of our youth? You know, as an. Speaker 2: Organization, we've been working on initiatives to promote. Speaker 3: Better jobs. And I know we have our workers here today who will talk about jobs and better jobs, but really looking at, you know, how do we develop those. Speaker 2: Education. Speaker 3: Pathways, how do we. Speaker 2: Strengthen our workforce. Speaker 3: Development programs that we have an equitable workforce development programs for all. Speaker 2: And really looking at the violence in our communities and in opportunity. So we are pleased to have this partnership with Cal State, Long Beach and with our local city government, with our economic development department. This can never happen without the partnership. This is how we work together to really look at our communities and and promote possibilities. Speaker 3: And so without. Speaker 2: Really? I know. It's just, you know, this is something that we have been developing for years. And, you know, this this partnership. Speaker 3: You know, with Cal State, Long Beach and. Speaker 2: The Center for Community Engagement, it really started with just, you know, looking at how do we make things better in our community. And so having a conversation with Dr. Wayne Bennett this and really pulling together our resources and saying, how can we make this happen, you know, with the resources and talent, expertize and time, you know, that it took to make this happen. You know, this this this was all done by the resources of our city. Speaker 3: Of our. Speaker 2: Education department, in the community. You know, there was not a. Speaker 3: Dollar that was invested, you know, from any other place. Speaker 2: And I don't think we would have been able to get this kind. Speaker 3: Of report or paid for it. Speaker 2: You know, for our city. So I just want to thank everybody for their time, for their investment in our community. I want to thank, you know, our economic development committee, our city council members, you know, our team who is here in the city and sitting in the audience. I know we have some of our leaders. We have Cal State, Long Beach, Armando Vasquez from the professor from Cal State, Long Beach. We also have run Aureus was a former director from the health department. We have Teresa moreno who sits here. Speaker 3: We also have her, Linda Chico and our board chair, Mario Gonzalez. Speaker 2: You know, these are all folks. Speaker 3: That have, you know, lived Long Beach and and were really invested and. Speaker 2: Want to see our communities and our families do well. So, again, thank you so much for your time. Speaker 0: But. Speaker 4: Jerry Garcia, distinguished councilmembers, city staff and our committee members. We ready rock n roll, ready to see this thing. All right. So I want to reiterate, this is a preview has not been rolled out or disseminated publicly. There are a couple of things here that are we're in the process of updating. So this is the kind of the first public roll out of this preview. So I want to make sure to address that. This is a best practices community engagement initiative. That's a partnership between, as Jessica mentioned, the nonprofit sector central to our university, Cal State, Long Beach, our distinguished city, in particular, our economic development leaders. So I want to make sure and highlight that this can be a model that we can continue to leverage and build on and share across our country as well. So the goals and objectives of our project, it's twofold. One, it's to help us better understand and address key economic education and health data for Latinos in Long Beach. And second, it's in alignment with our university's vision around the public good. And this can only be done through these partnership and community engagement opportunities. The concrete objectives of our profile, if you will, we're still trying to name it something. So any help with our branding is much appreciated, but our objectives are very clear. One is to share this report in community settings. So this is the first public opportunity for us to do that. Second, and it's to spark discussion around key policy considerations and implications. We want this to be an action oriented document. Third, to serve as a mechanism for ongoing work updates and further development and dissemination. And then lastly, it's to help inform future research and decision making. So that's why we take this very seriously, being able to roll this out with you all here today. So we're going to start off with the data, and it's my great pleasure to have partnered with the chair of the economics department, Dr. Seiji Steinmetz. Why don't you take us through the data? Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Members of the City Council on City Staff are looking forward to seeing many of you at the 2019 Long Beach Regional Economic Forum this Thursday. It's a collaboration between our Cal State, Long Beach and Mr. Kessler's department. Oh, he's not looking. I totally blew that. I'm giving you a pitch here, sir. So between our department and the economic department, there is so much we want to show you. And we only have a few minutes, so I'm going to take you through what I'm going to call a brief profile of the Latino community in Long Beach. I might even skip a few slides. So first, let's look at the population. There are about 230,000 Latinos living in Long Beach right now, representing 43.2% of the city's population. Close to 80% are of Mexican heritage. And about 13.2%, excuse me, are Central American or South American heritage. So we see the part of the Latino population in Long Beach has grown over the last few. Over the last decade, although it's been a bit flat in more recent years. And again, this is going to be a big data dump. I'm just going to show you a bunch of stuff and most of the slides in front of you. Population. One of the things I often ask people, just when they started asking me, how did I get involved in this project? And sort of what motivates me? I often ask, Well, let's look at all of the children or all of the young adults in Long Beach are all 18 excuse me, all youth, 18 and under in Long Beach. What what proportion of all Long Beach Latinos under the age of 18 were born in another country. And the number I usually get is 20, 30%. That's sort of the common discourse. But I want to point out that, yes, although 33.4% of Long Beach Latinos are immigrants, only 4% of all Long Beach Latinos under the age of 18 are immigrants. Put differently, there's only about 2400 immigrant and Latino children in Long Beach or. One thing to note, too, by the way, overall, of all the immigrant population approaching, half of the Latino immigrant community are naturalized citizens. All right. So what I've done is I know it's a little hard to see, but this is what you want to do is look for the patterns here, the darker shades of green. This is a heat map of the population, the Latino concentration in the city. So darker green means a larger share of Latinos in the neighborhood. So if you look for the darkest green areas, we see. The 710 freeway along the left side and then the four or five coming through the city. And then above the 91 up there is the greater Long Beach, we might call it, or north of Long Beach. And we see that there are some fairly you know, the darkest green are 50% or more Hispanic, Latino. And we see that there are some pretty identifiable areas that are predominantly Latino. Particularly in downtown and north of that, towards central and the north side of Long Beach. In terms of education. If we're looking at the population of Long Beach Latinos over the age of 25, 37.6% of Long Beach Latinos in that age group have less than a high school education. Now, by comparison, 10% of all other residents in that age group have less than a high school education. That being said, 15.3% of Long Beach Latinos have earned a bachelor's degree or higher. And we're going to skip that one in the interest of time looking at health insurance coverage. There are 23,000 plus Long Beach Latinos who do not have health insurance coverage. Looking at children. There are over 2200 children in Long Beach who do not have health insurance. The working of the working age population, 18 to 64, 16.3% of the Latino community is going without health insurance right now. Three and a half percent of kids in Long Beach and in the Latino community. Two and a half percent of our seniors. Health insurance covered rates have gotten better, though. Looking at the graph over here in the orange is the health insurance. It's the percentage of Long Beach who are uninsured, who are Latino. And below that, in the blue line is the percentage of Long Beach residents who are in, who are not Latino, who are also going without health insurance. So we've seen declines in the uncovered rate. That's good news, right, that the uninsured rate has declined by 13 and a half percentage points within the last decade. Probably in no small part due to community efforts like at Central Cha's. Thank you. But also, at the same time, there's you could see there's still a persistent gap between Latinos and everyone else in terms of being uninsured. Okay. So let's look at some more economic data. And again, we're just gonna give you a brief economic profile here. Look at the occupations of Long Beach Latino residents, and these are in very broad occupational sectors. So management, business, science and art. Think of that as like the professional sector, for lack of a better way of phrasing it, white collar jobs. And then we have their the service sector, sales and office sector. And then the last two categories are natural resources, construction and maintenance and production, transportation and material moving. We can think of these as more of the heavy lifting jobs in blue are all other residents of Long Beach, and in gold are the Latino residents of Long Beach. And it gives you a sense of the composition of the workforce who lives in Long Beach? There's a relative there's a disproportionately low number of Latinos working in the management, business sciences and arts sector. And but a relatively high proportion in what I'm calling the heavy lifting jobs and in the service sector. And what that's going to do is that will inform what we're going to see next. If we look at median household income among one resident, again, gold is the Latino resident's median household income over time in blue is in this case it's overall right. So while Long Beach Latino household incomes have been rising, although flat in the most recent year, there's about a 14.7% gap compared to the overall median household income. The Latino median household income of about $51,000 per year is about 14.7% lower than overall. Now, keep in mind, too, there's an extraordinarily large labor force participation rate among Long Beach Latinos. Now, if you were an economist, you wouldn't just geek out on this number. 70% is an extraordinary labor force participation rate. Seven out of ten working age Latinos who work in law, who live in Long Beach are in the workforce. That's phenomenal, actually. All right. So despite having a higher labor force concentration, there's still lower household incomes. All right. I'll skip that for now. Now, let's look also at unemployment trends over the or the more we'll say over the last decade. And what I want you to do is pay attention to. Again, we have in blue is everyone else in Long Beach. And in gold, we have the Latino community. I want you to pay attention to the end points of these trends. Right. When? Times are good during prosperous economic times. There's relatively little difference in the unemployment rates between Long Beach, Latinos and all other Long Beach residents. But when times become more difficult, when unemployment rates rise, who gets hit the hardest? Along those lines. The poverty rate among Long Beach, Latino families is 16.4%. One in six Long Beach Latino families lives below the poverty line. By comparison, 9.8% of all other Long Beach families live in poverty. All right. So looking at a trend of poverty rates over time, on the right, we see that the poverty rates have fallen . All right. For the Latino community, they've been fairly flat for everyone else. But persistently, again, we see systematically higher poverty rate. Then among all other Long Beach residents. All right. And this is just one type of heat map we can do one snapshot. What we've done here is I've said let's look at predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods. In other words, neighborhoods that are at least 50% Hispanic, Latino. And also then I said, of those neighborhoods which have a 20% or higher poverty rate or some one in five families in these neighborhoods is living in poverty. In these predominantly Hispanic Latino neighborhoods. And what we see as a pattern, we we can identify. So you think of this as among the poorer Latino communities. Where are the most stricken, predominantly Hispanic family neighborhoods? And again, we could see along the seven, ten quarter around downtown towards central and up on the north side of Long Beach . And also, by comparison, we can see some of these same areas in the surrounding region. It's almost as if there is a imaginary line at Redondo and the four or five that that divides the region. Okay. That being said, what we want to also illustrate for you what I mean, we basically illustrated some challenges for you. I think what we also want to show you is the extraordinary economic impact that Long Beach residents have on the community. And to take us through the economic impact analysis first, let me just I'm going to give you the world's fastest lesson on what economic impact analysis is. All right. And it's through my mad clip art skills you can see here. So. If I have a job right, I'm going to I'm going to take my earnings and I'm going to spend it on groceries and I'm going to spend it on coffee and I'm going to pay my rent. Okay. And then the grocery store and the coffee shop and my landlord, they're going to take my money and they're going to go spend it on goods and service as well. All right. So we call this the induced effect. My dollar in earnings spent in the community multiplies throughout the economy. In this case, we're going to focus just on the Orange County and Los Angeles County's almost trillion dollar economy and long, Long Beach Latinos contribution to that trillion dollar economy. Also, when I work, I need a computer and I need a chair. So the people who made the chair and who made the computer, they're also getting paid and they're spending is also rippling out into the economy. So these multiplier effects permeate through the economy. And what we end up with at the end of the day is we can measure for a specific group like Long Beach, Latinos, how their economic activity permeates through the economy and ends up having a large impact. All right. And to take us through that, we have our extraordinarily celebrated economics undergraduate student Megan Anni, who's going to teach us about the Long Beach Latino economic impact. Speaker 3: Hello. So according to our. Speaker 2: According to the findings from our impact analysis, we find that over 100,000 jobs held in the region are by Long Beach Latinos. These 100,000 jobs generate $33 billion to the local to the local region. And these 100,000 jobs also sustain an additional 79,000 jobs throughout the local region. This are the $33 billion of economic impact, also accounts for roughly 40% of long beaches. Total impact into the economy. So now. Now let's focus on Long Beach, Latino immigrants. 52,000 Long Beach. Latino immigrants are working in the local region. These 52,000 jobs create $16.8 billion. Speaker 1: Real quick, I think the distinction is important. When you say immigrants, you're including both documented and undocumented immigrants. That's correct. I just want to make sure people are aware what that data point is. Speaker 2: I just want to make sure. Yes. Okay. So that is correct. Immigrants we are going to consider undocumented in addition to documented. And so looking at Long Beach, Latino immigrants, we see that. 52,000 jobs in the local region are held by these Long Beach immigrants, Latino immigrants and the economic output generated by this by these by the Latino immigrants alone generates $16.8 billion into the economy. This accounts for 20.6% of long Beach's total economic impact. To the out to the region. So. These 52,000 jobs also create an additional 39,000 jobs into the local region. So let me restate that. The 52,000 Long Beach Latino immigrants employed in the local region are creating an additional 39,464 jobs in the local economy. Now, this. Oftentimes, we have a misconception that Latino immigrants are taking jobs when in fact the data supporting that they're creating jobs in the local economy. So now let's go ahead and just take a look at our self employed Long Beach Latinos and our self employed Long Beach Latino immigrants. These are essentially our entrepreneurs in the region, and we find that Long Beach Latinos represent about 9000 of these jobs held in the region. And their economic impact accounts for 2 billion. And that's roughly 2.4% of Long Beach, just total impact. And it also sustains an additional 5000 jobs into the local region. Focusing on self-employed. We see that focusing on self-employed Latino immigrants. We see that they account for 6852 jobs in the local region, and this generates an additional 3000 jobs throughout the region. Speaker 4: Thank you, Megan. Okay. So moral of the story. Latinos work more than anybody else, but earn less. That's what the data shows. Higher labor force participation, less earnings. And Latino immigrants generate a huge impact into our regional economy. So Latino immigrants create jobs, don't take jobs away. So what's next for us? So we've had two community stakeholder meetings. As a Councilmember Wodonga referred to, we had a Latino Economic Summit in the fall. We also had a policy roundtable with systems leaders and these were some of the next steps that have been proposed to us that we were going to work on the rest of this calendar year. One is to present this rollout report in different community context and community settings and provide ongoing updates. We're working on the current update right now for this year, which will be released in fall of this calendar year. Second, to include more comparative data. So how are we doing in relation to other cities comparable to ours? And then how are Latinos doing in relation to other population subgroups? So that will be included in the update. Third, how do we leverage, support funding and partnerships both public and private around what the data is telling us here today? Next, how do we also explore alignment with our local, regional and state efforts, strategies and initiatives? Economic Blueprint. Dr. Simons referred to the Economic Forum in two days next to identified targeted action oriented strategies, policies and programs to address these conditions and issues, not just from a deficit approach, but how do we continue growing our economy based on the efforts of Latinos here in Lambics, and how do we make policy decisions again to enhance those efforts? And then lastly, a developing policy framework to better understand the data. The data by itself tells us something. But how how do we frame the data around policy needs, policy implications and move forward that way? So out of these stakeholder meetings, these are the policies have emerged. And what we're hoping to do is start developing recommendations out of the policy areas. This is a first sneak peek at how we organize the recommendations and the data provided at our stakeholder meetings. So policy areas are around economic inclusion, closing opportunity gaps in education, eliminating health disparities and immigrant integration. So this is the way we're framing the data moving forward. What do we mean by implementing economic inclusion? It's really developing policy framings that address Latino poverty and wealth in Lambic. What do we mean by closing opportunity gaps? Again, framing the data around Latino educational outcomes. So although in our region, high school graduation rates are improving, we still have a systemic gap which we refer to as an opportunity or equity gap. Next. Speaker 5: Eliminating health disparities. Speaker 4: Again, framing our discussions around Latino health inequities. So the fact that we have children uninsured in Long Beach tells us something, what can we do about it? And then the last piece here is around immigrant integration. So we have data here that shows that immigrants are a vital part of our economy. How do we build. Speaker 8: Protections. Speaker 4: Around our immigrant populations and how do we increase support for our immigrant populations, given that they are contributing. Speaker 8: Members of not just our local society. Speaker 4: But our local economy? So that's the preview for you, distinguished council members, city staff Mayor Garcia and. Speaker 8: Our community members. And we're looking forward to providing you some. Speaker 4: Next steps on what the data and the findings. Speaker 8: Demonstrate. I want to thank again our colleagues here from the university, from the Economic Development Department here, and, of course, our partner in crime, Central Asia. Speaker 4: In this effort. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you very much, Dr. Benitez. Let me let me just do two things, and I'm going to turn this back to customary ranga in a minute here. What I want to thank, of course, just all the the collaboration that happened here. Obviously, any time that the university gets involved in such a large research project, I think is is a great thing, especially when you're partnering with Central Cha, a nonprofit agency in the work that's happening in economic development at the city. And so I just want to thank all the partnerships. We know when you get the head of the communication program in and the heads of our departments and all the folks at the university so engaged in this work. This work is also very important to President Connerly, who I know is very aware of the results. I just want to thank the Cal State Long Beach family for four for doing the work, which I'm a proud member of, by the way, which I love you guys. And let me let me let me add that two things that are not here that I think are critical. One is I remember and I talked to Jessica about this a few years ago, you might remember when the State of Black Long Beach came out, that report that was, I thought, really well done at the time. And I know a lot of folks had discussions back then when that report came out about all the information that that that provided around the African-American community and the challenges that there were different needs and other populations would also be great to have data on. And so I think, you know, the folks that were involved in that report and I think to where I think them also for that work and the fact that this is happening within within the Latino community is also really important work. And so I just wanted to uplift that. And then I also wanted to add that the number that the numbers that aren't in here that I that I find important are the numbers around Long Beach Unified. And I know Dr. Bennett is you know, this as good as anyone at the while, the population of of Long Beach Latinos is 43%. The population at Long Beach Unified is much higher than that. Speaker 4: 54.5% mayor. Speaker 1: And and can and continues to grow pretty rapidly year after year. And so I think what that what the what the data shows is, you know, we have to ensure that that I think it's our interests that every population succeed. Right. Regardless of of of color of where people are in life. And I think that is the mission of this work is to ensure if if Long Beach is going to have and be successful five, ten, 20 years from now. It will it will achieve success if the Latino community also achieve success because it's a growing continues to grow up growing piece of this pie. And so we know this is a community that still lags behind in some of these indicators. And so we want all of the we want every population wannabees to succeed. And and I just want to thank you for the work you bring on on this important topic. And so thank you very much to the whole team. So with that, I want to turn this back over to Councilmember Ringo. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mayor, and very observant about what's taking place here. And I want to thank Seiji and Dr. Benevides for bringing this forward. The question I have is an effort for being here as well and to set the shop. We're putting this together. I mean, it's things don't happen in a in a vacuum. And there's there's a lot of support and impetus that goes into this when when I see my my, my my former colleague Ron Arias in the audience and my friend, my former professor and student Armando Vazquez Ramos, they're still involved or still engaged because we need to continue that into the future. But more importantly, I think that this preview is very timely. We know that in 2020 comes the census, the 2020 census, and we know that we're going to get a lot more information from a result of that, that census data and in terms of employment participation and community participation in the economy as a whole. But also one thing that wasn't here and perhaps it's another story for another time is voting rights. Obviously, if there's any one thing that's important to us as city council members is a voting patterns and and voting participation and education among the Latino community. We all you always hear the same refrain, yep, Latinos, maybe 40% population, but they only vote at like 5% or 10% of the total electorate. So that's another aspect of maybe what what I said Richard could focus in on in terms of not only the economic impact of Latinos in the region or an anomaly specifically, but also the affects of the voting patterns as well. But I want to congratulate you. Thank you so much for putting this together, bringing it forward. Perhaps two years from now, we could get another one once the 2020 census data is out and we could evaluate it and study it and see where we at at that point. So I want to thank you for for being here. Speaker 1: Thank you very much, Councilmember and Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 7: Yes. Thanks again for delivering this amazing report. I had the opportunity to see this live with over 100 or so, probably over 200 people that attended. And it was really great to see all of the in-depth data and be a part of that. And I know that thanks to all of you, Megan, Seiji and Dr. Benitez and Central Cha and Cal State, Long Beach. The collective work. I know this will be a living document and evolving document. We're already getting an update, which is exciting and I'm just very glad to see this. This is not only unprecedented in our city, but it's unprecedented in the region. You go to L.A. and they're like mind blown that we actually have an economic impact report dedicated to one demographic that is growing at a rapid rate here in our city. And I've said the same thing relative to Councilmember Turanga is that it'd be really nice. I mean, the Cambodian community is now asking for their own economic impact report, the LGBTQ community. So it's just we have so much potential there. And especially given the fact that Swedish Japanese friend of ours is delivering the Latino Economic Impact Report is amazing. Thank you, Seiji. What you're doing is is incredible, and I look forward to working with you in any capacity possible. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilwoman. Vice Mayor. Speaker 0: Fine, thank you very much. You know, I apply that. Speaker 9: You know, I think after the mayor was speaking of, you know, the African-American Vietnamese, we have such a diverse city in which we live in. I think an impact like this should be done all over our city. So we'll all know where we are. But I think on first of all, I'd like to thank Councilman Murang'a for taking the lead on bringing this to the council. And I would also like to thank Central Cha and Cal State Long Beach for that diligently and effort in compiling these reports. This report validates what we have all known for a long time. Latinos are an important, are important, vital and growing segment in the city of Long Beach and in the sixth District. We as a city must take this fact into account and plan for the future. We must ensure that we develop the process of a 2030 strategic plan, and we use this strategy that will include Latino communities. We must dedicate more funds, more funds into the language, access and digital inclusion. Lastly, Senator, share your leadership on this effort has been extraordinary and it's always is is solving issues in our community. And I want to thank all of you again. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Vice Mayor Councilmember Richard. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I wanted to just share some share some thoughts. Councilmember Ranga, thank you so much for allowing this opportunity to see this presentation here at council. I saw it the first time I saw it was with Councilwoman Gonzalez at the roundtable. And I was impressed then and I'm impressed now at the detail in the organization on how the data was presented. It really paints a clear picture and I love to see the team how organized the team is at presenting this one. Seiji Jessica from Central Cha. Megan You know I can't wait to hire Megan one day. So my my larger takeaway here is that, you know, over the last few years, there's been this constant threat of equity. And it's been coming up at council, it's been coming up in the community. This common denominator, it's common language. You know, you see, here's a Latino economic equity profile discussing racial equity. There was just the policy link equity profile. There's a conversation about Parks Equity and Office of Equity. And what we're hearing is that it's time for the city to really acknowledge that equity is important to our values and it needs to be woven into our service philosophy as the city. Baked in knots, sprinkled on top right braid at the root. What we do in every department. Because, you know, I think the mayor said said it best is that when the Latino population thrives, Long Beach thrives. And the same goes for people of color. And everyone in our city, as you know, as people thrive, our entire city thrives. And that's important. I also like the fact that the way you framed it, you you you tied in opportunity. And I would even say open with the opportunity. Have people understand that asset, the asset, the the aspirational framing that Long Beach is doing great. But imagine how much greater we would be doing if we had racial equity in our city, if we had if we closed our racial wealth gap in our city, if people had access to owning homes and starting businesses and we're making money, imagine how much greater Long Beach would be. And everyone can sort of connect at that point. And then we say, but here's the barrier, here's why we're not doing as great as we could. It's because certain communities need attention and they need you know, we need to make sure that we're being intentional at closing those gaps. And so those are my my thoughts that I think it's I think this is very timely. I thank you for for this presentation. You clearly have my support, as you know, as we continue this conversation on economic inclusion in the city, I'm going to continue to engage you to make sure that we again, we make this in and then we braid this throughout things that we do. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilmember. Councilman. Speaker 2: I really appreciate the work. This was a phenomenally done report. I would only I want to echo councilman or vice mayor Andrew's comments, but I also would love to see the data. There's some L.A.. Speaker 3: County reports that also talk about mentorship versus home. Speaker 2: Ownership and that ability to then be able to afford health care and the others and then what local opportunities we could have, where we. Speaker 3: Encourage those who are selling off their wealth to sell it to those who live within those apartments already and to condo. Speaker 2: Wise, even smaller, smaller units, whether they're even triplexes or quad plexus, so that there's the ability to have that ownership. Because the L.A. County report that I remember talked a lot about the difference of two communities that were significantly similar in every aspect. Speaker 3: Except for. Speaker 2: The ability to own your future through housing. And so just great report and I can't wait to see more. Thank you so much. And congratulations to everyone, especially all of you that pitched in to make this happen. So great work. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Price. Speaker 7: Thank you. I echo the comments of my colleagues. Fantastic presentation. I definitely learned a lot and you guys did a wonderful job, especially to our student presenter. Fantastic job with your presentation, so thank you. I know that we live in such a diverse city and having come from an immigrant background myself, it's always interesting for me to hear the different economic data that we have and educational data that we have of the different communities. I know I actually save the presentation. I'm going to give it to my son's teacher tomorrow. He goes to Long Beach Unified and they're studying this issue right now in a human geography class and talking not just about cultural demographics and information, but also the impact of working families in terms of the development, the development of, you know, successful, I guess, contributors in society. So finding that in places where you have, you know, family members, everyone is working outside the home because they have to to, you know, live live within the expenses and the costs of living within that community. What kind of impact does that have on unemployment in the future, education, those kinds of things? So it's very interesting. We live in such a diverse city. It's very interesting to learn as much as we can. I welcome these kinds of studies and reports as to every every population in every different, diverse segment of our of our society. I think it helps us really understand the journey that everyone has to take, regardless of their race or financial background, but the diverse journeys that everyone has to take. So I appreciate it. And I thank you, Center Cha, for bringing this forward. And thank you for these awesome mugs. I appreciate it. I appreciate you guys continuing to educate us and partnering with us. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you very much, Councilwoman and Councilmember Pierce. Speaker 3: Thank you. Great job. Great collaboration. I applaud you. I think it's really important to remember when I was at Cal State where I met Professor Juan Benitez, I did one of my last papers there was on immigration and the contributions that it made that they make into society. And it's so fascinating to see where the different thoughts come from. And so I really appreciate having an academic look at the economic impact because it is so important. Jose Lin D.A., who I mentioned earlier today. He worked three jobs. He worked at the Westin. He worked at the Hilton, and he worked the convention center. And so now having, you know, he was Latino. He had three kids. And so what is the economic impact for somebody that finds themselves in this poverty area, finds himself working more but making less? What's that impact on families and how does that impact their health? How does that impact study practice like it is so intertwined? And so to be able to have you guys really make some policy recommendations to us. I mean, one thing that's clear being on council is we might have ideas, but we really need to rely on experts to come forward and say, here's some models that we should try. And so I, I also want to give a shout out to our economic development team. Recently, we had a small business that was going to be put on the market, and their employees, all Latino, had worked there for many of them for 30 years. And so he was talking about selling. And if he sold to a Starbucks or Jack in the Box, those employees would probably lose their jobs. But with the work of community members and council working with economic development, hopefully now that ownership is going to go to those employees with this great grant program that our team has worked on. And so how can we use opportunities like that to think outside the box versus just how do we just build this one level of wealth? You know, and so how do we think creatively about that? And then in downtown? One of the things that I think we're going to start working on is how do we fill our office spaces? Like what type of job should we have in downtown that will contribute to a thriving downtown? What opportunities are there for Latinos, for African-Americans, for our community and communities to own businesses and operate in our downtown as well? So I would say one other area that I don't think we talk about a lot, but prep I got to I'm a renter and I got a prep notice at my house and my landlord said, don't tell the city you're going to be here. You don't have to do that. Because he was scared about what they might find. If your landlord tells somebody that is undocumented or poor and struggling to make every single dollar count, they're likely not going to let somebody in to help make their lives better. And so I think we as a city have to continue to think about that. And so those are just some some thoughts off the top of my head, but I really appreciate the work and I look forward to hearing more from you guys and seeing how we can collaborate. Thank you so very much. Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Councilmember and councilman. Speaker 10: Thank you. And I'd just like to lend my words of support to this. This is a very, very powerful economic report. I want to salute and commend the the information. I want to salute and commend the partnership, but most importantly, to the work and the work that will be done. This this report really kind of warms my heart, makes me very proud of our city because I think very few cities actually can can put together this type of partnership with the city. A world class university driven by a passionate community based organization like Central China, with with with collaboration and and of so many people involved in this, I had opportunity to actually go in and personally attend the Latino Economic Summit a few months ago, sat at the table with some some very thoughtful leaders. I learned so much just in the couple of hours that I was able to see there to to to be there for that. And there was so much more powerful information shared during that period of time that obviously you couldn't go into all of it here today. But if there is an opportunity, I would love to get that entire report to and possibly to the entire city council, because that data is very powerful. And as an elected official, I want to know as much as I possibly can about all of my constituency groups to be able to make good, sound decisions. And I think the report that you guys have put together, the presentation here this evening, will help us move in that direction. Moving forward, I think one of the big takeaways that I got a few months ago after attending the the economic summit was that, you know, we really have to turn to really. Focus on creating good jobs in this city. And I think one of the indicators there was not so good in terms of the economic forecasts. One of the presenters gave in terms of the type of jobs that are going to be available in the future. I think we really need to look to to stem that tide and figure out how we can make sure that people are going to be compensated so that they can have the good health care and access to good health care, the access to education and good housing. And that is what's going to be the great equalizer or the equity that will come from that. And so, again, I wanted to just commend you all. Thank you for this report. And also thank my colleague, Councilmember Yarrawonga for bringing it forward is very conscious. Thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. And I want to thank all of you again for a great presentation. I'm going to do we're going to do public comment just as a as a note. We do have another large item right after this. So if we could just limit public comment as much as possible. If there's public comment, please come forward on this item. Okay. I guess that's going to be good. Okay. Speaker 5: We like that. Speaker 4: Good evening, Mayor. City Council. Ron Audio's eighth district. I simply just want to thank each and every one of you for your comments and your thoughtfulness in receiving this report. I can say that I've been coming down here for. Speaker 8: Close to 40. Speaker 5: Years, 24 as. Speaker 4: A city staff member, and a lot more before that as a as a community activist and now as a as a a veteran of many of those things. But this council, without question, in my mind, is one of the most representative city councils that we have ever had. You actually look like the Long Beach that I know. And we just want to congratulate you guys to make us feel the way that you've done tonight. That was it. That didn't happen. Speaker 8: 25, 30 years ago. You know, we were on the. Speaker 4: Outside trying to peek. Speaker 8: In. Speaker 4: And now with each and every one of you and. Speaker 8: Who you represent, I just want to congratulate you guys. You guys are doing good work. Speaker 4: Keep it up. I think Long Beach is in very good hands. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Ron. Next speaker, please. And I'm going to close the speakers list after these four speakers. Okay. So thank you. Speaker 3: Good evening. My name is Lily and I'm the director of Health, Education and outreach for the Children's Clinic. And Dr. Nicholas, our CEO, sends her regards. She couldn't be here tonight, but we really wanted to thank Cal State, Long Beach, Go Beach. They teach students really well. Thank you very much. I think I graduated with a mayor's class. And we also want to thank Central Cha. Thank you very much for bringing this very important report. Speaker 2: You're very right. Speaker 3: We are geeking out over the data the children's clinic has. It's one of the largest nonprofit clinics here in Long Beach. We have 13 clinics across the Greater Long Beach area, and we serve well over 40,000 individuals ranging from ages zero two all the way to the grandparents. And this report is going to greatly influence our strategic plan moving forward. We don't just do 1 to 1 patient care. We're very focused on social determinants of health and from a public health point of view, socioeconomic resources and having success and access to all of these things that were presented in the report makes a huge impact on health. And it's really. Speaker 2: Important for us to focus on these. Speaker 3: Health and these economic and health inequities to. Speaker 2: Make sure. Speaker 3: That we have positive health outcomes in the community. And we're going to try to partner with all of. Speaker 2: The stakeholders in the room and hopefully with the city and all of the council people to make sure. Speaker 3: That TCC is able to. Speaker 2: Deliver more. Speaker 3: Services and health care and insurance to our community members. Thank you so. Speaker 1: Much. Thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Our last speaker on this item. Speaker 5: Uh, hello. Good afternoon. Uh, Mayor Garcia and the City Council. My name is Abraham Ordaz. Um, I was raised here in Long Beach. Um, I lived in the Eastside for the majority of my life growing up. I was, um, unfortunately gotten into a lot of trouble in and out of school. Um, never really attended school. Unfortunately, I didn't graduated when I was supposed to. Thankfully, um, after finding a few resources, I was able to complete my high school diploma. Um, I finished here Long Beach Conservation Corp in December 1328, 2018. Um, I found Santa Rosa due to a court mandate. I had to do a few community service hours for an altercation I got myself into with the law. Um, thankfully, my probation has been terminated on April 11th, 2019 on. Central Georgia has benefited me greatly by giving me access to job training, job certification, and now a part time job as a project coordinator here along Port Vila. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn, make, graphic design, screen printing, e-commerce and marketing with sales and retail. If it wasn't for Central China, I would probably not been in the position where I am. I probably would have been out in the streets doing what I was doing before. We have provided these lovely coffee mugs that we had made ourselves by our team members here. Lambie's. Uh, central to. Speaker 8: Uh. Speaker 5: Uh, please check us out is for the dot com. Um. All Oh all of the proceeds that we get back from the sale from making all of these. Um. Uh, cells will go back into the communities to help people out. I want to thank my mom, Jessica Anthony, in the central team for all these opportunities. Um, thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you. Good job. Excellent. Where until. I want you to tell. Where can we. I'm going to. I'm going to go buy that hat you're wearing right now. So where can we get working? We buy that hat and other things that you're selling. Speaker 0: Um, well. Speaker 5: We have a. Speaker 1: Budget to tell it, tell everybody. Speaker 5: We have a location. Speaker 1: And the mix of people back. People on the TV area. Speaker 5: Um, we have a location here on Long Beach. Speaker 4: Boulevard and PCH. Um. Speaker 5: But if you, if a lot of people can make it out there, we also have a website. Um, it is a long beach port vila dot com. And right there you'll be able to find all their products. Speaker 1: And what I mean a well-designed logo and look. And it looks good. Mm. Speaker 5: Thank you very much. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. I'm definitely buying that hat. That's my new hat. Okay, so we have a motion in a second. Members, please cast your votes. Speaker 0: Mm. Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 1: Great. Thank you very much. We're going to go ahead and move on to the next item, which is item number 21. No, I'm sorry. Item for the play, item 14.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file a status report by Centro CHA, Inc. and California State University, Long Beach on the Economic Profile of the Latino Community in Long Beach.

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_04162019_19-0320

Speaker 1: Great. Thank you very much. We're going to go ahead and move on to the next item, which is item number 21. No, I'm sorry. Item for the play, item 14. Speaker 2: Report from financial management recommendation or even file the project labor agreement cumulative report through February 2019, citywide. Speaker 1: We're ready. Staff report. Speaker 11: Great. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So in 2015, in April 2015, the Council directed us to create something new for us, which was the project labor agreement, and that went into effect in May of 2015. As part of that motion, the Council asked us to come back in about three years for a discussion to really review how the play has been going to really look at some of the data, to talk about some of the the aspects of the play. And that's what we're here to do tonight as well as get any any input from the city council going forward. So we're going to have a staff presentation from our financial management department, which has been the department that has really been administering the play up to this point. And then you also hear from our economic development department who are going to be taking over some of this work. So we've found in the past three years that we can actually improve. We can do a little bit better. We can add some additional job coordination services, some additional better linkages to our workforce development. And we're excited to share that with you tonight. So we will be presenting this. And with that, I'll turn it to John GROSS. Speaker 5: Thank you, Tom. Good evening. Mayor and city council members. As Tom says, this is a starts with a review, cumulative review of our project labor agreement. It is a partnership between the city and the Building and Trades Council of Los Angeles and Orange County. It is a five year agreement and as Tom said, started in May 2015. It applies to covered construction projects over $500,000, and it has the benefits of providing labor peace. Its effort is on training by unions and preference to local residents. It does require contractors to hire new employees through the union. Speaker 0: Halls. Speaker 5: And provides local and disadvantaged veteran hiring preferences and goals. From the viewpoint of the contractors that we contract with for construction, the key play provisions are that the contractor must use labor from union groups within the Trade Council. There are core employee requirements that require the contractor to utilize and allows them to utilize up to five existing nonunion employees. But they must be employed on a 1 to 1 ratio with union hall referrals and all employees, if they're not part of the union, must pay temporary dues to the union. From the union. There are certain requirements that the PLA puts on. The Union are the best efforts. They have to use best efforts to refer, recruit and or utilize local residents. This is a key requirement. They also must integrate referral mechanisms with Pacific Gateway and Long Beach City College to accept disadvantage and better veteran workers into apprenticeship programs. And they must refer local, disadvantaged and veteran workers, regardless of their places in the union hiring list and their normal referral practices. We have 25 projects that are completed, active or in bidding. There is a cumulative $146 million in construction value and we have 13 more projects anticipated. The administrative costs are about 8/10 of 1%. That is below the initial 1% estimate. So we're pretty pleased about the overall administrative costs. But this is about what are the goals? There were goals set in the play agreement. The first goal was there should be 40% local hiring. We are at 77% cumulatively. The local hire goal was only 40. We are at 77% for Los Angeles and Orange County, which is all three of the measured tiers. There was no specific goal for the first year Long Beach residents, but even with that, Long Beach residents must be referred first by the unions. And we are achieving a 19% goal with regard to that 19%. And that's based on hours worked, which is a pretty good requirement. Hours worked in the overall project with regard to veterans and disadvantaged. We had a goal or we have a goal in the hiring in the play of 10%. We are at 12%. That attainment varies by project, as does the local, because each project is unique and it depends on the availability of apprentices and requirements for the specialized trades. In terms of other aspects, we clearly are meeting our overall goals as set by City Council in the play. We have had one area where we're evaluating where we are with this and that's projects with a construction value of 500000 to 900000. We're seeing fewer bids submittals than we would like to see and some contractors have a of the play requirements as their reasons for not submitting a bid. We don't have any recommendations in this area. We're just letting you know that we're monitoring that issue. With regard to play management. As Tom Modica said, during this year we're transferring play management, which is here too for business and financial management to economic development. We think this is an extremely good thing where we can better integrate compliance monitoring into the overall Pacific Gateway activities, and we think that'll help develop and support the local workforce and also have some economies of scale. And now I'd like to turn it over to John Keisler, the director of economic development. Speaker 12: Thank you, John. Honorable mayor and members of the City Council. As part of our economic development blueprint, we have seven different focus areas that we are recommending that will help to move the economy forward and create economic opportunities for people. One of those areas is workforce development and job creation. And so as part of our review of the play, our goal is to find ways to continue to help connect Long Beach residents and workers with training and ultimately place them in jobs. So this is a wonderful program and a wonderful opportunity for us to do that. So in working with public works and in financial management, the Economic Development Department wants to begin shifting the play administration from financial management to the Economic Development Department to focus more on our jobs and workforce development goals and the blueprint. This will mean that ultimately we'll hire a full time city play administrator to strengthen the partnership that currently exists between the Building Trades Council, Long Beach City College and of course Pacific Gateway, which is our Workforce Investment Board and Workforce Development Agency. This will also, by having this full time play administrator in House rather than using a contractor from the outside, will help us to proactively boost working with our partners to coordinate what we call in the agreement Tier one veteran and disadvantage worker recruitment. Hopefully, having that in-house play administrator will help create ongoing connections with the organizations, the community based organizations that exist in the neighborhoods and can help create those pipelines for worker recruitment. And ultimately, the way that we intend to or found the resources to pay for this was within existing resources. So as we worked with financial management to review the scope of work of our current contractor persons, we were able to identify some of the administrative tasks that we actually can perform in our Pacific Gateway organization because we already have administrative capacity to help monitor and report on our federal grants. So we're going to be able to repurpose existing resources to really fund this position. So to talk a little bit about what this full time Pacific Gateway play administrator will do, I want to turn it over to Nick Schulz, our executive director. Nick runs Pacific Gateway and will ultimately be responsible for implementing this new program. Speaker 9: Thank you, John. Honorable mayors that are members of city council. I just want to walk you through some of the enhancements we hope to achieve for the project labor agreement by price, by placing the administration with Pacific Gateway. And first and foremost, we hope to implement strategies to boost results against the established pilot program goals and recruitment goals, specifically around the training and placement of Long Beach Tier one veteran and disadvantage workers. We want to document and communicate the performance of the play program. We believe there are several untold stories here in today's report that you are would would benefit from hearing and understanding regarding the project labor agreement. We would assume coordination of pre-bid and pre-construction meetings with the contractors and enhance efforts at promoting compliance. We would provide ongoing play program documentation and compliance. We would conduct outreach and develop relationships with community based organizations to market and promote construction job opportunities to the available workforce. We would continue to communicate with our bar, with our partners, the Building Trades Councils, and recruit more Tier one veteran and disadvantaged workers. We develop more multi craft core curriculum offerings in order to qualify pre apprenticeships and expand partnerships around that pre apprenticeship training. We look to identify and secure increased funding to support local workforce training programs, specifically those focused on construction careers and construction pathways. We would continue to connect workers with ongoing wraparound services at Pacific Gateway to promote ongoing success and successful job retention efforts. And we would be able to transition workers to job opportunities in other sectors during slowdowns, in constructions or the absence of available play projects. In addition to the roles that the full time administrative coordinator would carry out and help us to achieve the objectives I just mentioned, we've also been taking a look at what we might be able to do to supplement the services in times when we felt that was necessary. So some of the programmatic approaches we've looked at is. Issuing a request for proposals to actually look at qualified organizations to provide additional job coordination services and develop that pool for our use as needed. We would would then engage with supplemental local job coordination for larger projects, and we intend to do that within the current 1% of the projected budget that was established for project cost at the onset of the play. Speaker 11: Thank you very much, Nick, for that. So in summary, I just do want to say that this has been a great partnership. We've got a real great relationship with the building trades and I think both parties are pretty happy with the agreement as it stands. And but we do believe, as you as we talked about, that there's more that we can do. So we've met the goals in the in the play. I do want to remind us that it's a five year agreement and it's coming up in just a little bit over than a year. And while we've already met our goals, we do believe some of the things we've outlined here can allow us to even go further with additional job outreach. And so we're excited about the full time play administrator that's contracting in taking somebody who's mostly doing paperwork for us now and getting us a live city body for the same amount of cost that can do additional services. We'll have that additional focus through the Supplemental Services Program on those bigger projects and really look at some additional job coordination services that we can do for additional local job outreach. So with that, we turn it over to the Council for questions. Speaker 1: Thank you. Let me before I turn this over to the maker of the motion. Just want to add just to add to this, the staff report said just initially, I just want to make sure. I also think the the citywide project labor agreement was something that we instituted just a few years ago, I think, as most of us in this body were coming into office. And I just want to thank Ron to you and your team and all of the locals who have been involved in this agreement. We are we really set also a a statewide standard of really good, solid citywide project labor agreements. And I'm just very proud of the work that you all did at the trades. Do you want to thank city staff for the work you guys did in in getting to this point that we have a a a good document in front of us and of course, all the hard working guys and women that are here, but especially, Jane, because you're the hardest working woman. Just to thank all of you for being. Absolutely she is. You want to think all the trades? We we're not we're not only are completing all of these projects in a timely manner and in a way that's costing the taxpayers the least amount by producing the best work. But we're also providing through this project labor agreement, not only quality projects. We are providing jobs with benefits, jobs that folks can have dignity of of a good paycheck and a pension so that they can go back to their families and have that dignity at the workplace. And so I just want to thank thank you again and I'm really proud of this is to my in my opinion, this project labor agreement, of which this council worked very hard on, is one one of the best things that we've done as a body. And and so I just want to thank you guys for that amazing work. And with that, though, before I get to Vice Mayor Andrews, I think you've asked I want to hear public comment first, please. So let's raise any objection. We're going to do public comment. Public comment. Speaker 0: Do you think? Speaker 6: Good evening, Mayor. Council members staff. Neighbors. My name is Jane Templin. Thank you, sir. I am a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. I'm a journeyman Ironman. I'm a happy District two resident. I am the outreach director of the Net zero Plus Electrical Training Institute. That is home to over 1800 apprentices. And we are growing. We are bringing in more. All of these apprentices. All of these men and women make good livings. All of these apprentices have a good career and their future is this career path that allowed me to buy my home as a fourth year apprentice here in Long Beach and 79. And happy to have done so. So I would like at this time to ask Local 11 to stand up all our supporters. And those that are Long Beach residents where you raise your hands and wave. These are our neighbors. Thank you, guys. As a Long Beach resident, I'm happy to support the work of the Long Beach Local Hire Coalition. It's important to provide opportunities to our local Long Beach residents, disadvantaged workers and veterans, and we do a lot of outreach in that area every day. As the outreach director, I speak to my neighbors, our community members, and work with you personally in your groups trying to get that opportunity of hopefully, if this is you're interested, this is a career. I want to thank you for your support, and I want you to know your work tonight is changing lives for the better. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 8: Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Council and Staff. I'm Ron Miller, executive secretary of the L.A. Orange County Building Trades. And I stood before you a couple of years ago and told you we were going to create this partnership and do good things. And I think you heard some of the good things we're doing. Can we do better? Absolutely. Those are goals in that agreement and this partnership. And we don't stop when we hit the number, we keep going. And so we can always do better. And through the partnerships that we formed. Speaker 4: Here in Long Beach with the city. Speaker 8: Long Beach City College and other institutions, we formed a nonprofit apprenticeship readiness fund. And that's to go after training dollars and be able to fund apprenticeship readiness classes with. Speaker 5: Our building trades. Speaker 8: M.S. three Curriculum with Beach City College. And we were able to put on a placement coordinator. You're going to meet him? He's going to. Speaker 4: Speak. A couple. Speaker 8: Couple people behind me. But his job is to work with the apprenticeship readiness classes. Speaker 5: But as a go between between the classes and the local unions. Speaker 8: And put these young individuals from the community into the apprenticeship programs, it's been very successful. He has some good numbers he'd like to. Speaker 5: Share with. Speaker 8: You. And I'll be here if there's any questions. Otherwise, we're going to have a women's conference. We're going to also have it at Long Beach City College. It's going to be May 31st and June 1st. So mark that on your calendars, you're all invited to stop by. We had it last year. We had over 200 women there. We expect to double that this year. And it's designed for women that are already in the trades to give them the support mechanisms they need to survive and also introduce the trades to more young women that think they may want to a good middle class career in in the building trades. So thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. Miller. Which campuses is it? Speaker 8: You know, we're not sure yet. Speaker 1: I think the PCC campus. Speaker 0: Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. Miller. Next speaker, please. Speaker 8: Good evening, Mayor and council members. My name is Francisco Aragon. Speaker 5: I'm a very proud journeyman in said Wyman with. Speaker 8: IBEW Local 11. Speaker 5: I worked union and nonunion jobs all over L.A. County, and some of these were in Long Beach. And like so many working families. Speaker 8: My family must juggle a daycare. So this is my little guys, little Frankie right here. And thanks to my union, he has great benefits. Four years ago. Yeah. Speaker 0: All right. Speaker 5: So four years ago, you authorized your staff to execute a citywide project labor agreement with the Orange County Building Trades Council. There are some. Speaker 8: Facts in the staff report before you today. The plea has been applied. The plea has been applied to 25 projects and it has exceeded the local hire goal and the disadvantaged less veteran goal. In short, your workforce development efforts, your partnership with the building trades. Speaker 5: Our desire to put people into family sustaining careers. Speaker 8: It's all working on behalf of IBEW Local 11. I'm here to thank you. I'm also here to express support for the work done by the Long Beach Local Hire Coalition. Specifically, we support a pilot program to initiate a jobs coordinator. Speaker 5: On some projects. Thank you for your time. Goodnight. Speaker 1: Thanks, Speaker, please. Speaker 8: Good evening, Mr. Mayor. City Council. My name is Ben Garcia and I am the jobs coordinator with the Apprenticeship Readiness Fund of the LA and Orange County Building Trades Council. I just came on in. Speaker 4: February and I'm excited about the work, looking to put more Long. Speaker 8: Beach citizens and high paying jobs within the union building trades. I just wanted to tonight share with you a couple of numbers over the last couple of years, two of our programs in Long Beach, Long Beach City College, as well as women in nontraditional roles, which is the winter program, have graduated 310 individuals from their pre apprenticeship programs and 80 of those have been placed. And what that equates to in total estimated hours worked. Speaker 4: Based on an approximate 1700 hours per. Speaker 8: Year is about 136000 hours per year worked by citizens. Speaker 4: Of Long Beach. Also combined, that's 544000. Speaker 8: Hours, over four years of apprenticeship. So I just wanted to share that information with you. Speaker 4: And thank you for your time. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 4: How are you doing? My name is Marlon Anderson, and I'm a Long Beach resident of living in Long Beach all my life. When the O'Brien Elementary School, Rogers Middle School and the great Long Beach Poly High School. Unknown to me. I wasn't trying to speak to come up here saying anything, but I had no idea that the people on this council was directly responsible for the success of my life. A few years ago, I got in trouble with the law and I did some time in prison. And when I got out of prison, I was able to get into IBEW Local 11, literally six months after. So not only did it help me change my life, but I. Speaker 5: Was able to discharge parole early. Speaker 4: I was also a United States Navy veteran. Being a Long Beach resident, I was able to work on the Long Beach Aquarium, which is very beautiful inside. I hope everyone visits it. And I was also able to do the pump stations for the Rainbow Harbor, which was really simply about Long Beach Council. So I was willing to say whatever. What did you guys do for me in my family was a great thing and I really appreciate it. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Thanks, Speaker. Speaker 4: Good evening. My name is Matthew Coats and I'm also a lifelong resident of Long Beach. I've been here my whole life, and I just want to say thank you for the support of this program and the place, because I, too, went through that preparedness program at Long Beach City College, and now it's been about two years. It's local 11 and my life is completely turned around. So thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Next speaker and our last speaker will be the gentleman at the end. So I can't see who it is. I see. I see Mr. Simpson's Totnes. Okay. There you go. All right. And then. Then we're close to speakers list. Speaker 8: Son. I can't. District six. It's good to see all the union people out, and I appreciate the city, you know, brokering this deal. The plea deal in the agreement and seen the results of the last couple of years. That being said. I feel like we could do more. Personally speaking, as someone who's gone through a couple apprenticeship apprenticeships at Lambie, see Lambie City. You know, I've had professors tell me and teachers tell me there that I had a better chance getting a job, working on a yard in Long Beach if I went to L.A. Tech or I went to L.A. versus going to Long Beach City. You know, I can I'm just speaking as someone in my community. I was born and raised in this city, and I don't I don't see enough locals being hired. I think that's a big issue. I worked the last job recently. I worked on a yard. It was about a year ago, and I was one of four people that was from Long Beach. You know, I think a lot of Orange County crews are getting preferential treatment and they're acquiring a lot of these jobs. And just like my man, the swish Japanese gentleman who was speaking earlier about the economic analysis, you know, that's less we should have an economic analysis about all these Long Beach jobs and the money that's being acquired and used and coming out of them and how these a lot of these people is taking their money and they're going to L.A. or they're going to Orange County or what. So in regards to brokering the next deal, you know, I think that should be 19% is is abysmal. And I think that it should be non voluntary, that it should be over 50% because there's a lot of people out here that speak on the phone. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening, honorable mayor and council members. My name is Elsa tongue representing Long Beach Forward and speaking tonight on behalf of the Long Beach Local Hire Coalition, a group of organizations that came together in 2014 and have stayed together since to provide recommendations on local and disadvantaged hiring in the citywide play. Our coalition members include and you'll hear from next Long Beach Community Action Partnership. Long Beach Residents Empowered United Cambodian Community Pvt. Jobs Legal Aid Foundation and East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice. Speaker 2: We thank the mayor. Speaker 3: The city council and the city staff for your leadership in bringing forward the citywide plea for full discussion of the terms and conditions per the 2015 Council motion. Our Coalition supports the citywide play. We also appreciate the city's efforts to transition the play's management from financial management to economic development Pacific Gateway in order to increase the hiring of our underemployed Long Beach neighbors. Now, to this end, what progress has been made toward the local higher promise of 40% work hours and the disadvantaged higher promise of 10% work hours? Our Coalition's data analysis looks at work hours performed by Long Beach residents whom we define as local. And looks at compliance on a project. Speaker 2: By project basis. Speaker 3: Which is the standard reporting practices for other plays in our region out of 20 complete and active play projects. Only two have met the Long Beach Local Promise and only five have met the disadvantaged promise. That translates to a 10% success rate for local and 25% success rate for disadvantaged. Speaker 2: As a city, we. Speaker 3: Can do better. In fact, we know we can do better because if we look at Project six and the staff report aced at West PD Substation, that project met both the Long Beach local target and the disadvantaged target, and it was a relatively small project of less than $1 million. So we know that genuine success is possible and does not depend on the size or scale of the project. Unfortunately, Long Beach has not been able to replicate that success very much over the past four years. Therefore, based on play press practices, the local hire coalition recommends four targeted reasonable improvements to strengthen local and disadvantaged hire. Number one require an independent jobs coordinator for each and every play project. Number two. Speaker 7: Disadvantage. Speaker 3: Define disadvantage worker using Metro's definition, which targets residents. Speaker 7: Facing multiple barriers to. Speaker 3: Employment. Number three report disadvantaged work. Speaker 7: Hours by city or tier. So we know. Speaker 2: If Long Beach residents are. Speaker 3: Benefiting. And number four, use Metro's process for holding contractors accountable. To be clear, our coalition supports the play and union jobs. We are simply recommending targeted improvements based on proven best practices. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Speaker, please. Speaker 8: Good evening. Council. Mayor Garcia Vice Mayor Andrew's staff. I just want to say I'm P.B. Jobs. I'm Christopher Norwood. I'm here with my colleagues. I want to say, first off and foremost, I'm excited as well as people. Jobs and support for both the lobbies play along with the local hire coalition. P.B. Jobs. My job to slow them a little short guy. Sorry about that. Heavy jobs is the local. We're committed to providing career oriented employment opportunities to at risk youth, adults, veterans along with construction industry related traits. We advocate and serve national motto construction job programs which assist people with barriers such as homelessness, justice system involvement, welfare recipients and much more. Long Beach Veolia encompasses a community benefit program that resembles motto in which our organization is built upon. With our model, we have been able to serve 20,000 people and place over 8000 people in career track employment opportunities to this. We're excited about the potential of the opportunity that is exceeded, about the opportunity that is here before us, but as recognition and multiple infrastructure pieces that are missing in the play, which can be and make up for principles in a community benefit program which can be more successful. Now to this we are requesting stronger local hire language. Along with that, an additional of an independent jobs coordinator for all pilot projects and to define disadvantaged workers or encompass additional people for barriers to employment. All said, with these changes, PBE just feels that current people, they can be even more successful and truly make a community a community impact that we envision four years ago. So with that being said, I completely agree with Tom. There's a lot more things that can be done. Speaker 6: And we're here to help out and make sure those things get done. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good evening, honorable counsel. I am Angelica Luna. I am a jobs partner with Peabody Jobs. I work with multiple contractors throughout the county as a community liaison. In this role, I assist local residents with union entry process. We provide referrals to contractors and help contractors reach their very local and disadvantaged hiring goals with the use of strong contractual paly language. Contractors are emboldened to hire locally and draw from employees that are often discriminated against and overlooked. Through this model, we have been able to help thousands of our participants start career in the field of construction. P.B. Jobs in particular, is a nonprofit organization focused towards helping the at risk be available for these opportunities and eliminating all barriers to employment. To this, our jobs coordinators help risk At-Risk residents by providing them with additional support and resources like childcare services, transportation, boots, tools, etc. all with the intentions of providing firm foundation for vocational growth. In closing, P.B. Jobs is a big supporter of labor and believes that the play with the right infrastructure can catapult the at risk into the middle class. With this, we ask that you strengthen the play to hold contractors accountable for local and disadvantaged hiring and assign independent job job coordinators to these projects to ensure continued employment opportunities for the at risk. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 5: Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Eric Miller and I'm executive director of Playa Vista Job Opportunities and Business Services. Long title, simple name. We help people with. Speaker 4: Valuable jobs too. Speaker 5: That as you stated, as we stated earlier, my colleague Christopher, we've helped over 20,000 people throughout the county find construction employment. And this is all through the model that this pilot encompasses. And so obviously, I can drown you out with all of the different statistics that. Speaker 12: Players can. Speaker 5: Provide. But I wanted to tell you a small story. Right now, we are the jobs coordinator on. Speaker 4: One of the larger metro projects, which is the. Speaker 5: Crenshaw L.A.X. line, over $1.8 billion worth of construction, too, that there have been over 100 different contractors on these projects. Most of these projects, in all honesty, are from outside of our area, either from. Speaker 4: The Ventura. Speaker 5: County area or from the Orange County. But two, that they are coming to here to this county and also signing up with the building trades to be a part of this large opportunity. Speaker 4: With that, they also. Speaker 9: Signed up to hire locally. With that, the Metro pilot required has two tiers. Speaker 5: Which looks at first the five mile radius and then it also looks at the most at risk neighborhoods throughout the county. And two, that they are hiring directly from peavy jobs for these opportunities. Most recently, we parlayed one of our reentry grants for four young men who went from the halfway house to making a little bit shorter than $46 an hour. And this opportunity was created by this opportunity of using a strong. Speaker 12: Play and a play. Speaker 5: Language to make sure that we're setting aside jobs for the local and disadvantaged. So I'm asking you today and imploring you all today to recognize that we have a strong opportunity here. And yes, it is much smaller in scale than our local partners. Speaker 9: In regards to the city of Los Angeles and Metro. Speaker 5: But that doesn't take away from the fact that it can still have the. Speaker 4: Proper infrastructure to help our people. So I'm asking you again. Speaker 5: Consider this play as an opportunity to help the city of Long Beach. And thank you for your time. Speaker 9: Thank you. Speaker 10: Good evening, Mayor. City Council colleagues in the chamber. I'm Derek Simpson, executive director of the Long Beach Community Action Partnership. I've been many thanks. Shared this evening. A lot of numbers, shared a lot of stories shared. The one thing I want to speak to is the fact that as the hands were raised here of our colleagues here in Orange Media, have them raise their hands from Long Beach. My reality is that the Long Beach Community Action Partnership, that 6100 families came to me in 2018 to help me to help them get their utility bill paid. They couldn't afford that. 48 teens came to me last year for a summer internship, and we pay them $1,000 each to help them. And they spent that on back to school supplies so that their moms didn't have to spend it on them. They could spend it on their little brothers and sisters. The reality is that with all the success that this play may have had local for us at Long Beach Community Action Partnership and those 6000 people that we helped represent your zip codes. Your zip code here in Long Beach. Those people deserve the opportunity to stand here if they would like to. In orange vest also and be proud that they have livable wage jobs. Our ask simply is that the opportunity for people who live in the zip codes that we serve here in the city of Long Beach have an opportunity to succeed and have an opportunity to pursue the jobs that are being spoken of. And if, in fact, they waiver because they can't pass a math test or they don't have the supplies that they need to get to and from work, that you allow the non-profits in our community to provide a safety net and wrap our arms around them so that we can again help Long Beach do better. I'm not anti-anything. I am all for Long Beach and at the Long Beach Community Action Partnership. I have been here at this podium from the beginning. From the beginning have not wavered and will not waver. Because if I do, I'm remiss in doing my job representing the people that we serve. I thank you for listening to me, and I thank you for hearing not just listening what we're trying to say to you as a community that we help the people of Long Beach get livable wage jobs just as we helping everybody else, too. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Next week. Speaker 8: Good evening. Mayor and council members? Yes. I mean, good. You're still awake. My name's Rodrigo Vasquez. I'm on APB Jobs on my case manager. Also, we like to say our coach. I work with a lot of reentry people. I work in the reentry field for over 15 years now. And when I heard about the plea agreement. I want to applaud the conversation. But at the same time, I want to echo the seriousness that it could grow to be. I think all of us that have worked in policy are, you know, know a big difference between a suggestion, a recommendation and something that's mandated and something that's law. So when you suggest then they could take it or leave it. When you suggest hiring people from the community are recommended, which is, I say all 20%, 30%, and this is policy, city ordinance, you know, it's taking more serious. And with the equity and employment conversation. I just want to urge every community being involved to look at the the racial proportions of how many Latinos and African-Americans live in Long Beach and how many of these populations are getting these jobs, this union construction jobs. So let's let's also look at the the the racial equity when we talk about play and the communities that the racial communities that live in play, that percentage should be proportionate to the percentage enter the play agreement. And that's how we know in terms of like people like benefiting from the play agreement. Right. My loneliness or. Yes. All right. Just a quick question. Just. And also, I just want to know that we're talking about lower class, working class are struggling, trying to reach middle class. We're not talking about trying to reach upper class. I think that play agreement conversation is another level. And I want to urge this committee to keep that in mind in terms of all the people in this community, especially the disadvantaged, poor people, a lot of black and brown and Asian Pacific Islanders. How do we prepare them to enter this other professional fields that we talked about earlier, quote unquote, blue collar professions? And there's a large proportion, a large population also of formerly incarcerated people here in Long Beach as well. So we want to make sure we create opportunities for them not to reenter the system as well. And I just want to say that, you know, let's let's start talking and let's get to work, you know. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. And and thank you to everyone that spoke. Let me turn we have a we do have a motion in a second. So let me start with Vice Mayor Andrews. Speaker 0: Yes. Thank you, Mayor. You know, first of all. Speaker 9: I'd like to thank each and every one of you for coming out here tonight. I think it's because part of me, even when I listen to all of this, because I think we've all have faced some form of adversities, and those adversities really have caused a lot of individuals to not to be able to get a job . Because usually I remember when we first started off an individual who had any form of a problem. The first thing they asked you, have you ever been convicted of a felon and a felon automatically disqualify you for working anywhere? But I can remember if you were in jail when you had a felony, that you had to work. So we do. Speaker 8: Have work ethics. Speaker 9: So what I'm saying here tonight is that this report states that we are meting out. Our target, which is good, but we can always try to do better. You know, too many people in my district are still looking at the construction sites across our city and want to be a part of the workforce. Like I always said, a job can stop a bullet. It can buy a new way of life away from gangs and streets. I would ask the city manager and the Economic Development Department to strategize on a way to increase our local hiring number. And I disadvantage, you know, and veterans hiring and work with our partners with L.A and O.C. methods into the plan. I believe that there are ways that we can work together to bring good jobs to the people that need them the most. While we support our partners in labor, I encourage us to take a striking vehicle by the Long Beach Zip Long Beach zip code and not only by the county. You will see the diversity in this. So this is one thing that I feel so excited about and I see tonight that there is a possibility for those like the young man here, you know, a Latino brother, he has said, you know, if he wouldn't want to school, he didn't go and get his education. But yet and still, there's a possibility when I listen to these individuals, you can get a job. And this is what we're working on, Long Beach hiring. If you work here, you live here, we live here. You work here. And I know I wouldn't think you run so much of explaining that to me. We want jobs. That's all we asking for. Just give us some jobs. Can keep us off the streets, keep us in a place where we can live and eat. I want to thank you guys so much for coming out tonight and expressing to us. Thank you again. Speaker 1: Thank you, Vice Mayor Councilwoman Price. Speaker 7: Thank you. And I want to thank everyone for being here tonight as well. I've had an opportunity to go back and watch the council meeting where this item was passed. And this report is here tonight because of an amendment that I added that night. Not everybody was happy with the fact that I was adding that item because the additional data folks didn't think was necessary. But I'm so grateful that we did it because the data that we have before us in the report really justifies the need for the program. And it sets a foundation in terms of what our expectations are for future projects. And for me, I needed that data to be able to speak confidently about the proposal that we implemented, the pilot that we implemented, and the success that we've had. So I do recall and in watching the meeting, it did refresh my recollection that it was never, you know, I like the agreement that we have in place. It was never the intent of the council on that night to open it back up for any discussion, significant discussion at this juncture. It was to see how the project is working and whether it continues to be a success to lead us moving forward. And I believe we've done that. I do want to comment on a few things here. One of the things I was very pleased by and I want to thank staff for the for the report. The staff report is fantastic. But one of my biggest factors was what were the costs of the administration of this play be and how will that impact our project costs? And I was very happy to see that on average, the administration cost is under 1%. Is that correct? That's that's been our experience with. Speaker 11: Yes, it's averaged about point 8% under the 1% target. Speaker 7: Okay. That's fantastic. And the reason I say it's fantastic is because, you know, my concern was in terms of our residents and what the return on their tax dollars and revenue investment would be and whether or not the project costs would be inflated. I will say the projects that have been completed that I've had a chance to observe in my own district, of course, the public contracts which are part of this discussion, but also the private projects where we've had union labor have all been completed with very little drama, usually under schedule, usually under budget or around budget and in an exceptional manner. So I've been really pleased with the way that the projects have been carried out. I look at the huge public projects like the Colorado Lagoon, our North Shore section of it, our Leeway Sailing Center in my district. And then I look at private projects like yes and the labor component there. And I'm very pleased with how these projects have come to fruition. And I think it's set a standard in terms of, you know, very little disruption, efficiency, skilled labor, quality, development products, things that I think that we can really wrap our heads around. I will say that it's obvious that the construction is very active in the city such that our lower threshold project projects are not getting as many bids and as much. Competition. So that's one area where I think we should continue to to work on. In terms of the projects that are following in that, I think it's 500 to $900000 threshold level. One of the things that I was curious about is I know that we are going to be moving the administration to economic development department. Can you tell me a little bit more about how you think that will be a more efficient administration of this coordination position? And how is that coordination effort different than I believe it was Ben Garcia, who's the jobs coordinator with the building trades? I know that they're they help with the coordination, but what is it that we do in addition to or in lieu of? Speaker 12: Councilmember Price, thanks for the question. So in in the in the past, we have actually contracted that 1% that contractors have to contribute toward the administration of the program has gone primarily toward the the auditing of ours payroll certification the reporting that you find online. There's a great website that you can see month to month reports, as well as working with the prime contractors to make sure that they understand their responsibilities. A sign they actually sign in a sent a letter that indicates that they understand the play our goals and objectives that the council has established and that, you know, the play administrator was more of an audit function. So what we're you know, what we envision in what we're working on now to to better attack the goals and objectives, both in the blueprint as well as the goals that are expressed in the play, is that we want to take advantage of some of the administrative back and that we have it at Pacific Gateway, which is, as many know, we have to do a tremendous amount of grant reporting to the Federal Government for our Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act funding. So we realized that, hey, some of the work that our contractor was doing within the 1% is actually work that we have capacity to do in-house, the Pacific Gateway, and that if we could absorb some of that, because many of these clients remember as they get into the workforce development system, we're tracking their progress. We're tracking not only the training that they're getting through these apprenticeship programs, but sometimes they even take advantage of other Pacific Gateway programs. Hundreds of people come through that might actually go into another sector. They might find that they do some work in construction, but then they might find a love for something else and take advantage of classes that we provide through City College and find themselves in another field altogether. So we want to take advantage of all of that capacity, not just on the administrative side, but to hire a play administrator that also has a responsibility for working with Mr. Garcia, the jobs coordinator and placement coordinator that the trades provides, partnering with our local community based organizations who have connections in the neighborhoods, the faith based communities , the local hire coalition, all of the partners that you heard, heard from tonight. We would hope that the plan administrator being dedicated to that work, in addition to the administrative capacity, will make us more effective and give a face and a name and a person within the city that all of these groups can work with when they find workers or potential workers. Speaker 7: I love it. I think it's a very positive step in the right direction. And I'm assuming that given the efficiencies that we're realizing in that this isn't going to result in additional costs to the developers. Speaker 12: Correct at this this proposal and we're actually moving forward with it in this transition would be paid for within the existing budget. It would be paid for within the existing 1% that that has formally been used for the administrative outside contractor. Speaker 7: And I and I said the developers. But these are public contracts so really do the taxpayers. They would not be shouldering a higher burden. Speaker 12: Correct. And there wouldn't be an added cost to the actual prime contractor when they bid to the city. So remember, we are the customer or the client for these projects, but these projects are being built by private sector prime contractors. So it shouldn't add any additional costs which would, you know, result in less service to the community. Speaker 11: And just to clarify how that 1% works so that it's not actually paid by the contractor, it is when we set aside our budget and we say, how much is the project going to cost? There is always your soft cost and then your actual construction cost. So that 1% is currently part of our soft costs that the city sets aside in order to do the administration of the play. Speaker 7: That's fantastic. Okay. Well, a few of the things I agree that we should be focused more and try to do everything we can to meet the local hire component. I think that we have set forth some. High goals that we should not stop trying to achieve. Having said that, I'm a huge fan of having a tiered system in place because it allows for us to be able to recruit skilled labor from within and throughout the region. But also when we have consistency in the industry in terms of how these contracts are agreed upon and implemented throughout the region, we're in a position where we're allowing our own residents to have an opportunity through the tiered system to get jobs throughout the county and throughout the region, which is important because there may be additional construction jobs going on elsewhere and it opens them up for more variety in terms of job opportunities. And so so I think that, you know, obviously one of the things I was impressed at is we are meeting and or exceeding most of the thresholds and goals that we've set forth as part of the original play. Certainly when we renegotiate another play and enter into another contract, we can change some of those so those goals. But right now I believe that we are meeting and exceeding and in fact the tiered system allows for more opportunities, assuming that it's applied in a consistent fashion throughout the region. It allows for more job opportunities for our own residents. And the final thing I want to say, and I really want to thank IBEW for this, because they really. Took me by the hand when I started this this journey five years ago and educated me about what they do. And it was such an eye opening experience for me that I probably they're their biggest and loudest supporter now. So some people in here in the audience know and some may not that that I'm a prosecutor and in my job, I work a lot. I'm a manager now. So I oversee about, you know, many, many tens and tens of attorneys that work daily to give people second chances and opportunities. And one of the things I learned when I went to IBEW is how great the reintegration into the job workforce program is. And so I talk about that everywhere I go. I recently went to a parole hearing at Donovan State Prison about three weeks ago on a murder case that I prosecuted in 2005. The defendant was 17 years old at the time. It was a gang related murder. He is now 34 years old and 33 years old, and he was applying to be released on parole. And one of the things you have to do when you're asking to be released on parole is to identify what your parole plans are. And he had not taken advantage of any opportunity to learn a trade during his time in prison. And so he was denied parole for a variety of reasons. But at the end of the hearing, I asked his attorney if I could talk to him, which in 20 years I've never asked to talk with anyone. And this was the first time someone I prosecuted was eligible for parole. And I took him to the side and I said to him, you know, one, you need to get your GED, you're in there. They're offering it to you for free. You need to get your GED to you need to connect with a trade. And the next time you come up for a parole hearing in three years, you need to identify that you've been through some job training with a trade and that you are prepared to enter the workforce with one of the building trades. And he was very appreciative. His attorney said, I've never had a prosecutor reach out and talk to one of my one of the inmates like that. But I think that there is so many success stories about people who learned a trade and now have the opportunity to purchase a home and live in the community and be a productive member of the community. That's what second chances is all about. So to me, yes, it's absolutely important that we get our Long Beach residents working. But it's more important to me that we get people in the region who would not have otherwise had the opportunity to earn a pay and learn a profession working because that helps the entire region as a whole. And I think that's really where our focus should be in terms of how this pilot program has unfolded in the city of Long Beach and how it can continue to grow when it expires and is renegotiated. So I want to thank staff for their work and I want to thank all the people that came out today. And for all of you guys who have shared about how it's changed your life and how it set a path for you. It's inspirational to me and anything that I can do ever to continue to support those efforts, I will do personally, professionally, all of that. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Okay. Let me go to the speakers list now, Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 7: Yes. Thank you so much. I'm excited that we're at this point. We it took us a lot to get here, I think, three years ago. And now we're here and we're talking about all of the successful datasets, you know, and points about the place. So just a few things I want to first thank. City Staff. Inclusive of financial management, economic development. PG Wynn Public Works City Attorney and Manager's Office, L.A., O.C. Building Trades and all of our nonprofits and job advocates that have been with us through this full three years and ensuring that we're getting this right. And I always say, you know, we're a city that enacted this three years ago. We're a city that's growing. We're a city that's learning not only about the play, but just about our jobs and workforce landscape. And what was exciting about this citywide play when we brought it forward three years ago is that it created a domino effect, in essence. Right? It then we had the Long Beach City College play and opportunities at the port and now we're looking at potentially hopefully pray that we have Long Beach Unified School District on board. And so this is the exciting thing about the play is that it's been opened up to a lot of opportunities, not just in our city but across the board in our various agencies within our city, which is very exciting. And it's not only given people a job opportunity, but a career as the daughter of a truck driver who worked for 30 years in a skilled career, I know exactly, you know, how important, how vital it is, not just as a policymaker, but as someone who's had a person in my. Family who has benefited from plays in this sense. So a couple questions and I want to just make sure I think there was some confusion and I just want to clarify because I have to to do that. This is a five year agreement, so we cannot open up anything at this point. And I just want to make that clear that we're not adding anything. This is just a received file. Five years is when the agreement is open up for additional renegotiation, correct? Speaker 11: That's correct. We're not recommending opening up the play and it is not too far away. It's May 2020 is when the play would come. Would that five year term would expire. Speaker 7: Great. So May 2020, that's coming around the corner. Fantastic. And I will clarify, though, back in 2015, we did ask for a full discussion of a of all terms and conditions and any recommendations to the Jack, which is the Joint Advisory Committee instead of a received file. And so I just want to make sure, I think for the respect of the Council and to ensure that we're getting it clear that we stay on track with these requests, because I know that that was clearly what we had asked for. And I think when this came up, I think everyone was thinking, Oh, we can add suggestions and recommendations and we can add this and that. And so I think we just want to make sure we're clear there. And I also want to make sure the community is clear so there's no confusion there. So with that said, just putting it out there. So now I digress to just a couple questions, and I'm just wondering how to do this, given that information, because I know that, you know, all of us, I think, are in the same the same mindset. We want to grow our local numbers. Absolutely. We want City of Long Beach employees or City of Long Beach residents to be on the workforce at 40, 50, 60, 100%. If we could, that would be fantastic. Oftentimes what happens and I worked with PPG When and Nick specifically on this, I remember a year or so ago, he gave me a list of exactly which jobs we had available, which trades and which districts they were located in, and like half were in the first half were in the six, the others were in the ninth and various areas. And we I had told him, you know, give me the storytelling on the data. And it was eye opening because you get, you know, we had about 80 or so people that were in apprenticeships or went through or started the apprenticeship. Some fell out because they decided to go to college. Some decided that they just didn't want to pursue the trade anymore. Some decided that they wanted to go into another career, not on any city, city jobs, and some decided to move forward and go through with that. And some just didn't have an opportunity here in Long Beach because the trade didn't call or the job didn't call for that specific trade. So I want to be very clear with community as well that sometimes it's hard to get those numbers given that opportunity, given those given that landscape. But I do think we need to do a better job of creating a pipeline of individuals. And so I'm excited to see Mr. Garcia and what I would say and hope that we could potentially do, knowing that we need to get more Long Beach folks on the job and knowing that we want to grow in communities like Justin. Justice involved, getting justice involved individuals into these jobs, high poverty areas, high areas of need of unemployed and underemployed folks. So my question to staff, given this information is how. Knowing that we can open anything up. Is there any sort of two from four that we can just slightly or suggest to recommend to the Jack not opening anything up? But half of them I think, are here today on the committee. So we can just say, look, in the interim, this year and a half that we are waiting, we at least want this information and we want it to be clear that we're trying to get. To those levels and set ourselves up for success at that five year mark. Speaker 11: Certainly. So, you know, we do believe that you can give us direction today to be able to, you know, look at those things and come back. We certainly hear that. We would you want some more information about how we are meeting our goals. Part of your staff recommendation today is moving that over to development. You're moving it over to it is going to allow us to have additional outreach, additional services to be able to provides that information. So, yes, we can we're certainly moving in that direction and we think we're doing more than what we were doing just just a couple of months ago. So we can be bringing back additional data to you. We can year we can bring you any data that you would like to ask for us tonight. Speaker 7: Okay. Well, I would just add, you know, my colleagues, I'm sure, have more to add, but I would just like something maybe in writing that just says that we are trying to work with these communities, that we're going to make good faith efforts to increase our local numbers to 40% here in Long Beach and do everything that we can basically to be able to make this a more robust opportunity for a better workforce here. With that said. See, I would just say I just want to thank everyone involved. I know we're really trying to get towards that, you know, goal of of meeting everyone and making everybody feel great about this this play. I feel confident that we're in the right direction, that we're headed in the right direction. And I think my colleagues for, uh, for hearing that. Speaker 11: But I'm sorry, Councilmember, I just want to clarify that it sounds like you're requesting a two from four be added to this motion to receive and file. And you would also like a two from four from staff, is that correct? Speaker 7: Well, just one. I was just thinking one that basically perhaps it could be a suggestion to the JAC and to the Long Beach City College coordinator, Mr. Garcia about. I know, I know he's already doing a lot of this work, but just stating that we want to make good faith efforts to increase our local Long Beach hiring where we can and just do a lot more and get deeper into these communities that we need to. Speaker 2: Work. Speaker 7: With. You know, the jobs is one we have winter. There's a lot of organizations that are doing this great work to get into these communities and we want to make sure we're making good, good faith efforts. Speaker 11: But as you stated, and I just want to be clear on the Jack, the they have the ability and their primary role is to monitor compliance with this agreement. And they they can meet and they can discuss potential amendments with two exceptions, lowering the threshold and and the term of the agreement. And those recommendations would come back to the city council and to the Trade Trade Council for proposals either to amend the agreement before it expires or in the new agreement. They would recommend these additional changes that maybe you're discussing or recommending. But yes. And if I can ask John Keisler to add to that, I believe the Jack is meeting fairly soon and he can talk a little bit more about that. Speaker 12: Yeah, Councilmember, it's, it's actually a part of the agreement that the Jack will meet periodically to review the status and compliance and discuss ways to to improve performance. So I think that we're taking notes tonight. So, so all of the things not only that are on the record, but also things that have come to mind are our discussion topics for our agenda. We'll discuss those with the Jack. And we're always happy after these meetings or these even these council meetings to come back to the council in writing with an update as to what we discussed and what the next steps are. Speaker 7: Okay, great. Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing more from my colleagues and we'll leave it at that. But thank you again for all of your help. Speaker 1: Thank you very much, Councilman Richardson. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just a few thoughts and a few questions. So, number one, I'm proud to see the progress of the program in these last four years. I've seen the progress. We don't typically have a bunch of construction going on in North Palm Beach, where we have recently we have a Highland Park community center under construction that we check on. We're ready. We're excited about. That's a play job. It's a play project. We've got you know, we just recently finished our two force wetlands and both Councilman Austin in my district. Great project adding you know much needed amenities and the added bonus to understand that local folks are working these are union jobs and they're transforming lives. And to hear the young man come up and say, thank you, I was given a second chance. I think those are the narratives that we promised Long Beach. And that's and that's what we expect to continue to see. I think it's was very interesting that we had a conversation earlier on the Latino equity profile of Latino economic profile because, you know, project labor agreements while a long time ago they may have been controversial. Now they're considered best practice, their best best practice to close the racial wealth gap. They create opportunities for people to, you know, bill resiliency, make money, own a home, invest. And so I completely support that given, you know, I've led a conversation on economic inclusion for the last two years. So I recognize that and I appreciate that. I also don't want to dismiss the challenges that the community raised up, and I see it as a challenge to do better. We have to continue to do better and to improve and focus on things we can do to better connect and make sure more of our people feel connected to our local economy. And the one of the best tools to do that is this project labor agreement. So when I jump into some of the conversation, some of the questions here. So I want to hear from from staff. Tell me more about this. The stuff on what does that page 13, the pilot program on page 13. Walk me through that once more. Speaker 9: So thank you for the question, Councilmember. The Supplemental Services Program would be in addition to the project leader, project labor administrator at Pacific Gateway. And what it would do is actually add capacity or support for job coordination services to that project. Labor Administrator. So what we would do is ensure that within the current budget of of 1% project cost. We could. Put together an RFP for those services. We identify firms to get the RFP out, to bring it in, evaluate the RFP and then have the opportunity to onboard those forms for that additional support on larger projects or when there were multiple projects that would be out of out of scope for a single administrator. Speaker 5: And so this would be something in addition to in addition to what you're already providing. Speaker 9: We haven't begun providing anything at this point. But yes, when when the duties transfer, it would be in addition to the duties we would provide. Yes. Speaker 5: Okay. And we heard some examples of an independent jobs coordinator. How is the proposal that you're offering different than the independent jobs coordinator? Speaker 9: I don't know that it is different in that respect. What we would be doing is opening up a competitive process to identify firms that provided those services that I believe we're both both talking about and developing a pool we could contract with to provide those services. Speaker 5: Sure, that makes sense. So and so you said it would typically be within the 1% administrative costs. Isn't that the way it is? How is that different from the way it's structured? Over $10 million, the $10 million threshold for the independent jobs coordinator. Speaker 0: At. Speaker 9: At the $10 million threshold, the cost of the project administrator is a cost that's passed on to the prime contractor. Speaker 5: And what do we know? What the average. What was the cost of that? We've had one. How many projects have we had that triggered the independent job coordinator? Speaker 9: Release two that I'm aware of. Speaker 5: Okay. Because I see it was we had one project listed. Speaker 9: Airport and the ABC. Well, I believe I the two. Speaker 5: Okay. And did it come in? My understanding is that it comes in at one point, typically 1% of the project costs. Do we have any data to justify that? Speaker 9: I'm going to have to defer to them on. Speaker 5: Those are those costs that are paid by the contractor are not part of the 1% that we're talking about. Speaker 0: They would be. Speaker 5: My question is, you know what I hear and I want to I want to get some evidence for this, is that typically the independent jobs coordinator costs about 1% of the project. Is that what the data shows? If we have the data we have, if I'm understanding the question is for the administrative costs, then we spend as a city, you know, the independent jobs. So we have end. Do we have an independent jobs coordinator threshold at $10 million? Yes. Okay. And did we ever utilize that in the last four years? Speaker 0: The first one would be. Speaker 5: The first one to be here. So it has been utilized how many times? Once. Speaker 9: Once. Speaker 5: Okay. In that one time. How much did it cost? The contract. Speaker 12: Yeah. We don't know what that costs to the contractor to hire an independent jobs coordinator. So that would be something that they have on their side of the ledger. It's not something that is recorded as part of their project costs or something that we set aside as part of our 1%. Speaker 5: Understood. So why did we opt to and in this pilot and I'm support I'm supportive of figuring out how to get a job independent jobs coordinator whether it's Peavy jobs or others to play that role for the remaining projects challenge for me is that I see that there's only one more project less on this left on this project list that's 10 million and above. I would love to see those additional services, the boots going to people who need boots, the rides and transportation. I would love to see that on the rest of the projects that are listed. I see is only three projects left within the term period. So I would like to I would like to see that happen. And so I want to ask some court process questions now. So in terms of the way that this this meeting was noticed, this is city attorney was this was placed on the agenda as a receiving file. So what does that what are the limits on that? Speaker 11: So so under the Brown Act, the the noticing provisions are required to give the public an opportunity to determine whether they want to come down and hear what the council is going to debate and what what action or what they they may be doing on this. So a receiving file does limit the council from, for example, if if you were suggesting or wanted to suggest to staff to go negotiate an amendment to the existing play that wouldn't be allowed under tonight's action to receive and file a report. You could certainly agenda advise that for a future meeting or direct staff to look into making changes to the play or future in new plays. You'd like to explore the costs of adding additional features. But this evening, because of the noticing to receive and file this project labor agreement report, the Council is limited tonight to making substantive changes or recommending substantive changes to the agreement. You could certainly ask for a report. You certainly ask for additional information, certainly. Speaker 5: And I think that makes sense. I think that wasn't the original intent. The intent. I think we'll get into which is the same things to the to the Jack for recommendation. If, you know, if we were if we had any recommended recommended changes. And so I want to want to talk about that a little bit. So there's you know, I've heard this term not open up the play. My understanding is that we couldn't unilaterally open up the play as it is. Is that correct? Speaker 11: That is correct. It's it's an existing contract that would require under the contract, Article 20, the agreement can be renegotiated, supplemented, rescinded or otherwise altered, but only by mutual agreement of both parties. So you would need to have an agreement from the Trades Council also. Speaker 5: That makes sense. I mean, there are partners, so they have to be bought into anything that happens. And so this apprehension that I'm hearing about don't open the play actually doesn't make any sense because you can't unilaterally do that. However, I'm having an issue reconciling, and this is a process issue that I have with city staff. I'm having an issue reconciling the report this in front of us now with the motion that was made four years ago. The emotion. As he says, it was a motion made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilmember Richardson, to approve a recommendation as amended to have data provided the city council an annual basis. And the five year agreement returned to the City Council after three years for full discussion of all the terms, in agreement terms and conditions of the agreement and forward any recommendation to the Joint Advisory Committee for possible amendments. So. Can we forward recommendations to the Joint Advisory Committee for Four Amendments? Can we do that tonight? Speaker 11: The answer to that is probably no, because the way it's worded in way the Brown Act requires you to receive and filed this report. You can you can direct staff to whatever potential amendments you want to send to the jack. You could ask staff to tell them what they are. Ask them to cast those out. Bring them back to the city council. And at that time we notice it for recommendations to possible amendments to the Jack, and then you would be provided with a report. What those impacts may or may not be to the city's cost or to possibly the trade council's expenses. And then the Jack could consider that recommendation. Speaker 5: Perfect. And therein lies the problem. I was trying to get to City Council asked for you to come back and give us an opportunity to make recommendations. And you just told me what's presented in front of us does not give us the opportunity to make recommendations. Is that accurate? Speaker 11: It just it does not allow you to do it tonight. It's a two step process. Speaker 5: So we were expecting a second step. Speaker 11: Well, you'd have to step staff, but I think that there was an obsession of the. Speaker 5: Staff then, if you can't answer that. If the recommendation from from the council was to provide the report and you've provided the great report, thank you for that. And secondly, to have an opportunity for us to forward recommendations to the JAC. So is there a second part of this coming? Because I see the report when I don't see the second part here. Speaker 11: Yeah. So that was an oversight by us that was not intended to do this in two different steps. We wanted to have that discussion. We expected to be able to have that. And if that wasn't if that wasn't put forward the way that it should have, that really was on us. So that just kind of escaped us. I apologize for that. And we would certainly want to take any input you have tonight. We could bring that back and and do it in a second step. And we would have been nice to have done it all at once. Speaker 5: Thank you for acknowledging that for me. When when we agree on a motion and we just did this a couple of weeks ago with tenant protections, we said we were very specific about the language used by the three year checking. We said nobody lose their benefits and we continue, you know, on with the process. And when we did this, there was very specific language and there was a commitment to the community that we would come back and make recommendations. There was never an assumption. I keep hearing this open appeal. There was never an assumption to open up the play there. There's an assumption that we will have three years of good data come in and say, What can we do to make it better? That was always the assumption, and that's what I expected to do tonight. And there were people in the community who have come to me and multiple members of the council who have asked me to make these recommendations to staff and to make to raise some of these issues tonight and to be told that it wasn't noticed correctly . She tells me that either was an inadvertent no. I'll tell you, I'll accept that as inadvertent or an intentional attempt to limit our ability to do our jobs as a city council. And I do not appreciate that. I frankly do not appreciate that. So we all support everybody on the dais who spoke and has said that they support the project. Labor agreement was not in question. The question here is, are we doing what we can to make sure that we are confident and 100% supporting and doing what we can to do and do to improve it? So, Mr. Modica, I want to make a recommendation and you figure out how to make it happen between you and the city attorney. But I want to make a recommendation that the independent jobs coordinator be included moving forward on the rest of the project. That's it. I completely understand. I completely understand that has a process that you have to have buy in from the trades. I would never want to undermine that. I want to I want to submit that publicly, that I want to support an independent jobs coordinator and risk the projects evaluated. Do we need to do you need to do. But I want to make sure that that happens. I want to enter that process. So how we go about that? Speaker 11: Mr. MODICA So yes, we can certainly take that direction from the Council if the council wants to do that as a motion. You know, we felt in our recommendation we would go as far as we could with kind of the services that we had available to us, given the prior direction, which is what we presented tonight. The Council wants to go beyond that and give us direction to do that. We'd be happy to do that and sit down. The jobs coordination piece is a little tricky because there is already a discussion in the contract about what is a jobs coordinator and when does it trigger. So there is some nuance to figure that out, and we can certainly come up with different ways for you to consider that, if that's what you'd like to look at, as well as the cost and and bring those back to you. Speaker 5: Absolutely. We don't want to circumvent any process. We don't you know, what we want to do is formally submit it into the process the council established for consideration of both parties. That's what we want to see. And I think there's a way to very simply say this is the one we're not asking to trigger a renegotiating of the whole play. We're talking about a very narrow issue. The independent jobs coordinator I think a strong case has been made here. I've personally spoken with representatives from the trades, individual trades and the Trades Council that this one issue is not very controversial. If anything, it just helps us present better and helps us to actually do the job we want to do. So that that's what I'd like to see. Vice Mayor are you good with that? Okay. Vice Mayors, good with that. Okay. So I think that satisfies my concerns at this point. Thank you. Speaker 11: So if I can just get some clarification. So was that added into the motion to come back and find a way and cast out the jobs coordinator? That was that. Speaker 5: In my recommendation to the Jack, however. Okay. Appropriately noticed a recommendation. We'll figure that part out. Thank you. Speaker 1: A customer appears. Speaker 3: Thank you. So I'm going to try to wait to to address the comments that Councilmember Rich just Richardson just made and just take a moment to thank everybody that has gotten us to this point. When this item came forward, I was on the other side of the dais trying to figure out how to work in between community members that hadn't worked with the building trades before and working with the building trades and recognize that it took a lot of effort to get to where we're at today. And so I really want to thank Ron Miller and IBEW, the painters, everyone that's really stepped up to make sure that we have these numbers in front of us today that we can really be proud of. To see this conversation and to hear my council colleagues being very proud of what we've been able to do in the city is great and it's also wonderful to meet people that have worked on my favorite project, the Aquarium, and also our Rainbow Lagoon. So it's wonderful to know that we have so many Long Beach residents here in the room tonight. I want to thank the local hire coalition for your efforts. I think that you guys have stayed together and you've tried to work to figure out what we could do together to strengthen the local hire piece, that building trades would be on board with that community members and that council members could be on board with. So I applaud that effort as well. I want to thank everyone that's reached out to us. And I think, you know, having this again, as Councilmember Richardson said, coming off of listening to the Latino Economic Report and really thinking about how many Latinos in our community work double the hours and get paid less, that we as a city are really taking the best foot forward to create new job opportunities for people in our community really speaks volumes about where we're at with the city. So I think that that's wonderful. I have a couple of questions just on clarity, because I have staff's numbers in front of me and I have the local hire coalitions numbers in front of me. And I wasn't here during the original vote, and I know staff is all talking over there, but could staff clarify for me what the tears were? In the local higher goals. I know we had tier one and a best effort in tier two. Anybody listening to me? Speaker 11: Yes. We are listening. Speaker 3: Okay. Go ahead. Speaker 11: John King. You go through the tears, please. Speaker 12: Yes, certainly. So within the agreement, the different tiers were established based on the geographic area that they serve. So the way we would describe it simply would be tier one, Long Beach, Tier two, I think we call it gateways. And then we have the L.A. and Orange County region. So the three different tiers reflect that the workers would come from those different regions. Of course, some of them are inclusive of the other regions, which makes it a little bit confusing, but it also allows for the trades to take a Long Beach resident who's in there on their list and probably employ them on a metro project or anywhere in the county. And so it allows for that ability for those workers to move around. So just because you are a Long Beach resident and you're on the list doesn't mean you wouldn't work on a job in Orange County, Metro L.A. City, because obviously those are much bigger projects, much longer timeframe. So presents opportunities for workers with each and in each of the tiers to do jobs in other tiers as well. Speaker 3: Absolutely. And I understand that I was asking, did we have a specific goal for Tier one, Tier two and Tier three. Speaker 9: That no councilwoman, that the total goal across the tiers was was 40% local higher, and then there was a 10% disadvantaged or veterans higher that was specific to Long Beach residents. Speaker 3: Great. Speaker 11: And I also do want to point out that there are different applicant or different applicability requirements for Tidelands projects. So Tidelands projects make up about 30% of all the projects, but they are not allowed because they're a state tidelands trust to have that local goal. So they are within the 40% goal, but it's for all of Orange County and all of L.A. County. So they're a subset of the plan. Speaker 3: So we have a handful of these projects then that's on this list that wouldn't meet those. Okay, that helps me. I mean, looking at the numbers, you know, and I know how difficult it is and I support obviously the building trades, building a bench that is that is a deep bench. Looking at some of the Long Beach hours worked. I mean, there's some great projects on here that have 42% from the numbers the community provided. But looking at the disadvantaged worker ones, there's a lot that are, you know, 0%, 3%, 5%. What is how is the city reporting our tiers? Are we reporting that at all in zip codes where our hires are. Speaker 5: For for disadvantaged? The play does not identify tiers and we do not report them that way as a result. Speaker 3: So I went I went backwards. Is there a a report for the Long Beach hours by tier. I mean, does that make sense for disadvantaged? Speaker 5: For local? Speaker 3: For local? Yes. Sorry. Okay. Thank you for that. Um, so I to you know, I would like to make sure that the disadvantaged worker piece is as strong as possible. That is the area that we are going to see the biggest growth and support for our residents and to see the biggest economic impact. As our professors told us earlier, you get a dollar, it goes $3 back in the community. So getting these disadvantaged workers and veterans access to those jobs, I think is really important. So whatever we can do to make sure we're tracking that as we move forward, I hope that we can include that. I I to you know, I don't like to to talk too much about process up here, but this process was extremely frustrating. We had this item pulled from the agenda so we could try to get it right, so we could all be on the same page and to have it come back as a received file. Whenever I read the original motion, it was extremely frustrating. And so I just I have to say that I hope as we move forward that because there's not a recourse for us really to make sure that staff is bringing the items forward. So I was happy to hear that you guys both said that we can give you direction today, because when I talked to the city attorney earlier, that was not the case, which caused me a very stressful Tuesday that could have been avoided had we agenda set the right way. So I moving forward, if we're making a recommendation for jobs coordinator, one of the things I want to make sure that we don't do is insert the city in a position that's not our job and not our role. So I appreciate the staff within economic development, within Nick's shop to be able to have a coordinator. I think that's great. It's something that we should have had from the beginning to make sure that we're building a pipeline in Long Beach that's as rich as the pipeline in L.A. We deserve that. Long Beach deserves that. So I'm thankful to see that. What we what I don't understand is the RFP process for an additional jobs coordinator in every other situation I've seen. Their jobs coordinator is done in between the contractor and the building trades. And so setting a threshold and saying we need a jobs coordinator, they go figure it out. No. Okay. Speaker 9: I'm. Look. Yes, Councilwoman, you would be correct. So if you if you made that recommendation, that cost would go to the contractor in that respect. Speaker 3: Because I don't want us to take on the contract, which you'd if we can account for that in the contract, that's 1%. And whether that's the building trades jobs coordinator, whether that's I don't care who that jobs coordinator is, as long as it's somebody that does it and does it well. Speaker 11: So and I think what you were seeing is the way that that the reason that looks a little bit different is we were trying to be creative and innovative and find a way to meet those goals while not well, realizing that we have a contract that already currently sets when that trigger is. And not to go into that into that contract language that we can't change by ourselves. So we were trying to bob and weave and find a way to do it. If the council would like us to look at it in a different way and give us direction as a body, we're open to that. Speaker 3: I think Councilmember Richardson's motion was a good one work with the building trades to figure out how we can increase our local hire. The diversity. And so I think I think we're in a good place. But it was a frustrating process this week. I'm very proud of the work leading up to today. I'm very proud of the work that city staff has done, that the building trades have done and the community. And I look forward to strengthening our local higher numbers and making sure that more of our jobs have our residents on them. Thank you so much. Speaker 1: Thank you. I want to just want to clarify. It's also just the the motion and the friendly amendment that's been accepted. It's to make sure that Council Richardson and vice mayor and staffers are all on the same page. The motion is to bring back cost analysis, any information possible to look at bringing on an independent jobs coordinator on all projects, and then take all that information. That information would come to the council and be forwarded to the to the JSC. Is that correct? Speaker 8: It goes to the that. Speaker 11: That's correct. It would come back to council with that information and that at the direction of council would be sent over to the JSC. The JSC. Speaker 1: J.C., what did I say? I said JSC. So. Okay. And that is that. I think that's. Is that correct? Speaker 5: How long does it take? Speaker 1: I have no idea. How long how long would that analysis and then information take to get back? Speaker 11: We'll do our best to come back in 30 days. Speaker 1: Okay. All right. So I think that is the friendly. So we all that understand that, correct? Okay. Just making sure. Let me go and keep going. Councilman Austin. Speaker 10: Thank you. I do appreciate the the conversation around this. First of all, I think this report let's get back to the report. I think it was well done. I think it highlights of what is can be described as a pretty successful project labor agreement the intended outcomes. I think far exceeded expectations for the most part. When you look at the numbers that that have been produced thus far, I want to congratulate my colleague's staff, but also the partnership with the Orange County L.A. Building trades for for working together to hit the targets. But I will say this, that the bar is set pretty high for the next report. Speaker 0: And. Speaker 10: You know, we exceeded 40%. We should probably got 77% local hire. We should probably be in 80 or 90% the next time. No, no pressure. I'll just say that jobs certainly do change lives, and I'm living proof of that. I'm very thankful that I had an opportunity to have a great union job right out of high school working for a major corporation. It laid a foundation for me and working kept me focused and out of trouble and gave me a social identity. And I was proud of who I was and how I was contributing to society at a very young age. Those opportunities, I believe, should be afforded to any young person who wants to work. Anybody in this city who wants to work. And as a council member, I take it very my my responsibility very seriously. I believe it is my job to help create and maintain good jobs in this city. So I'm proud to have been a part of this landmark policy during a great season in this city's history. We can't lose sight of that, but we still have a lot of work to do. There's unfortunately, Councilmember Richard Richardson will appreciate this. Not everyone is in. Not everyone is sharing in the success and not in it's not for lack of effort or political will. And that's it. There has been a lot of political will. There's been a lot of good intent from this council to to create good jobs, to maintain good jobs in it, to make sure that we are as fair and equitable as possible to to to all involved. And I think we're going to get there and we're going to work toward a continuous improvement. One one term that that seems to be a little bit of a hanging chad in here is the term disadvantaged and the under the current project labor agreement how is just advantaged population defined. That's for staff. Speaker 9: So our our disadvantage criteria is is particularly broad. We take the annually published 70% lower standard of living and use that for the disadvantage criteria. It does it does two things. Usually that LSO is a threshold below a census track with with a low or low household. Income. So you're you're underneath that criteria. The other thing is many other places will ask for people to meet. A couple other criteria have have been adjudicated, be homeless, be a former foster youth, be be a single parent with multiple dependents. There's there's multiple other eligibility criteria in some of the plays, you have to meet to two of nine of those as well as being economically disadvantaged. We said if you're if you don't have a job or if you aren't earning sufficient for yourself and want to avail yourself of construction career pathways, that's all we need to know . And so we used the lower standard of living in that didn't add any other eligibility criteria for an individual to have to chase. Speaker 10: So I heard from some of the public commenters regarding other plays and thank you for for giving examples of how other places are structured. Obviously, when we put this together, this was our first time doing it as a as a council. We learned a lot on on on those who had the experience before. But there are other places that are there working today. Is there a best practice in terms of understanding what disadvantages population is? Speaker 9: So, so again, there's, there's, there's a few ways to define it. What I talked about with the lower standard of living, you could use the federal poverty levels. Some some folks use census tract. With within certain zip codes and then a median household income at a certain level within a certain census tract within a zip code qualifies any resident as disadvantaged. But in those examples, there are other eligibility criteria tied to. The disadvantaged term. In addition to the income, we didn't add any other criteria here in language, in addition to income. Speaker 10: Okay. And so could we add other criteria? And when would that in? If we could when, when, when could we do that? Speaker 11: That would require to open the play. So in 2020, for a new play or a new agreement, we could renegotiate different terms and conditions. Speaker 10: Duly noted. I will move on. Well, I'll just say that I think that is a key piece of this in terms of what I what I was mentioning, those who are feeling left out, who may not feel like they can can qualify. You know, I listen to to one of the commenters who said he went through a couple of trade programs and still did not get it. And then the lobby City College piece. I appreciate it. Gentleman, I forget your name giving numbers. 300 people went through a program. I think roughly one third of them were placed. I'm curious to know what happens to the people that weren't placed. You know, does that mean they're just not on a on a project laborer job or do they are they still equipped to use the trade to to do other work? I think that I think and it would be very interesting if we could be able to to kind of track that information as well. So that that's just maybe a suggestion and perhaps to get the question answered at some point. But I'm interested in understanding where were the rest of those those folks who went through those those classes that those trainings where they're falling in in the workforce? The. The other piece of it is I think that the partnership with Long Beach City College does offer some, some great opportunities. And I'm glad to hear that they are engaged and involved in this. I know there was a point where they were cutting trade programs and things of that nature, and we're on the way back. And, you know, a lot of our young people in our city will have an opportunity to not only experience the college promise, but hopefully a jobs promise, a careers promise and a future as well. That said, I think the bar has been set pretty high. Overall, I think good job staff, good job building trades. Let's continue to do good work and continue to improve upon what we've already established. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Got somebody right. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mayor. Great discussion and a lot of enlightening information. It was a good report. But piggybacking on a little bit of what Councilmember Austin brought up in terms of the disadvantage, while we may not be able to get additional criteria in there at this time because we had to revisit the play, the concert, he didn't want to do that tonight. But could we get a report on the participation of disadvantaged hours within this. Speaker 8: This report that's coming. Speaker 4: Back to us as a as an update. Speaker 8: Prettier. Yes. A lot. Yes. Yes. Speaker 5: There is a disadvantage. Summary Report Table E on page 18. That is in the report. Speaker 4: Okay. All right. Well, having come from lobby City College when I was a trustee there, it's very correct because you were us and you pointed out something that was very painful at that time. And it was painful because the I guess the timing wasn't right at that time for a play to be created lobby City College, even though we were going through a major construction phase for the, you know, for the college. But and some programs had to be what they call discontinued, but it was they were discontinued, just for clarification, at the higher levels at the at the point of where a poor person would get a degree in. Yes. But not at the entry level positions. And that I have to make that clear. But I was very proud and I'm very proud of this council, quite frankly, for bringing forth a play that we voted for. We had one in place and that we were able to partner with lobby City College and and strengthen the trade programs at City College. I mean, that's that was something that needed to happen and we made it happen here. What the emotions on the floor I can live with because the last thing that I want to do, the last thing would want to do is jeopardize the play in its current form by by making any kinds of recommendations that would trigger a arena association and a revisiting of it, although we're going to have one anyway next year. Correct. So, I mean, we're I think we're in we're in a good path here. And I think that that can support the the motion and the amendment. One more thing could could help could. Is the council member Gonzalez's recommendation for ATF TFF also have taken care of this or is it they'd have to go through a motion because that's where I was before I was okay with ATF. But now if there's a friendly on the floor, is that is that okay? I mean in terms of being able to provide that and. Speaker 11: Councilmembers, I understand the motion it is to receive and file. And then staff has been directed to look into the options for having an independent job coordinator on all of the jobs and come back to council with those costs associated. I don't know that the two from four as part of that motion. I don't have it down as part of the motion. Speaker 1: I think I mean, I think listen, I think the two from four is a request for more information. I think so. I think that is reasonable to be all rolled into to the requests. Speaker 11: Mr. MODICA Yeah, we think we can accomplish both. So we would come back with some information about, you know, additional services that can be provided and what those costs would be. And then you can make any recommendations you'd like to the JAC. Speaker 5: Look. Speaker 1: At the recommendations. Go to the JAC. Okay, great. Let me let me let me go ahead and just say a few comments before we vote. I think it's it's important as well. The first thing I'll say, they think that this is ending actually in a really good spot. I think that obviously getting to play, having the check in tonight and ensuring that we are preparing ourselves for a strong reauthorization next year, which I look forward to supporting well is on track and that and it really uplifts the work that's been going on on this council and within the trades and the workforce as well. I also think that I'm getting the information and that's been requested as it relates to the jobs coordinator and getting the information to the council and then getting that information to the JAC is also a good process. And so I think that's something that there is support on and I support as well. I want to also just point out, which I think is important. I think it's important for for the coalition, for that for the body. It's important that we also are, I think, first and foremost, acknowledging that. The the guidelines in the numbers that were set by this council have been met and exceeded. And sometimes I often hear that we're not meeting our Long Beach numbers or we're not meeting certain numbers. The numbers that were adopted by this council and inserted into the project labor agreement were not just met but have been exceeded by the work of the team at the trades. And so I say that because I just want to be very clear. Sometimes I will read that, that the hard work that's going on with Mr. Miller and his team, somehow we're not meeting the targets that they committed to. And I think we are meeting those targets and we're exceeding those targets. Do we want to do better? Of course. And I think we do. We want to have more Long Beach residents on jobs, of course. I also don't want to diminish that the way this the construction trades work. And I think, you know, I think most of all of us have visited a lot of the training centers across the county and across the region. These jobs are mobile. We want our construction workers have access to jobs everywhere across the region, in the county. And so that's something that continues, which is why we're pushing for places not just in Long Beach, but everywhere across across the region. And so we do want to have more Long Beach workers on our jobs. And I'm really glad that there's a commitment to do that. And I think we're all working towards towards that promise. I also just need to point out, I think we also need to work for the state. We can't have multiple data sets and compare apples to oranges. And I want to make sure that we're comparing the numbers to numbers. I know the L.A. Metro keeps getting brought up a lot, which is great because I'm on the L.A. Metro Board. But I also want to make sure that when we're looking at our Long Beach numbers and comparing them to the Metro numbers, it's not a good comparison. And not only is it not a good comparison, it's not a sign, I think a scientifically appropriate comparison. The L.A. Metro numbers include are not just a project labor agreement that includes our Construction Career Pathways project, and it includes a variety of different specialty types of programs that focus on disadvantaged communities, which are amazing, by the way , and which I support on the Metro Board, and I support the work that happens within those projects. But it's it's it's not comparable to our play, which has, which is a completely different set of targets and goals. And so I look forward to working with the local hire and the local jobs coalition. I think in the next weeks and months ahead as we try to make improvements to what we send over to the the the Jack. But I also want to make sure that we are using the same set of, of, of numbers and that we are comparing things that are actually that are that are comparable to one another in the information that we have. And so I'm supportive of what we're doing tonight. And certainly I'm proud that the trades and the team have met all the numbers that set by this body in the agreement. And so with that and members, please catch me. Speaker 11: I may or if I could just clarify that the report, the staff is going to come back in the table with. That the two from four will be separate from the information or part of the information that comes back to you within the 30 days. And given the timing. We understand that you want this back in front of you. We would try within 30 days to do the two from four, do all the research, get that to you and then put it on there. Speaker 1: I think we want everything in 30 days, if possible. Yeah, great. Thank you very much. Please cast your votes. Speaker 0: Okay. Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 1: Great. Excellent. Thank you very much. Next item, please. Madam Clerk, we will go back to the agenda.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Cumulative Report through February 2019 on the progress of the City’s PLA application and administration. (Citywide)

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Speaker 2: So that hearing item number one. Report from Development Services. Recommendation Receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing and accept categorical, categorical exemptions and statutory exemption. Declared ordinances amending the Long Beach Municipal Code relating to alcoholic beverage manufacturing definitions and accessory dwelling units. Read the first time in lead over the next regular meeting of the City Council for Final Reading and adopt a resolution directing the Director of Development Services to submit the ordinance amendments to the California Coastal Commission citywide. Speaker 1: Thank you. Mr. West or whoever is presenting. Speaker 5: Limitato on screen. Speaker 2: Here evening, I'd like to introduce our new current planner, Alexis Oropesa. She'll be making tonight staff presentation for this item. Good evening, honorable members of the Council. The agenda item for you tonight consists of a handful of amendments that were continued from the City Council's March 5th meeting. The purpose of the Minutes amendments are to reflect the changes mandated by the California Coastal Commission's action last October when certifying the relevant ordinances. At last month's hearing, the City Council acted to continue that item directing staff to return with additional information related to accessory dwelling unit permits and lot size for the benefit of those who may not have been in attendance. A brief a very brief overview will be provided of the other ordinances, the first of which is the Alcoholic Beverage Beverage Manufacturing Ordinance, which was adopted by the City Council to streamline the permitting process. California Coastal Commission's amendment to this ordinance makes clear the parking requirement for office space that is equal to 25% of the gross floor area of the album use. The second. That batch of amendments is a compilation of changes necessary to create consistency between the zoning standards and Title 21 and the 2017 Training and Building Code Update, as well as the state's water efficiency standards. The California Coastal Commission made a number of amendments, including creating a new definition for demolish and rebuild. Among those changes make a recommendation that the definition of remodel and rebuild that was mandated for the coastal zone only be adopted as a citywide standard. As background. The Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance was drafted in response to the completion that went into effect in January 2017, which invalidated the city's local adopted standards for A2 use. The local ordinance was crafted to provide local standards for the development of areas where possible to ensure that adus were developed in a manner compatible with the city's development pattern. The city map on the left illustrates the distribution of permits issued for youths since January. From January of 2017 to December 31st of 2018. The map gives us a snapshot of the distribution showing that districts 78 and nine have the greatest number of permits issued for 80 use. Of the permit trends that we see, approximately 10% of the permits are being issued for the legalization of unpermitted dwelling units within the city, which helps to create safer housing. The California Coastal Commission Commission acted to certify the city's 80 new ordinance with a number of changes, the two of which were were asked to come back on related to the minimum lot size, where staff was recommending 48 feet be applied citywide. And the second citywide amendment that was recommending was with regards to the parking requirement, which exempts parking for 80 youths under any number of conditions, including when located within a half mile of transit. So staff's recommendation was to change the citywide standard to 4800 square feet outside of the coastal zone. This creates opportunity for 5800 additional lots to be eligible for the development of a to use this additional the number of lots does not create a change in the geographic distribution of units of excuse me of eligible lots to any significant standard. 1% is the greatest change. Staff finds that the 4800 square foot minimum lot size is appropriate citywide for the following five reasons, which includes that it's equitable for property owners both within the coastal zone and outside of the coastal zone. It's also creating one standard creates an understandable and consistent regulation for the public. And finally, it creates an opportunity for relieving the housing crisis that is being experienced city throughout the city and state. Public noticing notices were published in the Press Telegram on March 28th in accordance with the Long Beach Municipal Code. In addition, staff sent notices to members of the public that had previously submitted communication on the ADU ordinances. Staff received a half dozen emails provided to you tonight. Two of the letters expressed support for the four for the ordinance changes and other. The other emails can be summarized as requesting additional information. Staff requests that the City Council take action to adopt the zoning code amendment tonight, with one correction to a typographical area error made in subsection B of Table 51.2 7.2762 related to required parking for A2 use. And the correction would be to strike the distinction that it would be isolated to the coastal zone. This concludes Dove's presentation. We welcome any questions that you may have. Speaker 0: Yes. Okay. Cause you'd like to do public companies first. Okay. Is that okay? Do you come in on this idea? Okay, fine. Is there any public comment on this item? Speaker 2: Hello. Good evening. Well, good night. Actually, my name is Mona Abbas. I actually lived in District nine and I was trying to move because of, you know, issues in the neighborhood and the Barbie bar that we were they were trying to approve the legalizing the the the bands. So I came here and I said, if that was passed, I was going to go ahead and move out. I did. I took my family elsewhere. I am the director of Families in Good Health in Saint Mary's Medical Center. And we purchased a home that, of course, we couldn't afford a bigger home as we had in North Long Beach. But with the with the goal of actually going and adding to our home so that we could actually live as comfortable as we were living in North Long Beach. But we only have 50, 100 square foot lot. And so we need 5200 square foot is what I was told when when I called and tried to get permits. So as a Latina, as you guys know, it's really hard to live in the 90808 zip code. However, it is really difficult to well, we don't believe I as a Latina, I don't believe in convalescent homes. So I'm trying to build a future for my mom. And so I am just asking today if we could please go ahead and approve for the minimum of 4800. Speaker 1: Thinking Speaker. Speaker 5: Sure. Good evening, Mayor. Councilmembers. My name is Ryan Kelder. I'm a I'm an associate at a Studio 111 architecture firm here in Long Beach. And also, I'm a vice president, president elect of the American Institute of Architects local chapter, Long Beach Gothic. So we're currently amidst a severe housing crisis, as you as you all know, in California and and elsewhere. And at current rates of housing production, we are falling for four. We are falling far short of many. Both current and future housing demands are already having serious consequences on our population's quality of life, especially those in the median and low income bracket. The supply of affordable housing is diminishing and causing displacement out of existing and established communities and pushing the workforce community further away from employment centers. Because of the severity of the housing shortage, it will take multiple approaches to solve the housing crisis. One important part of the solution is a responsible expansion of use woven into the fabric of our existing communities, specifically within our single family communities. 80 youths are a prime contributor to multi-generational housing and co-housing accommodations. The development of ideas promotes a blending of socioeconomic groups within our established communities. 80 youth provide an opportunity for a grassroots scale of development to support, and the resolution of the housing crisis allow allowing owner owner occupied single family residents who know and care about their communities a mechanism to play a contributing role and being a part of the solution. I'm a supporter of the California Senate and the former governor's position on in court and encouraging local jurisdictions to embrace the intent of state legislation by enacting local ordinances to promote the development of ideas. I advocate for the City Council to support the Long Beach Planning Department's recommendation for the reduction of lot size requirements for energy use for 4800 square feet. This policy, in my opinion, maintains existing community scale and character by utilizing current end scale, form based zoning requirements. Thank you for your consideration. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 8: Good evening, honorable counsel. My name is Art Richardson. I'm a real estate investor and builder of Addus. And we have many that are available that meet the requirements of being less than 600 square feet. We know our housing situation in all of L.A. County is in a desperate situation. And I really think that I wish the council would consider to even drop the minimum lot requirement beyond 4800 square feet Long Beach. We have some of the smallest lots and L.A. County, and we could probably even go down as low as 4000 square feet and still, you know, be able to meet and get along close with the requirements that Bill and his safety want us to have. Also, if we can consider maybe allowing us to build these adds you not just with single family residence. I think that's one of the requirements that only single family residence that it's available to. There are some duplexes in our town that have the space for us to put a 4 to 600 square foot adu and still provide more housing for our people here. So I would recommend that we would consider even reducing it down to 4000 square feet. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 8: Mr. Mayor. Members of the city council just two here supporting the change to the ADA ordinance. Really, we should encourage this form of development or community support of staff's findings to reduce lot area. I'd also note the parking standards shouldn't be unduly restrictive and and follow clearly established state regulations consistent with the staff recommendation. Speaker 5: So in support of the proposed changes. Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 1: Let me also. This'll be your last speaker. Speaker 12: Good evening. I've heard a lot of talk about 1% tonight, so I'll try to make it quick. This 1% is important to me. I am the third district or homeowner within the third district. I am also a business owner. I own Harting design and construction and I help homeowners build adus and remodel and I help them early on in understanding their expenses and what they're getting themselves into. So first off, I'd just like to thank you all for everything that you've done to solve our housing crisis thus far. And I would like to thank you for protecting our city from overdevelopment and keeping the charm and uniqueness of our community. I would like to share a short story about why I support its use and why a little back yard rental has made me the man that I am today. Early on in my childhood, my grandmother, who we called Ooma, she helped my mom purchase a little two bedroom, one bath home with a backyard unit in the back. And at that time, we had renters living there for about four or five years, and they turned out to be fantastic people. I got to know them well in very many ways. They turned into parenting type of figures. And the rental income helped my mom. And it release the financial burden, some of the financial burden of raising two young boys. Later on in my life, after the renters had moved out, my grandmother Irma had moved in and that at that point, it really turned into a granny flat. The. At that point. She helped my grandmother, helped us a lot with raising us when my mom was going back to work. She cooks meals. She helped us with our homework. She basically took the place of an absent parent. And later on in college, when I was doing a counselor at Long Beach, I ended up moving into the granny flat. So I guess you could call it then from a dandy going to a Cindy, which was a student in my back yard, no longer the grandma in my backyard. And at that time, I had two of my friends. They moved into the front unit. And so there was three of us living in this two bedroom, one bath home with the little rental unit in the back. And we all focused on our studies. Once the community graduated through communications and speech within Cal State, Long Beach, we all rode gondolas in Naples, and we're still friends to this day. I guess what the moral the moral of my story and what I'm trying to convey is that ideas are multi-generational, they're multi-use, and they really will help solve our housing crisis. So I'm asking you today to approve this amendment, and thank you for your time and staying late. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. I'm going to close public comment on on the hearing. Councilman Pierce. Speaker 3: First, I was going to say this is early. It's only nine. Something about that late. Yes. I want to thank staff for their hard work. You know, I completely support staff's recommendations. And I think I did want to ask clarity on the duplex. They are not prohibited where duplexes are. Is that correct? They're not. Speaker 2: So if you have two primary units, you you are not eligible to have an accessory dwelling unit. And accessory dwelling unit can only be constructed where there is one single primary dwelling unit. Okay. Speaker 3: All right. Well, I totally support staff's recommendations. I do know I had a meeting with. Some folks from Airbnb recently, and I'm not sure if staff's aware of this, but they are going into the ADU development market, so they are developing a to use to go in drop in within 30 days. You have a whole new project there. So some interesting stuff. I wish that my districts had lot sizes that we could build more, but I appreciate the additions that could be added throughout the rest of the city so that we can tackle our housing crisis. Thank you. Speaker 6: Excuse me, Councilwoman Pierce. I just want to make sure does your motion include staff's recommendation to correct the typographical error that occurs on. Speaker 11: Page nine in the footnote B to. Speaker 6: Remove the words in the coastal zone? Speaker 0: Absolutely. That's what I thought. Speaker 1: Councilman Austin? Speaker 10: Well, I think in the motion, I strongly support this as I was part of bringing this this this motion to the council originally. I think this is a great way to help us solve our our housing crunch here in the city of Long Beach and throughout the region. I think the state legislation was was timely that that afforded us the opportunity to do it. And I want to commend staff for their work on getting us here. I did have one question, though. So I know that there are roughly 150 permits that have been issued for 80 youth since we passed this. Is that correct? Speaker 2: That's correct. Let's. We have about round 100, but we've gotten over a couple of hundred actual applications in the process. Speaker 10: Okay. So as we know, we will we will be creating housing as a result of abuse. Will this be credited toward our arena numbers? Speaker 2: Yes. Our understanding is it is a legal habitable unit. And the arena criteria is that if a building permit has been issued for it, it counts and it will go generally unless it set aside for affordable housing, it would go to our moderate income arena account. Speaker 10: Great. Thank you. I urge unanimous support. Speaker 1: Thank you. Yes, I have a question. Speaker 9: The young lady studio and spoke of her living in the ninth and she moved into eight. What is she like into that category? Would she be able to. Speaker 8: Build. Speaker 11: With the staff recommendation? She's at 5100. We would go down to 4800. She'd be able to build one. Speaker 0: Thank you. Okay. Speaker 1: Great. Thank you. I also support strongly the staff recommendation and I'm really glad we're moving forward. I think this is a great way of getting people into homes that are affordable and that are accessible and to deal with our housing crisis as well. So I do want to thank all the councilmembers who have been involved in this conversation. Let me just to to staff's point, I think Councilman Austin brought out some good points. I want to make sure that we're carefully tracking all of these so that we are counting them into all of our numbers. And in addition to that, it's a it's a good reminder for the council as well. And Councilman Austin, I think, alluded to this. When you look at arena numbers, I think there's a there's a misconception that, you know, well, it's true. You know, cities don't hit their arena numbers. But there's also a misconception that our biggest where we're doing the worse is in our low income affordable. The area within our arena numbers that we are need to do better on is actually in the market rate numbers. So we do need to build more affordable units and we are doing that. But whenever someone says we should stop building market rate units, we're doing actually worse in building market rate units according to our arena numbers. And so I, you know, let's let's use the data and we need to build market rate units and affordable units and meet and work to meet our meter numbers as best possible. And then the second thing I'll ask you, because I think I've brought this up a few times, I think, in briefings, but it's a good time to bring it forward more publicly. Ms.. Tatum is, I think, the same needs. We now have this this same effort needs to go into converting our minimum are our minimum number of square footage when it comes to micro units in Long Beach. And remind me again with the minimum number of square footage for a unit and long is. Speaker 2: In the downtown plan that. Speaker 1: Citywide citywide and downtown plan. Speaker 2: Downtown is 600 citywide. We don't yet have a standard there is not currently a standard. Speaker 1: And so that, you know, the 600 number for many cities is high. And so one of the one, if we really are to think are trying to create more density on both the affordable market rate side, that 600 number needs to be lower to whether it's closer to the New York number or some of the other cities or, you know, San Francisco or other places. But there is interest, whether it's on the student housing side, on the smaller unit side, to do 500 square foot units. In some cases, some cities are doing 400 to 450 square foot small studio units and are are and I know that for a lot of people, they couldn't imagine themselves living in that small of square footage. But if we want to build affordable units that people can build, the cost is less and we can build more of them. And so when can we see that proposal back in front of this body to lower that requirement? Speaker 2: Mayor We are actually working on that now, but we've just started that effort, so I'd say probably 3 to 4 months. Speaker 1: I'm very happy to hear that. So I look forward to that discussion in front of the council as well. And there's a motion in a second to to pass this. Please cast your votes. Speaker 0: Mm. Speaker 2: That motion carries a student. Speaker 0: Oh, that's. Speaker 13: Interesting. Okay. Okay. Speaker 1: Thank you. Next up is item nine.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Table 41-1C of Chapter 21.41, relating to Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturing, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

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Speaker 1: Item 11, please. Speaker 0: You write that. Speaker 2: We did item 11, item ten Communication from Council Member Pearce Recommendation to request city manager to begin implementation on priority areas identified in the downtown parking study and report on the progress of those initiatives. Speaker 3: Thank you. Good. Okay. This is an item that we've worked on with staff, with Tom Modica and the team. And so I look forward to having you guys bring these back. My my priority out of all of these would be the parking impacted areas. Looking at the parking zone. I know my brain is not working. Maybe it is late, huh? Give me 1/2. Speaker 0: I just been district. Speaker 3: Yes, thank you. The parking assessment district. How soon do you think we could initiate that? Speaker 11: Ask Linda Tatum to talk to that. Speaker 3: Thank you. Speaker 2: Councilwoman Pierce, we can get started on some of the preliminary research for that. But ultimately, in order to create a parking assessment district, we'd have to do some some studies to see how exactly what the fees could be to charge the property. So I'm going to say that would take several months to do that. But on some of the other items, and I understand that that's your priority, but some of the other items on that list that was in the staff report. We can certainly get started on some of those a lot quicker and come back sooner and concurrently. While we're taking a look at the the process and the potential fees for the property owners to create the parking and the process to create that parking assessment district. Speaker 11: Okay. And the good news here, Councilmember, is there is some funding associated with this so that this is not one that's looking for new funds. $175,000. That does come as part of the successor agency. So as the properties are getting sold, that money goes to that account as per the settlement. So we'll be tapping into that as those funds become available. Speaker 3: Great. The other one that I think would have a huge impact that seems like low hanging fruit that I'm curious on. The timeline is the private parking. I know that we've talked about different ways of doing this. And, you know, if you take the lot that's at fourth and cherry and it's got the one meter and people can pay to park there. I know that we have a list in my office of businesses that are willing to open up their lots. We just need a streamline process to do that. What's the timeline? You think we could have a city policy on on how to do that. Speaker 2: On that process? We are coordinating with economic development. They've actually started that effort as well in terms of talking to some of the private property owners in the process to get those lots open up through those private property owners for for public parking. When they are, say, closed for the night. Those are some of the things that are currently in process. And I'd say the timeline would probably be within 60 days. Speaker 3: 60 days. I love it, really. I just want to thank staff for their hard work. I know that this has been a long process and I know that we worked over a couple of months to get this. And so I really I know I pushed really hard to get it and then I didn't agenda it right away . So again, I think you there's this one area that I really appreciated your efforts on. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilman Gonzales. Speaker 7: Thank you so much. And I was forgotten on this item, just so you know. I'm just kidding. That's okay. As the other half of downtown, I just really want to thank Councilmember Pearce for bringing this forward as a supplement to the the study that we had already done. I know there's a lot of areas and gaps that we still need to fulfill and see where there's room to to succeed in parking. So thanks so much for bringing it forward. And thank you, Linda. Speaker 0: Thank you. Speaker 1: Public comment on this item, saying now there's a motion and a second, please cast your votes.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to begin implementation on priority areas identified in the Downtown Parking Study and report on the progress of those initiatives.

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Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 1: How to request to move 19. Speaker 2: Communication from city attorney recommendation declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending sections relating to hotel workers safety precautions red and adopted. Speaker 3: As read citywide. Speaker 1: There's a motion and a second. Any public comment? Nicholson. Speaker 6: But perhaps my better. Good evening, Mayor Garcia, Vice Mayor Andrew's Council members. Administrators, citizens of Long Beach, one of the first towns. I ever commented here was in support of the United Nations Initiative to Protect Women, March 1st, 2016. And I remember, in fact, that it was Councilwoman Price who sponsored that. I think by now you know how deeply I'm dedicated to the welfare, well-being and safety of women. I've been active in the American women's movement now for over 50 years. I'm an era and Alice Paul scholar. When I moved here, I met Claudia's parents. I began to pick it on Ocean Avenue with the women telling the truth about sexual assault in the city's hotels. And for the first time in my life, Time magazine agreed with me on something. They were truth tellers, and actually they were here earlier tonight at that first council meeting addressing Claudia's law, one of the council members mentioned his concern that adopting the hotel housekeepers concern would dampen the booming party of the Grand Prix. You can only imagine what I thought when I went home that night. Have a fun weekend. See a race. Assault your housekeeper in the friendly city of Long Beach. After your testimony and city council majority entrenched in voting against women's protections, the people spoke. And I'm filled with inspiration by the wholesome heart of the vote of the people. I stand here and in bold enough to thank you and welcome you to the right side of this issue. For all women, no matter the size of the hotel, no matter the circumstances, no matter the management. Because you see, as I told you three years ago, women hold up more than half the sky. Women carry water from shore to home all over the world, across the globe, women bear, feed, clothe and educate the young. And you tonight care for the sick, the aging, the dying, your mothers. Thank you. The grandmothers of all directions. Thank you. We stand together in the clear light of day that you have protected. All women tonight. And I'm here tonight to say thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you, senor. The public comment. Councilman Price. Speaker 3: Well, just just. Speaker 7: For clarification, this item is about hotel and motel panic buttons and nothing more, which I will say every council member was always in support of. Thank you. Speaker 1: Councilman Gonzales. Speaker 7: Happy to move this forward. Thank you very much for being here. Speaker 1: Please cast your votes. Motion carries cane excited please. We'll go back to item number 12.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Sections 5.54.010.F and 5.54.030.B, relating to Hotel Worker Safety Precautions, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

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Speaker 1: Please cast your votes. Motion carries cane excited please. We'll go back to item number 12. Speaker 2: Communication from Councilmember Richardson. Councilmember Pearce, Vice Mayor Andrews Councilmember your UNGA recommendation to request city manager to work with the Library Services Department and the Arts Council of Long Beach. Speaker 3: To establish a youth poet. Speaker 2: Laureate program in Long Beach. Speaker 5: Well, when I envisioned doing this, I did this already. It would happen when we gave the poems. I promise no poems right now. This basically we thought about this, this idea a couple of years ago, but we waited to get the Michelle Obama library open and we brought it up a year ago. It was wait until after the main library's open. I think it's time that we start this program. Poet laureate programs, you know, 35 cities have them around the country. We have a national poet laureate program. We actually were visiting the keynote speaker at last year's Khj breakfast was the L.A. poet laureate, Luis Rodriguez. It's an amazing program that just lifts up literacy, lifts up art. And by starting with youth, we have a huge opportunity really to really formalize what's already happening in our community. And so so this recommendation and I've spoken with our library folks, I've spoken with the Arts Council. Griselda was here earlier. She sent an email. I think the clerk shared it with you. So this is an idea that I really want to see happen. I want to see a youth poet laureate program, you know, that that recognizes our youth, allows them to, you know, get showcased across the city for their art, be able to add that title to their resume as they grow up, potentially think about scholarships or stipends for them that helps them move and move them along. So I look forward to seeing what we can do with this idea. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Vice managers. Speaker 0: Echo to support a. Speaker 1: Public comment on this. Speaker 0: I just picked. Speaker 1: Oh, I'm sorry. I'll go back to Councilman Pierce after the public comment. Go ahead. Speaker 3: Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much. I live in Long Beach and my daughter's a poet, which means I drive her all over Los Angeles because they're more engaging. And her poetry at the age of ten took her to London, something I would never be able to afford myself. Speaker 2: I'm a single mom also struggling. Speaker 3: With where to live and, you know, working in Orange County. It's it's a big deal. But I want to let you know, this kid of mine, fifth grade was at the lowest and reading fluency the lowest. There was not a a slot. She could only get better. And with only three months of going to a nonprofit poetry Saturday class in L.A.. She passed the bar and exceeded reading fluency. So without further ado, I have the highlight of my daughter. Speaker 7: Hi. I'm going to lower this a little bit. Speaker 5: Let's give her a fresh three. Speaker 7: Yeah, okay. Hi. My name is PHILIPPa. I'm in seventh grade and currently studying sustainable world studies. I don't know what the future holds for my generation or this planet with so many safe spaces lost. This poem I'm about to present reimagines Little The Little Mermaid in today's polluted waters. This poem is titled Mermaid Goddess. I shimmer like Hawaiian oceans speak every language of the sea. Lingua Heather. Sally Pavone. Tongue of salt and forgiveness. I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty, sunken treasures of trumpets and pearls, a sacred coral necklace on the brink of extinction because of rising temperatures. I've got long, dark hair that goes past my shoulders, glows with sunkissed copper highlights. Speaker 2: But remember. Speaker 7: Mermaid hair don't care. Mermaids got bigger fish to fry. Mermaid goddesses know that climate change is real as our oceans spike a fever from the northeast Atlantic to the Western Pacific. Waves and worries increase kelp, forests dying, plankton poisoned, leaving nothing left to snack on. Don't underestimate bottom feeders for they are critical to life in the ocean. I've got who's it's and what is galore. 13 million tonnes of plastic cigaret. Speaker 2: Butts polluting. Speaker 7: Our waters shores blocking the airway of sea turtles bags 100 billion used per year. Choking our seals, whales and dolphins. Global warming gentrifying coral reefs no longer read like the tides of our demise. Mermaid goddesses don't care who you love as long as you're happy. Snails are well, starfish and starfish. All of them deserve to be loved. All of them endangered species. So much at stake with all that you take. My voice is 12 times stronger than the fake tan men who won't reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mermaid goddesses don't lock my children in abandoned caves of the depths of the ocean. So. Did you get the mermaids? Be careful when you ride the waves of the future. Remember your beauty on the inside. Your compassion for the climate. Speaker 2: Hope for your home. Speaker 7: Have no fear of death as rising sea levels become the new normal. Little ones use your voice. Keep our home healthy. I've got gadgets and gizmos. Speaker 2: A penny I've got whose? It's a what? Galore. You want to think about? Speaker 7: I've got 20. Speaker 2: Who cares? Yes. No big deal. Speaker 3: I want more. Are. Speaker 7: Please don't call me Little Mermaid. I'm like Ariel. I would never give up my voice for a man. Thank you. Speaker 0: Dan. Oh, that's. Speaker 1: Great. That was amazing. Very. Gosh, you're so talented. And I wanted to first say that that is my absolute favorite. One of my favorite songs of all time, but still my favorite Disney song ever. Composer written from The Little Mermaid part of Your World. And you did a great riff on taking that piece and making it something completely different on your own, and that was really special. So thank you and took a lot of energy to not like burst out on the mic and join you. So thank you. That was that was that was really, really wonderful. Let me go back to the council and thank you for that. That was that was that was amazing. Councilman Justin, you want to add to that or keep going to. Speaker 5: Just one more one more thing. So April 25th, we have a thing called Pop Up Town. It's all this poetry themed that the Michelle Obama Library 530 April 25th will love for you to come out because we're doing a open mic spoken word situation in honor of National Poetry Month. Thank you. And then the last thing I will say is that by partner with our libraries, there's actually a really unique opportunity for these poets to get published early, which is incredibly huge for their career, to be able to be published at a young age for their career. Speaker 0: And. Speaker 5: Yeah, been there. Done that. Right. Speaker 0: How many. Speaker 5: More? Absolutely. And and thank you so much, Mom. Great job with your daughter. Speaker 1: Vice Mayor Andrews. Speaker 9: I can't say any more. I just wish you would have came on earlier because most of the people are now asleep. But you are great, I tell you. Speaker 0: Thank you so. Speaker 1: Much. Yeah. We're going to we're going to get you to do that piece again. I'm going to think about it. But that's that's a that's a great that was a great piece counts over a period. Speaker 3: That was amazing. It's so wonderful to see young artists writing and performing their poetry, and it takes me back like we talk about poetry so often. But I grew up going to these like, you know, late nights all age places where you would do spoken word and drum circles. And that was where I fell in love with music, really. And so you just took me back to how wonderful that spaces. And so thank you for that. I too am going to figure out a place for you to do that. Poetry. There's a song that I want to tell you about. It's called The World on Fire. Have you heard the song? World On Fire by Louis the child. ASH And you will love it if you're studying that, but it's very poetic. But it's about our globalization and our world being on fire and people not noticing. But it reminded me of your comments. We have the main library that's under construction right now. And so I want to thank Councilmember Richardson for bringing this forward, allowing me to sign on to it. Anything we can do to uplift literacy and to bring that into our libraries and our community centers are welcome. And I think that at the beginning of every meeting before we do our Pledge of Allegiance or after, we should have a little poem. I'm just saying, it would really change the mood of our meetings. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilmember Kotsenburg Ringa. Speaker 4: It would certainly mellow us out. I want to thank Councilmember Rich to for bringing this forward. But more importantly, that was so wonderful. So beautiful. Could I have a copy of that? Hello. Speaker 0: Lou. Speaker 4: Can I have a copy of that? I serve. I serve on the council. Commission and everything that you brought out, there are topics that we deal with on a monthly basis about pollution, the garbage patch, clean your beach, beach cleaning. And I'd love for you to give it to me so I could share it with my with my commissioners and perhaps get an opportunity for you to visit us. And one of the places that were located up and down the coast and be able to recite it. Okay. Thank you very much. And the most important thing I like about that, it was bilingual. And thank you, ma'am, for keeping your bilingual and and you stay with it. Speaker 1: Councilman Gonzalez. Speaker 7: You're so inspiring. I'm supposed to we're all supposed to inspire you, and you're inspiring us, especially as a young Latina. It's very exciting to see you in this capacity. I could never imagine myself. I used to write poems to my parents as Christmas gifts because I didn't have any money, clearly. But this is a real gift for all of us. And I know that there's a lot of things that we're thinking about in terms of where you could speak your art. And I know, you know, Earth Day events. We have one coming up and I know you'll probably be pulled in a million different directions. But I just want to say keep your art, keep it going. And Amazing Daughter means amazing mother as well. And thank you, Councilmember Rex Richardson, for bringing this forward. This is one of the best items I think you've brought forward. Thank you. Speaker 3: So with that being actually actually. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. We have to continue on our meeting, but thank you very much. Okay. We have the item. There's a motion in a second. We did have a comment, so please cast your votes. Speaker 0: Yes. Yes. Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 1: Great job. Excellent. And next up is item 13.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Library Services Department and the Arts Council of Long Beach to establish a Youth Poet Laureate Program in Long Beach.

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Speaker 2: Are you a yes. This motion carries. Item 17. Report from Public Works. Recommendation to adopt a resolution to approve 14 repaving resurfacing projects proposed to receive Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Fund Account Act funds funding totaling approximately 8 million for fiscal year 2020 citywide. Speaker 1: There's a motion in a second. Is there anything you want to add, Mr. Beck, to this? Mr. Beck is not there. Speaker 8: So Mr. Pappas or Diego. Speaker 0: Very. Speaker 6: We're available to answer any questions. Speaker 0: For the country. Speaker 1: Okay. Any public comment on this item? Seeing none. Speaker 0: Yeah. Speaker 1: One, one, one. Commenter. Good. You since 1970. Sorry. Speaker 0: Could you excuse the address? I have. Speaker 8: My comments have been engendered by. Speaker 6: Talking to the city traffic. Speaker 1: Engineer. Speaker 0: Over. Speaker 6: The last few weeks. Relative to what we're experiencing, the city is experiencing at PCH and second, in trying to move traffic through areas. Speaker 9: That are going through. Speaker 6: Re pavement, which is what's going to happen here. And also we're experiencing up and down Long Beach Boulevard and many other places because of the. Speaker 0: Blue line tobacco and have come up with this and. Speaker 1: This. Speaker 8: Thought. Speaker 6: What we could do. Speaker 1: Sir, it's amazing. Speaker 6: Is have Mayor Garcia, we will get a Caltrans uniform for him. And with the approval of the residents of the various different areas where this is going to take place, he could flag, he could stand at the intersection. And hold up traffic, let it go depending upon what the need for. And I think we could make an arrangement with the U.S. Justice Department that for every hour he would spend there, they would take every full day he would be one of the intersections, whether it be a PCH in second or any other area in the city where he would be doing that. They would give him if he's to be there for the full 8 hours, they would take one hour off his pending prison sentence, which he will start serving at this juncture, based upon what the U.S. Justice Department tells me will probably be a little under six months, six years away. So that's something to consider. Speaker 0: I mean, thank you. Speaker 1: Councilman Price, if she's going to give me parole advice when I'm up for parole and can. Speaker 0: Visit me on. Speaker 7: The. Speaker 1: Job training, I'm going to do I'm going to join a union. I run out. I'm ready to go. IBEW Local 11 Let's see what else? What are we waiting on? Speaker 0: So yeah, those.

Resolution

Recommendation to adopt resolution to approve 14 repaving/resurfacing projects proposed to receive Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Act funding totaling approximately $8,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2020: 4th Street between Cerritos Avenue and Almond Avenue; Temple Avenue between 4th Street and 7th Street; Ximeno Avenue between 4th Street and 10th Street; 10th Street between Temple Avenue and Obispo Avenue; Bellflower Boulevard between Garford Street and Stearns Street; Ximeno Avenue between 15th Street and Pacific Coast Highway; Cherry Avenue between Wardlow Road and Bixby Road; San Antonio Drive between Long Beach Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue; Lomina Avenue between Adderley Drive and Rosebay Street; Pageantry Street between Lomina Avenue and Rosebay Street; Pageantry Court between North-West End to Pageantry Street; Pavo Street between Lomina Avenue and Rosebay Street; Linden Avenue between 20th Street and Hill Street, and, Myrtle Avenue between Harding Street and Artesia Boulevard. (Citywide)

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Speaker 1: Thank you. Now we're going to move to item 13 1:00, please, with item. Speaker 0: Item 13. Communication from Councilwoman Gonzalez. Councilmember Peers. Councilwoman Price. Councilmember Suranga. Recommendation to requires city manager to draft a letter of support for SB 54 and SB 1080 regarding statewide efforts to phase out the sale and distribution of single use plastics in California by 2030. Speaker 1: Thank you. And also, like say a few words before we, you know, do public comment. Speaker 7: Yes. I just wanted to first provide my gratitude and thanks to a few members of the community who've been strong supporters of our sustainability practices and policies here in the city of Long Beach. First to our friends at El Goleta, as well as Surfrider and the Sierra Club, as well as Long Beach, 350 and Long Beach Environmental Alliance. Together, they have helped us not only eliminate Styrofoam containers and go through that process, but they've really built a whole framework and system around sustainability efforts as well as our sustainability commission and department. Thanks to all of them. Just to give you some some preliminary information that we have so far right now, we actually have just relative to the Styrofoam ban. We have more than 50 early adopters of the foam free HLB initiative. 50 businesses that have said yes to the foam free initiative prior to the inaction. And we're going to see more through implementation of this entire program. We also have a great program now called Bring Your Own Long Beach to encourage residents to bring you reusable to-go items to reduce our dependance on single use plastics. And the state is now mandating or looking at mandating opportunities to phase out single use plastics and go to reusable, recyclable and compostable by 2030. I know that everybody looks at this as very ambitious, and I know that we can do it. And Long Beach has absolutely been a leader. We also have about 15 businesses certified as green businesses in about 50 more in the pipeline. So I know absolutely we can do it. Our our state officials, Senator Ben Allen and Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez were the authors of this. And I ask my colleagues to support, I think my colleagues that have supported already. Council member Janine Pearce, Council Member Susie Price, council member Roberta Turanga. And I hope the others can support and I'll answer any questions if you have them. But thank you so much. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman Pearce. Speaker 5: I want to thank my colleague for once again leading on making sure that we clean up our environment. And I want to thank city staff that has really made Long Beach a model. I know that we went through a lengthy process to ban polystyrene and recognize that because of those efforts, we are at a place where the state is looking at expanding, cleaning up our environment. So I want to thank you and hopefully our council can support this and I look forward to hearing from community. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman Price. Speaker 7: Thank you. I, too, want to thank Councilman Councilwoman Gonzales for bringing this item forward. I like this legislation because of the amount of time that the phasing and the implementation process will take. I think that will allow everyone the opportunity to plan for the changes, which I think is very important. Obviously, the premise of the legislation is solid and something that we all believe in here in the city of Long Beach. It's always the rollout that has unintended consequences. So I like the lengthy rollout on this, giving everyone the opportunity to prepare for and plan ahead. So thank you. And I support this item. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman. Speaker 9: During the debate tomorrow night to where I thank Councilwoman Gonzales for bringing this forward as a member of the Coastal Commission, I get to see a lot of what's taking place out in the oceans. And there's this big garbage patch they call the great garbage patch out in the North Pacific that is just the size of the state of New York, not even plastic and in a great majority of that plastic or straws. So hopefully we can, with this legislation, make a significant impact in that we may not be able to clean up the great garbage patch, but at least we won't add to it. And I hope that with this legislation and I support that we can make a significant impact on it. And I also I unashamedly want to invite you to coming up in the next few months or so, we're going to have a beach clean up day here in Long Beach. And I hope you all are able to join me to go down the beach and let's clean up all that plastics down there. Thank you. Speaker 1: Very much. Thank you. Councilman Cipriano. Speaker 2: Thank you. I just have a point of clarification I'd like to have on the item and it might be phased in in a later date. But do you know, are retail sales included that would prohibit sales of EPS like on shore store shelves like Target or Smart and Vinyl? And if it is like is it later downstream or do you know? Speaker 7: The on our current ban. Are you referring to this is these single use plastics which is aside from expanded polystyrene will be shook up but the expanded polystyrene from what I understand. I don't know that it includes the large facilities. We just included the small businesses that would be implemented 18 months from. I think. When did we enact that? It was September of last year. I want to say I might my dates are getting. Speaker 11: Yes, if my memory is correct. We did the large first we did the city. So city is already in effect for. Speaker 1: Polystyrene ban we just. Speaker 11: Implemented in March for the large restaurants. I believe that was 100 and above. And then. Speaker 9: Later, I think. Speaker 1: In. Speaker 2: The fall, we're looking. Speaker 11: At the smaller businesses. Speaker 1: The smaller restaurants. Speaker 9: To be come into compliance phase. Speaker 2: Three. So so my question I will be asked this question like that's I just want to be clear, I'm staying in support. But I just I know I'll ask this if it'll apply to products sold at retail, if you know. Speaker 7: Yeah, it should. Right now, I think that they're just looking at that. So that's something that we can include, if you'd like to. It's part of our state legislative agenda as well. Speaker 4: Okay. Speaker 2: All right. Thank you. Speaker 1: All right. Thank you. Are there any a public comment on this item? Please come forward. Very good he. Fully supportive of this concept and I today just happened to be and I wonder where why we call these strawberries and I picked these up today and just have a great bargain. $0.99 over here in superior market. Try it, try it out. But I fully support that. And if you haven't done so, Google straws and you'll see the type of straws that are available that will not hurt the environment. It really surprised me getting inside of that there. You can use them at home, restaurants can have them or whatever but Google and study it for yourself. Thank you Mr. good you next week you. Speaker 5: Good evening. Council Members Vice Mayor South and James Stellar Sewer District two resident. And I am the outreach and partnerships manager for Grid Alternatives and I've presented before on all our efforts around solar. But this is really important. So thank you to Councilmember Lena Gonzalez and to all that have been working to ban Styrofoam and plastic, single use plastic. This is really important. I think that Long Beach leads the way in many, many ways throughout the state of California, in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce pollution, trash and especially plastic. You go to the beach to any of our beaches and I am such a nerd. I take my little bag with me and I'm constantly picking up plastic and it's a never ending job. So I appreciate all the the clean ups to that take place, but we have to stand in front of the other cities. We have to be at the forefront. And we really have to take this seriously because climate change is not going away. It's speeding up. In fact, you can turn on the TV any any day of the week. You can see a. Speaker 1: Post. Speaker 5: About, you know, the the the ways in which our environment is being impacted by Styrofoam by plastic. So I appreciate everyone supporting this letter of support and for your efforts to combat climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you very much, Janie. My part of public comment not to please cast your vote. Speaker 0: Councilmember Austin wishing Karis. Speaker 1: Thank you. Now we'll move up to item 15 with the clerk. Please read the item.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to draft a letter of support for SB 54 (Allen)/AB 1080 (Gonzalez), regarding statewide efforts to phase out the sale and distribution of single-use plastics in California by 2030.

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Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Okay. Next, we're going to move to item 21:00, please. Speaker 0: Regarding item 20, report is communications from Councilmember Richardson, Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilwoman Mango and Council Member Oranga recommendation to require city manager to report back on potential incentives and strategies to to expand access to quality urgent care in neighborhoods with limited access to an acute care facility in Long Beach. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilman Richardson. Speaker 2: Thank you, Vice Mayor. So this request is pretty simple. It's to explore incentives to increase access to acute or urgent care facilities in our community. So 40% of patients who visit hospital emergency rooms have lower level emergencies, resulting in overcrowding expand extensive wait times often, often encountered in our emergency rooms. Urgent care centers provide rapid secondary intervention for non-life threatening injuries and ailments. Urgent care facilities offer intervention for low, lower acuity patients such as allergic reactions, nausea, wounds, lacerations, sprains and so forth. They are affordable. They often offer a minimal hours of operation, often have shorter wait times, making them a convenient alternative for medical attention. And looking at the map that's on the screen that was prepared by our. It shows sort of the crosses are the urgent care facilities already exist in our city or around our city and the ages of hospitals. So we actually have a lot of you know, we have a lot of urgent care facilities and hospitals in Long Beach. But what it shows here, where those red circles are, is, you know, where we don't have sort of immediate access to urgent care facilities, kind of really clustered in four key areas of town. So so north Long Beach. So the eighth and ninth Council District, the seventh and the first on the west side, much of the fifth District, and then sort of down between two and three those areas. So urgent care facilities a lot of times like to locate right next to a hospital so they can direct somebody right across the street. You don't want to wait. You can go across streets, urgent care. So sometimes, you know, it may so we may need to take a look at other strategies or other incentives to get them to locate maybe in some of these other areas. I mean, there are a lot closer. And the idea is simply if it's within walking distance or short drive or a bus ride, maybe folks won't immediately go to the emergency room. So so we just want to make sure that we're we're taking a look at some strategies as we look at, you know, the different development opportunities in these areas, the different land use and zoning opportunities in these areas that we figure out how to intentionally pursue some of these uses in some of these areas. So that's that's the proposal here. And we have a great opportunity here. Thanks a. Speaker 1: Lot. Thank you. Councilman Guzman ends up. Speaker 7: Yes. I think this is timely, especially after our discussion about community hospital. And I just think, Councilmember Richardson, for bringing this forward and providing more light on access to health care, which I think is the overarching idea. So thank you very much. And I look forward to this. Speaker 1: Yes, thank you. Councilman. Speaker 5: Yes. I want to thank Councilmember Richardson for bringing this forward. There was a lot of this conversation with Community Hospital as Councilmember Gonzalez brought up. And I always have felt like community hospital was such a second district's resource. And and through the whole process, it really talked about that. But recognizing that really we only have services in our downtown for Second District residents, that is close. One of the other conversations that we've talked with our health department about was the need for other venues of mental health support outside of a hospital and outside of psychiatric . So just as we're coming back, I would love to to understand some of the mental health support systems that are resources that might also be in play when we think about acute care. So thank you so much for bringing this forward. Speaker 1: Thank you. Is there any public comment on this item? Speaker 2: My name is and I can say success for president. I think it's a great way to, you know, bring access to more urgent care facilities here in Long Beach would include, you know, maybe purchasing back Pacific Hospital from the current nursing college that runs it. That was an urgent care facility that bordered that was in the the sixth District in the Wrigley neighborhood, that border, the 7/7 District, which a lot of it would cut significantly. A lot of the travel time. That ambulance is coming from the west side of Long Beach where most likely they're going into St Mary's or to Memorial . It would cut significantly the workload also, you know, just a more investigation into the practices of a lot of the ambulances and ambulance companies in Long Beach. A lot of them push out patients into Norwalk, specifically into Downey. And that also works into putting a lot of patients into life threatening situations because of the financial incentives of pushing out Medicaid and Medicare and Medicare clients out of the city. Just a thought. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you very much. You know, public comment on this now. It was a pretty scratchy vote. Speaker 0: Council member Mango Vice Mayor Andrews motion and. Speaker 1: Thank you. Next, we move into item 21, please, with the item.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the appropriate departments to report back on potential incentives and strategies to expand access to quality urgent care in neighborhoods with limited access to an acute care facility in Long Beach.

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Speaker 1: Thank you. Next, we move into item 21, please, with the item. Speaker 0: Item 21 is communication from Vice Mayor Andrews, chair of the Housing and Neighborhoods Committee, recommendation to approve renaming the Uptown Dock Park as the Gail Carter Uptown Dog Park. Speaker 1: Thank you. This outcome from the committee that I chair. But I would like to turn this over to councilman orson. Speaker 4: Well. Speaker 10: Thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor. And I want to appreciate the recommendation for the committee. And and I said, obviously, we support it. Joe Carter was a was a giant in the animal community, particularly, you know, with her work, particularly the uptown area for dog parks. She she helped make the uptown the existing uptown dog park, making sure park is a destination place, but also helped with our implementation of Jackson Park and I believe in the ninth district as well. She was a large figure who organized activities for for for dogs and individuals in their dogs. Fashion shows, fitness activities really programed our park in our dog park, particularly in the shore park area. And so this is something that does is of residents who continue to utilize that park, that dog park us came out and support and signed petitions to do. And so I'm glad to see us finally get here and encourage everyone support go as would be. Be proud. Speaker 1: Thank you, Congressman Ellison. Councilman Price Pierce. Excuse me. No. He stepped out. Speaker 5: Oh, I just also wanted to to say that Gail, you know, was involved in Bixby Park way down in in in downtown area. And so really applaud the community members for rallying around this and applaud the neighborhood committee for bringing this forward. Thank you. Speaker 1: As any public comment on this item, not, would you please cast your vote? Speaker 0: Motion carries.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to approve renaming the Uptown Dog Park as the "Gayle Carter Uptown Dog Park".

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LongBeachCC_04092019_19-0296

Speaker 1: Now we move to item 22 with clock, please. With the item. And have a staff report. Speaker 0: And I think item 22 is report from Development Services recommendation to immediate order declaring a citywide moratorium on accepting applications for new drive thru lanes at any new or existing business establishments citywide. Speaker 1: Not to mention. Speaker 2: Thank you. I would like to make the motion here, but I would like to have a change in it. And that is, I'm in favor of having the study, but I'd like to remove the moratorium completely. My rationale for that is the fourth Council District probably has more drive thrus than any other district over the last five years. And that's the nature of of this item. Just on the traffic circle alone, we have seven brand new drive thrus over the last two years. We have, I think, three or four in the hopper, depending on how you count. So a total of a dozen drive thrus where there is an issue where one is not warranted, we exercise the process. The citizens got together, we hosted a meeting and they stopped a drive thru a Del Taco from going in at the corner of Bellflower and Abbeyfield. So we do have a methodology for removing them where they're not warranted. When I look at what's happened to the traffic circle area, I don't believe that what the business journal called a retail renaissance would have happened without the drive thru business model. It also has created jobs. Vice Mayor Dee Andrews Favorite topic employees at one of the restaurants, one of the restaurants has a traffic circle, is now the number one sales volume fast casual restaurant in the city with that. And so you can look at that in a lot of ways. One would be sales tax revenue. I never, never would be. In that case, it's scholarships for the employees. Students there who go to language schools received a total of $50,000 in scholarships last year. One of them, one crewmember, received a $25,000 scholarship alone. Customer convenience. If you think of children in child seats where you don't want to get out of the car, but you'd like to order food, the disabled are picking up food. Also, you know, drive thrus at the traffic circle, we have both a CVS and a Rite Aid with drive thru. So you think of the infirmed or disabled using that service. One we hear a lot about is reducing the need for parking spaces. That's a citywide issue and this certainly resolves a lot of that. Restaurant business models. Now, so many of them depend on the drive thru with with many brands. 70% of the business is conducted through the drive thru and Starbucks has has seen that. And they just opened a Starbucks at the traffic circle last week and they have another one planned for the intersection of Lakewood and Willow. I think I should also talk about the cost of meals. We spent a lot of time last week talking about low income residents. I've done a lot of consulting work in the restaurant industry, and one thing that a lot of folks don't believe is that there is a goal with certain brands to feed a family of four for $20. A lot of us probably can't relate to that, but there are restaurants where you can do that. I think that's all I have. But I stand ready for my colleagues comments and I ask for your support. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilwoman Price. Speaker 7: Thank you. I support Councilman Superman's motion. I understand that the issue is one of greater significance and import to him in his district given the nature and commercial corridors in his district as opposed to those in mine. I will say that I completely agree with staff's report, the staff report, in terms of the need for this, because lane configurations and impact on local traffic is a major concern. And so I do support staff taking a look at this. We had an issue in one of the communities in my district. It's actually the community I live in right before I got into office with the Dunkin Donuts and the impact that it might have in the neighborhood and in the community. And I applaud city staff for working so closely with the residents in that community to come up with a traffic pattern that would not impact the community. And it has worked out well. So the work of our planning department and our traffic engineers was huge in that regard. But I think that where we have commercial corridors that are developing and plans by some property owners or lessees to build drive thrus, we certainly don't want to encumber that effort during this period of time while we study these issues. So with that, I support this motion and look forward to hearing from my colleagues. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman Pearce. Speaker 5: I think it would be. Great to hear a staff report, but I do I fully support the moratorium. There has been a lot of work done and this is one of those opportunities where we really can put health and wellness of our communities first. I also am curious to hear the staff report because I know that there's some issues with our code being outdated and just trying to make sure that we align that. And it's my understanding that everything that's already in the pipeline would remain in that pipeline. So if we could hear staff report first, I think that would be helpful. Speaker 1: Yeah, we could yes, we could finish up this place and then we can come back to that. Councilman Richardson, please. Speaker 2: Thank you, Vice Mayor. So my understanding whenever we, you know, request a moratorium is typically for a short period of time while we evaluate the rules to a system or the policy around, you know, an industry or a system. So, Mr. C, the attorney, is that is that correct that this is a short term moratorium while we evaluate the policy. Speaker 11: The proposal this evening would be a one year moratorium, you could ask, that have come back if it's ready sooner. And the by law, I think it would be extend it could be extended for one additional year if necessary. Speaker 2: So the idea isn't just the ban drive throughout the city, it's the pause, the process. Any of those that are already in the pipeline will go through. And it would just stop new applications for drive thrus until the policy is completed. You know, upon the adoption of the policy, we could at that point release the moratorium because the new rules are all there. Said that a good description of what we're doing tonight. Speaker 11: Yes. Council has the authority this evening to exempt the projects. I believe there are nine that are currently in what we would call the pipeline this evening. And if that's the desire of the council, those projects would be allowed to continue. The moratorium would go into effect immediately this evening. And the minute code requires our office to bring back the ordinance at the third council meeting following tonight's action. So you have the ability to pass a moratorium this evening exempting those those applications that are in the pipeline. And so anybody that's in would move forward and any new applicants would then be have to wait until the moratorium came back or the ordinance came back to council for consideration. Speaker 2: Councilman Super. Now, the points you made were really good points was the concern about the moratorium. Do you are some of those projects in the pipeline for your the area you represent? As I originally stated, we have seven completed I believe are actually eight, including a jack in the box on the Anaheim corridor, Starbucks at Lakewood with all Jack in the box that Lakewood and Willow are pending. There's also one that I'm not sure about. There's a vegan restaurant at Clark and PCH that may or may not require CCP. So it's your district. Totally, completely comfortable with saying, you know, let's move forward with what staff is prepared. And then those in the pipeline that you described would not, you know, be limited by the moratorium. That way, you still have the flexibility to continue whatever deals you have in the works in your district. It's important that the moratorium go in place before we change the rules because of be unclear on how that impacts the rules for everyone who's in the pipeline. That's why when we typically do a moratorium, it draws a clear line. If this happened, if you're in the pipeline before this date, you have the current rules, you have the pipeline beyond that date, then you'll be you know, you'll be subject to the you know, whatever the rules are. Once we evaluate the policy and I agree that now's a good opportunity for us to take a look at a modern drive through policy. Many cities are doing this. You know, there's new standards for drive thrus. All of this could be subject to it. So are you willing to to change your motion, Councilman? Super, not to say, you know, as written with the exemption, except the exception of those drive thrus in the pipeline that you described. Chair, do you recognize me to speak? Speaker 1: Yes, sir. Okay. Speaker 2: If I wasn't clear, I fully support the study. I fully acknowledge what this item is. All the restaurants in the pipeline say there. What I'm asking is that we don't go to a moratorium. I think it's onerous. I think it prejudices the study moving forward. It's so bad that we have to institute a moratorium that has not been proven. If the study proves it, then we should have a moratorium. That's. That's the motion on the floor. Okay, so I'll just make a substitute motion of staff's recommendation that allows the projects that are in the pipeline inclusive of the ones Councilman Suber not mentioned to continue to move forward through that pipeline, but the moratorium is included within this motion. Speaker 11: And Vice Mayor and Councilmember Richardson, if I could clarify by your description of the projects that are in the pipeline, you're indicating the nine that are listed as the attachment to the city's report. Those are the nine that we have that are currently in the pipeline. Speaker 2: So I don't honestly, the the point was the ones that councilman supervised, you know, speaking about if there are nine in the pipeline, they're not in my district. So, you know, I'm actually flexible on that issue with the rest of the council. I don't want to stop anything anyone else has going. The point was, the ones that were raised, let's keep those in the pipeline and not impact those, but establish the moratorium allows us to have a clear point to begin the evaluation of this pipeline. That's the intent. Speaker 11: Thank you. And I think just from our position, the nine that are in the pipeline are the ones that are legally established. Okay. Have a definition. All right. Speaker 2: So the nine in the pipeline. Thank you. Yes. Speaker 1: All right. Thank you. Councilman Mangal. Speaker 6: Thank you. So before tonight, I had done a little bit of research. I had not planned for there to be a substitute motion or a substitute substitute. Nor did I know that Councilmember Superdog was interested in lifting the moratorium. But in listening to his arguments, I agree with him. I did a bit of research, and I think that the challenge isn't just about having or not having drive thrus. The drive thru market has changed considerably in the last 120 days. So in the last 120 days, McDonald's, which is a huge provider of food in my district, has changed it so you can mobile order in advance and then just zip through the drive thru to pick it up. You don't actually have to order in line anymore, which has absolutely changed the pollution component and wait times that are are pending. I also did a little bit of discussion with Vesta, which is the Long Beach Town Center, specifically around the two drive thrus at the Long Beach Town Center. One is in and out and the second one is Chick-Fil-A. One of those two providers can get someone through the line in under 8 minutes, and that's with them doing the ordering. And the largest chunk of time related to a person entering the drive thru was actually them making the decisions and articulating verbally what they'd like to order within this. There is another component at play. So the real estate market in Long Beach is hot right now and there are considerable number of individuals who have signed up for franchises and franchise district areas but have not yet selected locations and are therefore not actually in the pipeline yet to have, quote unquote, drive thrus. And so my concern is the financial implication of a moratorium when there is already a process that the residents are able to easily utilize for the stoppage of a drive thru in a place where it would not be appropriate. So I'm going to make a substitute substitute motion. The bulk of my substitute substitute motion is going to be the original motion that was provided by Mr. Supercar. And then I'm going to back that up with a couple of other things. And here's some data that I have that I'd like to be looked into. I'd like for our drive thru staff report to include. A priority for organizations that have a goal of feeding a family of four for under $20, also a goal of more than 160 cars per hour. So the number of cars per hour that you can get through the line is an indicator of how little time a car has to wait to receive its order or make an order. And so the faster those cars can get pushed through, the better. The other thing I'd like to kind of comment on is the number of drive thrus that we have already are so greatly impacted that the lines are extending out. Very, very long length. So an example, spring in Palo Verde, the McDonald's at spring in Palo Verde. If you sit there in the parking lot of Stater Brothers and watch that drive thru line for 30 minutes during the morning hours, that line will extend so far back that no cars can get in or out of the parking spaces. And so if there aren't the opportunity for other drive thrus to enter the market, those lines will continue to be. Too long. And those length of time that the cars are in line will be longer, which entail creates greater pollution. So it's actually a benefit to bring more drive thrus online, to reduce the demand on the current drive thrus so that it's more equitably spread because now the other business is in the same parking lots are being impacted. So if you want to go to super max, your car might be blocked in because the drive thru line from McDonald's is so long you can't get in or out of your vehicle. And so if there was another drive thru location looking in which we have several currently looking for the town center, but none have been selected , nor have any been starting in the process. I worry that this moratorium would potentially deflate that development at this time, and I think that that development right now, when that area has had food challenges, we've lost maybe six different fast casuals at the town center over the last two years is just too much for us to stand . So I hope that my colleagues will encourage a more quick return of the report from staff so that at that time we could discuss where moratoriums make sense and where they don't. But any drive thru that any of the residents in the fifth District would like to prevent, I'd be happy to work through that process with them at that time, but I don't see any particularly that we're looking at and therefore I don't think a moratorium is necessary. And thank you for the second. Speaker 1: Thank you. Congressman. Awesome. Speaker 10: Yes. Appreciate it. I did not foresee this much debate on this issue prior to coming to the meeting this evening. I just want to get some clarification for staff in terms of why you are proposing or recommending a moratorium for 12 months. You know, to Council Member Mungo's point and largely what we have been focused on as a city is actually improving our economic development portfolio and trying to be more business friendly and promoting investment in the city. This to me is is runs counter to that. Is it a is it a workload issue or is it just do you feel like we need a pause to to do a a good policy? I'll just let that you tell us. Speaker 1: At any point at any point. Speaker 12: The council wants to staff reports, just let us know, because Linda can prepare all that. Speaker 10: Okay. That's what I was going to say. Yeah. Speaker 12: So staff report. Speaker 10: You know, we were going to get to a staff report at some point. Did we? Were we? Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 10: And we went after the. Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 10: So the chair is we'll get to a staff report after our comments. So I will hold my comments until after the staff report, because I do want to hear from. Excuse me, the staff and and. Speaker 1: You know. Yes. If you're going to hold it, why don't we just get it now and then you can. Then you have to worry about the coming back. Speaker 10: Good answer. Good answer that. Speaker 1: We have that. Yes, sure. Speaker 12: Can. Speaker 4: Linda Tatum. Speaker 7: Good afternoon, Vice Mayor, members of the city council. As you are probably aware, our community has been really moving towards more sustainable, environmentally sustainable practices and more walkable, pedestrian friendly environments, particularly along our major corridors. And the notion of drive thru restaurants is is inconsistent with this. And because we've had a significant number of drive thrus in the last several years, 16 over the last several years, and a total in the city of 116 drive thru restaurants, we thought that. Speaker 4: It was appropriate to take a pause. Speaker 7: To go back, to take a look at the current development standards for drive thrus. And we are by no means suggesting that we shouldn't have drive thrus. But what. Speaker 4: We wanted to do was to take a really. Speaker 6: Careful look. Speaker 7: At where the the locational requirements for drive thrus to be a little bit more specific and looking at some of the potential negative impacts of drive thrus. Councilwoman Mongo has mentioned a couple of those, some of the queuing issues, some of the speaker box issues, and even some of the potential vehicle and pedestrian conflicts that occur because of how the the queuing lanes are positioned and overall circulation on the site. So the idea was for us to pause and while we ask for a 12 month moratorium out of an abundance of caution to make sure we had enough time, I'm really confident that staff could bring back a an ordinance for the council's consideration. And half that time, I'd say six months at the outside, and we could potentially do something a lot sooner than that. So I. Speaker 4: Would ask for a six month moratorium time. Speaker 7: Frame. Speaker 1: Okay. All right. So, Councilman Austin. Speaker 10: So I appreciate that that that report an explanation. Can you give us any in perhaps you've done this already, but is there a quantitative analysis in terms of drive through request for permits for drive thrus in the city? Do we know typically how many drive thrus will be requested over the next 12 months? If we don't put forth a moratorium. Speaker 7: We don't have that information currently. But what we have been averaging over the last several years is about five per year coming through our our process. And those numbers have have started to add up. And we've had a lot of feedback from constituents regarding the impact, the visual impacts of the drive through. And again, the issue of just the idling in the drive thrus, the addition to the greenhouse gas emissions and the air quality issues around the drive thrus, as well as the esthetic considerations all at a time when we've been trying to again make our corridors more attractive and more pedestrian friendly. So the idea, again. Speaker 4: Is to step back, take a pause. Speaker 7: Take a look at those standards and see if we can reconcile some of those standards in a way that, again, doesn't preclude drive thrus, but make sure that the locations that they are approved are appropriate from a land use perspective and the ability for the drive thru to be compatible with the surrounding uses. So you can prevent some of the kinds of issues that we've had that occur at some of the existing. Speaker 4: Drive thru facilities. Speaker 10: Well, I think we definitely need to be a lot more thoughtful and if you see an opportunity to to change policy, I certainly would support the the change in policy. My question also is, does it take 12 months to to to frame a new policy? Speaker 7: No. And that was my early feedback. I think again, the standard was 12 months. So we thought that out of an abundance of caution we could ask for that. But I can again, I. Speaker 4: Assure. Speaker 7: You that we can bring back something within six months and likely even sooner than that. Speaker 10: So you could do the policy in six months. I don't know that it's an opportunity for me to do a friendly on the motion, on the floor to to accept the six month. But I do appreciate hearing that. And I want to hear more from my colleagues. Speaker 1: I want to go back to excuse me and apologize for Councilwoman Pearce, because the fact that I got you doing that, you asked for the. So would you please you can start now for the moment I cut you off and then I'd like for you to go now, because when you wanted to report, did you want to start now? Okay. So you're okay now, but I will. I see you. Okay, fine. Okay. Councilwoman Price. Speaker 7: Thank you very much and I appreciate those questions from my colleagues and of course, the staffs report. A couple of questions I have here for Ms.. Tatum. So I know that we have I we think that there are reasons why we need to update our drive through policies. Is that correct? That's correct. Is it possible for staff to to prepare a report for council, not an ordinance change or a policy change, but take a period of 30 to 60 days to prepare a report that would outline or highlight why we need to make changes. And then we could that way, thereby justifying the need for a moratorium. And then a moratorium could be implemented for a six month period of time after staff has demonstrated why we even need a moratorium. The answer is yes. Staff certainly could. Speaker 4: Take that direction. Speaker 7: From council and come back with a report. Okay. So I would like to make a front. And the other thing I wanted to to say is I also want to make sure that we're that we as a council are mindful of the recommendation and the basis of the recommendation. So while we may not like some of the foods that are served at drive thrus, the purpose of this recommendation, the agenda ized basis for it has to do with planning and development, not the content or the the type of item that sold. So I want to make sure that legally we understand staff is bringing this forward because of the land use and development issues with drive thrus, not because of the type of food they're selling. We're not discriminating against the type. Speaker 4: So this is all about land use. Speaker 7: Yes. So I just wanted to make sure that we're very clear on that, given the our obligations under the Brown Act. But I will say that there are a variety of fast food restaurants that are emerging, many of them catering very specifically to newer clientele with healthy food options, vegan food options, things of that nature. And I do know that they have an interest in coming into the Long Beach market, which I think is something we want to encourage in terms of providing variety. So my recommendation and my friendly to the sub sub would be that we ask staff to prepare a report outlining the need for a moratorium and to return that report to council within 60 days so that we can then vote on whether or not a moratorium is justified and the length of that moratorium. Speaker 6: I absolutely would support that. I feel that it is the proper cart before the horse process that's necessary, especially when there's already a process that we've seen be used successfully in blocking drive thrus. Additionally, over the last year, I've been in a process where a property has actually fallen into what I call disrepair with most multiple needs for code enforcement, because we were working on making sure that it was pedestrian friendly and adding pedestrian walkthroughs in places that a development services deemed necessary to make it where they felt was okay and that caused additional delays. So I'm very, very supportive of the friendly and I would include that that report should in some way kind of contextualize a goal, a goal for what we want a drive thru experience in the city of Long Beach to be like. For example, I mentioned some of the drive thrus in my district. They serve a customer every 34 seconds. And so if there are complaints about idling cars and the such, oftentimes they're they're warranted. But in other cases they might not be warranted. An example might be that I often get complaints about public works trucks speeding and will will will pull the report on the speedometer of that truck that's been recorded. And it was actually going 22 miles an hour. And so perceptions and realities are often different things. And I think that it's very important to have such a report. Thank you, Councilwoman Price, for suggesting it. Speaker 1: Thank you. Yes, Councilman. Speaker 9: Oh, interesting. I was originally. Pleased that the moratorium was in place. And that was what we were going to go for, because I've had a couple of establishments in my district as well that were considering drive thrus, and I wasn't totally happy what was coming forward at that time. And they had nothing to do with the business. He has had to do with your pets in the community and in the neighborhoods. So I was very happy when the applications did not get approved because there were some issues with it. Now, now that this is coming at this point where we are looking at a moratorium across the city in these types of establishments, I'm totally supportive of that. So I find the the the friendlies to the sub subs disingenuous to a great extent in the sense that we're asking to do a study before the study, when the study is going to actually produce what we want. So I'm going to go back. I'm just going to say let's stick to stats recommendation. I think they've been very accommodating at this point. They went from a year to six months. And I think that if staff can certainly do the study within that time, I think it meets everybody's goal here in terms of not being overly long in in having a moratorium for business to continue. But it also keeps in place those businesses that are already in the pipeline to get their businesses approved and have these these drive thru. So I'm not going to vote for the Friendly's and the double doubles or whatever it is. The sub subs. Sounds like I'm making a sandwich. Anyway, bottom line is that, you know, I want to whatever gets me back to the original motion of a moratorium with the with the recommendation that it's six months, I will support that. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 7: Yes. So right now we have a substitute substitute motion on the floor. I would agree with Councilmember Suranga as well, because although this is land use we're talking about and I fully support staff's recommendation because I think we do have a reasoning and that is because of the it says here in the discussion very clearly to me that it's basically the growing number of applications have provided because concerns regarding safety, esthetics and environmental impacts of this activity that are becoming more evident. And I agree as well. I think we have a lot of city plans that we put in place, mobility, sustainability plans that this would be contrary to. So giving us some time to think about a good policy would be great. Another statistic that I just pulled is that big boxes and large franchises, 50 to 60% of their sales are derived from drive thru Burger King, McDonald's. And guess what? If we took a map of where these drive thrus were located, they're located in districts that have incomes that are lower. They have people of color. And those are districts like my district. So what I would ask, as well as ensuring that and the reason why I say that is I actually did a health asset assessment back in gosh, this is probably like 2010. I walked with the health department to every single drive thru in the first District, how close they were to parks, how close they were to schools. You wouldn't believe how many drive thrus we had. Jack in the Box, Burger King del Taco, the ad. So kids going from Edison Elementary School which is by the 710 an additional impact because they have cars trucks everything going by have about ten drive thrus just in that neighborhood, maybe a one mile radius. So I'd like to know, because I think it'd be helpful in this discussion if we were able to get a two from four. And I hate to give you more work, Linda, but I'd like to see a map of where these drive thrus are are located. So the council fully has an understanding of where they're where they're at, which we would I would say they're mostly in downtown and central Long Beach, guaranteed. So the more impacts that we have, the worse that we're going to be off as a city. So I would love to stick with the. I would love to stick with a recommendation to go back to the original and get a two from four. That would include a map. And also, if there is a way to look at maybe getting some blips of our mobility and sustainability plans that have our goals and standards and how we can kind of create a better narrative as to how this this would be contrary to that. I think that would help. Maybe that that's a lot. I know that I'm trying to create another I mean, I know the subs already there, but I'd like to add a friendly to be able to get that information back Speaker 11: . Council Member The motion that is on the floor is the sub sub, which is to request staff to come back within 60 days with a report to council to justify the moratorium. If I understand you're friendly. If the sub sub is not successful and you get to the second motion, the substitute motion by Councilmember Richardson, which would staff's recommendation and allowing the nine in the pipeline and it may be amended to just limited to six months instead of 12 months. You could add your report at that time or your friendly at that time, I think is what you're asking for or is it for? Speaker 7: I thought for some reason the sub sub included the six months, so it does not include it. Speaker 11: The second motion for the moratorium as as currently made is staff's recommendation of one year. It could be amended when, if, if and when we get back to that motion to six months. Speaker 6: So I'd like to accept it as a friendly. Anyway, can I use me. Speaker 7: Excuse me. I just want to make sure that. So can you clarify the subsub? Because I want to make sure that I have that. Speaker 11: Absolutely. I currently the sub sub is a report back within 60 days from staff to justify the moratorium. It also has a request to begin the study on the impacts or the possible changes to the ordinance on drive thru restaurants. I got all drive thrus, not just restaurants. It would be any drive thru business. A pharmacy. Speaker 7: Got it. Thank you. Thank you. And so and that's a good point as well. So. Okay, great. So I would not support the subsub. I again want to say that we are want to create livable, more healthier communities, especially in the communities that need it the most. And I also think just another thing, too, is that it limits if we want to talk about business. It limits small business opportunities, especially local business opportunities. It provides more opportunities, I think, for the large corporations and franchises, which I don't think we're talking about. So I will leave it at that. I hope we can maybe get back to the original motion of a year of recommendation or at least the the the former sub. So thank you so much. Speaker 1: Thank you, Congressman. Chris. Speaker 5: I yeah, I'm going to start now. Okay. Thank you. So on the issue of the subsub, ie, the issue of a moratorium and we saw this with Willow, right? We say that we're going to do something in the future and then a bunch of action happens. So who's to say that if we to come back to us in 30 days with another report, then in the next 30 days we might not have some of these applicants go through and become in the pipeline that now we have these other ones that are in the pipeline when we already know that there's a better way to design these drive thrus and to to make sure that they're designed for healthy communities. So that's my challenge with the sub sub is that staff has already done the work. They already have ideas. It's six months. I understand that the word moratorium could be triggering for for some of us on the council or for some community folks for big box business moratoriums might freak them out for our community members. And mind you, we have a letter from Walk Long Beach, United, Cambodian Community City Fabric, Long Beach, Forward Long Beach for a short time exchange, something I can't read. Long Beach Alliance for Food and Fitness and Coalition for Healthy North Long Beach. These groups have been working together to try to find solutions that not only build a more walkable, pedestrian community, but also find solutions and planning. And so when I say healthy, it wasn't in regards to the type of food, it was in regards to the fact that we can design healthy, cool, hopefully new drive thrus. I'm a fan of drive thrus. I'm in the middle of saving a drive thru at Fourth and Juniper right now. That is a small business that if they go away, it'll be a Starbucks or Jack in a box. And so it's important to me that we don't allow some of the words to get in the way of writing good policy. So for that reason, I would not support the sub sub and I and I want to thank and applaud staff for trying to make sure that they gave us a longer time period but support coming back in six months. I do know that historically drive thrus have been in communities of color. Of of higher poverty. And I do recognize that in CD4 you've you have had a renaissance where you had land that opened up and that that might have been a good fit for your constituents and for the folks that drive through over there. Having a six month pause is smart policy. It's the right policy for our community. And I would hope that our council colleagues can can see that a six month pause is not the end of the world, and it allows everybody to have an option to design smart drivers. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilwoman Richardson. Speaker 2: Thank you, Vice Mayor. So, so quickly, just a question to Steph. Speaker 1: Please. I'm sorry. No. Speaker 2: Oh, thanks. Thanks, Vice Mayor. So a question of staff. So these moratoriums, they're not a they're pretty common practice, are they? Would you say they're common or can you think of some examples of when we've deployed those? Speaker 7: I wouldn't say they're common. They tend to be not very common. But there are a tool that most cities use as necessary. And in this case, given the plethora of drive through restaurants and our concerns about trying to really strike a good balance between the environmental concerns, the safety concerns, the esthetic concerns, we just thought it was appropriate to step back and take another look at the standards. So the most recent example of a moratorium that we've had here in the city is the ah one ill. That was done where from Council District eight. We got the request to go back and take a look at the large lot development standards to address extremely large residences on single family lots. And that moratorium was a one year moratorium, and we ended up extended that, extending it because it ended up involving a lot of engagement with the community. And it was very helpful and very productive. Now, in this case, because staff has already started to look at some of the issues and concerns, and that's why I'm really confident that it won't take us a year to get something back. Speaker 2: Okay. So we typically so again, we typically use these moratoriums as a best practice to sort of pause the process, evaluate the policy when the policy is complete, we lift the moratorium. Staff has said that they can get it done in six months. What hasn't come up is uncertainty to businesses if we are in the process of changing our rules. It's difficult for businesses to make plans about if they don't know what the rules of the road are. And let's let's think about developers. If a development and we just had a development in my district where it got to be contentious about drive thrus, but the rules were the rules and the rules essentially said the way you plan out this development, you need to design it in a way that it pencils out. And these are the tools at your disposal now. If we had said we're going to change this policy in the middle of it and change the rules, that could be devastating to a project establishing a baseline and saying, Let's posit those in the pipeline, move forward. The rules are not changed. You know posit institute the moratorium while we discuss and debate allow for fair fair input where people are not biased against their project or you're going to jeopardize their particular project. You allows for us to actually be thoughtful about what it is we're trying to do. And at the end of that process, we pass a policy. We lift the moratorium. And the rules have changed. It's just cleaner to go about it in that way. Next point I'll say is that it's not a zero sum game. It's not you know, it's actually very close. We're talking about we're talking about a matter of six months, you know, and if there's a way for us not to create winners and losers here and work together, I think the best way to go about that is we've already exempted I mean, the substitute motion already exempted those in the pipeline that were raised up by Councilman Supernormal and those that are in pipeline. The staff report ultimately said they don't even have to do a year, but they need a pause of six months in order to be reasonable and get it done. So if we were to amend the staff recommendation and say, okay, six month moratorium. You know, get the policy done. If we don't pass the policy, then that's on us. But we give staff what they're asking for, which is a six month moratorium, so they can do good, balanced public policy that's not pressured by a project or development or a lobbyist or whatever it is they can do reasonable public policy. And so and so I'm not controlling the motion, but what I'm saying is if it gets back to the subject to motion, I'm happy to take it down to six months at what staff said. But. But who controls the motion? It's Council on Mongo. It's the Council on Mongo. Are you willing. Are you willing to change your motion to reflect staff's recommendation with a shorter moratorium of six months? Speaker 6: So I appreciate your comments, Councilmember Richardson. I believe good public policy can happen with or without a moratorium. I would also bring forward a couple of things. The staff have already done a lion's share of the work. This has already been presented at a planning commission study session. At that time, the Planning Commission did not recommend a moratorium to the City Council nor anything else. I'd be interested in folding in some of the things that would address Councilman Gonzalez's concerns. I do think that it would be very valuable to have a report of the type and number of drive thrus by either council district or zip code, or maybe both columns would be helpful. Speaker 2: Well, Councilwoman, you're actually next to queue up. So if there's a note to the friendly, I'll just conclude. So you can just take the floor. Speaker 6: Okay. I'll think about it. Speaker 2: Okay. So. Okay, so the best case scenario here, in my opinion, would be for the person who controls the motion to simply accept these compromises and move forward. Because I think there's been a lot of accommodation here. If not, then I think we need to be strong support a moderate, a modest moratorium of six months. So I would encourage vote no on the substitute substitute motion and the staff recommendation is is the substitute motion. And we would amend that to to make it six months. And so so that's the position I would say. No on the substitute substitute motion. Yes on the substitute motion. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Congresswoman Soprano. Speaker 2: Thank you. So let me just clear up some numbers a little bit here. I think Ms.. Tatum said that we're looking at five per year. So if you look over the last three years that I've had 12 in the fourth District, that means there's been one per year in all other council districts. If we're averaging five per year. So I think I just want to frame the issue there. Also, it's the concept of a moratorium. The message that sends out there for that six months that the time frame makes no difference. Once you put on the moratorium, the anti-business, negative tone that that creates is where the damage is. And I just think I'm all for looking, studying this issue. There's a lot of improvement to be made, but we just don't need the more important moratorium in place to do that. There's no requirement for it. And I think Ms.. Taylor mentioned, you know, study session with industry experts and whatnot. I think that's what you're referring to. I don't think the moratorium was brought up in those meetings. Maybe the industry would have an opinion on that, but I think we know what that would be. So I am supporting the subset. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilwoman Mongo. Speaker 6: Thank you. So I'm going to fold in a couple of things to make sure that my colleagues feel heard and that it's inclusive. I agree with Councilmember Super not on the business messaging, and I hope the chair of Economic Development, Councilmember Richardson, will stand with the substitute substitute in letting business know that the city of Long Beach is and continues to be open for business. I would like to add to the motion. Instead of spending the time on a report requiring and understanding the moratorium. Send us a report back at your earliest convenience. That includes the types of policies that you're looking to for this council to adopt and that you're exploring. You mentioned speaker boxes, you mentioned double drive thru lines, single lines, etc., and that the report also include the types of drive thrus and the district and zip codes that they are located in. I think that that's important. And it's it's really important to me when I hear the council member who has received 80% of the the drive thrus of the project. Speaker 11: Excuse me. If if we could make the amendment and then speak to the amendment, I'm sure that my following you. Speaker 6: That's my amendment that the report include the type. Location of council district and zip code of drive thru citywide. And when I hear the council member who has received 80% of the new drive thrus, 80% of the new drive thru was in the prior three years. How many years have you been on council? Four years. So in four years, in three of his four years, he's received 80% of the drive thrus of the city, and he is standing against a moratorium. I think that it's important for us to stand with him. And for that reason, this was not anything I plan to stand up on tonight. I'm really glad that I did the research because I really didn't know it was going to be this controversial. And so I hope my colleagues will support the substitute substitute as I believe this will come back to council within 120 days, at which time we can make a decision on whether or not we want to adopt an ordinance or not. I think that this still supports a direction that we want to hear a policy recommendation from staff, and that we do want to ensure that we adopt policies that make it a cleaner, healthier Long Beach. Unfortunately, a moratorium can also condemn those that already have the drive thrus in situations that are less favorable. And I don't want that to happen. So thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilman, your muranga. Speaker 9: You know, the more we. The more we talk about this, the more people queue up and new things come in. So, I mean, I want to stop this now because we keep getting deeper and deeper into the minutia where I think that the original motion addresses a lot of the amendments that were brought forward. A lot of the friendlies that were brought forward. It's the original motion that actually encompasses all of this. The only difference between what we have now and what we had before was the elimination of the the moratorium, which Stapp has basically said, don't need a year. We could do it in six months, which is very workable and I think very doable. But, you know, I was going to call the question right now, but we have exactly. But we haven't had public comment yet. So I want to reserve my comment now to call the question after we hear public comment, please. Speaker 1: Excuse Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 9: Okay. Speaker 1: Now hold it. No, no, I'm not going in right now. I just want I'd like to ask the question, is the CVS in the you know, the are the pharmacies and are they and into this? MONTOYA Because that's where I'm running the problem in my district, I have more, you know, convenience, you know, stores than I have , you know, like I say, the Taco Bell's and all of that situation. So in some of those close early and that's and they they closed early and then all of a sudden you got to drive through where they're going to be able to get their, you know, their product from the doctors. So that that to me could be a problem. So I'm just asking that if that is put into this motion, they are everything is what they drive through and those are added into it. Okay. All right. Well, let's continue to go on with this. Could we have some public comment on this and then we'll get back to it. Ladies first. Speaker 8: Okay. Thank you. Speaker 5: Thank you. Like. Speaker 0: We're afternoon. My name is Hilda Guyton. I'm a Coalition for Cooking Long Beach co-chair. And I'm here to let you know that, yes, you are right. Everything that we are talking here at a certain level is planning. But there is studies that says that. The way that we build the environment affect the health of the people. And my community is living 5 to 7 years less than the community of the Tier four and five district. And I understand that maybe you don't see what happened on my community. So I'm here to let you know, though. We have drive thrus and fast food on every corner. We've been working very closely with our council member to fix this, but it's almost impossible. We cannot remove the drive through that exists right now and the way that we are that the communities already built. Every single change affects our health. So if you don't see the health part or why are we talking, then we are. We are you are not talking on the whole spectrum. And I know that there is planning committee and there is public work and it's a lot of different thing. But you have to start thinking about the people. Speaker 5: The people. I mean. Speaker 0: I understand that businesses are good. And when we say that we closed for business is not true, because if you go to another city, they are building they are building brand new development with no drive thrus, issues, what you are giving to the people and what you are giving the opportunity to the future on health. My community is in the Big Three, but we have all the drive, the drive thru. We have no, no trees. And you want to say, well, why do we need trees? Well, trees are important and we have the freeways right there. So we are talking here about health. And I want you to think about that and maybe hear from you guys that you're talking about development, businesses and everything. But I really, really ask you to the moratorium is not going to be that much, is not going to make a difference. Just give us a chance to put something in place and just do it. I mean, are you going to ask my council member for Charlestown? And I want to thank you for everything that you have done and you have sane and all of you to please support of the moratorium and all the changes and all the work that the that the staff. And I want to thank you the staff, the city staff, for all the work that you have done. Thank you. Speaker 8: Good evening, everyone. City Council members. I am so good. Me I live in the eighth district and I am one of the co-founders of Long Beach Environmental Alliance. And thank you, Hilda, for everything you said. I second what she said and her organization that she helps oversee the coalition over North Healthy North Long Beach is part of our alliance as well. I'm here representing Lombard, SRI 50 citizens climate lobby, the Long Beach, Gray Panthers, Cambodian Social Nation of America. And the list goes on. You can check our Facebook Long Beach Environmental Alliance. So we want them more. I had had a moratorium. Yes. Thank you. And where is our common sense? More cars equal, more pollution. It's easier as one, two, three. So there is one thing we all can't hide from, which is don't add a death, so why not? You know, improve the longevity of our lives by not permitting drive thrus in our community. I know it might just be in a certain area, but that area, you know, the air shifts, the wind, you know, whether we all are affected by air pollution and drive thrus are dangerous for pedestrians. I know. Ms.. Councilman Councilwoman Mongo stated something about that as well. How can we make it more safe for people? And even Councilwoman Janine Pearce said something about, you know, not just the food being healthy, but the way how it count, how can we design it to be healthier for us? And, you know, we live in 2019. We're in the age of technology and we should use it technology as a tool. We can get healthy, produce online, even grocery stores deliver now, too. So, hey, we can be as lazy as we want and stay at home ordering food, healthy food from our homes. Forget the drive thrus. I stop eating, drive fast food for a year. Now, if I can show you my abs, I would. But I can't do that. Speaker 7: Right. So catch me on the beach. So, guys. Speaker 8: But aside from that, I wanted to lighten the mood and just speak the truth. Um, so drive thrus are not the answer. Greenhouse. Greenhouse gas emissions. They suck. They they they cause asthma, maybe stroke, diabetes, you name it. I have a whole list for if you guys want to talk about it later, but I say, can I have ten more seconds? I say, why not? Speaker 1: You can just keep create. Speaker 8: Why not replace the drive thrus with greenspaces and grow trees? Because trees, they think they're not costly and they help improve the quality of life. Speaker 1: Okay. Thank you. Speaker 8: Guys. Thank you. Speaker 1: Yes. You're a great. You're going to live forever. Ever. Go ahead, young man. Speaker 2: Son, I cant fe. 3 million tonnes of CO2 was pushed out into the air last year alone in the state of California due to idling cars. That's what you're referencing when you speak about this this state. I would like to think the state of New York specifically, because they're the ones who pushed the environmental standard that a lot of businesses. Monopolies franchise big business specifically had to adjust to and that is that 100 over 130,000 tons of CO2 is annually produced in the city of New York alone due to idling cars. And because of that, the city council there created more stricter restrictions in regards to idling. I think it's no more than 5 minutes. They actually have a program where you can as a common citizen, you are incentivized by the city to film cars that are idling. And due to that, it has completely reduced cars on the street that are idling. Also, they targeted drive thrus that are on transit corridors that cause cars to idle. And because of that, you had a phenomenon, which is these mobile order stations that McDonald's one that comes to mind specifically is the one on in second District on fourth in Alamitos. They had an issue with parking. They created an operation there where they have the mobile order stationed there. They don't have that problem anymore. I think that's something that we should look for. The original motion I agree with, councilman. Wrong. This is this is not necessarily about targeting companies that sell food that we don't like. It's about misuse of land. Specifically in the case here. You know, we're not you know, in other districts outside the fourth District, you know, we're not creating businesses to gain the focus on international students. You know, I like to welcome my new Saudi Indian and, you know, international friends that comes to this beautiful city to go to school at Long Beach State. But for the rest of us, I grew up in the Wrigley neighborhood and Long Beach Willow, specifically, and I grew up next 12 drive thrus. And these drive thrus target the youth. They don't you know, when it's in the fourth District where they're talking adults, that's a different conversation. But when they're targeting our youth and we see the epidemic of obesity and how it's a target and how it's affecting the next generation after us, I think it goes beyond just saying, oh , well, you know, we're targeting companies that are selling food that we don't like. It's targeting the future. And we have to maintain and focus on uplifting the future generation of children. And that's not fast food. And I think a moratorium was great in that regards. And thank you, Steph, for pushing this. Thank you. Speaker 9: Evening. Counsel My name is Kurt Davis. I have also been doing tons of research, not recently, but for a long period of time, about drive thrus and the effect that they have on our community. And I have to let you know, I accept the fact that I live in an area right next to the 91 Freeway in the ninth District where my life expectancy is shorter than three other than than two of the zip codes in this one, the number one is in the Andrews area, and that my household is in the 95th percentile for air pollution, according to the Southern California AQ, M.D.. I don't like the proliferation of drive thrus. Starbucks did their own study when they wanted add a new drive thru up in Santa Barbara. They figure the average wait time is 4 minutes. That's from order to pickup. That doesn't include the time that you wait before. Now, if you have 400 cars a day, come in. That causes 12 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. That's just one drive thru that gets 400. Also, we're not really against. We are against fast food. I am. I am the past chair of the Coalition for Health in North Lombard. And it's all also studies proven that students that live within a quarter mile are fast food restaurants within a quarter mile of a student of the school. The students here have a higher propensity for obesity than the other types of schools that are farther away from those fast food restaurants. But I know the issue tonight is the drive thrus now. Our general plan is 30 years old. The new general plan, if you've read it, does include some restrictions against drive thrus and even for the overabundance of fast food. But I know that they need the time to continue to fine tune these regulations to make them fair for everybody. Now, if you're saying we only get five or five drive thrus a year, a moratorium for six months is not going to impact that much. In the last year, we had four drive thrus approved just in the ninth District, three on one development, which is the reason I got more involved in this. And those three drive thrus are within 50 feet of residences. I don't know what happened with the other one in the fourth District. They were able to get rid of it, but we weren't able to get rid of ours. You know why? Because the planning commission said their hands were tied and they regretted that they had to pass those three drive thrus through. They regretted it. It's on record. Also in the last planning commission meeting after we spoke. They said that that the only recourse that they saw is to ban drive thrus completely. But they thought that would be too drastic measure. That is also on record from the last Planning Commission meeting to ban drive thrus. And according to Baldwin Park, the city of Albert Park bans drive thrus. The City of Baldwin Park is the home of drive thrus. The first in and out was built in Baldwin Park, and now they ban drive thrus completely. I urge you to support marriage, not marriages, not marry yet. I urge you to support Councilman Richardson for the original motion with a six month moratorium instead of a 12 month moratorium and keep that in place. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Uh, uh, what you got? Speaker 9: How about if you have a wedding ring but you don't? Wait a. Speaker 1: Minute. I had on that. You're not on it. Speaker 9: I was at the. You took me. Speaker 1: Out? No. Point of order. Point of order. This is point of order. Speaker 9: No, it's point of order. Was with the. Speaker 1: Excuse me. We went to a public speaker. Now Mr. Richardson comes from Richardson on the side. Speaker 11: Vice Mayor. If I recall correctly, the council member from the seventh District asked to reserve his call for the question until the conclusion of public comment. Speaker 1: Excuse me. That I'm just looking at the. Go ahead. Speaker 9: All of that I see people cued up. I'm going to withdraw my call for the question and continue the discussion. It's Hollywood. Speaker 1: Well, fine. I just am following what I see up. Councilman Richardson. Speaker 2: Thank you, Vice Mayor. I just wanted to queue up once again and just thank the residents who came down to speak tonight. I know it was a difficult conversation that we had that we just went through. And I was there at the Planning Commission meeting when they said, our hands are tied. We really need to take a deeper look at this. And I also understand that a lot of times our communities, we get dumped on. And, you know, when it comes to liquor stores in every corner, I spent five years figuring out how do we create leverage to change the narrative around liquor stores. Right. Drive thrus, it's this is what's being proposed tonight is a very small thing. Six month pause while we figure it out. And everyone's committed to this. So. So I thank you for coming down. I understand. I know what it's like to live in a community adjacent to two freeways. When you raise up your issues and it seems like, you know, maybe they don't they're not value to the same degree as maybe a corporation or so. I understand that. So I want to thank you. Councilman Mongo, you mentioned as economic, you said I should vote with you as economic development chair. I just want to just want to be clear. This is not modern economic development and push in drive thrus. It isn't. And and while I think it's appropriate and fair to have a baseline for when we, you know, evaluate our policies. So we have some some level of stability in the marketplace. You know, I I think I just want to be clear that, you know, where we're heading as a community is more walkable, more integrated development that's scale and integrated with our local communities. And frankly, drive through, in my opinion, should only be leveraged in spaces that actually Councilman Andrews talked about. Like, you know, I think far if we could, I would love to just say exclude pharmacies, exclude banks, ATMs, but as a land use conversation, you really can't do that. And so I would love to say if if a drive thru gets me a bank in my district. Yes, that's a case for that's the case for a drive thru. If it gets me an additional pharmacy in my district, yes, that's a case and we can set those policies. We can't do a a moratorium based on that. Right. And so, you know, I just want I just want people to I just want to say, because that was done, I wasn't cued up again. I don't say I hear you. No matter how the vote turns out tonight, I hear you. We're going to keep working to fix this issue. I believe the smart, fair thing is to hit the pause button, have a moratorium, have a thoughtful conversation with all nine of us and the community to figure this out. And you have a commitment from city staff to get it done in six months. I don't know if that's the way the world is going to go tonight, but but that's what that's what I support. And I think that's the responsible thing for the city council to do, is to vote no on the motion that's in front of us and vote yes on the substitute motion. Thanks. Speaker 1: Thank you, Congressman Michael. Speaker 6: So I also want to tell you that I hear you. But a moratorium isn't going to help the drive thrus that already exist today, which is, I think, the bigger problem. I also think that the city is built out in a way where. We're not saying no to a moratorium. What we're saying right now is I'm not even sure if the numbers come in. The numbers coming in from my colleague, council member, Super Anon, my colleague, Councilmember Richardson, don't add up to the numbers that I'm hearing from development services because they said five per year and then he's had four and he's had three, that's seven. So we don't know where we are. I think that's a big point of this. So I think that we are going to study this issue and we want to come back with something meaningful. I think that it's important for us to know the types of drive thrus that we have and also to know that when people are looking to get a drive through, they're just going to drive further to get to one, which is additional greenhouse gases if they're not in the right places. And we already know that a lot of them are in the completely wrong places. But the city was built a long time ago. Some of our fire stations are in the completely wrong places and we're getting to an adjustment from there. So I hope that you'll know that my motion mirrors the original motion on the floor with additional add ons to support some of the things said by the dias. And so I hope it's not turned in a way that the people that vote yes right now are looked at in a way that they're not in favor of that. I'm not sure why. Member Super nor was his district was able to galvanize and prevent a drive through and that Councilmember Richardson was not I don't know the details behind that. And if within a week or so were able to find out more details, we can always agenda it again in a week or two. But I hope that you'll open up a dialog with all of our offices because many of us aren't aware of the challenges. There is a process in place and I think that part of this is not duplicating and doubling down on processes that make it more difficult for anything in the city. So thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 7: So I would support a moratorium. I just want to reiterate that, and I think that the substitute substitute actually duplicates efforts. There was an eight month from, if I'm not mistaken, planning commission process. About six community groups in neighborhoods that would be impacted by drive thrus have said that they support a moratorium and staff has recommended a year. So I think we've done enough research and studying. I think that the community has clearly spoken and they don't just speak for North Long Beach. I know they speak for a lot of the communities within the city that have additional impacts, land use very much connected to environmental impacts and health impacts and all of that. I understand the thoughts about protecting the business community. I completely get that. But I also think that this absolutely is protecting the business community because it's giving us a great opportunity to get it right by, as we mentioned, taking a pause, taking a step back, and really looking at a new modern policy that will hopefully help us all. So I really ask my council colleagues, you have community in front of you. They don't just come here and sit for 3 hours and wait for us to just say no to them. They're here. They've done the research. They're continuing to do the research with our communities. And I would hope that we would just hear them out and listen and support this moratorium. So, again, no. One, the subsub subsub, I really could not support that. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Pearce. Speaker 5: I'll try to be brief. I've been sitting here and trying to think, is there a way to get to that magic spot where we all feel good? And I and I recognize that the land use element and so we we can't pass it out and say this use and not this use. And I was going to queue up again, but I'm struggling with what sounds like a disingenuous comment around and I hate saying that on the floor moratorium impacting existing drive thrus, I think staff has done a really good job about saying allow us to continue the process that's happened for the last eight months, allow us to take a pause so that businesses can thrive and they can come in and design their projects the right way. That is healthy for everybody. And so this idea of pitting business versus the residents who really live in these impacted areas is something that I can't find a middle ground anymore. And so I you know, I hear you guys, I urge you to continue to engage with all councilmembers and to talk about the health impacts of all council districts. And let's let's have this vote. And hopefully our council colleagues will will see that this is the best thing for those that live in disadvantaged communities and for the residents that live here every day and not for big business or lobbyist. Thank you. Speaker 1: Councilman Austin. Speaker 10: So I've heard a lot and I do appreciate the comments from the residents. I appreciate the back and forth from from the council and to me, the motion on the floor. Doesn't necessarily put forth a moratorium tonight, but does it say no to a moratorium? In a couple of months or in the future, it's saying let's let's study it. And I think. One mistake that we make as a council over and over and over again is if we need to make the decision tonight that it's on the agenda. I think the conversation has been great. I've sat back and been quiet for the most part throughout this entire debate. But I'm going to support the substitute substitute, because I think it opens the door for more information as I'm sitting here thinking, I would love to know about the drive thrus in my district. I would love to get a report and know specifically about the drive thrus in my my district. To to to to further analyze this and in here hear feedback from from residents. This hasn't, in my opinion, had enough of it. There's not enough behind it to to to justify a moratorium, in my opinion. And we can agree to disagree, but I would hope we can get to a vote. Speaker 1: Yes. Councilman Pierce? Speaker 5: Well, I. I also appreciate the conversation. And I want to say I appreciate the fact that the you guys are saying it's not a vote against a moratorium, that we could always moratorium down the line that are. What my issue is with that is that, say, there's somebody thinking about a drive through tomorrow and in two weeks they can come in. We could have ten of them come in and put in their application. So by the time the moratorium gets here, we've now screwed ourselves by telling them that it happens. It does. If we've had eight and in one year, that is the that is essentially what a moratorium, why a moratoriums are great because it gives you a break. It doesn't say we'll give you a break in six months from now. And so I just wanted to make sure that I cleared out all the other arguments and why I support it. But that's the point of a moratorium, is being able to do it quickly to take a pause, to be able to come back and have good policy in front of us. So I also have enjoyed the conversation around data and wanting to have more information as well. Speaker 1: Fine, thank you very much. Before we take a vote on this, I like to ask Council on Price, were you talking about 90? You say 90, 160 days. You make that point. Speaker 7: At all for the report to come back. 60 days is what I said. I said 30 to 60 days, but whatever it takes. And the report would specifically be for a justification so that those council members for whom the issue is a big one can have a justification to vote for a moratorium. Speaker 1: Yeah, that's yeah. Because I think anything you guys what we're doing tonight is a lot of we do need to take a pause and really see what's going on here because we've had very good dialog, I think, in every one of our conversations. But I think now and I definitely understand my colleague when he says, you know, no moratorium, but I think in my area when especially when I think about certain things, where do we start it? Where do we start? I think we do have a lot of good reports that we've had from the staff. I want to know what's going to happen. Maybe I didn't like the term deal at all, so I think the six month thing would give us some clarification on this. So I really look forward to that. So I'm going to support the six month, you know, moratorium and hopefully we can come back. And I hope my colleague, Supernova Councilman Hooper, and I will understand that we will get the kind of information he needs for us this week, because I need it also for me. So thank you very much. And I could come for the question. Speaker 11: If I could. Speaker 2: Gentlemen. Speaker 1: And. Speaker 2: Vice Mayor, to get to the six months you vote down. Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm just. Are you recognize me? Yes, I am. I want to recognize this because I think I just. Speaker 2: Want to be clear. That means you will vote no on the substitute. Substitute yes and the vote yes on the on the substitute motion, which is staff's recommendation. And I would include the Sixth Amendment that gets us to the sixth month, the much shorter moratorium. Speaker 1: Yes, that would be what we do, because your staff at 12 months. Speaker 2: Staff had said we're going to bring it down to six. Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 2: Thank you. Please vote. Speaker 1: Yes. Could we vote in on that or will. Speaker 11: Voting on the substitute? Substitute? Speaker 1: Yes, I think. Okay. All right. Yeah. Speaker 0: Councilman Spooner, Councilmember Mongo. Motion feel. Speaker 11: So Vice Mayor now would be the substitute motion of which would be staff's recommendation on the moratorium with allowing the nine that are currently in the pipeline as identified in attachment A to be allowed to proceed. Yes, there is an amendment to the Fourth Amendment. Speaker 1: Yemen is back with. Speaker 11: An amended six months. Speaker 1: Yes. Yes. Speaker 0: Councilmembers opener calls memo mango Vice Mayor Andrew's Council Murang'a. Speaker 9: Woman Water Illiterate. This motion also includes the item that Councilmember Gonzales put forward as well with the TSA in there. Speaker 2: What is that? Speaker 11: Had it not been accepted at this time, would be appropriate time to add it, which would be a staff report to identify the type location of drive thru citywide. Speaker 2: So a full report on that? Absolutely. We can include that. Speaker 9: I want to make that clear. Speaker 0: Motion carries. Yeah. Speaker 1: Thank you. When we get them to close, we no guns. Item 22.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to adopt a Minute Order declaring a citywide moratorium on accepting applications for new drive-through lanes at any new or existing business establishments; direct City Manager to have the Department of Development Services and the Planning Commission review the development standards for drive-through lanes and make recommendations to the City Council; and, request City Attorney to prepare an interim (moratorium) ordinance pursuant to Chapter 21.50 of the Long Beach Municipal Code for notice and placement on the City Council agenda for hearing at its third meeting following adoption of this Minute Order. (Citywide)

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Speaker 1: Item 19, please. Speaker 0: Item 19 Communication from City Attorney Recommendation to Declare Ordinance Amending the Long Beach Municipal Code relating to hotel workers safety precautions. Read the first time and leader to the next regular meeting of the City Council for Final Reading Citywide. Speaker 1: Is any public comment inside this? Gonzalez to. No. You're to. Speaker 5: I would like to speak on it. I had one question for the city attorney. Could we include a private right of enforcement for hotel workers in this? Speaker 11: The answer is yes. We couldn't do it tonight and pass it for first reading so we could. You have two options. I think you could either amend the motion to send us back and to revise these ordinance to add the private right. Or you could adopt this this evening as first reading and second reading, and we could amend it and bring it back at a future, adding that also. Yes. Speaker 5: Is there a reason why we didn't include it? Speaker 11: It wasn't requested at the time that this was amended. There was no private right of action requested to be amended to add it to it. Speaker 5: I don't think we need long dialog on this, but I think it's smart to have a private right of action in this. And my bad. If in the past I wasn't clear and specific on wanting that. I really do appreciate the work that you, your team did on drafting this. So whatever we have to do to include that. Speaker 11: And we can meet with your office to make sure we we can that. Speaker 5: One line that that's in. Speaker 11: And in essence, it really I mean, it doesn't technically have to be in there. A person could bring this right of action right now. You want it to be expressed in there. I understand that. And it makes it obviously makes it clear. But someone could bring it today without that. Speaker 5: Yes. Okay, then let's vote on this thing and keep going. Thank you for your clarity. Speaker 1: Any public comment on this item? Not, please. Okay. Price. Excuse me. Speaker 7: The question I had is when this. Ordnance is available. Is it going to be translated in all of the languages for language, access policy in terms of outreach and education and all of that? Speaker 11: I think the answer to that is, yes, we would we would distribute it and the clerk would we would work with the clerk to distribute it as we do any and all other ordinances. And I think that it is required to be in the five languages. It is not the it doesn't have the exact same language as Measure WWE did regarding that. Speaker 7: Right. Okay. I just want to make sure that whatever we do, it's easy for employers to communicate to employees and that any outreach materials that we produce as a city and I think we should should be in all those languages. Speaker 1: Is that? Speaker 4: That sounds like it. So if this. Speaker 11: Passes, then we would. Speaker 1: Create an outreach strategy and figure. Speaker 2: Out how to make sure everyone's aware, especially this is a limited group of hotels. Speaker 1: That we can reach out to relatively easily. Speaker 4: Great. Speaker 7: I think this is the group that will need the most outreach. Speaker 1: Please cast your vote. Speaker 0: Councilmember, which is in motion carries. Speaker 1: Fine. Thank you. Now we have time for public comment on non agenda items. With this request, please come forward. The speaker will have up to 3 minutes. Not agenda items. And you would like to speak. Now is the time. Okay. Going. Speaker 4: What I'm saying is. Speaker 1: Come on. You have 3 minutes. Okay. Speaker 2: So you and I can say you were talking in regards to in the six how you know, you're concerned about the pharmacies. Yes. And the pharmacies being impacted by any kind of amending of the ordinance in relation to drive thrus.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Sections 5.54.010.F and 5.54.030.B, relating to Hotel Worker Safety Precautions, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

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Speaker 9: We are now doing the Long Beach Community Hospital Foundation, which is item 21. So, Mr. West, we can get the staff report. Speaker 0: Item 21 is the report from Economic Development Recommendation to enter into a grant agreement with Community Hospital Palm Beach Foundation in an amount not to exceed 1 million for reimbursement of pre-development costs to rebuild and replace buildings, to continue to operate an acute care hospital at the site, and a resolution to execute an agreement with Perkins will for hospital facility architecture, design and consulting services for. Speaker 1: Mayor Council matters. One of the things, you know, we've been working on night and day for the past year has been trying to reopen community hospital with an acute care facility. One of our. Speaker 10: Partners working just as hard as us is the Long. Speaker 1: Beach Foundation Community Foundation for the Hospital. And John Kiser, our director of economic development, is going to give a report on our work with them. Honorable Mayor and members. Speaker 7: Of the city council. I'm very happy to bring this item before you tonight. This is a major first step in the process of developing the construction plants that will ultimately aid us in the process of achieving seismic compliance for community hospital Long Beach. We are grateful that our partners at the Community Hospital, Long Beach Foundation, members of our community who have been supporting the hospital for decades, in some cases individuals who have been serving on the board, donating their own time and money to fundraise in support of the hospital, and now in support of these construction plans that will help us to reopen the hospital in the coming year. So this action before you tonight is to receive $1 million that will be used for the construction planning. It also will allow for us to establish the contract authority that we have with our architect, Perkins and Will. And the reason that we are using Perkins and Will as the architect for this project is because they were the firm that actually did our compliance plan when we were evaluating the feasibility of retrofitting and rebuilding the hospital. The third thing that I need to read into the record is that unfortunately in the address that is listed, 4111 East Willis Street does not actually exist. It is 411 East Wilton Street. And so the city attorney has made sure that I read into the record that it is the funds for this project will be dedicated to construction plans and pre-development costs associated with 1720 Termino, 1760 Termino and 411 East Wilton Street, which include all of the properties that the city owns of Community Hospital. So with that, I'm happy to take any questions, but I just want to finish by thanking Matthew Faulkner, the executive director, Ray Burton, the chair of the Long Beach Hospital Community Foundation. And for all the community members and board members who have donated to make this a reality for the city. Thank you so. Speaker 12: Much. Speaker 9: Thank you very much, Mr. Chrysler. In terms of the controversy or not. Speaker 1: Thank you for that report. And to any resident that might live it for one on one Willow Street, you almost hit the jackpot, but not quite. I just want to echo what Mr. Chrysler said, that we want to thank all the community hospital, Long Beach Foundation board members in particular, Ray Burton, the president of the board, whom I've talked to almost daily for the past 18 months, and also special recognition for executive director Matthew Faulkner. Although this has been pretty intense for the last 18 months. We looked up the first time he spoke at one of my community meetings and that was September 2015. So Mayor Matthew has been hard at work on this project for a long time, so thank you very much and thanks to staff for putting this all together. Speaker 9: Thank you, Councilwoman Pryce. Speaker 4: Thank you. And I, too, want to acknowledge this the step forward and give a special recognition to our city staff, the community foundation and, of course, councilman superstar for his leadership on this item. Thank you. Speaker 9: Thank you. I also just want to add, again, I think staff has done a phenomenal job. Saving a hospital is incredibly hard work and almost always hospitals end up closing. And I think that the the staff has done a great job. The foundation, who is making a substantial gesture of support and strength in this case, I think is also very welcomed. And so I know we've all thanked the foundation individually and publicly. And I just want to again thank the Long Beach Community Foundation I'm sorry, the Community Hospital Foundation for for this and for their ongoing commitment to support community hospital, which we are all committed to reopening. And I know it's been said again, but the Councilmember, Superman and the other council members that have been engaged on this, particularly Councilman Price and Councilwoman Mongo and the rest of the council that of all are all supporting moving forward. I just want to I want to thank them again. Is there public comment on the community hospital item? Seeing none where. Mr. Goodhue, please come forward. Speaker 1: All right. Good. Hugh Clark, as the address. As I said last week, this is the last time this is up. This is certainly a commendable project and the city owes a great deal to the council. And sure enough, one of the great aspects of this is that we will get considerable money. I think the figure don't quote me, I think it was like 90 million. I forget what it was. But they deal with the various. Troubling issue. That some people have mental. Disturbing conduct. Such as. As manifested by our governor and other people that are drooling over the slot Kamala Harris and people like that. And there is money that is missing. Speaker 9: You know, Mr. Goodhue, I told you this last time you're here, but you don't use it to demean women every time you come up to speak and say that word. I sit up to a sitting elected official. So I don't know how many times we have to. I know you have a First Amendment right to say things you would like, but I would hope you have a little decency not to say that again. Speaker 1: And you misrepresent. I do not say that. Represent all women. Women. Period. You were the one that's doing that. 90% of the women are fine. I think they're all right. Speaker 9: Go ahead. Go ahead and get back on topic. Get him. Speaker 1: Percent. All right. It's the percentage. The. It's the percentage of people. The percentage of people such as she that the US Ninth Circuit Court bipartisan panel founded. Edit engendered an epidemic of corruption. Period. And the only people that would saddle up to that person would be disease minds such as our new governor or our mayor. Period. And there's 90 million. I believe the figure is 90 million. Set aside to deal with those disease mines, period. And you're misrepresenting the facts. I've never said that all women are like that, period. The issue is focuses on the men that saddle up. To the people such as the slut Camilla Harris. Speaker 9: All right. You're off topic. Unbelievable. That concludes public comment on this item. There's a motion and a second. Is there more public comment on community hospital? On community hospital, please come forward. Take your. You can take your time. You're okay. We're okay. Speaker 6: Good evening. For the rest of the panel. Speaker 9: Please come forward. Thank you. Speaker 6: Good evening, Mayor Garcia and the rest of the panel. I do want to speak on community hospital. I have had two generations of families that has come through community hospital. Speaker 1: And I. Speaker 6: Feel that it's an excellent resource into the community. Not one is nonprofit, and secondly, it has the heartbeat of the community. I as a medicare recipient, I have to go through the senior Obama's plan, which is that Kaiser and this is what is coming against community hospital. So my question is what is in place to keep it from failure again when you have the rising of Kaiser not only on terminal but also now on Pacific Coast Highway. Speaker 9: Thank you. Let me I'm going to answer, but do you want to conclude with your comment? Speaker 6: Yes, sir. I just want to make sure that as we rally and advocate for community hospital, because I have been involved with that of two generations coming through there. And now my third, which is my great great grandson, that will reopen and go there again because of our loyalty to community hospital, what is in place to keep it from staying in place again. But the community, the heartbeat that it has and is right diagonal, which is almost ten steps from Kaiser. Speaker 9: Thank you. I'm going to answer that question and the other as you would any of the public comment on this item so that I can answer the question. Okay. I'm closing public comment there. Let me just there's a community meeting coming up that I would invite you to consider support or do you want to? Speaker 1: Yeah, if you're available tomorrow night, 6 p.m. at the big rec clubhouse, we'll be there and answer all your questions. Will have John Molina will be there. Ray Burton, the the president of the board and Councilwoman Price and myself will be on hand. So that's the best place to ask your questions. Speaker 9: And we're going to and we're also going to someone's going to commit you over here on the site separately, and we're going to get you all the information you just asked about, because we have a whole packet of what we're doing around community hospital. So Mr. Ramirez can get the information and we'll we'll connect with you right now. Speaker 6: Then I'll be back in again for the lifeguard and in Jordan. And it's not coming. Okay. West Side. Speaker 9: Okay. Thank you. The lifeguard item already passed, but think we will connect with you right over here. Thank you very much. Members, please go out and cast your votes on this item. Speaker 0: Because remember, price motion carries.

Resolution

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to enter into a Grant Agreement with Community Hospital Long Beach Foundation, a Long Beach-based nonprofit corporation, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, for reimbursement of predevelopment costs incurred by the City of Long Beach to rebuild and replace buildings located at 1720 Termino Avenue, 1760 Termino Avenue, and 4111 East Willow Street (Subject Property), to continue to operate an acute care hospital at the site; and Adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with Perkins + Will, a private for-profit corporation in Los Angeles, CA, for hospital facility architectural design and consulting services, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000. (District 4)

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Speaker 0: . And so I want to I know that President Connolly is already past her time, that she's supposed to be heading out to a next meeting at the university. So, Madam Clerk, if you could please read item 27, please. Speaker 1: Report from Economic Development Recommendation to authorize the city manager to enter into an agreement with California State University of Long Beach Foundation in an amount not to exceed 1 million. District one. Speaker 0: Great. Thank you. I'm going to give up before we go into the staff report. I'm going to go out and give some opening comments and then I'll turn this over to Mr. West and another councilman. Gonzales also will have some comments, comments as well. I want to just say that I think there's no there's no question that one of the best things we have in this entire city is our university. And Long Beach State is a very, very special place. And we are so fortunate in our city to have a university with the students, the faculty resources that we have, one of our faculty members here in the front row, in the front row who does amazing work and so many resources in in the staff and in everyone that works at the university. And so we're lucky with the economic impact that's being made. There has been a proposal that the city and the university have been working on for the last couple of years, and that has been to bring the university to downtown Long Beach. And as we know, when universities go to downtowns, the downtowns thrive and the students also open themselves up to incredible opportunities and experiences. This has been a proposal that has many parts. One large piece of it is actually bringing faculty, classrooms and teachers and students to the downtown to learn. And there is also a phase that we're talking about that also includes student housing and faculty housing that is affordable and accessible for our students and faculty to also be here in the downtown tonight. What we have in front of us is incredible work that's happened between the university and the city as it relates to the classrooms and the educational component. It's a huge, huge step forward, one that everyone should be proud of. I have to really thank Councilwoman Gonzalez and her staff for being incredibly supportive and shepherding this deal through the process and really to the work that staff has done and the university to get us here today. So with that, I want to turn this over to staffer one for a minute. They're going to do a presentation on this, and then I'm going to over to President Connolly. Speaker 2: Mr. West. Economic Development John Keisler and our workforce director, Nick Shultz. Speaker 9: So good evening, Honorable Mayor and members of the Council. The purpose of the recommendation and proposed grant funding tonight is to engage with California State University, Long Beach College of Professional and International Education, CPA to deliver a best offering of classes closer to the city's professional employment center on the city's West Side and downtown business district. The downtown location of university classrooms adjacent to the Metro Blue Line will also provide a more convenient university access to the city's central and north Long Beach residents. The proposed ten year agreement of $1 million to the California State University Long Beach Foundation will provide the university with a portion of the resources necessary to establish 16 classroom classrooms, with an estimated 25 C each, 400 total seats to deliver CPE continuing education programs to advance the careers of current professionals and to provide additional space for classes provided at its main campus. That will conclude my staff report, and I'm available to answer any additional questions you may have with regards to the agreement. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Schultz. This time I'm going to have President Connally make a few comments, and then I'm to turn this over to Councilman Gonzales. Speaker 5: Thank you, honorable mayor and council members. I'm delighted to be here today to speak in favor of this item. And thank you very much for presenting it. It gives us a chance to deepen our partnership with the City of Long Beach and really be part of the economic and cultural development of the downtown area. As already mentioned, this is a three phase project. The first phase will be educational. We'll be offering programs such as Human Resource Management Certificate, Emergency Medical Technician, Event Planning Certificate, Cybersecurity, an I.T. program, health science degree completion program, public safety, for example, criminology, social work degree completion programs, and a psychology degree completion program just as initial offerings that we've found from serving here would be popular. The second phase will be to establish an innovation center that we feel will spur innovation and entrepreneurship in this city. And the third phase that we're very excited about is to create faculty, staff and student housing that is currently conceptualized as 800, bringing 800 individuals in this in this third phase to the downtown area. So thanks for the chance to deepen the partnership. We're fully committed to the development of downtown and really want to be part of it. Speaker 0: Thank you, President Connelly. And I'm going to turn this over to Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 4: I just want to say thank you to city staff of Nick and John and, of course, President Connelly. I know this is going to be a great addition to downtown now. This will be one of two innovation centers, the other which will be on third and pine, which will be lovingly called the Sean the McKee Innovation Center and connected with Long Beach City College and Blink Spaces. And now we have Cal State, Long Beach and IT services in criminal justice and cybersecurity. I would have never thought ten years ago that we would ever have two innovation centers with both of our academic institutions in downtown. And this is very, very exciting. You know, when we were away on behalf of the city, we talked about the patent office, that we have opportunities as well to talk about with in collaboration with Cal State, Long Beach. Currently, we have about 300 patents in the city and about a bulk of those are health sciences. So thinking about biotech and other sort of technology areas that we can flourish not only at the at the university but in downtown and creating and research and development is going to be a really exciting element for the area. So thank you again, everybody. And I know Tony Shoshoni is here as well, who has been a great part of this. And we look forward to this evolving. And I'm 100% behind you. So thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Councilmember Durango. Speaker 2: Thank you, Barry. And I want to thank President Connelly for being here today and for allowing us to participate with you. And I hope that we can take credit for this with the college promise that the city of Long Beach also went into into an agreement with the City College, Islamic State and the Long Beach Unified School District. And this is a great example of how college projects can and can really do great benefit and great work out the committee. Thank you. Speaker 0: Absolutely. Thank you. Councilmember Pierce. Speaker 6: Yes. I, too, want to applaud everybody's efforts for coming together on this. You know, Councilmember Gonzalez did mention. But I think it's your ten year anniversary, Cal State, Long Beach. Yes, mine, too. So it's been ten years this year since I graduated from Cal State, my college before Cal State was the University of Houston, which had another downtown location. And that really changed the downtown in Houston. And so I think bringing science together, technology innovation together, where you feel that energy around you is really important and really critical. And I know with our new main library that there also be some synergy there. And so I'm just happy to see our city working and thinking outside the box to really change the dynamics. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilwoman Mongeau. Speaker 10: Just a big congratulations to Long Beach State and our team for working on this every week. I am so impressed of the opportunities that are coming to Long Beach and what great things we can do when we all work together. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor Richardson. Speaker 8: I think you're right, Councilwoman Mango. It's like every week there's something amazing coming. This is a great move for for downtown. And I got to say, you know, there's multiple efforts in town and I'm learning more about the benefits when you get college off of campus and into the communities, all the exponential benefits that happen in those communities. So I'm excited to see that happen in the downtown. There's other conversations in Uptown, but in general, I'm really supportive of this effort. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilmember Vice Mayor Andrews. Speaker 2: Yes, thank you. And Doctor, I just want to let you know, these kids talk to my teen years. It will be my 35th. But with that, if programs like this, I think I would have still been there. Thank you very much for bringing us together. Speaker 0: Yes, thank you. And before I go to comment, let me just also say that Councilmember Pearce's right when when the Arizona State University moved into Phenix and began opening classrooms, it just dramatically changed affordability, student access to affordable housing, the opportunity for faculty to engage with with the community. And it was huge benefits. And this is something that I know for for me and for for Councilman Gonzales and others has been a top priority to get lobbied state in a big way to downtown. And not only will the university open up a significant amount of classrooms just across the street on the other side of Long Beach Boulevard, where you'll be located, we're building, as you know, a large development where there will be affordable housing for faculty in the arts department. So you will have across the street gallery space, the university will manage. You'll have faculty and residents with earning their MFAs at in the Broadway block project just across the street and on the other side of on Beach Boulevard, you will have these classrooms and students and then you have the student housing and now you are adjacent from the Metro Blue Line and you're opening up our students to, you know, to the rest of the Los Angeles region and to the rest of the. And so I think it's a it's a really important and special moment. I'm just really proud of all the work. And so thank you again, Dr. Conley, to you and your and your team and to Tony Shoshoni, who is also helping make this whole thing happen. So thank you. Any other comment on this item? Seeing nonmembers, please get Ancaster votes. Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: All right. Go beat. Congratulations. Thank you. And let me now go back to the presentation that we have. I'm going to turn this over to Councilmember Durango.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to enter into an agreement with the California State University, Long Beach Foundation, to provide continuing education workforce development classes in Downtown Long Beach, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, for a period of ten years. (District 1)

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: I have item 33 last week moved. Speaker 2: Up. Speaker 1: Communication from Councilwoman Gonzales recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Services Fund in the Technology and Innovation Department in an amount of 40,000 offset by the first Council. District one time district property or. Funds to support the development of digital inclusion roadmap. Speaker 0: Councilwoman Gonzalez? Speaker 4: Yes. Can we have a staff report, please? Thank you. Speaker 2: Yes. Leah Ericson and Rebecca Calma. Speaker 5: Good evening, Mayor and members of City Council. I am pleased to briefly. Speaker 7: Summarize the progress we have made. Speaker 5: In advancing digital inclusion in Long Beach. Speaker 7: Since City Council provided policy direction a year ago. First, our. Speaker 5: Technology and Innovation Commission has been hard at work. Speaker 7: At the request of Mayor Robert Garcia to analyze the impact of the digital divide in the city of Long Beach. The commission designed and. Speaker 5: Administered. Speaker 7: Two surveys in order to understand. Speaker 5: How residents. Speaker 7: Access and use the Internet. The analysis. Speaker 5: Is intended to help inform digital inclusion efforts to make Long Beach a truly. Speaker 7: Inclusive community where all. Speaker 5: Residents have access. Speaker 7: To affordable, internet. Speaker 5: And capable devices. Speaker 7: The surveys were administered both online and in-person at 12 libraries, 26 community centers, and at 14 community events. Speaker 5: Including focus. Speaker 7: Groups, Community Forum, and other multiple community events. Grant funds from the California Emerging Technology Fund helped support this outreach. The commission's findings from the survey analysis informed a series of recommendations 22 in. Speaker 5: Total that address digital literacy, access. Speaker 7: To device and broadband connections, infrastructure deployment, and also recommend ongoing research and evaluation, applying rigorous standards and advocating for local control and privacy standards. Speaker 5: At regional, state and federal levels. These recommendations will. Speaker 7: Be used to inform the development of the city's digital inclusion roadmap. In addition to the work of the Commission, the city has made progress in other areas too. Speaker 5: Including hiring an economic and digital inclusion project lead. Speaker 7: Convening stakeholder roundtables that include community partners, city departments and internal Internet service providers. Speaker 5: We also celebrated International Digital Inclusion Week. Speaker 7: In October with a social media campaign that reached thousands. Speaker 5: And the outreach included an. Speaker 7: In-Person campaign where city staff visited over 60 community hubs like laundromats, barbershops, restaurants and libraries to provide information about digital services, resources and tools that the city already has in place. Our work continues in other areas as well. Speaker 5: And the development of a digital. Speaker 7: Inclusion roadmap will provide a blueprint to provide equitable access and use of digital resources, services and tools for all residents. I will now turn it over. Speaker 5: To Rebecca Kwame Koroma, the CS Economic Team Digital Inclusion Project, lead to talk about the digital inclusion roadmap. Speaker 7: Development process and how we will use the funds that are proposed today. Speaker 5: Thank you very much, Leah. Good evening, honorable mayor and members of the City Council. The Technology and Innovation Department will be using the funds to co-create a digital inclusion roadmap with the community and local stakeholders. The focus areas of the roadmap are capacity, connectivity and technology. With the funds, we plan on hiring two consulting firms to assist the department with stakeholder facilitation, community outreach and engagement for the development of the roadmap, a collective impact approach and equity lens will be incorporated into the governance, planning and development of the roadmap. Some of our process actions for the collective impact process and equity lens are first and foremost recruiting cross-sector stakeholders to join the stakeholder committee. This committee will include city departments and commissioners, community based organizations, colleges and universities, internet service providers and technology businesses. We will amplify best practices and assets resources from our stakeholders, including community members who are most impacted by the digital divide in the government's governance, planning and development of the roadmap is key. It is imperative that low income communities and communities of color are involved in the decision making process for setting the common agenda and developing shared measurements. We want the community to have ownership over the roadmaps, vision, goals, objectives and strategies. Analyzing quantitative and qualitative data is critical for understanding the digital divide landscape. We will disaggregate data to reveal digital inequities by race and ethnicity, geographic area, age and other relevant characteristics. We will acknowledge and understand that root causes of the data with the goal of prioritizing communities most in need when developing and implementing this roadmap. We also plan and plan on incorporating an equitable and inclusive community outreach and engagement process where communities who have been historically underserved and marginalized in technology will be uplifted. We will draw upon the assets, knowledge and lived experiences of the community as we define the strategies. And most importantly, it is important for us to empower the community in the decision making process so that they have ownership over these strategies. The strategies will be rooted in equity and will focus on communities experiencing inequitable outcomes. The strategies will also focus on collective program and system change and largely upon the best practices and expertize from subject matter experts from other cities and local stakeholders. We are excited to kick off this process to ensure that everyone in Long Beach has equitable access to digital resources, services and tools. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. And this concludes my staff report. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 4: I just want to say thank you so much to both Leah and Rebecca. We have, as I mentioned in this staff report, we've engaged hundreds of residents regarding digital inclusion. And this was a an idea I had some time ago. And we finally put it into momentum. And the responses that we've received so far, in addition to the work that the Technology and Innovation Commission had already been doing, has really put this policy in a good place and it still has yet to see its full implementation. So this $40,000 will be a great commitment and a great step forward in ensuring that we close the loop and find out what other gaps that we have. I can tell you at these roundtables, President Ramarley from Long Beach City College was personally there. President Connelly has also provided her personal commitment as well, and we had engagement from Virgin Galactic, we had engagement from EPS and of course our departments here in the city and many stakeholders across Long Beach who are really invested in ensuring that kids, families, the 50,000 that we've quantified here in Long Beach that are off the grid , that do not have access to broadband, will finally either have access or we can at least improve educational outcomes. And that's the goal for this. So again, I want to thank you very, very much. I know that the work is still up ahead of us, but we're, in the meantime, getting a lot of analysis where we're ensuring that we're creating more data points and sets that will put us in a very good place. And what I always tell people and with this is that you cannot have a smart city without being a smart city for all, and that really means being inclusive. When we talk about digital access, thank you very much. Speaker 3: Okay. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Mongo. Speaker 10: I want to send my appreciation to Councilman Gonzalez. I know that when we talked about this many years ago, we didn't know where the money would come from. But she really put her money where her mouth is tonight. And I think it's a big deal. And I think we should all stand up for what she's done tonight, cause it's not been the money has not been spent on something small. It's been spent on a plan that will really change the face of the way we look at technology and inclusion. So congratulations. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman Richardson. Speaker 8: Just wanted to chime in, offer some congratulations. And you have followed the digital inclusion conversation from the news articles to Councilwoman Gonzales, his leadership. And, you know, obviously, Rebecca and Leah and I just think that this is very well done. And I look forward to seeing where it goes. Speaker 0: Thank you. Speaker 6: Councilman Pierce agreed on everything everyone said. I think it's great that you really came with a lens that some of us haven't had on council around technology. And I think it really demonstrates your commitment to the entire community. And I'm looking forward to seeing what's next and how we can continue to engage with corporate sponsors and those to ensure that we do close that digital divide. So thank you. Speaker 0: Vice Mayor Andrews. Speaker 2: Yes, thank you. I want to congratulate Council Councilwoman Gonzalez for this item because I think it's really going to wind up in the direction she would be going. Thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. And I just want to thank you, Councilman Gonzales. I know digital inclusion work has been a priority of yours. I want to thank the the Tech and Innovation Commission who's been working on digital inclusion. We just received a pretty significant report on their work around really bridging the digital divide across the city. There's significant information in there that I think will be coming to the council for a presentation at some point in the future, which we're excited about. And really, again, I think this is a work that's happening here at the council, at the university, the commission, and so many other places. And so we're very excited about it. And with that, let me open this up for public comment. Speaker 4: Hello. Good evening, Mayor and members of City Council. My name is Gwen Schaefer. I chair the Technology and Innovation Commission and Lia and Rebecca already highlighted many of the points in our report that I was going to mention, but a couple of things that I wanted to highlight some of our key findings that I think are. Speaker 6: Worthwhile. Speaker 4: And that have policy implications. So when we asked residents who lack a home broadband connection why they don't have it, not surprisingly, 80% of them said that it was a cost barriers. Either they could not. Speaker 6: Afford a broadband subscription or. Speaker 4: A device. That was the main reason why they didn't have it. The vast majority of people we and that participated in our survey said they could not pay more than $20 a month for a home broadband connection. And we know that Apple's typical subscription far exceeds that. We asked people, if you had home Internet, what would you use it for? The number one thing people said in the response was educational purposes, followed by work and access to city services. So all things that we would benefit from as a city. And the other thing I wanted to mention was the very critical role that our libraries play in providing broadband access for our residents. When we asked people, Ed, in light of the fact that you do not have home broadband, where do you go to get online? More than half of them said they rely on our public libraries. So we do hope that this is a resource we will continue to invest in. And then the last thing I wanted to mention is that members of our commission will be getting in touch with you if they have not already. We would love to meet with members of council and just briefly spend some time talking about some of the key findings. Speaker 6: In our report and. Speaker 4: How we might be able to implement some of the recommendations that we worked really hard on creating. So thank you very much for your support and for your efforts to make Long Beach a more digitally inclusive city. And especially thank you, Councilwoman Gonzales, for your efforts. Speaker 0: And again, and one I think the commission and obviously another one of our amazing Cassie Long Beach faculty. So thank you for your work and contributions. I want to just also add that oftentimes I think people, you know, the council does it work week to week on a variety of issues. And it's important at moments where the commission is this is a substantial report the commissioners are working on for over a year. Speaker 5: Yeah. Speaker 6: So we spent. Speaker 4: All summer doing data collection and then the fall writing in the report. Speaker 0: And so it's just a lot of work and I really hope the council takes the time to review it. That's really important policy recommendations. It's really important for us to really be a connected city. And so I just want to thank the commission again for for for that work. Speaker 4: So thank you. And I'm one last thing. I'll say that the report we don't see it as a final or an end point in our work that we see this is ongoing and we want to make sure that we move forward on digital inclusion. Okay. Thank you. You have a good night. Speaker 0: And Councilwoman Mango. Speaker 10: I also wanted to thank the commission. I've met with some of the commissioners already and I am so impressed with the commitment and dedication and the detail. It was really important to my side of town that seniors were included and I really appreciated that the report really went out and informed the data and it was excellent. So thank you again for. Speaker 4: All your work. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. There is a motion and a second members seeing the other public comment. Please cast your votes. Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. We have a hearing that we haven't done yet, so we want to make sure that we do the hearing. And so let me read the hearing really quick. Speaker 2: So this we don't. Speaker 0: If we don't just do a just a I'm sorry. You know, Councilman Price is actually here very kindly, but is actually not feeling well and hasn't been. And so she has one item which shouldn't take too long. So let me hear item 23.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Services Fund (IS 385) in the Technology and Innovation Department (TI) in the amount of $40,000 offset by the First Council District one-time District Priority Funds transferred from the General Fund (GF) in the Citywide Activities Department (XC) to support the development of the Digital Inclusion Roadmap.

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Speaker 0: If we don't just do a just a I'm sorry. You know, Councilman Price is actually here very kindly, but is actually not feeling well and hasn't been. And so she has one item which shouldn't take too long. So let me hear item 23. That way she can get better. And then we will go to the first to the hearing. So if the council doesn't mind, please let me do item 23. Speaker 1: Communication from Councilwoman Price, Councilwoman Gonzalez, Council Member, Super Knob, Vice Mayor Andrew's recommendation to request the city manager to report back within 60 days on how the city can work with traffic and navigation app companies to reduce traffic routed through residential neighborhoods. Speaker 0: Thank you very much, Councilman Price. Speaker 4: Thank you. The item pretty much speaks for itself. This is an issue that other cities have dealt with in terms of how some of the applications that are used for navigation are routing traffic. As we all know, some residential streets are not appropriate for a high volume of traffic, whether it's because they don't have appropriate crosswalks, whether it's because the roads are narrow, whether it's because of the noise impacts to the neighborhood, whatever the case may be. A lot of our residential streets are not designed for cut through traffic. And I know that companies like Waze and I'm sure there are other companies as well, have worked in the past with our city, but as well as with other cities in collaboration to try to identify streets that would not be appropriate for rerouting commute traffic. So the request really is to have staff reach out to any of these app developers to see if there's a way that we can take some of our residential streets that are being used as cut through traffic alternatives out of circulation for these app developers. Speaker 0: Thank you very much, Councilwoman Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 4: Thank you. I think this is a good opportunity for us to do a little bit more research and report back. And and thank you for counsel to Councilmember Price for bringing it forward. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Ringa. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mayor. And thank you, Councilmember Price, for bringing this forward. Being in the seventh District, we are highly impacted by a lot of this port traffic and are having this study would be a tremendous benefit to see that make sure that trucks are aren't directed to residential areas where streets cannot accommodate. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman Pearce? Speaker 6: Yeah. I want to thank my colleagues for bringing this forward. I do want to ask staff, you know, I had a couple of community emails on this item around the fact that we're all taxpayers and pay for all the streets. And so I'm just curious if there's been cities that have been successful at mitigating traffic through residential neighborhoods. And then I'll say one more thing. Seventh Street, while not a residential neighborhood, has a lot of homes and driveways. And so I'm just concerned about the impact of of kind of trying to offset some of that. Speaker 2: Councilmember. Different cities had mixed success on this. So we'll give it a try and look at what streets are important to us. Speaker 9: And certainly Seventh Street is one that we can add as well. Speaker 6: Well, I mean, Seventh Street is a main thoroughfare, right. Like people take it from Cal State to get to downtown. And so I know we've had a crisis, an identity crisis on Seventh Street, but I just think it is worth a fuller conversation about how we absorb traffic on those streets. And if there's I know we're trying to do a seventh Street visioning again soon. So I just want to be considerate about those main thoroughfares as well. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Speaker 11: Good evening. So I just want a little clarification. I think this is a great item, and I know the intent is to, uh, to improve the quality of our neighborhoods. Right. Welcome, everybody. I got here a little late, but I wanted some clarity on on the app companies. Are we talking like ways that Google the for for like what ride share or is it all of the above for anyone that's using an app to get to Long Beach. Speaker 4: The item is doesn't specify. So if there are if there is a particular interest we have, we can certainly talk about it and include it. I was thinking more the navigation apps like Waze or Google Maps that are routing routing traffic away from hazardous or, you know, not hazardous but congested areas. But certainly they can explore beyond that if that's something you're interested in, like rideshare apps. Speaker 11: Right. And we're probably in an interesting time in our city's history with a lot of construction and infrastructure work going on. I'm sure that there might be a little bit of a I would just say it, like I said, an interesting point in time where we have to take that into consideration as well. But I'm looking forward to staff's report and I'm happy to support this. Speaker 0: Thank you. There is a motion and a second is are public comment on this item saying none, please cast your votes.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to report back within 60 days on how the City can work with traffic and navigation app companies to reduce the prevalence of cut through traffic routed through residential neighborhoods.

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Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Armstrong. That concludes public comment. We are moving on to item 24, please. Speaker 1: Communication from Councilwoman Mango, Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Super nor Councilmember Richardson recommendation to authorize the City Manager, Fire Department, Health Department and all other appropriate departments report back in 120 days on the potential costs, benefits and challenges in forming a Long Beach community paramedic and program District five. Speaker 10: Thank you. So for those of you who are not familiar with the community paramedics model, there are many of them that are in pilot phases across the country. It's a model that's based on a health care system designed to provide more effective and efficient services to our residents community. Paramedics in often allows ambulances to drop off at urgent care centers versus the hospital. It also allows them to drop off at sobering centers and other facilities that are appropriate to be allowed to do that. The paramedics kind of it allows them to function outside their traditional role and utilize their specialized training to work in a model that can take it from a place where our ambulances are called to holding the wall, which is standing, waiting for admission into our ERs to actually being able to drop patients at the appropriate care facilities. In 2015, the California Emergency Medical Services Authority, the M. S.A., worked in partnership with the California Health Care Foundation and conducted 13 community paramedics and pilot programs in a dozen different locations. And under the pilot, the community peer medicines provided short term follow up care after hospital discharges for people with chronic conditions. You may remember that our innovation team did a study of the number of individuals who are connected to multiple departments within the city. And sometimes the data related to these individuals is that they're taking the wrong medicines and they are consistent callers to 911 because the issues aren't being resolved, whether it's long lines or wait lists for their health care provider or they don't go to the doctor, they only use the nine on one system. And those short term follow up visits have seen significant improvements in the L.A. County model. Case management services to those frequent users of the EMS system also help allow those resources to be freed up for our very important residents that are calling in on one and then directly residents and or visitors directly observed therapy for people with tuberculosis. Other collaborations include collaborations with hospice nurses to reduce unwanted transport of hospice patients. I recently did a ride along with an agency and we were often visiting hospice facilities and the caretakers at the facilities weren't sure if a transport was necessary. But to be on the quote unquote safe side, then the individuals were being transported, which then in resulted in holding the wall, waiting for admission. So then that unit couldn't get back out into the field. Transportation for people with mental health needs to mental health crisis centers, transportation for people who are acutely intoxicated to sobering centers and patients with low acute medical conditions to urgent care centers. The Health Force Center at UC San Francisco conducted an evaluation of the pilot projects and found that community paramedics are collaborating successfully with physicians, nurses, behavioral health professionals and social workers to fill in the gaps in our health and social services safety net. So the evaluation yielded consistent findings that programs have improved patients well-being and have yielded savings for both the taxpayer and the health care systems. And since Long Beach has its own health department, our own paramedic services and several hospitals, hopefully another one coming back online soon and numerous clinics. Which we also need to talk about the lack of urgent care centers in some parts of our city. We have health care deserts that I know some of my colleagues have discussed extensively. This would help us potentially create a new model for community health care for Long Beach residents with a more effective and efficient method of serving high quality health care needs, high quality health care to the needs of our participants. So we really appreciate staff taking the time to look into what might be possible and how that could best serve the residents of Long Beach. Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 8: Thank you, Councilmember. Speaker 11: So, Councilmember Richardson. Thank you. Speaker 8: Councilmember. So. So I've learned a little bit about this this presentation. Thank you, Councilwoman Mo Mango Mobile. And I spoke with our local firefighters. Speaker 11: 1/2, Councilman. Can is there a second on this motion? Okay. Thank you. Speaker 8: Thank you for that point of order. So there's you know, so I spoke with our local firefighters about the problem. And it makes sense to me if we see that there's pressure on our local emergency rooms. We've had a lot of conversation about what happens if an emergency room I mean, if you lose, let's say a paramedic , it puts pressure on the entire system. Or if you you know, if in a trauma center, emergency room shuts down how it impacts the entire system. And so these pilots, one of the it seems like not many of the pilots are going to have an opportunity to advance, except for this one, which is really focused on identifying urgent care centers as a space to sort of add into the component. What I think is interesting about that is. It allows, you know, more relief to the system in areas where you may not have very many resources in terms of paramedic rescues or access to emergency rooms, you can deploy to an urgent care center. So that makes sense. But it's also been raised to me the issues concerning, you know, the triage process. So in an emergency room, there's training about triage. And these are ins that conduct, that training. And so they're trained about assessing and understanding, hey, is this a stroke? Is this a certain type of emergency? And this is how it's treated. And so, you know, the big issue at hand here is figuring out whether, you know, there are things or, you know, people who are trained or if our emergency rooms are for firefighters, if we're hiring Marines to make sure that triage, if it's happening at a separate point, is happening at the at the E.R. instead of the emergency room stages happening at the paramedic stage. How do we make sure that the way is designed? You know, it's informed by our trains and nurses and make sure that, you know, we're not somehow creating a bigger issue. And so in general in general, I'm supportive of this conversation, exploring it. But I want to I think that we need to make sure that we engage with our nurses, our CNA, our nurses association, WINGARD Engage with our firefighters, the fire department, local hospitals. And so as we evaluate this, I think all those people need to be at the table to figure out, like, what are we what are we doing? Is this possible or is this a good thing or are we creating issues for ourself? And that's really what we need to figure out. The second thing I would say is we're having a conversation and this conversation has really kicked up and it's really come out of the community hospital conversation about, you know, where where are the areas in town that lack urgent care centers in general. I know that, let's say in my district on the east portion of my district, we're adjacent to Lakewood Regional, which is an emergency room and typically urgent care centers locate near emergency rooms. And so on one side of the district is walking distance access to an emergency room and urgent care centers on the other side of the district, which, you know, which is interesting. It's, you know, is geographically, economically, racially, very different. And on that side of the district, you know, there isn't you know, there's one paramedic rescue and there's no urgent care center, you know, no emergency room. And so the response time in that area of area town is completely different. So we'll be having a conversation about economic development in a conversation at council about how we can identify these sort of urgent care deserts in our city, because we've noticed that they exist on the West Side, they exhaustion exist in North, and they actually exist in the fifth District as well, East Long Beach. How can we leverage our economic development opportunities to to figure out how to, you know, bring in these urgent care centers into these other areas of town? And how do we incentivize them to actually stay open in evening hours when people are home from work? The idea is how do we make sure if people know that they have these facilities in their community, have the access them to take pressure off the emergency rooms? So I think so. There's a lot here to dig in. I'm okay with exploring it, but we all need to make sure that we, you know, engage with our nurses, engage with our firefighters, make sure that, you know, we're very aware of what we're doing as we move forward. Thanks. Speaker 10: Thank you for that. Speaker 11: Yes. So I'd like to recognize our council member, Urunga. Speaker 2: Okay. I'm sorry. Speaker 11: Councilmember Supernova. Speaker 2: Thank you. I just want to and maybe we get clarification from the city manager. So this is not the report coming back. This is an item that I seconded for you to explore whether or not we can do a report and incur those costs. Is that kind of accurate or how would you frame it? We're coming back with a report that outlines what the what this is, how much it costs, the benefits, pros and cons and things like that. So there would be a follow up report to that report. So this would be an interim step we're approving tonight. The council tonight is requesting us to come back with a report to see if this type of a program is feasible. Speaker 5: Not yet. Speaker 2: Okay. Well, that's differs from the understanding I had yesterday. So I just wanted to say that the fire is listed here. And I agree with Councilman Richardson that we learned so much from the community hospital experience. I never knew there were that many agencies. I learned a lot more acronyms of county and state agencies overseeing this. So. Let me ask staff again. Are there any costs associated to you bringing what you are bringing back at this time? Just the time and energy to research this and come back within the time period necessary. Okay. So will that be delineated in some form either tonight or at an interim step before you come back? No, we're going to come back. I think it's within 120 days. We'll probably give you an update if we're having difficulty coming back in that time period. But we're going to go ahead and just I believe our public safety team is somewhat familiar with this program. So they'll just outline that and talk about the. Speaker 9: Pros and cons and the costs and a recommendation. Speaker 2: Okay. Thank you. Come on. Speaker 11: Councilmember. You want to. Speaker 3: Add. Speaker 2: Thank you. Interim vice mayor acting out by acting. You're one of the. Concerns that I had when I first became a council member here was we came in with like slinging guns and we wanted studies on this studies and then we were studying everything and it was costing staff a lot of time for not only doing those studies, but also in terms of the resources that were needed to go into it, especially in studies that were not fully vetted in terms of where we were presenting that study. And I'm not very sure that I'm ready for this study yet. I haven't heard anything from nurses. I have not heard anything from firefighters or police officers because it involves all our our first responders when it comes to these types of issues. And our first responders are not here tonight that I can ask them whether it's something we should pursue. With all due respect to the to the my councilmember in the fifth, you know, I think that we need more information before we can continue on into a study like a pre study type of thing. Because it's it's one of those things where I'm not very clear as to what this is and what its end game is going to be. The endgame, I'm guessing, is eventually create some kind of prayer and medicine response team, if you will, and what is that going to entail and how much of a cost it's going to come to the city? How much more staff time it's going to take to put someone in a ambulance or in a police car? What what the what the dynamics are going to be of such a such program? It's the first time I've heard about it. I don't have any information on it that would be present to me tonight. And so I'm not I'm not ready just yet to to pursue this, but I'm willing to listen to my colleagues. Speaker 11: Councilmember Pierce. Speaker 6: Thank you. I want to say I applaud the goals and the intent of this item. Obviously, I think we all kind of had our our run at trying to assist in making sure our response times are better and making sure people have access to health care. You know, I guess I have a couple of questions in regards both to that I haven't heard from either nurses or fire, but also questions on any legal concerns. Would we be at risk for any lawsuits? And so when this comes back, if you could outline any legal concerns and then I have a question on our heart teams and how would this overlap or would it complement, since we've already, as a city invested in hard teams, we've expanded our heart teams. Is there opportunities there to utilize that and maybe build on that as well? So those are some of my my general questions. My my staff gave me about five pages of notes of pros and cons and, you know, sort of respectfully seeing that it's a report to come back. I look forward to those next steps. Speaker 11: So I will weigh in at this point. I had a couple of things that I liked, the way we are going with this. Councilmember Mungo I think this is a very insightful item and in the conversation should be had about how we can be more strategic in and and utilizing our resources. I thought some of the comments from my colleagues. Speaker 3: Were, were. Speaker 11: On point and and I think developed deserves some some attention and and exploration. And so, you know, I'm not sure that that all of this is going to be. The study can be done in a six month period. I'd like to just offer a friendly amendment or a friendly to you, too, to include in this within that 120 days. A forum during the Public Safety Committee. To allow the stakeholders to weigh in on the process. And and that will that will help us as a council kind of shape where this is going. Speaker 10: I appreciate the option. I think that one of the reasons I'm asking for the item is there's so much diversity in the way that these are being rolled out. So you have some agencies that want to have like a nurse at dispatch. You have some agencies like L.A., FDA, that put a nurse on the ambulance. You have some agencies who have a doctor. L.A. County has a doctor that gets into the ambulance and does the follow up, and they're using them all as pilot. So I don't really know what. All the options that are even out there. So I absolutely would love to have it go back to public safety. I just was hoping for a quick gloss over of. What's out there in the area that's moving to the next step? What has items looked at and would any of them be even possible in Long Beach and or not? And so I wasn't looking for an in-depth study. I was only giving 120 days because I was being generous. Not that it would actually take stuff, any kind of significant staff time there is a fiscal outline at the bottom and I ran it by financial services in advance of the item in accordance with the fiscal policy, and I'm completely open to sending it to committee for a report back. If it's easier on the staff to do a verbal report than a written report, I'm open to all of that. I just know that the dialogs are going on out there and I didn't want those dialogs not to have Long Beach. I want us to be informed so we can decide if we want to engage in those conversations. Speaker 11: And I think the point of me and thank you for accepting the recommendation to opt to send this to public safety committee. And in part of my my rationale for for suggesting that is just to give me the opportunity to for other colleagues to have an opportunity to. Speaker 10: Absolutely. Speaker 11: Review this and understand what this is. And and this is actually kind of new to me. But again, I'm I'm wide open. I think this is a this is headed in the right direction. I just want to make sure that we are processes, our arms are are tight, intact, but also that we're offering opportunities for for stakeholder involvement. More public comment? Speaker 10: Absolutely. I think this goes to the point of our long council meetings. It's tipping on 9:00 at night. And the population that's most impacted by this are poor communities that have children at home that need to be in bed, and our senior communities that often don't want to drive after nighttime, much less commute across downtown because similar to Councilmember Richardson, we have the farthest drive to the hospital from a paramedic unit. And so those are the constituencies that probably want to be involved in the conversation. But as we know this but this body has quite a lot to hear at the dias. And so these conversations get late. I have had several conversations with our Fire Fighters Association over the last two years about the potential interest. He also brought some points to light that need to be discussed before we would be there. But I also recognize that as those summer months come and the agendas get even heavier, I mentioned that I'd like to at least get it on on the radar of city staff, and not that it would take 120 days, but just a few hours of staff time to pull that all together so that we at least would have the options to know and understand what's being discussed. And even if we do not choose to go this direction, I think it's still informed that other agencies know our opinions and for us to be able to voice those strongly. So thank you for the recommendation. Absolutely. Speaker 11: Great. So we will now go to Council Supernova. Oh. Was that your. You were cued up again. Oh, great. Thank you. Councilmember Silvano. Speaker 2: Okay. So the friendly on the floor is to send it to the Public Safety Committee. I sit on that committee, and I just have to say that for the next 90 days, my focus will be the community hospital and getting that facility open. That's a primary concern that I can't have any distractions from. So. That being said I welcome to support that friendly. Thank you. Speaker 11: Councilmember Gonzalez. Speaker 4: Yes. Thank you to my colleagues for bringing this forward. I think the spirit of the item absolutely gets to the heart of the issue, which is ensuring that we're being expedient and efficient with our public safety resources as much as possible. I, too, want to just say that I would like us to incorporate the discussion around the triage issue respective to the scope of practice that nurses provide. And I think that's really an important discussion we should have. And Public Safety Committee as well as the who would be who had been conducting these pilot programs, because we know that some of them may have been for profit ambulances and we want to make sure that it's done with the right intent for our city so that it it gets to the heart of the issue, as we discussed. But I really like this and I know working with firefighters and and everyone at the table, we will get to a good place. Thank you. Speaker 11: Okay. Councilmember Mongo. Speaker 10: I want to appreciate Councilman Gonzalez for bringing up that point. I think that that is not being said a lot in the public forum in some of these other cities. And so I think that's one of the reasons that it's so important that we discuss it in a city as big as ours that has the complexities. Ours does. Some of these cities don't even have hospitals within their boundaries. Some of these cities don't do bills or transport. And so it's just a very different dialog that is going on around us. And I feel like since we are surrounded by other cities, serviced by other agencies, some of which have started down this path, we at least need to know what that means. And so I'm excited to hear what that means. Thank you. Speaker 11: Members. I think that is there. So have we done public comment on this? Is there any public comment? Speaker 3: The notion that. Good evening. Speaker 5: Tiffany Davis speaking. I just wanted to say that I support this. Speaker 2: Item and I look forward. Speaker 3: To. Speaker 5: Also possibly hearing input from. Speaker 3: SEIU. I know that there's a large contingency. As someone who has been a caregiver for the past decade for chronic kidney disease patient. Speaker 2: That this would probably alleviate the situation that I. Speaker 9: Deal with in emergency rooms quite often. Speaker 3: Thank you. Speaker 11: Zero. Further public comment. Harry Nunn members, please cast your vote. And let me just clarify the motion. It was to to support this item and send it to public safety. That's correct. Speaker 9: Right. And just from a staff perspective, so we think we're being asked to have the discussion on public safety, bring what what information we can readily bring, and then receive additional direction of public safety, if that's correct. Speaker 2: Correct. Okay. Thank you. Speaker 11: So moved. Please cast your votes.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, Fire Department, Health Department and all other appropriate departments to work together and report back in 120 days on the potential costs, benefits and challenges in forming a Long Beach Community Paramedicine Program. (District 5)

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next item, please. Speaker 1: Report from economic development recommendation to authorize the city manager to enter into an agreement with the California State University of Long Beach Foundation in an amount not to exceed 1 million District one. Speaker 0: We heard this one already. Speaker 1: This is. I'm sorry. Speaker 0: Next item, please. Speaker 6: It's. Speaker 5: Item 28. Speaker 1: Report from Financial Management Recommendation to adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Acme Auto Leasing for a total amount not to exceed 2,000,310 930. Speaker 6: Citywide. Speaker 0: With in motion and a second public comment. CNN members. Please cast your votes. Actually, Councilman. Speaker 2: Cast your. Speaker 11: Vote. I just wanted to point out that this is for purchase of electric vehicles. So city heading in the right direction? Speaker 2: Absolutely. Thank you. Speaker 0: Item 29.

Resolution

Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into a contract with Acme Auto Leasing, LLC, of North Haven, CT, for the lease purchase financing of 51 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles and 19 Nissan Leaf electric vehicles with related equipment and accessories, on the same terms and conditions afforded to Sourcewell (formerly the National Joint Powers Alliance), of Staples, MN, with 72 Hour LLC, dba National Auto Fleet Group, of Watsonville, CA, and the Climate Mayors’ Electric Vehicle (EV) Purchasing Collaborative, for a period of 30 months, in a total amount not to exceed $2,310,930. (Citywide)

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you. Speaker 1: Item 31 Report from Public Works Recommendation to Award a contract to steel landscape for landscaping related improvements along the Long Beach Boulevard. Metro Blue Line for a total contract amount not to exceed 2,106,000 and to execute all necessary documents with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in an amount not to exceed 1,800,000 districts one, two and six. Speaker 0: Thank you. This is actually a pretty big deal. Mr. Beck, do you want to just quickly, briefly let the council know what we're doing? Speaker 2: Yes, certainly, Mayor. Members of the council tonight, we're asking for your approval to move forward. We have a unique opportunity with the. Speaker 0: L.A. Metro's work that's happening on the blue. Speaker 2: Line route with the trains not running. We are interested in upgrading the landscape portion of the blue line itself. So what we have before you tonight is an item that would allow us to move forward with the landscaping upgrade, including a new fence throughout the route in the city. Through our advocacy with mayor, with Metro and the mayor's leadership. Metro is willing to cover half of that cost. And so what the item before you is to allow the city manager to accept those dollars and to approve a contract and move forward. That concludes my staff report. Speaker 0: Thank you. And this will essentially create an entirely new landscaping and fencing project, the entire length of the metro system in the city of Long Beach. And so it's going to be beautiful and will open in coordination with the new blue line opening up when that project is over. So it's going to be a real improvement and change for the entire system, which would be nice. Any public comment on this scene on Councilwoman Gonzalez? Okay. Councilman Pierce. Speaker 5: I want to say. Speaker 6: I'm excited and I hope we have landscaping that's similar to what's in front of my Belmont Shore gym. Beautiful. Well-maintained, long lasting. I'm excited things. Speaker 0: Well, it's all native, I believe it's a combination of California natives. Correct, Mr. Beck? Speaker 2: Yes. So we're actually looking to add more hardscape as well, so we can go with minimal maintenance and still have a beautiful experience for anyone riding the blue line. Speaker 0: You have no pretty picture of the part on the screen of how great the fencing is going to look. I think you're going to bring your eyes. I do not have a pretty picture. Okay. And fencing is awesome. All right. Thanks so much. Please cast your votes.

Contract

Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7154 for landscaping-related improvements along the Long Beach Boulevard Metro Blue Line (Project); award a contract to STL Landscape, Inc., of Los Angeles, CA, in the amount of $1,560,000, with a 35 percent contingency in the amount of $546,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,106,000; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into a contract, including any necessary amendments; Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), to receive funding in support of the Project, in an amount not to exceed $1,800,000; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW) by $1,800,000, offset by revenue received from Metro; and Accept Categorical Exemption CE-19-051. (Districts 1,2,6)

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Speaker 0: Thank you. Let's do a quick motion on the consent calendar. I think public comment on consent saying please cast your votes. Motion carries a thank you. So we're moving up item 14, Madam Clerk. Speaker 1: Communication from Councilmember Pierce, Councilwoman Gonzales, Councilwoman Price, Vice Mayor Andrew's recommendation to forward a request from community members to the Housing and Neighborhoods Committee and the Harbor Commission to consider naming the new chambers at the Civic Center, the Bob Foster Civic Chambers. Speaker 0: Let me actually, I'm going to take Councilmember Pearce. I know that she's the author of the item and then I'll go to Vice Mayor Andrews. So let's. Speaker 3: Thank you. I just wanted to take a moment to thank the community members that sent us a letter asking for this to be named the Bob Foster City Council Chambers. And so I know that Foster Mayor Foster was a great advocate for our P3, the public private partnership that allowed the beautiful new civic center to be built , the library, and is really at the heart of revitalizing our downtown. And so I think it's appropriate to have this discussion and have this discussion at our Neighborhoods Committee. And I want to ask my colleagues to support this item. Thank you. Speaker 0: And I want to make sure the motion is on. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Pearce. Vice Mayor Andrews? Speaker 8: Yes. Mayor, I would just like to say that I'm looking forward to hearing this item in committee. Thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you. Vice Mayor Andrews, Councilmember Austin. Speaker 7: Yes. I, too, would like to look forward to hearing this in committee. I believe I'm on that. Position of honored people. Whether our still alive to recognize some of their good works. And so as you mentioned Councilmember Pearce Mayor Foster was really the brainchild behind, you know, rebuilding our civic center and which will have a huge impact on on the downtown Long Beach and on our future. And so happy to move this to to committee and discuss. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Price. Speaker 2: Thank you. I, too, am very happy to support this item. We've received a lot of calls in the third district office over the last week in support of this item. I know that Mayor Foster has always been a great mentor to me, always making himself available, but not intrusive and not critical. He's not the one one to give me at least unsolicited opinions, but he is there for me to run things by, and I think that has helped shape me quite a bit as I've assimilated into this position. So I'm happy to support this item and I and I do understand and appreciate the level of input that he's had into the public private partnership process. And now we are exploring on multiple projects throughout the city. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman Richardson. Speaker 9: As one of the chime in and express my support for this, I'll tell you, it's a beautiful civic center. I can't wait to move over. But, you know, I'm going to have some of nostalgia about this old building. You know, you know, one of my first jobs, you know, right here and I remember my first experience with Mayor Foster actually was at the chancellor's office. So I was I was AC President Cal State Dominguez Hills. He was student trustee. And, you know, I went, you know, me and a number of the student leaders went down to speak against tuition increases. And there was an exchange between me and and Bob Foster back then. And I have this press telegram article that I shared with him once where, you know, I'm reading them the riot act about the budget and, you know, how we shouldn't, you know, increase tuition and things like that. And he responded to me and, you know, and I think it was just interesting the fact that while I didn't get to serve with him on council, I was the chief of staff during the time when he was mayor, the chief of staff to Councilman Neal, and was able to sort of be a part of that last sort of piece of is his his legacy in public service. So I'm certainly happy to happy to support this and look forward to seeing what comes out of housing neighborhoods. Thanks a lot. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilmember Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 2: Yes, I, too, just want to say that I'm glad we're moving forward with this. I know the same thing similar to Councilmember Richardson. I've served here for almost ten years now in the city and have worked not alongside him directly, but certainly behind the scenes, working for then Vice Mayor Robert Garcia and to be able to see Mayor Foster at the time, you know, basically, you know, just the back and forth dialog he would have with constituents and even being able personally to be able to sit down with him and have great discussions, even if we didn't agree all the time, I think it was always good to have that dialog. And so I really appreciate this item and I look forward to seeing this go through. Speaker 0: Thank you. I want to just a couple comments and I know we're going to get a public comment. Let me just first say, I do want to point out and think I think the letter that we all received as the council was signed, I think by about 36, 36 individuals. And if you look at the list, which was impressive to me, it's obviously folks that know him at the state level like Willie Brown. And there's very few people that are more legendary in the state of California now than former Speaker Brown and former Mayor Brown, two members of the labor community certainly, and his work throughout the building trades. But then of course, most importantly, just a list of folks that have worked with him as well during his time as mayor here in the city of Long Beach, whether on the nonprofit side or on the business side or folks that work with him across the bargaining table that often sometimes even clashed with Mayor Foster , depending on on the issue. And so I want to thank all those folks that sent this letter, which I thought was really spoke to the work that Mayor Foster has done, not just as mayor, but his contributions to the state of California. I just also want to say that there's no doubt in my mind, having served with him for one term on his last term, that we have a civic center project because of Mayor Foster. He is the one working with staff that directed and crafted what is now known as our public private partnership that built this building that we're going to be moving into, and really the complex that we'll be moving into. And it was his, I think, creative vision as well as pushing and working with staff that. And the council that helped develop what is now probably one of the most successful P3 developments and projects anywhere in the state of California. And so I think to consider and for the committee to consider naming these this chamber after the architect of of that work, I think is is really great to see and one that I really support. I will also add that one thing that was not really reflected in the letter, but I want to always uplift is Bob and Nancy Foster are also two of the most generous people that the city has when it comes to their personal success and what they have done and the ways that they have given both large and small, whether it's organizations like the Ron McDonald House or Cal State, Long Beach or the numerous philanthropic organizations that they give to is really significant. And I want to thank them for those contributions as well. You know, I'll say finally and I want to add to something that Councilman Richardson said is Mayor Foster served on the California state board of trustees, leading the world's largest public education, university of its kind anywhere in the world, which is the Cal State system. And during that time as a trustee, he was a strong supporter of expanding student access, improving student success and building what the modern California State University system of which we all have benefited from. And so I view this opportunity that the committee will have in these discussions, not just to honor his legacy in creating the P3 , but in his legacy in leaving a better statewide university system. And certainly his philanthropic works and the work he's done as at the time the CEO of also a significant organization, which was Southern California Edison and the work that he did there as well. And so I, I do strongly support the work that the committee will have ahead and and this recommendation. And so thank you for that. And I do want to call for a public comment on this item. Speaker 10: Very good who lived in this city since 1976 or 77. I fully support this concept, notwithstanding the fact that he's saddled with a Peter principal city manager that we're now stuck with, but that his other accomplishments overshadow that. I fully support this. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Hi. Her Linda Chico, representing L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. She wanted me to read this letter and to record Dear Mayor Garcia an honorable city council. I am writing in support of naming the new Long Beach Civic Chambers after former Mayor Bob Foster. Bob and I have known each other for many years and he was even my boss at Southern California Edison. And I still feel like I need to answer to him. And to know Bob, is to know about his commitment to making Long Beach a great city. While he was mayor, Bob navigated the city through tough financial times and initiated creative solutions like public private partnerships to help continue the city's progress. The city of Long Beach has a thriving downtown, due in part to the commitment and innovation of Bob Foster. There is one thing we can all agree on. That is Bob Foster loves Long Beach. He has been a dedicated public servant, and I think it is only appropriate that we name the Civic Chambers after the man who helped the Civic Center get built. And on a personal note, I was a staff member on the 14th floor during Mayor Foster's tenure, and I remember those tough decisions, and I want to thank him personally for his leadership and his innovation, just as a Long Beach resident and a former staff member thinks. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Chico. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening. My name is Kelly Lucero and president of the Long Beach Symphony. And on behalf of the Symphony Board of Directors, I'm here to share with you that we enthusiastically support this recommendation. I am thrilled to share also that we are quite proud and very grateful that the city has a long standing tradition of mayors and city council members who support a thriving arts and cultural scene. Present company included and Mayor Foster is no exception. He is a great advocate for the nonprofit sector, as he mentioned, for the arts in general, and a wonderful advocate for the symphony and helped us during also during some challenging times, helped us navigate through them successfully. And on a personal note. My first month, he welcomed me with open arms and offered to help in any way possible and in it set a very positive tone with my first meeting with my first politician in this position. So thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Speaker, please. Speaker 10: Jim Foster, president of the Long Beach Boy. I think history judges an elected official, not just by what they do, but by the context of history or time in which they're doing it. And it can't be lost on us. And what Mayor Foster did. Speaker 9: During probably the greatest economic crisis that any of us will ever realize in our lifetimes. Speaker 10: He was a tough adversary in a tough time when tough decisions had to be made. And if there was ever a properly selected person by. Speaker 9: The powers that be for when history was going to hit us with this big crisis, it was to get Bob Foster in. Speaker 7: That position at that time. Speaker 9: We were, Mr. Mayor, one of those groups that clashed with Bob Foster. But we we. Speaker 10: Clashed like the Lakers, clashed with the Celtics or the Dodgers clashed with the Yankees. And you walk away with great respect. Speaker 9: For the person on the other side because they were fair. Speaker 10: They were smart, they were tough. But most importantly, they were honest. And when you get to do some really tough things in tough times, you got to have a. Speaker 9: Lot of faith that the person on the other side of the table is being straight with you. And he was. And so with. Speaker 10: That, we. Speaker 9: Wholeheartedly endorse his name being attached to the new. Speaker 10: Council chambers. Thank you, sir. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Thanks, Peter, please. Speaker 7: Mayors, City Council, City Management, Steve Gatling with the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Speaker 10: Our organization as well. Speaker 7: Supports us tonight and it's wonderful to see all of you supporting it. Bob went with us to Washington, D.C. on a lot of different sales missions. He met our clients in D.C. He met with the American Correctional Association. He met with the American Square Dance Association. And if you haven't seen Bob and Boots, cowboy boots, try it. They even had him do a dozy doe on stage. Speaker 8: But at the end of the day, we could. Speaker 7: Always count on Mayor Foster helping us close the business for Long Beach. And he was always there to close it. And the customers loved that personal attention because quite honestly, again, it sets us apart. Mayor Garcia, you've joined us and Mr. Modica has been with us before in D.C. when he was there, and Bob would always combine it with legislative work on the Hill. And so for us as a city, it was wonderful. Speaker 5: Because at one lunch with 80. Speaker 7: Customers, National Association meeting planners, Bob, who's always self-effacing, made jokes about his demeanor and his look and everything, and the audience just loved it. And then afterwards, I had many of them come up and say, Do you think he can be the mayor of our city in Washington? Speaker 10: Anyway, with that, it's a pleasure to be. Speaker 0: A part of this. Speaker 7: And Bob was a wonderful partner and friend of tourism conventions and the city of Long Beach. And we appreciate all of you supporting this endeavor tonight as well. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Mr. Goodling. We have a motion by Councilmember Pierce and Vice Mayor Andrews to send this to the Housing and Neighborhoods Committee and also believe the. Right. That's right. And after that, I would go to the Harbor Commission as well for consideration before it comes back to the council. Please cast your vote. Speaker 1: Motion carries.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to approve naming the new chambers at the Civic Center the "Bob Foster Civic Chambers”.

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Speaker 0: Great. Thank you very much. And now, Madam Clerk, if we can move on to community hospital and we're going to also move up after coming hospital, the gondola item, so that we will hear it. We'll move that up as well. Give me the hospital. Speaker 1: Report from Economic Development Recommendation to execute a short term lease with MWI and Community Hospital and execute a letter of intent related to the development of a long term replacement lease between the city and M.W.. And for the operation of operation of an acute care facility district for. Speaker 5: Mayor Councilmembers in November of 2017. You handed us a very difficult I like to call it a homework assignment in dealing with community hospital. It looked like we were going to lose our acute care facility there, which was our emergency room. And we all know how important an emergency room is to any community throughout this throughout planet Earth. So after negotiating, working with the city council and working with the team, working with MWP and led by Mr. John Molina, we have what we believe are the parameters for a fantastic deal that can reopen the hospital and reopen the acute care facility. Before I turn this over to the staff, who's going to give the presentation, I do want to highlight the people that have put so much passion into this during the past year. I want to highlight John Keisler and his team. John, the Executive Director of Economic Development. I want to highlight Dianna Tang. She's our manager of government affairs and she's been working so hard in Sacramento to keep the doors open for this hospital to stay open. I want to recognize Oscar Orsi, who's our deputy director of development services, who has worked faithfully in the seismic issues there . Also, John GROSS, our finance director, who's guaranteed that what we're presenting to you is something that is sustainable and something that we can do. Linda Tatum, our director of development services. Tom Modica, our assistant city manager, has been inside this deal and has been living the still in and out for the past year. And of course, I have to recognize our city attorney's office, Charlie Parkin and of course, Richard Anthony, who's been doing the doing just the yeoman's work in preparing agreements and working with the team and making sure that we're doing everything according to our charter and according to municipal code. So with that, I do want to turn it over to John Kaiser and his team. I see Diana back there and Oscar know Oscar, but Diana and John. Take it away. Speaker 3: Great mayor. Members of the city council's pat mentioned. We have been working on this project for quite some time. Before you have a quick background slide back in November 2017, you directed us to do a feasibility study on cost share for the acute care at that site in May. We conducted some very targeted outreach. We found four bidders or I'm sorry, five bidders for later dropped out. And we have one before you today who we are very confident in. And in June, you allowed us to enter into an INA with and and so with that I'll go into a quick progress update. You'll recall memorial care while they were leaving allowed us to establish a transition agreement which set the stage for what we have before you today in the state. A number of state agencies have been incredibly helpful to us. CDP approved the hospital license suspension while we work through these issues. We at the city have completed the feasibility study, as I mentioned. We also worked with Ashford to complete the nonstructural seismic compliance work required to reopen the hospital. We've also engaged CDP and they have allowed us to begin at the middle of the hospital license application, have been approving each form individually as we send them in so that when the last piece goes in, hopefully in the next week or so, we may have the hospital license approved. We've also been working with Assemblymember Patrick O'Donnell, who has introduced AB 1495 state legislation proposing to extend the deadline for seismic compliance so that we have time to achieve that. And then last but not least, we have been working with Ashford and they have allowed us a six month extension through the end of this year for continued use of the USB-C one rated buildings while we work on a longer extension. So tonight I'd like to introduce you and we'll have them stand up in a little bit. Molina Wou networker M.W. N Molina you are very familiar with. We've got John and Mario Molina with 30 years of experience working in Long Beach health care. We've got Dr. Wu. Dr. Jonathan Wu has 30 years in hospital management. He has seven community hospitals with over 1200 beds and over 7000 caregivers in Southern California. So very, very well established hospital operator. And last but not least, we have Dr. SIM of Network Medical Management, who has 25 years managing physicians and managed care organizations to improve patient care. So we're very excited to have him for you today. Molina Wu and Network. And with that, I'll turn it over to John Keisler to go over a summary with you about the preliminary agreement and the recommendations before you today. Speaker 11: So the preliminary agreement, which was recently announced, is I'm going to read some of the terms into the record. So bear with me. But this is. It recognizes the operation of a community hospital as a public private partnership between the city and our partner NWN. The agreement also establishes a 45 year lease term with the option and your extensions at a lease rate of $1 a year. The preliminary agreement shares funding responsibility of seismic retrofit costs between the city and MWI in up to $50 million. And the city will be responsible for up to 25 million of these cost over a 15 year term. NWN is responsible for any additional seismic related costs over the CAP, and NWN is also responsible for securing hospital licensing and managing the seismic construction permitting process. The city is responsible for legislative extension to complete the seismic construction. It requires the lease premises to be used for the operation and maintenance of an acute care facility, professional office building and other ancillary medical uses. It also requests our operator to provide sobering center beds, medical detox beds, recuperative care and psychiatric beds to address community needs identified in the city's Everyone Home Task Force Report. Subject to appropriate licensure and regulatory approvals. And it also requests our operator to rehire community hospital employees. So the recommendations that are before you tonight are twofold. Part one is an interim lease. This recommendation would authorize the city manager or designee to execute a short term lease. We're calling this the interim lease with our partners for the lease of the property owned by the city at Community Hospital. There's actually three different addresses which are included in the hospital site at Termino and East Wilton Street. This interim lease will allow our partner to secure state hospital licensing before it expires next month on April 28th. This interim lease also allows the city and our partner to finalize our long term agreement for cost sharing and seismic retrofit, which is expected to take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. Given all the details that will be hammered out, the interim lease will also provide the city and our partner up to a year to complete the long term lease under an agreement at $1 per year and provide for reimbursement of up to $1 million. In the event that this process takes some time and our partner incurs costs. The second recommendation that we're considering tonight for vote of the council is to establish a letter of intent. This recommendation would authorize the city manager to execute a letter of intent related to the development of the long term replacement lease between the city and our partner for approval by the City Council once completed. So that means will come back once the long term agreement is hammered out. This letter of intent would document our commitment for the long term agreement to operate an acute care hospital and cost sharing for seismic compliance as described above. It provides state regulatory and legislative agencies with a plan to reopen and rebuild the facility. This will be essential as they're considering or licensing or operating or business and financing plan, and it will provide time for both parties to negotiate detailed terms of the agreement while the hospital reopens to the public. It also will provide time to secure state licensing and permit approval, even as we're working out the details. So in terms of next steps before you take action, ultimately, we're hoping to execute this interim lease this month. In fact, perhaps even as soon as this week, we're hoping to submit our seismic rebuild plan to the state of California this month, maybe over the next couple of weeks, submit our legislative extension to the state. This could be a bill that would have to happen sometime this month and secure hospital licensing, probably as soon as April, before the April 28th licensing expiration. We have to also move forward with finalizing the long term agreement. Our city attorney has said this could take 4 to 6 weeks. We're hoping to to to really jump on this and get it done as soon as possible. And then we would come back to the city council with a finalized agreement so that the public, the council and everybody could review and comment. And we would hope that once the state licensing is secured, that the rehiring of employees at the hospital would begin as early as this spring with a hospital reopening sometime within a few months after licensing is approved. That would all allow us to begin our construction planning for the seismic retrofit. We would need to approve those plans in mid 2020 and then we would need to complete construction in different phases with the hospital rebuild either by 212, 2022 or 2025, depending upon the response from the state agency. Before I introduce our representatives from NWN, I wanted to hand it back to the City Manager, Pat West. Speaker 5: Council members before we conclude. I can't conclude without recognizing the passion exhibited by Councilmember Supernormal, whose district the hospital is in, as well as council members Susie Price and Stacie Mongeau, whose districts are immediately next door to this hospital. That said, a hospital transcends district boundaries. I want to assure everyone here that the entire city council, including Mayor Garcia, have been intimately involved in every step of this way. So, again, this has been involved by the entire city council because a hospital is so special in a city. So with that, I'm going to turn it back over to John to introduce the MWI and folk. Speaker 11: Thank you. Pat is the the representative spokesperson for NWN in Mr. John Molina is here tonight and I wanted to give him a chance to speak as part of the staff report and to introduce his partners, which have been incredible through this whole process. It's been an extremely collaborative process with a lot of difficult reports and and decisions to make throughout. So with that, I'll hand it over to John Molina. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you, John. Mr. Mayor, city council members, I want to introduce my partners in this project, Dr. Ken SIM from Network Medical Management and Linda Marsh from M.S.. They do not have the deep ties to language that I do, but you could not have asked for better partners on this project. H.M.S. operates seven community hospitals here in Southern California. Network medical management manages thousands of doctors and importantly, helps 650,000 patients navigate the health care system. And I think to show you how attuned they are to this community. I also want to introduce to you Virgin Arbutus. Who's going to be our CEO? Verge is a Long Beach resident. So you have someone at the helm of the hospital who really is got his finger on the pulse of the community. This has been a very long process, and I want to thank the staff for putting up with us. Most importantly, I want to thank you, Mayor Garcia, for your unwavering support and leadership and to the city council. All of you, as as the city manager said, hospitals transcend council boundaries. This is a hospital that belongs to all of the city. And it will help relieve a lot of the pent up demand that we're experiencing at Long Beach Memorial and St Mary's. And this wouldn't have happened without the the leadership of councilmember supernova price and Mongo. He did a fantastic job of mentioning the city staff, and I don't want to repeat that, but it's just been a pleasure to work with evokes. Everyone has been optimistic, everyone has been realistic and everyone has been very forthcoming. Community Hospital has a wonderful foundation led by Matthew Faulkner and Ray Burton, who are here, and they have been with us every step of the way, and I really appreciate all the help that they've given us. And most importantly, I want to thank the people of Long Beach, the folks who came to meetings such as this, the folks that came to the listening sessions, the folks that put their signs out that said, Save our hospital, save our E.R.. Without their support, we wouldn't be here tonight either. And it is not just the support in the past, but it's going to be the support when they use the hospital and the services going on in the future. That's going to make this a financially feasible, financially viable, long term solution for Long Beach. I want to go over some of the next steps, so maybe answer some of the questions and then I'll be happy to answer any questions along with with verge on what happens next. We will be submitting our license application by the end of this month. That's a big step and we need this lease. In order to do so. We expect to start hiring people end of April through the end of May. And I'll get to the hiring in just a minute. And we expect that the state of California will do a license survey sometime in mid-June. And if all goes well, as we expect it will, we expect to reopen in the summer, probably July, maybe August. Believe me, we would like to have that date sooner rather than later, but we're not going to open it until we're ready in terms of hiring staff. We're going to give preference to those employees who used to work at the hospital. We welcome them back to the family. They never left. I am sure that you either have received or will receive calls from the unions. At this point, we feel a little premature to talk about the unions. That's really an employee issue and we want to make sure we get the hospital open first. But we're not going to do anything to stand in the way. We believe that when we open the hospital up, we'll have about 200 employees as we begin to get more patients in the hospital and in the E.R. and ramp up other services. We expect that we will add more employees and at the end probably have about 400 people working there. This does not include employees who may be working for physicians in the physician offices, in the medical office building or some other ancillary programs that we intend to bring on. So what services are we going to have there? When we start off, we're going to have most importantly, we're going to have the ER open. And I know that for a lot of people who have suffered long waits because the hospital er is closed, it will be great news. And hopefully soon after that we will be able to add an ambulance, run to it as well and paramedic runs. We're going to have acute care beds, medical, surgical and ICU beds, pharmacy lab radiology, including a CT and MRI and behavioral health. One of the things we heard from the community is there is a lack of behavioral health services in the city. And so we intend to do what we can to alleviate some of those issues. Additional services we will bring on over time. Many of these will be to support the Everyone at Home Long Beach initiative, and that will include outpatient behavioral health for both adults, children and adolescents, substance abuse services, recuperative care and again, other services that we specifically heard the community really want, such as diabetes, care, wellness and other holistic services. We are very appreciative of the $25 million commitment that the city has has made or will be making. And I want you to know that we're putting up an equal amount. And this will go towards the seismic retrofit. And we will do everything we can to bring that cost down. We don't want the city to spend one penny more than it has to, because, frankly, that means we have to spend one more penny than we have to. In addition, we're committing up to $40 million as needed to buy equipment. To do deferred maintenance. The hospital's been closed now for a long time. And there's deferred maintenance. And the fact is we have to carry the employees for probably 3 to 6 months before we start getting paid. And so we're going to commit $40 million to make sure that those things can happen. It is our goal. To make this hospital a long term asset to the community in it. I mean, let's let's not beat around the bush. This has been a challenge for the previous owners, previous operators. Whether it was community hospital as a standalone hospital, part of the Catholic Health Care West System or part of the memorial system. But our commitment to you folks and to the folks in the audience is to make sure that Long Beach is proud of this hospital. And I am. Very happy to answer any questions. Speaker 0: I think, Mr. Molina, we're going to continue with the presentation and then if raise questions, we'll we'll we'll have you come back up. Speaker 10: I guess. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Let me let me take this back to two staff. We're fine. Are we. Are we done with that? Complete with the whole presentation? Okay, great. So let me first go to I think Councilman Superman might make a couple opening comments. We're going actually go to public comment first. I believe he'd like to do it. And then we're going to come back to the council for questions and comments. Speaker 9: Okay. Thank you. You know, the folks in the audience have been waiting for about six months and now six months and 2 hours. So I'd like to invite public comment this time. Thank you for your patience. Speaker 10: Larry. Good. You say that. Yes, I fully support this concept and particularly Councilperson Susan off. And I'm going to come up with a suggestion of how the possibility that this and I think there's a distinct possibility of getting federal funds. Are. To start to analyze what you've. Referenced as behavioral issues. And Long Beach, unfortunately, is uniquely positioned. Given the fact we have the most criminally complicit mayor at the current time. We our state or U.S. senator per the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court. R is corrupt. So I think what we could use. We'll use those federal dollars to study and to find out what makes people as corrupt as our mayor. As are U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, who the U.S. Ninth Circuit bipartisan panel. Found that she had engendered an epidemic of corruption. And I think that will also be as they will get inside of it. Our new governor. Who is fawning over. The US Ninth Circuit Court Review. Kamala Harris. So I'll take the lead. I'll contact some people in Washington to see if we can get. Federal dollars to address those behavioral issues. There are far greater. Far greater. Then the issues you referenced here before. That's not to diminish those. Those are legitimate causes. But we're uniquely. Suited for this. We know the most corrupt mayor the city has ever had. We know the slot. The US Ninth Circuit rebuked. And I think it would benefit this city and the country. And we'd be at the this city would be at the epicenter of conducting that study. Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 0: Next speaker, please. Speaker 7: My name is and I can pay. Resident Sixth District. It's council and mayor. It is important. It is important that we as a community demand more transparency in relation to where and to whom are elected officials choose to give our hard earned money to. Here we find ourselves witnessing with too many in the community feel as a prime example of corporate welfare. If we are to exist under the current capitalist system that presides over the American economy, it makes no sense for an investment at this level to be covered completely at the expense of the taxpayers of this beautiful city. For many, it is fiscally unsound and inappropriate for our city to be handing over tens of millions of dollars to a private public enterprise at the meager price of $1 a year lease with no proper stipulations. The federal government didn't operate under these pretenses with GM and Chrysler, and neither should we with w. W. H. Not while there is development at the level that it is today going on in the city. I to use a personal antidote was born at Pacific Hospital in the Wrigley area. The hospital was shut down due to decades of medical fraud and malpractise and the. Speaker 10: Property. Speaker 7: Was ultimately acquired by a private for profit nursing college. We didn't have the great fortune of a public private enterprise such as this coming in to services and our community. I believe that for the city to proceed on with this project, we would like we in the in the community would like to restructure the deal currently on the books and what it means for this amount of city funds to be involved. I and many others recognize the importance of keeping this hospital open. That's not a question here. I believe the hospital should be opened, and I believe that the east side of the city should be serviced by a hospital at this level. However, that being said, this goes beyond financing and as such there needs to be a more involved conversation about possible public ownership of this space ran by our health department rather than a public private enterprise. And. Speaker 10: If there is to be a public private enterprise. Speaker 7: Such as the listed suitors of the potential lease agreement here, there should be, instead of especially at 45 years, a mandatory reduction in service and care price controls put into place, and beds specific, more beds specifically dedicated to our mentally ill. A goodwill gesture is simply not enough when public funds are being utilized. Until we see that, myself and others will be writing letters both to our state elected representatives. Speaker 10: OHS, HPD, the State Department of Health, as well as. Speaker 7: Our current insurance commissioners to see how our city found itself in the predicament we are in today. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Hey, everybody. Hi. Ellen Markowitz, former employee of Community Hospital of Long Beach. Long Beach Community Hospital. What else was it called? Oh, it's gone through several names, but you get the gist. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for all of the hard work. All of the hard work, everybody. This is a great moment right now for us and especially for the citizens of East Long Beach and not just East Long Beach, because once everyone knows that that emergency room is open, that's where they're going. That is where they're going. They are going to have ten hour waits to be seen. And it. It is. I have friends and relatives that have had those ten hour waits to be seen at various hospitals. And I also want to thank M.W. and for approaching the mental wellness side of this project, because the other two mega hospitals in the area, in the city don't. They just don't. So a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you. Speaker 3: And I appreciate the 25 million. It's a lot of money to the people who are worried about it. But this decision was not made in a vacuum. It's a big need. And I know you guys put a lot of thought into that. So nothing but respect. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 4: Good evening. Speaker 7: My name is Mike Madani. But he's not my k. Iran is NYC that needs the microphone because I'm the head of the Taxi Cab Drivers Union in L.A. so I'm their voice. So they call me Mike, but they make a mistake. They say, Mike, anyway, I haven't been here for a long time and currently I think my council member would be Rex Richardson, Herman Cherry and Hardy. So. But it's your fault if I don't know, because you never come over the you never knock on the door. You never ask me what's going on. So you just stay in your seat. Not enough. You've got to do work wise. Speaker 0: And this is on community hospital, correct, sir? Speaker 7: Is about all the hospitals, okay? Not. Not just that hospital. Just. I was currently on Long Beach Memorial in Long Beach Memorial one night. And it was so many people over there that took me the whole 24 hours to get out of there. I got out of there next day, 6:00 in the morning. Why? Because we don't have enough for taking care of the sick people. And that's the major thing. What's going on? And has to be investments. I remember Long Beach before, many years ago. Probably you don't remember. And it was poor city even had a lot of money. But they start investment. And now you see it looks much better and looks really different than Compton or other part of the like, Watts or other part of the L.A.. Anyway, you have to invest. You have to care about the people. You really care about the people. If you're not sick, it doesn't mean that you'll be worry about other people. You have to worry about other people. Why? We don't have no more hospitals in the area. How many hospitals we have. And this is all the same we had before, but we had more people living in this area. In Long Beach, we have more people living recently comparing with ten, 20 years ago that I was going to college here. You need more hospitals. Do you ever think of that? Did you plan to build new hospitals? There is a lot of room. Long Beach. We have a lot of empty spaces and you have a lot of money. Actually, Long Beach after L.A. is one of the richest cities in the area because of the income of the port . Right. But what do you would do with that money? But that money goes if doesn't go to housing for senior citizen, it doesn't go for. I'm on the waiting list for housing for senior citizens. Six years. Why? Because you don't care. I go to the hospital. It takes a long time. Why? Because you don't care. I don't breathe good air. Why? Because you don't care. Speaker 0: Thank you very much, sir. That concludes public comment. I'm going to go ahead, go back to the council. Let me start with Councilmember Supernova. Speaker 9: Thank you, Mayor Garcia. Thank you to staff for the presentation. John Molina. Thank you very much for your presentation. I'll actually make my comments very brief. I'd like to do some acknowledgments and thank you first to my council colleagues. I'll tell the public right now they have been nothing but totally supportive of this project from the very beginning. Never wavered. Well, there was a couple of weeks ago when that kind of weird newspaper headline came out and kind of shocked a few people. But we got over that. I'd also like to mention that one great byproduct of this project has been getting to meet and work with so many great people, whether they have medical backgrounds or not, they genuinely care so much about the residents of Long Beach. And first, I'd like to mention the nurses. Ellen and Jackie, thank you for speaking tonight and thank you for working so hard on this project. I should I should also mention Patti Eckenroth. I think she's taken every one of my notices in our Friday newsletter and posted it online. So thank you for that, Patti. The doctors, Dr. Andrew Manos, who met with us so many times and Mike Vasyl Mental lack is the only Grammy Award winning cardiologist with a seven syllable last name that I know. So he's been absolutely instrumental in pushing this project forward. And for those who don't know, he caused a paradigm shift to happen in my thinking. And that is we'd heard so much about the legacy of this 94 year old institution. For instance, four generations of my family have used it. So many people say, Well, my kids were born there or I was born there, and we had sponsored the nurses to walk in the Belmont Shore Christmas parade. And Dr. Mike walked along with you and afterwards he said, You know, there are a lot of young families in Long Beach with kids that he noticed down there on the parade route. He said the real story should be what we're doing for this next generation and generations to follow. So I think John Molina hit on that saying it's really the future of this institution that's important here. And that caused us to change our focus from Save Community Hospital to save the East site E.R. And that was our focus from that point forward, because young families, unfortunately, need ERs and it's just a fact of life. I also want to mention the Community Hospital Foundation. Thank you all for being here tonight, Matthew and Ray and Suzanne. Diane. And I also want to mention Ruth Lowell, my neighbor, who I think I've told the story before, but. At our very first task force meeting. She lives two doors down from me, said Darrell, can I get a ride to the house first meeting? I said, Ruth, I'm not at home. I'm down at City Hall. I'll barely have time to get there, she says. That's okay. I'll take an Uber says. But by the way, do you know if they're taking donations tonight? I said, Ruth, that's that's not what we're doing there. But I'm sure someone can take a check from you, but it's a task force meeting. So later I found out that Ruth did donate a check that night for $20,000. So the lesson there is, moving forward, I'll commit to the public that if you want to make a donation of $20,000, I will pay for your Uber to take you to the meeting. Fact I'm going to live here, I'll make it. I'll take it down to $1,000 and we'll do that. I also want to mention staff, I should say CEO, Virgina Brutus up there. He was introduced earlier, but Virgin has been great and patient. I didn't know how patient he could be, but thank you for hanging in there and we look forward to working with you moving forward and then to city staff who've been mentioned. I also want to mention City Manager Pat West. Thank you for recruiting and developing such awesome staff members and kudos to you because they're not too many city managers have a resume that includes a new courthouse, a new city hall. Now you've saved a hospital. So that's pretty impressive. And I'm not even mention that on your watch. City Council approved Meatless Monday, so could it. Speaker 0: Yeah. Thank you, Councilwoman Pryce. Speaker 2: Which by far was the most controversial item I voted on I supported. Thank you to my colleagues on that. Yes, it was very controversial, believe it or not. So I, too, want to thank staff and, of course, Councilman Supernova and our partners in this Marlena Wu network. I think for me, the most important aspect of the lease agreement was that we have at least the tentative agreement that we have in place very clearly that acute care services would be part of this contemplated agreement between the parties. And so I just want to ask a few questions from staff just to make sure. I know this has been an issue that's been raised by my constituents. And I want to I want to ensure that I'm I'm analyzing the term of the terms of this agreement accurately so. It is my understanding that acute care services are a fundamental part of this agreement, and if for some reason down the road, acute care services turned out to be not viable, not feasible or otherwise unattainable at this location, would that be considered a default by a molina view? How would we handle that situation? Let's say we're several years in. Speaker 11: Councilmember. So under the preliminary terms of the agreement, we have a number of contingencies that we have agreed upon that we've put in place and which we'll flesh out in detail over the coming weeks in the final agreement, depending on the cause of what we would consider a default, the inability to. No pun intended, by the way, given that it's a seismic issue that we're trying to address. But there's a number of agencies that will have a say in as to whether or not we're able to license permit and continue to provide acute care at the site. So if if there was a default, that that was because of some sort of activity or result outside our control. Then in that case, we would both look at the situation and it would be a matter of reimbursing NWN for costs that they've incurred to date. So if that occurred, say, in the next couple of weeks when we are seeking pet approval for permitting or CDP licensing, well then there wouldn't be very many costs to reimburse. But if it were to happen later on in the project, then we have both agreed that the restriction to provide an acute care services at the site would no longer be eligible and that condition would be removed. We would also consider the potential sale of the property to NWN at fair market value less the cost that they've invested to date. So that would be a possible scenario if if the default were to occur for reasons outside our control, we have similar scenarios that we've hammered out in the agreement, the preliminary agreement, if it were to occur, that the costs to operate or some issue that was within the control of our partners, they would, of course, you know, be in default at that point. And we would have to consider whether or not we could find another operator. But we would ultimately, if we could continue to operate an acute care facility, we would deal with our options at that time. And again, it depends on how long this occurs, what the cause is, and ultimately whether or not, you know, we consider it to be an act that was in or outside the control of either the city or of our partner. Speaker 2: Okay. Thank you. That clarifies it. I mean, I think for me that we're obviously we're interested in having a hospital, but we're interested in having a hospital with acute care capability because that is what's going to take the pressure off of the other hospitals in the region, reduce wait times and assist with the the overall needs. So I want to make sure that that legislative intent is very clear in addition to what's. Articulated in the proposed agreement that we're voting on tonight. And it sounds like that's very clear in terms of staff's understanding as well. I do have a couple of questions that I've received from residents that I want to just kind of run by staff and perhaps of staff doesn't know the answer to those, which is unlikely. Mr. Molina might be able to assist at some point. Is it our goal or is it the goal that this hospital would be a fully functioning hospital such that if there was a surgery need identified in the acute care facility, that we would be able to do the surgery at the at the facility or would there be a transfer? And if so, have we contemplated how certain insurances like Medicare would be impacted by that transfer? Speaker 10: It is our goal and our commitment that it will be an acute care hospital. So depending on the type of surgery, if you needed your gallbladder removed, for example, we can handle it. Okay. If you needed brain surgery, we probably refer you to a tertiary hospital that has that kind of capability. Speaker 2: Any ideas about cardiology, stents and things of that nature? Speaker 10: Yeah, it's probably not. I mean. Long Beach is fortunate that both Memorial and St Mary's have excellent cardiac surgery programs. And one of the things that. Is counterintuitive. In health care, if everybody has lots of services, costs go up. Speaker 4: Mm hmm. Speaker 10: So what we really want to do is we want to focus those types of services to the appropriate place. Speaker 2: Okay. Of course, I appreciate that. And just the last question. Again, I've gotten tons of, you know, third district residents are, you know, heavy users of community hospital when it is open. I myself have gone to the E.R. There once is a, you know, 18 year old college student involved in a traffic collision and another just recently before I had emergency back surgery on the days before the closure. And so, as you can imagine, we've received a lot of nuanced questions. I'm not going to bore you with those details now, but I think an important one is will be will we be working or will you be working with insurance providers to try to keep costs low for transfer from one facility to the other for the purposes of performing a surgery that was identified in your E.R.? Speaker 10: Absolutely. That's one of the reasons why network medical management was brought into the group, because they have an extensive staff and experience in handling issues with the health insurers. Speaker 2: Excellent. Okay, good. Well, you know, as I've said to my residents and there are there are folks here with whom I've met one on one. And I'm sure there's going to be more meetings from this point forward. I think what I'm proud to say tonight is that the city is doing everything we can. And I know Molina wewe network is doing everything you can to move this agreement forward. This by no means, however, is the end of the road. And there are a lot of regulatory bodies ahead of us that will need to look at what we're doing and make sure that their the compliance is at a level where they are satisfied. So having said that, you know, this is our we are making a commitment, but the details of what the future looks like will come as we move through this process together and obviously address any concerns that come from other regulatory agencies that we'll have to adjust to. I want to thank you. Our staff has been amazing. Our entire staff who the city manager mentioned, Councilman Super, has had countless number of meetings with constituents on this issue. And of course, Molina, we network has been a tremendous partner. But specifically, I want to thank John Molina. Your passion for the city of Long Beach has had a lot to do with why we're here having this discussion right now. Thank you for investing in the city that you live in and love. So it benefits all of us. Thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you, Council Councilwoman. I'm going to make some comments as well. And then we're going to go to the rest of the council. And Mr. Molina, if you want to, you can you can grab a seat if you'd like. I think there's other questions. We'll we'll bring you up. Let me let me just begin by saying that since since day one, the city has been committed to reopening community hospital. I think you've heard that from the council. You heard it from the staff, and you certainly have heard that from the community and the foundation. When the. The notice was received by the city and this whole process started. I think there was a lot of concern across the city about losing a hospital and an emergency room, and particularly in an area that is underserved by these services. You often read in the newspaper or see on the news about hospitals closing and other communities. And I'm really proud that Long Beach is right now leading a conversation about keeping a hospital and saving a hospital within our community. And so I wanted to take the moment for also that to sink in with all of this, that we are at a very special and important moment in the process. I like Councilmember Super A.Z.. I want to thank so many folks that have been involved in this process. Most of all been thanked already. I see members of the community that I have met with and the foundation board, of course, are nurses who have been at the forefront of pushing this every single step of the way, our doctors, the community. I want to thank Supervisor Hahn and her commitment from day one. And I especially want to thank our legislative partners and assembly member Patrick O'Donnell, who has been a strong voice and will need to be a strong voice as we move forward to get this deal done through the state process. And I also need to really give a huge thanks to our city staff, everyone from the management team to the team at Economic Development to Ms.. Tang and our city attorney team. I will tell you that they have been phenomenal in getting this to this point, and I really want to thank them for their work. And of course, to me, when we want to thank you for this partnership as we move forward and know that we're committed to the partnership as well. I want to make a couple a couple notes. The first is that I want to reiterate some of what's been said. This is tonight is not the end of this process. And I think it's really important for us to note that. I think while we should celebrate where we are and celebrate this interim agreement and this framework, the real celebration will hopefully happen once the state process is concluded. And so I think that we should not in any way let up. And right now, essentially, this council is ready to move the ball forward. And we are very close to to the end here. But really, the ball is now in the state of California's court and in the agencies in at the state that will make the decisions to to really reopen the hospital. And so it's important for us to take the energy now to our partners in the state and do all of the the lobbying and goodwill that we have there over the next few months ahead. And so I do want to reiterate, again, like was said by the council, that this is not the completion of this deal, but really the beginning of a of a process that will take place over the next few months. I want to note that our commitment to reopening the hospital is not just about the importance of community as it as it relates to emergency response and getting folks to their to their to the health care they need. But it's also critically important to the city when it comes to firefighting and paramedic service. And so I want to thank the fire department and the fire association that's been involved in this. And I'll tell you that reopening community is critical to ensuring that our engines and our paramedics are able to access emergency rooms efficiently and build the type of trust and relationship that they have with the nurses and doctors that were there at community before. Community was closed, the door was closed. And so I think that is incredibly important. And I want to note that I agree that the community is everyone's hospital. And as part of that, I want to thank NWN for their commitment to meeting the goals of the Everyone Home Long Beach report. It's important to note that prior to two community closing, the services that were there as it relate to psychiatric evaluation and and psych services. This was one of the main centers in the city where these activities were happening and to reopen the hospital with a renewed commitment to the to the psych beds. But also looking beyond that to meeting the other needs that we have citywide as they relate to to sobering facilities and detox facilities, as they relate to serving the recuperative care needs that we need. To me, that is absolutely worth the city's commitment and investment in this need that we have on this facility and really across the city. And so I also say to the foundation, who will be entering a different relationship and a new a new relationship as well. These these are areas that we look forward to working with all of you on. And we know that your your hearts are there in this work. And I want to thank you for your commitment to these critical needs that we have across the city. In addition, I want to be clear, it was brought up. The commitment the city is making financially is essentially going towards the retrofit of the buildings that we own. And the city of Long Beach has essentially a facility that has major needs for seismic repair and investment. And what we're putting our dollars to is not towards ongoing operation of the hospital or some or ongoing operations of the of the personnel need. But it is going to ensure that the facility that the taxpayers of Long Beach have invested in in the past is upgraded and that the regulations are met with the state of California so that we can operate a functioning E.R. and a facility that would make the city proud. And so that's where our dollars are going. And I believe those are are wise investments for us to reinvest and to partner in this what will be a unique public private partnership and relationship with MDA when as a city moves forward . Let me also add that and this is something that I talked to Councilmember Supernanny about, and I want to ask the staff as well. We are obviously going to be looking and using our general fund dollars to maintain our commitment. We're making as a staff report notes, a 15 year commitment to to put our portion of the retrofit dollars towards towards the hospital. And so as staff brings back the final lease, which I know is coming in the months ahead, as we bring back the reports from the state of California on the process and we finalize those items, I would like staff to also come back because I know you're already looking at I'm providing this council kind of the options and the way forward on how we look at filling those those general fund gaps that we know we will have. And I think it's responsible responsible for us to have that conversation as we move forward as well. And so Councilmember Supa and I would ask, is part of our motion that staff also brings back those those recommendations when the lease agreement is back to the city council. Speaker 9: Okay. Well, accept that. Speaker 0: And and in addition, let me just say in in conclusion that I want to I want to thank, you know, Councilmember Superman in particular. I think you've been a great leader and voice on this issue, and it's been great working with you on this issue. But I also appreciate the numerous hours you have spent personally managing and working with members of the community, which is which has been very hard on this on such a big topic. So thank you and thank you to the staff and thank you to everyone out here for for sticking with us throughout this process. And with that, I want to turn this over to Councilwoman Mongo. Speaker 3: Thank you. I appreciate the staff and the presentation. For those of you who aren't aware, we've been meeting in close session on this now for several weeks. And so we've had a lot of time to go over a lot of the different components of the agreement. I appreciate the mayor's request for the solutions on how we pay for those revenue options. I think this is a great way to structure the deal as well in terms of how the commitment over time increases when we have the opportunity to find those revenues and grow them appropriately. If you follow any of us on social media, you might know that our economic development team has done an exceptional job, not just growing revenues, but also finding cost savings throughout the city on other things. And so I'm confident that when this comes back with the least, that we'll be able to identify what that looks like and where those things come from. And so I look forward to that. Many know that. More than 80% of our calls for service in the fire department are medical in nature. And so the success of a hospital in our community is critical to the success and health of our community and the families that we serve. And so I look forward to the day the doors reopen. I'm also co-sponsoring some items at council next week that relate to other solutions that will help both before and when the hospital is open. In terms of pilot community paramedic programs that drop off at urgent care centers and other things so that hospitals aren't receiving patients that they shouldn't be receiving in the first place. And so those types of pilots that are going on throughout the state can also be a part of the solution in giving the hospital the best chance at a better survival rate than are their predecessors. So I want to thank John Molina and the team. I know that there's a lot more behind this. And John's been the faith and the spokesperson, but there's a lot that goes into a deal of this magnitude. And so each and every member of your team and your financing and your components. There's a lot of risk. And we appreciate you and the commitment you have to Long Beach and the commitment you have to people over profit and to families. And that's just something that's just so important that we talk about here today. I also cannot let a moment go. And I'm not one who wants to thank stuff publicly as much as I think they appreciate the appreciation quietly, but it cannot go without thinking. Council Member Super. Not publicly. It has been no matter what hour of the day. I get a question on community hospital. I can I can text him and my hours with a newborn are odd and I can text him and he'll usually have an answer for me before 7 a.m.. And so that really that responsiveness and that expertize that he's developed on this matter over time has been a phenomenal resource to all of us. And I can't say enough about him. I mean, I also appreciate working with Councilman Price on this. It's been a big learning opportunity and something that I think our community has grown together with. And when I talk about the community, I appreciate each and every one of you, but a big, big thank you to the foundation, because the foundation and being there and advocating early on putting your money where your mouth is, that's a huge component of what's made parts of this possible. And so I feel like you really need, even if all nine of us say at a public thank you and I really appreciate you again, good time to take a breath, but maybe not celebrate yet. And I will keep on working with staff. I know that we have good hands with Deanna Tang and her work at the state level and a lot of our advocacy from a lot of our local electeds and statewide elected. So let's keep the pressure on. Let's stay positive. And I look forward to getting Lisa back with some of our revenue options. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 3: Yes. I want to echo everything that's been said without sounding like I'm repeating myself or anybody on this council. But it goes without saying that something of this magnitude is the hallmark of what makes our civilizations great. When we can take care of our neighbors and our residents and our community members, that strengthens our community. And so I know that when we got the news of what happened, it was heartbreaking and that feeling of powerlessness for a minute. And so I really want to applaud everybody for their efforts for being creative and the fact that we, you know, our city and not a county and not a state, but we're able to be nimble and creative and bring all those stakeholders together. And I really want to applaud everybody. And I know our staff. I just I, I am always impressed with economic development. And I just want to say publicly that I know that, John, this has taken a lot of you coming in and having discussions with us and us, you know, kind of pushing. And so I applaud you for managing nine council members, a mayor, a community that is really demanding the best that we can get. And so I really know that you guys have have worked to make that happen. I agree that our tax dollars need to make sure that they're, you know, put in a place that we have transparency and accountability and that we believe that we're getting the best for our dollars. And there's no better use than than health care at the national level. We have a health care crisis as much as sometimes we're numb to that. And in the city of Long Beach, when this hospital closed down, it meant that, you know, some wait times in the E.R. extend an additional 10 minutes, and that's 10 minutes that can save somebody's life. And so when I think about is this a good use of taxpayer dollars? Absolutely. It's a great use of taxpayer dollars, not to mention doing it locally with with our local nurses, local doctors and our people like John, who continually step up and really are putting their money where their mouth is. And so. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Councilmember Super nono you took. Authority of the meetings. And thank you to everybody on this council for really seeing that this is a citywide asset. And the one other thank you, I'll say is, for know, you guys really work to educate me on thinking about creative funding opportunities and really seeing that while I care very deeply about mental health and recognizing we have a mental health crisis in this country and and in the city as well, that adding those beds to this hospital allow us to have additional funds at our fingertips. And hopefully we when we get to that point, we can see a lot of different funding options to make this a robust, exciting hospital that it should be. So thank you again, everyone. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 9: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I just want to raise up a few points that resound with me. I think I like the approach of lifting up and implementing some of the everyone at home recommendations. And I think if you look at that and other work that the Council has taken on over this last year, this is really about strengthening the safety net of those in need in our city. And so I think that that is, you know, cities are taking on more of these sort of broader issues that traditionally have been taken on by, you know, counties and states. But across the country, cities are stepping up to lead on these issues. And here this is an example of cities leading to provide a social safety net for the community. So I appreciate that. I also love that there's a commitment to rehire the former employees. I think that's that's important. So I wanted to lift that up. So thank you for making that commitment. I also want to want to reinforce again, you know, we have nine districts, but this is, you know, occasionally we're able to to look and support a project that may not be in your backyard because you understand that it's connection to the broader system. And as it relates to hospitals, emergency rooms, they are a vital component to our emergency response systems. And so adding this or making sure that we have that resource in that area, that helps to smooth out response times across the city. And so this is certainly a citywide investment the entire city council should be focused on. And so I do support that. It's also opened up a broader conversation about and Councilman Longo mentioned the community paramedics, an idea or conversation that that will have at council. But I think if you think about, you know, East Long Beach and where the emergency room is and you put up, you know, you grab a map, we actually have quite a few hospitals where a city our size, but where they are, they're all sort of clustered in a certain area of town. And if you think about Islam Beach, this is critical. They're in Norfolk Beach. We both have access to we have access to Long Beach Memorial. But also Lakewood Regional is is directly on the border of Long Beach on on South and Downey. And so we are our emergency responders, our first responders. They transport folks there. But but the need on that side of town maybe, say, urgent care centers or figuring out how to make sure that we, you know, leverage our economic development department or developments across town to make sure that there's urgent care centers that take a that take pressure off of emergency rooms in general. So all of that is sort of come out of this conversation really how do we strengthen our health care network in the city? And so, you know, I have to say, Councilman Super now, this was a crisis that happened, you know, within, you know, to, you know, within two years you were able to really rally and get the community together and unify the council. And so that that really is a compliment to you and your leadership and your style of leadership, where everyone really felt inspired to get involved and contribute in any way that we could. And so congratulations to you. And I know that there's been a lot of credit given a staff, but I got to say, this was amazing work. I've seen a crisis or two in our city, but the way that the team really formed ranks and and delivered brought us to this position a very different place than where we were and in a place where we've we're comfortable with this agreement. And now it's in the hands of other agencies to execute this plan. I think that's that's really strong. And so I want to just congratulate and lift up staff once again. Thanks a lot. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Austin. Speaker 7: You know, I always queue up late and so I don't know that I can say much more than that has already been said. But thank you. And I know that the public doesn't want to hear me to say how much we appreciate staff, but we do appreciate the staff and their work on this. It has been pretty, pretty amazing to talk to witness. And as a councilmember, Richardson mentioned, this this deal, so to speak, has evolved and evolved and evolved. There's been dozens of meetings and back and forth negotiations, closed sessions with the city council. But the political will and the will of our private partners nwn to get us to this place has been unwavering. I want to just mention that there are some risk here and let's not be sugarcoat this and recognize that there are shared risk. There's shared risks from the private partners when there's risk from the city here. This is a huge commitment. There's a risk from the community. Our the fate of our emergency health care response system is is really, really weighing on on and on this deal to happen. We we need to ensure that we have that those are services on the east side of our city. And if it's not, there does impact the entire city's response system. And so I am super supportive of this. I want to elaborate on on one point in our staff to to please walk us through the public, through what still needs to happen, particularly from the Sacramento legislative standpoint, to make this deal work. And so the city manager. Can you please address that? Speaker 3: Sure. Mayor, members of the city council. So the first thing that we need to do is work with NWN and CDPQ to get the hospital license approved for NWN so that it is taken off the hands of memorial slots. Step one, step two. After that. And when that process there is there are a number of steps that need to happen. The forms, of course, but also the surveys. City does come out and do a site visit so that they see the appropriate number of beds are there, the appropriate equipment that the site does and will support . The eight basic services that are required of every acute care hospital in California concurrently will also be working with occupied on an extension for size. That compliance that may involve the state legislature as well, but certainly occupied as a state agency that administers that type of work. And so Oscar Orsi and his team, along with Perkins and Will and the Molina team as well, have been working together to devise a site plan that will meet president compliance and support a functioning and sustainable hospital long term. Those are two primary goals that we need to achieve in the next, I would say, month or so. And so this project has in a couple of months in the making a little over a year, but we have been working very diligently every single day and every moment has counted. So I would say that those two are critical steps. If we don't meet those deadlines, then we've got a problem. But I am confident that we will. And so with that, I think I'll leave it there before we get too much further ahead of ourselves. Speaker 7: Well, I just want to take this opportunity. Miss Diana Tang, I want to thank you for your excellent work in inter-governmental relations, not just in Sacramento, but also with the county and all of our public agencies to really get us to the place that we are. And of course, the action taken this evening by the city council is a continuation, is just gives the authority for us to keep moving this this this process forward. But understanding that there's still a lot of moving pieces that that need to still happen to make it happen. And obviously, the city council, the will is behind it to to to support our staff and doing some great work. And obviously whatever we can do to do that, to make it happen as well. And again, I want to extend our congratulations and thank you, super councilmember super and offer your leadership and Councilmember Price standing up for your communities. And then the workers out here who took time out to be here, that the wonderful folks of Sienna, the nurses who have also been a very good partner in keeping this issue front and center throughout this entire time. And, of course, the foundation board from community hospital. Let's continue to to do what we need to do to make this deal happen. You have my full support. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 2: Yes. I think a lot of what I was going to say has been said before as well. But I will just reiterate as well that, you know, this was a very mindful approach and we became solution providers. It was all of us together really, really doing this. And I, too, want to thank my colleagues, council members, Supervisor Price and. Go for really putting their efforts together to ensure that this was really looked at as a city wide approach. And we also thank M.W. when we are familiar faces with decades of experience here in our city. So it was for me personally as a councilmember here in downtown, it was really I felt confident going into this approach. And I think that our public, our constituents will do the same thing. And to Sienna as well, I know it's always scary when jobs are kind of on the line and having the opportunity to have those back is really fascinating, especially as as the state level. We're talking about cover, you know, universal health coverage, access to health care, and those discussions will continue to just burden the system. We need to have access here in our city, in Long Beach. And I just want to say overall, thank you to everybody to staff as well for their commitment to seeing this through. I think we've done a really great job tonight, and I look forward to seeing the state's results and look forward to having a great ending to all of this. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilmember Superdome. Speaker 9: Thank you. I'll wrap up by thanking staff. Yeah, actually, I want to mention a couple of people because Councilman Mongo talked about me responding all hours a day. I'd just like to mention that Diana Tang, our manager of government affairs, has that same quality answered. A lot of questions for me, and I'm sure the partners and everyone else at various times ask her or see our Deputy Director of Development Services. Thank you, Oscar, for getting us to this point. And the tough part when I think of Oscar's job is so much of the heavy lifting is yet to come, so save your energy. I also want to mention Charlie Parker and staff. Speaking of the heavy lifting yet to come, Rich Anthony has done an incredible job, but he has the task ahead of him, too. So we we wish him well with that. One staff member who hasn't been mentioned is my own staff, Barbara moore, who's sitting. So for those of you who don't know, this all started with a preliminary architectural study that our office funded. We came up those funds through operating efficiencies. That is our off council office operating budget. So we had to cut back. We had to run very lean and mean, and we couldn't have done that without. Barbara moore And she it's so tough to run a council office. And along with that, she puts out a world class newsletter every Friday. And I think in that we had 65 or so community hospital updates in that time that everyone really appreciate. So, Barbara, thank you for all your hard work. And then I want to get to John Keisler, because this is just a monumental task. He's taken on someone once put online that words the effect of, hey, if if Darryl and John pull this off, they should build a statue for them. It's like we were co-equal partners. So let me put that in perspective. If I got a lapel pin for this effort, John Keisler should get recognition the size of Mount Rushmore. And I guess I can't say enough about what he's done. He's always cool under fire, and there's plenty of fire on this one. But what I think is so remarkable is he wasn't a hospital expert when this all started, and I wasn't either. But if you asked him today, what are the eight components of an acute care hospital without looking at notes, he would say, of course, that's medical, it's nursing, it's surgical, it's anesthesia, it's laboratory. Let's say it's pharmacy and dietary services. Right, John. Okay. And I see another. Well, I'll leave it at that. Anyway, I'd also like to thank Mayor Garcia. It's especially quality of leader who lets the staff do their thing. And lets them excel and do the very best and come in right at the right moment to make it all happen. So that's a real unique quality, a very great quality and a leader. And we appreciate that. And finally, John Molina, thank you for stepping up. And if there's anyone who saved community hospital is John Molina. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember. And to wrap us up, Vice Mayor. Speaker 8: Yes, thank you very much. You know, after listening to all our speakers behind the diocese here, it really at one time, even in closed session, I thought this was just a done deal. And then again, I thought, this is a no brainer. And then all of a sudden I said, What are we speaking about? And then it just got bigger and bigger and bigger. But now it seems like this thing is getting ready to come to fruition because the fact that great people have great people just like great minds. Mr. Merlino, you and your staff, and especially Mr. Superman, Mrs. Price and Mrs. Mongo, these individuals, they won't let anything get past them. So I just know that it was going to this is going to work. It had to work. And with Pat, you know, staying honest in a mayor's dinners, you guys and the young ladies who your jobs are coming back, I guarantee you that there is no way that it won't come back, because if this doesn't go through, we probably won't have a consummate career anymore. So I'm pushing very hard for this. I want to thank everyone who got behind this and really making this a really a true, true. Mr. Merlino I just can't tell how much it's you when you get you just like E.F. Hutton. Boy, when you speak, everybody listens. So I want to let you know that you guys are doing a great job. Keep it up and I know we're going to get this hospital open. And guy, Mr. Super now not going to ask you about I'm sick or not you know all these good health care and okay. But I feel good tonight. Thank you guys very much. Let's get this hospital open. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. And members, please go ahead and cast your votes on the motion by a count from the supernova and Councilwoman Price. With the with the friendly that was accepted. Speaker 10: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you.

Contract

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary for a short-term lease (Interim Lease) with MWN Community Hospital, LLC (MWN), a California limited liability corporation (Lessee), for the lease of property owned by the City of Long Beach (City) at 1720 Termino Avenue, 1760 Termino Avenue, and 4111 East Wilton Street (Subject Property); and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a Letter of Intent related to the development of a long-term replacement lease between the City and MWN for the operation of an acute care facility at the Subject Property, for approval by the City Council once completed. (District 4)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_03122019_19-0223

Speaker 8: Next, we'll go to item 15 with the clerk. Please read the item. Speaker 7: Communication from Councilmember Pierce, Councilwoman Gonzales. Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Richardson. Recommendations are to determine the costs of a feasibility study pertaining to the development. Speaker 8: Of a gondola system. Speaker 10: Connecting downtown Long Beach with Queen Mary Island, and to create a multi party partnership to conduct an initial. Speaker 7: Feasibility study and identify potential public and private funding sources. Speaker 8: Yes. County Councilwoman Pierce. Speaker 3: If we could wait for everybody to clear. So we can hear. That would be awesome. Okay. I thank you. And I want to say thank you to the city. I wanted to say thank you to the mayor for putting together the Queen Mary Development Task Force. Several years ago, I was a 12 person task force that really worked to vision what we might do at the Queen Mary and what urban commons might do during their their lease there. One of the concepts that came up was doing an aerial tram and to some it seems like pie in the sky. If we're going to be punny tonight. I'll go there. We know that dreaming big is something that's really important. And we know that this is a creative idea that other cities like San Diego, L.A., are really exploring and taking seriously. I've had many conversations with urban commons, with other stakeholders, with the port that say that they are interested in seeing if this is feasible. And I know we already have a feasibility study. That was a very quick one, a phase one. And what this item would do is basically have our city staff work with all the stakeholders to identify funds to go forward with the second feasibility study. And so I want to say thank you to Tom Modica for working with us on this item and making sure that, again, this isn't a commitment that the city is going to spend city dollars on this, but this is about visioning and doing this prep work that really allows urban commons to come in and develop something that works for the city, works with our waterfront and works with our residents. And so I want to thank all the stakeholders that have participated so far and thank my council colleagues for signing on to this item. I think it's fun to dream a little bit and see what we can get to. So I'm curious to hear from public comment. I know we have some people here in the audience and then hear from our council colleagues. Speaker 8: Fine. Thank you. Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez. Speaker 2: We can bring the public up. Speaker 8: Okay, fine. However, the public comment on this item, which you please come up. Speaker 9: First off, I. Speaker 7: Appreciate that we have an opportunity of being in front of eventually in front of the mayor, the honorable mayor and members of the city council. Um. Speaker 10: It has been a long time coming. My name is Alex Bellemare. Speaker 7: My address is 6242 Napoli Court, Long Beach. Speaker 9: And I am. Speaker 7: President of the statewide developers and the initiator of the wave, which is the aerial tram. Which, by the way, began at the. Speaker 10: Last. Speaker 7: Portion of 1990. So that'll give you some idea how length shows. Speaker 10: Everything is a matter of timing. Now as a little bit of the history. The way back. Speaker 7: When we were approved by the council, the town council, to proceed with our project and everything was going fine. Speaker 10: Except it evolved our financial our finances. That is, on a country level. Speaker 7: Turned into a very, very deep recession. And at that point in time, the city. Speaker 10: Was no longer. Speaker 7: In a position financially for them to have. Speaker 10: Their staff. Speaker 7: Work with us, and we had to put the project on the shelf. Subsequent to that, we began working with the the Queen Mary people. Speaker 10: And others to the extent where we raised funds, substantial front funds, that would have taken us well into the project and just about ready to go. Speaker 7: And the Queen Mary, as you painfully remember. Speaker 10: Had financial problems. So once again, we had to. Speaker 7: Put the project on the on the. Speaker 10: Agenda or I'm sorry, on the on on hold. It is painful, but fortunately it caused this. Speaker 7: Project to be delayed. Speaker 10: Until now and with the financial finances nationally. Speaker 7: And and our. Speaker 10: Thanks to all of your work here. The city of Long. Speaker 7: Beach and many other factors. And we are at this point ready to take advantage of the other time. You might say that the third the third time. Speaker 10: Is. Speaker 9: Really the charm. Now. Speaker 7: Because of my age, which is like 84 at this point, I realized that my steam. Speaker 9: Has pretty well evaporated. Speaker 7: To the extent where I need. Speaker 10: To have, uh, someone to fill in. Speaker 7: The. Speaker 10: Leadership role. Speaker 7: And carry most of the, of the, the challenge here. Speaker 10: And that individual is standing next to me. Speaker 7: Clay Sandwich I believe that most of you know Clay. Speaker 10: He is an incredible business person, a tremendous. Speaker 7: Communicator, and a kind of. Speaker 10: A guy that once he puts his teeth in something, he will not let it go. Speaker 7: So with that and what let me first say to our council lady here, thank you so much. I'm going to turn that over to the co-developer clay. Speaker 9: Sandwich at this point in time. Thank you all very much. Speaker 10: Thank you, Alex. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, where you are? City Council. Thank you very much. I'd just like to take a very brief moment to identify my team. That's a world class team that we've assembled to really take this project and really look at it. Alex has been on this for over 15 years. I've been involved with it for about six. But we have assembled a world class team representing WSP is Cliff Hankey here in the audience. WSP is a global firm representing about 30,030 7000 employees. I've got our Moros. Our project advisor is a former executive director or acting executive director and retired from Port of Long Beach. I've got Robert ATA Lino, who is not here with us tonight. We also have Dapo Meyer Gary event, who is the largest gondola manufacturer in the world and probably has more ropeway tramway systems installed in in the world than anybody. So we do have a world class team that can really evaluate what the right options are for connecting the downtown to the to the waterfront. And I just want to say thank you to the mayor and the City Council for consideration of requesting staff to assist in identifying funding for the feasibility study and benefit cost analysis of the aerial tram people people mover system. Our tram folks look forward to working with all stakeholders in establishing the basis and feasibility of an aerial tram system. So thank you all very much for your time tonight. Speaker 8: Thank you. Thank you very much. Mrs. Gonzalez likes like this. Speaker 2: I think this is great. And I think, Councilmember Pearce, for bringing this forward with Alex and with everyone, because I really do think that this is the prime time in downtown being the other half of downtown to really. Start exploring these great ideas and really providing different avenues for transportation. I've heard my residents talk about this quite a bit, and I know that Austin, Brooklyn, Chicago are also exploring various ideas. And so where we have to tell ourselves that we're a small city, but we're actually a really big city, and so we should absolutely think big as well. And I would only include and I know this was a very loose request to study, but I would also include any commissioners specific to our economic development, which I'm sure that they will be included, but everyone should be at the table to be able to explore how great this could be potentially for our city . And I think urban comments as well for coming to the table and being a part of this. Thank you. Speaker 8: Thank you, Congressman Austin. Speaker 7: Oh, thank you. Um, you know, I love when we can dream and this is when I heard about this, this idea that was one that was very intriguing to me and one that is very intriguing to me because I've been to many cities, many downtowns that actually have amenities. And I think this would definitely add to the character of our downtown. Specifically, the item is requesting that the stakeholders or the city manager work with stakeholders to determine the fees cost of a feasibility study. And to my city manager, I had a question regarding where and how such a feasibility study would be funded if you have an idea if there is a fund available to do so. Speaker 8: Thank you, Mr. Austin, and members of the Council. So there is already some work underway and Councilmember Pearce alluded to it. So Urban Commons is in the middle of putting together their development proposal for the 54 acres across the bay and as part of their master development they are looking at all possibilities for getting people over to the site as part of their Sequoia. So they are already looking at this. They have started some technical feasibility work just to see is it technically feasible. And what they've let us know is they want you know, that next step would really be kind of feasibility of of neo of a system. Where would it go? Who could maybe be included? And they wanted to take a break and say there's some other partners that might want to participate in in making that a broader study. So it really is urban commons is the lead. It would be their study. And we will pull together people to see who might be interested in helping to fund some of this. We expect it to be maybe about 100,000 in the beginning, but will determine that. And if the city were to participate, it might be some transportation dollars in a very low amount. But we haven't made that determination yet too. We all going get together great. Speaker 7: Well, that helps clarify one of the questions that that a constituent posed to me a little earlier, like, well, how do we pay for such a feasibility study? And I was curious, is the talent fund available to do this type of study? Speaker 8: Potentially, it could be Prop eight transit, it could be some tidelands. Again, it's a pretty minor dollar amount at this point. If this were to become a full on city project, we a project wouldn't be a city project to be you see, obviously we would be looking for grants in metro and those larger amounts of dollars to support. Speaker 7: Okay. So it doesn't sound like this is a general fund burden and there might be some some other opportunities, is that correct? Speaker 8: I would not imagine that we would ask for a general fund for this. No. Speaker 7: Great. Well, but that said, I'm happy to support this moving forward. Speaker 8: Thank you, Councilwoman Mongeau. Speaker 3: I appreciate my budget oversight committee vice chair or member and their questions. They answered exactly what my questions were. Thank you. Speaker 8: Thank you. Councilman Pearce, you want to go at this again? Councilman Parrish. Speaker 2: Councilwoman Price all the time. We look so much alike. Speaker 8: And it's the p, the Persians. Speaker 2: Okay, um, so this is a great idea. I want to thank Clay and Alex. They did brief me on this a few months ago, and I think it's definitely an idea worth exploring. And I look forward to the opportunity to learn more about it and discuss the feasibility. I do think it's a really good effort when we're talking about mobility and the difficulty in going over to the Queen Mary and some of the congestion that we experience and we will continue to experience as hopefully the Queen Mary thrives with programing and that entire area over there is rehabilitated and thrive. So I look forward to this. I think, Councilmember Pearce, for bringing this item forward and I look forward to hearing the results. Speaker 8: Thank you, Councilman Richardson. Speaker 9: Thanks, Vice Mayor. So, like, I like the idea. I think it's going to be essential if, you know, Queen Mary is going to be developed. We're going to have to figure out how to get people over that over that harbor. Whatever it is, we're going to have to figure that out because it's difficult to get over there. And, you know, and it myself, you know, I've used that the water taxi, both the water taxi and the Aqua Link, I've used them both and they're really cool. But I feel like they like the experience of getting on a boat is really what what folks use that for. And I think, you know, having something like a gondola, people are going to ride it for the experience of riding a gondola. Right. And it's going to actually transport people. And I think it's really cool that, you know, they're thinking the same thing in Dodger Stadium from from Union Station. So I think timing is timing is important. I was in Seattle I was in Seattle this weekend on the Space Needle. And they have an area where they talk about the history. I think what's really interesting is it accounts for every little step along the way. So it says right here, June 2nd, 1961, they number 47 of the project. Seattle Building Superintendent asks City Council for permits permits to allow the needle's construction. So all these little when we think big we may not know how far is going to go, but all these little roles that we play, they all, you know, contribute to the identity of our city. You know, you think of Saint Louis, you think of the arch. You think of, you know, Seattle. You think of the Space Needle in Long Beach is going to be the Queen Mary in the port of Long Beach. And so the more investment we can make into gondolas and things like that, I think are great. So I'm happy to be in support of this design. And thank you, Councilwoman Pierce. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman Pierce. Speaker 3: Two things. One is I wanted to just recognize and thank the people that sent letters in IBEW, Leo's Building Trades, Urban Commons and John Thomas from our Queen Mary Task Force today. So we received those. I did have a question for Mr. Modica on timing. I know we've been talking about this for a little while. Just if you could clarify what the next step would be. Speaker 10: So if this were to go forward. Speaker 8: Which it seems like it is, we would be working with urban commons to pull together the stakeholders. So really, you know, this is their project. They are in the middle of their entitlement process for that site and they need, you know, to submit a plan for mobility of which they right now they believe the gondola would be part of it or a different alternative that would do a similar function. So we would pull them together and have them help identify some of the stakeholders. You've identified some of them here and then start talking about, you know, what the cost could be, whether there's an appetite for investing. And then we imagine coming back with a report and we'll let you know what we would recommend for for a city contribution and if there was one, and how we would pay for that. Speaker 3: Thank you and thank all my council colleagues for their support. Speaker 0: Thank you. I just want to I'm glad I made it before the item was was ending. But I want to just say that I completely support the study and the concept of the gondola connection. And, Mr. BOLLYKY, you've been at this for a very long time. I remember the first time we sat down and you told me about your your vision for connecting the downtown and in different ways. And this was, I think, even before I was on the city council. And I just want to just say that I think your persistence and your ability to look to look towards the future is really served this project well in the team. You have a great group of folks working with you, and so I'm very supportive of the feasibility study. I have been supportive of this concept as it's been, you know, kind of been back and forth in different iterations over the years. But I think it's a it's a great way of connecting the the pieces of Long Beach that need greater connection and greater transit opportunities. This was mentioned, I heard over the Speaker in the back. Mr. MODICA You had mentioned Metro and I want to just re-emphasize that once we get past the feasibility stage and hopefully get to an actual project that we can look to or agencies like Metro for significant partnership. Metro right now is looking at investing in a aerial gondola system that could connect Dodger Stadium, you know, to other parts of of the ravine. It's looked at looking at possibly a gondola system that would connect the Hollywood sign down to two visitors. So there's a lot of conversation around different types of transit. And in my view, this isn't just an innovative project. This is a transit project. And any way that we can invest in public transit and bring in partners that are doing that work I think is really important. And so I look forward to the conversation and I look forward to bringing this project forward to the Metro Board when when we're ready to do so. And so. Thank you to Councilmember Pearce and everyone that supportive of this. And I look forward to to continuing to support it. And with that I think they did public comment already members going and cast your votes. Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you. We have public comment. Let me. We have. Two categories of folks. Let me start with with is is Latoya marshall here and Trymaine Deanna Ellis. And then Larry Goodhew will be next. Actually, Mr. Good to be there first and then you'll be the third.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to work with Urban Commons, The Wave team and other key stakeholders to determine the cost of a Feasibility Study pertaining to the development of a Gondola System connecting Downtown Long Beach with Queen Mary Island; and Request City Manager to work with Urban Commons to identify key stakeholders to create a multiparty partnership to conduct an initial Feasibility Study pertaining to the development of a potential gondola system connecting Downtown and Queen Mary, and identify potential public and private funding sources to begin the initial feasibility study.

LongBeachCC

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Speaker 0: Thank you, Miss Kareem. Thank you, sir. Thank you. That concludes public comment. We are going moving on to item 16, please. Speaker 1: Report from Public Works recommendation to adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to submit a grant application to the California Ocean Protection Council for the Long Beach Municipal, Urban Stormwater Treatment Recycle Facility and Accept, said Grant if awarded in an amount up to $2 million. Districts one, seven, eight and nine. Speaker 0: Thank you. Is there before we go to this. Is there a staff report on this? Speaker 5: A brief staff report by Mr. Craig Beck. Speaker 0: Its main rumors. City Council. Thank you for this opportunity to present this item. We are excited about the Long Beach Mass project and to remind the audience it's a project that would clean our stormwater runoff before it goes into the L.A. River. We are in design plans for that project, and part of the work includes the creation of some wetlands adjacent to the property. We are hopeful we could be successful with this grand opportunity to help build out the wetlands as planned. That concludes the staff report and I'm available to answer any questions. Speaker 2: Tom Gonzalez Just want to say thanks, Craig. I know you and your team have been on this and we're very excited. We talk about it at multiple community meetings and we look forward to seeing this through. Now, what timeline do we can we foresee for the grant if we do receive it? Speaker 0: The application submittal package is due in a couple of weeks, so we're hopeful we can get action tonight and we should hear within the next 90 days. Speaker 2: Great. Thank you so much. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman Austin. Speaker 7: I second the motion of grants are good. Speaker 0: Any comments on the grant? Seeing non-police casseroles. Speaker 4: Connect.

Resolution

Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to submit a grant application to the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC), for the Long Beach Municipal Urban Stormwater Treatment Recycle Facility; accept said grant, if awarded, in an amount up to $2,000,000 in Proposition 1 funding through OPC grant funds; and, execute all documents necessary to accept the funds. (Districts 1,7,8,9)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_03122019_19-0225

Speaker 0: Motion case. Speaker 1: Item 17 Report from Public Works Recommendation to award three contracts for as needed concrete repairs and related improvements in an aggregate amount not to exceed 30 million citywide. Speaker 0: There's a motion and a second. Councilman Austin. Speaker 7: So I'd like to get a quick staff report. Sure. Speaker 0: Let's get a staff report, please. Speaker 5: Craig Beck? Speaker 0: Yes, ma'am. As city council, this continues our contracting work to allow us to deliver ADA projects. If you recall earlier, we actually late in 2018, in December, there was another item that came forward related to city curb ramps. And at the time, staff made a recommendation that we award to two contractors. That was C.J. Construction and Caliban. That contract specifically addresses new ADA ramps that need to be installed throughout the city. This particular item before you this evening is for sidewalk repair. And if if you recall, the city did agree to a settlement with under a class action lawsuit to allow us to prioritize different ADA work across the city. Part of that settlement agreement also included conducting a self-assessment. You may or may not have had an opportunity. We we do have a draft self-assessment out in it. It's starting to articulate in detail where we have deficiencies citywide. So we do have a lot of work before us. I know one issue had come up before about one of the contractors on this list, and that is C.J. Construction and the questions related around local hiring. This particular contract was not bid under any of our play guidelines that we have for many of our projects. But we did connect with all three of the vendors listed here and asked for them to commit to working with our workforce development team for any new hires. So the new hires that they they would bring on board related to these construction projects would come through our workforce development team. And as you know, they're integral in the pre apprentice work that we're doing in our city with our residents who are interested in entering into the building trades. That concludes my report and I'm available to answer any questions. Thank you, Councilman Austin. Speaker 7: Thank you. And I certainly understand the need to turn to work contracts to meet our needs for for sidewalk repairs in response to litigation as well. You know, I don't recall it being as much as $30 million, though. Is that is that new? Speaker 0: I think what staff's trying to articulate is it could be upwards of $30 million worth of work. When you look at some of the street projects that we have in a five year term. Speaker 7: And this is over a three year period. Speaker 0: Three year +21 renewals. Speaker 7: Okay. And in in relation to the your comments regarding the the the local hiring and hiring practices of the contractors, it does I am encouraged that that that we're being proactive in moving forth with the workforce in this meant for to to work with these contractors to provide them with a good candidate pool of. Of individuals who they can hire. I just would always emphasize that that that candidate pool be reflective of the diversity of the city. And, you know, I love to. I'm looking forward to getting some data back on on the place that we've also entered into over the last few years, just to see how how those those hiring practices are working out. But those are my comments for now. I salute. Speaker 0: Thank you. A vice mayor. Speaker 8: Yes. I just like to connect the sentiments that the council asked them speaking about, especially on local hiring. I think that's extremely important, especially in this day and time. And thank you. And I second that motion. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 2: Yes. Thank you for the report. I know that there was a two. And thank you for addressing the issue with compliance, because that was going to be my my question. But I do know that there is from the two from four that was sent out a few weeks ago, there was still a pending issue. Do we know if that's been resolved at all? It looked like there were four or five issues outside of the city and four of them had been resolved and one of them had not been resolved. Speaker 0: Councilmember Gonzales, the the last issue, from what I understand in our conversations with C.J. Construction last week, is they are close to a settlement, but it is not finalized yet. Speaker 2: And is this regarding apprenticeships? Can you explain that a little bit? So we have a full understanding of what this. Speaker 0: Yes. So just in general, all of the contracts that we work with on construction projects are required to pay state prevailing wage. And underneath that state prevailing wage guideline, there are opportunities for apprenticeship placements. And so that's really where we see a lot of local hiring happen. So when you're able to get folks who are interested in getting into the building trades, they typically start as apprentices. And so those apprentice opportunities exist on on every job I believe in. I'm trying to remember that this city that they were having some challenges in one of the cities up up the 17 freeway. From what we understand from the data, we were able to collect that they did hire some apprentices, but they they didn't pay them. The right wage passed a certain number of hours. Apparently, if an apprentice works beyond a certain number of hours and I apologize, they don't have those hours in front of me, but then you have to pay them at a different rate. So a journey level rate and the CGA construction did not pay the journey level rates for some of those hours beyond that minimum threshold. Speaker 2: Okay. And you had mentioned about this not being included under our play. Is that correct? Speaker 0: Yes, that is correct. Speaker 2: Because it's all. But it's 30 million. Correct. So is it can can you explain that? I'm just trying to get that clear in my head as to why this. Speaker 0: We are so were these are on call services. And so really what we're asking for is the authority to spend up to $30 million on multiple projects. And typically when a scope of work is developed, it's small segments of sidewalks. So for example, in the first District, I think there's ten or so different sites that are being worked on right now. And the cumulative amount of of that site work is less than the $500,000 threshold that we have for a play contract. So it doesn't meet that minimum threshold for the play agreement. Speaker 2: Okay. I kind of have an issue with that just because I think that we are you know, I know that we this the limit is up to the 30 million. We may not get to that 30 million, but I still think that it should be covered overall because it's the same sort of services for the same contract . So I with that, I think I would love to see and I know that we're going to be taking up the project labor agreement 2.0 and do we know when that will be coming back to council? I know it was supposed to come back this month and it's not. Speaker 8: We're looking at early to mid April. So with the we have a number of very large items coming your way in December. In March and April. And so April it will be. Speaker 2: Okay. I would prefer to have seen this. After that we established all of the new kind of rules or any other discussion we had on the play first before we saw this new contract. Just because I think and I know that it's timely, but we also just approved another 30 million, almost close to 30 million back in October for the same contractor. So I think at this time, I may be voting no. Just wanted to let you know that. But I appreciate the information and I think it'd be good to know this information as to the lawsuits and additional information about contractors that are not playing well, even if it's not in our own city . But thank you. Speaker 0: So I do want to clarify that this is $30 million over a potentially five year period of time. So we're we're essentially talking about $6 million annually split, but three between three contractors. So I want to make sure that everyone understands it's not $30 million for one vendor, but it would be split. Speaker 2: Between three contractors. Yes. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Councilmember Pierce. Speaker 3: Thank you. And I want to thank Councilmember Gonzalez for raising this issue for me. And I have a I guess, a couple of thoughts. One is, yes, that we have a play policy. I know that we're overhauling or not overhauling. That is definitely the wrong choice of words that you guys are bringing back a report on the play and that there are some conversations around how do we make sure that we strengthen that pipeline. And so I know that when those conversations come forward, there will be more conversations about how we work with good contractors. And so I would like what I hate is being up here on the dais and finding out right before we're about to vote that we have a contractor in front of us that doesn't have the best practices and history and that they're in the middle of settlement agreements around labor practices. So I don't want that to continue to happen. So I'm just saying that on record so that we can work on that in the future. I agree that if we're going to spend $30,000, even though it's different 30 million sorry projects, even though it's different projects and three different contractors, that if we as a city are saying that we care about having our residents get into good jobs, that we need to use every opportunity that we can, even if it's not a requirement. So I'll be working with your office and with economic development just to continue that conversation so that we don't find ourselves in that situation again. Is there a timeline crunch on this? Is there a need for you guys to have this vote today? Speaker 0: Yes, Councilmember. Currently we don't have a contract in place for any ADA sidewalk work. Speaker 3: We don't have a contract place. When would this work begin? Speaker 0: With approval tonight. We would move forward, finalizing these contracts and have these in place. I would imagine in the next 2 to 3 weeks. Speaker 3: Can we continue it for another week? Speaker 0: Mr. Beck, could it be continued for a week? My recommendation is we move this forward. I'm not sure what changes in a week. Speaker 3: Well, at least I'll have some time to understand more about this contractor and work with you and your office to see what practices we're putting into place to make sure that we don't have another you know, that they don't have more lawsuits on their hands on one of our projects. Speaker 0: So you're up. Speaker 5: There is a two from four regarding this contractor specifically that went out about a month ago or maybe two months ago, and that has all that information. So. I don't think there were anything new based on the 2.4 that went out a month ago. Speaker 0: And I'm not sure if you haven't had a chance to to read through the two form four memo yet. There were no incidents of any wage issues or labor compliance issues for any of the work that C.J. Construction did in the city of Long Beach. We have a very robust labor compliance group here in Long Beach, and we wouldn't be sitting here in front of you making a recommendation, move forward with this contractor. If we didn't believe that this contractor would meet all of its obligations under under this proposed contract. So, Mr. West, I think I think the you know, what I'm hearing from from a couple of the members is just obviously, it's a large contract amount. This is you know, this is a it's significant. And so you feel confident and the review that you have made that that this one operator or this one contractor, that we should be concerned about the the issues as they relate to labor practices. Speaker 5: Absolutely. We've had numerous discussions with this contractor, reviewed their history and we feel very comfortable with them. Speaker 0: Councilman Austin. Speaker 7: Yes. I think this has been thoughtful. You know, we didn't just just approve this went on without without some thought here on and we still have it. I'm I'm in supportive of moving this forward under with the understanding that that this this contract is awarded and gives some discretion to our city staff to award contracts as needed 2 to 3 different contractors. And so this doesn't necessarily or maybe the question is, does this mean that every contractor is going to get an equal amount of the contract, or will they be contracted as needed as available to to do the work for the city? Speaker 0: So we have a lot of work that needs to get done. We fully anticipate working all of these contractors to their available resource limits. We're hopeful that we can catch up with some of the delays that we've had in addressing some of our sidewalk issues. As I mentioned, we haven't had a sidewalk contract in place since November. Speaker 7: And what what sort of and if you can answer this is great, but what sort of interaction has already occurred or has any interaction occurred between these contractors and our workforce investment Pacific Gateway to talk about hiring local folks. Speaker 0: So there has been a pre-meeting with contractors and an introduction to a liaison through our workforce development team and talking about what the pipeline looks like and where those placements can occur. Speaker 7: And Mr. Beck, is it possible and I know this doesn't fall under the play guidelines that we approved, but is it possible to track the data for the local hiring or those within the Long Beach zip code that actually work for these particular contractors or any of the contractors that we we work with? Speaker 0: Yes. So one of the requirements when paying prevailing wage is that the contractors must provide something called a certified payroll. And so the certified payroll essentially lists all the members that are on the payroll, on a given job and the rate of pay that that individual received and their address. So through the certified payrolls, we would be able to understand who's working on the job and where they live. Speaker 7: I don't think I've ever seen a report like that. Is it possible to produce something like that for the council? Maybe a year out? Speaker 0: Yeah. I can show you a copy of a certified payroll. It's not something the city produces. These are things that come from the contractors as part of their prevailing wage requirements. But certainly we receive have the opportunity to review them and we can share those with council if that's council's interest. Speaker 7: Well, I think that's that's I as part of my motion to accept this, I would love to just just ask that that that kind of information be disclosed to the to the to the council moving forward so that we can have some accountability on the contractors and contracts and understanding that we send a message loud and clear that we are serious about Long Beach residents, local folks getting jobs, and particularly ensuring that the workforce is diverse. So I move to support this. With that in mind. Thanks. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 3: Um, yes, I wanted to ask two questions. One is, could we move forward with the first two countries, first to contractors that don't have the labor practice violations while we. No. Okay. That's why I saw you for the record. Speaker 8: I just want to point out that we have to abide by state law for contracting. And C.J. is the low bid, so they are the low bidder. And the other two were added on. So that's the reason why we would not be able to do that. Speaker 3: Okay. So they are the low bid. Okay. I would like to I know that I just met today with John from Economic Development and his team about the work that they're doing. So I would ask that the work that they're doing inside Pacific Gateway that we just make sure that they're partnering. Echo What Councilmember Austin said, that they're partnering and that we do get a chance to look at those numbers and that if there's I think there's future discussion on a good contractor process that we can move forward on. So. Thank you. Speaker 0: I guess maybe to address some of the questions that have come up, I would offer that staff can provide this council and update report at maybe the six month mark to share with you what kind of work has been done and how the contract dollars have been distributed and what the certified payrolls look like. Speaker 4: Yeah. Speaker 0: Worth mind. I love those are the solutions for. Did you do that item already? Oh, okay. Okay. Got the one with the little hearts or angry eyes. Okay. Any public comment on this item? Seeing none. There's a motion. And second, please cast your vote. Speaker 1: Motion carries.

Contract

Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. R-7137 and award contracts to CJ Concrete Construction, Inc., of Santa Fe Springs, CA, Bitech Construction Co., Inc., of Buena Park, CA, and Kalban, Inc., of Santa Clarita, CA, for as-needed concrete repairs and related improvements, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into contracts, including any necessary amendments; and Accept Categorical Exemption CE-19-020. (Citywide)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_03052019_19-0155

Speaker 3: Okay. We have two hearings, so we're going to get through those first. And so hearing item number one. Speaker 2: Report from Development Services recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing and adopt a resolution accepting the mitigated negative declaration. Adopt a resolution approving a general plan amendment. Declare ordinances, amending a zoning code amendment relating to the high rise overlay district and approve a zoning change. Read the first time lead over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for a final reading and approve a tentative parcel map to consolidate ten existing lots and then northerly 24 feet of the vacated alley into a single fit lot and approve a site plan review to allow construction of a four storey 102,840 square foot office building up to 74 feet in height in the high rise overlay district, including a three story parking structure within the CC and district at 3443 Long Beach Boulevard and 210 East 35th Street District seven. Speaker 3: Thank you. We are now going to begin by opening up the the the item. I'm going introduce Mr. Modica. I don't believe an oath is required, Madam Clerk. And so, Mr. Murdoch, I'll do the presentation. Speaker 10: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We will hear first from Linda Tatum, our development services director, and she has an introduction and an announcement for us. Speaker 8: Good evening, Mayor. Members of the City Council, I'm really pleased to present to you the staff that will make this presentation tonight. That's Alexis Oropesa. And I'd like to also announce that as of last week, Alexis has been promoted to the position of current planning officer. So we're really pleased to have her. She brings a lot of talent to the team and she's worked really hard. And if you don't recall. Speaker 4: She replaces Carrie Tai. Speaker 8: Who left to go to the port. So with that, I'd like to introduce you to Alexis. Speaker 1: Thank you, Linda. Good evening, Honorable Mayor Garcia and city council members. For you tonight is the Laser Fish Office Project. Before getting into the project details, a brief project, a brief background of the project will be provided. In January of this year. The Planning Commission held a public hearing, considered public testimony both in support and in opposition to the project. The Planning Commission made a general plan conformity finding for the proposed alley vacation and took action, recommending the city council approve the project, which includes a site plan review, tentative parcel map mitigated negative declaration as well as general plan amendment zone change and zone text amendment. Following the Commission's action, an appeal was filed and then subsequently withdrawn. The applicant indicated that they had worked with the developer to ensure their concerns regarding emissions reductions had been addressed. So for tonight, we will focus on the entitlements rather than the appeal. The project is located at the north of the four or five freeway in the neighborhood of Bixby North. The project is located at the north end of the block, bound by Long Beach Boulevard to the east, 35th Street to the north and Locust Street to the west. The freeway onramp is located at the southwest corner of the block and Wardlow Road is located to the south. The project site consists of ten existing lots that are shaded in blue and separated by an existing alley that is identified by the black and white diagonal striping. For context, the project site is surrounded by a mix of uses which include residential to the west and south, a parking lot and office building to the north across 35th Street and a restaurant and oil derricks to the to the east across Long Beach Boulevard, as well as a gas station immediately to the south. The western portion of the site is currently zoned single family residential, and the eastern half is located within the community automobile oriented district and also has an existing high res overlay on it. The site photos depict the existing conditions of the site, which is vacant of any buildings today. The middle photo shows the North North-South Alley, which runs between 35th Street and Wardlow Road to the South. The majority of this alley is in an unproved, unimproved condition as depicted in that middle photograph. Previously, the site was developed with a range of uses, including a single family residence. Oil wells on the western half of the site and on the eastern half was previously developed with an office bar, billboard and additional oil wells. The applicant seeks approval of a tentative parcel map to consolidate the ten existing lots into a single 2.02 acre site that is to be developed with the four storey 102,848 square foot office building with a maximum height of 74 feet. The office building is identified, shaded in red in the exhibit, and a separate three story parking structure containing 343 parking spaces is proposed as well. The area showed it show a shaded in yellow identifies the bike parking area that is to be located within the parking structure. Vehicle access to the parking structure is low, located towards the middle of the street and identified by the dual red arrows on the screen. The perimeter of the site is designed with ample landscaping to soften the building's appearance and serve as a transition between the sidewalks and the residential uses to the south and the West. The proposed project will assemble the existing lots into a sizable area for significant development. That includes area improvements, which will include a new Signalized intersection at 35th and Long Beach Boulevard. A second left turn land will be turn lane will be incorporated into the northbound Long Beach Boulevard intersection. And then in addition, there will be improvements to sidewalks, parkway treatments and an approved alley. The architecture of the building makes use of clean lines, generous floor to ceiling heights and large ample areas, window areas that is reminiscent of mid-century architecture and compatible with the area. The eastern half of the site is located within the high rise overlay, which establishes the four storey height limit but allows for the actual building height to be defined through the site plan review process. The Planning Commission found the building height appropriate based on the proposed building form, as well as buildings of similar height along that corridor and the building relationship to the surrounding uses. The building has also been configured to locate the taller elements towards the center of the site along the alley that is to be vacated. The Commission found the project configuration and the design thoughtfully composed and advances the objectives of the purpose of the zoning code as well as the general plan. However, in order to facilitate the project, a general planning and zoning change and zoning code amendment will be necessary. The General Plan Amendment is proposed on the western half of the project site and I identified on the left part of your screen by the diagonal lines. And this would be changing the land use designation from single family residential to allowed eight commercial. The eight commercial corridor designation is characterized as being appropriate along major corridors. Since this area is contiguous with the new designation to the east and is proposed to be merged into a single lot fronting on Long Beach Boulevard, it is found to be consistent with the general plan, especially in conjunction with the development that is proposed. The Planning Commission found the amendment promotes the orderly development of the city, but is also a benefit to the public interest by supporting the investment of an existing business within the city. As a. Commission. As. Speaker 5: Oops. Speaker 1: A zone change is also proposed for both halves of the site to the CC and designation. The K and CN districts of both fall within the broader community commercial class districts, and this is represented on the right side of your screen. The community commercial class of districts are intended to provide medium scale users that may require buffering to ensure compatibility with adjacent neighborhood uses. These zoning districts are located on both major and minor arterials, located on and located on larger lots adjoining larger scale residential neighborhoods, which is fitting in this location. The proposed change. Is contiguous with the K district that is within the broader community commercial district. The high rise overlay district composes less than 1% of the city's 51 square miles. The project site is within the high rise overlay, which straddles both sides of Long Beach Boulevard, and there is no proposed change to the location of that zoning district. However, the high rise overlay what is proposed is a zoning code amendment to the high rise overlay yard requirement. This zoning code amendment would allow for the averaging of setbacks through the site plan review process. This averaging of setback and discretionary review would provoke promote greater design diversity by providing flexibility in cases where it was found appropriate. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. A mitigated negative declaration was prepared and circulated for public review from December 17 through January 17th. The remedy found that all impacts can be reduced to less than significant through the adherence to the mitigation measures, which range from the inclusion of a second left turn lane of the Language Boulevard to a biological survey. Public noticing was distributed in accordance with the Long Beach Municipal Code. Staff has received one letter expressing support for the project in response to the council notices. The recommendation to the city council tonight is to enact the Planning Commission recommendation with one modification. In that we are requesting that the City Council accept the mitigated negative declaration by action and not by a resolution as indicated in the staff report. With that, that concludes staff's presentation and we welcome any questions you may have. The developer is in the audience, as is our consultant. Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Thanks for the staff presentation. We do have a motion in a second. I'm going to ask for any public comment on this item. Now is the time. Getting no public comment on this item. I'm going to go ahead and go back to Mr. Come, Ringo. Speaker 10: Thank you, Mayor. Before I make any other comments or questions, I would like to, first of all, thank staff for their work on this project. It's been one long in coming and I also want to especially thank our developers of a laser fish, Mr. Chris Wacker, who has been very accommodating in listening to the reviews and looking at the appeals and implementing a lot of the recommendations that came forward and being able to be a person to work with and a project to work with that that is going to be great for the Long Beach area, especially when we're looking at a major employer here in Long Beach and and a business that it has been very, very strong with Long Beach. And we're glad to have your headquarters here in Long Beach. So we really appreciated over that had to work. If there's any one question ahead had the alley that's in the back, it's a it's an alley that is very tore up, I guess, for lack of a better word. It's not all that a pit and it's just a horrible area. Are there any plans to address that, that alley in the back? Speaker 3: Let me have someone answer either at the mike or staff concept developed up after that, please. Speaker 1: Excuse me. There are plans with Ali vacation for the entire length of the alley to be improved. Speaker 10: What? That's great. That's all I have to say for his project. It's a good project, and I hope that I could get the support of my my colleagues to vote yes. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilman Richardson. Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I want to just add a few comments and say congratulations, Councilman Urunga and the laser fish team. It's a beautiful project and you've done a great job in making sure that the entire city understands this investment that you're making and the commitment you're making in Long Beach. And so I do want to want to recognize this. And, you know, the last thing I'll say that, you know, you know, districts seven, eight, nine, the uptown community is great to see someone place their their headquarters in the uptown community. I think that that's a feather in feather in all our caps we're really, really proud of, but proud about that and I think is going to do a lot for the neighborhood. So congratulations to all of you. And I'm going to be supporting this. Speaker 3: Thank you. Councilman Pearce. Speaker 1: I yes I too am one of the things staff for this. I had the pleasure of getting to take a tour of the existing facility and see the size of the lot next to it. And it's kind of cool to have like our Long Beach Google like business here and that you guys are opening up a second facility. It's just great to know that we have Long Beach jobs that are staying local and want to applaud everybody for the efforts that you guys did to get us here today. So thank you, everyone. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilman. Speaker 6: Well, I'm only slightly disappointed that the final project didn't end up in the fifth District. I will say that the the documentation provided by your team is the most extensive and best project I've seen in my five years at the council. So I thought that for a layperson to be able to look through it, I didn't have to ask the same kind of questions that I've asked and had to learn through things in the last five years. So I really appreciate that. I think it's really approachable and easy to explain to residents because of the way that you put the packet together. So thank very much. Thank you very much. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilman. Speaker 9: Thank you. And I want to take this opportunity to congratulate my and my good friend, Councilmember Urunga, but the entire big business community and the city for being able to to have laser fisher as a partner, continued partner and expanding their their footprint here in in our community, I've had the opportunity to know Chris Wacker for for some time now. We were here over a decade ago on the YMCA board in Fairfield, and they have always been great community partners, aside from a great business model for our city. And so I'm enthusiastically in support of this. And this four storey building, I think is, is why, you know, when we went through our land use element few few months ago, it wasn't just about housing. It was about also creating good businesses with great jobs in our city as well. So congratulations. Speaker 3: Thank you. Vice Mayor Andrews. Speaker 0: Yes, thank you, Mayor. I first I want to thank our Councilman Durango for, you know, having this wonderful project in his district. But I think all the districts are disappointed because you can't get in one in all of our districts. So we're just going to buy that time until that happens. But but this is a great project for the city of Long Beach. And it's you know, when I look at it, all I see is jobs because I think it's a wonderful, wonderful project here. And of course, I thank you. And your wife has created a world class company in the city of Long Beach. And for that, the city is grateful to you. And we support and applaud your efforts to expand your companies here and in Long Beach. And I wholeheartedly support this project. And thank you again. Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 8: Yes. I want to just add on to everything that my colleague said. Chris, thanks so much for being a great partner. We were just singing your praises in Vancouver last week, talking about tech and bringing tech to Long Beach and specifically called out laser fish for being a great partner. So thank you so much. We're really glad to to see this expand and we look forward to seeing you succeed. Thanks so much. Continue to succeed. Speaker 3: Thank you. We have a motion in a second. Let me just, of course, add, as you all know, I've been very supportive of Laser Fisher's expansion. I think this is a great project, very excited about the work the staff has done with the community and with Councilmember Ranga in particular. So Councilman, thank you for for helping guide this project. Please cast your votes.

Resolution

Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and adopt resolution accepting Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND04-18);

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LongBeachCC_03052019_19-0159

Speaker 3: So Councilman, thank you for for helping guide this project. Please cast your votes. Speaker 2: Councilman. The motion carries. Speaker 3: Thank you. And I know we have a second hearing. That's a short one as well. So. Madam Clerk. Speaker 2: Report from Development Services recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record to conclude the public hearing and accept categorical exemptions and statutory exemption. Declared ordinances amending the Long Beach Municipal Code relating to alcoholic beverage manufacturing definitions and accessory dwelling units. Read the first time and lead over the next regular meeting of the City Council for Final Reading and adopt a resolution directing the Director of Development Services to submit the ordinance amendment to the California Coastal Commission citywide. Speaker 10: Mr. Modica presentation will be given by Linda Tatum and Christopher Koontz. Speaker 8: Okay, actually I'm going to introduce Alexis again, who will do the honors of making this presentation. Speaker 1: Good evening again. The item before you tonight consists of a handful of zone text amendments resulting from the California Coastal Commission's review of several ordinances adopted over the last couple of years and were submitted to the Coastal Commission as part of a local Coastal Program Amendment. The ordinances that were included were the Alcohol Beverage Manufacturing Ordinance Zone tax changes to reflect changes in the building code, as well as state water efficiency regulations and the accessory dwelling unit ordinance. The California Coastal Commission considered these changes at their October meeting of last year and certified the LCP amendments with changes in the following slides. I will briefly recap those changes and which must be adopted and recertified and resubmitted to the Coastal Commission for Certification. The first of these changes relates to the Alcohol Beverage Manufacturing Ordinance, which was reviewed in 2016 and adopted changes. The Coastal Commission's action on this item simply provides clarification for parking related to office areas that are equal to 25% of the gross floor area. In response to the triennial building code update and state water efficiency standards, a number of zoning changes were made to create consistency between zoning, building code and state law. The California Coastal Commission, in their review, made a number of modifications to clarify code and eliminate references to code sections outside of Title 21. In the case of the definition of rebuild and demolish and a unique definition for within the coastal zone was adopted here. Staff is recommending that a single definition of rebuild and remodel be used throughout the city. The purpose of this is to create clarity for developers, contractors and homeowners. In 2016, the state legislature made sweeping changes to address the state's housing crisis, which effectively reduced the city's abilities to regulate accessory dwelling units in an effort to tailor some local standards. An ordinance was adopted in December of 2017, providing minimum lot size, basic design standards and parking for 80 to use. At that time, the city council requested an update a year following the adoption of the ordinance, and then this slide briefly will provide a snapshot of where we are today. Since January of 2017, 146 building permits for 80 use have been issued. We have currently approximately 9982 planned trucks in various stages of review. The majority of those that have been permitted are resulting from conversions of existing structures, and we have seen the legalization of approximately 10% of unpermitted structures through these 80 permits. The Coastal Commission. Reviewed the accessory dwelling unit ordinance and made changes, specifically changing the minimum lot size to 4800 square feet to reflect the state law. In addition, they revised the parking standard so that parking is exempt. All Excuse me, so that once parking spaces is required, except when the location meets the exemption criteria prescribed in state law. The amendments made by the California Coastal Commission to the minimum size and parking standard for ADAS were made to be consistent with the state law for the purpose of creating parity of standards between lots where 80 use can be constructed. A modification mirroring the state's change is proposed throughout the city by staff. Having the same minimum lot size and parking standards will help to reduce uncertainty in the standards for architects, contractors and homeowners as they negotiate the code. With regards to the parking. State law prohibits cities from requiring parking when an ADU is in. Any of the following is any of five locations, including when it's within a half mile of a public transit. As the City Council may recall, nearly the entire city falls within this category. So parking would effectively be eliminated in this case. But it is. These changes are consistent with the state law, which is why the Coastal Commission made the action. Public noticing. Public notices were published in the Press Telegram on February 15th, and additional notices were sent to persons who had submitted written communication on the draft edu ordinance. No comments have been received to date in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. These changes are all either categorically or statutorily statutorily exempt. Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the zoning code amendments as presented and direct staff to submit the changes to the California Post. Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Is there any public comment on this item? Please come forward. You just want I'm going to close public to the public speaker's list for answer. Speaker 7: Thank you. My name is Brian Wolf. I live at 5015 East Third Street in Long Beach. I'm speaking as a private citizen. Homeowner. Appreciate the opportunity to provide comment for the accessory dwelling unit ordinance amendment. Just briefly, ensuring quality and affordable housing in our diverse populations. Important goal for the city in the general plan. A well-crafted 80 U ordinance utilizing form based practices will contribute strongly to the school while maintaining neighborhood character. Further, the scale of it's kind of a grassroots level as opposed to larger affordable housing opportunities and encouraging individual owners occupants to invest in their communities. For me, I've been a proud homeowner in the Belmont Heights neighborhood for over 15 years. My wife and I love our neighborhood. It's zoned r one and along with a lot of area in the city and where we're moving into retirement, we very much want to be able to stay in the neighborhood and constructing a native view on our property will allow us to age in place, supplement our fixed income, and provide additional affordable housing in a great location. We really love it. Others, you know. You know, it's a great form of additional density for us, you know, able to provide housing for surviving elderly parents, students, mixed family, extended family accommodation. And, you know, we broadly have an aging demographics. So making those provisions for people to stay in their homes and downsize is really important. As a practicing architect here in the city, I've looked closely at the requirements and believe the current ordinance as well. Well-considered with a couple of following exceptions, I was very happy to see the amendment for reduced lot size to be broadly applied to the city beyond the coastal zone. So that was great to see. I would argue, you know, the established form based controls and what I mean by that height limits, setbacks, lot coverage, open space for area ratio and unit size range are fairly extensive in the ordinance and the lot size limitation I would argue, should be removed entirely because it's not necessary and discourages innovation. I definitely reverting to the 4800 square foot size recommended by staff for all areas in the city is a move in the right direction and I would support that strongly. Parking I I've a little district in agreement we really ought to keep the. Speaker 3: Thank you some. Thank you so much, sir. Oh, time's up. Sorry about. Speaker 7: That. Really? 3 minutes. Speaker 3: I thought it was 2 minutes. Speaker 7: Okay. Speaker 3: Thank you. Thank you very much, sir. Speaker 7: Good. Could I have just 15 seconds? Speaker 3: Sir, we have to keep the time. But if you want to conclude your thought, go ahead. Speaker 7: I would just add the parking. We have a mobility plan strategy in the city. And and keeping the. The parking, as stated currently in the ordinance would be better. Thank you. Supportive to those strategies. Speaker 3: Thank you very much, sir. Let me go ahead and go to Captain Richardson. Speaker 7: Support. Speaker 3: Councilor Pearce. Speaker 1: I want to thank staff for their hard work on this. I support the recommendation, the changes that you guys have outlined in this. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilman Mongo. Speaker 6: So my residents were the ones who were big advocates for the 5000 square foot lot. And I appreciate that staff are looking for consistency across the city. Would you be able to remind us on what date we we adopted the initial. Requirements. Speaker 8: When to say it was? I want to say it was in November of 2017. Speaker 6: And have there been many individuals who are somewhere between 40 805,000 square feet where they were eliminated because of the ordinance, the way it was written with community input? Speaker 9: So there have been a handful of cases. I don't remember any of them being in your district council member, but certainly we've received calls from folks living in council districts two, three and four that are in that situation. There's approximately 5000 impacted properties in that range, between 4850, 200. Speaker 6: You see the number of properties again, I'm sorry, there's a lot of numbers and. Speaker 9: There's approximately 5000 across the entire city. So if there is a 1% chance of an EDU being constructed in a ten year period, we're talking about, you know, in the 50 to 100 additional ideas. Speaker 6: So I guess my concern is this ordinance hasn't even been in place for a year yet, and we're already coming back to the table with a note. Speaker 9: Respectfully, that was 2017 that this ordinance of November 2017. And we we've seen fewer than anticipated 80 years constructed in that time. Speaker 1: And Councilwoman, I would also. Speaker 8: Indicate that the initial recommendation that we're coming to city council tonight was based upon the the feedback from the Coastal Commission. Speaker 6: There. Their feedback for the coastal zone is one thing, but you're asking us to apply it to the whole city. Speaker 1: That's correct. Speaker 4: Because we are as as Alexis stated, the idea is. Speaker 1: That. Speaker 8: We would have two different standards in the city and in the interest of parity and lack of confusion. Staff's suggestion is that we think that it makes more sense to have one standard rather than a couple of different standards. Speaker 6: Would. I'd be open to this ordinance if we could just maintain the original 5000 for the rest of the city. I just feel as though there was so much community input and residents in the fifth District felt so strongly of a number significantly higher than 5000 that to make such a change. On an item that really appeared to be around some other types of municipal changes, I think was just a little. I could have done a better job informing the community had I known and understood that this was the breadth of it. So, Councilmember Richardson, would you be open to a friendly to maintain the 5000 for the rest of the city? Speaker 7: So I don't feel strongly one way or the other on this. I'll be clear, but I do want to hear from staff the intent of doing this with a streamline it in the middle consistent with other well with other codes. So can can we hear from the city attorney or whoever is working on this was the implication? Speaker 10: I just want to add that for clarity, the number is actually 5200 square feet, not 5000. Speaker 1: Right. Speaker 10: So Alexis explained it very well. The Coastal Commission made this suggestion because they're interested in promoting a to use as a means in the coastal zone to have more people have the ability to be in that area. City wants to do it to keep it consistent citywide. You couldn't keep it. There's no legal requirement that you reduce it to 4800 citywide. But I think stats made clear that they feel that that's the better course. Speaker 6: And so of those 50, how many units, how many parcels did you mention, Mr. Cook? Speaker 9: There's approximately 5000 impacted parcels. Speaker 6: And how many of those parcels are in District five? Speaker 9: I don't have that information at my fingertips. Speaker 6: I would be confident that it's a large share of those. I can name 1400 of them that were all built by SNF properties that are almost all on properties that are 5064 feet or 5000 to 5100 feet. So that is a huge impact of a particular group. I don't see that they're very aggressively looking to put it to you then, but I think that some outreach or some information to those neighborhoods I would have done a better job of had I recognized that that component of the recommendation was coming. And so I appreciate that we had ten days on this, but this is a huge implication in potential items. Speaker 9: So it is a policy decision for the council to make. We did notify everyone that participated in the process the first time around on the ADA ordinance and whatever decision the council makes tonight. If you could just orally explain the basis of that decision. Every time we touch the ADA ordinance, we have to send it to the state, to HPD, and to the degree that we place restrictions on ADA use, those restrictions need to be based in sometimes some compelling citywide goal and not meant to deter the construction of needed housing. So it is a policy decision for the Council to make, and you can go either way. If you could just we'll have to have that discussion with our friends in Sacramento. So anything you can give us to help defend that decision, we appreciate that. Speaker 6: I appreciate that. I would have to go back and watch the meeting. When you talk about informing anyone who participated the first time, does that include people who came to public comment or emailed in public comment to the city? Speaker 9: If they had emailed, we have their emails. When folks come to the dais at a council meeting, we don't have speaker cards, so we don't necessarily have contact information for them. So it's the folks that we do have contact information for. Speaker 7: So again, it sounds like we need a compelling reason. I'm comfortable making staff's recommendation. I didn't anticipate jumping into a policy discussion. If you want to sub me out, that's fine, but I think I'm going to stand on. My intent was to support the staff recommendations. Speaker 6: Is there a a compelling reason why there's a timeliness to approving this tonight? No. No. Would we be open to continuing this item until. Speaker 7: I'm open to that. Absolutely. Speaker 6: I would be really more comfortable and I'm happy to reach out to the neighborhood associations because I really want to know and understand what their point was. They actually had asked me for a much higher number. We settled on 5200. But I would like to go back to that research and look at it and talk about it and maybe even have one. I mean. Speaker 7: I think that's fair. So a month. Speaker 6: 30 days would be great. Speaker 9: Lay it over 30 days. So if we can hear that item in April, we do need to provide an update to the Coastal Commission within six months, which will be at the end of April. Speaker 7: So if we continue with. Speaker 1: The. Speaker 6: First week of April would be. Speaker 1: That. Speaker 9: Any time during the month of April will be acceptable. Great. Speaker 6: I'll leave that to the city manager. Thank you. Speaker 3: Kay, there's a motion to extend that. Is that is that the council which is new change that. Okay. That's that's an that's an emotion. There's a motion and a second on that. We will take a vote when you do public comment again on that on that piece. Mr. Mays. No. Okay. So, members, please cast your votes on an extended. Speaker 6: Thank you.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Table 41-1C of Chapter 21.41, relating to Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturing, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_03052019_19-0208

Speaker 2: The motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you. Now we're going to move to item 38 with the clock. Please read the item. Speaker 2: Communication from Councilmember Pearce, Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Super Na recommendation receive and file a presentation from the Centennial Circle of Women on the 2020 Women's Vote Centennial Initiative commemorating the Suffrage Centennial and direct city manager to create a fund that would support 100 events citywide, to increase civic engagement and to raise awareness about the history of women's right to vote. Speaker 0: Thank you. I'd like to turn it over to Councilman. Okay. Speaker 1: Thank you. So this, as the clerk read as a receiving file, a presentation on the 2020 Women's Vote Centennial Initiative commemorating the suffrage centennial and directed city manager to create a fund that would support 100 events citywide, agrees to increase civic engagement and to raise awareness about the history of women's rights to vote. And we did this item to make sure that we kick off Women's History Month talking about women and the contributions that they have made not only to Long Beach, to California, but to the nation. And so I know that we're going to have a small presentation from our Human Relations Commission and our women's historian, Zoe Nichols. So I hope that we can hear that presentation and then just have a conversation about what some easy next steps might be for us and between now and August. So come on down, ladies. Speaker 4: Thank you so. Speaker 5: Much. Speaker 4: Um, Mayor Garcia, members of the city council and city staff, of course. Thank you for allowing us some time to share with you. I'm assuming somebody will hand us a little clicker at some point if we need it. Um, we're here to discuss the upcoming suffrage centennial, which happens in August of 2020. Thank you very much, sir. Um, and what we can do in here in Long Beach to celebrate and educate around this heroic day? This is not just about what happened 100 years ago, but is a great way to continue conversations about voter turnout , suppression, the census and historical local women. First, Zoe Nicholson. We'll talk about suffrage and how it is being celebrated nationally and locally. I will be back to talk about the advocates in the circle of women. I also want to make sure you understand we are here tonight as citizens of Long Beach. We have also put on your dais a letter from the HRC, of which I am the chair, who is also in support of this. But I'll be wearing my citizen hat this evening. Here you go. Speaker 11: I brought your gifts. I tried to. Every year, every women's history month, happy Women's History Month. You all have a copy of the latest edition of the Suffrage Gazette. In 1904, in her senior year at Swarthmore, my favorite human being, Alice Paul, was advised by her biology teacher that it would be better for her first senior year to work actually in to go to New York and work in a settlement house with poor immigrants. This middle class Quaker girl, upon seeing what poverty looked like, changed everything for her, and she realized there would be no equity until women works were explicitly included in the United States Constitution. And she saw on the way to do that, they would have to earn the vote. So she joined the suffrage movement in 1912. It had been languishing for 64 years. And with one with her 10,000 militants, they practiced high risk arrestable militancy and the vote was earned eight years later. August 26th, 1920. America is on the brink of celebrating the 100th birthday of this. It's called the Susan B Anthony Amendment. In fact, the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote. Not unrelated. We're also hoping that by the time that Centennial arrives, we will pass the Lucretia mott Amendment, known as the Equal Rights Amendment. State and city legislatures, the United States government, the Commission on the Status of Women in all 50 states. That's one of the things that's in front of you here a UW, A.W., N.W., PC. Every university in this country, every women's organization, every library is going to be lining up. As you can see here. And I have to tell you, as I was Googling different states and who's participating, I literally had to stop because there were hundreds. So I just picked some that I thought you might find interesting. I got a big kick out of Montana and and the commission, obviously, here in California is is already active. And so that's just a smattering of the states that are participating next week. So I want you to look here. This is Long Beach and something you may not know. I'm really happy to tell you. In 1911, women met here in Long Beach in the largest suffrage group collected was right here at the Virginia hotel. There were over 35,000 women represented, 125 clubs, and they set to work to earn suffrage for California women. And they did, in fact, nine years earlier than the federal amendment. And one thing I really hope you will remember tonight, that when that passed, California was the biggest democracy on the face of the earth, where women could vote, which I think is a really it's something to be proud of. We hope everybody will know that by the time the centennial arrives next spring. So I wanted to pick out just a few of the completely raucous things that are happening. One up in the center, they have gutted the prison where the suffragists were held and are creating a museum. On the upper left, you will see that we are on the path to mark every grave of every suffragist here in the United States. In fact, Cora Morgan's grave right here in Long Beach, your own suffragist is marked. Her grave will be marked. Below that is a patch. And the Girl Scouts of America are creating a patch across the bottom. You see statues. There are statues going up all over the country that women in Tennessee where the vote took place over there are women that are going to be standing as sentinels as they did. They're actually building an entire park up there. Just to the right of the center is a park that's being built in Virginia to commemorate what's going on there. And of course, I'd be well, she's got a street in in Chicago. I'm hoping maybe Sally Miller Gearhart will get mentioned at Harvey Milk Park. He never spoke without her. I'm hoping that we're going to take the time to maybe put up a Dolores Huerta Street, a Dolores Huerta Park. And I do have to commend Councilmember Richardson with the Michelle Obama library. That's something really to be proud of. And the reason I had that book down there, films, plays, movies, TV shows, unbelievable things that are happening. And this is a really wonderful book on suffrage. And it's being made into a six part television series by Steven Spielberg and Hillary Clinton. They're working on it right now. Lesson plans, library readings, publishers, swag games, TV shows, concerts, all women companies of dancers, orchestras and retailers. I was just up there looking at Peet's Coffee for a Women's History Month. You can buy that now. We hope to see all of Long Beach rise up and understand the fantastic history we have here in Long Beach. Of women who earned the vote nine years before the federal vote. So finally, I know you might wonder what difference it makes. And here's the difference it makes. Congress now has 23% women. The 116th has 23% women. That's more than we've ever had. And as you can see, they and you may remember the State of the Union, many of the women on the Democrat side were white. And you're going to see us popping up all over the city, maybe at the Corgi parade. Maybe we will be walking, I believe, in the Rose Bowl and all over this city to commemorate the suffrage. Speaker 5: Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 4: Thank you. So I'm going to talk a little bit about what we want to do here. And there's a group of women that have come together in the last two months to build the circle of women. It is over 20 women that are strong advocates for the community who want to share their free time to make this centennial special for our city. And our goal is to not only celebrate and and and really think about what this means to us, but really educate. I think it was amazing that we had a youngster from World Tonight talking here at council. I started speaking in front of council and school board at about the exact same age, and it's really important to allow them to understand what vote their vote means. And so that's what we can do through this year of events. That's what we're hoping for is to start commemorating this this year in August of 2019, and do a year of events that this group is putting together. It will also allow us an opportunity to think about the things that the city has been really working on access and equity, the issues of gender rights, voter rights and the the census are just a few topics that we can talk about through the conversation that we would have through the centennial. This is the circle of women as it as the founding members. These about 20 people have come together evenings and had great food brought to those meetings to talk about what we can do as a team to bring the Centennial Suffrage and these ideas out into the public. We have also, as my hat as the chair of the Human Relations Commission, I have been in touch with the L.A. County Human Relations Commission, as well as their joint commission joint committee that they have that is talking about the suffrage centennial from the county standpoint . We just had another meeting with them today, another phone call, and we're going to work together with them to really be a part of the centennial celebration throughout the entire Southland. Right now we're seeing that Pasadena, Santa monica and Long Beach are the three kind of main cities doing work around this with West Hollywood and a couple other cities coming on board. But we're lucky enough to have this group of women coming together early to start the ideas of how we can build this. And we're hoping to look to you tonight to talk about the ways that you can support us through that those moments. These are just a few of the things that we want to think about during this year. Art, of course, as you know, is very important to me and to those people here in the city. And it's a great way to educate and leave a lasting mark about something that's happened in our city. It's also very important that we do this education and talk about voter turnout. These are ways that we can move the conversation from 100 years ago to today. One of those pieces is we're hoping to commemorate women's firsts. There's a lot of firsts that have happened in our city, and we want to honor each of those pieces at different events and different things. As you heard in the motion. This is to think about 100 events. Wouldn't it be great to see 100 ways that we commemorate the centennial throughout that year? And that doesn't mean it has to be 100 galas or 100 little pieces of ways that we can be a part of something. But those can be all different sizes and shapes and look in many different ways. I think the other piece of that is the women really brought a spectacle to what it was to bring the right to vote to the nation, and we want to do that here in the city. So we have a list of items that we would love to share, but we don't have time tonight to go through them all. What we are hoping is that this the city and. City Council will come together with the circle of women to build a lasting moment in the inner city about what is happening for women and do that through events, moments, art, all the kinds of things that we can do. And we are also hoping that it can be an integral part of how Long Beach has become a driving force in women's rights. So I was lucky enough to be in this picture just a few months ago. I am a commissioner in an amazing age of this town where 51% of us are women. As you saw those numbers that Zoe shared, 23% of the Senate are women. But we are really looking towards really bringing women together to build the city that we want. I also appreciate being in a city where strong women do great community work, and that's what we're hoping to do to lead this effort. But we can't do that without your help. So as I said before, I put on my commissioner hat for a second and say that we have gone to the Commission on Human Relations to ask them for their support in getting this this word out and being a part of this event. But we're coming to you tonight to ask you a couple of things, and I'll put back my citizen hat on for these that you would be an advocate for the Long Beach Suffrage 100. That's the goal of this. We already have a Facebook page, a website that's getting built. We have Instagram and those other things. We're hoping that you will ask each of your staff to work with the circle of women closely to help build these events or share events that might happen and be able to allow us to be a part of them, and also to possibly appropriate funds to make a lasting monument to the world that we're talking about and what we're doing today, but also and what happened 100 years ago. So I want to especially thank Councilmembers Pearce and Gonzalez and Price and Superdad for bringing this tonight to the to the council. I think it's an important month for this to happen as it's Women's History Month, and that's what we should be talking about. And I thank all of you for the support you give to the city in the time you take. You give. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you so much. And we have a great last speaker. We're going to go back to the council. Councilmember Pearce, that. Speaker 1: Was the presentation to say no thank you. Speaker 3: Oh, so that public comment. Speaker 1: We haven't had public comment yet. Speaker 3: I'm sorry. Councilman Pearce. Speaker 1: So we haven't had public comment, but I will just follow up and say I appreciate the thoughtful presentation and I would like, you know, not only that, we as council members partner with and I committed my staff to partner with the organization. But really for this to be a call for our city clerk or city prosecutor's office to find a creative way in between August 26th of this year and August 26 of next year to partner so that we can do some education. I know that there's a conversation around funds, and I think it makes sense for you guys since you've just started a form to come back and really just work with city staff, with our city manager's office to try to figure out what that looks like. And then for staff to come back to us with any requests that might need city council approval. So that's kind of where we're at today. And again, I really think thank you, guys, because there's long history that I don't know and I'm learning every single day. And as much as you can do that work in the next year with our help, I think we'll be better for it. So thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 8: Yes, I'd like to say thank you as well to Amy from the Human Relations Commission, as well as the circle of women, and particularly Zoe Nicholson. She doesn't just do this in the month of March. She does this every single day. It is living and breathing in her inherently. And I really appreciate your passion to this. I read her books on the movement of voting and access to voting, particularly, obviously, for women. And it just inspires me personally and I look forward to researching a bit more with our city departments. I also I'm going to put our city clerk out there. I know we have great efforts going on in terms of marketing with voting specifically, and we need to absolutely ramp that up. Women need to vote. They need to understand that not just women, adult women, but K-through-12, you know, students, young students, like the young girl that we saw here, give them that opportunity to understand why they need to vote. Long Beach, City College, Cal State, Long Beach students as well. And I know we've been thinking about that, but I really look forward to advocating on behalf of District One for you. Thank you so much. Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Councilwoman and Councilwoman Pryce. Speaker 8: Q I too, want to thank you guys for the presentation. Both of you so eloquent and I was so pleased that we have two young girls in the audience today who got the chance to listen to you both speak, because both of you are just incredible speakers. And Zoe, when you speak, it really is almost like song. I mean, it's very the cadence of it. And when you speak, it's just it's you know, I haven't always liked every word that's come out of it, but I but I love the tone and I approach it from a place of deep respect. So I do want to say that I think it's important for us to have to thank and recognize the brave women who founded women's right to vote in America and fought to achieve that goal 100 years ago. For me, we cannot continue to make progress without looking to the past to see where we have come from and honor the incredible work to achieve the historic milestone in our American democracy. If we want to continue progress and encourage, encourage women's voices in our society and give women the strength to run for office and ensure girls know that they can be leaders in our community, we have to honor the work that has gotten us here, knowing that we can't take it for granted. Personally, I know that I have an increased responsibility to vote as a woman, but that responsibility is doubled by the fact that I am an elected official who has been given the duty to represent over 50,000 people. So my vote here at the Council is also something I take very seriously every Tuesday night and honor the legacy of women's suffrage, the movement, and what it stood for. Representing those voices is something I take very seriously. And I think it's really important as we talk about the history that we think about the women that have served in this city. I look to my left and my right and I see women who have work who work hard every single day to represent their residents. And I know that the female voice is important to the progress we see in our communities. And I there's one piece of Long Beach history that I didn't know, and that is the first elected city auditor who was elected 100 years ago today is yes. Myrtle Gonzales Laura Dowd has a conference conference room in her office dedicated to her, named after her. She was elected auditor 11 times, winning in the primary, each time receiving more votes than any other candidate running for office on the ballot. She was in office elected in 1919 and retired in 1951. 32 years of elected service. But for years before that she was the deputy city auditor. During her time in office. Oil was discovered in Signal Hill. Women in the U.S. won the right to vote. She was in office when women earned and won the right to vote. Speaker 1: She lets. Speaker 8: See. The Great Depression began and ended. World War Two began and ended. The naval base was established here. CSU, ILB and Long Beach City College were established here during her time in office. So as much as I like to think we're pioneers and we're creating, you know, amazing pathways, we are we are in some sense. But certainly there were many, many pioneers that came here before us. And so I, I hope to support this endeavor as much as I can in my council district. I started a leadership academy for young girls. And unfortunately, that's a very hard program to sustain without dedicated funding and staff to work on it. But we certainly have tried. We have speakers come and we would love to do more programs like that this year so that we can remind them. You know, one of the things my mom, single mom raised me, she always said, don't be afraid to go against the crowd, because at the end of the day, you have to do what you think is right. You have to be able to go to sleep at night and not have regrets about your values and going against your values. And that it's not always been uncomfortable, but that has served me well. So I think if we can teach our young girls to dream big dreams and to do what they think is right, even when it might be unpopular in that particular setting, that they should continue to do that. And so I'm glad there's two young girls here from Lowell watching this tonight. It was the perfect night for you to be here. And I thank our presenters and anything that my office can do. And I'm hopeful, as many important causes as we find, as many programs that we fund in this city, this is one that is very, very important to more than 50% of our population. And I hope it's one that we can honor through the dedication of some funds, because it really applies to, you know, all brackets regard regardless of what district you live in, regardless of your socioeconomic status, regardless of your educational status, it's it's about recognition of a big part of our history that's going to serve as a springboard for our future. So thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Mongeau. Speaker 6: I think that almost all that could be said has been said. I really appreciate the email that came to inform us about the information related to this. I thought it was well written and descriptive and I appreciate the amount of research and knowledge that is among your group. So thank you for bringing that. Speaker 3: Up, Councilman Richardson. Speaker 7: Just wanted to chime in and say that I really enjoyed this this item. Thank you, Councilwoman Pearce. Everyone who signed on. Thank you to, you know, all the women on the council. Councilwoman Price, very eloquent, very thoughtful statement. I didn't know very much about that individual. I think I look I'll look that individual up. And, you know, I think there's been a recurrent theme these last few weeks about these unsung heroes. Lobbies posted a really interesting article on some unsung heroes during African-American History Month. And we learned today about, you know, the clerk. So really interesting stuff. So I wanted to just chime in and say, I look forward to this. Thank you for stepping forward a year in advance and giving us the opportunity to participate. Make sure that there's you know, that there's events across the city. Make sure that other community groups that may want to do something can be factored into that 100 100 event sprint in a city as large as ours. I think this is something we certainly can can pull off. So. So thank you I think is a good goal. Count on me in support and I look forward to talking. Thank you. Speaker 3: Councilmember Ringo. Speaker 10: Thank you, Mayor. And I want to certainly thank our council women, powerful, strong women who are here with very proud, too, to be in your service as well. I just found out right now that there's a street in West Long Beach named after. Surrogate, Francis Willard. It's a Willard Street in the in west Long Beach Outlet right right past Saturday right around right around where real high school is. So I think it's something that we need to celebrate. I mean, I just found out so we can hopefully be included. It's okay to recognize that that street as well here in Long Beach. So looking forward to whatever we we end up doing in the very near future. Thank you very much. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilmember Councilmember Supernanny. Speaker 7: Thank you. I better chime in if that last comment. We have Willard Elementary School in the fourth District. So they would kill me if I didn't say that. Also, I'm very impressed that we got the right date on this because it was a very complicated process with lots of states ratifying it. Very often the wrong date is quoted, and the reason I've known that date all my life is because my mother was born on August 24th, 1920. Speaker 10: So all my life I heard that. Speaker 7: Yeah, once she was born, they knew they better pass that thing. So. Yeah, great. Mom, you're real special. Thank you. Speaker 10: But she. Speaker 7: She died one year ago at age 97. It was always fun to take her to the polls because everyone would say, well, she knows she can do absentee ballot. And I'd say, well, you know, she really likes to show up at the polls because she was born before women had the right to vote as great to see the young kids in there. They couldn't believe someone was still alive. But it. Speaker 10: Just points out. Speaker 7: This is recent history actually hundred years ago is still very recent. So thank you for allowing me to sign onto this. I am very proud to do so and thanks for bringing this forward. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilmember. Councilman Austin? Speaker 9: Yes, I'll be brief. I do appreciate the presentation. I am excited about the the outcomes over the next year. You can count on my support. And yes, my majority team of women will be will be supporting this as well. I just take it about the suffrage movement and where we are today. It's just amazing how and what an impact women have had on government throughout from from every level at this point. And I am proud to serve with with the four women but many women throughout city hall who are involved in government here in the city of Long Beach. And so I look forward to working with you all over the next year. Speaker 3: Thank you. And Vice. Speaker 0: Mayor. Yes, fine. I just want to give you a shout out, because the fact that a father of four girls I know now I have to live watching this. I told them they must stay up and watch this tonight. And I know the suffrage women have gone through and they have to listen to Mrs. Price speech. I know they will run for any and everything that they need to. Thank you guys again. And kudos to every one of you. Speaker 3: Thank you. And obviously, you know, I'm a huge supporter of this effort and I'm just really, obviously always proud. Any time that our Human Relations Commission but particularly, you know, Zoe, I think you are our leading voice on this topic, not just in the city, but certainly one of the leading voices across the country. And so thank you for your leadership. And we look forward to participating and supporting in any way that we can as your public comment on this item. Please come forward. Can't have one speaker. This will close the speaker's list after the speaker. Speaker 1: Hello, everyone. My name is Karen Harper and I live in the third district. And I just wanted to say, this is what a radical feminist looks like. Radical means equality and justice for all. And I just want to mention a few spectacular women that all of you may not know about. The Historical Society in Long Beach Unified created these four books on women who made a difference. Every third grader is supposed to be exposed to them. Kimi Sugiyama. Lilian Robles. Mary Dell Butler. Olivia Herrera, who now has a school named after her. And I also wanted to mention my Mac, an African American woman who started the USO for African-Americans because of segregation during World War Two and before that because local African-Americans couldn't get loans. She started a credit union. So that's just a little window of all the wonderful people we're going to learn about. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you. We're all pretty excited now. It's great history. Thank you so much. Please cast your vote.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from The Centennial Circle of Women on the 2020 Women's Vote Centennial Initiative commemorating the Suffrage Centennial. Direct City Manager to create a fund that would support 100 events citywide to increase civic engagement and to raise awareness about the history of Women's Right to Vote.

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Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Next, we'll move to item 31 with the clerk. Please read the item. Speaker 2: Report from Development Services Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare an ordinance to designate a new historic district for 19 properties located on the 6000 block of Walnut Avenue as a historical landmark. District. District nine. Speaker 0: Yes. Is there any public comment in this item? Speaker 7: Some council comment? Speaker 0: Yes, Mr. Richardson. Speaker 7: Thank you. I want to I want to acknowledge this this moment and share some context with the council. So this is you know, it's an important moment. This is an opportunity for us to expand the geographic diversity of our landmark districts around the city. It's the first landmark district in North Palm Beach, which makes up about 20% or a fifth of the city. Currently, there are historic districts. There are large historic districts in districts one, two, three and seven. There are some smaller districts in four, six and eight. There are no historic districts in districts five and nine. And so this action tonight actually does two things. It's a great step in working to address both postwar post-World War two history in our city and secondly, working class history. And and so this neighborhood tonight, within the Grant neighborhood, it's a part of a larger movement, really led by the residents, one here in the audience, Jeff Rowe. And I want to recognize the president of the Grant Neighborhood Association. And he's in he lives on Walton on Walnut Avenue. Really, this is a part of an effort for that to preserve the character of their independent, independent block. And I really applaud the work that they've done to really equitably explain and expand the city's historic preservation program, to include a broader range of geography, demographics and cultural history . So the cohesive collection of properties on this block really represent a certain period, you know, around the 20th, when the automobile allowed us to leave from the city center and really expand to other areas of town. And so the houses have a certain character, their two bedroom, one bath. And those things are changing now that the demands of the neighborhood are changing. We still want to preserve some of that unique history of that block. And so that conversation has already begun, and that's the appropriate use for this designation process. And then there's a there are benefits that a lot of people don't really recognize with. There are obviously challenges, but there are benefits as well. And so, one, it creates a deeper sense of pride of ownership in communities where properties invest their time and energy into the community as a whole and create a positive ripple effect. Secondly, you know, hopefully this this this helps us to acknowledge that an entire area of town, largely districts 95, which all were built around the same time, this is this is the first of a whole effort to begin recognizing those histories, which were largely made up of not not affluent or wealthier neighborhoods, but really working class communities and their their history. And then the financial benefit is that being a historic district offers these homeowners the opportunity to apply for the Mills Act and receive a reduction in their property taxes, which they can use. They can use that retained income and invest in necessary improvements to their property that highlight that historic character and contribute to neighborhood beautification. So I know that we these things typically come and go on our council agenda, but I wanted to sort of lift this up that this is the beginning of a new wave of a major sector of our of our our city, getting into the process of recognizing historically landmarked districts. So so thank you. And I move to support it. Speaker 0: Yes. Councilwoman Mongo. Okay. Fine. Could you please cast your vote? Yes. Have. I. I call pan coming in when like I speak on this item. Yes. Please come down to. Speaker 10: Closer next time. Thanks for considering this. We actually started this about three years ago and we thought, well, we got a lot of old homes and Grant, they're all coming up 100 years old. Let's do all of Grant neighborhood. Speaker 7: I wish Chris was here because. Speaker 10: In money, many little nuggets of wisdom. He said, no, that's going to be a little bit too big to get your arms around. Why don't you focus on a smaller area? So that's what we did, which turned out to be a pretty wise decision. Speaker 7: Because our neighbors didn't really know. Speaker 10: What it meant to have an historic district. One of them, for example, thought, well, if it's historic. Speaker 7: Does that mean that we have to maintain the interior of the house, sort of a museum quality? We said, no, no, no, you don't have to do that. You can leave all the laundry on the on the couch. Speaker 10: But anyway, there was a benefit to this that we never saw coming. And that's that shortly after we started this. And in the process of doing it, we all got to know each other pretty well. But we also launched the disaster preparedness effort, and because we knew each other pretty well. Speaker 7: We were able to get that all done in about four weeks. And I think we became then. Speaker 10: The second street in Long Beach to finish that disaster preparedness. Speaker 7: So anyway, thank you again, Rex and Chris isn't here, but thanks to him and to Gina, Casi removed. Thanks again for considering this. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next week, you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you and thank you. I'm very supportive. I'm Jacqueline Case. I'm a realtor. I support the historical districts. I'm also a board member of Long Beach Heritage. And I've been working with Christopher Koontz and a lot of other folks from the city to educate my industry about historical districts and how important it is for them to have an understanding of why it is important that we know what we can do and not do in these districts to support them. Because you're right, they actually do bring so much more value to our community, and even my industry doesn't really understand that completely. So I'm grateful that I happen to be here. And you happened to be talking about this. And I support and I thank you for thinking of and continuing to open your ideas for more historical districts and also landmarks. Speaker 0: Thank you. Now. Could we please catch the votes?

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare an ordinance to designate a new historic district for 19 properties located on the 6000 block of Walnut Avenue, bounded by 61st Street to the north and 60th Street to the south, specifically addressed as 6001, 6002, 6012, 6017, 6018, 6023, 6024, 6029, 6030, 6037, 6038, 6043, 6044, 6049, 6050, 6055, 6056, 6067 and 6068 Walnut Avenue, as a Historical Landmark District. (District 9)

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Speaker 0: Thank you. Now. Could we please catch the votes? Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Now we move to item 32 with the cloak police without him. Speaker 2: Report from development services. Recommendation to award 21 contracts for on call environmental planning, affordable housing and community engagement consultant services and an annual aggregate amount not to exceed 4 million for a period of two years citywide. Speaker 0: Do any public comment on this item? Congressman Austin would like to begin. Speaker 9: I'd like to get a brief staff report, please. Speaker 0: We please have a staff report, please. Speaker 10: Linda Tatum. Speaker 8: Just in summary, every approximately every five years, the Development Services Department goes out and establishes an on call list for consultants. And the purpose of that is to make the development process more efficient so that we don't have to do individual contracts every time a development project comes through the process. And typically, that includes everything from the Historic Resources Survey, like what we just talked about. It also includes the preparation of environmental impact reports, consultants that assist the staff with community outreach. Just the whole range of the development projects that come through our process. Having the on call consultants list is very helpful to staff. It saves time and makes our development process a lot more efficient. And just so you're clear on the the costs of those contracts. Typically the vast majority of those contracts are paid for by the developer. So the amount that we're setting aside is primarily a pass through amount. So when the development project comes through, the developer pays for that in their application fees. And that's pretty much an overview of the process. We once you approved this tonight. These the city will enter into individual contracts with each of these firms and they are on the list. So when they do come to the city, we can get the projects through the process expeditiously. Speaker 0: Thank you, Michael. Speaker 9: Thank you. And I do notice that a number of these consulting contracts being proposed are local firms. And so I want to recognize and appreciate that. Thank you. I so move to support. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman Pierce. Okay. Fine. Would you please let your vote?

Contract

Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP DV19-007 and award contracts to AECOM Technical Services Inc., of Los Angeles, CA; City Fabrick, of Long Beach, CA; Environmental Science Associates, of Los Angeles, CA; Gruen Associates, of Los Angeles, CA; HDR Engineering, Inc., of Long Beach, CA; Impact Sciences, Inc., of Los Angeles, CA; Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., of Orange, CA; Lisa Wise Consulting, Inc., of San Luis Obispo, CA; LSA Associates, Inc., of Irvine, CA; Meridian Consultants, LLC, of Westlake Village, CA; Michael Baker International, Inc., of Santa Ana, CA; PlaceWorks, of Santa Ana, CA; Prevention Institute, of Oakland, CA; Psomas, of Santa Ana, CA; Rincon Consultants, of Ventura, CA; RRM Design Group, of San Luis Obispo, CA; S. Groner Associates, Inc., of Long Beach, CA; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP, of Los Angeles, CA; Terry A. Hayes Associates, Inc., of Culver City, CA; Veronica Tam and Associates, of Pasadena, CA; and, Willdan Engineering, of Industry, CA, for on-call environmental, planning, affordable housing, and community engagement consultant services,

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Speaker 1: Councilwoman Price. Speaker 2: Councilmember Sabrina motion carries. Speaker 0: An actual mold item 35 with the clerk please reliably. Speaker 2: Report from Financial Management Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing city manager to execute a contract with Hacker Equipment Company for the purchase of 11 CNG powered street sweepers in an amount not to exceed 4,377,361 and execute a five year lease purchase agreement with Bank of America Public Capital Corp. for the financing of street sweepers in an amount not to exceed 4,770,000 citywide. Speaker 0: Thank you. Wrote a public comment on this item. Restrictions like speaking to customers. Speaker 9: Please. I'd like to get back. Speaker 0: To have a go ahead. Would you, please? Speaker 10: Sure. Dan Burton Barker, fleet manager. Speaker 0: Thanks for watching. Speaker 10: Good evening. Members of Council Vice Mayor. Street sweepers are used throughout Long Beach to maintain city streets. Fleet Services is recommending 11 of those sweepers for replacement as they age, considerably causing a rise in maintenance and operational costs as well as increased downtime that affects sweeping operations. The Environmental Services Bureau has performed extensive testing to verify the best sweepers for use in the city and has placed several air sweepers into service for use in a city where they're most effective. The Bureau has determined that the remainder of the sweeper fleet should be a mechanical broom sweeper for best maneuverability and sweeping quality. These 11 sweepers are updated versions of those used by the city since 2003 and are proven to provide the best service on the harder to sweep roads within Long Beach. The sweepers are equipped with compressed natural gas. Engines are part of the FAA 16 to 18 vehicle replacement plans and as mentioned, will be financed through the city's master lease agreement with Bank of America. This purchase was researched extensively, both to ensure specifications, meet the needs of the department and also to ensure the city is getting a competitive price. Given the urgency of replacing these sweepers, the alternative procurement use of the National Joint Powers Alliance, a recognized government cooperative purchasing agreement, will greatly help to reduce procurement time. That concludes my presentation. I'm available to answer your questions. Speaker 0: Perhaps we lost it. Speaker 9: Just quick question. How are the existing fleet powered type of fuel? I see that there's this is CNG. Speaker 10: LNG, actually. Speaker 9: Okay. So this is a cleaner. Speaker 10: This is cleaner and less expensive. Speaker 9: Perfect. Thank you so much. Speaker 0: Councilman Ewing. Speaker 10: For this report. Glad to see that we continue our award winning efforts to maintain a clean fleet using alternative fuels. Thank you. Speaker 0: Congresswoman Pryce. Speaker 8: I am excited about this opportunity. I do have a question. Do you know if these vehicles have GPS capability? Speaker 10: They will be equipped with a GPS capability. Yes. Speaker 8: OC more to come later. But we have an agenda item that might involve. Speaker 1: Street sweepers with. Speaker 8: GPS signals, which is a good thing. But we can discuss that another day at least. I know we have the technological capability. Speaker 10: We look forward to it. We embrace technology and fleet. So I would add. Speaker 8: Awesome answer. Speaker 10: Thank you. I would add, Councilmember, that all of our street sweepers have what we call a zone R, so we're able to see where they are and where they've been and how they've done those things. We had that on a number of our city fleet. Speaker 8: That's great. Thank you. I really appreciate that. Speaker 3: Thank you so much, Councilwoman Councilor Richardson. Speaker 7: Thank you. I support this. I think it's time that we get a newer fleet on the edge of our city up in the Hamilton neighborhood. If the street sweeper breaks down, it never makes it to that side of the the neighborhood. So there's plenty of times people say they didn't show up well because, you know, a lot of times they broke down. So hopefully this makes our system a lot more consistent and reliable. So I'm glad and happy to support this. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilmember Councilwoman. Speaker 6: I have the same issue as Councilmember Richardson, except for my issue is a thursday-friday break down issue. I think that also the number of times we've had the challenges, because they get full and different things and then have to go back more often than they usually do. I really appreciate the research that went into this and I really appreciate the staff report and discussion about these a few months ago as they were coming down the pipe, because I think it was very helpful to the residents who have in the past put their greens in the gutter and now know that the street sweepers can handle that. And that's not what they're intended for. So thank you very much. And if you haven't or don't know a lot about our street sweepers, please go on YouTube. And there's a video about what we've learned about our street sweepers. Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Next. Actually, any public comment on this saying that please cast your votes.

Resolution

Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract with Haaker Equipment Company, of La Verne, CA, for the purchase of 11 CNG-powered street sweepers, with related equipment and accessories, on the same terms and conditions afforded to Sourcewell (formerly the National Joint Powers Alliance), of Staples, MN, in an amount not to exceed $4,377,361, inclusive of taxes and fees; and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a five-year lease-purchase agreement and related financing documents with Banc of America Public Capital Corp., of San Francisco, CA, for the financing of street sweepers, in an amount not to exceed $4,770,000, inclusive of capital purchase, interest, and fees. (Citywide)

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Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Next. Actually, any public comment on this saying that please cast your votes. Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 3: 36. Speaker 2: Please report from Public Works, Parks, Recreation and Marine. Speaker 3: A very exciting item 36. Speaker 2: Recommendation door to contract to classic engineering and construction for the Alamitos Beach Concession Building Project for a total contract amount not to exceed 6,533,150 District two. Speaker 3: Okay. Councilmember Pearce. Did you want to do the staff report first? Yes, please. Okay, let's get the staff report. Speaker 10: This is a very exciting project. And we're going to have a very exciting presentation from Craig back. Mm hmm. Thank you, Mayor. Members of the council, we are happy to be for you this evening to talk about. Speaker 3: The continued renaissance of our beach front. This is. Speaker 10: A new project. Speaker 3: That we want to go. Speaker 10: Through and provide a brief PowerPoint presentation and share some new images of the concession stand. Erik Lopez has been leading this effort for public works, so I'm going to ask him to make the presentation this evening. Thank you. After a comprehensive public outreach process, we are ready to proceed with construction of our new two storey 4240 square foot concession stand. That would include the following amenities a new playground, equipment, rental space, outdoor dining areas, a new pedestrian promenade and rebuild beach public restrooms. The total project cost is estimated at $9 million and it is entirely funded by Tidelands funds. We anticipate beginning construction in April 2019, just a couple of months away and completing prior to summer of 2020. This project continues our efforts to revitalize our waterfront and aid and increase the youth and popularity for locals and visitors alike. The project will also help improve the safety of the immediate area and increase the recreational opportunities available. We are partnering with the Department of Economic Development to help us with the outreach and and bringing on board of new vendors. There is currently a request for proposals out in the streets. Those proposals to operate not just the Alameda locations, but some of our other beach concessions that are due in May. We we anticipate returning to the council in summer to award one or more contracts. So this is really a two step process. Tonight, before you were asking approval to move forward with a construction contract so we can start physically building out the the structure itself and we'll be returning to council for a vendor contract, as Eric mentioned, to have a concession operator at this location and the other beach concessions as well . That concludes our staff report and are available for questions. Speaker 3: Thank you. Thank you. Just for clarification, I just would I'm clear the approval of construction is just for the element of beach project. Correct. Okay. Thank you, Councilor Pearce. Speaker 1: Well, thank you, Staff. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I am so excited about this project. Before I was in office, we talked a lot about how do we get more people down on our beaches and how do we really activate it? And we had a lot of ideas around concession stands, and I did not at that time believe that we would get to a place with something that's spectacular. And so I'm really thankful for all of your guys hard work, the visioning that was done with community members, with the team that worked on designing this. You know, I know we said we liked what we had in Santa monica and kind of that same model of of being able to have food outside, inside and having the amenities to check out, you know, whether it's what sorts of can we roll the ball, you know, activities, bocce ball, you know, and lots of fun activities there. So I want to commend you on that. I also really want to say, you know, the Tidelands Fund is also often a conversation at the budget time. And I want to thank Councilmember Price. About a year ago, we started working together on our Tidelands funds instead of having separate meetings, and we agreed to prioritize not only this concession stand, but the other ones. And so I really want to thank her for her partnership, and thanks for getting us to a place where we could do that and get to here. And for those that might be listening or might be excited, the other part of this project, phase two with the RFP for operating, you know, currently we've had Alfredo's operate all of the concession stands and really we're a city that's diverse, that has many great restaurants here and many great ideas. And so I really pressed on staff and I want to thank them for separating out the RFP that I understand it might be one operator that operates more than one, but really, if we could have oysters at one, burgers out another, tacos out another, that way you've got a different reason to kind of hop along our different beaches. But it's a good day. I'm very excited. Thank you very much. Speaker 3: Thank you. Councilmember Councilwoman Price. Speaker 8: Thank you very much. And I echo every single comment that Council Councilmember Pierce just said. I mean, this is a really exciting project. It's going to activate the beach even more than it's currently activated. And in a way that's going to be really meaningful for people that want to spend a chunk of time on the beach because they'll have options and they won't have to leave the beach to go and get lunch or dinner. I agree with Councilmember Pearce. I think it would be really good for us to have different concessionaires or at least a concessionaire that's dedicated to having different feel or different vibe at each of the different concession stands just to have some variety. I would hate for us to have just kind of this cookie cutter thing at every single one you go to, you get your burger, you get your hotdogs, and that's it. It would be cool if they each had a theme or a vibe or that was different and unique because they're all going to look different . Each one of these is going to look different, which is another thing I love about this project that's not going to be this cookie cutter look that we see in some other cities along the coast. Every every single one is going to have its own feel. So I agree. We've worked together on this and I'm so excited for Council District two and their residents for getting this project. But I'm really excited for all the people that are visiting the city. They're going to have this as a city asset to enjoy. I want to thank staff. You guys have been working on this for a long time and I know sometimes it's challenging because you have limited resources and a lot of project needs and desires and wishes by the council members. And I want you to know that we're working hard to realize that reality for you and trying to be mindful of the priorities that we have and the commitments that we've made, too. And this one is a clear example of, you know, a district asset that the entire city is going to benefit from. So thank you for the great work that you've done. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilwoman Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 7: Thank you, Mayor. I got to say, this is this is pretty awesome. Now, my my you know, I have kids, four year old, two year old. We go to the playground. We go to the beach. This puts the playground on the beach. I mean, that's huge. I got things to talk about now. You know, in addition to that, when we go to the beach, it's a lot of logistics. You got to bring the snacks. You got to bring this, bring that. Now, I don't have to bring those things. So how long did this business get open? Speaker 1: Summer We'll have a beach party. Speaker 7: Summer next. Speaker 10: Year. So this will break ground right after the Grand Prix. This will be open in summer 2020. But this is actually the smaller of the playgrounds that are being planned. And there's two other playgrounds that are larger. Two other areas along the beach. And those we are planning to be have open by this summer. Speaker 7: That's awesome. I think we're just going to hold off on birthdays until summer 2020. Thanks a. Speaker 8: Lot. Speaker 5: It's more of a gathering. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilman Austin. Speaker 9: Yes. I would just like to congratulate Councilmember Pierson, Pryce and the entire city. This is an upgrade to our beach. I spend a lot of time down at the water and and I look forward to enjoying this. And so it has my full support. Speaker 3: And I just want to add, I've been a huge supporter of this project ever since I first kind of heard where you guys are going with this staff. And so I just want to thank you guys. I totally agree with both council members, Pearce and Price. I know I had mentioned this a while back as well, but I think it's very important that each concession have its own experience and that sometimes is hard to do with with one concessionaire. And now, you know, look, of course, you have you have models like the airport, for example, where you have one master operator. But they they actually have different restaurants or different experiences within the airport, within that airport. And I would hope that if we're going to go with one major operator, that we look to the type of project that we have at the airport where these there still are different branded experiences. And if not, I also completely support that, just different operators having different experiences at these at these concessions. Let me just also say that this is one of the projects that is identified in our Olympic projects plan. So all three of the concession stands are and if you think about the visitors that come for the Olympics, they will be able to connect from one end of the beach over at the pier all the way over to downtown. And this is a great way to to stop and get, you know, get some oysters, get a beer, ride your bike and enjoy yourself. And so for fun, for the whole family. And so thank you for your hard work. This is really exciting project. One of the projects I'm probably most excited about, so I'm looking great. Speaker 10: So Mayor, if I can comment on the concession stand, so and and absolutely we echo the comments and thank you for, for all the excitement and and you and the and the two council members that do Tidelands really have made this a priority. So this was not a priority before with kind of an idea that was happening. And when we did the reprioritization, this clearly rose to the top. And, and there's been a lot of commitment to get us to the point where we are. So I do want to say that this is the big project that is kind of the mothership of the concession stand, but there are those other concession stands down the road. So you heard Eric talk about them. They're all going to be designed. We do have designs where they look different. They're similar. So you know that they're all concession stands, but they have different feels. The idea behind the actual operators will be that we ask, we're asking for individuals, but we're also allowing one company to do them all. But as long as they're different, so we will not be accepting ones that all look exactly the same and have the same offering. So that is clearly not the plan. We're also looking and supporting Long Beach businesses. If there are Long Beach businesses that would like to come down similar to the airport and have that kind of model. And from the airport, we're adopting the the street pricing model so that you don't pay, you know, $15 for a hamburger that's really, you know, $8 value. So people feel very good. Just in the last second, I'd like to to talk about what's happening. You'll have this will be the big concession stand at Granada. You have a concession stand along with basketball courts and and a big play structure, a net play structure. And then as you go further down by Granada, you'll have a water play theme for for younger kids where they can play with water in the sand and have another concession stand there. And then there's Bayshore. So we'll really have some of the best concessions on on the beach in our mind, way better than Santa monica. Speaker 5: And. Speaker 3: Not even close to Santa monica. Santa Water Councilwoman Price. Speaker 8: I just had one other suggestion and I know we. Want them all to be different and don't want him to look alike. But it would be nice if they had a similar colored color palette family so that it doesn't look like we're just, you know, dumping something there that's not connected or maybe same materials, but different colors , something so that it looks connected. Because one of the things I've found and we're doing a better job of it, but even with our bathrooms and our parks and our fire, I know the fire stations have a color. And then we had our parks, rec and marine facilities had a color. The two colors did not go together at all. I mean, just in recent years, we've changed that. But we should try to coordinate a little bit so that at least the color palettes match. Speaker 10: So we have thought of that, about that. We agree completely that you should know that that's a major Long Beach structure and that they're related, but they also should look a little different. So each one will have similar colors, there will be accents so that each one has like different art on the walls. As you get to the concession, they all have a lettering. You know, the one at at Bayshore will have a big be the one at Granato have a big G, so you'll be able to see a little difference. But there the eye will know that those are all belong together. So yes, we putting a lot of thought into that. And I would just. Speaker 3: Add to Tom's response that we're using the same architectural firm. Speaker 10: For. Speaker 3: For the design work. So you're going to see some consistency through that effort. Thank you so much, Councilman Austin. Speaker 9: And I didn't want to have the last word, but on that note of coordinating, I was thinking, since we don't have Tidelands funds up in Uptown, right, we could have like a map at every one of the concessions on how to get to Bixby Knolls or, you know, I mean, because we're gonna have a lot of tourists coming through, through to, to our beaches. I think we need to educate everybody about the rest of the city. Just something to think about. Speaker 3: The next the next item is we're putting one of these in Highland Park. Actually. Speaker 5: This could have a lot of circling back to Gonzales. Speaker 1: Pierce, real quick, a phase two of this that we've talked a lot about to address, that is is really the history of Long Beach and making sure that these stands have a full tie in for the full city of Long Beach. And so that goes to your point. Councilmember Austin's that we will be talking about the entire city when you come down to our beaches beaches. Speaker 8: But don't scoot down there because there's no scooters on that beach path. Speaker 3: The beaches are everyone's everyone's. Yes. Okay. Any public comment on this? Please come forward. Speaker 1: Hello, friends. My name's Ashley Summers. I live in District two. First of all, I just want to say I think it's awesome that this is happening for our beaches. I grew up along the coast, not the East Coast, the East Coast and a small beach town, very much like this one. So I have a lot of fond memories along the ocean, just, you know, with my friends and my family. And we didn't. Speaker 4: Actually have. Speaker 1: Anything like that in Florida. Of course, Florida doesn't have a lot of things that California has. So. But anyway, I do I just want to bring up two suggestions. I've done beach cleanups with the Long Beach Environmental Alliance, and it is. Speaker 4: Ridiculous. Speaker 1: How much trash gets on these beaches. And this project sounds awesome. And I don't I know I'm going to be a bit of a buzzkill, but I'm just a little concerned that if buying stuff is more convenient, then so is throwing trash on the ground. So I would absolutely urge if you guys have like any sort of, you know, control over this to see if we can get some zero waste like, you know, encouragement at these concession stands. Reusable cups encourage people to bring their own straws, have biodegradable products, make it so that people don't feel awkward bringing their own things, you know, like encourage it. And another thing I really need to stress as well is, you know, while a lot of these eateries are really fun and awesome for for us, you know, when we come and visit them, unfortunately they're not so awesome for the animals whose bodies are sold there. 56 billion animals, land animals die for food in the United States every year, and that number ratchets up to 3 billion a day when you include fish. So I think in a city as modern and progressive as this one, it would be quite amiss to not have plant based options at these these eateries, because, you know, many of us are making the compassionate choice not to eat animals. So I think making sure that that is also compassion is also convenient on the beach is also, you know, a really great way to show tourists what Long Beach is all about. So, yeah, if if you guys could help out with that, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you. Our counts are actually we have one more public comment. Please come forward and then we're going to answer a pierce and then we'll go to a vote. Speaker 10: My name is and I can say I'm in full support of the Alamitos Beach Concession Building Project. My comment is in relation to the the Contractor six Engineering and Construction Inc of Orange, California. Michael, my column is more an issue of, you know, a local hire. Just researching over the last couple of days that this company in particular, they have been sued multiple times for labor violations. Most recently, about three years ago, they were sued by the construction, construction Cement Mason Construction Labor Fund because they weren't paying their state. They weren't paying their state dues into the retirement board for the workers that they used. So $5 million seems like a lot of money to be spending to work with people who have unsavory business dealings, especially in relation to, you know, a city that has a very viable relation with unions. So just I would just be curious if staff was aware of the even though they have an ongoing lawsuit right now with the Credit Adjustment Bureau. So I just I just think this is an inappropriate company for us to be working with. And maybe we could find a a local one that doesn't have this kind of record and, you know, funneling some city funds into companies that are local and not based in trust. And this is all public record that I found this information for. So just curious. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Next up is Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 1: I wanted to ask about the waste products that was brought up and just wondering if there's any special language that you guys can. We don't need to hash it out right now, but as close to zero waste and environmental friendly practices as possible. I know the RFP is already out, but if we could take that into consideration. Speaker 10: So we'll look at that through the evaluation process and we'll make sure that they're not allowed to use any Styrofoam products so that they'll be covered in the ban that's already in effect. So that'll be the number one. And then we'll look at some of the other like ways to reduce trash. Speaker 1: So can I just say let's ban straws on the beach. So it's not the right time. We'll work on it. I understand. Thank you.

Contract

Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7106 and award a contract to Klassic Engineering and Construction, Inc., of Orange, CA, for the Alamitos Beach Concession Building Project, in the amount of $5,681,000, with a 15 percent contingency in the amount of $852,150, for a total contract amount not to exceed $6,533,150; authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments; and Accept Mitigated Negative Declaration ND-07-17. (District 2)

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Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Price my readers and any public comment on this? Seeing none, please cast your vote. Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 3: Thank you. Item 39. Speaker 2: Communication from Councilwoman Price. Chair Public Safety Committee Recommendation Receive and file an update from the City Manager on the status of the restoration of Fire Engine 17. Speaker 3: Thank you. Did you want me to go to the staff report first? Councilman. Okay, let's go and get the staff report. Mr. West. Speaker 10: Mayor. Councilmembers. We were asked in this year's budget to try to find funding for fire station 17 and also six police officer positions. We promised that we come back this fiscal year with during the fiscal year and identify the structural funds necessary to bring those restorations into impact. We're very positive right now that we're what we're going to be bringing something shortly to the city council for some type of structural funding. We haven't identified it yet, but one of the most promising things that we're looking at right now is a safer grant. These are grants provided by the federal government. We'll be applying shortly in the next several weeks for a federal safer grant that, if successful, will provide structural dollars for the equipment and also a certain amount of the employees. And as we go forward with that, it'll last. It's not structural in the sense that it'll it'll last forever, but it'll certain carries forward for a year or two until we can help find other structural dollars for it. So that's what we're looking at. And in addition to that, we're looking at other avenues in the budget and where things are dealing with sales tax, property tax, other things where we could come to you with a structural plan to add this. Speaker 3: Thank you. Next up is a customer supernova that the entire report was. Okay. Let me go to first concert supernova. Speaker 7: Thank you. I'd just like to ask the city manager if if we have any dates in mind or anything you can share with us in terms of restoration dates. Speaker 10: No, I don't. If we're lucky enough to get something from the safer ground. Like I said, we're applying this month. The deadline is this month. We should know. I would hope within a month or two, maybe 60 days, whether or not we've been successful in the ground. Speaker 7: Okay. Thank you. Speaker 8: And I just wanted to give a little bit of background on this item. This came from the Public Safety Committee. Hopefully all of you received the summary of our Public Safety Committee meeting that we had. We're trying to, while we always give you guys the summary report afterwards so that you know what's going on at public safety . But we are also recommending that certain actions, issues that we take up at public safety then be referred to the city council because we think they're of such import that they are relevant to the entire council. And this was one of them. Another item that you'll be seeing come back soon to the full council at the recommendation of the Public Safety Committee is the report on Tiger Connect and what the findings were and what some of the recommendations are moving forward. And so we will make recommendations out of Public Safety Committee and ask that you consider supporting our recommendations as further direction to staff. So this is one of those items. It's obviously very, very important to councilman super or not, and he's been consistent advocate for this restoration. And I think we could not support him more if we tried. So I'm glad that it's here and I look forward to seeing the staff's recommendation of how we can make this restoration a reality in the very near future. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you. Any public comment on this item? Seeing no public comment. Members, please cast your vote.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file an update from the City Manager on the status of the restoration of Fire Engine 17 including funding, staffing, and equipment.

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Speaker 0: With that, we do have a couple of hearings. And so, as everyone knows, we're going to be doing the hearings first and then after the hearings will go into the start of the meeting and and go from there. And so with that, let me begin. We have hearing number one, which I will have the clerk read. Speaker 1: Hearing item one is a report from financial management. Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record. Conclude the public hearing and grant an entertainment permit with conditions on the application of Muldoon Saloon. 5646 Paramount Bulwer for Entertainment Without Dancing District eight. And it does require an oath. Anyone wishing to testify regarding this item, please stand and raise your right hand. You in each of you do solemnly state that the testimony you may give in the court now and pending before this body shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God. Speaker 0: Okay. Well, thank you. I'm going to go and introduce our assistant city manager, Tom Modica. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We will have a staff presentation on this given by Emily Armstrong from Business Licensing. Speaker 4: Good evening, honorable mayor and members of the city council. Tonight you have before you an application for Entertainment Without Dancing for Shamrock Hospitality Group LLC doing business as Muldoon's Saloon located at 5646 Paramount Boulevard operating as a bar tavern lounge in Council District eight. This application originally came before you on September 18th, 2018. The hearing was continued to allow the business the opportunity to address concerns from the community and the counsel office. The application then came before you on January 22nd, 2019. The hearing was continued for an additional 30 days to research a potential ownership change of the business. The 30 day continuation period has now concluded all of the necessary departments are recommending approval of the entertainment permit, subject to the conditions as contained in the hearing packet. I, as well as the police department, stand ready to answer any questions Council may have, and that concludes staff's report. Speaker 0: Thank you. Can we go to public comment first? Can public comment, please, on the hearing in front of us? If you'd like to make a comment. At the time. Seeing no public comment on hearing number one. Let me go to Councilman Braxton. Speaker 3: Okay. Well, thank you very much. So council public, when this hearing first took place in September, I had expressed several concerns. At the time. There were numerous cases of unpermitted bands performing and other issues raised by neighbors. I asked my colleagues to continue the hearing for four months to give the owner ship an opportunity to address the issues. I met with one of the owners in Mr. English shortly after September's hearing, and he made assurances that he would work to address many of the concerns that were raised. One of the representations that he made was that he had bought out the other owner of the business, Patrick Coughlin, who who many of the issues were attributed to just prior to January's council meeting when this item was continued to be scheduled to be heard. Mr. ENGLISH And further informed my office that he was actually selling the business and that it was currently in escrow. Speaker 0: Councilman Orson Just 1/2. In talking to the city attorney, I know I called public comment and no one came forward, but just to make sure the applicant does not want to say anything, is that correct? Does the applicant want to say anything? Speaker 5: I heard that it was approved. Speaker 0: Okay. So. Well, nothing. Nothing is approved. I just want to make sure that I call public comment and the applicant is not interested in making any comments. Is that correct, sir? Okay. Speaker 3: Hi. And so just prior to the council meeting, I was informed that the the the the current owner was in the process of selling the business and was currently in escrow. I felt was best continue the hearing for an additional 38 days to sort out the information we had just received and hopefully have a chance to meet with the new owner at this point. I do have a few questions on regard to staff in regards to our modules. First of all, two, PD, does the police department have any information as to whether there have been any changes in the ownership of modules on the state's ABC license since last September? Speaker 2: Honorable mayor, respective city council members, Commander Rudy Comisar representing the police department. According to my research, per ABC contact today, there is no pending transfer of ownership with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at this time. Speaker 3: Can. Does the police department have any information as to whether there are any pending applications with ABC to change the ownership of the ABC license? Speaker 2: No, not at this time. Speaker 3: Okay. So is Mr. Patrick Collins still listed as the managing member of Shamrock Hospitality Group, the owner of Modo Saloon and Art? And are there any pending applications with ABC to change that designation? Speaker 2: No. There are no attempts right now to change that. As far as any research that I was able to find in referencing the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control License CORI System as of February 18th, 2019, Mr. Patrick Conlin is listed as one of the owners managing member and there are two additional owners listed on the application with California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Speaker 3: And to your knowledge, has business licensing received any applications or inquest inquiries from a potential new owner about an entertainment permit for modern saloon? Speaker 6: No, we have. Speaker 4: Not received any communications from any. Speaker 6: New owner. Speaker 3: And if the business is sold with the new owner, how to apply for a new entertainment permit regardless of the council's actions today. Speaker 4: Yes, entertainment permits are not transferable, so any new owner of a business would need to reapply for an entertainment permit. Speaker 3: Okay. Thank you. So since the January hearing or item was before us. My office has not heard anything from any new potential owner of Muldoon's. Although Mr. English has indicated to my office that the escrow is supposed to close this week for the sale of the business. I appreciate the work that has been done to address the concerns raised by the community back in December and that he is now in the process of selling the business. However, considering that the entertainment permit is specific to the applicant and the new owner would have to apply for a new entertainment permit based on Mr. English's representations to my office about the status of the sale, and that the new ownership would take ownership as soon as this week requiring a new entertainment permit application, and considering that despite representations otherwise last September, there have been no indications of any official change of the current ownership structure in either the city's or state's records. To address the concerns that have been initially raised, I would have to move to support received the supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing and deny the entertainment permit for Shamrock Hospitality Group doing business as Muldoon Saloon. So moved. Speaker 0: There is a motion and a second. Councilmember Austin. Remember your range. I read Austin twice on my list. Did you have any comments? Speaker 2: No, but just for clarification, so to get this straight is that this current application is under review and it is a possibility that the owner who originally applied will not be the owner of record. Right. Thank you. Speaker 0: Seeing no other members of the council have any other comments. We have a motion and a second. I'm going to go out and close this public hearing and I've the members to please cast your votes on the motion by Council Member Austin. Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Let me where. There's been a couple of requests on moving a couple items. So is is there a hearing? There's a hearing. Two and three and. Correct. We withdrew hearing two. Is that correct? I'm quick. Okay. So we're going to move over to item 16 and 17. I think both have folks here, some large groups. So I want to get to those two items. So we're going to do 17 and then 16.

Public Hearing

Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and grant an Entertainment Permit with conditions on the application of Shamrock Hospitality Group, LLC, dba Muldoon's Saloon, 5646 Paramount Blvd., for Entertainment Without Dancing. (District 8)

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Speaker 0: Okay. So we're going to move over to item 16 and 17. I think both have folks here, some large groups. So I want to get to those two items. So we're going to do 17 and then 16. Speaker 1: Item 17 A is a communication from Councilmember Pearce, Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilmember Karenga and Councilmember Richardson. Recommendation to direct city attorney to review the Convention Center Memorandum of Understanding from comparable cities and requires City Manager and City Attorney to meet with SMG to discuss execution of a similar MRU for the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center operations. Speaker 0: Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 7: Thank you. The item came up quickly, so I don't have my awesome talking points about our convention center. But I do want to say, you know, the convention center is a huge economic driver for us in the city of Long Beach. We know that we've got millions of people that visit every single year. And SMG and Steve Goodling have done a fantastic job about ensuring that we have a property that is unique and flexible to the needs of convention goers, as well as the needs of our city. And we want to make sure that across the board we have a skilled workforce that is trained at the highest level, doing the work that allows our convention center to thrive. And so I am thankful for the work that I've done with Charlie Parkins, with Steve Goodling, with SMG, to get us to a place where we can start some good conversations and put our best foot forward. So I urge my council colleagues to vote yes tonight. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Ringa. Speaker 2: I have heard those comments. Speaker 0: Okay. Let me go and go to public comment. Is there any public comment on this item? Kate, seeing no seeing no public comment. Let me go ahead and go back to any other council discussion. CNN members, please go out and cast your votes.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to direct City Attorney to review the Convention Center Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) from comparable cities including, but not limited to, Los Angeles and San Diego with the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, Orange County Federation of Labor, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 11, and Painters & Allied Trades, District Council 36, Teamsters Local 986 and Teamsters Local 848. Request City Manager and City Attorney to meet with SMG to discuss execution of a similar MOU for the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center operations. Also, request City Manager require a Labor Memorandum of Understanding in future contracts for the operation of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center.

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you. And let me move on to item 16, please. Speaker 1: Item six needs communication from Councilwoman Price, Councilwoman Gonzalez and Councilman Austin. Recommendation two requires City Manager to develop a policy where work done to develop the city's EV infrastructure is performed by contractors signatory to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who hold a valid California C ten electrical contract license. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Price. Speaker 8: Thank you. This item is a very important one, I think, for our city at the juncture that we're at as a city within the state, trying to create more green infrastructure and the inclusion of electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure is a major part of that. In light of state recent state policy decisions requiring increased certification for those conducting electrical vehicle infrastructure, electrical work, the city of Long Beach should also require these categories of projects be completed by the same quality and certification of electricians. Additionally, because safety is also an important issue for Long Beach, it's important to ensure that contractors installing electrical vehicle infrastructure do so with correct safety training and practices. Contractors working in the city of Long Beach on city infrastructure should be required to do so with the same skills as the California Energy Commission requires, and that the California Public Utilities Commission requires for infrastructure work financed by SC, PGE, ENI and SG ENI. This will be an important infrastructure mechanism for our city to ensure quality work as we continue to look towards the future and build the necessary infrastructure for our mobility needs. I urge my colleagues to support this item. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Austin. Speaker 3: I certainly second this. Probably if anyone has had the opportunity to visit the IBEW training center in Commerce, you'd understand that that this is an excellent item and something that we need to be fully supportive of as a city council. These individuals spend a good number of years learning their craft in it, and so it's so important that, particularly when it comes to public infrastructure, that we have the best and best quality and the safest approach to to our infrastructure. And so I'm fully in support of this 100%. Thank you for bringing it forward. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember. Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 7: Awesome. Very happy to vote yes on this item. It's been great to see our city really embrace. Clean energy and to see us not only say we want to clean up our environment, but we want to make sure we have a skilled workforce that's rebuilding the middle class. And doing that is a great honor to take that step. And so I want to thank my colleagues for leading on this item. Speaker 0: Thank you. Council member Vice Mayor Andres. Speaker 5: Also, I want to thank our council and you know, price for doing bringing us forward because the fact that whenever we talk about our workers in the city of Long Beach, I'm so glad to hear that all these individuals are working from the city and live in the city of Long Beach. This is the greatest part about all of it. I mean, I can't applaud you even more on this. So congratulations on this item. Mrs. Weiss. Speaker 0: Thank you. And I'm going to make some comments and then I'll open it up for public comment before the vote. Let me just say just to both this item and to the one before I think that I'm really proud of. This council continues to value the importance of good jobs, skilled labor, and ensuring that people that are doing the work within our city also have access to benefits, a pension and the dignity of being able to take care of their families. And I know that particularly as it relates to the IBEW and the other trades that are involved in our work at the Convention Center and our work in this motion that Councilman Price brought forward. This is absolutely the types of of measures and the types of of items that we should be supporting to ensure that the work is being done at the quality level that all of you men and women are doing every single day in our city. And so I just want to thank all of you. I want to thank Councilwoman Pearce and Councilwoman Price for their support of these important items and their continued support of the Council for supporting these really great jobs. And so thanked. Thank you to all of you here. Any public comment on this item? Please come forward. Speaker 2: Hi. Good evening. My name is Pat Stewart. I'm director of business development for Baker Electric. And I'm really happy to be here tonight to talk about the certification. Baker Electric is a four generation family owned union contractor. We've been around since 1938, and an important part of Baker's reputation is built on quality and safety. And we do a lot of different scopes of electrical work, and obviously one of them is infrastructure and even charging stations. So in that industry, we want to help to eliminate safety risks by using certified installers. And Baker is installed over 1000, well over 1000 charging stations using qualified technicians. As you guys know, EV charging stations involve AC and DC currents. The voltage can vary between one and 20 to 40, fast charging for 80 and new charger technologies that are pushing chargers over 300 kilowatts. And that's why EV charging infrastructure should only be done by electricians who have had the appropriate advanced training, like National Fire Protection Association 70 and National Electrical Code. So this training helps because the electricians also survey the existing electrical infrastructure to ensure they can safely support the charging infrastructure. We want to make sure that we keep the public safe and want to make sure there isn't any incidents where we in charge to put in these charging stations. So I thank you guys very much. You know how important this is and we really appreciate your guys attention on that. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much, sir. Nick, thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: On there, councilmember manager Ron was a resident of Long Beach and I hope for the city to approve our charging stations for jobs and clean apartment for our city. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Quick. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Greetings, Mr. Mayor and council members. My name is Keith Franklin. Speaker 5: I'm a resident of Long Beach. Speaker 2: I'm a veteran of the U.S. Army. And I'm. Speaker 5: Speaking in favor of the FBI. Speaker 2: Type program. Speaker 5: And the good electrical jobs that all bring to the city of Long Beach and. Speaker 2: The residents like me. Please support the FBI, T.P.. Thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Okay, next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Good evening, honorable mayor and members of the council. My name is Bernie Collier and I am the co-chair of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program, otherwise known as ITP. And I want to thank you for this time to comment a little bit of information about Evite, which I think will be helpful in making your decision this evening . Evite was founded in 2011 as a national nonprofit industry wide program. It is staffed by volunteers all over the country who give their time and energy and expertize to develop the curriculum and update the curriculum on a regular basis. Evite is brand neutral. We don't endorse any products or any companies, but yet we have the involvement of a lot of companies all over the country who do give in-kind contributions of their technology and their knowledge no money. So there are over 30 organizations and include manufacturers, utilities and other members of the industry who are involved. The goal of the Evite is effective high performance installation, but most of all, safety, safety, safety, as you already heard from the previous speaker. There's a lot of high voltages involved and a lot of current. And it's important that we keep the workers safe, but it's also important that we keep our facilities safe, our homes, our businesses and industrial facilities that have EV charging or will have EV charging. It is already required by a number of state agencies. I'll give you a few key precedents. The California Public Utilities Commission requires that the utility installations be done by certified electricians. The California Energy Commission has awarded a grant to the Port of Long Beach, which requires the installation and maintenance to be done by certified electricians. And our neighbor in Nevada, Envy Energy, is installing charging stations on their highway, which also have to be done by Evite certified electricians. EVA training is low to no cost. It's available at community colleges, industry training centers and utility training facilities. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 4: Good afternoon or good evening, counsel. My name is Jennifer Crockett. I have the distinct honor and privilege of working for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association. Myself and my colleagues are here today to ask for your support for every TPI. Part of the reason why we are here to ask for. Speaker 6: TPI is not just for the. Speaker 4: Very critical safety aspects of doing this charging infrastructure, right? But in a time when people are talking about green new deals and creating green renewable energy jobs. Speaker 6: Long Beach is doing it. Speaker 4: You're doing that here. Speaker 6: Today by implementing policies. Speaker 4: That create green and clean energy. Speaker 6: Jobs that support. Speaker 4: Your residents and support people in this industry. So I'm asking for your support. I'm so excited to be here tonight. We're excited to be a part of this. And thank you very much for your leadership. Speaker 0: And thank you for all the work you do, which is really important. So thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Hello, Commissioner Jane Templin. Speaker 9: 623 Rosa Avenue resident, electrician and outreach director for the Electrical Training Institute and a proud graduate. We appreciate your understanding of our safety, building green and all the other components that we're here to support. We very much appreciate that. And anybody that is in doubt, I would love to invite them to our facility so I can give you a personal tour. Speaker 10: I thank you for your support. Speaker 9: Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. And I want to also, for those of you that don't know, Commissioner Champlin is also under planning commission and does a very good job, I think of not just is not only a great planning commissioner, but does a great job of bringing the perspective of the trades and the work that you all do to our work of building buildings and building projects across the city. And so thank you for for the work you do, Jane, in that in that role. Councilwoman Pryce. Speaker 8: I just wanted to end on this note and thank everyone for coming out tonight and let the men and women who are here with IBEW know just how very skilled and approachable your leadership is. So I did have the opportunity to tour the facility over five years ago, and had they not reached out and invited me and continued to foster a relationship with me, I would not now have any idea the level of work and detail that goes there, the number of men and women waiting there every day for job opportunities. It's truly remarkable to see and I'm really grateful for the partnership. And again, it really has to do. Not every union has the type of leadership that you all have. You should really understand that because the relationships that they foster with policymakers, to me it makes a world of a difference because if they bring an idea, they know and they've told me many times, we don't expect you to agree with us 100% of the time, but we want to have that dialog and we want to talk. And this right here was an amazing idea. It was really great as someone who drives an electric car and one of your members actually came out to our house and helped us set a set us up with our charging adapters at home. But, you know, to be able to have the additional infrastructure throughout the city and to have it be predictable, consistent and done with skill means a lot for our city. And again, I appreciate the partnership and I cannot say enough about the leadership of IBEW who brought this forward. I have tremendous respect for all of you. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. I do have a couple more comments here. Council Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 4: Yes, I, too. Just want to thank Councilmember Price for bringing this forward as well as working with IBEW. And I can't say that enough in the past and so many of you here, I really appreciate all of the the work. I worked with many of you on a few other issues relative to the environment and labor. What a concept is that the two can combine and we can actually see a trajectory of good, amazing opportunities for jobs and amazing opportunities for our city. So thank you again for the work. Speaker 0: And Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 7: I'll be brief I know already spoke and yes to the Bluegreen alliance. That is a strong alliance. I did not think everybody that came out earlier on my previous item, so I just wanted to thank not only IBEW but painters and teamsters who reached out to me in support of that previous item. So really great to have all labor in the House. Speaker 0: Thank you. And and with that, we have a motion on a second. So Members, please go and cast your votes. Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you all for coming again. Um, as we're going to go back to our hearing in a minute, there's wanted to get all these men and women on the on their way. I know they're here for those items.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to develop a policy where work done to develop our City EV infrastructure is performed by contractor’s signatory to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who hold a valid California C-10 electrical contractors license. This requirement should apply to light, medium, and/or heavy duty EV charging infrastructure.

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 5: Item 19 we place. Speaker 1: Item 19 is report from Financial Management Recommendation to approve the fiscal year 2019 first departmental and Fund Budget Appropriation Adjustment in accordance with existing City Council policies citywide. Speaker 5: Thank you. Do we have a short staff report on this grace? Speaker 4: Sure. This is the first department and Fund Budget Appropriation Adjustment Report for FY 19. This reflects changes in revenue or operating conditions that require appropriation adjustments. This report will include the adjustments that we just talked about in the year end performance report. So the recommended adjustments for Measure a Tidelands Fund and measure offense. Most of the other items on the report are as a result of grant or donation revenues that Bean has been awarded, as well as error and technical corrections made to the budget. As we close out the Fy19 financial books. That concludes my staff report and I'm available for any questions. Speaker 5: And you with any public comments in this. All right. Speaker 13: I just want to appreciate my colleagues for moving this forward so I can pump during the next part where I listen to the rest of the comments. Thank you. Speaker 5: Thank you very much. I see we have a first and second. Would you please cast your vote? Thank you. Now we're going to go be watching Kerry's. Now we're going to have our public. But we're coming. We have ten speakers.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to approve the Fiscal Year 2019 first departmental and fund budget appropriation adjustments in accordance with existing City Council policy. (Citywide)

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Speaker 0: Thank you very much. That concludes public comment. Let me move on. I believe we're going to item 20, please. Speaker 1: Item 20 Report from Financial Management Recommended Contract to General Security Service for providing security guard services for a total annual amount not to exceed 999,900 CDI. Speaker 0: Thank you. Short staff report, please. Speaker 2: Guess we have a staff report by Terry Yates. Speaker 6: Good evening. Good evening. Speaker 4: Mayor and members of city council. Before you tonight is a request to award a contract to GSA Inc for citywide security guard services for a total annual amount of $999,900 for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one year periods. The Department of Financial Management's purchasing division facilitated an open and competitive procurement process to select the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to provide for these services throughout the city at its designated facilities. The bid was released in August and 50 potential bidders downloaded with six responses received in October. A provide for the continued for the continuation of these historically contracted services utilized by the Departments of Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Library Services, Parks, Recreation and Marine and Public Works to ensure safety and security of property and buildings along with their visitors and the staff. GSA is the incumbent, and the approval of this recommendation will provide continued support to our local economy by assisting in the preservation of employment for 37 GSA employees residing. Speaker 6: In Long Beach. Speaker 4: Staff recommends approval of this item in this concludes my staff report. Speaker 0: Thank you. Vice Managers. If anything, Councilman Austin, any public comment? Seeing none councilmember appears. Speaker 7: I just wanted to ask about the meet and confer process with this item. Are you? Speaker 2: We'll have Alex Berkowitz talk to that, please. Speaker 6: So. Good evening, mayor and council members just by way of an update. Speaker 7: This item was scheduled in December and at the request of I am, this item was postponed. Speaker 6: We did engage and we did meet with I am regarding this item. However, we did not reach an agreement. They contend that this particular contract involves contracting out their bargaining unit work. But that's where we disagree. We've we reviewed this item and and we found that this particular work has never been assigned to IAM. And so it doesn't involve contracting out their bargaining unit work. Speaker 0: Please cast your votes. Councilman Gonzales. Speaker 4: All right, can I just get. I'm a little. Confused by this as well. So what? Can you give a little bit of a scope of work on. I know it's security guard services, but where what how kind of a little bit more detail on on this. There are services provided at city facilities across throughout the city, including the health department facilities, libraries when they're open also for parks, recreation and Marine, there are specific requirements for security guards to be provided at events. Those are similar of those, you know, an example of some of the duties. Okay. Well, I. I don't know that I feel so comfortable at city facilities. It does feel like we're contracting out these services to non city employees. So for that reason, unless. Is there additional information, Pat, you. Yes. Speaker 2: Just that this has historically been done. We've never utilized. I am. Or our employees. This this is historically been a company like this providing this facility for how long? Speaker 6: Since 2006. So for about 12 years. Speaker 0: Let me can I ask you, how many how many are in this? How many how many folks are we employing through this contracting service? Do we have that number? Speaker 4: There's 37 that reside in Long Beach, but there are there are more that are provided. Speaker 0: 37 companies are 37. Speaker 4: Individuals, 37 individuals who are employed by GSA that we're aware of that reside in. Speaker 6: Long Beach. But I don't have these. Speaker 0: When I just wondering how many individuals. So, you know, and I may have I may have missed this, but did this so this did this come before the council in December? I'm trying to remember it came for the council. And then I believe the council didn't accept the analysis to work on this some additional. Is that right. Speaker 2: The council passes the I am spoke and asked if they could take a peek at this. The council said talk to I am so we did we met with I am and basically this was not something in their purview because it's not a function that they've had in the past. Speaker 0: And just, you know, and I, I don't know enough about this issue to, you know, make a good assessment of of on that. But doesn't mean that when these when these opportunities come up, it doesn't mean that the job couldn't be done better by city employees or by people that are represented. And I'm not saying that that's in this case, you know, financially feasible for us or I have no idea what what how these companies get paid. But I just want to make sure when these contracts are in front of us, that we're the the issue is not just about whether or not. I represent a group has done the job in the past, but whether a representative should do the job or should not do the job, I don't know the answer to that question, but I just want to make sure that that's something that we're discussing as part of our deliberations. And so I'm I'm supportive if we have some more conversations about this, but I want to hear from the rest of the council. Councilman Ringa. Speaker 2: Yeah this that you comes from Gonzales to bring this up and especially this issue because from what I understand, this brings up a prop owl issue or study, if it's not mistaken, especially if there is some concerns regarding city employees being able to do the job, not only in terms of being able to, because whether historically or not they've been able to do this, but also being able to submit a proposal or be able to compete in a contract for that. So I think that I would probably I can't support this tonight. I would I would push this. We've got to do a proper study on this in order to ensure that we're well on the right track. Councilmember You're correct. And in 2005, when this was done, we there was a properly study study done that was approved by the council at that time, and it has been continuously contracted out since that date. So you are correct that this type of work would require that and there was the meet and confer also. Well, I think that at this point we need to revisit that and do it again. Speaker 0: What you said the proposal was done in 2000. What? Speaker 2: 525 when this was originally contracted out, beginning in 2006. Speaker 0: So almost was about 14 years ago. Okay, Councilman Roston. Speaker 3: Thank you. So I think this this this begs this issue begs to a process. We we we have a profile consideration for when we contract out. But I don't think we have a process for for in-sourcing work. And so, you know, that might be an agenda item for later. That might be an opportunity for us to to look at our processes in the work with our city employees groups to give them an opportunity to to in-source work. When we do have contracts coming up for for approval to lease, give them an opportunity to to to put forth a proposal to to to to look at the the cost analysis and to give the council an opportunity to make a prudent decision. I mean, in my opinion, it's best when you can control your your you control your own destiny. When you control your your your employees and can direct your employees. And employees are oftentimes better when they have a stake in the process, direct stake and process. And so I understand the the the intent the questions that have been raised here. You know, this this this has a this is a this. The past practice has been to to utilize this firm for for for contracted services. But it doesn't have to be that for the future. And I don't know if I necessarily needed to draw the line this evening, but moving forward, I think we need a process in place that will at least. You know, help us. Make decisions that are that that are in the interest of, you know, the city and our employees as well. Speaker 0: I think Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 7: Yes. I wanted to you know, I want to highlight how much work we're doing with H.R. and how much work we're doing with our employees, and that it really is important for us if we have the capacity to have employees that can do it better than somebody that's been outsources, we absolutely should revisit that. What does it take to do another properly study it? Speaker 2: A It would just depend on our working with the union. It could be something as simple as 90 days or something. It could take up to a year. Speaker 7: We should do it. Speaker 0: Can I also add the count point I would support? It's been 1415 years since the last time we looked at this. I would support doing it again. Speaker 2: If we. Speaker 0: If I could let me, Mr. West. But I would also say I just want to make sure that if we move forward, that we're not in any way, of course, stopping the work that is continuing and ongoing. So I would ask the Council that if, as we look at proposal, that we give staff the flexibility to continue working with our current operator so that they can continue to do the work. And and then, of course, we can make a decision for a for a full contract or not. Once we conclude the properly so. Speaker 2: So speaking to that point, Mr. Mayor, that is one of the key issues here, is that we are basically out of money for these existing services. These are services that exist today. And so we would need some type of direction either to suspend those services and not to provide the security guards or to do some type of interim six months, nine months while we do this review. So we would ask for some action tonight, otherwise it would be impacting current services of security services. Speaker 0: Councilor. Speaker 7: If we could do six months. And have you guys do the proper study and then come back in six months for us and. Speaker 2: We'll come back in six months, will initiate the proper study. We'll come back in six months and let you know where we are and also the length of time it takes to hire us. Speaker 7: So, okay. So I just want to be clear because the item reads for a two year period and so that we're coming back in. Speaker 2: And so we would advise this to give authorization for six months and then we'll revisit. And if at that point we still need additional time, we would ask for a short contract extension to get us through that time. Speaker 7: Thank you very much, staff, for working with us. Appreciate it. Speaker 0: Is there any public comment on this saying nonmembers, please cast your votes? Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. I believe that was the last item. Right. Is there another item? I'm sorry. I don't have those on here for whatever reason, so I apologize. Madam Court, can you read those items, please?

Agenda Item

Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. ITB LB18-123 and award a contract to GSSi, Inc., dba General Security Service, of Wilmington, CA, for providing security guard services, in an annual amount of $909,000, with a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $90,900, for a total annual amount not to exceed $999,900, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments. (Citywide)

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: 22. Speaker 1: Item 22 is Communication from Council Member Peers recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund in the City Manager Department by 6500, offset by the second Council District one time district priority funds to provide funds to fix Long Beach who will be hosting a spay and neuter event in the second Council District? Speaker 0: Council Member Pearce Thank you. Speaker 7: And I want to thank FICS Long Beach for all their work and working with our office to make sure we had secured dates location. I'm really excited to put this event on with you on March 9th, so thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. As a public comment on this item. Speaker 1: Of course. Speaker 0: And then I'll go to comes from Gonzales and Councilman Pierce Price. Speaker 1: That last appearance was just an audio check. I came up here to thank you. My name is Kate Karp. I am a volunteer with FICS Long Beach for. God, there's only one person here. We are a spay neuter. We provide free spay neuter procedures for people who couldn't otherwise afford it. And we also provide free microchips, very, very low cost vaccines and a few other goodies. I'm here, first of all, to thank you, Councilmember Pierce, for being so ready to accept this and then to extend it. In doing that. I also want to thank a couple of other council members here, notably Suzy Pryce. Darrell, super poor. That's my new name for you and Sue Lowenthal, who used to be in that chair a couple of years ago. Susie and Suja co-sponsored an event for us, and then last year, Susie and Darrell co-sponsored an event for us, and they were absolutely magnificent bathrooms there for us. I want to tell you that spay neuter, the audit mentioned the need for available spay neuter resources for people who either don't know about the mandatory spay neuter law and want to get their pet fixed or do know may have violated it and need to come and get their pet fixed. The. The shelter is not going to become. This is not spay neuter is not going to be a full solution. There are so many. Facets in the solution. But spay neuter is one very important element of it. Or ingredient. I want to ask all of you council members to please help us in like fashion, help us get this off the, you know, going with the spay neuter. Help us save a lot of unborn lives and certainly tamp down the number of unwanted animals that are placed in our shelter with uncertain futures. Thanks very much, all of you and you especially. Speaker 0: Thanks so much, Ms.. Karp. Next speaker, please. Speaker 4: Good evening. My name is Diana Cliche. Speaker 1: I'm the president of Long Beach. And again, Councilmember Pierce, thank you so much for hosting. Speaker 4: And sponsoring this event with us. It's very, very important. All of our events last year were fully booked and we had wait lists for every single. Speaker 6: Spot. Speaker 4: This year. All of our events that we have scheduled are. Speaker 1: Booked and we have. Speaker 4: Waitlists for every spot so. Speaker 1: The public understands the. Speaker 4: Need to get their pets fixed. It's the law. So just thank. Speaker 1: You so much for. Speaker 4: Always. Speaker 1: Supporting us and all the council. Speaker 4: Members that have sponsored. Speaker 1: Events for us and helped us out. Speaker 4: And Mr. Mayor, you've contributed as well through the. Speaker 13: No. Speaker 1: Drag Queen. Bingo. You donated. So you helped fund one of our clinics and Susie Darrow. Speaker 0: I was not in drag, by the way. Speaker 6: No. And yes, you were off. Speaker 1: Time. Speaker 4: Enjoying your lunch. So thank you for for stepping up and supporting us. But it's super important. Speaker 1: If you don't know, we've seen a drastic reduction in the intake in euthanasia. Speaker 4: At the local shelter between 70 and 90%, depending. Speaker 1: On what you're looking at since our inception in 2013. So super important. We're trying to continue and we. Speaker 4: Really appreciate the support. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you so much, Councilman Gonzales. Speaker 4: I just want to say thank you to Councilmember Pearce and to Cate and fix Long Beach. I know having it in our district as well had been amazing. I hope we can continue to do more on the council for you and for everything that you do and stand for. So thank you so much for taking that on on our behalf. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Price. Speaker 8: Kate, I cannot believe all of you that you stayed here for this entire meeting. I when you first came up and said 22, I did item 22. I didn't put two and two together until right now. Your dedication is amazing. And I you're absolutely right. I when I first started on council Suja and I hosted a clinic together and then one of my favorite people in the world, Councilman Super Power, and I got to host one and we just love working with you guys. Thank you for everything that you do and we hope that we can have another. I'll speak for the two of us that we hope we can do another one with our fabulous bathrooms in the near future. Yeah. Thanks. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Ringo. Speaker 2: I'm a little broken hearted. Yeah. We've had three events, too, in the seventh District, Silverado and Cherry Parks. And we're co-sponsor with my good colleague here, the Andrew's at Vets Park. So just to remind you that, you know that the six in the Senate are in play and we will continue to work with you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you very much. We are we have a motion in a second. Please cast your votes.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the City Manager Department (CM) by $6,500, offset by the Second Council District One-time District Priority funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department (XC) to provide funds to Fix Long Beach who will be hosting a Spay and Neuter event in the Second Council District; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Citywide Activities Department (XC) by $6,500 to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department (CM).

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Speaker 0: Now we're going to try to make with the clock. Please read item. Speaker 1: Communication from Councilmember Pearce. Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by 3500. Speaker 3: Offset by the second Council. Speaker 1: District one time district. Priority funds to fund. Speaker 3: Festoon. Speaker 1: Lights for the East Village. Speaker 3: Arts Park. Speaker 0: I can't come to this place. Speaker 3: Thank you. Yes. This Arts Park is an arts park that has been in an attempt to reactivate it in a partnership with the Long Beach Arts Council, Dolby, EVA, and several of the residents in the neighborhood. And one of the great things that we came up with was putting festoon lights there so we can have some live music once a week in the park. And so this is just me moving over our divide by nine to make that happen and activate that park a little bit more. Speaker 2: Thank you. Speaker 0: Councilmember Gonzalez. Speaker 1: Yes, thank you. To Councilmember Pearce. I know this has been a park that has been underutilized for some time, so I'm glad to see it finally spruced up and looking great. Thank you. Speaker 0: Is there any public comment, this item? Now. Please cast your vote. Speaker 1: Vice Mayor Andrews. Motion carries.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) by $3,500, offset by the Second Council District One-time District Priority funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department (XC) to fund festoon lights for the East Village Arts Park; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Citywide Activities Department (XC) by $3,500 to offset a transfer to the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM).

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Speaker 1: Vice Mayor Andrews. Motion carries. Speaker 0: Now remove item nine. Speaker 1: Communication from Councilmember Pearce. Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund in the Legislative Department by $8,000, offset by the second Council District one time district priority funds to provide funding for a second Council District Internship program. Speaker 0: Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 3: Great. This is in partnership with Cal State, Long Beach and the MSW program there. And so we just want to make sure that we have a couple of interns that are going to be working on mental health related policies. So thank you. Speaker 0: Councilwoman Pryce. Speaker 1: I support this. Speaker 0: Occupy and we have many people coming on this side of. Speaker 7: Very good. Cleric as he addressed the contents of chief of having interns is very, very good. There's no question about that. But in the instant case, given the uncontroverted police records relative to the manifest lack of mental stability on the part of the councilperson for the Second District, that failed to understand that one does not. It is inappropriate to go fishing off the company pier with one of your interns or one of your staff members. Indicates a mental instability that exposes the city again, like in the ninth District. You've got to have your head examined to do that. So I would suggest you refuse to do that. In fact, if you get inside of it, it has some of the same ring tones. And I would guess that he, the councilperson for the second District, probably had serious conversations with the demented individuals from the ninth District. So you should reject that. All right. Please understand, Long Beach is now in the. Particularly with the mayor now moving up into you to go to prison. And I know you've all been busy and haven't had a chance to to read the latest news on that. But the Ninth Circuit has handed down their decision relative to Baca. That's the same Ninth Circuit Court that reviewed Camila Harris, the sidekick of Garcia. So he's going to be soon on his way to prison. We need mental stability in this city. This the action before you here does not even suggest that that's a possibility. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Good. The animal public comment on this item. Now please cast your vote. Speaker 1: And told me one go. Motion carries.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Legislative Department (LD) by $8,000, offset by the Second Council District One-time District Priority funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department (XC) to provide funding for a Second Council District Internship program; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Citywide Activities Department (XC) by $8,000 to offset a transfer to the Legislative Department.

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Speaker 1: Report from Economic Development and Health and Human Services. Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all documents necessary with Eddie and John number one and Eddie's Liquor Number one for the purchase of certain real property located at 684136845 Atlantic Avenue in the amount not to exceed 9,000,591 540 and execute a lease between the city of Long Beach and Eddie's liquor. Number one for the use of the subject property District nine. Speaker 0: I think I'm going to turn this over to Mr. West. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is a result of at least over a year of negotiations to try to impact our homelessness issue here in the city of Long Beach by creating not only a winter shelter or rainy day shelter, but a year round shelter. We've been working very closely with the property owner there, as well as Councilmember Richardson in the neighborhood. So at this stage, I'm going to turn this over to our director of Health and Human Services, Kelly Collopy, who will be joined by Mary Torres with John Kiser, the Director of Economic Development. So Kelly. John Castle. I'm sorry. Speaker 11: Honorable Mayor and members of the City Council. On July 24th, the Council approved an item requesting a city staff report on revenue options to address local homelessness and housing shortages in the city. And in August, city staff presented a strategy to create additional housing and respond to homeless issues. On that night, multiple council actions were taken and those included, among others, an analysis detailing a strategy for identifying potential revenue and a plan to use recently received state funding toward the purchase of a facility that would be utilized as a year round homeless shelter. The subject property that we're discussing tonight was used in the past as a winter shelter by the city. This is located at 684136845 Atlantic Avenue as a potential site for the development of a year round shelter, as well as a long term plan for the state of the art village style campus for homeless services and support. The subject property is 99,000 square feet total, with three buildings located on the property of a total of 28,000 square feet. The property is located adjacent to the Los Angeles Riverwalk. Southern California Edison, right of way and adjacent property owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Staff has negotiated the sale of the property for an all inclusive price not to exceed $9,491,540, which includes the land and improvements. The liquor license for the. The existing liquor store. Inventory, furniture, fixtures and equipment. Goodwill and compensation for relocation benefits, which were acquired by state law. As part of the sale, the seller has requested to occupy the front structure. The liquor store as a lessee from close of escrow until January 5th of 2020. Upon termination of the lease, the third party will conduct a review of the inventory and city will compensate the seller for an amount not to exceed $400,000, which is included in the purchase price that's being recommended tonight. The year round shelter is is what we're looking at as the first stage of this project. City staff, including the Health and Human Services Department, will work with the community and partner agencies to develop a case study and example for a village style homeless services campus. On November 13th of 2018, the City Council authorized the city manager to execute an agreement to receive and expend grant funding from the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council in the amount of $9,387,420 for homeless emergency aid program. Continuum of care allocation of the amount awarded 8 million is designated for a year round shelter and has been appropriated in the health fund in the Health and Human Services Department. So to cover the fiscal impact. The sales expense includes the total acquisition cost of the property, which will not exceed $9.5 million. Approximately 9.4 million approximately is the all inclusive purchase price of the subject property, with approximately $100,000 anticipated for acquisition related costs. The funding sources that staff has identified for this acquisition includes $8 million that were appropriated in the Health and Human Services Department as part of the heat funding grant and staff recommends funding the remaining 1.5 million $1,591,540 from proceeds from a recently closed sale of the Broadway block property site B, which is located on Broadway and Long Beach Boulevard. In addition, there will be less revenue associated with the liquor store for the remainder of the year of $6,000 per month, and that will accrue to the general fund in the Economic Development Department to help offset some of these administrative costs associated with the transaction. Finally the recommendations staff recommends approval of the purchase of 684126845 Atlantic Avenue and the execution of a lease for the subject property. The recommendations are as follows Authorize the city manager or designee to execute any and all documents necessary, including a purchase and sale agreement with Eddie and John Number one LLC, a California limited liability company and unit. Kim, a sole proprietor. Otherwise known as Eddie's Liquor. Number one for the purchase of certain real property located at the Subject Property Address, and the amount is not to exceed $9,591,540. Additionally authorize the city manager as designee to execute all documents necessary for a lease between the city of Long Beach and Edy's liquor number one for the use of the subject property. Recommendation three adopt a negative declaration and be 0 to 19 and increase the appropriations in the general fund in the Economic Development Department by $9,591,540, offset by the sale proceeds from the Broadway block site B and transfer of hip grant revenue from the health fund. At this time, I'd like to conclude my report, and I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Speaker 0: Why don't we? Is is is Ms.. Collopy also adding to this or it just that piece? Speaker 7: Good evening. I'd like to share a little bit about ah the shelter opportunity. Um, so within the Everyone Home Long Beach Task Force report, we determined that there is a need for approximately 500 shelter beds across our city. Within that report, the report, you know, made a recommendation. And really a goal is to build at least 200 shelter beds and expand in the city in the next few years. And this shelter, we're looking to have 125 beds, which really creates a lot of progress for us. It would be the first municipally owned year round shelter that we have had in the city of Long Beach for many, many years. And the site has operated as the winter shelter. So that within the shelter what we see is a space for adult male and female adults. There's opportunities to have families are on the street. Well, it's not a family shelter. It's an opportunity for family to to participate, to come in until we can connect them to a family shelter system, provide jobs or a job and employment training, case management. There'll be, you know, showers and the opportunity for meals and just really the host of social services that are needed to be able to connect people to supports to help them to be successful. So we are we're very excited about this opportunity is certainly need within the city. And I would like to say that I've had an opportunity to talk to many from the Hamilton neighborhood in the surrounding. And we've had very just really kind conversations and very good questions. And I truly appreciate the many that I see here in the audience as the support. But and that also I appreciate, you know, all that's been able to do that we've been able to have in the conversations and to express concerns and to be able to address those as well. So with that, I conclude my report and I'm open to questions as well. Speaker 0: Thank you. I know we have we do have a motion in a second. I'm going to make some some comments as well. And then I'm not sure if. Councilman, did you want to go do you wanna go to the public first? Okay. And then we'll turn over to Councilmember Richardson. So I want to I just want to just begin by just noting that I think we're all aware that homelessness is a statewide crisis that we're all facing across the state of California. It is certainly the the number one challenge, human challenge that we face here in the city of Long Beach. And I think if you talked and spoke with most cities, they would all say the same. This is not a city. This is not a challenge that just exists anymore in urban communities. But it is up and down the state of California, Long Beach, as a as a city, I think as a city council has also identified this at the top of our list of something that's important to us. We understand the incredible need for shelter, for people to have access to not being on the sidewalk. Honestly, some of the the signs that are there. And we're very much committed to it. And I want to just begin by by noting a few things. I'm really proud that that the City Council has adopted and passed numerous initiatives around homelessness. The Everyone at Home Task Force, which was referenced by Ms.. Collopy, was a a almost year long process that was led by Jen Connelly at Cal State Long Beach. And I see Andy Kerr, who was a vice chair and other members of that task force that were here as well. And a big part of that task force was setting out targets and also talking about the larger goals of how we solve homelessness across our community. One of the key components of the task force recommendations, as was also and I mentioned this at the state of the city about a year ago as well, was to ensure that we have we set a goal of trying to acquire 200 more shelter beds across across the city. This is something that we we know as a city, we we have needed. But it was also good to see that reinforced by the professionals, the service providers, the academics, including folks that have experience homelessness, which are also on the task force. And it was it was good to see that a recommendation. So tonight's proposal gets us to 125. And I think that's a huge step forward in looking at those recommendations and seeing the importance of those as well. I also think it's important to recognize, because we're back at the table again this year, this purchase is almost going to be done entirely because the state of California and the governor, Jerry Brown, at the time provided significant resources to the city of Long Beach, about over $10 million to do additional work on issues around homelessness. I believe, Mr. Hoppy, that 8 million of those dollars is going to actually purchase this project. Is that right? 8 million. Speaker 7: That's true. Speaker 0: And that and I want to and I and I want to thank and I think it's important I want to thank the Big Ten Mayors Group which sponsored those those resources and that legislation and lobbied the governor to provide this additional funding for cities. I say that because, well, we were a great recipient of those dollars, actually allowed us to. The buy the shelter or this land. We're back at the table this year. And we're hopeful that that the governor currently and the mayors are back lobbying for a second year of this type of funding so that we can continue to do this kind of work. And so I'm just grateful to the leader of that group, which was Darrell Steinberg out of Sacramento, who was the essential key in leading us and getting this additional funding for this purchase. And again, I want to and I do want to thank this city entire city council for their commitment to this issue and for all the work that's been occurring at this dais and at the staff level. But I especially want to thank, first and foremost the North Long Beach neighborhood and the community. What I have seen from the north Long Beach neighbors and the community, honestly, has been so moving and so touching to see how you have all stepped forward and embraced what will be a campus that is going to be there to help people and to help those people in our community that that need our help so desperately. And you see this happen in other cities, in other places. And I've seen the reaction that other neighbor neighborhoods and other cities and other communities have had to similar projects. And what you all have displayed is is inspiring. And I'm so proud I'm so proud to be mayor of a city where folks like all of you are stepping up and being part of the solution. So thank you for all the work and the advocacy that you have all done. And I also, of course, as part of that, I do want to thank Councilmember Richardson. It is not easy for elected officials to say, yes, we welcome these facilities and provide leadership on these on these issues. And I think he's done a stellar job of working with all of you and the many meetings that have happened for this site. And I want to thank him for that as well. And I also want to thank the county of Los Angeles and Supervisor Janice Hahn, who is going to be a great partner in ensuring that there's funds to maintain the actual operations of this site as we move forward. And there's a big commitment from the county on that issue as well. And so there's a lot of thank you that will go around tonight. There's a lot of work that still needs to be done. But I think that it's important that we recognize all of the folks that have been involved this, this, this, this body as a city council, but also the staff. You guys have done a great job of getting us to this point and this negotiations as well as I want to thank the property owners who have also done a great job of being partners with us on this site. And so just thank you to all I know. We have a big discussion tonight, but I am really proud that we're here at really what is a turning point, I think, for our ability to try to find solutions to this real challenge. So thank you. And with that, Councilman Richardson. Speaker 10: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I'll say. You know, it's hard to say thank you right now because this is the beginning of a large, large undertaking, a large endeavor. And I don't want to minimize that. I want to be completely honest with North Palm Beach community. And I want to thank you for, frankly, stepping up and allowing us to even begin this conversation. So thank you to all the leaders who have talked with us, met with us and given us the preliminary okay to even get started with this conversation. But by no means is this the end of the discussion. This is the beginning. So have a lot of comments and a lot of questions. Many of these questions are questions that were raised to me, and I think that they should be elevated here at this discussion, even if just so much as to save a question that you might be asking at the dais. Maybe we can answer some of those questions here for you today. So I just want to acknowledge all the different partners and residents who are here, you know, to get their questions answered, to express support. And all the partners have really stepped up to help organize this effort, both conducting outreach on next door to let people know that this is happening. People who have talked to their neighborhood associations. I see signs that says beds, not sidewalks. Those in print themselves don't acknowledge the the United Way folks who have stepped up to really help drive this conversation. You know, recognize in the work that's happening around everyone home, which is sort of our our hallmark for our homelessness campaign here in Long Beach and a lot of the work that's happening around our economic inclusion work . I see a lot of intersectionality here. A lot of the efforts that we're working on in the city are aligning to really talk about this conversation of inclusion and access and working together. And that's really what I see here tonight. Okay, so a few things. So let's see where I want to start here. Okay. So this has been an ongoing conversation for about eight years in North Palm Beach. This is not a new conversation. I began eight years ago when my predecessor, Councilman Neal, took on the winter shelter when the site was at the old West Coast Choppers site, the Jesse James site. And then for whatever happened, it moved to North Long Beach and we partnered with the rescue mission and had been there for a number of years. So this has been an ongoing conversation with North Long Beach community. We all know the mayor's done a good job at sort of underscoring the stakes here with the homelessness this homelessness issue. We've recorded more than 1800 people living on our vehicles, on our streets or in transitional and emergency units. But who are these people? Who are we actually talking about? There's a lot of expectations that it's all, you know, drug addicts and people with mental health issues. That's a part of it. But the great deal of homelessness is actually caused by poverty, and it can impact a great many of us here in Long Beach. So who are we talking about? So currently, half of our Long Beach residents are rent burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. Half of the people who live in Long Beach, a quarter of the adults in Long Beach working full time, live within 200% of the poverty line. So these are our neighbors. A quarter over and over 20,000 Long Beach households are precariously housed. We have overcrowded units. We have agent, aged, housing stock, a lack of new and affordable residential development. And all of that is at the root. These are root causes for the homelessness in the housing insecurity issue. Are homeless population includes working families and includes college students and includes veterans? And these are very uncertain times. You know, we just watched, as, you know, as a number of federal employees all around the country went 35 days without payment. Right. So the reality is this can happen to anyone. And it's a very complex issue that can affect anyone. The cost of living is high. Our vacancy rates are low. The social services net is feeble, limiting our ability to support every homeless person in Long Beach. So we had a conversation with some of the Hamilton neighbors where we talked about, hey, this might be a possibility, a reality about six months ago. And then when the when the property owners said, yes, we're willing to move forward with the whole kit and caboodle, the liquor store and everything. We sat down with them again and said, this is a possibility. Can we expand this conversation and sort of include some of the larger District nine North Long Beach leaders? We did. So we expanded the conversation to the North Long Beach Leadership Council and some of our education leaders like like you would walk, Jolene Talk and Megan Kerr. We had a conversation at our District nine field office, the old fire station. This included the District nine commissioners and every neighborhood association who was invited. The Leadership Council was invited to this conversation. Kelly Colby was there, a director of health department, a director of economic development was there. And we had a honestly, a really inspirational conversation about really about what it needs, what we need to do to actually address this issue. And then last night, you know, there was a lot of chatter on next door. And fortunately, one family stepped up and said, you know, can we talk? And we reached out and we said we set up to go over to their home last night. And so I want to thank the Bass family for opening up their home. We went to their home last night and talked for about 2 hours. Kelly Colby joined us. John Keisler joined us. We had a great old time. We talked about a number of things. We found a lot of things we had in common. But the main takeaway and we'll talk about some of the things, but the main takeaway from that discussion was really centered on honesty and building a foundation of trust with this community. There's a reason why not a lot of neighborhoods are stepping up on this issue. And in North Lawn Beach. I'll tell you, I was reminded last night and over the course of the last few weeks, I was reminded of a number of instances where we did not deliver for North Long Beach in the nineties, when the police department was contracted out to the sheriff's wharf, Long Beach felt abandoned. In the year 2010, when our rescue was cut north Long Beach excuse me, Mr. Mayor, it was really hard to focus in 2010 when the police when the fire rescue was cut North Long Beach felt abandoned. These things we need to address and actually talk about. Frankly, for the past eight years, we've had this conversation about homelessness. In the context of the emergency shelter. For eight years now, North Palm Beach has welcomed busloads of individuals from around town and sheltered these individuals through the winter. Both districts, nine and eight, have done this using the Atlantic Farms site for six out of those eight years. Now the problem with it, and they've done it willingly, the neighborhood association stepped up if talked with folks. We worked with the health department has done a great job. But the question is never asked and the opportunity was never been given to these residents is a question that many neighborhoods take for granted. That question is, if a shelter were placed in your neighborhood, what would your neighborhood need to make it successful? And because we've been operating every year on an emergency basis, North Long Beach has never been asked that question. What does North Zombies need to make this shelter operation successful? And so by moving forward tonight, we get to finally ask that question what does North Palm Beach need to make this work? Frankly, this is not a lot just at stake for North Lawn Beach. There's a lot at stake for the whole city. Here's why. This is a test everybody's watching. There are key performance indicators that we need to monitor. Is the property value in the neighborhood going to increase at a faster, slower rate than other neighborhoods? Everywhere is increasing is an increase at a faster, slower rate if we add permanent housing support. What's the impact? How do we track public safety and the investment, the commitment to public safety? How do we track that key performance indicator? Right. The amount of homelessness in and around the shelter that counts. How do we track that key performance indicator? If we can demonstrate that this can work by connecting with wraparound services and really making the investments necessary, then maybe we can explore additional sites. The report tells us that there were, you know, 200 somehow shelter beds needed. We have 275 in the city. It's an additional 125. We're going to need 7500 more shelter beds in the city to make this work. So this isn't the end all be all solution for the city, but it's at this is at stake for all of us to make sure this works. So in that conversation with the residents, a number of a number of things came up that are that we need to talk about. So by approving this, this allows us to do a few things. So one, we're able to acquire and cancel the liquor license. There've been a lot of questions about, yes, you're acquiring liquor license. What's the intent? The intent is to surrender it. It will not be transferred to another site. The liquor license is being acquired. There's been a prior to the North Flambeaux committee for a long time. It will be surrendered. That's that's the goal here. We're not just committing to a shelter. We're committing to doing the hard work and investigating wraparound services and the quality of life mechanisms needed to make this a center that works not just for the homeless community, but the community at large in the north of 91 area that is, you know, has issues in terms of access to open space and other things. So we're going explore those things and partnerships with L.A. River, partnerships with some of the L.A. County equestrian facilities, partnerships with Southern California Edison, and the right away that's adjacent. We're going to support those things. And we're going to and we're going to do what's necessary to make sure that the community is involved through this whole process. So some of the topics have come up through this conversation is, one, we need to make sure we're tracking the key performance indicators to make sure we fully understand the impact and that we can be very transparent and open about that process. With respect to, again, property values, public safety and homeless activity surrounding the area. We need to make sure that there's an ongoing neighborhood advisory committee directly connected to the permanent shelter to ensure stakeholder engagement for the long term. We need to make sure that there is a well vetted out, detailed security plan and safety plan associated with the campus and procedures for how people, how the intake process goes. And if someone rejects services, what happens is they wander off into the neighborhood. These are very legitimate questions that we want to make sure we have well vetted out and thought out solutions to make sure that these things are addressed. We want to talk about traffic calming measures. We know that Atlantic Avenue, north of the 91 Freeway, doesn't have any traffic signals. And when it veers off and turns into that V, there's it's very difficult to make that left turn. And that's right where the entrance to this site would be. So we have to evaluate traffic calming. Traffic calming measures. These are some of the things offsite to make it make sense as a site. We have to explore lighting in the area. They're very dim areas and we have to explore the investments into lighting and those things. We have to get creative about public safety deployment. It gets you know, there are challenges where we you know, in Northland, we should border Lakewood, Bellflower, Paramount, Rancho Dominguez, Compton. And I remember circumstances where a crime happens in one city and they run into the other city who's, you know, whose job is it was the question. All those things the community needs to be comfortable in the conversation, on response. What response times? We need to make sure that we're on top of those and understand what the real emergency response times are in that area. We need to be creative about, you know, we just funded a quality of life position. That's a police officer who's dedicated to homeless services in North Palm Beach, which is funded this. What is the relationship between the quality of life officer and the new shelter, the potential shelter? Can we create space for this officer? What's the relationship between we have a met team. A mental health evaluation team in our police department is four, right? What's the relationship with one of these met teams with the North Miami shelter? What is the relationship here? What's that going to look like? There are a number of different operations. They all need to be vetted out as a part of this conversation. What about clean team safety? Right. We have a clean team in the city. You know, we've got special districts in the city. We should look at what's required in terms of cleaning up the site, making sure that there's services to keep it, keep the site clean, safe team is private security. Eyes on, you know, eyes on the street. These things are available in our business improvement districts. We should explore those types of things around our shelters. Totally possible. I created the business improvement district. Others have. It's possible we can explore this. And so there's a number of things we need to explore which tells us we need to make sure that we have a process to go through that, to vet all of these things. So at this point, I'm going to ask a few questions of staff. So first, there was a lot of conversation about the value, and I think you did a good job outlining this. But I want to elevate this is, you know, this conversation. Can you talk about the the appraisal when that appraisal will be released, what the value of the price is based on? And in just for a walk us through that that thing in case there are questions. So Mr. Keisler, would you mind walking us through the transaction a bit? Speaker 11: Councilmember Happy to. So, so the city, whenever conducting an acquisition of a property, will contract with a third party appraiser who has the proper certifications. In this case, we contracted with Harran in MM, a local real estate appraiser from Southern California, and they followed all of the uniform standards of professional appraisal practice. So this is a national standard and they certify these appraisals. They're willing to to to back them up in court if necessary. And so the methodology used for this particular appraisal, because this property includes a unique set of buildings, a retail space, the liquor store and interest in industrial space, which is the warehouse and a residential space on the same campus. This was a little bit unique, and so there were two primary methodologies that were used to provide what's called a reconciled fair market value of both the sales comparison, a comparison of similar properties, similar uses in the, in the in the vicinity, as well as what's called an income capitalization appraisal. And what that means essentially is what can what kind of revenue can be derived from this type of property, given that it has all three uses associated with it. And so the appraiser in this case had spent a great deal of time looking at 21 individual sales or leases that had been executed between 2016 and 2018 and used that as a basis to come up with both the sales comparison and income capitalization value for the property. Essentially what we have is about 28,000 square feet of Leasable space over the last four years or so. Really what we've seen in the city is a acceleration or an increase in value, particularly around the Long Beach and the Port of Long Beach when it comes to industrial spaces in particular. But generally real estate has become much more valuable throughout the city. So taking that all into account, the appraiser developed the income capitalization value and sales comparison value. It comes out to be about $250 per square foot, which is somewhat in the middle, slightly above middle of of where these types of properties are. In the North Long Beach submarket, we saw properties, in fact, which is included in the appraisal. All of this, of course, will be a matter of public record after the close of the sale, which means the close of escrow for us and available to the public after March May 31st. But ultimately, I'm happy to answer any questions about how they derived the $7.54 million purchase price recommendation. Speaker 10: Okay. So the seven and a half to sum it up. Vacancy rate is down. There's increased demand in the port area. And with the changes in the cannabis law, all of those created additional demand that made warehouses a little bit more attractive in the community that sum it up. Speaker 11: A lot more attractive. In fact, the cannabis ordinance which was passed about mid 2018, that put an incredible value on industrial properties located in what's called the eligible buffer zone. So we're seeing this kind of price pressure in Long Beach in all of our industrial areas, areas that are away from schools and parks and other things. And it's it's also put pressure on on the Long Beach industrial market, because we're one of the only cities in the region that allows for this use. So we've seen a whole new market evolve and really place their attention on the city of Long Beach. Speaker 10: So what about relocation or if, you know, are we saving money by not going through eminent domain? How does this compare to if we did process, as we've done in the past during the redevelopment? How does this compare to that? Speaker 11: Yeah, so so as you know, there are a number of requirements. Any time the government makes a purchase of private property, when we solicit purchase, we have by state law the responsibility to do relocation benefits. We have to pay for inventory and furniture and other things, equipment and other property of the owner. So that that actually the the market based appraisal is seven and a half million. But the other roughly $2 million in this this particular acquisition will cover relocation of the tenants. So we not only have the residential property where they have relocation benefits under state law, but the the liquor store in this case decided to go with an all in settlement instead in lieu of relocation. So that that actually saves us a tremendous amount of time and resources to provide for in-kind relocation advisory services, possible either lease or purchase of other property. And of course, the price for the liquor license, which was a priority for us and given that we want to focus on health services rather than alcohol, so our all in price settlement was was an option for this this owner. If this had gone down the path of eminent domain, we would have added significant more time, maybe 12 to 18 months, a tremendous amount of legal fees. We probably would have had to also accept, you know, an appraisal from the attorneys of the the the property owner and then probably have some sort of resolution or adjudication of the final settlement. So this saves us a tremendous amount of time and a tremendous amount of cost by doing. And we feel like the resident business owner, these are all members of our community. So we really love when we can do a cooperative sale and make everybody whole great. Speaker 10: So thank you for walking us through that once more. And again, this would have been possible if we didn't have those cheap dollars will state down the $8 million and $8, is that right? Speaker 11: Yeah, that's correct. We actually it broke this this particular acquisition. There's there's two pieces. The state funding covers the vast majority of the cost. And then fortunately, as we have sold properties from our former redevelopment agency, as well as some properties that are associated, we've been able to generate some proceeds and that that will help from the sale of a recent property in the downtown will help us to to finalize this deal. So so both funding sources, the city and the state are helping to make this work. Speaker 10: Great. Thank you. I think some of the questions have been raised, been fair, very fair. And, you know, we've done our diligence to make sure that we we address those questions and that we talk about when the appraisal will be released and that justification. We talk about that. Speaker 11: I did mention that we we we we never release our appraisal publicly during negotiations. And in terms of of the sales process, we will be executing a purchase and sale agreement, but that's just 1/1 step. So we'll go through a process of about a 90 day escrow, would conduct a due diligence. We'll look at any environmental or engineering issues. We'll make sure that both parties are doing what they said they would do, and then we'll likely close escrow at the end of May. So May 31st, if we both satisfy the requirements of the purchase and sale agreement, then we would make the appraisal a matter of public record because during this time it's still a matter of negotiations. And finally, there are there is, you know, personal information of the seller, the property owner, other people that have owned the property over the course of its history. And so we'll have to look at making sure that we protect their their identity and their information as well. So after May 31st, hopefully we'll be able to close escrow and release all of this to the public. Speaker 10: All right. So we're following all of the laws, the Public Records Act laws that we're required to follow. We're answering all the question, the reasonable questions. There are some, you know, ridiculous questions out there that really I don't believe that the pressure should have run, implying that, you know, the council has a financial stake. Just so you all know, I have no financial stake in this. This is a big undertaking. I don't I don't make money off of this, and neither does Mr. Keisler. Is that right? Mr. Keisler, you have no financial stake in this? Speaker 11: That's correct. We have no conflict of interest. Speaker 10: This is about walking the talk. The North Long Beach has had this shelter for eight years and we haven't make the investments necessary to do it right. That's what this is about, you know, finally making good and building some honesty and building truth and congruence with our community. Some trust. That's what this is about. Okay. So next, let's talk about the future now. So we move forward tonight. I really see that there's sort of two paths to conversations. One is really focused on the operation of the shelter. What does that look like? How are we going to engage with it? How are we going to be able to scope it? So I really see one timeline there. And then there's a conversation that's really about real estate and services, wraparound services, you know, what are the opportunities for affordable housing? Who are the partners we can bring to the table? Lobby, City College and Lobby State have both reached out interested in being a part of this. Some of the best affordable housing developers in the city have reached out expressing support. Nonprofit groups have reached out expressing support. Southern California Edison is wants to meet with us about partnerships with the with the right away. The county's been a tremendous partner and so that's a very separate conversation about the highest and best vision and how we can really be comprehensive about this. So it might get confusing since there's two processes in the way I really want to sort of understand it, narrow it down is that Kelly Colby in the Health Department leads the conversation on the shelter. The broader piece is really Mr. Kaiser in the Economic Development Department, but Mr. Keisler, Ms.. Collopy, if you could just shed some light on what you see as potential process and next steps in terms of engaging the community and both of these conversations. Speaker 7: Certainly. So we have been spending a lot of time thinking about what are the best practices for a year round shelter. And so what we'd like to be able to do is to bring what you know, what we've been thinking in terms of what those practices would be. And I've shared, you know, some the different service models than others with you along the way. But the other piece was certainly to have a community a community volunteer group or a sort of a group that would be willing to engage with us about what would you need to make sure that you feel that this success is successful in the community? What would you need to feel like? You know that the community has supported through the process and also as as it is being implemented, which our goal is to have it open before June one, 2022. That's about a year, year and a half. To really design the rest of this before it fully opened is that, you know, if you see things that aren't working for the community, that you are in contact with us as the as the city, so that we can help support and make sure that you are comfortable moving forward and be able to really engage in that back and forth. So we'll certainly be looking for a group who is willing to work with us in that process moving forward. Speaker 10: Thank you. John, the the separate visioning process. Speaker 11: Yes. Council members are typically when when we purchase a property and we're looking to develop that property will engage in in both a visioning process which will involve extensive community engagement, will request information from various potential partners that could include the nonprofit, academic, private sector, capital funding agencies, even governmental agencies like the county or the state. And we'll identify a whole process which will put in writing and recommendation to our city manager to then bring back to the Council for review. Ultimately, what we hope to do is through that process, get a sense of what's possible and then put those specifications into some sort of request for proposals or requests for letters of interest from potential developers. That usually serves as a way to attract capital, as well as the private sector and nonprofit service providers and developers that can help the city respond to the community's needs. And I think that ultimately it's about getting a really robust list of both the concerns as well as the opportunities from the community that will drive the creativity and ultimately the project that we're able to develop in partnership. Speaker 10: Okay. Well, I'm prepared to I'm prepared to move forward. So so Kelly and John, thank you both for being so engaging over the last these last few months on this conversation. A number of the council members I know, some of them are sitting here, but Councilwoman Mongeau and Councilwoman Gonzalez both reached out this week just to say , hey, Councilmember, you know, I want to just express my support for this. Thank you for stepping up. So those council members are reached out. Thank you for for for really your commitment to this and to making sure that the priorities of North Palm Beach community are met and not caught up in sort of the political rhetoric around this issue. But we're really being very sincere about what this is and how we address it. So so I want to thank you to all those council members who stepped up. And so so I want to go ahead, move forward, want to make the staff recommendation. And I want to add two things reflective of what we talked about tonight. So, one, I would like to see a report in the next 30 days just outlining what this process looks like. Specifically, two things. One, the robust community outreach process, specifically related to the operations of the shelter itself. And then secondly, what the process would look like was codified the process, what it would look like for the visioning, what that task force could look like, who the partners might be, what that timeline for the development looks like. And and, you know, now I want to see who those people might be. They've reached out to this formalized process to be engaged. Is it is it, you know, the educational institutions? Is it the housing, the development, you know, the affordable housing world? Is it service providers? Is it Edison, who these people are? Let's let's put some some color to this and and actually establish this task force. So, again, my motion is a staff recommendation with a report on how we're going to approach these two specific areas, the community outreach process associated with the shelter operations, and secondly, the process associated with the larger visioning for this site. So thank you to the entire city council, the mayor and everyone, and let's go ahead and support this. And then, Mr. Mayor, I want to, at this point, I think, would be a good time. These people have waited they've they've heard these questions. And I think we should go to public comment. Speaker 0: I think that Summer Pearce is good with that. So we will go ahead and do public comment. So please come forward if you have public comment on this item. Speaker 3: Very good to address on file. It's certainly a commendable program. And I'm wondering whether or not. A portion of the monies could be used for something I like to suggest, and if not, get the monies for that. Because if you're going to bring in and house people there, what do you you want to make sure that the water is clean, uncontaminated. Now, obviously, there is a reference before there's something in the ninth district. It might be in the water. That has led to the disease in demented thinking. Manifested by the championing of a degenerate, demented, demented individual such as Snoop Dogg. When you have that type of mentality. There's something wrong, and you certainly don't want to. Ruin the project. And it's a commendable project by bringing people in. If there's something in the water in the ninth district. So what you should do is establish the fact that there is nothing wrong with the water. I can't think of any other reason what would engender such disease and demand thinking. Particularly relative to the treatment of women. And again, as I point out, look what happened to the head of CBS, period. I don't know what the answer is, but there's certainly something degenerate. Unchecked in the ninth District. And that needs to be found. So let's find it. Find it out. It's maybe it isn't that. But right now, I can't think of any other alternative. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. We're going to go ahead. And also because the amount of speakers that are here and listeners, any objection from the city council, we're going to go to 90 seconds, four for four for each speaker. Speaker 10: But we said 2 minutes. Speaker 0: We can go to 2 minutes. So we're going to add 2 minutes for each speaker. Mrs.. Any objection and then from the council and then we'll begin. And if we have, you know, an hour and a half plus of public comments, I want to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak. And so we'll go down to 2 minutes. And then if we need to go down further, we'll go from there, please. Speaker 12: Mr. Mayor. Mr. Vice Mayor. Members of the City Council. Speaker 3: Councilman Richardson. Speaker 12: I applaud the City Council and the initiative of this government to take on an issue that is unpopular. My wife and I have been homeless in homeless outreach for upwards of five years now here in the city of Long Beach. Speaker 3: We've served in the San Gabriel Valley, and we've never. Speaker 12: Seen the kind of hope that we've seen here tonight. We salute Councilman Richardson for this initiative and a city that is not afraid to take on. Speaker 3: The events and. Speaker 12: And the circumstances that get to the heart of the most vulnerable in our society. And I, I think you have the politics and the economics figured out. But when you go to when you go to ask for volunteers in the community, we stand and we support you. And my wife told me not to get too winded. Speaker 3: Tonight, I have a habit of getting loud and long. Speaker 12: So thanks for taking it down to 90 seconds, Mr. Mayor. Speaker 7: But I will leave you with this. Speaker 12: Because I think the heartbeat of Long Beach is. Speaker 3: Strong. Speaker 12: I leave with you the words of Mother Teresa. Enough words. Speaker 3: Let them see what we do. God bless you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 9: Good evening. Mayor and City Council. I'm Linda Chico. I'm the field deputy for L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. As you all know, homelessness has been a priority for Supervisor Hahn. And while we're very happy and proud to see the winter shelters that have opened up throughout the county, we know homelessness is not seasonal. And so she applauds the efforts of the city leaders and the community in North Long Beach for opening up this conversation about having a year long shelter. So she's asked me to come here today to read into record a letter of support. Dear Mayor Garcia, I'm writing in support of item 23 On Your Agenda, which recommends the purchase of a property in North Long Beach to be utilized for homeless housing and services. This will be a facility where individuals can have a safe, stable place to live while receiving wraparound services, health care and job training. And the County of Los Angeles is committed to provide $3.4 million in Measure H funding to improve the interior of the facility and cover operational costs. I am very pleased that the county is collaborating with the city on this important project and I'm confident it will get people off the streets and connect them with the help that they need. Thank you. Speaker 10: Is here for supervisor, huh? Speaker 0: Thank you very much, Supervisor Hahn. Next. Next speaker, please. Speaker 9: Good evening, Mayor Garcia, Councilman Richardson and councilmembers. I'm Dr. Elisa. Speaker 2: Nicholas. I'm the CEO of the Children's Clinic, serving children in their families. Speaker 9: And as you probably know, TCC is actively. Speaker 2: Involved in serving the homeless. And we do. Speaker 9: So with great heart, great quality and are very, very humbled to do this. We serve 1300 homeless right now in 6000 visits, where at your multi-service center or at century villages of Cabrillo? We have a mobile. Speaker 2: Clinic that goes to the Long Beach Rescue mission. Speaker 9: And Christian Outreach in action. And we are working on another project on Walnut to have both housing and health care together. We are very supportive of this work. We look to partner with you and I really commend you for everything you're doing. We now have homeless newborns coming to us in our selected home visiting. We have families that we can't find housing for suicidal teens. They're left out to the street and we have a. Speaker 2: Lot of work and we're going in the right direction. And I want to thank you for all your work and we will be with you and really want to work on this with you. Speaker 9: And I commend the health department in the city and I'm very honored to work in the city and we've been around for 80 years now. So this is a great time for us to be working here. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Tom Stout, Mayor Council. My problem is with the cost. And, you know, you've tried to explain it and I just don't really buy into it. I don't know anybody's property. Speaker 12: If you own a home or a piece of property in Long Beach that's gone up five fold in the last five years. 2 million to 7 million. Speaker 3: Come on. The guy won the lottery. That's not the only. Speaker 12: Cos and another three and a half million. I don't think that's going to be anywhere near adequate to remodel that place and make it functional. Plus, the ongoing expenses have to be somewhere around $2. Speaker 3: Million a year. Where is that going to come from? So there's a lot of costs that I don't think you're really getting into. Speaker 12: And it seems like when the city sells property taxpayer assets, you always seem to sell on below market value. It's a great deal for developers. They seem to be the city's best friends. When you the city buys property, we overpay the person that we're buying it from. This is an example, just like the other project in North Long Beach. I think redevelopment pays five or $7 million for the property, sold it to the developers for 2.1 million, then gave them $1,000,000 discount just before the sale. Great. If you're a developer, not if you're a taxpayer. And why only one appraisal? Speaker 3: You can. Speaker 12: You don't have to make it public. But why not have more than one appraisal? It's a lot of money. Speaker 3: And. Speaker 12: Is the person that's doing the appraise it. It seems like whoever the city hires whether it's a consultant. Or an appraisal. They always come up with the conclusion that the city wanted. I mean, it's like a done deal. So what you tell them this is what we want to do. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Speaker 3: Inclusion Speaker, please. Speaker 12: And if the cannabis guys will. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you very much. Our time is up. Next speaker, please note my. Speaker 3: Good evening. Speaker 10: Mayor Garcia and council members. My name is Ogden Bass. My family and I have lived in North Long Beach on Atlantic Place and the same residents for over 40 years. Speaker 3: I want to commend you for taking up the challenge to help. Speaker 10: The least of these the homeless in our city. I want to thank Councilwoman Richardson for meeting with us and a few of our neighbors last night. Speaker 3: We have had an influx of homelessness in our neighborhood, and we are aware that this is a growing problem throughout the city. That notwithstanding, I would ask the Council to consider a few things. One, that North Long Beach is not the only area in the city to bear. Speaker 10: This worthy cause. But other parts of the city are also. Speaker 3: Will be putting in facilities to support the homeless in their area because the site is located in our community. We would ask that the site be prioritized for women and children and families because the because of the proximity to families and schools in our neighborhood, we would ask that no tents. Speaker 10: Be allowed on the street or on the sidewalk and in the adjacent areas. We would ask that motorhomes of people that do not reside in the city. Speaker 3: Not be allowed to park in the area, that there will be a greater invisible, more visible police presence in the area, and that more streetlights. Speaker 10: Will be put in in the surrounding. Speaker 3: Areas and neighborhoods. These are just a few of the items and concerns from our neighbors. We look forward to working with Councilman Richardson to further. Speaker 10: Address these issues. And we want it to be successful. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much, sir. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Ian Patton and I'm the executive director of the Long Beach Reform Coalition, which is a collection of eight civic reform minded organizations. We raised some objections to just really the process here, but I want to make it clear, we totally stand in solidarity with the goal. We agree with everyone here, for everyone in we have a crisis in the city in terms of homelessness. But our purpose as an organization is government transparency and accountability. So we. Speaker 12: Think that this should be an. Speaker 3: Open process. And when you have certain red flags, like a property that sold for $2 million, the city is paying 7.5 million, according to an appraisal. And we had to kind of pry that out of the city and give a lot. You know, John Keesler is great to work with. No complaint about him whatsoever, but we have to kind of force this information free. And then the remaining 2 million is apparently a valuation on the business. That seems like a crazy valuation on a small liquor store business. So we feel that if the public had the appraisal, then we would know we would be able to judge whether this is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. And frankly, there's no reason that you could redact some personal information. There's just no reason not to. Speaker 13: Release that appraisal because. Speaker 3: The city is it shouldn't be paying more or less than the fair market value. It shouldn't be that kind of negotiation. The last thing I need to say, which is really important, is that last night Reverend Jim Lewis contacted me. He's the former CEO of the Long Beach Rescue mission. He said this is not the place to do this. He said you can quote him. It's just not the right place. It's a misuse of taxpayer money. He knows more about this site than anybody. He worked there. He was the CEO of the rescue mission. And he says it is not worth this amount to pay. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Thanks, Speaker, please. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'm Reverend Leon Wood. I'm a Long Beach resident. What I wanted to say is that I really thank you both for your efforts and serving the homeless. What I'm hearing tonight sometimes is the absence. What we're talking about is men, women and children who need assistance. They need love. They need care. We also, if we give them the kind of love and care that they. Speaker 13: Need, many will. Speaker 3: Become successful. And so we can talk about property, we can talk about money, but we're talking about human beings, God's children. And we should be very, very devoted to caring for people and whatever it costs to save the lives of children, men and women. That's what we should try to accomplish. So thank you very much. Speaker 0: Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Hi, I'm Janice. Speaker 9: Bass, the wife of Ogden Bass, who just spoke a moment ago. We live on North Atlantic Place. Speaker 2: We were fortunate. Speaker 9: Enough to meet with Rex Richardson and John and Kelly and some support staff as well. Things got quite heated on our next door app. Speaker 2: In the neighborhood. Needless to say, I. Speaker 9: Forwarded some of the information to Rex and he immediately contacted me and asked. Speaker 2: If we could meet. So we had a wonderful, informative meeting at our home last night. Speaker 9: Including some of the area neighbors and just by having more. Speaker 2: Information and open dialog. Speaker 9: Really helps a neighborhood to be more aware, accepting, being supportive when we're aware and we understand what. Speaker 2: Actually is occurring or when it's happening, especially North Long Beach. Speaker 9: Especially in times past years, years and years. This goes way back where we've been told that you were notified and and everybody was on board. Speaker 2: And all of a sudden nobody knew what was going on or knew anything. Speaker 9: And that's much prior to Richard to Rex Richardson. But what I would just ask is the neighbors are. Speaker 2: Opposed to having a large. Speaker 9: Complex. When I. Speaker 2: Discuss things with some of our other. Speaker 9: Neighbors, they are. Speaker 2: Definitely in favor of micro what they called micro shelters all over the city. So just keep that in consideration. And if all of the council. Speaker 9: Members would really step up like Rex has and addressed and and discussed with. Speaker 2: People and encourage people that this is something that could be good. I think everyone should follow his lead. And I also just wanted to make record, if I could give all of the emails that the neighbors sent me so that I'm not just the voice piece, but everyone. Speaker 9: Who had concerns could at least have their voice heard as well, that you couldn't. Speaker 2: Attend. Speaker 0: For sure, and just given over to the clerk and will get those. Thank you. Thank. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening, mayor. City Council staff. My name is Brian D'Andrea with century housing in the Village. Is that Cabrillo? I'm also a proud member of the Everyone Home Task Force and a Continuum of Care Board member here in Long Beach. I want to applaud the city, our electeds, the community of North Long Beach for taking this bold step to move forward with this plan, to acquire the site and develop this this vibrant village to support our communities most vulnerable. Thousands of people in Long Beach experienced homelessness in any given year. This shelter and the surrounding services and potential for housing will immediately dress that that pressing need. It's also a wonderful opportunity to leverage state resources with the heat funding. There are many other resources that this site will attract that's going to bring economic development to our community, not to mention the hope and housing and healing that this will bring to our community. The city has been incredibly coordinated and strategic and how it deploys its homeless services. This site is another great example, an opportunity for the city to continue doing that and to continue strengthening its continuum. And so we're proud here to stand tonight to support the city in this endeavor. It's also very gratifying to see the Everyone Home Task Force recommendations being implemented. Hopefully, this is a catalyst for some of the other important recommendations that are in that report. So thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Hi. Speaker 9: I'm carelessly. My address is on file. Speaker 2: I'm a member of several organizations The East Side Voice Carp and the Long Beach Reform Coalition. Speaker 9: I'm delighted that you're taking on this project, and I'm. Speaker 2: Encouraged that we're moving forward to do something for the homeless. Speaker 9: Population. I, too, am concerned about the price the consider the city is considering paying for the properties chosen. While there is considerable detail and analysis in determining the purchase price of this or any property, the big picture of this particular deal does give cause for concern. Speaker 2: This property was sold in December 2013 for $2 million. The improvements to it seem to have been to put in a small liquor store. It's hard to believe that a piece of property in the ninth District bordering on Compton, appreciated more than 250% in five years. Speaker 9: Causing the city to have to use the. Speaker 2: Entire 9.3 million from the. Speaker 9: State. Speaker 2: Just to buy the land and the buildings. Speaker 9: The money coming from the state should be adequate to cover at least some of the costs. Speaker 2: Of acquiring not just the land, but accomplishing the improvements to. Speaker 9: Provide for that 125 shelter bed. Speaker 2: Surely we can. Speaker 9: Do better than this. This money came from the taxpayers and it is intended to help the homeless, not line someone's pockets in a real estate deal. Please consider taking one more step and engage the city auditor to validate that appraisal. Speaker 2: Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Members of the council. My name is Rene Castro. I live in the third district. I'm really, really happy tonight about what's happening here. This is a this is a bold step, as my president, Brian de Andrade, has stated. I want to just give a little bit of background. I'm the former chair for Mental Health America. I actually facilitated the city's ten year plan to end homelessness 12 years ago. And I also work at century villages at Cabrillo. And of course, we serve 1600 formerly homeless people in any given night. To those who would, you know, raise the costs, I'm not an assessor. I'm not a real estate agent. But I would ask, how much does it cost to continue to house homeless people in emergency rooms? What's the cost there? How long is it cost to continue to have L.A. County jails serve as the largest de facto mental institution in the United States? Those are the human costs. Of course, there's an economic cost here. We've seen the site where there at the press conference, there's an opportunity here to activate this community not only socially but economically. And I believe in the hands of Rex Richardson. We can get this done. Thank you so much. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening, mayor, vice mayor and the council members. My name is Frank Romero Crockett, and I'm the public affairs officer of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. And I play a key role in the Everyone in campaign, a campaign committed to ending homelessness across L.A. County by activating local residents to support smart, collaborative and data driven solutions that are focused on building supportive housing that serves our most vulnerable in our communities and as a representative everyone in campaign. We want to show our strong support of the recommendation to purchase the properties on Atlantic Avenue to build a year round permanent emergency shelter for our homeless neighbors. We are also here tonight to show that we are bringing to everyone in campaigns together. We at the United Way launched the Everyone in Campaign back in March 2018 with the goal of educating, engaging and activating tens of thousands of people across L.A. County to be a part of ending homelessness by speaking out for housing. We know that we have the right strategies and enough resources that we can end homelessness. That's critical. But we also know that's not all what it takes. It takes leadership, which we are seeing here tonight with Councilmember Richardson. It takes courage and it takes regular people standing up and saying yes to the solutions that we know work. And they're also saying better not sidewalks. But we see here today powerful message that we will continue to lift up across this beautiful city. That's why it takes so much and makes so much sense for everyone in that's focused on ending homelessness to partner with the everyone that's focused on economic inclusion and creating a seat at the table for everyone. These are two sides of the same coin. We look forward to working together over the coming months and years to build a stronger Long Beach and a stronger L.A. County, where people have access to supportive and affordable housing that is critical to economic stability and success. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Nick Speaker, please. Speaker 2: Good evening. Speaker 5: Honorable mayor and city council members. My name is Sister Celeste Trahan. I am from St Mary's Medical Center. I am vice president of mission integration there. And Carolyn Caldwell, our CEO and. Speaker 2: President is a member of your Everyone Home. Speaker 5: Task Force. I just want to say a few words about the services we provide at St Mary and as one of the major providers of hospital services in the Long Beach area for over 95 years, we continue to provide services regardless of people's ability to pay, regardless of where they come from. And increasingly in the last few years, of course, we have seen. Speaker 2: An increase in those poor and vulnerable who are unfortunate enough to be homeless. Speaker 5: As a participant in a regular. Speaker 2: Community health needs assessment for the Greater Long Beach area, St Mary is among many organizations within the community which determines. Speaker 5: Which looks at social determinants of health, one of which is housing and shelter. And we continually face the the challenge of providing comprehensive services to all the people we serve. Speaker 2: In Long Beach. Speaker 5: But in partnership with other health care entities and community organizations, we will continue to address these issues and provide care. Speaker 2: For the poor and the vulnerable. Speaker 5: Having a year round shelter is certainly a positive. Speaker 2: Step in addressing one of the. Speaker 5: Basic needs of life, and it helps us. Speaker 2: To determine how. Speaker 5: We will safely discharge homeless people. So thank you. Speaker 6: Thank you. Next speaker. Speaker 3: Carlo Sylvia, Long Beach Reform Coalition and the people of Long Beach. I applaud the city's efforts to provide the much needed year round shelter for homeless residents. I'm a professional who has devoted the majority of my career in architecture to the creation of affordable housing, including homeless shelters, and who has advocated for housing as a right and not a privilege. Councilwoman Richardson mentioned a state of the art facility, and in in the documents for this meeting, it says property will immediately provide space for a needed year round shelter. He said there are 3 million to rehabilitate the building. That is an impossible feat to accomplish. The existing buildings are unsafe to inhabit. Do not provide even the most basic necessities. They're structurally unsound, lack adequate heating, ventilating, air conditioning and the other life safety measures. The these buildings are basically tear down in terms of the cost of that is being paid. The nine and a half million dollars that the city ought to have been paying land value, not not the the square footage of these buildings. So this these buildings will not as as has been stated, will immediately provide space needed. That is going to cost somewhere in a conservative value of about $100,000 per bed. Not to mention the operating costs, which I'm not an operator, but perhaps the other people here I can can talk about that. That's that's going to be another 2 to $3 million a year for operating costs. So in terms of costs, what we really need to talk about is there is no value in in I mean, there's a lot of value in housing the homeless, but there's more value if we spend that money appropriately. And I don't think that's being done on this project. Thank you. Speaker 4: Hi, everyone. My name is Reed, a sophomore at Poly High School. From a youth staff perspective, I think that we're taking a step in the right direction. Building the homeless shelter in Long Beach. But in the Long Beach, homeless shelter will greatly help Long Beach because there's over a thousand homeless people currently living here. The homeless shelter also provide beds and generous separated quarters. I personally dislike it when it rains because outside they're homeless people without the proper clothing and roof to go under. So I think the homeless shelter is a step in solving the Long Beach homeless problem that we have. The shelter provided homeless people a nice place to go to feed them food and clean water. And not only that, but can help them get back on their feet so they can live a normal life again. Speaker 2: Both in the homeless shelter and not. Speaker 4: Only help the homeless, but the citizens of Long Beach, because there will be less homeless people on the streets and the homeless shelter provide more jobs and increase productivity in cities. This has a more of a positive than a negative outcome, and I think this is a great idea. Thank you. Council and especially Councilmember Richardson for shedding light on this topic. Please support this cause. Speaker 6: Thank you. Next week. Speaker 2: Before I begin, I just want to say thank you, City Councilman Richardson, for bringing light on. Speaker 6: Bringing you. Please state your name. Speaker 2: Oh, um, my name is Joanna, and I'm a junior at Milliken High School. I think this homeless shelter is a great idea and a step in the right direction. Currently, there are over a thousand homeless people in Long Beach that don't have the resources they need. Building the shelter will give them a step towards getting back on track by providing jobs and making sure they're healthy, especially with the bad weather we've been having recently. They don't have the risk. The protection from the rain that is needed and are more likely to get sick with this shelter. Their have access to resources. They need to be healthy. Also, a lot of the people, a lot of the time people are intimidated by homeless people and with the help of the shelter, that will break that stigma. It's a big, important step with this homeless shelter, and I think it should be voted yes. So please consider voting yes. Speaker 6: Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 3: Good evening, counsel. My name is Jonathan Great. I am a lifelong resident of Long Beach and I must say I have drunk the water before I think I turned out okay, so I will get that off my chest. I also work I'm a part of a senior leadership team at a nonprofit here at Long Beach. We are definitely facing a homeless crisis here in Long Beach. At last year's homeless count, there was about 2000 homeless people living in the streets of Long Beach. I work with families who are one financial catastrophe away from homelessness. Homelessness affects everyone across all ages. One in six students that go to Long Beach City College are experiencing homelessness and one in ten students at Cal State Long Beach. Providing beds for them and providing them a place to go when they're trying to better themselves is definitely an equity issue that the city needs to take up. We need to have everybody in on this initiative and we need to have everybody in. In support of the homeless shelter. A lot of people are throwing around numbers and the cost of purchasing the buildings and the facilities. It's a lot better than renting or trying to lease these facilities. Those prices can change. We will own the facilities and it will be an investment that will last decades. Additionally, the state providing $8 million to address our homeless situation is definitely commendable by the former governor, Jerry Brown. In addition to beds, the homeless shelter will also provide job training, life skills, education and medical facilities for the homeless the homeless individuals. I commend Councilmember Richardson for bringing this to the Council and County Supervisor Janice Hahn for bringing over $3 million to help the renovation of the facilities. I thank you for your time and I urge you to vote yes and to continue investing in the city that we all love. Thank you. Speaker 6: Thank you. Next week. Speaker 2: Hello. Good evening. Speaker 5: My name is Marisela Rivera. I am a resident of the ninth district. Speaker 2: I want to first thank the the mayor and, of course, Councilmember Rex Richardson for his leadership. Speaker 5: On this issue. Speaker 2: I think it's incredibly easy to say we need to fix the problem. I think it's incredibly hard to say I'm going to be part of the solution. And I think. Speaker 5: That I have seen I've. Speaker 2: Lived in Long Beach for 19 years now, and I've seen the Army. Speaker 5: Reserve. Speaker 2: Facility almost become a homeless shelter. And residents in that district in that area said, not in my backyard. I have seen very recently residents in another part of Long Beach formed their own militia and say, not in my backyard. And that wasn't about permanent housing, that wasn't about solutions. That was simply about not wanting people to exist in their neighborhood. I have seen my neighbors in District nine say. Speaker 5: Yes. Speaker 9: In my backyard. Speaker 5: Because we are going to. Speaker 2: Help people. I encourage all of the residents in Long Beach to talk to homeless people. They are people. My elderly mother lives with us. We are five people now in a two bedroom house. We bought it a month before she was about to be homeless and when she needed a place to stay, we made it work because that's what we do. She would be one of those people if we didn't have her in our home with our two young children living in the ninth District in walking distance from this future all year shelter. Speaker 5: I'm incredibly proud of. Speaker 2: Rex Richardson and the city of Long Beach for taking this measure. Thank you so much. Speaker 3: Thank you, Steven Council. Speaker 4: My name is Jordan Win. I'm the Long Beach organizer of the Everyone in Coalition, part of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. We're here today to proudly support and urge you to vote yes, to acquire these properties, to develop this permanent emergency shelter. Having this new permanent shelter will aid in alleviating some of the most acute problems faced by our homeless neighbors in Long Beach. And it's a call to continue the work until all people in our city have a roof over their heads that they can call home. Rick said it best. This is the start. This is just the beginning. And he's shown immense leadership in this project. And we were honored to partner with him for this announcement last Monday and now to be here again to show our support. You've done a wonderful job engaging the community. You understand the importance of a healthy housing market and the need for affordable and supportive housing throughout our community. And so we hope to continue. You have a fruitful work with your office as well as the rest of Long Beach. We've met with most of your offices and had some wonderful discussions around moving this issue forward. We're committed at everyone in to building deep partnerships here in the months and years ahead. We've seen the strength of Long Beach is community. Many people came out today to show their support and we want to continue to show that we need these kinds of developments in Long Beach. We want to bring everybody in to show that we need to see more of these developments. We need to see more supportive housing, more affordable housing, more shelters around the city. And we want neighbors in Long Beach who are the majority to raise their voices and say, yes, yes, in my backyard, yes, this is what we need. So thank you so much. We once again urge you to vote yes. And I'd like to take these seconds to ask everybody who has signs, who's out here to support in the audience, to please stand, show your support, and thank you for coming out here tonight. Thanks so much. Speaker 6: Thank you. Next speaker. Speaker 9: Hello. My name is Julie Jones. I've lived in North Long Beach since 1986. And this situation is your typical hope for the best, but expect the worst. That said, you, as our elected representatives and we as a community need to develop a comprehensive plan of action regarding this campus compound in North Long Beach. This discussion and plan needs to begin now and continue monthly throughout the design, construction and implementation of this facility. Some considerations to discuss are the following. Each council district should have homeless facilities, not just North Long Beach. What about mental health problems? What type of facilities will be located on site? Will these issues be addressed? What about off site? And if so, where? Where do the people go if they're removed from the campus for disciplinary reasons? What about 24 hour security? What will their boundaries be? Only on site or off site also. Will more Long Beach police officers be required? And if so, are they coming from are already stretched to the limits delegated officers? How long will the grant money last? Are we going to have more taxes placed on us to continue to maintain the daily operating expenses of this facility? Is the money we have from outside sources enough to sustain ongoing business and not just construction? Let's utilize our high schools and colleges to provide onsite training for their students working as interns. What about having neighborhood cleanups and other community outreach activities using the campus residents? To do this with the community. What about the bathroom facilities? Are there going to be offsite porta potties? Representatives of the North Long Beach Neighborhood Associations should have ongoing meetings. Speaker 6: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Speaker 3: Good evening. I'm Pastor Omar Mohammed. I serve the residents of Skid Row, Los Angeles. I stand today to speak on behalf of the people experiencing homelessness. I haven't been homeless for a year and a half with my family until July of 2018. I understand the plight. I commend Councilman Rex Richardson for taking up the cause of positive action toward ending homelessness homelessness in Long Beach. From my perspective, the councilman is taking a high risk close to political suicide, especially in the era of not in my backyard ism. Believe me, I understand nobody wants to be home once a homeless shelter in their backyard. But what I know is that if no one allows a shelter in their backyard, if not to, in the not too distant future, you will have homelessness in your front yard. I have worked for the homeless community off and on for over a decade. One thing I know is that homelessness is spreading. It is not decreasing and it is growing in the areas of women and children. I am aware of the magnitude of homeless of the homeless crisis in our nation, state, country, and especially the epicenter, Los Angeles. As you are, as you ask, why am I in Long Beach? Because homelessness is the same everywhere. When I heard about your efforts to change this, I said I want to be a part of it. So I step in. It is always a great step in the right direction. I know one thing that it may not be a lot of housing, but if you just if you think about that illustration of the beach, we had all the starfish on it. That guy picked up one starfish and threw it in the ocean. He said, What difference does that make? It didn't make it a whole lot of difference to those people in that beach, but it made a difference to that one person that got out. Keep up the good work, man. God is with you. Speaker 6: Thank you very much. Next speaker. Speaker 9: Good evening, Congressman. Speaker 2: And everybody. Excuse me. City leaders and everybody in attendance. My name is Maureen Morris, and I provide bags for the homeless. I just about every. Speaker 9: Day I go out and. Speaker 2: I talk with the homeless and I hand them bags and see what their needs are. You know, we've done a lot of talking here tonight about what the homeless need. Speaker 9: And my question is, are we going out there? Are we getting. Speaker 2: In the areas where they are and. Speaker 9: Asking them, what are your needs? What would you like to see this year to have? So moving forward, as I'm out there and I'm. Speaker 2: Speaking to them and I'm handing out the items that I hand out, I'm going to be asking them, What would you like to see this shelter have? I know you know when you need beds, you need other items and things of that nature. But what would you like to see them have? Speaker 9: That should be the question. What would you. Speaker 2: Like us to provide? And then we all know, you know, what their needs are. So as I move forward and I'm doing what I'm doing and I'm talking to them, I'm going to be finding out what they think, you know, they would like to see the shelter have. And I will be contacting you guys to, you know, let you know what they would like to see. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. And I just want to make sure that I'm going to close the speaker's list with everyone that's speaking in line. If there's anybody additionally, I want to make sure I capture them as well. Okay. So we're going to and we're actually after this, gentlemen. We're going go down to the 90 seconds. Go ahead, sir. Speaker 10: My name is is Pastor Bo Stevens. I'm one of the pastors at Chapel of Change and the City of Long Beach. Speaker 3: And I'm an. Speaker 10: Advocate of the Lord Jesus Christ. So. And I care about. Speaker 3: What he cares about. And so and so when Rex Richmond, Richardson Toler told me about this, I was really pleased. Speaker 10: To come along and support him because Jesus cares for the. Speaker 3: Poor. And there's a question, yes. What is Jesus going to judge you on on the day of judgment? Speaker 10: And and I got to thinking about that. He said one of the passages in the Bible says, When I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was naked, you clothed me when I was sick. You visited me when I was in prison. You came to see me. And so. I. I care. Speaker 3: About what the Lord cares. Speaker 10: About. Speaker 3: And we are. We are actively. Speaker 10: Involved. Ministering to the homeless or homeless for an early church. Speaker 3: And I just want to share that. Yesterday, a homeless man bought me lunch. And that's a miracle. Speaker 10: A homeless man by his name was Joe. I live in the city of Paramount, but I pastor in the city of Long Beach. Speaker 3: But I walk to this taco. Speaker 10: Stand and and this guy, Joe, says, I said, man, I got to buy this guy a taco. Here's Joe again. Speaker 3: And Joe says, No, I want to buy you a taco. So a lot of. Speaker 10: Times we view homeless people. They're people. There's somebody and. Speaker 3: There's somebody's uncle. A lady behind. Speaker 10: Me was Cher, and that's her mom. She's homeless. Speaker 3: And there there's somebody, a man. And so God cares about people. Speaker 10: And I just want to say hi to Al Austin here, to a man here. He represents our district. Ken Bixby knows, too. We have a campus there. Speaker 3: Anyways, God bless, guys. Speaker 0: Great work. I'm for the proposal. Thank you very much. Next speaker, please, on this. Speaker 9: Hi. My name is Jacqueline Case. I live in District eight and I also own a home and I am a realtor and I believe in affordable housing. I believe in homes for everyone. I support the everyone in in everyone home. And I want to commend our youth for coming out here and speaking about this subject, because it's it's wonderful to hear all different ages, all different ethnicities, all different backgrounds, everything. Also, Maricela, Debbie Rivera. Sorry if I butchered your name. What about me? What about in my backyard? So I'm very pleased and I will support Rex to the end. Disagree for this, but why not in every district? And so I will challenge every district to be Inbee because like everyone has made a comment here, this is humanity. I do have family that deals with homelessness, so it is near and dear to my heart. And then I also am a realtor. So, you know, go figure. That's a comment. Sometimes that can be a conflict, right? People talk about, you know, housing and so forth, but I'm for all of that. So I think having conversations like this, I've met amazing people in line, being able to be here to support Rex and support this initiative. I look forward to it and thank you for doing the extensive work, everybody who was part of that. I really appreciate it and thank you. And please support this. Speaker 0: Unique speaker, please. Speaker 2: Good evening, everyone. Thank you. My name is Keena Tompkins and I'm with the United States Veterans Initiative that's located in villages of Korea. Be really brief. We offer supportive services for homeless veterans. We service about 800 veterans daily. But what I'm tasked to today is to inform you that for the past two years, US Vets has operated the winter shelter at 5571 Orange Avenue. And I just want to share some success stories. For sure, we need all the resources and supplies that they need. But to know that you have help, maybe one or the 150 that we serve is nightly. With food, with clothing, with hygiene. We have place since we started the shelter on December 8th. We have place 14 people. And these are the most vulnerable people we have here, homeless people. We have we place 14 of them already in housing and with jobs. So this is not a need. It's not a it's not a want. It's a need. And you as veterans, as operation manager, we are here to support. And we would love to be part of that transition team with operations because we've done it for two years and I think we've been successful with it. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Hi. My name is Miha. I live in that neighborhood and I see the necessity of the homeless shelter. So I appreciate that. And but I'm not happy that I just learned about this a couple of days ago, but it seems like it's already it's going to move forward. So I probably have to make a commitment to support, but I need your commitment to make sure this neighborhood will not be deteriorated any more than as it is right now as far as cleanliness and crime. I am single woman living there. Speaker 9: I'm very afraid. Just want to know when you're. Speaker 0: Me home and thinking we will work. What are those are issues and other important to the councilman and to the city and so and I would encourage also maybe if maybe someone from the councilman's office or my office to connect and we want to make sure where you get the information and feel safe in your community. So thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 9: Good evening, Mayor. Council members and everyone. Speaker 3: Actually had no intention on speaking, so I'll make this really. Speaker 9: Quick. As a former homeless person, I've gone from homelessness to feeling like 150 people a day from my own home. When I lived in Miami, I just moved here from Miami. And Miami is a no tax day, so I didn't have to pay taxes in Miami. And other people were like complaining about what you guys are going to pay for this building and others though I would gladly give my taxes to pay for. Speaker 7: That because you cannot. Speaker 9: Put a price on hunger. Speaker 3: Homelessness and peace. Speaker 9: Of mind. Council. My name is Lauren Boland. A few weeks. Speaker 2: Ago, I participated. Speaker 9: In. Speaker 2: The homeless count. It was life. Speaker 9: Changing. I thought my work with Habitat for Humanity was life changing in 2008. No. I ask. Speaker 2: You to remember that this money. Speaker 9: Is $8 million that we've been granted by the state. It's for human beings. It's not to be a really great, cool real estate development. It's not to be a showstopper. It is for people. These people are. They're not all mentally ill. They're not all drug addicts. What I experienced out there in in in that count, I had no idea. Speaker 2: I worry that they're not all going to use that shelter in that location. Speaker 9: I worry that we're not going to have enough money to. Speaker 2: Build the ones that we need in other parts of the city. As a mortgage. Speaker 9: Professional, I worry that the value of the property has been inflated by a marijuana gold rush. That is over and I ask the city to get another appraisal. What is it? Five, $7,000 to get another one done. Spend the money. Do the due diligence. The homeless people out there need every dollar spent appropriately. Thank you. Speaker 0: Next speaker. Thank you. Speaker 2: Good evening, mayor, vice mayor and city council members. My name is Juanita Doppler moore. I'm a resident of the ninth District and I'm also the president of the Collins Neighborhood Association and the Veterans Affairs Commission representing the ninth District. This is a great. Speaker 9: Opportunity to address a citywide issue of homelessness and. Speaker 2: Lack of affordable housing there, with there being over a thousand 1800 homeless individuals in our city. It is time to step up and address this issue. I'm in great support of the of the campus. That is part of the discussion tonight to provide our residents with affordable housing, wraparound services and job opportunities and rehabilitation. Speaker 9: This space. Speaker 2: Goes. Speaker 9: Beyond just. Speaker 2: Housing, the housing, the homeless individuals. It provides them the opportunity to reintegrate and become members of society. I am. I am. I applaud the city councilman, Rex Richardson, and all the members here tonight. And I ask that you support this initiative. Thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you, Nick. Speaker, please. Speaker 2: Hello. My name is Ron at Mars. I'm with the Hamilton Neighborhood Association. I used to be afraid of the homeless, but then I realized that it was my own fear of them and being homeless and that they're just human beings trying their best to survive. I realized it is not my right to say they have no rights, no rights to services if it's in my neighborhood or if it will affect me or if I will see them. It is not my right to say who deserves help and who doesn't, or to judge why they are in that position. Likely we are a few months away from being homeless ourselves if things go wrong in our lives. Then I thought back on my life when I was a teen. I lived on the streets for about three years. I'm so far removed from that time that. Speaker 9: I'd forgotten what I had gone through to survive on the streets. I know this is. Speaker 2: A growing issue. I know we are not the only area in the city that is picked on by hosting homeless services. I know that this is an issue that can affect each and every one of us at any time, at any capacity. I know that we need to step up and be a part of the solution. I know that these less fortunate need our help. Speaker 9: I know we need to look at this and quit trying to ignore it. I wish there were. Speaker 2: No homeless and we were not having this conversation. But there is. And we are. So we must now work to solve it. Drawing a line in the sand does not solve anything during this process. I would also challenge other districts to be as open minded as the ninth District and Rex Richardson in supporting homeless services. Please consider approving the sale. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Hi. My name is Jerry Fink. I'm with the Hamilton Neighborhood Association. I'm glad to see our representatives in this perpetually Rex Richardsons of forward thinking on this. And a lot of things are happening in our district, and I'm glad that the homeless are not going to be left out. I encourage the neighbors that are against it and for it to sit down at the table and we can see what works for everybody because it's it's all of our neighborhoods and and we need to help those that are less fortunate than ourselves. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. I'm also going to close the speakers list. I had we had closed it, but another person jumped. So we're going to the gentleman in the carpet. I will be the last one. Okay. Yes, please. Speaker 9: Good evening. My name is Linda Campbell, and I'm a 38 year resident of the Hamilton Neighborhood Association. I'm in strong support of this initiative. I look forward to being part of the solution for the homeless. That particular site has been a problem. The entire time I have lived in the Hamilton Neighborhood Association. This is an opportunity for us as a community to step up and be part of the solution and not just sit back and say, not in my backyard. The gentleman who spoke who said, if it's not in your backyard, it may very well end up in your front yard. Very apropos. If we sit back and do nothing. Speaker 2: We will not. Speaker 9: Solve the problem. It will just increase. Please step up and do the right thing and support this initiative. And make sure that we are part of a solution. And I challenge each councilman. To organize your own communities, your own council districts to be part of a solution that's going to continue if we don't all step up and be part of the solution. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Karen replied, I'm a resident of District one and I am so proud of my city tonight for bringing this forward. And for Rex, for all the work and all the people that have put in effort on this project. As someone who was homeless for three months, I don't want anyone to ever have to sleep on the floor of a locked bathroom, public bathroom, or to wash their hair in a sink because they don't have a place to go. I've been here working in a home in housing for over 13 years, and this is just kind of the high point of my life up to this point. This is just so meaningful to so many people in our community who are not them or those people. They are us. You can never tell who is homeless, who's sleeping in their car, who is couch surfing, could be the person next to you. Could be your neighbor. So don't judge people. Help them. They're all part of our community. And thank you so much for all your hard work. And that price. Speaker 5: Is not too high. Speaker 2: How much is it worth to save people in our community? Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Yes, I am one of you from the eighth district. I would like to ask a couple of questions. One is, if this project or purchasing decision is going to receive money from the state and the county. Is this project going to be a regional project or a city only project? Also, why are relocating this process, this project as far north as possible from where the actual people congregate? Why would someone in downtown go all the way to North Long Beach, given that they have carts, personal belongings, etc.? And why would there. If I want there be public outreach. Why hasn't there been enough public outreach? Or dialog in choosing this location. Why is it we are always presented with a fait accompli instead of a choice? Please postpone. Postpone this decision. In order to open it up to the public for dialog, in order to show us what steps were taken to come to these conclusions. Like a previous speaker said, it's eight or nine and a half million dollars are going to be spent on a piece of land. Not on the people that really need it. Thank you. Speaker 0: Your next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Good evening, councilmembers. Mayor Garcia. Speaker 5: It's good to be with you tonight. My name is Megan Curr. I'm a resident of the eighth District. I also have the honor of representing North Palm Beach on the Board of Education for Long Beach Unified School District. And I can't I think the words that have been said previously by the people who live in the adjacent properties about the positive impact that this will have on their lives and on their property values. I can't restate that. But what I can say as someone who's been involved in the homeless issue for 17 years and someone who's lived in this community my whole life, I've never been more proud of the North Long Beach community for stepping up and saying, yes, yes, here, yes, us will be part of the solution. I want to thank the council members who stayed in the chambers for this entire discussion to hear us and to hear us implore everyone else in the city to do the same thing, which is step up. We belong to each other in this city and we like to talk about how we're a big city but a small town. But the residents of North Long Beach have shown and led the way with their example tonight and their positivity and their embracing of the complex realities of homelessness and their willingness to be part of the solution. So as a lifelong resident, I am very proud. As a school board member, I am very proud. And I urge you to support this measure tonight. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Dr. Gerald Higginbotham. I am the CEO and founder of the Captain's Millionaire, Inc. I'm a new residents here, 90 day residents to the Long Beach area. I'm just returning home after 30 years. And so I've come home to help to heal our communities. And I just didn't want to sit in the stand. I'm in wrecks. I'm standing with you. I've helped to develop a bottom up model that will address many of the issues that we have in our communities. I did it in Saint Louis, and so now I'm coming home to Long Beach so we can begin to make an impact. I'm in. Speaker 0: Thank you, sir. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Hi. My name is Monica Keller. I'm a resident of the ninth District and representing the Start King Neighborhood Association. And I just want to thank Councilmember Rex Richardson for stepping up to take on this challenge. And all the neighbors and the residents there are concerned and they address them. And I thank you guys for taking the time tonight to bring up some of those issues and kind of, you know, let us know what's going on and what has gone on in the past and how we can move forward. And just is, again, we're all in and we just thank you and we're here, you know, thank you again for helping us. I work in social services, so I know direct every day the impact that homelessness has on our participants as well as my coworkers. I work with people who every day are facing homelessness or just a check away from being homeless. So I think this is a very important issue and I just thankful that we are in a part of the city that is taking it on. And I hope that other parts of the city and other districts also address this in their own areas. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening. My name is Charlie. I'm a I'm an aunt and I. I used to live in Torrance. I moved to Paramount. I buy a new brand new house and I just got something on my front door. Uh, yesterday I got two, and then I got one again when I came back from work saying in the city to purchase any liquor and warehoused for $9.5 million. I didn't I didn't know this until yesterday. I was hoping that if you wanted to engage on people around the community of Paramount, it was I get this every like every month a flier saying what the good things with new events were doing. What are we? You know, pretty much everything. And I told the news events and I feel proud because it's like from Torrance to coming to Paramount. I couldn't really afford a house in Torrance because I had to live within my means. And this newly fresh built house maybe, you know, achieve that goal, have that dream. And now I talk to my mom and and she said, Well, now you got to think about your house can be devalued. I know that gentleman like was talking about appraisal and what they're trying to do and yes I help people are you know I know I can't you know go on details but when I have patients in the E.R., you know coming up my floor they're they're not always the best and they're always not good. I always get the good and the bad. And so I just feel like. Thank you very much. All right, cool. Speaker 0: Thank you very much, sir. That concludes public comment. I know that Councilor Richardson had a few more and. We ended with him and he wanted to make a closing comment. And then we're going over to Councilmember Pearce and then the speakers. Speaker 10: Two speakers. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I just wanted to just, uh, acknowledge you all and address some of some of the things quickly that were brought up. So, number one, we're all in this together. All of our city council colleagues have made contributions to this conversation. The mayor, the entire all of our colleagues care about this issue. It's true. Other districts have hosted the winter shelter in the past, district eight districts, one that I know of. There's been efforts across the city. So people are committed to this issue. And for this to work, we need everyone's support. And so, you know, I want to thank all of our colleagues on the city council for their commitment to this issue and for their hard work. A few things came up. Just some basic stuff that I heard I want to just debunk so quickly this conversation. I keep hearing $2 million sales price and 300% increase. So. Mr.. Mr.. Keisler, can you quickly just describe the arms length sale and what that $2 million was? Speaker 11: Councilmember Certainly so. So through through the process of conducting an appraisal, there's a title record review. There's also interviews with past property owners to understand the way the valuation was was set at the previous purchase price. In this case, there's something in California. It's called an arm's length transaction, which means that the two parties don't know each other there. It's usually a market based process if it's considered arm's length. In this case, in the 2013 transaction, the the transaction between two parties, in this case, the Rescue Mission Foundation and the current owner was not considered arm's length. In fact, there were extenuating circumstances that were not disclosed, but indicated that this was not a market based transaction. It could be in some cases that that one of the parties is under duress or they work out a deal less formally. And so the price that was recorded with the assessor was based on a process that was not considered arm's length and was not considered market based, which is why it explains in some ways why it was so below market at that time. The price probably was was higher than what the the previous owner had paid, which was over $3 million for the property. So we don't have all those details. But that that was part of our appraisal process. Speaker 10: Thank you. Do you know who the owner was before it was sold. Speaker 11: Prior to the the owner the current owner, it was the Rescue Mission Foundation. That was who was indicated as the previous owner. Speaker 10: Great. I know there was a comment about Jim Lewis who was associated with the rescue mission about the market there. The rescue mission are the folks who sold it below market value. So everything you hear, there's always more context to it. Next thing that there was a comment about, the 3.4 million from the county that we're grateful for is not enough to make you know, to build this vision. It's absolutely true. That's why the plan is to go out and identify public private partners, other agencies, so that we can build this aspirational vision that we're talking about. So we're not by any means claiming that the 3.4 million will be the it for this for this project. That money is is dedicated to retrofitting the existing building. But we're talking about is as much more for the site. There was the last thing is folks say, why North Palm Beach, not other areas, as if there aren't homeless issues in North Long Beach. The reality is we are at the only part of the city is at the nexus of the L.A. River, the 1791 and and the Edison right away. All of those have different jurisdictional issues in terms of who responds from a public safety standpoint. County sheriffs, some private, some LAPD, all of them. We always have the issue where you clean up an encampment, you clean up an encampment, you help reach new outreach on one side. And then folks simply jump the fence inside of the camp and, you know, on the Edison right away. And then you go address that. They put it back on the other side of the fence, in the river, in the flood zone. And so we have to be comprehensive. And there are issues, significant homeless issues in north on beach that this will help to address that those homeless issues in Norfolk. And so we don't want to assume that there's only homelessness in the downtown. There's not there are major anchors along the river where homelessness exists. Again, this has been you know, this is a team effort. The entire council has done great things on homelessness and, you know, and the community has stepped up. So there's nine letters of support here. So I just want to acknowledge Assembly Member Mike Gibson. Speaker Anthony Rendon. Central Asia. Andy Kerr. Committee Girls and Action Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Long Beach Community Action Partnership, YMCA, Community Development and Pools for Hope for submitting these letters to the City Council. Thank you. And that's my piece. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember. Councilmember Pierce. Speaker 2: So I want to say thank you to every resident that showed up today. Every person that shared their story. Every person that's been a part of this discussion not only in the last two weeks, but for the last several years. And, of course, I think the council member in North Long Beach that has had the opportunity to lead on this, to really work with community members, to make sure that this is not a place where you're going to have cuts, but this is a place that's going to be really serving of the residents that are there, of the homeless population that is going to transition through that space. I think creating, you know, a campus that has opportunities similar to the villages of Korea is going to be exciting to have that partnership is really critical. I know that often we respond out of a place of fear. You know, not in my backyard or how much money are we going to spend? And that knee jerk response. And we know when we lead out of a place of fear, we hold ourselves back and we isolate ourselves. And so, too, have residents in North Long Beach say, we want to partner. We want to work together. We want to put that aside. And yet we have some questions. You know, we have we'd like more lighting. Sure. I think that that really demonstrates how far the city has come. Ten years ago, if you would have had this discussion here in this chamber, it would have gone very differently. When we look at how much money we've spent on homeless services over the last three years, I think I just got some numbers since I've been in office. It's around $26 million out of our health department. That doesn't include the cost in our urgent care. That doesn't include the cost of our fire and PD going out for calls of service for people that are on the front lines. In my district is downtown. It's our waterfront as a district that has high property values. It's a district that is very much impacted by homelessness. And I think it's very fascinating to see sometimes that just this side of the block can say we will spend whatever it takes to house somebody, and then you have fear and worry on the other side. And so to everybody's point around, why not other places? I think that Councilmember Rex Richardson made a really great point. We have to watch and make sure that, one, that their property values are maintained. They have spent a great deal over the last three terms of this council district and in the north Long Beach to change the story about what north long beaches. And so I know that's extremely important to the councilmember, making sure that when you see homelessness, that you're not seeing tents, but you're seeing people getting services and coming out and moving on past that that point. So those are things that I think, yeah, we need to watch and see. But in my office, when I first got in, I think, you know, we all come in bright eyed and bushy tailed and we try to lead on on items. And I know I've worked with folks that have done homeless services for a long time, and we came in and tried to put a couple of different places with the shipping containers. And I remember working with development services and they're like, No, we're not going to do X, Y and Z, we're not going to retrofit them. It's going to be people living in boxes. And we worked with the Gay and Lesbian Center, the LGBTQ center on Fourth Street, which is in my neighborhood. And they said, absolutely, we'll put them on our property, we'll put them on our back lot if we have to. We'll put them on stilts above our property. We ran into some challenges. We ran into some great opportunity with some funding, but it was a very heavy lift to carry something like this and to not just say, we found a place, we found the money and we found the community that's willing. And unfortunately, in my first six months in office, we weren't able to pull that off. There's still interest. HGTV Rex, I'm going to connect you. These guys, they want to retrofit and put money into anything to help with this homeless community. So there are some once we start on a project like this, we are going to get some more resources. But I totally accept the challenge of some services in the second district. We obviously have a very different geographic space and I think we've tried to work even to find empty lots that are going to be waiting for development to say, well, can we do something temporary? But it takes a lot of coordination. And so bureaucracy sometimes feels like it doesn't have a heartbeat. But I want to say how proud I am of our staff, our city staff for the last several years is really seems like we have found our heartbeat and we're we're attempting to march along that to get solutions. And so I know it takes a lot of different components. I challenge community groups, developers, those that are doing homeless services to also think creatively about what? Are opportunities in my district where we can take that on because we absolutely need to have that Bigsby park. We is where we have people locking themselves in the bathroom so they can sleep. You know, Bixby Park is where I have children that see the affects of homelessness every single day, and it really does affect our neighborhoods. And so I want to be able to say shelter, right? Beds, not sidewalks. So we're all in fully support you. I can't wait to come out and take a tour of the facility and learn how maybe we have some auxiliary spaces like that in the second district. I know there's some work being done at the state level around funding for homeless services around transit corridors. We've got the 710, we've got blue line. We have some great spaces where we can bring some of those services. So I applaud again everybody and I'm very proud to be on this council tonight. Thank you. And one last thing I will say for the. I know for a fact from people in my district that I have three cannabis dispensaries in my district. And we've worked very closely with them to make sure they're engaging community members and having community meetings at their facilities. Cannabis store, they are going for $7 million, I think two weeks ago. One of the people that own a property in my district purchased on the West Side and they purchased a building for $7 million because it had a license tied to it. So it is hard to kind of get our heads around. And I trust that we are putting our best foot forward. And it doesn't matter that we kind of get starstruck, but we know that we're going to invest the time and the energy to pull this off the right way so that we can continue to provide services and shelter for the homeless folks that are in our community. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember. Councilwoman Price. Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So I want to echo the comments of my colleagues, and I do just want to touch upon one of the public comments that was made about council members not being in the chambers. It's unfortunate that I understand why the comment was made, but I think especially on a night like tonight where we're talking about collaboration and not divisiveness, it's important to not sit in judgment of others. So I just want to explain my. The same people who are here were here when I left. So I don't know who was in the chambers. So I assumed that comment was towards me. But I will share that. We had a recital at my son's school, Lowell Elementary School, tonight, so I did go to his recital and was back within an hour. I was the only parent he had there tonight, so I felt it was important for me to be there in five years. It's the first time I've ever walked away from a council meeting to do something for my family. And I have never walked out of council chambers for a vote ever. I frankly think that's cowardly and I never do it. And anyone who knows me knows that I don't take those issues lightly. I will also say that we shouldn't make judgments because what is the implication there that people didn't stay? I don't know if anyone else left maybe to go use the restroom. I have no idea. But what's the implication there? That they don't care? Because that's not true of any member of this council. Every single member of this council cares about this issue deeply. So I don't know if they took a break to use the restroom or maybe went to have a bite to eat, I don't know. But I would just say, please don't judge, because we all care deeply about this issue. And I know the staff report talks about the kind of the start of this process being in July. And that is that is the data in there is accurate in regards to when we have those discussions. But I want to thank our Health and Human Services Director Kelly Collopy, because I know that in 2014 was the first time I started talking to her about a homeless shelter and what could be done and what the city's plans are. And I know that for years we've been looking at the former winter shelter site as a possible location. In fact, we spoke with Supervisor Hahn shortly after she was elected to find out whether or not there could be funds that could be allocated from the county to help support that facility being turned into a permanent shelter. And I want to first start by just thanking her. I know that there was a representative from her office here earlier tonight, but I sit on the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority with her, and we have many homeless issues along the tracks. And Supervisor Hahn has really put her money where her mouth is when it comes to homelessness and was the first before we even got state moneys to put forth money towards the operation of a year round shelter, if I'm not mistaken. Is that correct? Before the state moneys came in. Speaker 7: The funding is coming through Measure H. Speaker 5: Matched through Measure H. So she's been just a huge, huge advocate for these issues for us on a county level. And I want to thank her for that. I also want to thank our mayor and our state legislative committee, because for their advocacy, we would not have had the state funds that we have to work with. And I think that's just been a huge game changer in this plan for us. And, of course, I want to thank Councilman Richardson. The outreach that he's done with his community. The engagement that he's participated in is just remarkable. And I'm grateful to have him as a colleague on this council for all the great work that he's done. It's not easy to propose a concept like this in your neighborhood. And even though there had been a winter shelter there, a temporary shelter there in the past, he really engaged the community in in seeing and understanding the need for this and the opportunities for them to be part of the solution. And I'm grateful for that. I also want to thank my council colleagues for us being at this point. I mean, this is something that we talked about even before it was in public session years ago and something that the city had really hoped for and all the council members were pushing for. And I am so grateful that we're at this point. I do a lot of work for those of you who know me on a personal level, some of you do and some of you don't with the homeless community, both in my work as a prosecutor, I'm very involved in our collaborative court process where I work very hard. Even today I did with actually with a Long Beach Police Department officer who was in the courthouse that I manage with a homeless individual, that he was trying to get into rehab. And I helped him from the D.A. side assist the individual so that he could clear his warrants and he could get into rehab today. And that was amazing. But above and beyond that, I do a lot of work. I volunteered at UCOS several times, and I can tell you the thing that I hear over and over again, obviously, housing is one of the major critical areas of need, but it's not the need for everyone. In fact, we have individuals who have families who are very supportive families who want to help them. But there are other issues preventing them from getting that support and getting involved in that supportive cycle that they need to get on to a different path. And so I think that having a shelter that has a low barrier to entry and addresses things, one of the things that I hear all the time when I go and volunteer at Uco on Sundays when I've done it and when I do homeless outreach is people don't want to go to shelters because if they're a couple, they're going to be separated. The men have to go in one area. Generally, I'm not saying all facilities, but that's what I hear a lot. When I'm working with the homeless community, they can't stay together as a family. Another one is pets. People not having pets, I think really, really impacts people because they don't want to be separated from their pets. It's really like your family and sometimes the only source of support you have. So that's our our shelter. Having a low entry is, I think, very, very important. I know that the next steps involve I mean, right now tonight's item is about the purchase of the property. But assuming all goes as we've planned and we hope, I hope that the next step will involve a very robust, citywide, inclusive process that allows all of us on the city council, regardless of what district we live in, to be involved in, what kind of services we offer. Speaker 2: What the barriers. Speaker 5: To entry are, how the transportation. Models might work for folks to get into those services. What types of opportunities supportive services are going to be going there? So my request to the city manager and to Director Collopy would be please include all of us because this is something that we all feel very, very strongly about and it's impacting all of our neighborhoods, every single one of us. You know, if you go to the third District, any community meeting in the third district, what they will tell you is it's impacting the third district harder than everyone else because of the coastal zones. I know that's not true, but every neighborhood feels that because that's their experience every day. And so we want to be part of that process so that we can bring all those different perspectives. I do think that it's very, very important for us to be supportive of the neighborhood, in the community that is accepting this citywide treasure , asset needed service in their neighborhood and whatever that we can do whatever Councilman Richardson needs from us to make sure that any impacts are mitigated. You have my 1,000% support that if the community wants or needs anything to ensure that their quality of life is not disrupted as a result of this, that you will always have my backing 100% for that because they deserve it. And we're all here to support you and your community in these efforts. But I just want to thank staff. You've done an amazing job getting us to this point. Mr. Keisler, you and your team continue to do great work in every district, regardless of what the project is. And it amazes me because most people have like a specialty, right? They have a niche that they operate in. You're everywhere on every project and on every topic and doing a fantastic job at it. So thank you. Thanks to the team who presented tonight. Thanks to everyone who came out tonight. Please, if you take one thing away from tonight, everybody on this council cares deeply about this issue. Will meet with you any time of day or night to talk and listen to your ideas and hear what you think we should have as a city. In regards to homelessness, it's affecting all of us, and there are many, many opportunities for us to improve the situation when we work together. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Austin. Speaker 12: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I want to thank everybody for coming out this evening and sharing your public comments and to the council and to those who watch this council and have paid attention for some time. I ask we're certainly beside when we are actually talking about a homeless issue and doing something about it. She has she has been a conscious public commenter for four years now, week after week after week, you know, imploring this council to do something, imploring our city staff to do something. And, you know, I just I want to appreciate her because. But she's not here. She she has been a true advocate. I do have some questions because I think there were some good questions here. And before I go into my comments, I do want to ask staff and you've done a long, arduous process, we understand. You know, I understand what the process has been because I've been engaged from from the very beginning. But for the public benefit, can you. And you may have done this already, but once again, walk us through why this property is the best property or the best opportunity for a year round shelter and what, if any, opportunities, other opportunities were considered getting to this point. Speaker 11: Councilmember. That is a great question, and we really didn't cover it earlier. But over the past few years, we, as the Economic Development Department, have been responsible for assisting the Health and Human Services Department with locating sites for winter shelters. In in each year, we go through a process of engaging what are called commercial brokers, real estate brokers that help us to identify sites that meet the specifications of certain size, you know, access issues and those kinds of things. And in over the past couple of years, we've typically identified 35 to 50 sites through that process of engaging brokers to look at properties around Long Beach and believe it or not, generally were unable to find a landlord who will engage with us for either a particular period of time to lease the property. And so we've really had a challenge of finding the type of location that that can provide the space and access that we need in the council action that that occurred last year. And we had mentioned before in the presentation we'd been asked to look at those sites again and to identify including former winter shelter sites in in the the search to identify landlords that would be willing to lease or to sell for the for the purposes of a year round shelter. And and we did that search, of course, as we do each year. And this property, which we had been in discussions with the landlord, had actually not been available to us for two years because they had entered into a lease agreement with a cannabis association or a cannabis business and had an active lease in place, which is why the property was worth so much. But over the course of our discussions, we were able to to make progress in terms of not just the the appraisal, but also the discussions with the property owner for a cooperative sale. And so this really became a unique opportunity for us. And of course, when securing the heat funding from the state, the timing was was right and ultimately this became our primary target. But I will just recap. We generally will look at 35 to 50 sites a year and oftentimes not get a single landlord who'd be willing to lease for the period of time or the price point or sell their site for this purpose. So happy to happy to answer any more questions about that. Speaker 12: Okay. So if there is a landlord or a property owner that has, what would be the specs we're looking for 2 to 2 house. Speaker 11: Yeah. Typically for the, the, the emergency shelter, we were looking for spaces that could house I believe was about 150 beds in the past couple of years. It was that was the target. So they were larger areas, usually a warehouse that had the floor space to put that number of beds, those those winter shelters in the the operations of the winter shelters were unique as well because there weren't individual rooms, there weren't, you know, the apartment kind of style. It was more of an open for a setting. So typically, you know, the 25,000 square feet of a warehouse space allowed for the 150 beds and some property that typically the the individuals would bring with them. Speaker 12: So I asked you to explain that because it's not easy to find commercial real real estate in this city with that kind of space. And so thank you for for for explaining that. So. Obviously actions speak louder than words. And tonight, I believe this council has a unique opportunity to act. And to borrow a phrase from my colleague, the Andrews, we have an opportunity to actually walk the walk and not just talk about it. Because we have a unique funding source coming from the state and and supported by our county through Measure H. We have the resources to do it. I want to thank Councilmember Richardson and the District nine residents for stepping up and taking the risk and being part of the solution. I don't think it's a big risk because and I'll explain why. I'd also like to state that from my experience living in Long Beach for the last 25 years, the people in this great, great city are neighborly. They're compassionate and empathetic. And that has been demonstrated tonight through public comment over and over and over again for those who have come out in support of this project. My district, the eighth district, the great eighth district is home to the largest housing development in the city. A whole lot of affordable housing, Section eight housing, and numerous nonprofits that provide social service programs, including the Women's Shelter of Long Beach, Telecare. And today we're we're the current home to the winter shelter. We've sponsored it for the last two years at the Old North Library. This is an issue, I believe, of humanity. And it's everybody's responsibility to to help in the crisis of our time. The winter shelter in the eighth District right now, I can say, is very well run by U.S. vets. There have been no incidents. There have been no significant impacts. To report it to my office by the neighbors. It has been a peaceful, quiet, seamless, smooth operation. And that's why I think and I know because they've had experience with it before. Obviously, this is not new to the ninth District that this project will work in terms of the cost. Yes, it seems like a lot. Right. But I will just say that we can't afford not to do this at this point. This this crisis is a serious crisis. The the the the people on the street need help. And it's our duty to humanity, I believe, as city council members, but also as a society. Everybody in here has as a responsibility to provide shelter where and if we can. And I'll say this one shelter is not enough in the city. This is a large city. 125 beds is a it's going to be a drop in the bucket by the time this this the shelter comes online. If you look at the current trend of homelessness throughout the L.A. County. And Lauren Bolen, thank you for participating in this belief. Thank you for participating in the the homeless count that you know, everybody else who did that a couple of weeks ago. That's going to be an important exercise and engage for us to to to to plan resources in the future. I personally would like to see at least three homeless shelters year round in the city of Long Beach. Based on the numbers that we have today that we know and what we are projecting in the future. I think it's, again, inhumane for our brothers and sisters, our aunts, uncles, fellow human beings to have to sleep on railroad, ride away in a long riverbeds, in parks, alleys, along sidewalks. This is this is not something that we can sit back and say, hey, not in my backyard, because, yes, it will be on your front yard . I heard that my neighbor about three months ago literally had somebody sleeping in their flower bed. Right. And everybody on the block was just astounded, like, what do we do? We have to do something. And so this tonight, this the city council has an opportunity to step up, to make a bold decision in the right direction. I'm certainly happy to lend my vote and my support for for this winter. I mean, not the winter shelter, just this year round shelter for the city of Long Beach. And and again, it's not going to be an easy process. I hope that we can do all we can to fast track this, get the resources to build it out and to make it habitable for for the people that that need the services. And so with that, you have my support. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Supermom. Speaker 3: Thank you, Mayor Garcia. Speaker 10: Thank you all for being here tonight and your civic engagement. Speaker 3: Thanks to Rex Richardson for bringing the item forward. And thank you to all. Speaker 10: My council colleagues. Speaker 3: For supporting these issues on homelessness over the years and also like to commend Susie Price for getting us back on track here with her comments on making this collaborative and positive moving forward. For those who don't know, we started our meetings today at 3:30 p.m.. If one of us has to take a break, you might want to know that the sound. Speaker 10: From the chamber. Speaker 3: Is piped into the council lounge so we never miss a comment. Also, in the interests of just keeping it positive, one of the comments mentioned the neighbors rejecting a shelter near the armory, and I'm pretty sure that reference was to what we called Schroeder Hall. It was ten years ago, and I was in an office in the fifth District Council. Councilwoman Mongo was not in office then. But just as a point of clarification, that was not a year round shelter and it wasn't even a shelter. So I guess my point is we are all we all want to work collaboratively here and want to make it positive moving forward. So I think we can avoid pointing fingers at behaviors in the past because I think we're on the right track now. I also want to thank. Staff, Kelly Colby, of course, and then John Keisler. He's worked so hard on this. But what you may not know, he's also simultaneously been working on the community hospital project. And you talk about a project that could really impact this issue. Community hospital, before it closed, had a 28 bed psych unit. And if you know the correlation between homelessness and mental health issues, when we reopen community hospital, we might be able to double that capacity. So you think of 56 beds addressing those challenged with with mental health issues. What a great impact that would be. So thank you again and I'll be in support. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilmember Vice Mayor Andrew. Speaker 6: Yes, thank you, Mayor. First of all, I'd like to thank Rex Richardson. And as host Dad and Susie and all the rest of the individuals on the day today, I don't think individuals would really take it lightly and know that we are in a crisis when we talk about homelessness. But I think everyone out there, whether you agree or you disagree, you are very compassionate about the individuals out there sleeping on the streets, sleeping next to your homes, in your alleys. You must have some form of compassion. If you don't, then I think it's something, you know, Lauren, with you and your thoughts and your compassion. But I think tonight we're trying to show you that we are working with a dedicated we're committed to this homeless all around shelter. And Councilman Richardson, I think he's went above and beyond. You know, he and his district do let you know that they are there. They are all in. And I really want to thank the young students, especially in the vigil from Polly and the young lady from Milliken. You know, we I'm a policeman, but that's okay. But with all of that said, I just want to let you individuals, knowing the young man here says he came all the way in and says, I'm in, and that's wonderful, because I think if we don't get in, then they will be in and that's on your porch, your backyard, your front yard. And what can we do? We must do it. And we must do it now. Let's get involved. Don't talk about it. We're going to have to be about it. Thank you, individuals, for waiting this long to be a part of this dialog. Thank you again. Speaker 0: Thank you, Vice Mayor. And just to conclude, I want to just touch on one other thing that was said, which I think is so important and I think needs to be reiterated and I want to expand on on it. This idea of the ensuring that that this shelter is a place that that there are low barriers to entry is really, really important for for a couple of reasons, I think. One is this will be the first municipal municipal shelter in the city. And that gives us as as a governmental body, different level of responsibility and in addition, allows us to be much more flexible in what happens on the site. And we have some really great shelter operators, by the way, which I know we haven't talked a lot about tonight. But I do want to thank the current operators of the shelters that are in the city, which we've had partnerships for a long time. But there's key components that are important that this shelter will allow us to do. One, for example, which hasn't been mentioned much tonight, is the openness for the LGBTQ community. There are many members we know that most homeless youth are LGBTQ, and we also know that this shelter won't have and is not what have some requirements other shelters might have that might make young gay or lesbian or trans community members feel uncomfortable. And so that's really important for the gay community to have a shelter that is completely open. And the other, which I think was mentioned by Councilman Price, is the idea of pets and to be able to actually have and allow people to come in with their with their animals who are members of their family is really , really important as well, which we know is not always the case in all shelters. And the family issue being able to come in, if you have a partner that you're on the street with, that is really, really important. It's really, really important that that happens. And so I think that those those issues and this idea that this will be a shelter for everyone to me is very exciting. And again, thank you to the community and for all all of the work. And so with that, I'm not sure that Councilman Gonzales is still on the line or not. I don't think so. So maybe we can just go and take a vote using the the keypads. Speaker 3: Oh, she absolutely cares. We need to we need to. Speaker 4: Continue as a roll call vote. Speaker 0: But we do need to get the roll call vote. And let's let's continue as a roll call vote. Madam Clerk. Speaker 1: Councilmember Gonzalez. Councilmember Pierce. Councilwoman Price. Councilmember Supernanny. Hi. Vice Mayor Dee Andrews. Speaker 3: All right. Speaker 1: Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson. Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Okay. I know it's. I know it's late, but now we're gonna go back to the regular agenda, and we have a second hearing, and then we'll just go through the agenda. So if we can please, Madam Clerk, here. The second hearing for the evening hearing number two, or I think it was hearing your number.

Contract

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute any and all documents necessary, including a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA), with Eddie N John #1, LLC, a California limited liability company, and Youna Kim, a Sole Proprietor dba Eddie's Liquor #1 (collectively "Seller"), for the purchase of certain real property located at 6841-6845 Atlantic Avenue, Assessor Parcel Numbers 7116-019-029 and -036 (Subject Property), in the amount not to exceed $9,591,540; Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary for a Lease between the City of Long Beach and Eddie's Liquor #1, for the use of the Subject Property; Adopt Negative Declaration ND-02-19; and Increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Economic Development Department (ED) by $9,591,540, offset by the sale proceeds from the Broadway Block Site B and transfer of HEAP grant revenue from the Health Fund (SR 130). (District 9)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_02052019_18-0460

Speaker 0: The second hearing for the evening hearing number two, or I think it was hearing your number. Speaker 1: One report from Energy Resources recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record to conclude the public hearing regarding the natural gas franchise with SoCal Gas. Declare an ordinance granting a limited natural gas franchise to SoCal Gas to transmit and distribute natural gas within the city of Long Beach. Read the first time and lead over the next regular meeting of the City Council for Final Reading. Speaker 0: I think, you know, I can have everyone in the audience. Please, we're still conducting the meeting. Just please. If we can have the conversations outside, that would be great. Thank you so much, Mr. West. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The staff report will be given by Bob Dow, our director of Gas or of energy resources. Speaker 13: Yes. Good evening, honorable mayor, vice mayor and Council Members. On June 12th, 2018, the City Council received supporting documentation into the record, concluded the public hearing regarding the natural gas franchise with Southern California Gas Company or SoCal Gas, and declared the first reading of the ordinance granting a limited natural gas franchise to SoCal Gas to transmit and distribute natural gas within the city of Long Beach. The second reading. The audience was laid over to October 9th, 2018 to allow for CPU sea approval of an additional 1% surcharge of the imputed value of transport gas volumes delivered to the SoCal utility customers under this franchise agreement. CPAC approval was still pending on October 9th. Therefore, the final reading of the ordinance was late over to tonight's council meeting. CPC approval for the additional 1% surcharge was approved on November six, 2018 and became effective January 1st, 2019. And staff has requested the adoption of a second ordinance reading this evening. This concludes my report and I'm available to answer any questions that you may have. Speaker 3: Okay. Speaker 0: I think I think that we're we can continue chatting but we've we've lost quorum so. Speaker 3: Okay. Speaker 0: So let's get so we've concluded that let's go into the public comment on this item. Or we can't continue can't. Speaker 4: Continue until we. Speaker 0: Have a quorum in laws. I was hoping we can interrupt. Okay, we're back. Any public comment on this item? None. Public comment. Close. Actually. Hold on a second. Any. Can I get a second on this motion, Councilman Pierce? Anything now, Councilman Austin. Then with that, we're going to continue to do a roll call vote. Speaker 1: Councilmember Pierce Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Supernova. Hi. Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 0: The emotion carries. We're going to move on to public comment. Mr. Goodhew. And then I have Carole Peterson and Christine Minnelli, and then I have two others. We'll go as we as we go. Mr. Goodhew, please.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance granting to Southern California Gas Company, a corporation, the right, privilege and franchise upon terms and conditions herein set forth to lay and use pipes and appurtenances for transmitting and distributing gas for the purposes as specified hereinafter under, along, across or upon certain public streets, ways, alleys and places, as the same now or may hereafter exist, within the City of Long Beach, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

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Speaker 0: Thank you. Ms. Case. Thank you very much. That that concludes public comment. And we're going to go on to the next item, if we can. If we can, please, Madam Kirk. Speaker 1: Item 21. Communication from Councilman Austin. Councilmembers Hooper. Now Vice Mayor Andrew's recommendation to request city manager and city attorney to report back on the next steps and timeline for implementation of the Ethics Commission. Speaker 0: Come to Austin. Speaker 12: Thank you. So on November six, 2018, Long Beach voters approved Measure C with 61.9 or 61.79% of the vote as part of a series of charter amendments. Measure created the city's Charter and Ethics Commission for the purposes of monitoring, administering and implementing governmental ethics in the city. While the composition of the Commission and Appointment Procedure was contained in the Charter Amendment language, the Charter section entitled Staff Assistance and Budget reads Staffing for Administrative and management functions of the Commission will be addressed in the Municipal Code. The Commission will have a budget as determined by the City Council sufficient to conduct the Commission's mission and business. Therefore, Council, we must take action, further action through an ordinance and budget appropriation before the Ethics Commission can convene. And with this motion, we would request that the city manager and city attorney report back to the City Council within 60 days with possible steps that we need to take and propose timelines so that we may carry out the will of the voters in an expeditious manner as possible. Speaker 0: Councilmember a councilmember support. Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilman Austin, for bringing this item forward. I think he said it all and I stand in support. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Vice Mayor Rogers. Speaker 6: I also echoed that sentiment. And this is a long overdue and I hope I'm hopeful for a path to move forward. And thank you again, councilman. Most infamous. Speaker 0: Thank you. And obviously, I'm very supportive of this and very supportive. Speaker 3: Of. Speaker 0: Councilman Austin's efforts also in ensuring that this got before the voters. Mr.. Mr. WEST. And, Mr. Modica, I know that you will be coming back to do a full presentation on on this process. Is there a update tonight about kind of what what you see as a timeline? And then obviously we can get the full presentation when this item comes back. I know that you've been working on this. Speaker 4: Yes. This is something we've been contemplating. Would you want to kind of outline what we expect the process to be for both this and for measure, which is the redistricting? They are linked in that the measure, the people measure outlines that the appointment process is linked to the Ethics Commission. So we plan to have a memo come back to you that will kind of outline this. We'll talk about some of the major tasks that we see the Ethics Commission kind of first dealing with with. We also will outline the process for appointment that's prescribed in the in the initiative and the timeline for that. So we expect within about 30 days, hopefully even a little quicker, we will have a report back to you on those two topics. Speaker 0: Let me go let me go to Councilwoman Price and then back to Councilmember Austin. Councilwoman Price. Speaker 5: Just briefly, I, too, wanted to thank Councilman Austin. This committee and the need for it were really his brainchild was an effort that he initiated by bringing it to council. And I think it's a great idea. I look forward to learning what the structure, the proposed structure is going to be and talking about how we can make sure that we all have input into what that what that committee looks like and what kinds of things are the subject matter jurisdiction of that particular committee in terms of our work here on council. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Austin. Speaker 12: So, Mr. City Attorney, just to get some clarification on my motion specifically, I'm asking for to come back not just in a memo form, but in an ordinance, too, to actually create the the the, the, the budget for for this this this in the municipal code to create a budget for the Ethics Commission, because currently that's not in place. And I don't think we've actually had a conversation about that from at this body. Speaker 0: That's correct. Speaker 3: And from from our standpoint. Speaker 4: In drafting the ordinance, I think we would need the memo from the city manager's office to. Speaker 3: Tell us what it is exactly they. Speaker 4: Want in the budget and how we are creating that. We're happy to work with the city manager and get that to you and then for your consideration. And from that report, we can get some direction from the city council. That is exactly what the city manager is recommending or do you have any changes to it? And then we will draft the ordinance. Speaker 12: That that that helps a lot. Speaker 4: And in our report will be analyzing what is that budget, what are the current staffing that we have and whether we need any additional staffing. And we'll report that back to you. Speaker 12: Thank you, sir. Speaker 0: And to add to that, which I think is important, is the most. Most of these commissions and the way they work, you look at other ethics commissions, which we did, the actual a lot of the actual detail of the commission itself will actually be in the municipal code. And that's actually something that the council will have to develop through some kind of deliberative process. And so I think getting the information back from staff is great. And then the council will have to engage on the actual ordinance, as Councilman Austin mentioned, and what actually will then go into the code that will lay out more of the rules of the commission itself. And so I think. Councilman Austin. Speaker 12: And for the benefit of Thompson. Mr. City Manager, can you just outline for those who are interested in the process? Because I've been approached by many people in the community who are interested in both the Citizens Redistricting Commission as well as The Advocate. What do you see as the timeline in terms of implementation over the next few months? Speaker 4: So I don't have everything in front of me. But Measure Key, which sets up the Ethics Commission, will go first in that we need to see an Ethics Commission. There's very prescribed rules about how that is set up and the appointments that are made by the mayor and I believe by the city auditor as well. So then we'll outline that process and there will be a public call for, you know, how to how to make those applications that the mayor and the auditor would select from. And then the measure outlines how the rest of the remaining members are selected. Then in order to get the redistricting commission, you have to have the members of the Ethics Commission seated and available. And then they would go through a process to appoint, you know, the members of the the redistricting commission. So it's more complicated than that, but we'd be prepared to lay out all of that. So anyone interested will have a clear guide on how to do that, if they're interested. Speaker 12: Great. Thank you for clarifying that and fun times ahead. Speaker 0: And as a and as a Mr. Murdoch, as a clarification point, the Ethics Commission within D.D. is a screening panel. They don't make the final selections of the of the actual commission members. Speaker 4: Correct. They screened and then, I believe the commission members select at. Speaker 0: Random through the city clerk's office. Any other council comment on this? Any public comment on this? Please come forward. Any other public comment? Okay, then we'll just have. Please come forward. So we'll have these two and then we'll close the speakers list. Speaker 3: Again, Ian Patton with the Long Beach Reform Coalition. I would just like to ask, I voted against this personally because the amendment felt it didn't have teeth, it didn't have investigative power and certain other things that I think belong in an ethics commission. But since you have another bite at the apple here, um, I would personally like to know from the city attorney, if you have the power to add those powers as an ordinance to the commission, give it the power to investigate, to take whistleblower tips, referrals from the council, and actually do investigations issue subpoenas if necessary, other things that would actually give it that sort of a real a real ability to dig into specific potential issues in the city. That's my question. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Courtesy of Long Beach Reform Coalition and people of Long Beach. I also voted against it for I mean, I think it's a it's a it's a very worthwhile commission to pursue. My concerns were the formation of the commission back in August 7th. I when when the vote happened by the unanimous vote by city council to turn the proposals into measures, I submitted some documents that included a discussion back and forth via email with Common Cause in Sacramento, outlining some bullet points that would have made for us the approval of the of the Ethics Commission a given, which would have also helped us to support the redistricting commission. Among those the the the the the items that that concern me and a lot of my fellow citizens are that the redistricting commission has some very strict guidelines as to who can be a member. But the Ethics Commission, who has who plays a part in the selection of those members of the redistricting commission does not. So, for example, the Ethics Commission, one can be a major campaign donor to any of you or any other public official. One can be a former elected or appointed official. One can be a lobbyist or have been a lobbyist. And of course, after serving on the Ethics Commission, once the term is over, one can then become an elected official or become a lobbyist or become a major donor to any one of you. So that part to me is is is a really critical conflict of interest that I would like to see all of you address ideally tonight. But, you know, it's late. But eventually, I would really like that to be addressed by by each of you, because that's that's a really that's been a real sticking point for our support of both for the Lobbyist Reform Coalition and the people of Long Beach to support wholeheartedly this commission. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. That concludes comment on this item. A roll call vote, please. Speaker 1: Councilmember Pearce Councilwoman Price Councilmember Supernova. Speaker 10: High. Speaker 1: Voice Mary Andrews. Speaker 3: Hi. Speaker 1: Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager and City Attorney to report back to the City Council on the next steps and timeline for implementation of the Ethics Commission, including any enacting ordinances or budget appropriations that may be required.

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_02052019_19-0091

Speaker 0: Motion carries. Thank you. I want to. Speaker 1: Communication from Vice Mayor Andrew's recommendation to request city manager to direct staff to design a framework for the preparation of a comprehensive strategic plan for 2030. Speaker 0: Vice Mayor Andres. Speaker 6: Fine. Thank you, Mayor. You know, I'm really I'm very, very excited about being, you know, be able to kind of spearhead this 20, 30, you know, strategic plan. Because I want to start out by first thinking I'm here for this leadership and vision for our city. You know, I started being a councilman around the same time he was, and I think most of you guys can see how far he's gone. This item comes about from a conversation in one of our meetings. Because we as a city always has to be looking forward and preparing for our future. And by that I would like for our management team to work on the framework of comprehensive and inclusive strategic plans that will address key areas and interest to us as a city. From housing affordability job to climate changes and education. I would like for us to work with the leadership across all levels and sectors so we can prepare for the future. A good city is prepared as they prepared a city. And I'm looking forward to dialog and ensure. Thank you very much for this. Yeah. Speaker 0: Thank you. Vice Mayor Andrews, Councilman Austin. Speaker 12: I support this. Obviously, we want to make sure that our city is a great city today, but also in the future and and we're planning for the challenges ahead. And so I have my you have my full support on this. I'm just curious to know when would this come back or adopting this tonight? Would this mean that, you know, staff just starts moving forward with the plan or what? Speaker 4: TOM So the way we understand the item, you're asking us to come back with a framework. So we would come back with probably in about 90 days, doing all the research from the previous plan, outline the framework and what it will take. Just for context. The last time we did this, I believe we started in 1997 and it took about three years to get the plan done and it was adopted in 2000 and formally started to be implemented in 2001. So these are very large efforts that do require a lot of dedication, a lot of focus and financial resources as well. So we'll outline that in the framework and we'll come back to you. And then we foresee this being part of the Fy20 budget discussions and also gives us a chance to allow us to move into the new city hall, finish some of the most major, major projects we have and then get started on this. Speaker 12: Thank you for that. Speaker 0: Thank you. And I want to I just want to also add Councilman Austin and thank you very much for for leading this effort as well. I think what's something it's really important in these plans and something I want to make sure the council is aware of as well, is these these plans from a leadership level, which is all of us has to be very inclusive of everybody at the table. And I think what staff is going to come back with is a framework essentially to show this is what the plan process could look like and certainly not begin any of the actual work. And then the actual work of of we as a the body will debate that framework and then give staff direction on how to begin. But I will say that I'm hopeful that every member of this body is really engaged because the only way these major strategic plans actually work is if we all have a healthy input and healthy conversation about what we want, the plan, the process to look like. And I think we all have to take ownership of it because these we have not done this in Long Beach in a in a way, our last one, I think we did. What time was it? 20 years ago. Speaker 4: It was in 2000 for a 2010 plan. So it was adopted in 2000. Speaker 0: Great. So it's definitely time. And I think this is the right body to, you know, to take this on. And so thank you. Thank you for that. Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 10: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And in general, I'm always supportive of plan the work work the plan planning, you know, putting things down on paper. So my question is, so I see that the last one was a 2010 plan started in 97, it was adopted in 2000 and lasted for ten years. Is the idea this is a plan from 2020 to 2030? Speaker 0: Yeah, I think I think the idea is that this is a visioning. It would be a visioning document and strategic document about where we'll be as a city in 2031 by 2030. Right. And one of the things I asked staff to do when they come back with the framework is to actually also give the council as I need it as well a review of the 2010 of the other plan and what worked and didn't work and just skimming it. The city's done a lot of the plan and implemented much of the actual plan. And there's numerous members of the community that we all know that were involved in that strategic process. And so I think, Councilman, the idea but it doesn't have to be necessarily is really to vision where will we be at 2030? And we work towards that plan strategically, but also set out strategic goals. Speaker 3: Okay. Speaker 10: So so I would say I think that's great. Just looking at the last 1 to 3 years, this will put us at 2022 to 2030, kind of a short window. So I know the branding of 2030, but it might make sense to, you know, think 2035 or something like that. It gives us a solid decade, you know, to work. And then and then I'm looking forward to obviously the framework, but I'm just curious and I'm sure this information will come forward how the current long before 2030 plan that we worked on through the land use element and all of that. The actual general plan aligns with the strategic plan. I'm sure there's, you know, the the the cities plan outlines certain elements, certain things. And I think this could be more broad and talk about things that aren't necessarily in that plan. So it's certainly a great opportunity. I want to I want to follow this and I want to continue to support this. Speaker 0: Great. Thank you. Any public comment on this item? Seeing nonmembers, please cast your vote. Speaker 6: Also, I think there so-called. Speaker 0: Oh, yeah, sorry, Vice President. Speaker 6: Richardson, if we would if we could have some hindsight on this strategic plan ten years from now, I think our homeless situation could have been more, you know, taken care of. Speaker 10: Very well said, vice mayor. Speaker 3: Okay. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Vice Mayor, please cast your vote to roll call. Speaker 1: Councilmember Pierce, Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Supernova. Hi. Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson. Motion carries. Speaker 0: Let me move up. I think we're going to do a timesharing on this. Where is what number is the what is it? Just the the issue on the on the Charlie Bills. Can we move that up and do that next?

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to direct staff to design a framework for the preparation of a Comprehensive Strategic Plan for 2030.

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_02052019_19-0102

Speaker 0: Let me move up. I think we're going to do a timesharing on this. Where is what number is the what is it? Just the the issue on the on the Charlie Bills. Can we move that up and do that next? Speaker 1: Communication from Councilwoman Price, Vice Mayor Andrews, Councilman Austin recommendation to receive and file a report from the Long Beach Energy Resource Department on the recent spike in natural gas customer bills. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Price. All right. Actually, I'm trying to just read the item. Okay. Councilman Price, thank you. Speaker 5: And thank you to my colleagues for signing on to this item. We have our office has received a lot of correspondence from residents regarding the recent. Increase in the bill that the residents received. And and the and I know there's going to be a presentation tonight, so I'm going to turn it over to staff for a presentation on this. But I'm hoping during the course of the presentation, we can talk about whether any notice was given to residents, why notice wasn't given to residents, and because one of the things that we're hearing from a lot of the residents is had they received notice, they could have maybe modified their usage in the winter months so that their bill wouldn't have been as high. So if we can get just kind of a background on this and what we're doing to mitigate at this point, that would be great. Speaker 3: Bob Dylan, director of Energy Resources. Speaker 0: Well, actually, Councilman Eggleston wants to comment before we go to the staff report on the second. Speaker 12: Yes. Before the staff report, I would just ask madam, my colleague, Susan Price. I mean, look, from the looks of at them, nobody's paying attention at this point. And I think this is a this is an issue that that that the public really, really wants to know about. I mean, maybe somebody is paying attention at home on television, but I'd like to delay this or. Speaker 5: Well, it's the time it was on the supplemental issue, on the supplemental agenda, because it's actually a very timely discussion. The rates are going to smooth out. This was just this is just a report on the recent spike. And it's rare for third district residents, frankly, to come to council meetings, but they are incredibly engaged. We have correspondence from residents that we've received all day today as well as comments. Okay. Yeah, so I'd prefer to go forward, but if we want to do another study session or something on it. But my understanding from everything that I've read is that we expect the situation to be mitigated in the future months. And this was which I just we just want an explanation of what happened. Got it. Thanks. Speaker 3: Thank you for saying that to. Speaker 0: Me, too. We've all been getting the emails. I'm. Yeah. Okay. Mr. Downer. Speaker 13: Yes? Good evening, Honorable Mayor. Members of the Council as a staff was directed to prepare a presentation this evening to explain the high increases in residential gas bills and business businesses as well. This is normally a very complex and convoluted discussion, but for tonight we've kind of simplified it so we can kind of get the message across and briefly explain what what occurred to understand, first of all, the commodity portion of the gas. Where does it come from for the state of California? So this depiction here shows pipe flows and gas movements. And it's noted at the top that California continues to depend on out of state imports for 90% of its natural gas supply . In Long Beach Pacific. We only produce 4% of the gas within the boundary as Long Beach that we consume. So we're heavily reliant on the markets outside of California. We call it east of California. And you can see the predominance of the gas tends to flow to the northeast into the Texas area. There are very few mechanisms to get gas out to the state of California. More specifically, we do not have a pipeline from Long Beach that runs to the border of California to receive this. Gas energy resources is 100% reliant upon the distribution and transmission system of the Southern California gas company to bring that gas to the L.A. metro area. And then we have four receipt points in the city of Long Beach, where we take possession of gas that we purchase and deliver to the residents and businesses within Long Beach. So there you can see there's about eight receipt points there. They're depicted along the border of California where SoCal Gas brings that gas in. And also on there, if you note in the red, there are four gas storage facilities that SoCal utilizes. Typically, you fill those up in the summertime when gas prices are lower and when demand is up in the winter and prices are higher, they supplement their system from these storage fields and also boost the supply of gas when the demand exceeds the capacity of the pipeline. You know, it's about 250 miles to the border of California. Takes a long time to get gas from there into the city. It's a lot easier than it is to get it there. So those storage fields serve a very, very useful purpose. What is the make up of gas in Long Beach or who consumes it? About 44% is consumed by residential use. 18% small businesses, large commercial industrial are about 23%, and our CNG usage constitutes about 15% of the gas that's consumed in the city of Long Beach. Good news for residential users is that since 1990, consumption of natural gas has basically dropped in half. And that's due to several reasons. There's building efficiency standards, appliance efficiency standards. So the average residential customer on a yearly basis in Long Beach uses a little over three thirds of natural gas. Back in 1990, they consumed about 600 firms of gas, and to approximate the therm is roughly 100 cubic feet of natural gas. It's a volumetric measurement. It comes as no surprise when you look at the utilization of gas by residents in Long Beach predominantly. Of the 313 terms that they consume. If you look far to the right of that graph, the last two months are pretty high. That's that's November. December. And if you go back 12 months, January, February, that's what we refer to as the winter heating season. And our residents consume about 50% of the gas that they consume on a yearly basis in those four months. So 50% of the gas in the average residential use is consumed in one third of the year. So that curve is pretty typical of residential use. Commercial industrial tend to be pretty flat. They use it for whatever processes they balance tends to be flat. Residential tends to follow this pattern. So how is the cost determine for SoCal or sorry for Long Beach residents? There's two two components of your gas bill that you're seeing at your house. There's the cost of delivering that to you. That's the transportation rates. But the biggest item in the item we're here discussing this evening is the cost, the actual commodity cost of the gas. So we only produce 4%. We have to purchase the gas that's here. We do that on a monthly basis from the natural gas market, that is gas produced from local producers and marketers . And we procure that gas at the best available rates. It should be noted that by law, utilities may not mark up the price of the natural gas commodity. So if we pay $5 for gas from the markets with the hubs, that is exactly the price of gas that shows up on residents gas bills. So there's a process whereby suppliers and marketers get together the last five days every month they develop and post what's called the so-called city gate first of the month price that comes out in the first of every month. Energy Resources, Inc. Those prices into developing our cost of gas. Our cost of gas is always lower than that price of gas that constitutes about 75% of the gas in the winter months that we sell. We purchase some spot market gas as well as we have a produce gas. So it's always slightly below that posted price. And this price is published the first of every month, an energy resources website. They've been doing this at least for the last nine years that I can trace back to. But every month and the first of the month that is posted on our website. The other component I mentioned was the delivery of gas to our customers. That has not increased since to October of 2016. So our transportation rate, the cost to maintain and move that gas through our system at those four receipt points to the residents and business addresses has not changed in that time frame. So here's where you go to find that price of gas. You go to either utility services or the energy resources website. You click under the information tab and it's how is the cost of gas determined? And this is what's posted every month. You can see the February price last Friday at 3 p.m. when prices posted, we published our price of gas. Again, that is per therm. That's what customers see on their bills. The cost of gas is is done by firms. You can kind of see and you'll see it in the curve earlier or later that the December price is extraordinarily high compared to the to the other months. So it's been said a pitcher can makes up a thousand words. This product makes up 10,000 words. But briefly, what this shows is that same so-called system that I described presented earlier. And what what's happening right now, the green arrows are the receipt points. This is where Southern California gas receives the gas from out of state suppliers and moves it through its system into the L.A. Based or L.A. metro area. And that's where Long Beach resides. There are numerous reasons you'll see red X's and partial red x's. There are a number of constraints and maintenance items that SoCal Gas is undertaking. Those items have reduced the capacity that's coming into the L.A. basin at this present time. Speaker 3: And the. Speaker 13: Limitations. I think most folks here are familiar with the Aliso Canyon storage incident that occurred in 2015. They had a leak at one of their largest gas storage fields. After that, there was investigations and restrictions placed on the uses of those. So those have greatly hampered SoCal gases ability to meet the winter demand in the L.A. Basin. If you look, the real story is in the lower left hand corner in those red letters. In last year, for instance, they could take in 3.2 Bcf of gas at those green arrows and deliver that to the the greater metro area . And they had 1.6 Bcf of storage withdrawal capability on a good winter day and not in excess of what a day. They take out 3.5 to 3.7 Bcf to meet a daily demand. So they had some cushion in September of 17. But if you look at today, that is 3.7. So as a commodity, markets grow when there's more demand than there is, supply prices go up. And that's the situation we're facing today. Just as a kind of a point of reference that they could deliver at that risk point was 3.2 and now it's 2.6. That's about a point six Bcf. That's billion cubic feet differential. That's 17 times the usage of the city of Long Beach. So that is a significant reduction that they have brought into their system. Or no longer have there. So we were up against and they are up against some significant hurdles to meet the demand of the L.A. base that. So what did this look like on a monthly basis? The first year you can look back and see in winter of last year, in November, we were at $3.61 a deck a therm or it showed on Thursday may be to you. And in December, it peaked at $6.38. So it was a modest peak. That's a historical graph that goes back to 2015, but certainly some of the implications of the storage limitations were shown then. Then this summer we had a very big heat wave in August and in fact on July 23rd, that price on a daily basis that you see reached now went up to $32. It will be off that chart for a daily spot price. So the electric consumer is the Uggs that produce our power. We're paying some astronomical prices for their gas to generate electricity. So here we are in November. Our gas is at $5.82 a therm. The forward looking curve showed it going up modestly to about the 6 to $8 range. No more than that. What actually occurred is when they posted the price on December 1st, that price went up to $13.85. So that is a significant increase that was not foreseen. And that's with the market supply, some of it going east back to the East Coast. There was a limited amount of gas and with the constraints on the so-called gas system to get that to Long Beach, this was the price that not only Long Beach but anybody purchasing gas at their local, the city of Vernon, any municipal and others that are transporting their gas are paying that same price. So it was a significant hit. So we looked at what would that mean to the average Long Beach resident? The average Long Beach resident customer consumes 44/3 of gas. That was in the month of December in 2017. So we plugged in and asked guesstimate what what is the impact with the higher price? It was about a $34 impact to those residents. Certainly, if you are a high or significant higher than the average residential user, your bill would predict to be larger than those seen by the average customers. So we saw this. It was a it was an increase, but certainly it wasn't an alarming increase. Nothing like what was observed back in 2001 when this number went up into the hundreds of dollars. Shortly thereafter, we put a fact sheet on the front page of our website that discussed the impacts of this winter pricing anomaly. We utilized social media. We have a Facebook page. With the press telegram that put this out. Now, mind you, the press telegram article went out January 4th, but many people had not seen their December gas bills. During that time, we briefed our call center representatives with the appropriate information. Certainly we anticipated those calling in where financial burdens and we brief them on how to respond and address those concerns. As I said, this is not just a city of Long Beach issue. This issue impacted the electric companies significantly. Other cities and municipalities were impacted that are buying their gas. And on January 11th, the California Energy Commission, a California Public Utilities Commission, held a workshop where they brought in Southern California gas companies to discuss this. And it was important to note that clearly these volatile and unprecedented things are under discussion. They want to understand what is going on with the so called system for this to occur. So it is being looked at at a higher level, at a state level. We just happen to be a customer of Southern California gas that was impacted. So there is some good news. January prices posted and came in a drop 40%. And then last Friday, they dropped another 40% down to almost normal levels. But we did go through the one time December peak because of similar conditions nationwide and those constraints on the so-called system. So we have offered assistance for any customers or residents that this has impacted. There are numerous options that we have. I'd like to know briefly, though, we've got a tally. Everyone says they've had a number, but it's about 1% or we estimate of 154. But any I can assure you, every customer was impacted. And that's the concern of us, is that. Yes, just because they don't call doesn't mean they didn't see. Hi. Hi, Bill. We have enrolled several customers into a payment arrangement, plans where they spread that one time monthly cost over whatever number of months they want. But one of the lessons learned is that we really are encouraging customers if this is going to be the norm going forward, until such time as no cap can remedy these restrictions on their system to participate in what we call our level pay plan and basically take 12 months worth of your gas bill and it's levelized and you pay a flat fee for 12 months. At the end of those 12 months, you'll true that up. And if if we over collected, you'll receive a credit. If there's a small balance, do they pay that small balance? This is a way to alleviate those winter. Well, we show that with 40% or 50% that was used in those four months, you spread it out over 12 consecutive months. Certainly there are some lessons learned here. And so in preparing for the 2019 season, we are going to continue to form our customers in advance whenever we can of any price spikes utilizing bill messaging, website and social media. One thing we also determined is that we can utilize LBE link that's there is a notification checkbox there that you check from Energy Resources. We will utilize that to put messaging out to our residents on that. And certainly a communications campaign for the 2019 winter season is well earned here. Everybody hears the messages from SoCal Gas on the radio on a TV. Better job when you hear that. For Socalgas customers, we essentially are a so-called gas. So what they're telling their customers to do, we need to in turn have our customers do, such as setting your thermostat lower, conserve where you can and and to sign up for the level pay plan. So on a customer's bills, there are tools to look at advances. We just need to do a better job of educating our residents on how to utilize that. And that far left where you see that first arrow, that is the historical usage of that customer for the last 12 months. So at any time you can go back, if we were in December this year, they could go back and look at their December usage if it was saved. I don't know what that number is under 44th terms or 33 thumbs. You would basically go over to the second arrow up in the upper right and just put in the new cost of gas that's posted on our website. You could look and estimate what your December bill would look like then knowing that the cost of gas. But this is something that I think a very small percentage of our residents know of and that we've communicated and how to make it effectively work for them. So clearly, we need to do a better job of messaging this information and in how to utilize that bill. Additionally, most of the meters at Long Beach, if not all our army, we take a read every 4 hours for a mile per second of data, so we actively know the consumption of our residents on a daily basis. We're exploring with our vendor who supplied us the software here of a means to take that data. And if we have information from our customers, I want to know when I'm at 50% of what my last year's bill was, can you alert me? And yes, we can certainly do that. We believe we could have the technology to do that. How we were going to put it on our Web page remains to be seen. But we we believe the technology is there and that we can alert our customers to this. And it's certainly a step that we're going to take to do that. So that concludes my presentation and I'm available for any questions. Speaker 5: Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Mr. Dow Johnson for Supernova. Speaker 5: Actually, can I just ask. Absolutely. Thank you very much for that presentation. Excellent. And it answered a lot of questions for me. So if I'm if I'm understanding the presentation correctly, once we learned of the spike in in rates or in what we thought the customers would see if they weren't going to the energy resources website and checking the rates, we did put out some social media information. We did update the web page. So we did try to get some information out to the best of our ability at that time. Speaker 13: Yes, that's correct. However, it would not have even been soon enough for customers to avoid what would occurred here, because you need to start this in September and educating them how to do it. Any messaging we would have gotten out through any EPA, even if I don't know how many people read local press or listen to our go to our social media page would probably not have been sufficient enough time unless they actually observed it. How we and we're going to utilize our Office of Innovation to help us. How do we message customers more timely? What's the best means to reach them? We do. Not everybody has access to a computer that has an email address. We have to figure out what is the best means in a more timely fashion to get this information. We can start earlier and hopefully that will be enough. But how do we get this message across? Yes, we can utilize the L.B. link or link L.B. and things of that nature, but it is a difficult task to try to reach out to 154,000 customers in one month and convey to them that your gas price went up this month. Now, mind you, that that figure that was shown there was for customers whose bill cycle started on the first day of the month and in and on the last day we have 22 billing cycles of our customers. Some started November 15th and went through December 15th. So half of their bill would have been the November prices and the other half would have been December and then the next month they would have had the second half. So it is a convoluted task to try to tie it all together, but that doesn't mean we can't do a better job of starting a program earlier. And if this volatility even has the remote chance of occurring next year, i we're going to do everything we can to start earlier. Speaker 5: I. I love the advanced planning and planning for the 2019 winter season. In my personal opinion as a consumer, I think the best way to get the message out to all residents is to do an insert in the bill on the front of the bill. So a lot of times the inserts are behind the bill, but I think if there is a way to do it so that the insert is at the front of the bill, they have to look at the insert before they look at their bill because even the print that's on the bill, I'll be honest with you, I receive that bill every month. I've never read the special message that you have in the bottom. I just saw right now that you have something on there about tree recycling. Never knew that was on there. And so either we need to do a better job of telling people to look for the special message on their bill and that fine print or maybe put like a one page, you know, very simple, you know, program about this level pay program and why you recommend it. I think that would be really great. That's just my $0.02. And I think if you were willing we I know a lot of our offices do newsletters. If you were willing to write it, write a short article about this and how residents can participate in this level level pay program. I think all of us would probably those of us who wanted to would include it in our newsletters. And that would be a really great way to do outreach. I think doing it in the print media is very helpful, but I think for the East Side, at least if you don't do the grunion, you're going to miss, you know, a lot of people because many people will just read the grunion since it's so readily accessible for everyone and it's free, a lot of restaurants and businesses. So I think just thinking about how to get the word out best, it was a big hit. Unfortunately, my bill was not $34, which much higher because I live with two boys who do not understand the concept of turning out lights and not turning the heater on and all those things. And they are continuing to cost me a lot of money. And that was true for December. So I think a lot of residents found themselves in the same situation as me. But it is helpful to know that even if we would have gotten information out in December, there's nothing that they could have done to reduce their bills because the rate was already in place and they wouldn't have been able to adjust their own usage for that month and time to have a difference. So thank you very much for doing this presentation for us. It's very timely and I'm grateful for your expertize because I learned a lot tonight. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Supernova. Speaker 3: Thank you. Appreciate the presentation. And I have no doubt moving forward that this is. Going to be resolved. Speaker 10: And you're going to Tracy involved in coming up. Speaker 3: With a communication system. I just wanted to give you guys some credit for what you did do. Our office was aware of this issue, but we hadn't heard from a constituent. Our newsletter goes out every Friday at 1:30 p.m.. After we distributed the newsletter on Friday the 25th, we got our an email. One email. That's all we ever received on this issue. A week after that, we got a phone call and another email, but it was just reacting to the person. Speaker 10: Who had originally emailed us because he posted it on social media. Speaker 3: So. That Friday, I left a phone message on Bob Dole's office phone and said, hey, we need to talk about this next week. Speaker 10: Thinking he would get it on Monday. Speaker 3: He called me on Sunday and basically gave me this whole presentation. Speaker 10: That we just saw here. Speaker 3: Tonight. We already had a committee meeting scheduled for that Wednesday, and he got Tony Foster to show up at our committee meeting. And this is just days notice and went through this whole presentation at our committee meeting. Then last Friday, we went and published with. Speaker 10: Your letter from your. Speaker 3: Website and whatnot. That just showed me how nimble. Speaker 10: Your management. Speaker 3: Team is. So moving forward, I have no doubt that we can. Speaker 10: Get the information out there. So thank. Speaker 3: You. And not all of us get paper bills in the mail, but I think the council. Speaker 10: Offices can really assist with this because. Speaker 3: We all push the information out there. So whatever you hand off to us will. Speaker 10: Make sure it gets in our constituents hands. Thanks again. Speaker 0: Thank you, Vice Mayor. Speaker 6: Yes, thank you, Mayor. First of all, I want to thank Councilwoman Susan Price for bringing this forward. And also, I would like to thank Bob Dole and his team for being very responsive to my office and my residents when they ask about these price increase. So thank you for your informative memo that was released on Friday. Thank you very much to. Speaker 0: Councilman Alston. Speaker 12: So I'm glad we went through with this item tonight. I want to thank thanks, Susie, four for four for bringing it forward. And thank you, Mr. Dowd, for the very, very informative presentation. We've already have some ideas on and groups that we'd like to to engage in the district, but particularly our seniors who I think will get a lot out of out of this presentation because they've had a lot of questions. So thank you very much. Speaker 0: And let me just add also so something we may want to consider because this was a lot of people are we have been shocked about this and kind of been, you know, stopped me on the street and people have been posting things on social media and so forth. I still think there's value in telling people what happened even after the fact. And I know that, you know, things are going to go back to normal, but a lot of people are just wondering what happened. And so I would encourage us to send something in the bill now that says you experience an increase. You know, during these months, here's why you experienced it. And and here is how, you know, so that they know that it wasn't because people don't know. They just think that we up their bill. I mean, you know, everyone I talked to just thinks that the city just basically decided to increase their their utility bill. And so regardless of that great presentation, that is that's what people think. So I think that doing a mailer and putting it on social media and doing all those other things, saying, here's what happened, here's why it happened. And well, we don't expect this to be a regular occurrence. It can happen in the future. And here's a way to prevent. I just think that would be helpful if that's something we should at least look at doing, because most people are, like Al said, are not watching right now. But it's the best way of getting to people is through that bill and then through our newsletters I think would be also helpful. Is are the recall public comment on this already. I think I did right. Yeah. And seeing no public comment on this roll call the. Speaker 1: Councilmember Pearce. Councilwoman Price. Councilmember Supernova. Right. Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson. Motion carries.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file a report from the Long Beach Energy Resources Department on the recent spike in natural gas customer bills.

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_01222019_19-0057

Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you very much. Yes, thank you. Thank you so much. Okay. Next, we're going to move on to item 19 with the clock, please. Regarding. Speaker 1: Item 19 is communication from Mir Garcia. Recommendation to receive and file report from Metro on the status of the Blue Line Improvement Project. Speaker 0: Thank you. The only public coming on as well. Okay. I'm going to turn it up. Please turn over to Metro, please. Excuse me. It's good. I'm going to turn to Metro and then we'll have the comments after that. Thank you very much, sir. Speaker 7: Okay. Uh, well, my name is Tim Lindholm. I'm the executive officer for Capital Projects at Metro. And wow, that's a tough act to follow, but thank you for having us here, Vice Mayor Andrews and members of the Council, we're really happy to be here to tell you about the new Blue Project. We've got a lot of my team members here that are going to help walk through this presentation. I'll handle the first slide and then pass it on. So our beloved blue line is 29 years old and in the end are loving care. And we really need to get it into a state of good repair again so that it can be reliable and resilient and provide good passenger service. So what we're doing is we're investing $350 million on improvements to the blue line to enhance safety, increase reliability, and improve the customer experience for our passengers. So we're going to start the new blue improvements this Saturday morning at about 4 a.m.. We're going to start the southern closure of the the blue line so that we can start the work we're planning to do, which improvements in general are. We're improving all of the overhead power systems, all new track work in the city of Long Beach, new signaling systems. We're modernizing the train control system. Very importantly, we're putting in four new crossover tracks which will allow us to switch tracks in case there's issues along the tracks or an accident or an incursion into the track. That way we can pass it very quickly and keep our schedule. And it's also going to help with maintenance going forward that we have a way to get around areas where we're maintaining. We're also painting all the stations, putting in new signage and branding, and we're putting in digital map cases at every station which kind of look like big enlarged iPhones that are interactive. And you can do trip planner and you can find out when your train is coming. So the nature of the work that we're doing requires that the blue line be out of service for two extended four month closures. And we're going to close the south half from the downtown Long Beach Transit Mall to Willowbrook, Rosa Parks. We're going to work there for four months while the north portion is open and then we're going to switch. Once we're open on the south side, we'll close the north side and take care of that. Now, we're very cognizant that this is a major inconvenience to our passengers. And the success of this program is not whether we finish it on time or finish it within our budget. The success here is not to lose any riders, and to that we want to provide excellent passenger service as we do these closures. So we've designed three levels of bus shuttle service, which Metro will talk about in the next couple of slides. The shuttle services are really based on on what we see, what we know our passengers do. Ridership patterns that we observe, origins and destinations. And we're trying our best to provide a shuttle service that will work for our passengers. So with that, I am going to do the project manager, James Way. Speaker 9: Thank you, Tim. Hello. My name is James William, the Pies manager for the Blue Line. Work we have shown here is a high level schedule, a time line we have for the works. Coming up, we talked about the Rosa Parks station and the North and South segment. The Rosa Parks station will be closed throughout starting this Friday and Saturday coming up. And that goes on for eight months. And we do the work from south portion for everything south of Rosa Parks Station that goes all the way down to downtown Long Beach. This works. Expect to go on and goes into May and then while the train is running in the north segment, this will ends in May once we make a flip. As far as doing the work and North, we open its revenue service in the south and sometime late May another four month closure to that and within the north segments there's really broken up excuse me into two segments. So there's a most northern portion downtown L.A. where the tunnel is, seven metro station out to PICO, this portion of track, that expo and Blue Post shared three tracks together. That portion. We're going to do this work as fast as we can to replace track, work and Oasis, which is all we have power lines in that segment, and 45 days closure. And then after that, we open up the Expo Line, running the Blue Line, everything South Pico Station, starting from Grand Station, still close all the way down to Willowbrook and that's expected to be finished by September. Everything be done. And let me just go into a little bit more detail on the work that's going to occur in Long Beach. Starts again, starts this weekend. It's broken up into two major work as truck work and overhead power system work essentially will have two two group of contractors and workers working together, chasing each other out to start with. Well, you'll see what I mean by chasing each other. The truck work starts first. This work starts in a long beach loop area. Everything south of a street for three or four weeks. This work continue. It's going to happen every day, Monday through Saturday. Sundays right now is plan to be off for the workers and also maybe a contingency. The work occurs day on weekends. The everything within between the crossings. Those are going to be on Monday to Friday work. And at the crossing where the street crosses our track, that's a Friday night, Saturday into Sunday work contractors planning doing that 24 hour straight starting Friday night and get this work done so on Sunday although it's not a planned work that that's the time where we're going to put new concrete at the track bed with where the street crosses the track will allow that time for concrete a cure. So this work truck work mainly it's going to happen essentially every day, seven days a week. We do it every everything. We get work done with an hour with the time we have now once this work gets done. But first, as I mentioned, 3 to 4 weeks, the contract to start moving north, north of a street, going up to Willow Station and right behind it is overhead power system work. So overhead power system workers start about six week into the job contract to start working in the Long Beach Loop area. They're replacing all their contact wires entirely. Just just like the track track is getting replaced 100%. So these contact wires, essentially, they're 30 years old and they went out over the years. It's time to replace them. So this work starts south again, going north, going toward north, chasing that group of track guys. So the track will be done after 12 weeks. And then also the cost, the overhead power work continued north. It will be finish within that. They started a six, seven weeks. They also finished total about six, seven weeks. So that take us to about three months or so. The work is scheduled to be done within 12 weeks, plus or minus a little bit. And the rest of the time they're shut down. Metros are performing basically system integration test. This is to make sure that all the work is done correctly and adjustment needs to be make is done at this time. So this and the work obviously continue all the way to Willowbrook, not just City of Long Beach goes further and beyond. So the last three or four weeks of time, Metro will be performing tests and that's where you will see you may see non-revenue train running for testing the system that we put in. That covers most of the work as you go on Long Beach. Next thing I think we'll have Jeffrey here to talk about the bus replacement service. Speaker 11: Thank you. Blue line service will be maintained from. Speaker 10: Seventh Street Metro Station to 103rd. Speaker 11: Street Station. Rail service will be suspended from 100 south of 103rd. Speaker 10: Street Station to downtown Long. Speaker 11: Beach, where it will be replaced by three levels of bus shuttle service. Speaker 10: The Willowbrook Rosa Parks Station will be out for the entirety of the project, but we have four minute service to to for the folks who are transferred from the green line and. Speaker 11: Want to transfer over to the blue line. Next, I'll speak to the local. Speaker 10: Shuttle, which is based off of demonstrated to me is to provide service to all of the closed stations. It's free of charge. And it will operate almost 24 hours a day. Service begins at 330 and extended through all the way through to 30, and that was. Speaker 11: Due to response to. Speaker 10: Public outcry. Speaker 11: It'll provide six minute service in the peaks in 12 minutes, service in the base. Speaker 10: So in the middle of the day, that's. Speaker 11: What the base period is. Next we have the Express shuttle. Speaker 10: These are for the folks who actually have demonstrated to me that they want to go from downtown Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles. So they'll bypass the middle of the segment and be expedited straight to the end of the line. This is provided during the peaks. We've actually expanded the peak period again due to public comments. So we. Speaker 11: Expanded it from 6. Speaker 10: To 530, and the back end from 9:00 to 955 is just displayed above. Speaker 11: And the peak was also expanded from 3 to 7:30 p.m.. Speaker 10: In a provide 12 minute service as well. The last shuttle is that is the select shuttle. And this is for the folks who demonstrated demand to go from downtown, from Long Beach, excuse me, to the green line and eventually connect over. Speaker 11: To the blue line. Speaker 10: Again, this would be a service that's offered during our peak periods. It is on a 12 minute headway. The composite headway for launch is about 4 minutes. So from Wardlow to downtown, Long Beach will be providing 4 minutes. Speaker 11: Over the entirety. Speaker 10: And next, I have Anthony Crump speak to our community outreach. Speaker 11: Good evening. Anthony Crump, director of Community Contractual Relations for Metro. I think last time that I was here, we gave you a brief overview of the outreach that we intended to do, but we didn't have a lot of details as we were still working with our service planning to to come up with the replacement bus service and some of the other details associated with the closure. Since then, I can say that we've done an extensive outreach program to let both our customers know, as well as residents in the general area know about the closure itself. This began in earnest in July of last year and then gradually ramped up to culminate in in January of this year with an outreach program, a media program, and actually ambassadors at each of our stations talking about the closure itself. Specific to the city of Long Beach, we actually sent a mailer out that looks like this is to take one that went to all residents within a half mile of the blue line itself. And that actually actually included also the cities of Los Angeles and Compton. But everyone should have received this just after the New Years. And we also worked with the local council offices, committee organizations, business organizations like the DOJ to get the word out as well. Obviously, recognizing that we are not experts on the city of Long Beach and the neighborhoods associated with Long Beach. We really did leverage our relationships with community organizations and with the council members to get the word out and to use their newsletters and other means to reach out to them. The last bit of it was actually hitting high frequency areas where our writers potentially go to, and those are places like community centers, grocery stores dropping off these take ones actually going to hospitals, social service agencies, making sure that people that don't necessarily pay attention to the media may not even pay attention to what they get in their mail. But are potential writers or actual writers that will have the opportunity to hear about the closure itself? Back in July, we actually launched the new Blue Project web page would actually included information about the service interruption as well as the the replacement bus service that was in the works. We actually still have a number of town halls and community meetings that are still scheduled. In fact, tomorrow night we will be here in council chambers in conjunction with Council Councilmember Pierson. Gonzalez holding another community meeting just to make sure that people have the opportunity to ask us questions and to find out more details about what's going on. This morning, we actually had a press conference with Mayor Garcia where we are and Supervisor Janice Hahn and some other members of the Metro. Announced the closure itself more of a reminder as opposed to a general announcement. But we're hoping that through all of these different means and mechanisms, we're able to to reach both our customers and our potential customers to let them know not only about the service interruption, but to know about the replacement bus service that we're offering. One of the replacement bus services, the express service, is something that's completely new. Metros never offered that to residents of Long Beach or Los Angeles, and that's a service that goes from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles directly. Hopefully that is something that will be popular. We're anticipating that it will be highly used and maybe, maybe extend it even beyond the service itself. I think with that, that concludes most of our presentation. We do want to make sure that actually one more part. Construction relations. So there's actually twofold. Two parts to our outreach program. The first part is letting people know about the service reps, the second part of the actual construction relations program. And those are the construction impacts that are related to the work that James talked about specifically. So we talk about pulling up all the rail in the city of Long Beach Resort. Talk about replacing those overhead wires. Obviously, those don't come without a little bit of pain. In some cases, it means that parking is going to be removed. In some cases means that we'll be doing lane closures and things along those lines in order to support the outreach associated with that, we have a construction relations program. That program provides noticing to impacted residents, to stakeholders, whether it be residents or businesses. We actually go out there, we meet with them face to face, one on one with them, and hopefully address many of their concerns. Our team also works directly with our contractors, the multiple contractors that we have on this project to mitigate any potential issues. That can be something as simple as, you know, figuring out what the best time is to block a drive, where the best time is to open a driveway, figuring out what's the best time to do some of the noisy work as opposed to the the quiet work. It also means coordinating with local schools to make sure that we ensure access if there's going to be a blocked sidewalk or a drop off area. All of those things are done by our construction relations team and we're actually up and running with that team right now. In fact, I think I have Brett Roberts, who's our senior construction relations officer for the city of Long Beach here, who's been out in the field for the last two months or so, talking to stakeholders directly and working with local organizations. One of the most important parts of this is our construction hotline. It's up there on the screen. 2134183039. That is designed to be answered by a live person. That is for construction related issues, not necessarily service related issues. And we provide that to businesses and residents that are impacted by construction so that if there's something that needs immediate attention, they can call that number or get somebody on the phone and we can have somebody out there to address the issue immediately. We want to be accessible. We want to be communicative. We want to make sure that this is as painless as possible. However, we do recognize that there will be some pain involved, but we do want to make it as painless as possible. And with that, that concludes our presentation. If you have any questions, we can take those in and filter this the appropriate staffers. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. And first, I'm going to go with a public comment and then we'll go by the diocese. So anybody from the public and have a comment on these. And. Speaker 9: Name's Larry Goodhue. I doubt that there's any person in this city. That knows more about the MTA offerings, not just the blue line that throughout the system than does this individual who opened the blue line and almost every other line, with the exception of about five or six others. There's no question it needs to be upgraded. It's the methodology they're using. With intelligent planning. There is absolutely no need to shut it down. Any rail system except an extreme emergency. All the work that needs to be done and the improvement than there has to be, there will be decades of improvements, not just here, but across the board. Speaker 6: You do it at night. Speaker 9: Period. And if you don't have the intelligence within the MTA, you go out and find it. Do it. Now unfortunately, this will cost. And I think I'm thinking beyond the the the blue line. This will cost Mayor Garcetti the his chance to be in the Oval Office. And I'm an arch Republican, but I think he'd be an absolute asset to this city, to this region, period. But he will not given the tackle here. Speaker 10: Of. Speaker 9: Approaching and neither the employers. Speaker 6: Or the employees. Speaker 9: Of all the industries that are in fact that have to come to work are going to put up with this nonsense period. It doesn't need to be shut down. No ifs. No and no buts. And the biggest disaster, if you're here on the board and you understand this and this doesn't translate it tangibly invents us is the disaster. Speaker 7: That you're bringing to the. Speaker 9: The incineration of the high school children in Beverly Hills High School, where they're building the rail lines underneath a cavern that is loaded with gas. Period. And if you look at the five different explosions we've had in just in similar incidences, not involving rail. Over the last three months. Over the last three weeks, you should, because this is an absolute disaster, as I say. It'll cost us the 2028 Olympics. The only way we'll get the 3032 Olympics is 2032 is if we demonstrate that we know how to operate a transit system. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next week, a police. Speaker 8: Good afternoon. My name is and I can say resident sixth district. A broken clock is right twice. Is it twice in a day? You know, we rarely see eye to eye, but I agree with this man. I think that you know how this has been handled. Yes. The red line is the busiest. Line four in terms of daily ridership, but that's internal. Most external workers coming in. Mainly service industry workers like myself coming into the city do so on the blue line. You know, according to the study you guys put out, I believe was on the 28th December, you average it about 63,000 riders daily. So it would be interesting to see the financial impact of this, you know, 30 year debacle. I've been writing this train since there's needed turtles, you know, being used to sell the idea of it. And now, you know, this is something that goes through not just through the inner city, but also through the central heartland of this of this region. And, you know, most workers go through it. I also I appreciate you guys taking the concern of the public in regards to the express bus line. I think that's a welcomed response. But I'm curious, I saw on one a year you're doing your presentation there. You said that you had a community meetings on the 23rd in District one into that, correct? Speaker 6: I can't. Speaker 8: I saw that on your presentation. It would be interesting if maybe you can reach out to my councilman, Mr. Andrews, here. His district services. Willow PCH, as well as Anaheim. And correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Durango, I think Waldo is at the cut off line between the six. These are the hubs that are have the most riders in this a concern. And most people in this area, in my neighborhood at least, don't know about this eight month shutdown. So if you're going to do some community outreach, it would be probably best to do it in the districts that actually have the most riders. No, no disrespect to Mr. Gonzales. I know you have about three or four, and you're between the two of you, Mr. Pierce, as well. But most riders in the city of Long Beach are on the sixth. So if you want to help the city, you know, get it out outreach wise, it would be best to reach out to Mr. Andrews, you know, possibly about let the people in the community know about it. Outside of. Speaker 11: That, let's see how it works. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker. Speaker 10: Fernando Guerrero, District one. Listen, I am a writer for The Blue Line, and I feel really unsafe there. And I speak for the people that ride the train on a daily basis. Look, we only have to write it now every day. But, you know, on occasions I do. And when I do, I see people being harassed. They're from the LGBT community. I see women being harassed, calling the B-word, the F-word. Oh, no one should be getting harassed. And the train I had to carry a weapon, not just one weapon, but two weapons on me to write that blue line. It is awful. It's really awful. I know people are to get drunk, smoked pot, to hop on that train, to sedate themselves. It is horrible. There's no safety there. There's cameras there. What for? There's a guy I just watched the train the other day. A guy went in there. He was already in there. I don't know if he was homeless, but whatever. But he. He started smoking a cigar. A cigar? Really? I had to be I had to go to work. I'm going to smell like cigar. And the guy one time was smoking pot on the train. I had to smoke pot showing up at 9:00 at work. Well, there's no security. I think we need more police officers on the train and on the shuttles. It's not safer. It's not safe for people. And I don't care. That person has a mental problem. There's no excuse to be rude or to harass somebody because they want to harass and be bullied. And people do that day. We need security in the trains on blue line desperately before someone gets hurt. Because I'm not going to be bullied on the train. I'm not. I'm doing the right thing. I don't drink. I don't do drugs. We need safety for the blue line, please. Will the security officers on the train and shuttles. It's not safe. I to somebody else pulls out a gun. I don't. It's just. I'm getting. I'm just getting. I'm upset. I suddenly had to fear and carry two weapons on me because someone's going to try it at me. I don't want to explode on the blue line. We need safety. Safety for the public. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. The general public comment on the statement. Now we'll take it by the diocese. Mr. Spears. Speaker 4: Thank you, Vice Mayor. I want to thank Metro for your efforts for coming out. I know that you met with my office, and it was one of the ideas that we had in that meeting to host something in downtown. So I appreciate you guys making yourself available tomorrow, and I appreciate Councilwoman Gonzalez sponsoring that event with us. I'm going to ask just a couple of quick questions on the Metro piece, because we do have our community meeting tomorrow night. And then I am going to ask a couple of questions of our PD just to make sure we address the safety issues. And I preface this with I for three years rode the blue line from Long Beach to downtown L.A. three times a week. And I, I know how uncomfortable sometimes it can be on the blue line. I also know that we've made a lot of security changes. I don't believe you guys did go over, you know, the main changes. And I think there's no worse feeling than the blue line being down at 9:00 at night and you waiting for a bus in the middle of somewhere where you've never been. So I appreciate having the busses and I don't know what to say. I hope that the use of them is appreciated and that we can continue them after the blue line has opened back up so that it's not a a waiting, even though we will have the bypass lane, which I'm very, very thankful for, I know that adding those bypass lanes is going to be great and I understand that we have to close down the entire process to make sure that it can get done. Are you guys making any improvements on security that you can elaborate on that you did not elaborate on in your presentation? I remember that this was mainly about the rail, but I wanted an addition just to make sure we ask and see what the plan is of. It's phase two of this process. Speaker 7: I would start by saying I'm not necessarily the best guy to talk to about the security piece. I'm the construction guy. But I will say this, you know, we do have a new law enforcement contract. Speaker 4: Right. And we're very excited. Speaker 7: You know, we're the city of Long Beach. Speaker 4: Yes. Speaker 7: For all patrols in Long Beach. We have the sheriffs and we have the city of L.A. So during the closure, all those patrols will still be there and they will be patrolling the bus stops. So so in terms of the actual work we're doing, the construction work, there's not so much that directly relates to security. We have a lot of cameras. The lighting has been recently redone. So so for the most part, it's operational improvements on the on the train line. But but the same policing that's currently out there will be out there during the closures. Speaker 4: Thank you for that. And I'll ask PD about a process in a minute as well. Speaker 11: I think the other thing that I would add is that at the Willowbrook, Rosa Parks station, which is being completely, completely redone. Speaker 4: Yeah, very exciting. Speaker 11: We actually do have a transit security center that we're putting in there. It's a new one that's adjacent to the public areas and the public plaza. So that will increase the coverage and the visibility of security. And that's actually one of our highest transfer stations, people going from the green line to the blue line. So that's one physical improvement that. Speaker 4: Great. Thank you for that. I know I was going to ask PD and I know this is not necessarily about safety, but it was brought up. So I want to make sure we address it. I know that there is now an anonymous way we can go online and make a file. A police report is there because it's very awkward to be on the blue line and calling PD. I don't want to be that person that's sitting there calling PD. Is there a process that we recommend people, whenever they don't feel safe on the blue line to reach out to our officers? Speaker 7: We're going to turn this over to Commander Rico Misa. Yeah, I'm not sure the commander is. Part of the team that assigns the blue line officers. But we'll turn over to commander. Speaker 4: Thank you. Speaker 10: Vice mayor of. Speaker 4: Microphone. Speaker 10: Good evening. Vice Mayor. Respective Council Members. Council Member. In response to your inquiry. Any issues of concern from local community members can be directed to the police department. They can be directed to the police department. But following a police report, they could contact 911. They could contact our general dispatch number. So there's all sorts of methods in place to identify any issues and concerns, relay them to the police department, whether it's an emergency or a non-emergency matter. Speaker 4: I really thought that last year we had a new online way and a text way that we could communicate. So maybe that's something we can get a report back on at a later date. But I felt like I was very excited that there was a new way that didn't require me calling 911. Speaker 10: Yes, there are systems in place whereby that information can be communicated to the police department. Speaker 4: Okay. Perhaps as we go through this process of Metro and PD can work together, at least on areas of the blue line to communicate that. I know that there's ways, you know, billboards on there that we can make sure that people know there's a way that they can feel a little bit safer. So I appreciate everybody's presentation and I appreciate your community outreach. I look forward to seeing you guys tomorrow, district two. Tomorrow night, we will announce it at the end of the meeting as well. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. I am in no position to comment on this. I'm sorry. I apologize. Speaker 9: Please go ahead. My name is Santiago. I live in the second district. I'm a retired nurse. I've lived in Long Beach for eight months now. Speaking to the topic. I ride a bicycle and on the regular busses there's only two. I believe it's two spaces. And when you close down the blue line, there's usually two or three or four bikes on every single car that I've gone onto. So could you please be cognizant of the cyclists? Because I'm an old guy, and it takes me a little extra time to put that bike up there. And so we might need some help also. Oh, thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, sir. Now we go back behind the guises, Mr. President. Speaker 12: I second most. Speaker 0: Fine. Speaker 9: Baby. Speaker 0: Oh, Mrs. Gonzalez, please. Speaker 2: Yes. Thank you again for the report. We look forward to tomorrow's meeting. And I agree as well. I think we'd as much outreach as we can do above and beyond tomorrow's events. We'd be happy to to help with that as well. Just a question. I know we had talked about I mean, the two things that I hear often in downtown are number one. Absolutely. Security. I think I absolutely agree with you. I've taken the blue line from my house off Pacific, you know, to downtown L.A. and it's can be a really awful experience sometimes. And that's someone who gets it being in the city for ten years. But a lot of residents who visit our city, I don't want them to have that same experience. So the you know, we'd like to just have more information on what I think in addition to the ways that we can reach out to and this is maybe more geared towards PD, who we can really reach out to when incidents occur. I would also like to know how we're phasing in police officers on the the blue line, because I know that I've been hearing of a certain amount allotted over a certain period of time, and I would just like more clarification on that. Whether you have that now, city manager or we can get that in a two from four. That would be great. Okay. And then secondly, are your cameras tied into a specific like. You know, we have a city program here called Cops that it's tied into the city department, the police department. Do you have that on the on the county side? Speaker 7: Yes, we do. All of our cameras can be viewed at our rail operations control center, which is near Willowbrook, Rosa Parks, and also at a at a security center that we're building at Willowbrook, Rosa Parks, they can view the camera feeds of the blue line from there. Speaker 2: Okay. I assume so. Just wanted to ask. And then lastly, turnstiles. I know that was another discussion. I know I'm getting a few smirks about that because it's a big one that we've talked about here in Long Beach. And that's I think a lot of, you know, what some people have discussed me attribute to some of the issues, but are we are adding additional turnstiles or what is the process? Speaker 7: No, there's no there's no fair gating plans as part of the new blue. Speaker 2: Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much for the report. And we look forward to additional feedback as we move along. Thanks. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman. Interesting. Speaker 11: Thank you, Vice Mayor. Just a couple of things. First of all, thanks for the presentation. I know that there's been outreach through your traditional channels, your ridership. I heard about the outreach within a half mile of a line of the community. I represent north long beaches outside of that border. It sort of. WARDLOW It cuts on Long Beach, picks up like Rancho Dominguez, Compton. So a lot of times we head south or we head west, the Compton station. And so any outreach within a half mile misses. So I would I would ask a couple of things. So, Mr. West, is it possible before this goes live to tell you some other channels, just the broadly, you know, whatever our channels are, the link will be the city website, maybe even. And we have relationships and billboards and just direct people to where they can get the information. Certainly. Okay, great. And then and then I would think I would ask Metro if there's maybe some you know, we can talk with you about some hotspots, the libraries, you know, maybe some places that people go in North Long Beach to make sure that they get the information and something we can work together on. Great. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. You know. Speaker 8: That. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. One of the topics that stood out to me in terms of what the Metro Blue Line is going to be doing during this interim construction is the establishment of an express line from downtown Long Beach to seventh and Metro, which I think will require the express taking, what, seven, ten to the four or five to the Harbor Freeway and then down. I drive that and it takes it all day. So just to get a general idea, what is the the current time that it takes from downtown Long Beach along the blue line with all its current reconstruction to seventh in metro. Speaker 11: Just for clarification, we're talking about the rail service, correct? Speaker 8: We're talking about the Express here. Speaker 10: We talk about the bus. Speaker 8: Yes. Is that what the Express is about? Speaker 11: Yeah, it's the bus. Right. So the bus service takes approximately about 60 minutes on average during the peak periods. Speaker 8: But my question was right now, if I get a blue line without the construction, correct, how long does it take? 59 minutes. 59 minutes. So it's not every that much different. Your estimation is. Speaker 10: The estimation is that that would provide comparable service. So we'd be within five and 10 minutes of you. Speaker 8: That's true. That's incredible. From what I could tell, it's going to be more in an hour with with the traffic, especially on the 405 and the 110. Even if you take the express lanes, it's a long it's a long trip. And I just mentioned it out there because I think that given the additional time that it's going to take people to go from downtown Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles, I think there might be a loss of ridership there because of the length of time people are going have to get there earlier. They're going to have to make accommodations for the time difference. And so how many how many of these express busses are you going to be having that are going to be going from downtown Long Beach, downtown L.A., 1 to 1, every hour and every 2 hours? What what what's the what's the the amount of express busses? You're going to have to. Speaker 10: At least ten busses an. Speaker 8: Hour. Ten. About ten bucks an hour. Mm hmm. Okay. Well, that sounds good to me, but so you might want to consider that the time factor in there in terms of how long it's going to take from downtown Los Angeles to downtown Long Beach, or vice versa. And I think that you might want to look at some alternative routes or alternative ways of getting people from point A to point B, because I think that we're going to be losing some ridership in that. And there's going to be a lot of frustration and and some people who are going to be very disappointed with the plan. So is pointing that out to you. So be aware of it. Thank you. Speaker 0: Yes. Speaker 7: I mean, we've done our best to to guess what our riders are actually going to do when we close the line. But we don't know actually what they're going to do. And so we're going to remain flexible with the service out there is that we're going to watch it every day and we're going to see how it's working and we're going to make adjustments on the fly to make sure that we're we're providing the right level of service. So we're right there with you. Speaker 0: Thank you, sir. Councilman. Congressman Austin. Speaker 12: Thank you. And I want to thank Metro for coming in and giving us a very detailed explanation. This is obviously going to require some some some adjustments from from riders, and it's going to be some growing pains to get here. But understanding that the the Metro Blue Line was the very first light rail system in the metro light rail system. Right. This was the very first two tickets. I went to a 25 year celebration that a couple of years ago. So understanding where that is, that technology and best practices have actually been been employed in some of the newer lines. I think it's important that that this the blue line be be equipped with the best as well. I'd like to just just kind of focus a little bit and we understand is going to be a lot of inconvenience. It's going to be some some some inconvenience, particularly on the riders. It's going to be inconvenience on those like myself who are trying to commute on the freeway and, you know, seeing more busses on. There is not something that I'm looking forward to either, particularly in that fast track lane. But I'd like to focus a little bit on what the outcomes will be. I was watching I was sitting next to on the blue line just just just yesterday and was I noticed how noisy it was with the repairs and upgrades and reduce the audibility for a lot along the line. How will the the line be more efficient to riders and how much safer will the line be once this project is done? Can somebody answer the question? Speaker 7: But I think the main words we've been using have been reliability and resiliency. Reliability and resiliency. Those are those are really what we're looking at on the reliability front. And James talked a little bit about this. The overhead wire has been up there for 29 years. It needs to be replaced. So the blue line is prone, can be prone to breaking down and we don't want that to happen. So we want it to be reliable that the when it's supposed to be at a station, it's going to be at the station. On the resiliency side, one of the things that has plagued us is that we don't have enough crossover tracks to move from one track to another and that, you know, if there's a track incursion, let's say an automobile, get stuck on the track or a train is down, then sometimes it could take us 20 minutes to single track around it and then the schedule is blown for the day. So with these new crossover tracks, we can be resilient and we can get around something as if it's a normal schedule. It's very important to us that's also going to help us with maintenance in the future. Because of this lack of crossover tracks, we weren't able to get very much time at night to maintain the system. This gives us an opportunity to maintain the system in a state of good repair while while maintaining a regular schedule. So those are the two very important pieces. Speaker 12: And then finally, thank you for for want to stay up there, if you will. I know that there was some, some discussion, particularly when we were looking at the measure m expenditures and looking at opportunities to improve the blue line efficiency and just the flow of traffic in and Long Beach period. The Wardlow station was one that that stood out as a as a as an opportunity, opportunities to improve safety, opportunities to improve the flow of traffic with but also connecting our active transportation bike boulevard as well as pedestrian safety. And part of what was discussed and I know I had an opportunity to look at some some sketches of some possibilities was to look at taking that from an ad grade model to above grade or below grade. Where is that? And are we continuing to look at that possibility for the Wardlow station? Speaker 7: We are system wide. So so we have been busy over the last six or eight months working on reporting back to our board on what the feasibility is, because they've asked us the same thing. They've asked us to look at, you know, undergrounding the Washington Junction. They've asked us to look at grades separating the entire blue line. And we're going to be reporting back to them soon in the next couple of months. On what the results of those efforts are. I will say this I don't want to prejudge what they might tell us, but it's very expensive, you know, billions and billions of dollars, expensive to to to grade separate the blue line. So I wouldn't hazard a guess on whether that may or may not be in the cards, but we need to have a discussion with our board about that. Speaker 12: Well, I think it it's a worthy discussion. And we need to look at greater separation as strategic junctures. And I think the Wardlow in Pacific area is one of those those areas where we've I mean, it's actually been identified in the L.A. Times as one or the worst station in the in the system. And so, again, I'll continue to look forward to continuing that conversation in the future. Speaker 10: Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. You know, I just want to thank the individual coming down, because when I heard the words, I mean, look, you know, you're going to be flexible. That means you listen and I know what you're going to do. It's going to be a good job, because when you talk about progress, you're going to have a lot of, you know, complaints and things of this type. But we need it. And I know you're going to get it done because you have some of the most professional people, you know, in doing this. So I give a lot of, you know, all my faith in it because I'm going to ride it no matter what. And, you know, I know you guys are working hard coming down and doing this because the presentation, I think was fantastic. And I know that Julie from the Metro and a couple of the other folks have been very helpful in my district because we host a metro, you know, staff each of our neighborhood meetings. And I wanted to let one of my colleagues who didn't know about that. But you guys, I want to thank you for coming to the district and giving us this presentation. So I'm hoping we got the word out and and very happy that the people will know that we are here. And if you need any more information, you know, just call out to these individuals because you're here. And I want to thank you for doing a great job of presentation here, because a lot of people don't know and a lot of people may be a little upset and angry, but once it's done, I think you can come on down. Keep. Good work. Thank you, guys. Speaker 7: Thank you, guys. We really appreciate it. Speaker 6: Oh, yeah. Well. Speaker 0: Excuse me. You know, you. You can't come in. We like to, but we can't. We have to take a vote now. And now. That was from us. From behind the gun. You know, we can talk all the time, but you guys don't get that privilege. Okay. Now, would you please cast your vote? Speaker 1: Councilmember Richardson. Bush and Kerry's.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file report from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) on the status of the Blue Line improvement project.

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_01222019_18-0820

Speaker 0: Okay. Now we're going to go back to hearing number one, which you do quite well. Craig, would you please read the item as the oath? Speaker 1: Item one is a report from Financial Management recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record. Conclude the public hearing and grant an entertainment permit with conditions on the applications of Malden's Saloon. Five six. Four six. Pair my boudoir for entertainment without dancing. District eight. And this require an oath. Those wishing to give the testimony. Can you please stand and raise your right hand? You and each of you do solemnly state that the testimony you may give in the court now and pending before this body shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God. Speaker 3: You. Speaker 0: But we must have presentation of this place. Speaker 7: Yes, Mr. Vice Mayor. The staff report will be given by Sandy Palmer from Business Services and Emily Armstrong. Speaker 4: Good evening, honorable vice mayor and members of the city council. Tonight you have before you an application for Entertainment Without Dancing for Shamrock Hospitality Group LLC doing business as Muldoon Saloon located at 5646 Paramount Boulevard operating as a bar tavern lounge in Council District eight. This application originally came before you. Speaker 2: On September 18th. Speaker 4: 2018. The hearing was continued to allow the business the opportunity to address concerns from the community and the counsel office. The 120 day continuation period has now concluded. All of the necessary departments are recommending approval of the entertainment permit, subject to the conditions as contained in the hearing packet. I, as well as the police department, stand ready to answer any questions Council may have. And that concludes staff's report. Speaker 12: Thank you for the staff report. I'm going to turn it over to council member Austin. Yes, I want to first of all, thank Mr. John English, the proprietor of Muldoon's saloon. He came here four months ago. We continue the item as a result of some community concerns that that were brought to the attention of my office. And I think he's done a good job of improving, building his relationships in the community and being a responsible business owner. And so. Mr. English, thank you for being here. However, since the the the item has come to us, it was also brought to my attention recently of some new developments related to a potential change in ownership . This property is currently, as I understand, an escrow. And so because there there are some some questions related to as to how this this transaction could affect the entertainment license. I am respectfully requesting that this item be continue for an additional 30 days to this hearing, be continued for an additional 30 days to February 19th. So we can work these things out. I can speak with Mr. English, the new potential new owner, as well as the city attorney's office. And so that is my motion and ask for your support, counsel. Speaker 0: Thank you. When you radio. Fine. Okay. Any public comments on this here? Would you please come down? Speaker 9: You know, that's fine to do it in the month. That's very positive for me and thank you very much. Coutts Marston and also Jonathan, your Chief of staff, have been fabulous helping me through this meeting with the community, resolving any issues, planning the future and how it's going to resolve. So by the next meeting, escrow will either close the fallout, you know, that goes and then we can get it one way or the other next month. So thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you. Speaker 9: Oh, and I'd like to see if we have a Sunday night opera with Darrell. Speaker 0: Yeah, I get the entertainment. I get joked, you know, the animal can come in and decide who she please come down to. Speaker 6: Yeah. Speaker 0: I was here last time. Speaker 7: I got a little violent. Right. But I don't know if it was appropriate or not, but. Speaker 0: I live in Modell's parking lot where. Speaker 6: All the noise come from. Speaker 0: It is on Paramount Boulevard, but the parking lot were already. Speaker 7: Bad and everybody. Speaker 0: Is on the pergola. When my husband like read where you guys are parking, right? You guys want to listen to music? Blade in your house. Speaker 6: You can hear your TV. Speaker 7: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, from 10:00 to 1:00 in the morning, and it won't end at 1:00 because Johnny English is not there. There's Ned Barton. Speaker 0: They hang up. I've called up. I've called 9911 on them 40, 50 times. I'd call them human nine when they told me, come out there. Speaker 6: Number one, don't come to me. Speaker 0: Hanging out at 330, riding, skateboard, doctor party. I'm still here. He put on new concrete under the aggregate. You know how when you put a skateboard down the concrete. Now they get their wall right here in the Wall Street, you know, in a French wall, right echo right in here. Even the wind, when everything goes in, turn directly, it comes right out. You let go and it comes right. Speaker 7: In my window. I have no problem. Speaker 0: I'm not that guy in the world, but, you know, I'm just. What? To be fair, you know? You know, I'm going to go and start the entertainment thing and. Disturb the neighbors. You know, I. I told you. Speaker 6: If we put them some kind of. Speaker 0: Something to bury while rector, I'll try to put it in. I have no problem with it. You know, I was talking to a neighbor I've been living over. Speaker 7: I've been there 40, 40 years or. The last three years. I'll get all the. Speaker 0: You know it. For five nights. He didn't just have to plan tonight. He had five or four or five. Speaker 7: They stay for two or 3 hours in, you know, bands. Speaker 0: Do they got you got people that fall behind him, right. They got 30. I'll tell you, sometimes 30, 40 people, you know. And they have. Have you ever been involved nowadays to import, embody, drink? And it's like $9. We're short of Jack Daniel's. Speaker 6: Yeah. Speaker 0: So they're lucky they don't buy beer in there. They go to the liquor store next door ready to go to liquor store and buy the booze. And they come up and hang out in front of my house next door. Speaker 7: Neighbors house and party and talk and. Speaker 6: Ha ha ha ha. Yeah. You know. Speaker 0: Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you very much. You know. Okay. It's really watery to me, you know? Thank you so much. Okay. But he had he had. Speaker 7: To resolve it. So I don't know what you guys talk about. He. Speaker 0: Thank you. You're doing a good job. Thank you, sir. I will go with you. Okay. Thank you. Long. Take care. That problem. All right. We have a vote on this vote. Speaker 6: The agreement.

Public Hearing

Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and grant an Entertainment Permit with conditions on the application of Shamrock Hospitality Group, LLC, dba Muldoon's Saloon, 5646 Paramount Blvd., for Entertainment Without Dancing. (District 8)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_01222019_19-0059

Speaker 0: Okay, fine. Can we move? We're going to move. Item number 23, 22. It's a pleasure that I don't know a 22. Speaker 1: Item 22 is a communication from Council member Aranda Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilmember peers, council membership and a recommendation to receive and file a status update on the implementation of the city's language access policy. Speaker 0: Thank you. Oh, yes. Speaker 8: Thank you, vice Mayor, for accommodating this. We have a lot of people in the audience who I know wanted to speak on this and have children. So thank you for accommodating this request. Before we continue, can we have our staff report, please? Speaker 6: Can you. Speaker 7: Yes. Councilmember Kelly. Speaker 8: Collopy and Katie are here to answer any questions we have regarding this and give a brief update. Speaker 0: On the monorail. I didn't do that. I took the. Speaker 6: Traffic. Speaker 7: You know. Speaker 13: Good evening, Honorable Vice Mayor and council member. It's my pleasure to share a language access policy update with you and the members of our community this evening. I'm turn you over to Katie Borders to share our progress to date and then I'll share a little bit more about moving forward. Speaker 4: Okay. Thank you, Kelly. So the city of Long Beach is home to approximately half a million people and 46.6 of residents over the age of five speak a language other than English at home. Nearly 178,000 residents speak either English, Spanish or I'm sorry, Spanish, Khmer, Tagalog. Language access services allow these community members to receive essential city services, engage directly in the decision making process, and, most importantly, have their voices heard. The Language Access Policy establishes standards and procedures for providing language access in city services programs and resources in the top three languages spoken in Long Beach. The policy also provides for over the phone interpretation recorded outgoing messages for city phone lines, interpretation at public meetings and translation of city documents. It also includes coordination of a bilingual staff directory and training for bilingual staff so that they can provide interpretation and translation services as needed. The Language Access Coordinator is working to implement the policy consistently across all departments. To do this, she developed a language access policy or lap kit to train staff and promote language services and provides a 30 minute lap training that staff to staff that provides an overview of the policy services and how to use them. In fiscal year 2018, the lap coordinator conducted 13 staff trainings, directly reaching 385 employees. We invite any city staff to request lap trainings from us to ensure that all residents who speak a language other than English can easily access city services. She also maintains a bilingual staff directory of 722 city staff who receive bilingual skill pay when they provide translation or interpretation. The city staff who receive bilingual skill pay are required to review two training videos that address appropriate techniques and ethics, ethics for interpretation and translation, as well as the use of children as interpreters. The bilingual staff directory is updated every six months and is available on the city's intranet. In cases where interpretation is needed and a bilingual staff member is not immediately available, we also provide over the phone interpretation. Our vendor, the language line, provides 24/7 access to over 8000 professionally trained interpreters who speak more than 240 languages. In fiscal year 2018, language line provided the city with interpretation for 191 calls in nine different languages. When someone calls the city department, they can access assistance in their preferred language using our translated outgoing phone messages. Currently, there are 74 city phone lines that have menus translated in Spanish and Tagalog. The lab coordinator coordinates onsite interpretation for public meetings as well. In fiscal year 2018, Language Access provided the service at 98 public meetings for 19 different departments and city council offices. This reflects a 44% increase compared to fiscal year 2017. In addition to onsite interpretation, we also help ensure that city documents are translated in Spanish common Tagalog in fiscal year 18. The lap coordinator coordinated the translation of 190 documents for 17 city departments and council offices. This number remained consistent compared to last year. Speaker 13: During the FOIA 19 budget process, we were directed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Language Access Program. The evaluation has been completed and the report is being drafted. It will be available in the next couple of months. The evaluation included a review of the implementation of the language access policies in other jurisdictions around the country, a project in partnership, which was a partner and project with the California State University Long Beach Linguistics Department, looked at 11 different city facilities. We held resident focus groups in Spanish in May, held key informant interviews with interpreters who frequently provide services and interpretation services for our program, and a satisfaction survey of city staff who have used the Language Access Program in the last year. The preliminary findings include that there's just an overall lack of awareness still or utilization of our services in the community. There's a lack of awareness and utilization of the language line. We did learn that 87% of those that have used the document translation are satisfied and 78% are satisfied with the turnaround time for those documents. This is closely related to communication regarding expected turnaround times with regard to interpretation. 100% of respondents were satisfied with the services are provided and 92% were satisfied with the interpreters, punctuality and professionalism. Because we often work with the same interpreters at the many community meetings where interpretation is provided. We conducted key informative interviews with them to better understand their observations and experiences in the community. We learned more about the importance of community interpreting as a specific skill that requires knowledge of context, background and community dynamics. One interpreter we spoke with spent time before every meeting, reviewing documents and key terms so that she prepared for the event. Often, the interpreters are asked to assist residents in understanding forms or navigating a challenge which they take away, which can take away from their ability to be interpreting for the broader context. Yet overall, the interpreters received positive feedback from the residents who are very grateful that they're there. The results of the comprehensive evaluation showed us that despite the work that we've invested and the great progress we've made so far, we know we can do better. We've already begun a plan for developing the following working with the Council District and the Budget Office to provide interpretation at the community budget meetings. Translating the Community Budget Book and partnering with the Budget Office to provide a multilingual community budget meeting. Partnering with the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications as part of their efforts to develop a disaster response plan for individual disabilities and functional needs. Offering quarterly trainings as well as flexible formats to help departments identify strategies to overcome specific language access challenges. Working more closely with community partners to increase awareness of our language access program among our residents. Increase in the pool of vendors to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of document, translation and interpretation. Currently we have the Language Access Program, has a coordinator who operates 28, who works for 27 hours a week, full time, that is structurally funded in $160,000 and one time funding, which is an increase from $80,000 last year. And so those services, many of these services are able to be provided through that increase. However, with the increase in the focus on training, access, outreach, and those will be coming to you in the future to increase the the position from part time to full time to be able to continue this move. And with that, I'm going to turn it over to Craig Beck to talk about signage and facilities. Speaker 9: Yeah. Good evening, counsel. You may recall in back in November of 2018, there was information provided this council regarding the new Civic Center project. And the project includes three primary buildings, the Port Administration Building, our new City Hall, and also the downtown library. We are employing new language access policies in all these buildings, including the translation of signage in the common areas. So in the lobby of the new City Hall and Port Building and library, as someone comes in, there is going to be a reception area that will be translated into four languages and also opportunity for translation services at all of the public counters. Lap cards will be available along with access to translation. I think what one of the things that we're really looking forward to is investment in new technology. So in the new council chambers, we will have a new translation services device that will allow us to have multiple channels on one set of headphones . So depending on what language you're seeking or if maybe you're hearing impaired, you'll have you'll be able to use the same device. And those translation services can happen in a different room. So they don't have to necessarily be in the auditorium themselves. We find that that that will help with the translation services. And we also looked into utilizing hearing induction loops. So we know a lot of people that are hearing impaired will wear hearing aids. And the induction loops that we're putting into our large assembly rooms, including the new chambers, will allow people to tune in and hear what's being either translated or just the presentation itself through these induction loops. So the new technology is a step forward. We believe that that the the flow and and access in the new city hall is going to be very intuitive and help people achieve services. So that concludes my report. I'm available to answer questions. Speaker 0: Thank you. Continuing. Speaker 8: Thank you. And I wanted to also thank my colleagues and results for the First District, Ginny Pearson second and Dallas, who not the fourth. And joining me in this discussion and in this overview, what's taking place with the language arts program at this point? I think it would be appropriate if my colleagues did not defer that. We go to the public comment and I will take it back here. Speaker 0: Hi. Hi. So okay with you? Good. Okay. Please. If anyone like to speak honestly, won't you please come forward? Speaker 3: Salute you. Speaker 6: Okay. Speaker 10: Good evening, counsel. Speaker 7: My name is Mikhail for two, and I'm actually a student from. Speaker 10: Casa in Long Beach. Speaker 7: And I was I was assigned to investigate the. Speaker 10: Accessibility of. Speaker 7: LEP resources in other translation services here actually. Speaker 8: In City Hall. Speaker 10: And I was surprised to find. Speaker 7: I was actually surprised to not see lack of translated signs for directory to location within the building, little to no translated documents to which language other than English speakers can access and most important, LPC resources. Not many citizens were aware of the sleep resources, which is very concerning. No, I know there isn't. Like there isn't much and not a lot of funds to expand on these services remedies. But that is why I'm here before you. So I am, as I am a student who grew up in the immigrant community, and I'm here to urge the city to invest more in the space, mainly immigrant communities that participate in their society. Some of the ways in which I think it's been mentioned already, but I would like to reinforce again. Speaker 10: The ways how the. Speaker 7: City can help is by increasing the distribution of vital documents, as this will make services and information much more easier to navigate. And access, in addition, needs to be implemented consistently across all city departments so our communities won't be discouraged with about accessing certain departments due to language barriers. And lastly, there needs to be more active outreach to residents who may not know about yep. Through there, through collaborations with community based organizations. With these recommendations, our communities would be would be able to navigate our city and. Speaker 10: Participate without having worry about without. Speaker 7: Any worry about language barriers. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker. Speaker 2: Hello. My name is Gabby Hernandez and I'm a resident of the First District. I'm also the program manager for the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition, and we're a member of the Language Access Coalition. And I think all of you should have the fact that the coalition put together and I'm here to tell you a little bit about what we heard from community members in collaboration with the Office of Equity. We hosted a focus group with Spanish speaking community members where they share with us their experiences when accessing city services. Due to my limited time here, I will only share the highlights of this focus group. But to start with, on November 14, 2017, the City Council passed the motion asking for multilingual signage at the New City Civic Center and other new city buildings. Markups of the new Civic Center have incorrect translations, and there has been no report back. Speaker 1: To the council. Speaker 2: About the multilingual signage at other city buildings. Second, the quality of interpretation in translation by the city vendor is poor. Community members who have who we've spoken to have told us that translation is not properly done. They have had a hard time understanding the translated documents. In particular, one community member told us that the translation appears to be very direct. Literally like a literal translation of the English signs that don't make any sense in Spanish. Thirdly, and one of the most critical things that we heard in the focus group is that most community members were not even aware of this policy. It is. It wasn't until we told them about whether they knew that it existed. Many of them shared with us that they had no idea that there's a provided translation, a city council meetings, and they had no idea that you had to request it within 24 hours in advance. Lastly, lack of consistent implementation of the language access policy throughout the city departments is a huge problem for those community members who were aware of this policy and have tried to access city services in different city departments. They were shocked because some of the city staff were not even aware of the policy themselves. Additionally, language the language line has never been offered to them. So because of the stories, we're here to ask you to correct this problems in the following four ways. One, correct the Civic Center signage, translations and include multilingual signage at other city buildings. Higher higher. A competent vendor for interpretation and translation services. Third Award Stipends to community based organizations to conduct resident outreach. And lastly, direct each department to designated language liaison to work with the Office of Equity to implement this policy. We hope that you consider this recommendations and thank you for your time. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker. Speaker 4: Good evening, council members. My name is Cyndi Dela Cruz Brown. I am a resident of the seventh District, a community organizer with Long Beach Forward and a member of the Long Beach Language Access Coalition. I want to review the last few recommendations that our Coalition has for you on how we can improve the language access policy. A policy that we deeply value and know our multilingual members value to. As someone who works with Long Beach residents, particularly parents who speak a language other than English. I hear about their struggles to understand their bills and housing notices. I hear their stories about giving up on navigating our city phone lines after being ping pong from person to person. I hear their frustration and discouragement. Like Gaby mentioned previously, the focus group showed us that even active members in our community who are engaged and trusted leaders have a difficult time navigating city services. Speaker 3: One mom. Speaker 4: Told us she has to wait for her children, her husband, to get home, to get every to get anything done at city hall due to the language. Speaker 2: Barrier. Speaker 4: There's just something about the voices that are being left out of the decision making process with city happenings. And we are missing an opportunity to address issues that most affect each family, neighborhood and district. In our hand out, you will see that our fifth recommendation is the complete translation of phone lines and voicemails. Since this is not complete across city departments. We also want to make sure that the city's single phone line is implemented appropriately. So we do not run into the same errors that recently occurred with the inaccurate translation of the New City Civic Center Science. Our sixth recommendation is to complete translation of vital documents such as city notices. Speaker 5: Services, bills and so forth. Speaker 4: Our seventh recommendation is to require staff training to be ongoing recommendations four and seven on the sheet you were handed. Both highlight the need for regular staff trainings to meaningfully implement the language access policy and to invest now in this infrastructure. So we give language access and language equity a fair chance. This means staff would receive training on the requirements of policy and of the policy, like how to work with residents with limited English proficiency and so on. And lastly, structurally funding the language access policy, which means having a line item per department for translation and interpretation services , hiring bilingual front desk staff, moving the current part time coordinator to full time to implement the policy. It makes it it makes it difficult for staff to implement the very various components of this policy if they're only part time employees. Implementation does take a long time. We are wasting time, resources and money by not implementing this policy. Well, we would like to continue our dialog and collaborative approach to support to supporting language access for a city that provides prides itself on its diversity. We also want to thank the Office of Equity Staff for their great work. Katie, Francesca, everyone in. Speaker 3: The office who's doing the best that they can with what they have. Speaker 4: And also the city. Speaker 3: Clerk who is able to get translation to them. Speaker 5: We hope you. Speaker 4: Can keep in mind the foundational priorities presented to you from the Language Access. Speaker 2: Coalition. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next. Speaker 7: Good evening, counsel. My name is Juan Rosas. I am a product of Long Beach. I grew. Speaker 13: Up in the west side of Long. Speaker 7: Beach. I'm a graduate of Garfield Elementary. I went to Hughes, both Cabrillo and Poly High School. Speaker 13: And I'm also a graduate of leadership, Long Beach. Speaker 8: Youth Leadership. Speaker 13: Long Beach, class of 2011. Speaker 7: And I'm currently a graduate student at Cal State Long Beach, pursuing a degree in linguistic. Speaker 8: Anthropology. Speaker 7: As a student advocated for a. Speaker 13: Collaboration between the Linguistics Department and the Office of Equity. And the fruit of. Speaker 3: This collaboration. Speaker 13: Was a student project examining the implementation of language access across 11 unique city sites. So I was. Speaker 7: Responsible for synthesizing those reports. Speaker 13: And summarizing some of those patterns. And to put it frankly, what the students saw was disheartening. This included inconsistent knowledge of language access policy within the staff at a single site which often led to contradictory information and advice, you know, from members of the same staff. That lack of knowledge also led to. Speaker 7: Makeshift strategies that staff. Speaker 13: Relied on, such as using Google Translate or even foreign language dictionaries. Speaker 11: Over the. Speaker 3: Language line. Speaker 13: And multilingual signage was also something that was not that students just didn't report seeing when they did. It was mostly in Spanish and not available in Canadian Tagalog. And so the. Speaker 7: Long of short of it is that I think if Long Beach, Long Beach needs to do. Speaker 13: Better, if the city wants to tout its diversity. Speaker 8: And wear it as a badge of. Speaker 13: Honor, we need to recognize that behind that. Speaker 7: Diversity there is a linguistically diverse population. Speaker 13: And we need to meet their needs and I don't think we're doing a good. Speaker 7: Enough job. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. It's speaker. Speaker 5: Hi everyone. My name is Nathan Lauretta and I live in the second district of Long Beach. I believe in improving the quality of interpretation and translation will benefit me by ensuring that my family member's loved ones and community members will be able to navigate the Civic Center or any new buildings in Long Beach. In addition, conducting outreach to community members who have a limited English proficiency is vital because most residents don't know about the city's language access policy. Both my parents have limited English proficiency, and they are unaware of this policy, which is why there should be stipends to community based organizations to conduct resident outreach. We also need to complete vital document documentation translation for all departments and train staff on a regular basis because minors should not be interpreters. Growing up, I often found myself having to translate for my parents, although I had no idea what they were referring to. That is why I'm here to ask the City Council to implement the multilingual signage at the new Civic Center and in any other new city buildings. Thank you. Speaker 0: And can to a. Speaker 4: Good evening, council members. My name is Abbey over here. I am also a Long Beach resident, as well as a court certified interpreter that has. Speaker 5: Been serving the community of Long Beach. Speaker 4: For the past seven years. I'm very glad to hear of the improvements that have been made to the Language Access Plan. But I do believe that professional. Speaker 5: Interpreter and translation. Speaker 4: Services need to be available at all times, whether they're requested or not. This will ensure that. Speaker 5: Limited English English proficiency. Speaker 4: People. Well not have to jump through hoops in order to hear the information in a language they understand. Speaker 5: They already have many burdens that they have to deal with. Some of them are parents. Some of them. Speaker 4: Are working full time or a combination of all of these things. Meetings need to be readily accessible in order to increase civic. Speaker 5: Engagement and. Speaker 4: Vital information and updates need to be disseminated. Speaker 3: To communities. Speaker 4: That are already underserved and need to be informed. Speaker 5: Of the things that are going on in the city. I urge councilmembers and the city. Speaker 4: To make a greater commitment to the language access plan so and to allocate more money for this plan. I am glad to hear that the new civic center will be having interpreting booths. I think that will be a great increase, but I do urge you for a greater commitment. Speaker 5: Thank you. Speaker 0: Very much. Next speaker. Speaker 10: Good evening, the. Speaker 8: Honorable vice mayor and city council member. I'm also a product of Long Beach. I grew up in the 66 District and also our probably Jackrabbit Alumni O Cobb Beach. So again, my name is Ledeen, a program coordinator for M three educated men with meaningful messages at Saint Mary's Medical Center and also a a member of the Alliance Axis coalition working with youth. Speaker 10: One of the. Speaker 8: Challenges with youth or minors always countering, interpreting for their parents, knowing that they're not fluent and combined, put them in a tough situation for the youth I work with. I know I know several youth who who have been pulled out from school so they can interpret it for their parents at either getting housing assistance or paying bills . Sometimes there's no interpretation to provide at the moment. So one of our recommendation is it requires staff training to be ongoing. Staff need training and the requirements of the language access policy to either how to keep LP resident and how to keep with interpreters. Speaker 10: There's a lot of work needs to be done and we're hoping to so. Speaker 8: We can work together and to achieve the same goal. Our final act is structurally funding a language access policy to be able to have each department setting aside money for interpretation, interpretation and translation, and also moving in the current position part time coordinator to a full time position as well. Lastly, we want to thank the Office of Equity for their hard work and dedication. Thank you and. Speaker 0: Thank you our contract. Next speaker, please. Speaker 1: Okay. Good evening, City Hall Council members. My name is Wendy Klein. I'm a linguistic anthropologist. I'm a professor of linguistics and anthropology at Cal State Long Beach. And you heard from one of my students, Miguel, as well as Juan. Speaker 3: About the. Speaker 1: Project that one of my courses conducted. Speaker 3: Last. Speaker 1: Semester. I had 35 students in a course called Language and. Speaker 13: Social Justice. Speaker 1: And in small teams. I sent them out to investigate how the language access policies were operating around the city. And yes, it was. Speaker 2: Let me. Speaker 3: Say the. Speaker 1: Results were mixed. In the places where there was some training. There was an awareness of what some residents would need in order to. Speaker 2: Understand vital information. Speaker 1: But in many of the locations, there wasn't any knowledge at all about. Speaker 2: The language access policies. So I'm here to. Speaker 3: Urge you to continue your support. Speaker 1: Of language access policies, specifically in terms of the resources making. Speaker 3: Resources available to. Speaker 1: The Office of Equity so that there is full time. Speaker 3: Staff available. Speaker 1: I think that part of. Speaker 3: What is critical to the. Speaker 1: Success of language access programs as effective training of city personnel, strong translation and interpreter services, multilingual signage, voicemail messages and web page information research shows that the safety and well-being of urban communities depends in part on successful and. Speaker 2: Far reaching language access programs and outreach to community. Speaker 1: Members. So thank you for your. Speaker 2: Time and please. Speaker 1: Take all these recommendations seriously. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Trust me. Speaker 8: Again. I want to thank you all for being out here tonight to share your thoughts and your views on what would be a very robust and successful language access program. I'm sure that our staff has listened and heard you. I certainly have. In regards to your feelings and your thoughts on the Language Access program, we have an opportunity here. Basically, we're going to be moving into a new city hall. We're looking at the implementation of the language access program across the city. So we have an opportunity to implement a lot of the ideas that are coming out here today. As you heard from our our director of Health and Human Services, Kate Colby, that report will be coming before the city council within the next few months. That will be much more comprehensive. I put this an agenda here tonight so that we will get an update as to what is taking place and what are some of the continuing challenges that we might have in the very near future. Before we move into to City Hall and of course, how we can also excuse me, expand the program as a whole. I think that one of the most important aspects of this whole program is, of course, having a full time employee for an FTE to handle the Language X program, which would take care of some of the other aspects that were raised here tonight, such as training or having liaisons in each department. I think having a full time employee to manage a language access program would be a very big step in doing that. And one of the things that I've shared with my colleagues, as well as with the city staff and the city manager , is that we need to look at how we can fund this institutionally, meaning that it's it's it's a part of doing business with the city in regards of having a full time employee and having language access as a ongoing program that is fully funded year in, year out, without having to look at one time funding or one time sources or grants to keep this going. So I think it's an important aspect of our doing business in Long Beach. I heard some positive comments out there in terms of, yes, we are a diverse city. We also are diverse not only in our cultures, but diverse and linguistically in terms of all the languages that that are here in Long Week and Long Beach, they might not be as. Large communities as they might be like in Los Angeles or other large cities. But nonetheless, we need to be prepared and we need to have and provide access to anyone who needs it and requires it. So I'm really pleased and happy of what's going to come in the future with our new civic center, our new state of the art library, our new civic center as a whole. With with the poor alone book as well. And the international trade that they're going to be in charge of here in the future here in the downtown. So with that, I want to thank Stafford for the update that we have here today. But again, like I say, we have an opportunity here to really expand this program, to make it a much more functional aspect of what we do in the city, making it part of our of our business in terms of the cost of doing business in Long Beach. And that's to make sure that all our residents have access to information. And there's nothing much more important than that is information and communication and making sure that everybody knows what's available to them and having the the opportunity to not only get that service, but to have access in how and how to get additional services as well. So with that, I'll pass it on to my to my colleagues. I know there's some of you lined up that would like to speak on this. And again, I want to thank my colleagues for supporting this this item. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman Pearce. Speaker 4: Thank you. Yes. I want to thank Councilmember Urunga for bringing this forward and for the community members to put together your fact sheet, your time, your efforts and really have been driving this. I know we talk about language access, every budget and every budget. I say how important I believe that it is for a city of half a million people to really have a robust language access plan. And I think that we've you know, when we started, because I was in the community never thinking about running for office when we started this campaign many years ago. And so just echoing where we are with this, with the request, I think there are four areas. One is the quality of interpretation. Two is structurally funding it. And really, that's the city manager's office fully adopting the language access plan in every single department, in every single way that we can. The outreach and the Civic Center. So I know that from talking to staff, we're on the same page with understanding that the translation that's been provided is not accurate, but staff in public works is working on that. So I'm grateful to hear that some check is done on our list on that, on the right steps for outreach . I wanted to ask, I know when we've done things, changes to our water bills or when election time comes and we have to do an informational piece, we've included something in our utility bill. What's that cost? And and wouldn't that be a great way to make sure that every resident knows for those utility bills? Because I believe they're translated or you can request for your utility bill in a different language. Is that true? That's my question, first of all. Speaker 13: The information is translated, but I do not know what the cost is to do that. Speaker 4: Okay. So if the information is translated, could we then earmark or, you know, run a query and say, okay, these are the 700 people that request their water bill in Tagalog. Therefore, let's send them a mail piece that tells them, here's the process for language access at the city or a little blurb in the corner of it just seems like that we already have a way to know that people need something in a different language, that if we use that as outreach. Speaker 7: I can add a little bit on that. So we have the ability through our utility billing to do like a 1 to 2 line as part of the actual bill that costs almost nothing. And we can put a little bit of information in that bill itself. When you're talking about putting in inserts, it depends on whether or not it requires more postage or if it's just the copying. The copying can be between seven or $10,000 to be able to put a message out to everybody. Speaker 4: But we could work on a one line or something like that that says, you know, need translation and then whatever, you know, website landing or something that we could do. Speaker 7: I think that'd be a great way to put that out there. It's it's a relatively inexpensive way to to communicate something like that. Yes. Speaker 4: Okay. Thank you for that. Getting to the quality of interpretation. I know that it's you know, in the community request, there's several different areas of quality, whether we're talking about the phone service or departments or we're talking about public works or how that is relayed. I know that there are court certified translators, and I'm just curious if that is included in our RFP whenever we work with translators. I believe the skill set that we include and in our typical vendors or that we receive from our vendors is more around community. Interpreting is a skill set rather than court interpreting. They're slightly different skill sets that require more knowledge about community. Some background research prior to the event. So I don't know that it's necessarily a part of our RF peer review process at this point to have court certified interpreters. And I know that there's. And that wasn't something that the community members asked for. But I know that that might help us get to a another layer when we're talking about technical issues. So I don't know if there's a grading scale in our RFP process or just some information that we could include. Are you also court certified so that we can make that assessment as needed? Our staff can make that assessment as needed. Might help across the board with our translation. Yeah. We'll be looking at our new on call request for qualifications and add the quality and experience and certifications of the vendors who applied to that on call list . Great. Thank you for that. And now, I mean, I think the biggest piece is the structural funding. I know after the last budget for council offices up here said we'll take it out of our divide by nine money if we need to, which I don't think is necessarily fair, as the entire city is a diverse city and there are people in every single district but that it shouldn't come out of our divide by nine money. But rather, again, I'm going to echo that statement around if it's like it services, you know, that we the department can use it or not use it as needed, but that if we have a liaison or there's somebody that is in that department that can do the translation, but it really has to be across the board so that we can really be a city that feels like we are communicating to every single one of our constituents, whether it's a language that few people speak or many. And so I would wanted to clarify Miss Colby's statement. You guys are returning in 30 days with a report on the structurally funded position. Did I hear that correctly from you? Speaker 13: Well, the the report itself from the evaluation is coming. You know, we'll have that prepared in the next month or two to be able to come back. What we are finding is that the level of based on the based on the findings and the recommendations and the requests that we're hearing is that we have funding for the actual services where we don't have is. So, you know, if we're to do more training to build capacity in our communities, we need to have the capacity of an individual to go out and do the. Speaker 4: Full time position. Speaker 13: And those kind of things. So what so that that is what we're seeing moving forward. So the council did provide us with the extra 80,000 this year that does allow us to provide additional materials more, more translate those kinds of things. But to really to expand those funds, we can't fully utilize those funds unless we actually have the ability of of staffing to be able to to be able to provide those services. Speaker 4: So I guess what I'm getting to is that item that's in front of us today is a report, right, as an update on implementation. I want to be able to take the vote that says we have a full time language access person, but you guys are going to bring us a report about how our services are being used. And then after that would be the time for us to say, okay, it looks like we need that person and to be able to him to do the work that we said we wanted to do. Yes. Okay. So I shouldn't get crazy and put an agenda item on for next Tuesday. Speaker 3: Okay. Speaker 4: So make sure. Speaker 13: You have a report back soon. Speaker 4: Okay. And I think, again, just to echo one more time, you know, being able to have every single department know that this is something that's a resource. And if the funding could come along those same ways, I think it would be really helpful. And I know that training and that making sure that staff and directors know. And so I would just ask that the city manager included in there, you know, weekly emails that we get at the end of the week that all the department heads understand the process and that you guys talk about it in your team meetings. So it's a great report. Thank you guys for all your hard work. I know that this has been many years coming and I feel like we're getting a step closer and we still have a little bit more work to do, but we're getting there. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 2: Yes. Thank you as well for the report and thank you to the coalition. I know you've been are an informal, informal committee on this and we really appreciate the advice and the all of the points on here because we think they're very valuable. And I would like us, you know, when we bring the report back to ensure and I know a lot of this will be addressed, but to ensure that point by point, we are specifically including an answer to each of the questions as to why or may not why or why not, that we may or may not be able to. I can't speak tonight. I'm very tired. Sorry. Are you saying. Speaker 13: So are you speaking specifically about the delay? Speaker 2: Yes, the handout. So if we can just address each line by line, I know we will do that. But just specifically, so we're on the same page here. And I really see the language axis. I think we've talked about it enough, but certainly as a public safety issue, I know we talk about it in the First District quite a bit on even things like in terms of outreach, like Long Beach Transit. And I know that's a completely different body, but the see something, say something, you hear the police chief say it on over the intercom and just to be able to work with that jurisdiction or that agency as well, to be able to say , can we do it in Spanish, I think is another opportunity with various other agencies. I know we're working already and the Coalition does include faith based organizations, but I think that will also help with a lot of the outreach. We have a committee, iPad, net TV that offers information in Spanish and hopefully if we have something in Tagalog, we are doing the outreach to provide additional. Outlets for this plan, because I would hope that when it comes back that we can talk about the language access policy in a way that's branded. So people know exactly what we're talking about. So just some thoughts there. And then in terms of timing, I know, Kelly, you had mentioned timing about one or two months that will take us, would you say maybe end of March, just so we're clear on that time frame? Speaker 13: Yes. Speaker 2: Okay, great. And then I would just say, if and I know you've done this before for any reason, it lasts a little bit longer. I'm sure you'll receive a two from four. That will state why it's taking a little longer. Okay. Thank you. I think everything else was addressed. But I just want to thank again the coalition and everyone that's here. And thank you as well, both Katie and Kelly and all of you for for doing the work. And we appreciate you listening to the community. Speaker 0: Thank you. Constance Juvenile. Speaker 11: Thank you. I'd like to thank Councilmember Ranga for bringing the item forward and also for a great synopsis in your soliloquy there. You covered everything. But nonetheless, I'll dig deeper on this one. And also thanks to my council colleagues for signing on. Thanks to the Coalition for being here tonight and for meeting with me. I really appreciate that. And to all the speakers tonight, thank you. My question is for Director Collopy and I know this is just an update, an overview, but I'd like to discuss a little bit the FTE and how we get this position full time. You and I had a discussion last week and you explain to me how this process could be streamlined or the funding mechanism is sort of already in place. So I don't want to put words in your mouth. Could you explain what we discussed last week? Speaker 13: So the current position is funded structurally at 27 hours per week. In addition to that, we've had an ongoing $80,000 per year. It's one year, it's one time funding, but it's been coming each year, and that has been for services. Specifically where there was an increase, the the council generously approved an additional $80,000 for this year for services within that $80,000, there is funding that could cover the full time, except that the position is currently not a full time position. But that is that is one time funding and is not structural funding. So the shift would be utilizing would be designating a portion of that funding as structural funding and then the remainder as the as one time fund. Speaker 11: Okay. Thank you. I think that helps explain how this is going to be a unique situation that we could take advantage of. And I'll just wrap up by saying that my big desire is we talk about the subtleties of the language. The most used expression from my office is go forth, so make sure we get an accurate translation on that income. Mike, thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you very much, Sunil. Councilman Richardson. Speaker 11: Thank you, Vice Mayor. And my my remarks will be brief. So I want to just acknowledge the change that I see here when this conversation started and it was before many of us joined this council and, you know, it was a big it was a lot of pressure, a big push to really create established language access policy . And then the community's really been relentless and smart and strategic about making sure is at the forefront of the council's agenda, to make sure that we continue to implement this policy. And then today I acknowledge the differences. Um, you know, the Office of Equity Equity, our health department, our language access coordinator, they're on, you know, they're not just reflecting with the community saying they're leading on a lot of this. So we see it's just a different dynamic. It's an inside, outside approach. And I'd love to see that be that mean. That's an indication that we're beginning to institutionalize this policy a bit more. And that's that should be recognized. And I think as we move into the new civic center, I really think it's important that this policy is on the ground, you know, is there as we move in and it's important and will continue to be carried out as we move forward. Councilman, you Ranga, thank you for continue to champion these issues. I'm obviously in support of of your motion here. And we'll continue to, you know, advocate for further adoption and implementation here. So good work, Councilman Ranga, and good work, Health Department team. And thank you to the community for your advocacy. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Richardson. I also myself, I think way back when I first came in office, we're talking about language access. And it's come a long ways. But the biggest point I really would like to look forward to is making sure it doesn't have to be a year by year, you know, elimination, where we have to worry about finding money to push this forward. That should be a no brainer. And so we'll be pushing real hard, you know, for this coming year to make sure that that money will be there. We don't have to go year by year to try to find it. So I want to thank you guys for being here and and thank you for bringing this forward. And I know we do a great job with this. Thank you guys for coming down and giving your support. Thank you again. Now we can move with the vote on this. No more questions. We can vote. Please cast your vote. Speaker 1: Motion carries.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file a status update on the implementation of the City's Language Access Policy, that includes multi-lingual signage in the new Civic Center, translation of Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Documents, a schedule for multi-lingual budget community meetings, the utilization of translation services at City departments, meetings and events, and the proposed FTE coordinator position.

LongBeachCC

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Speaker 0: Thank you. That is the end of public comment. Now we're going to move on to item 21:00, please, with the item. Speaker 1: Item 21 is communication from Councilmember Richardson. Councilmember Peers and Councilmember Muranga Recommendation two requires to enact a resolution recognizing the third Tuesday of every January as the day of racial healing. Speaker 0: Councilman Richardson. Speaker 11: Thank you. Late evening we heard we've heard a lot about racial healing today. So I'll just give some quick background and ask for council support. So the Day of Racial Healing is an initiative started by in 2017 by the W.K. fellow Kellogg Foundation. It's supported by 559 of these leaders, 130 organizations. There'll be activities taking place here in Long Beach with CCJ. And it's made. It's designed to follow Dr. Martin Luther King Day. And so this record this is this motion is to allow the city of Long Beach to be on record as a city that also recognizes this day . I want to acknowledge all the people who participated in the the event earlier in the lobby. Long Beach Office of Equity. Safe Lobbies. Violence Prevention Lobbies. Public Library, CCJ National COMPADRES Network Community Development YMCA. Long Beach Opera, California African-American Museum, Historical Society, Long Beach and all the council members who joined us this afternoon. The event is going to take place January 24th at 5:30 p.m. at St Mark's Baptist Church in Long Beach. And. And the final thing I'll say is that in October, I was able to participate in National League of Cities, Cities for Racial Healing and Racial Equity, convening in New Orleans with cities from cities of Charlotte, Wichita, Rochester and Pittsburgh, who are also in this cohort with Long Beach. So it's good work. Thank you. And I encourage and I vote. Thanks. Speaker 0: Yes. Councilman, your anger. Speaker 8: Thank you, Mayor. And I want to thank Councilmember Rich for bringing this forward. It's a good way of celebrating our diversity. One of the things that I said earlier today at our at our event right here at the lobby was that, unfortunately, over the last couple of years, we've had. Items come in to our vernacular that I thought we had gone over. Words such as bigotry and racism. And, you know, I thought that by 2018, 2019, that we would have moved on beyond those terms and those hateful vernacular would be gone from our vocabulary. But apparently it's not. And I think that the weekend really brought that into focus from some of our national leaders, basically pointing to the fact that it comes from the top that comes from the White House. And we need to change that. And we need to change. And one way of getting there is by coming together, like, is being planned to have a national day of racial healing. And I think that this is a great opportunity to do that. I strongly support it. And I'm glad that you brought this forward and I will be voting yes on it. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman, you. Councilwoman Pierce. Speaker 4: Yes. Thank you. And I want to thank Councilmember Richardson not only for this item, but for really leading the discussion in this city alongside many community members and organizations around talking about race. My work on the steering committee with the California Endowment, we had a lot of conversations around. We want to talk about racial equity in the city of Long Beach, but people are going to be uncomfortable. You know, and it's been several years where we've said, are we going to be comfortable or uncomfortable to try to get to a place where everybody can live in a life of equality with their neighbors? And so I really appreciate you for leading this discussion. And I look forward to, you know, every year trying to have a space of healing. And we know that whether it's grieving a family member that's lost or your own trauma that you've been through, healing really takes having to talk about it first. And as leaders in the city, I'm really thankful for all of my colleagues for creating a space to where we get to talk about racial healing. And so I look forward to playing a role next year and creating that space in the district. But I just want to thank you and all the organizations that are really leading this effort. Appreciate it. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Myself also, I'd like to thank Councilman Richardson for allow me to send you to the side of me, because I am thrilled to see so much of our community coming together for the purpose of healing. This is the third year that organization across the country has planned events following Martin Luther King Jr Day to celebrate the progress and racial healing. This same day is also a reminder of the actions we can all take to further push for equality and and unity when we all come together and we accomplish more. When we begin to unpacked our past. There's a transformation in our healing. Let's tonight be a fresh start and how we can acknowledge and engage on different paths that over come ourselves. Thank you very much. And now we can move on. I would like to remove any comments on this item. Anyone from the Irish like to speak on this? Please cast your vote. Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Now we're going to be moving to item number 23. Would you please read the item?

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request to enact a resolution recognizing the third Tuesday of every January as the Day of Racial Healing.

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Speaker 0: Now we're going to be moving to item number 23. Would you please read the item? Speaker 1: Item 23 is communications from the city prosecutor. Recommendation to use city prosecutor. Department budget savings from Fy18 to increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund and in the General Fund in the City Prosecutor Department by 9333. Speaker 0: Prosecutors. Thank you. I'm a first and second year only. Public comment on asylum. As it turns out. Doug Hoffman. City attorney. A city prosecutor. Scuse me. Speaker 6: No. Speaker 9: The city council. Speaker 7: In previous years has allowed my office to carry over the budget savings from the previous fiscal year in order to fund some programs that are not funded through the general fund. This year we've identified with the help of the Financial Management Department funds to support two programs that I know have been very successful in the past and the city is very proud of. One is the PATH Program, the. Speaker 8: Promising Adults, Tomorrow's Hope Diversion Program. Speaker 7: About 95% of cases in the the PATH program are diverted pre filing. So before a case goes to court, it's diverted into jobs and employment. The second item would be to support our internship program, which has grown from a handful of summer interns to I believe we had 20 interns last summer. With the council's approval, we would carry this over for those two programs. Speaker 0: Any final comment on this item? Speaker 11: It's nice, man. Speaker 0: I just want to. Speaker 11: Take a minute and just acknowledge and thank Doug for reaching into his budget and continue these two great programs. We were able to launch the PATH program together. He was able to make this a very well-respected, well-received program. And I acknowledge that hard work and the internship program is fantastic as well. So we've got an amazing city prosecutor that continues to deliver for Long Beach. Thanks. Speaker 0: Thank you very much, Councilwoman. Please. Please. Thank you very much. Now we're going to move back to the consent and consent count. Speaker 1: We need a vote. Speaker 0: Excuse me. Could you please take a vote on that?

Agenda Item

Recommendation to use City Prosecutor Department (CP) budget savings from FY 18, to increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the City Prosecutor Department (CP) by $109,330 and in the General Fund (GF) in the City Prosecutor Department (CP) by $109,330 for the transfer of funds.

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Speaker 0: Now. Can we move on to item 20 4:00, please, with that item? Speaker 1: Item 24 is a report from Human Resources. Recommendation to adopt a resolution amending the fiscal year 2019. Salary resolution to revise the salary range for gas field technician two and three and gas construction worker three city wide. Speaker 0: And you have a report on that? Speaker 7: Sure. We have one. Our H.R. director, Alex Bass. Speaker 8: Was and Dana Anderson. Speaker 3: Good evening, vice mayor and council. Speaker 4: Members Dana Anderson is. Speaker 5: Going to give a brief report and we'll be here if you have any questions. Speaker 0: Speaker three. Speaker 6: Good afternoon. Speaker 5: Honorable Vice Mayor and City Council. The salary resolution creates certain offices and positions of employment in the city and faces the amount of compensation by incorporating the city's personnel ordinance, civil service rules and regulations and the applicable labor. Speaker 8: Use. Speaker 5: As a result of a meeting of a process with the Association of Long Beach Employees over the Energy Resources Department's creation of new classifications. Staff request that Council adopt the attached salary resolution amendment with which reflect the following changes increasing the salary range of the gas field technician two by 2.29%. And gray level three by 2.19%. To align the salary commensurate with the duties. Increasing the salary range of the gas construction worker three by 1.54%. To reestablish internal equity within the Energy Resources. Speaker 3: Department, among. Speaker 11: The field crews. Speaker 5: It is the staff request the Council adopt the salary resolution amendment, and I am available to answer any questions you may have. Speaker 0: Thank you. Any public comment on this council during the election? Okay, Councilman Pearce. Okay, fine. Will you please take a vote?

Resolution

Recommendation to adopt resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2019 Salary Resolution to revise the salary range for Gas Field Technician II and III and Gas Construction Worker III. (Citywide)

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Let's move to item 25, please. Speaker 1: Adam 25 is a report from Public Works. Recommendation two What a contract to Parent Movement for ongoing operation and maintenance of the Long Beach Bike Share Program. Four Total contract amount not to exceed 1.4 million citywide. Speaker 0: To have a report on that which. Speaker 9: Craig back. Good evening, counsel. Thank you for the opportunity to address this. Similar to previous discussions about the Citywide Bikeshare program, we've been using the group pedal movement to provide interim support of our program. We went through a full RFP process and they were selected as the best candidate. We are now in front of you to ask to transition that kind of interim or pilot work that they've been doing into a permanent program. So pedal movement would be our vendor going forward. One of the things that this contract does do is provide funding that would support the purchase of parts. Many of our bikes that we have out in the system are dated and we need to invest in the maintenance and upkeep of those those bikes as we work to bring in our new bikes, which would be about 600 more bikes. That concludes a report I'm in here to answer any questions. Thank you. Speaker 0: Janey. Public comment on this item. If not, we move behind the diocese concept. Whoa. Okay. Speaker 11: Hi. My name's Nick Russo. Speaker 10: We've got Evan Kelly and. Speaker 11: John Tully here. We're representatives of pedal movement. We know many of you. Thank you for having us tonight. Council thank you to city staff and to council for the opportunity to be here, to be bringing the bike share program to the next level. We're very excited to be the vendor selected for this project and we're looking forward to providing great service and continuing to to work with the city in whatever capacity. Speaker 0: Thank you once again, Councilwoman Pierce. Speaker 4: Yes, I want to think public works and paddle movement. Obviously, you guys are at every awesome event that I have in my district, not because of me, but because you guys are so well-known and do a great job at valet and other efforts. It's been great to work with you guys and look forward to working with you more. So I just want to thank staff for their hard work. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Price. Speaker 2: Thank you. I echoed those sentiments. You guys are very responsible operators in the city, and I sometimes wish that once we do adopt a full on scooter program, that you meet with those operators and share with them some of your best practices, because I've never received complaints about it. Although are our bikes bikes that you are helping us manage in the city? I do have a question. Do we have any data on the number of residents using the bikes? Are we are we tracking that data? And is council going to get a report back at some time in regards to the effectiveness of this program? Speaker 9: Yes, Councilmember, we do track membership. We have the membership numbers. We also have what we call HEATMAPS, which shows where all the ridership utilizes our bikes. And it's really quite amazing to look at some of that data. I will definitely put together importance in that to you all. I think you'd enjoy seeing how successful we've been with the 400 bikes that are deployed thus far. Speaker 2: Yeah, I would love to see it and I imagine I'm not sure, but I imagine the heat maps are going to show a lot of activity in the third district, both because of our Belmont Shore business corridor as well as our coastal area. So I look forward to seeing that. I will say the one complaint we always get is that the bikes don't have drink holders, not for water bottles, water bottles, not red solo cups, but water bottle bottles. Because when you put them in the basket, they jiggle around in there and it's just not very conducive. Remember, the peninsula is in the third district and 4th of July. The peninsula is utilized by a lot of bikers. So bicyclists. So I think maybe I don't know if that's something that we can have installed in the new bikes or if it's something that we can go in after the fact to put in. But I do think that's an amenity that the public would very much enjoy. Speaker 9: We can certainly look at that for bike bottles, not red solo cups, because that wouldn't be consistent with our EPS band. Speaker 3: That is true. Exactly. Yes. Speaker 0: That. Speaker 3: Thank you. Speaker 0: I think you said it. Councilwoman, are you through? Speaker 3: It's very quick. Speaker 2: Mr. Beck. Very, very impressive. Speaker 0: Because you got to register. Speaker 11: Thank you. Pat, a movement. You know, I know you folks. You do great work. Thanks a lot for helping me out with connecting the Kerry thing to the city by couldn't figure it out. You help me out. Thanks a lot, Craig. I ask the question I ask every time. When are we getting the North Lawn beach bikes? Speaker 9: Soon as they come in wrecks. They're going in the ninth district. Speaker 11: Okay. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 2: I just have to say thanks as well. And pedal movement, I have to say. Great job. You do that citywide. We've seen you a lot in downtown, in my district, but I love that their local. That's really important. I know for many of us on the council and so I'm glad congratulations almost. And great job Craig with with garnering such a great group. Speaker 0: Thank you. That's awesome. Speaker 12: Thank you very much. Hey, so there's a sentence in here. It says that the city's current program consists of over 30,000 active members and 400 bicycles, with the potential to expand to a thousand bicycles in 2019. Does that mean we're getting 600 more bikes? Potentially. Speaker 9: And yes, actually, we had brought forward a previous item to this council in support of the purchase of bikes. We are in the final negotiation stages of that contract and we anticipate placing that order any day now. That order would consist of roughly 600 new bikes and once they come in is, as Councilmember Richardson likes to joke with me, certainly have them targeted to go into this seventh, eighth and ninth district. We want to expand our program north. We want to ensure that we're supporting some of our Bike Boulevard corridor projects. And one of the most recent ones, as you know, Councilman, is the Myrtle Daisy Bike Boulevard Project. So you'll see new stations going in along those corridors. Speaker 12: I appreciate that. Thank you very much. And I know I've been advocating for bicycles in my district in the north for for some time. It's going to be really nice to finally have them. Speaker 0: First of all, I want to congratulate you individually for the hard work you're doing. But my biggest concern right now, you guys, is are they going to have how much are they going to require that or do the city require it? Because I just think that could be quite a you know, I have for those individual out on the bikes, I don't know how soon it's coming, but I know eventually it's going to have to come. So I'm just letting you guys know what you're doing now is great. But please, I know you looked for it. You looked at that way before we have, but please give us some help on that because I'd hate to see so accidents and then having that helmet I thank you guys again so much for the hard work you're doing. Keep them rolling, you guys okay? That's just upon, you know, keep rolling. Thank you again. Okay. Would you please like to take your vote? Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Okay. Oh, okay. Now we're going to move on to our second item 26. We have item to find this an item.

Contract

Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. RFP PW18-044 for ongoing operation and maintenance of the Long Beach Bike Share Program; award the contract to Pedal Movement, LLC, of Long Beach, CA, in an annual amount of $1,282,402, with a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $128,240, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,410,642, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods; authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments; and Increase appropriations in the Transportation Fund (SR 182) in the Public Works Department (PW) by $1,410,642, offset by Proposition A funds available. (Citywide)

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Speaker 0: Okay. Oh, okay. Now we're going to move on to our second item 26. We have item to find this an item. Speaker 2: 26 item. Speaker 0: Go ahead, please. Speaker 1: Item 26 is communication from Councilwoman Price recommendation to increase appropriations in the general fund in the Legislative Department by 2500, offset by the third Council districts. One time district priority funds for payment to the Belmont Shore Business Association to support the televising of the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade to the community. Speaker 0: Councilwoman Price. Speaker 2: Thank you. I do want to ask my colleagues support for this, but also I want to disclose that prior to putting this item on the agenda for tonight, I did seek legal opinion from C.P.S. regarding my involvement in tonight's vote, since I am a business owner in the Belmont Shore quarter, and they did provide us with a very thorough letter stating that I could be involved in tonight's decision. So I asked my colleagues to support this vote. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Richardson. Okay. Fine, okay, fine. Any public comment would say that. Okay, fine. Is that it for the diocese? Okay. Would you please take about. Speaker 1: Motion carries? Speaker 0: No. Now we can go to our second comment period and not an agenda items with the speakers. Please come forward as no speakers line up. But come on down, young man. Come on down. Speaker 6: Having been called young man in a war.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Legislative Department (LD) by $2,500, offset by the Third Council District one-time District Priority Funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department for a payment to the Belmont Shore Business Association to support the televising of the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade to the community; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Citywide Activities Department (XC) by $2,500 to offset a transfer to the Legislative Department.

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Speaker 4: Motion carries. Speaker 1: Now we will move. Now we will move to item 12:00. Please read the item. Speaker 4: Report from Energy Resources Recommendation to approve Long Beach Energy Resources Spending Authority on Long Beach Water Department Specification WD 0319 with Sally Miller Contracting Company for Street Repair Services in an amount not to exceed 1 million citywide. Speaker 1: Yes, I see. We have a first and second unit. Mrs. Price, would you like to speak on that? Speaker 4: No, thank you. Speaker 1: Fine. Mrs. Pierce. Okay. Fine. Is. Do you have a safety plan in place? Speaker 5: We sure do. Bob Dole, our director of energy resources. Speaker 6: Good evening, Vice Mayor, members of council. The item before you tonight seeks approval for Long Beach energy resources to add on to the Water Department's contract that was approved in November of this past year by the Water Water Commissioners and authorize the general manager to execute a contract with Kelly Miller. Contracting for street repair services in an amount not to exceed 3.5 million for one year. Long Beach Energy Resources has coordinated with the water department to share this contract and gain favorable pricing through economies of scale. As such, the contract was bid to allow $1 million in cost to be allocated to the Long Beach Energy Resources Department . That concludes my report and I'm available for any questions. Speaker 1: Thank you. Is there any public comment on this item? Is there any council comment? If not, would you please cast your vote? Now we have our second public comment for those who address the city council and not agenda items like. Speaker 4: Cast your vote. Speaker 1: Okay. If you'd like to speak on this, please come forward. This is for the second public comment. This is. Okay. Okay. Any councilman like to do any comments on the closing comment?

Contract

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to approve Long Beach Energy Resources spending authority on Long Beach Water Department Specifications WD-03-19 with Sully-Miller Contracting Company, for street repair services, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, subject to a maximum increase of 10 percent for each renewal period, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)

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Speaker 3: Thank you, Mayor. Remember the city council items five, six and seven all deal with the destruction of records for various departments. Item five is the Department of Development Services. Item six is records from financial management in item seven deal with records from three of the council offices, districts two, four and five. At since the time that the agenda was posted, we've received public record request to either inspect or to look at the receive an index of what records are being destroyed. And so what we'd ask tonight would be to amend the motion on all three of these items to authorize the city to destroy these records once we have completed and complied with the public records request that are currently pending at the city. Thank you. Speaker 0: Okay. Can I get a motion in a second for that request? The emotion, like any public comment. Please come forward. Speaker 2: Very good to hear Kirk as he addressed. Unless you have something to hide. I would hold off destruction of any records for 90 to 120 days, by which time the U.S. attorney will have established a strong foothold in this city. But if you've got something to hide, why, I can't stop you. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Okay. I think we're no other speakers. We can take these, I think, as a group. So please cast or do the roll call vote, please. Speaker 1: Yes, Councilwoman Gonzalez. Councilmember Pearce, Councilwoman Price Councilmember Super or Councilwoman Mongo i. Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilmember. Younger i. Councilmember. Speaker 0: Okay. Now we're going to go to a public guy who if I call your name, please come forward. Oh, I'm sorry. Let me let me let me go and do that. I'm 13, ma'am.

Resolution

Recommendation to approve the destruction of records for the Legislative Department, Council Districts 2, 4 and 5; and adopt resolution.

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Speaker 0: Okay. Now we're going to go to a public guy who if I call your name, please come forward. Oh, I'm sorry. Let me let me let me go and do that. I'm 13, ma'am. Speaker 1: Court report from Parks, Recreation and Marine recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Helen Sanders Cat Protection and Welfare Society to partner with the Long Beach Animal Care Services for the Long Beach Little Paws Project to be housed in commercial properties at 1179 East Wardlow Road in Long Beach from January 1st through 2019 through December 31st, 2019, with an annual renewal option, increase appropriations in the General Fund in Parks, Recreation, Marine by 50,000, offset by revenues from animal care donation trust accounts, districts five and seven. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilwoman Mongo would like a short staff report, Mr. West. Speaker 3: Yes. Ted Stevens. Speaker 2: Thank you. Speaker 0: Honorable Mayor and city council for this opportunity to talk about this item. This has been a kind of a long time coming for this project. Speaker 4: We have two great groups, the Little Lion. Speaker 0: Foundation and Helen Sanders, Cat Paws. They've been instrumental with us, working with us for the last two years on saving the lives of hundreds of underage kittens. The focus of this nursery is for the bottle babies, the kittens under eight weeks of old, but even more specifically under four weeks of old that need 24 hour care. And they're. Speaker 4: Just two really great. Speaker 0: Groups, a great group of volunteers, and they've found a location and we're going to be supporting them financially as best as we can, as well as with other things social media, fundraising. The adoption process. Afterward as much as we can. Spaying and neutering. And then again, the financial the $50,000 that we have in our trust right now for cats and kittens. And we're really excited to get this project going. We hope it's approved. It's been something that we've been dreaming up for a long time and we're really excited to be working with. Speaker 4: These two groups. They're really great. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Mongo. Speaker 6: Thank you. I just want to appreciate Mr. Stevens for his continued commitment to this. I know it's been ups and downs for several, several months trying to get this done. And then also to give you a bit of praise related to your press release today that euthanasia is, ah, again down and the great work that you've done while you were there. We will be sad to lose you in the next few weeks, but congratulations on your new opportunities and thank you for all that you've done. Speaker 0: Thank you. Constable Pearce. Speaker 6: I also want to say that this is a great step in the right direction, and I look forward to more good steps in the right direction. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Public comment on this item. Please come forward. Is there any public comment? Is there any other public comment on this item? The closing of the speakers list. 1/2. Just the three. Okay. Speaker's list is closed. Just the three that are here. Just please go ahead. Speaker 8: Good evening. Mayor and City Council. My name is Patricia Turner. I'm the director for No Kill Long Beach. I've been over I'm a trained researcher. I've been doing research on the Long Beach Animal Care Services shelter for over six years. We're very happy to see this kitten nursery. This is an excellent move. Partnerships with rescues are part of the no kill equation, which is something we've been working very hard to educate the public about, educate city council about, and let people know what's out there that this is a wonderful step in the right direction. Long Beach Animal Care Services killed 601 kittens last year. Many of them were healthy, treatable and maybe just a little too young. But many cities across the nation are saving these animals. And I'm very, very happy to see the city of London joining the rest of the country in a humane care for our our shelter animals. However, I was dismayed to see the clause, the provision in the description that restricts the right to free speech of the rescues who are going to be doing this heroic, wonderful work for you all. So I'd like to read into the record what exactly that clause says. And this is from the description that's on the that's on the city website. It says, Publicity takes me a moment to find it. I'm sorry, publicity. Okay. Additionally, no one affiliated staff or volunteer with any party in this agreement will engage in negative verbal behavior or written posting towards another party on social media or other online or public venues to make negative, defamatory or inciting remarks about another party in this agreement. Further on, it says all backs reserves the right to determine at its sole discretion what is negative, verbal or written posting behavior. So I just would like to say that getting to this point with the city has not been easy. I've been advocating for six years and I've had to say some pretty negative things because what has happened is the shelter has been killing animals without impunity and without putting in proper safeguards in place. And we have two audits now that have have shown that this is the case. They have showed they have vindicated every remark I've made on social media, and I am very thankful to the U.S. Constitution that gives me a First Amendment right to talk about the killing of animals in shelters that have been recalcitrant in doing their job. Mayor Garcia, you yourself have hidden people's posts. And I know this because I personally documented those postings that were hidden by people during the last election. And, you know, if you hear some anger in my voice, it's because it is there. I dedicate nearly all of my free time to helping to change this shelter, and I do it in as principled a way as I possibly can. I'm a trained researcher, and I'm employed by the University of California. And I have principles. And I have been I've been threatened by people on this council that they were going to sue me because of things that I've said that were absolutely 100% true. So I am thrilled that we have this kitten nursery, but I am not thrilled about this violation of First Amendment rights. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 9: My name is Alex Armstrong, and I lived in Long Beach for 39 years and I'm also very happy about this program. I think it's a great thing. I'm very happy that you're putting this in place finally. But again, I also cannot stand by and watch my First Amendment rights and the rights of my fellow colleagues. It's being pushed aside. Section 1983 to Animal Rescue. There can be no dispute that complaining about abuses or violations of law at a shelter is a constitutionally protected right. A rescuer not only has the First Amendment right to speak out against abuses and violations of law committed by a governmental entity, he or she also has the constitutionally protected right to demand that the government correct the wrongs that are identified. This includes to the rights to threatened or sued or to actually file suit against the shelter. So great program. I don't know why you would need to to put the end of it. Mom, put this statement a gag order on on the staff and the volunteers. If a staffer or a volunteer member sees something wrong at this program, something that they have every right to speak up about it, it's only common knowledge that they should be. You would in you would invite that it should be brought. You would want my staff who work for me. I don't tell them. Don't say anything to anybody if Joe does this wrong. I want you to bring that to my attention. So things like this. Again, he seemed to want to stop people from saying anything bad about the shelter. And I disagree. Very happy about the program. Thank you for bringing it to Long Beach. Speaker 2: Thank you. Next speaker. Speaker 6: Mayor. Speaker 10: Vice mayor again. My name is Christy Maloney. I'm a resident of Long Beach. Was born and raised here. Schooled here. Grew up with animals. Lots of animals and in rescue. Yes. These two groups are a godsend for our city's kittens. That's for sure. Please don't tie their hands by disallowing them to disclose negativity that does exist. Or we end up with a negative shelter again. So we're trying to get back. To having positive relationships and having a gag order on these to. Groups are is something that I want you to think twice about and hold off on voting on this and. See if that can be. Taken out. Speaker 6: Or reworded. Speaker 10: Thank you. Speaker 2: Thank you. You know. No to have comments from. You have another speaker? Speaker 1: Occupy Roll Call. Speaker 6: Vote no. Have a. Speaker 7: Fine. Speaker 6: I have a question for Charlie Gray, Mr. City attorney. I am reading this as well. And I'm curious. I know that there's been some tense moments over the last couple of years, and I know that some of the concern has been around false information. Is there a way that we could amendments to make sure that it's, you know, that people can share accurate information around accurate numbers at our shelter? It does seem kind of vague. And I'm just wondering if there was a way to tighten up the language. Speaker 3: Well, certainly we could we could change the language or rework the language. It obviously would have to be agreed to by both parties in order to do something like that. But this language was put in at the request of the department. We could we could certainly change it in any direction that the council would like. Seems like a. Speaker 6: Port. It seems like a poor direction for us as a council to just put something that as up to one party's discretion that we could put that into any agreement, you know, in any department. And I haven't had a lot of conversations about this. And I know that you guys have done a lot of work on it so far, but if there was a way to make it specific, to make sure that that people are talking about truth that happens in our shelters and that we leave, I know that that's a difficult to prove. And I know Councilmember Mongo has something to say, but I would just love to see it where we could get a little bit more comfortable with it. Speaker 0: Councilman Mangal. Speaker 6: Thank you. Councilman Pearce, I'm glad that you brought that up. We started these dialogs with the staff. Currently, anything that is factually based, they can post whether it is negative or not as long as it's fact based. I think that the the root the root of it is more the name calling, antagonizing misinformation or saying inappropriate or harassing things towards our staff members. And so this is also a similar clause, I think, that was mentioned. And correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Stevens, is this the same clauses in the volunteer agreements? Speaker 0: I believe so, too. Speaker 6: And from my understanding, both of the fosters that are involved have no issue with it. And they also believe that they have many other methods to be able to say anything they want. Is that accurate, Mr. Stevens? Speaker 0: Yes. They the two groups were. Speaker 8: They were totally fine. Speaker 6: With it. And I don't want to delay the ability to have the agreement with them, because we're getting a ton of little kittens at the shelter at this time. And so I appreciate you guys taking the time to inform me. I actually met with the department head for Parks and Rec as well, so I'm just glad we're going to have the opportunity to save these little kittens. Thank you for that. And I just I know that it's going to come back in a year, so I would ask that it could come back maybe in nine months for us to see how successful the program is. That would be helpful. Speaker 0: Okay. So we'll get an update in nine months. Speaker 6: Thank you. Two from four. Would that be okay? That's fine. Speaker 7: Great. Speaker 0: Please. Going to do a roll call vote. Speaker 1: Councilwoman Gonzalez. Councilmember Pierce. Councilwoman Price. Councilmember Sabrina. Hi. Councilwoman Mango. Hi, Vice Mayor Andrews. Council Member, Your Honor. Hi. Councilmember Richardson. Motion carries. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. And I just wanted to and I just wanted to thank all of you. This is obviously an amazing going to be an amazing partnership and program. You're already all doing such amazing work, saving so many lives and just thank you. And we look forward to the expansion of the partnership. So thank you all very much for being here. We're going to move on to public comment. If I call your name, please come forward. John Kilgour, Donald Shumaker, Anna Huang are the first three.

Contract

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any related documents, with the Helen Sanders Cat Protection and Welfare Society, of Boulder, CO, and The Little Lion Foundation, of Long Beach, CA, to partner with Long Beach Animal Care Services for the Long Beach Little Paws Project, to be housed in commercial property at 1179 East Wardlow Road, in Long Beach, from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019, with annual renewal options through December 31, 2023; and Increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PR) by $50,000, offset by revenues from Animal Care Donation Trust Accounts. (Districts 5,7)

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Speaker 1: Okay. Thank you. We are going to be hearing item, I believe it's 22, which is an ordinance, please. Speaker 0: Communication from City Attorney Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Palm Beach Municipal Code pertaining to municipal election dates as required by SB 415. Read the first time and lead over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for Final Reading Citywide. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. I know we've I know we've we have voted on this and we've had four reports, so we don't need a full report, but just some updates on on recent things just to make sure everyone knows what they're voting on. Thank you, Mayor and member of the Council. The item before you tonight is pursuant to your action back in October of 2017 to comply with SB 415 and move our election dates beginning in 2020. As you know, the election dates are established by the city charter and as described in the council letter before you this evening, the amendments to the charter require a vote of the people. However, the California attorney general has opined that 415 prevails over our conflicting charter provisions, rendering the city's current charter provisions relating to the election dates void and allowing you to consider adopting this ordinance. This evening, however, there has been a recent development which has called the opinion of the Attorney General into question in a recent case, the Redondo Beach versus the state of California. A trial judge has ruled that SB 415 does not apply to charter cities. This case is now on appeal. The issue is that if the Court of Appeal eventually decides that SB 14 415 does not apply to charter cities, then the Council City Council does not have the authority to change the city election dates by ordinance. And this action, if taken tonight, would be void and the elections in 2020 would revert to the dates as provided in the city charter. And any change of future city charter relating to election dates would only be made by a vote of the people at a future election. We are continuing to monitor this case. It is on appeal. The attorney general is confident that they will be successful on appeal. However, we are waiting for a court decision on that. And in that regard, I do have two minor changes to the ordinance to make on the floor this evening. They are on page four and we we put in the wrong date, page four, line four. We need to strike November 2020 and insert 2016 and 2018. And what that section does is it extends the terms for the council members who were elected in 2016 and in 2018. They will be extended by five months to match the dates when we move the election dates to 2020. And that same date would be changed at line 12, we would strike November 2020 and insert 2016 to extend the terms for the school district members who were elected in 2016. And that concludes my report. Thank you. Any public comment on this saying no public comment. Councilor Richardson. Councilmember comes from Gonzales. Councilman Mongo. Speaker 8: I think that it's just prudent to mention I know that a lot of this stemmed from the idea that we had low voter turnout. But if you looked at the voter turnout in June in a primary on the National with a lot of activity going on, District five had almost had over 40% voter turnout. And that's without removing many of the individuals. Yet, because L.A. County has not yet been able to reconcile the Department of Public Health's records of death records with L.A. County's voter record. And so that's 40% with the deceased still on the voter rolls. So I just want to say how proud I am of the residents of Long Beach for getting out and voting, and that when activated, people will turn out. Speaker 1: Thank you. Members, please cast your votes.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Chapter 1.15, and by repealing Sections 2.01.210(b) and 2.01.1010; all relating to changing the regular election dates of the Primary Nominating and General Municipal Elections to March and November, respectively, to coincide with statewide elections as required by SB 415, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

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Speaker 0: Councilman Andrews. Motion carries. Speaker 1: Thank you. Item 23, please. Speaker 0: Communication from Vice Mayor Andrews recommendation to increase appropriations in the general fund in the city manager's department by $50,000, offset by the six Council District one time district priority funds to support the 2019. Martin Luther King Jr celebration. Speaker 1: Thank you. Vice Mayor. Speaker 4: Yes, thank you very much. You know, I'm hoping to get my colleagues support this morning for transfer. I was just met with the Special Events Office, and this is going to be a great event. You know, I'm hoping to see all the day on Saturday, January 19th, 2019. We will have great parade, an open air festival and a great entertainment. So I'm hoping that my colleagues will support this idea. Thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you. So any public no public comment? Members, please. Gordon, cast your vote. Motion carries the second public comment period. See none. I'd like to adjourn tonight in the memory of a very special person from our community and a young resident that recently passed away.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the City Manager Department (CM) by $50,000, offset by the Sixth Council District one-time District Priority Funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department to support the 2019 Martin Luther King Junior Celebration; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Citywide Activities Department (XC) by $50,000 to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department.

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Speaker 0: So please cast your votes. Great motion carrier. And I went, thank you to the council and everyone that came out to speak tonight. We're going to transition into the time certain. And so I think if you're not if you're here for next the item that's coming up which which is the parking study report that's what's next. If you're not here for that, please just quietly exit so we can transition into the next time into the time serve that we have. And we'll start that in just a minute as people exit. Speaker 5: Are they? I'm sorry. Yeah, I think they're think. Don't believe Joe anywhere. Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Speaker 5: Yeah. Well. I'm a landlord and tenant in Chicago. The only thing worse than landlords and tenants. I don't know where it comes. Their natural enemies or. Speaker 0: Okay. We're going to go ahead and move on. Madam Court, can you please call that the time? Speaker 1: Certain item item 15 report from Development Services recommendation to receive and file the parking study for Downtown and Alamitos Beach District one. Speaker 0: And to thank you, I'm going to ask the item, please, guys. Everyone that's talking. You guys, I'm going to go outside. Please. Please read the item. Mr. West. Speaker 5: Mr. Mayor, council members, this is an item that we've been working with the community on for a parking study in the downtown. It comes to us as a result of a settlement agreement with the TAPS Group in the downtown. So with that, I'm going to turn it over to Linda Tatum of our development services team, as well as Christopher Coons and our public works director, Craig Beck. So Linda. Speaker 7: I'd just like to introduce our project team, which was and included the Development Services Department staff, as well as the city's traffic engineer, Eric Lidstrom, as well as Christopher Coons, and previous to Christopher Carey, Ty, as well as our consultant who is in the audience tonight and will be available to respond to technical questions regarding the report . So I'll turn it over to Christopher for the staff presentation. Speaker 11: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, and members of the Council. Speaker 9: So as. Speaker 11: Was mentioned, this parking study looking at downtown and Alamitos Beach came out of a settlement agreement, but really became more than a legal settlement. It became an opportunity for the city to work with the community and get really good data and chart a pathway forward to address parking issues in two very different environments one being downtown and one being Alamitos Beach. So there's basically four aspects to the study that Kellaway did with staff. One is collecting data so that we're basing our assumptions on facts and not just on implied assumptions, and then identifying strategies to increase parking availability, a public outreach and engagement component. And then the final documentation, which is the report that's in front of you this evening. So as mentioned, after we came to an agreement on a number, a complex set of litigation related to certain successor agency projects, sales, project, property sales. We came together with Albie Tops, which is Long Beach Transportation and Parking Solutions. They were at the table with us as we crafted the RFP. They were part of the RFP process where we selected the consultant. We selected KOA Corp., which in our view and staff's view did an excellent job on this study. They were that was a choice that I'll be tops was involved in and supportive of. And the entire process was data driven, as I mentioned. So when we look at what we found, we start with downtown. And based on Kayleigh's assessment, the factual assessment, there is an excess of available parking downtown. Now, when we say there is an excess of available parking, that does not mean that on any given hour that every visitor or resident is able to find exactly the parking space they want. AT Exactly. Exactly the moment they want. What it does mean is that there is numerically an excess supply of parking and that that is demonstrated in accounts that were done weekday off Street. There's a good amount of parking available. And then when you look at the weekend, there's a good amount of parking available. The other thing that we look at is parking turnover. So businesses especially need parking to be available not just to one person that parked there all day, but for customers to be able to come and go throughout the day. So that's why we look at turnover, how many times a specific space is used during the course of the day. Turnover is fair within downtown at about 2 hours and time, and parking is generally available throughout the day. What we did find, however, was a lot of that available parking can be hard to find and that signage is lacking. So a recommendation of this report, which is just one example of many items where our work has already begun, has to do with improving wayfinding. And this council previously placed a wayfinding package not just for downtown, but citywide. That's being implemented already. So this just shows you we went blocked by the consultant team with the city, went block by block measuring parking and measuring parking availability. And as I mentioned, it doesn't mean that parking is always available perfectly on every block. But as you can see illustrated here in color that it's not more than a single block walk to a block, that there is more parking availability based on the data. So what we found in Alamitos Beach is very different than what we found downtown. So I think all of us that live in the study know these findings from firsthand experience. There is a parking shortage within Alamitos Beach. There is very limited off street parking and there is on street parking, but not enough at peak periods. Parking is oversubscribed, especially on weekends, when businesses and residents are competing for the exact same on street parking. Turnover is generally fair to poor, so instead of the 2 hours that we saw downtown, you see longer turnover. And that relates directly to residents and businesses competing for the exact same parking. And obviously a resident wants their home. They're going to park for the day, for the evening, not for a limited period of time. What was interesting is there was the public outreach component that we talked about, and many residents admitted that their garage is used for storage rather than for parking, and that increases the demand for already constrained on street parking. I'm looking at the data all over a majority. Most of the buildings in Alamitos Beach were built before modern parking requirements, so they have significantly less parking than what the zoning code requires today. This is a map of parking availability within Alamitos Beach. And again, we went block by block to understand what that data was telling us. So this study provides data and it provides a point in time. But what's happening within public works and we're glad to assist here. And Development Services is a day by day progress and continual attempt to increase parking availability. So downtown, that's really about signage and wayfinding, but it's also about changing the angle of diagonal parking. It's about parking being added through various roadway reconfigurations. It's about prioritizing red curb and yes, having necessary red curb every moving it where unnecessary to add additional parking. And it's also about using technology such as various apps too, so that people do know where the available parking exists in terms of public outreach. So we mentioned that all Taps was involved in every step of this process, but we wanted to reach a broad section of the community. More than 4000 online surveys were completed, but we wanted to make sure that we were reaching folks that maybe did not receive an online notification or advertising. So we did what are called intercept surveys. That's the low tech solution. That's someone with a clipboard at specific locations throughout the study area asking people about their parking experience. The public generally favors increasing parking supply, not unsurprisingly, changing parking restrictions, having specific parking that's residential restricted and providing alternative forms of transportation. So that could be a traditional transit, but that could also be scooters and bikes and the next thing that we haven't seen yet. So summarizing the findings of what we found, the study had found that Alamitos Beach has a major parking shortage or has a significant parking shortage. As a reminder, most structures in Alamitos Beach were built before 1952. That's a critical day when the city started requiring parking. And even that data in 1952 was not until the 1980s that we required significant amounts of parking. So 20% of survey respondents noted that they use their garage for storage, not for parking. So it doesn't account for is folks that tend to want to be forthcoming about what they're using their garage for. Um, residents and businesses are competing for parking and Alamitos Beach in a more significant way than we find in other parts of the city. And that results in existing on street parking being oversubscribed, varying from just slightly oversubscribed during some daytime periods to very oversubscribed during the kind of dinner period where restaurants are competing just as residents are coming home and looking for their place to park. So the point was not just to document the problem, it was to see where we go forward. So there are recommendations that are attached to your staff report, both for downtown and for Alamitos Beach, and these are things that we're already doing. So adding supply of street parking and then things that we will be doing over the longer term. So looking at robotic parking facilities and use of technology, working with parking applications to help those technology providers provide the public with information about where they are and promoting making it as easy as possible to understand our parking signs and where you can park and when and when not. So that work is already happening. On the development services side, we've made substantial strides in the last two years to allow for parking, lifts and automated parking, and you'll see that reflected in the marketplace over the next couple of years. So as we talked about, there are different recommendations for downtown, as there are for Alamitos Beach and downtown. The issue really is helping people understand where existing parking resources are already available. And we're working in partnership with the LPGA to do some of those signage improvements, among other improvements. Whereas in Alamitos Beach, it really is about providing parking as we can, but also finding ways to encourage people to that do have access to garages, to use those garages for parking and improving transit service so that if folks do have to park out of area, that it's easy to get to their destination within Alamitos Beach. So as part of the settlement, there is a Parking Solutions implementation fund. It will fund some of the improvements outlined in this report, but it will not fund all of them. The report itself does talk about longer term funding strategies, and there are budget implications to many of these recommendations that would have to come back to this body. So today we're here to present this report and you're being asked to accept this report, but that is not the end of making parking improvements. So as a partnership between development services and public works, the work will continue to get additional parking resources, but also to provide funding mechanism for the Parking Solutions Fund going forward. So with that staff does recommend that you receive and file the parking study. This will conclude our obligations under the settlement agreement, but as I mentioned, will not conclude our efforts to increase parking supply in Alamitos Beach and parking accessibility downtown. So with that, we look forward to your questions. Speaker 3: Public comment. You guys are going to come in first so anybody become an item to please come up. 3 minutes. Speaker 5: Please. Speaker 3: Uh. 3 minutes up. Speaker 5: Yeah, right. Speaker 3: No questions at public comment right now. Speaker 5: Yes, Larry, good record because he addressed just a comment. When you're dealing with parking, it is also then parking meters and heard an interesting comment. From two dogs walking down the street. And I think it's important to understand how they view parking meters as paid toilets. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you. It's video. Speaker 5: Uh uh. Speaker 9: I live downtown in the East Village, and some of the people in the East Village have parking meters in front of their apartments. So it's not fair to them to be paying a parking meter seven days a week to park for their own apartments. Speaker 5: Also, too, you're putting all these new high rise. Speaker 9: Buildings into the downtown area. ALAMITOS Enough. First Street. I mean, second Street. You have the tallest building coming up on a on a Alamitos and ocean. You got the tall building right there. Speaker 5: Opus Pacific and others. And most people. Speaker 9: Today have 2 to 3 cars. Speaker 5: Per unit. So if you're putting one car per unit in these buildings, what does the other oh, the other two cars go? Speaker 3: Thank you, sir. Speaker 12: Hi. My name is Beverly Lifer and I live in Alamitos Beach. I'm fortunate enough that I found a home when I moved here eight years ago that has a garage that I do use for my car. But I think we need to look at other alternatives. I can't take credit for this, but so on our next door there were complaints about people parking at a shopping center during the day. But then someone said, What about taking that parking lot in a shopping center, that all the stores are closed overnight and have some kind of paid parking? That is organized between the city, the property owner and the stores, and can be from five, six, 7 p.m. to six in the morning the next day so that people, residents will have parking. Also, there are plenty of empty lots that used to have buildings that no longer have buildings, and I've seen a few of them. And I don't know if it was through the city or privately that have opened up as paid parking and you see cars that are parked or ARVs for days, which is fine. It's a parking lot and that's what they should be used for. So I'd like to see the city coordinate and work with property owners of these empty lots and shopping centers to have some kind of overnight parking provided. And it's paid or a long term parking. Thank you for your time. Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Next, bigger. Okay. Speaker 4: Hi. My name is Debbie Tobias. I live at 100 Atlantic and Long Beach. I'm president of Long Beach Taps. Long Beach could be a shining example of how to do parking right while still accomplishing its mobility goals. Many new parking programs can pay for themselves and fund others. We are asking for your help and need your leadership to do this. After four long years of trying, we failed to get the city to look at the parking issues and solutions. The lawsuit asked for a court order that would have required the city to follow sequels. Not following those laws would make parking problems worse, resulting in more traffic and air pollution. Taps did not ask for money. The city's attorney led the city to settle. When we agreed to the settlement, we gave up something valuable. The court orders. The intent of the settlement was to bring data, professional valuation and new options to you. The city agreed in the settlement that the parking study would do certain things, bringing an unusual opportunity to make things better. The study was required to be solution oriented, comprehensive and close inclusive of all users of parking, identify funding, recommend pricing strategies. Find ways to integrate private parking for public use, protect existing residential parking, review all existing standards, and make any recommendations deemed warranted based on the data analyzed. KOAT and City Reps. Tom Modica, Eric Wood Strand and Kerry Tai are professionals who are trying to address the parking issues. They had thorough, creative, open and honest discussions on multiple fronts. At some point, something changed, especially on the subject of the downtown parking regulations. When Draft two came out, it looked like big holes had been punched in the study. There is a parking problem in downtown Long Beach and we do need to address it now. The city is concluding the study without adhering to the work scope, leaving out things that are crucial to planning for $250,000. You got something that looks more like a staff report stating little more than what the city was already willing to do. History tells us that very little will change regarding action on parking if you turn over further action to staff. Now, unless you decide to help out your residents and really work with us to find solutions, we ask that you hold a study session on parking with the Planning Commission, include Michael Kodama because he has more expertize on parking and toady than anyone on city staff that has worked on parking. We ask that you declare a moratorium on accepting new development applications until you have the data and professional evaluation that's needed to plan better for parking. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Next speaker. Speaker 4: Good evening. I'm Laura Greco. May addresses on file on it for Alameda speech as more people are added to our area the planet for them this study will make it very well make very little difference in our ability to park. This is not just our opinion, but also that of our parking consultant Michael Gadamer, who taps paid to advise us and give us feedback to the study team. We've provided you with his written opinion of the parking survey. In his memo, he states that important elements are missing from the study that are needed to make the recommendation work. His he points out some of the key conclusions are not backed by data. Data, for instance, it should be noted that field observations stopped at 6 p.m. and therefore the analysis missed some of the impact related to residential parking needs later in the evening. He also says that a false statement. It's a false statement to say that there is no parking problem downtown. He explains why it does not analyze blocks, but rather only looks at total numbers for a large project area. Please consider asking for alterations to the study. Don't just receive and file. The study relies heavily on parking management to self-parking issues without four key needs to accomplish that. Management. A parking plan. Parking for new buildings. And a funding plan. And a funding plan. Parking Management. The study only describes how parking management is currently spread over multiple city departments and tells the city how to go about hiring management should they decide to do so. Kodama says it is important that the city of Long Beach find a parking manager to focus on this complex issue. I cannot think of a large city without a parking manager or parking department. It is critical that the parking management program not be seen as a one time deal. It must be continuous, collaborative and comprehensive. The parking plan, the existing downtown plan considers visitor parking, not parking for residents and employees. The area needs to be a comprehensive parking plan that is balanced to include the needs of all types of parkers. Kodama points out several things that should be considered, including using incentives rather than more enforcement in the area that has parking issues regarding residential permits, he says. We need a new approach to develop residential. Parking programs and management options beyond the concept that the residents should set up a parking assessment district or hire their own management operation firm themselves. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you very much next week. Speaker 5: Lane car crash of Atlantic Avenue. This parking study probably will not make parking easier for people because there's too much missing from the study. The study relies heavily on parking management to solve parking issues of other four key needs to accomplish that management a parking plan, parking for new buildings, and a funding plan for parking for new buildings. Parking consultant Mike Adams says this As members of the city, how can they find no evidence that a new development in downtown Long Beach has triggered any parking shortage or that there is no need to consider parking requirements for new development without an analysis linking parking requirements and utilization to existing and proposed square footage. This analysis is incomplete without that. He also says it is not a comprehensive program as it does not address the extremely important issue of residential spillover. Parking does not set parking priority users in some areas around the downtown commercial core, nor developed an evaluation mythology based on parking data. In addition, any analysis of future parking demand must consider the loss of parking spaces usually associated with new development in a dense downtown environment. As for funding, many parking studies include an analysis of new revenue streams from parking programs they can buy. They combine that info with an analysis of parking pricing. The result is a planning tool that allows the city to create a funding plan to improve parking parking improvements. Besides big parking structures, structures are available like automated parking loan programs and partnering with developers. The study does not provide such an analysis. Mike Goodall also says this in his Memo to the City. It is also suggested that potential parking revenues be reinvested back into a parking management system. This can be from the parking management program. This is not a new concept and has been effective in cities such as Portland, Seattle, Ventura, Pasadena, San Diego and many other places. It creates transparency and opens up a willingness to pay for parking, knowing that it is being reinvested back into the community with the parking issues. Speaker 8: Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you very much next week. Speaker 5: Hi, Robert Mills, 100 aspirants. Speaker 3: Mr. Mill, I think you answer my questions right. You wanted to ask some questions? I don't. Speaker 9: Know. I just have a statement. Speaker 3: Okay, fine. Thank you. Go. Gwen. Speaker 5: 100. Speaker 9: Esperanza. I went to the meeting where you unveiled your plan for Long Beach, and I must say, I thought it was very, very impressive. Just like the homeless plan or the plan for the homeless. Rather very, very impressive. Some of the words that were used included thoughtfulness, foresight, the minutia of the plans, the meticulous planning, and uptown, downtown and Midtown plan. There's a lot of fodder there for a new Bruno Mars song. But, you know, with all of this planning, it just seems like we're getting short shrift when it comes to parking in Alamitos Beach . I hope that you guys use the same due diligence with the homelessness and any other plan on our own parking in Alamitos Beach, because you are talking about our quality of life. And government is supposed to work for everyone, not just select neighborhoods. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you, sir. Speaker 5: You know, I think. Speaker Hi, my name is Romeo Pineiro. I live here in Elementos Beach. I've been visiting Long Beach since the park was a big parking lot. I just recently became a resident of Long Beach about a year and a half ago in which I've collected over 30 parking tickets. Because I am a self-employed, I come home at whatever hour of the day. Sometimes I come home at night. I have to circle the block from bonnet all the way up to Esperanza, maybe up to Second Street, Pass Broadway, maybe even parking. As far as where the Vons is over here, because there is no spots. Not only that, but heading down all ocean. Or even friends living up towards Long Beach and PCH. Or all the way up to. PCH and Redondo are those problematic parking spots not only for Alimentos Beach, but everywhere else? If you take a drive at 3 a.m., at least in Alameda Beach, you'll find a lot of cars parked on red, which should be actual parking spots. There's a lot of red curbs that can allow maybe two or three more cars parked. But it's a red spot. And we're giving. We're getting tickets at night. Sometimes we residents, our friends around my area, don't even want to leave their house over the weekend because we don't want to lose our spots to where? I have to tell one of my friends who has a motorcycle to give me a ride down the street or give me a ride to the grocery store or Hey, let's go eat at Marina because I don't want to lose my parking spot. And this goes. For everyone that's impacted by the parking problem. My main thing is take a drive at 3 a.m. around these impacted places and you'll see all these cars not bothering anyone. Just trying to look for a parking spot. Just getting tickets left and right as I accumulated over 1300 dollars worth of tickets already, where I was happy to be moving into Long Beach. And I'm just sad that I might be moving out of Long Beach because of this. And I have a beautiful apartment on Ocean Boulevard that I don't want to give up, but. Worse comes to worse. I maybe I should give it up because nothing is being done in the area, at least Alamitos Beach area, and paying over $600 for a parking permit to park behind the the main building here or at the Marina Green. Waking up at eight in the morning so you don't get a ticket by not seeing the meter. I mean coming home from work late still have to get up to. Move your car to another parking spot doesn't seem pretty fair. I just ask that you guys take a look at that and maybe just make those red curves actual spots and and and see that for yourselves, that it could create a better solution than just keep giving us tickets. Speaker 0: Keynote speaker, please. Speaker 1: Hi. My name's Kelsey Simpson. I'm a resident in Alamitos Beach, and I've gone to a lot of the meetings that we've had. We've talked with Councilwoman Pearce about the parking issues in our neighborhood, specifically. I live on Cherry and first. So what I want to do is kind of humanize parking for a second because I feel like the study makes it look like a bunch of numbers and a bunch of data, and you can count cars and count spots and count, you know, garages. And much like the speaker before me talked about what happens a lot in Alamitos Beach are people are having to rethink their entire life based on parking. So it's what time do I have to leave work? What time am I going? Where am I going? What's going on? And then if you are fortunate enough to find a spot on the street, it's happened to me the other morning. I'm leaving to go to work. I'm a teacher. I work in Downey. I was leaving at 6 a.m. and there was a car just parked illegally behind me because I'm guessing that they circled for hours and hours and hours and couldn't find a spot. I waited for 35 minutes as much as they allowed. I knocked on people that I knew. I mean, it was super early in the morning. I also don't want to be an extremely rude neighbor, you know, and unfortunately live. Speaker 2: With somebody else who I just took their. Speaker 1: Car and sent them in taxes and inside I left my keys for you. This is where my car is parked. I couldn't leave. What's happening to is I know that Long Beach in that specific area has done, you know, adding more spots. So they repainted the diagonal lines and change the angles. What that did is allowed the the guy on my street. Speaker 2: Who collects hearses. Speaker 1: He currently has six of them. And he's just added actually, I think a seventh I counted on a bike ride the other day and it allows him to continue to add to this on street parking problem. I'm guessing that he doesn't drive a hearse in his normal car. So then that would add an eighth car that a resident is storing in our neighborhood. And the more you circle around, the angrier you get at the hearses. Then it also allows and people that live in Alamitos Beach know exactly what I'm talking about. They also turn old. Speaker 2: School busses into cool busses. Speaker 1: Literally scraping off, you know, the letters to make it like that as well. And those cool busses end up taking up three or four spots on the street as well as like ambulances that people buy, I'm guessing, in auctions and whether they're living out of them. And that's the larger issue. Speaker 2: But what the issue is, is that these these are. Speaker 1: Taking up our spots, basic things in place like residential permit parking. Speaker 2: Which was discussed, as well as having somebody in the city who who's specifically. Speaker 1: In charge of parking and has a parking planning background that has a lot of the knowledge of what is being spoken about and written about in the study would really help and be beneficial, I think to everyone. And we've talked about that with Councilman Pearce at the Abney meetings with Alamitos Beach and we've gotten community support, we've got the we were a huge part in getting a lot of people to take the online survey. We want to live there. We want to like actually live and not, you know, live to park in, park to live. Speaker 2: I apologize to you on behalf. Speaker 1: Of most of Alamitos Beach residents who couldn't make it tonight because they didn't want to lose their parking spot. Speaker 0: So I make you last speaker, please. Speaker 9: Hi. My name's Christopher Hassler. I'm an urban planner and I'm currently serving on the board of the Elements Peach Neighborhood Association and here I City Council to amend city code so that residents can band together to create overnight breaking for districts in Alamance Beach just as city allows residents in other parts of the city to create preferential parking districts that keep out commuter traffic. As you've seen in the parking study, our curb parking has been abused. The point where you can take a resident 30 minutes or more when they return home or turn home at night. There are a number of factors at play here, but the most important is the waste of off street parking space. As you saw in the presentation, at least 20% of residents with garages do not use those garages to store their cars. Given that most residents would be reluctant to admit that it's safe, say that the percentage is much higher than that. The city's inappropriate policy of asking residents to report on their neighbors garage use has been ineffective. Furthermore, the season action on our breaking problems has led some residents to try to take matters into their own hands by leaving threats on their neighbors windshields for, you know, the father of this person in park well enough or some other perceived issue. Others use junk cars to claim extra space. And then there's a few residents that use collect hearses and other recreational vehicles. Since there's no room to really increase the parking space in the neighborhood, we need to focus on reducing parking demand as recommended by Highway and overnight Premiere district. That limits demand and encourages more residents to actually use their garages for their cars would go a long way in relieving the intense competition for curb space. From speaking with Councilmember Pearce and other members of the community, there seems to be some concern about Coastal Commission approval. But plenty of plenty of coastal neighborhoods and other cities have established similar parking restrictions as long as enforcement powers are kept within the hours when our beaches are closed. We aren't interfering with public access to the beach. By creating an overnight policy. The city isn't forcing a permanent district on anyone, but instead giving residents a tool that they can decide to use for themselves. Residents would need to gather signatures. Speaker 11: Just as they do for the existing. Speaker 9: Preferential parking districts. Overnight parking permit districts are crucial to establishing a more equitable system of parking. I would love for the opportunity to sit down with Councilmember Pearce and her staff to form a new policy that works for Alamitos Beach and that can serve as a model for so many other neighborhoods in Long Beach that are suffering from the same issue. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Bob, a comment is closed. Oh, sure. Please come forward. No, no, no problem. Speaker 5: It's good enough. Speaker 3: Yeah. Speaker 5: Name is now g livin. Let me no speech at five o East Ocean. Um the young lady earlier when she say that the comment and next thought I was I was on I made that comment. Some business high rises or businesses says the parking is empty all night whatever the cases what if he could work something as a Long Beach transit so to have some kind of shuttle gone up and down so that way the tenants or whoever the looking, the parking, it's not like we're going to be parking for free, but they will pay some kind of fee. So at least the shadows would be going all the way around. Pretty much. Until the morning hour. So that was a win win win situation. So the office building, their will or the business area there will get some kind of income. The tenants are willing to pay for this money on this one. So that just one suggestion I have. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you for that. Let me go and close public comment. Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 2: Thank you. And thank you all for all your efforts through the years for staying here through another discussion, a lengthy discussion. And I want to thank staff as well. I know that this is kind of house with development services. It started with public works. And so I know that there's been a lot of conversation. And so ago, similar to our homeless challenge, is that we've got a lot of great ideas, but having a way to kind of lead those ideas and making sure that we're implementing those. And so I want to start off by saying, obviously, parking is has always been a big issue for me, transportation, making sure that we have safe neighborhoods, making sure that people feel safe walking, you know, five blocks from their car to their home. And so it's an issue that I take really seriously. And I know this my council colleague does as well. I want to start. I guess by saying that I do know that I did see I don't know if it was a first draft, but with the maps it had, like the timing of when you guys were looking at things. And so I recall looking at that. And if we break it down in between downtown and I made a speech that downtown did have more openings, as is relayed in this report. I'm curious, what is our housing vacancy right now in downtown? I know we've got a lot of new developments. I know we have a lot more coming on. I don't know if you have that answer off the top of your head. Speaker 7: We we know that citywide the vacancy rate is around 4%, somewhere just under 4%. But we don't have specific vacancy rates. Speaker 4: For. Speaker 1: The downtown area. Speaker 2: Okay. Because I know that there's some discussion around the difference in between, you know, how full downtown is and how full Alamitos beaches and downtown. We have new residential units. We have different type of of folks that are living there versus in Alameda speech, which is almost 100% renter. And it's basically stacked on top of each other without any parking requirement. So I just wanted to identify that difference in between the downtown and Alameda speech. I have a lot of notes, so let me try to start off with the conversation around having a parking czar or a parking manager. This is something that we've talked about since I've been in office. I know that we have a lot of mobility items, whether it's bikes or transit, the free ride. What would it take for us to have one person that is committed to a parking management plan that can lead across all departments? Speaker 7: Then what that would take, I would say, would be funding. Because right now we do have a staff in the public works department that devotes a substantial amount of time to parking issues and managing and operating some of the city's parking garages and even the multi-modal means of transportation. However, we do not have a staff that's dedicated full time to parking. And if if the council were to consider that, that is certainly something that they could consider in the upcoming budget to fund a position for that. Speaker 2: Great. Thank you. And I think the reason it's great that we have somebody that's in there dealing with it, but it's even better to have somebody says, this is our point person across the entire city that can work in trouble. Areas can look across and say, okay, this works in Bixby, this works in Belmont Shores, Alma's beach. We've never done anything. And, you know, I'm glad that this I meant to say at the beginning, I'm glad that we're to this process because I've felt like my hands have been tied from being able to do big items. So I'm very happy that we have this today so that 2019 we can really be focused on implementing some of the strategies that are in here and putting teeth to them. And so one of them is I definitely would support having a parking person that would help us across the city, particularly because we are developing a lot more residential units. We've got 4000 planned in downtown. We've got the land use element with everything that's coming up with that. So I think it's an important time and that's something that I would definitely support to the comments around the open lots. This is something that my staff personally went lot by a lot my first six months when I got into office. We know that Didi's on seventh is open to having their lot out. We know that the Thai place on Alamitos and Broadway is open to having their lot. One of the questions we've always asked was, What would that take? And we've had the conversation between insurance or is it putting in a meter like we have at fourth and cherry? And so I hope that I can get an answer from staff today so that coming in the new year we can give some direction to because that's very low hanging fruit. So is there a comment on what it would take to make that happen? Speaker 7: In order to make that happen, it is actually something that staff is already working on. Economic development staff is actually currently contacting various property owners with parking lots that they don't use overnight and currently exploring the option of establishing some kind of contractual relationship with those organizations or those property owners so that we can use those properties on an overnight basis. And we think something like that, along with some of the other initiatives that we've talked about here tonight, we think that those can start to make a dent in that that that parking issue. Speaker 2: Okay, great. And I think one of the I don't want to go through the entire report today, but I think it's there's a lot of recommendations in here and similar with the homeless issue is knowing where we're at and giving some timelines and saying, you know, with this issue and Alameda speech, I'll commit one of my whole staff members to say three days a week, you're only working on parking with development services. And just to make sure that we are engaging and moving quickly. And so that's one area that I think is low hanging fruit. And we'll make sure you have the same list that we have of those businesses or economic development. Parking, homelessness. Ah, there you go. And one of the conversations I'd like to have with talking about opening up those private lots, we just had a transportation committee meeting last week where we talked about free ride and talked about some of the funding sources. So if we're identifying lots like this, if we're saying, well, part of that funding, if we have a contract share where they get part of the funds, the city gets part of the funds, that those funds would go toward something like free ride that would be able to take somebody from Alamitos, you know , into the downtown or vice versa. So getting to the permits so I think is great to read through the idea of the permits and understanding that nighttime permits are more likely to get passed through the Coastal Commission, which is something that I did not understand until recently. And so curious on a timeline, if we wanted to, to look at this in looking that it's resident led but that the city first has to change its code. Correct. Speaker 7: I'm not sure that right now there is a prohibition. It really would be initiated by the staff, but certainly I'm sorry by the residents. But staff is certainly available to sit down with them, work with them and come up with a program that we could at least direct and guide them into the procedures to establish some type of overnight parking program. And again, I think to the point that many of the commenters spoke tonight, I didn't I don't think that I heard many suggestions that we aren't already working on or that we think are fairly low hanging fruit the. Speaker 4: Staff could continue to pursue. Speaker 7: And that is certainly one of those. Speaker 2: Okay. So again, I mean, I think it's great that you guys are working on it, but understanding, you know, this is three months out, this is four months out. And I know that timelines are tough. I know that this was supposed to be in front of us in July. And but if we can have a benchmark and we say, okay, we're not where we thought we should be at this time, what staff resources need to change? What community resources can we engage in so that we can get it get it done? I don't want to have this same conversation in two years. The last thing I will say is that I expect in January I'm going to work with with Taps, with Alamitos Beach, I'm going to work with staff. And in January, I hope to bring forward some of these items that after we have a conversation that we understand , need a little bit more council direction to get done, whether that's a committee or task force, whatever that looks like, that's short term that we can make sure that we implement quickly. I know there are a lot of other things on here, but I do want to just thank community members, especially those that that that reach out . And I, I know that this is a challenge I have I'm a rancher myself, live in Alamitos Beach, have walked blocks in the middle of the night and understand the safety issues that are of concern for us. One more thing on the garages, I do have a question. So my house that I previously lived in had a garage. The neighbor called code enforcement on us. Our car didn't fit in the garage. And so is there an opportunity for us to create a register of garages that would be available to rent should somebody's car doesn't fit or they don't have a car? So you know what? My neighbor can rent out my my garage. Like, just some challenges that we have with old garages. Speaker 11: Sure. So the registry is not currently on our implementation list, but certainly we can take a look at that. But just to clarify, for the council and for the public, the requirement under the city's codes is that the garage should be available for you to park in, and we can't force an individual to park in their garage . So even if I don't know what kind of car you drive, but even if. Speaker 2: Chevy. Speaker 11: Even if you know your car doesn't fit in the garage, a different style of vehicle by. Speaker 9: Name. Speaker 2: And they said, you can fit a motorcycle in here so that we don't drive a motor. Speaker 11: So that's why from a code and enforcement standpoint, even if your particular vehicle doesn't fit in that garage, the requirement is that the garage should be clear enough that it be available to park in. And that way, whether it's a third party parking in that garage or some future different toys and vehicle that we can get those cars into those off street parking spaces to relieve the on straight parking demand. Speaker 2: Great. Thank you for that. I'm sure I have lots more comments, but I fully expect to have an agenda item in January following up on some implementation with us. So I've got Connor here. He's going to come over and connect. I think we had a challenge with getting our most recent meeting on the calendar, so I want to make sure that happens soon. Thank you guys very much. And thank you, staff. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 1: Yes. And thanks to everybody for being here. I know I met with a couple of you yesterday, so I really appreciate the time. And similar to what Councilmember Pearce mentioned, you know, I really hope this. Stay is a living document that we continue evolving it. I also believe we do need to consolidate resources and definitely reevaluate policies and so I look forward to working with Councilmember Pearce in the coming year. So first and foremost, I think the parking revenue sort of the parking revenue plan, it seems like historically we've been very reliant on parking meter revenues only as the only source and increasing the parking meter revenues which, you know, we have to do every so often. But it just seems like that's the only thing. So I know this plan looks at other options as well, which I'm encouraged by. So I that's one sort of thought. In addition, I know private lots, they're being managed by various different companies. And I don't know what kind of conversations we're having in terms of consistency about rates. Consistency about. You know, everything related to accommodating residents. Can you give us a little bit of update on that? Because I know that's been an issue historically. And where are we at with just private lots and. Speaker 7: I'm sorry. You mean private lots? That private parking lots? Speaker 1: Yes, private parking lots. And their rate, the rates that are being charged, I mean, from what I remember and when you look on the website, there's various different rates. So I how where are we at? Speaker 7: I'm not sure where we are on that. The parking study did a fairly comprehensive job of identifying a different private parking lots and parking structures, but I'm not sure that it actually went into the actual parking rates. That's something we would have to go back and take another look at. I don't think we have that information currently. Speaker 1: Okay. That's one thing that continues to come up. I know with businesses and residents in downtown just the seems like there's an inconsistency with rates and it just one area might be $25 a month. There might be another area that might be 50 or $100 a month. And I think that it's just not consistent at all. So if we can look into that a bit more, that would be great. And I am of the same mindset. I believe we need a parking manager. I remember Luis Maldonado back in the day for all of you have been here for a long time. It was nice to have somebody that had the experience to go to, to talk about parking management and just where can we reassess and reevaluate policies? Where can we add meters, smart meters, or not take them away, whatever we need to do. I think I would like an emphasis on on that next year as we look at our budget and you know what it is that we can do and I know that we're looking at that currently. Speaker 3: Yeah. Speaker 11: And council member just to go back to your question, so in your report, um, it's on page 97 of your report, we do survey what's being charged as far as off street parking that's available on commercial lots. And certainly we're working with economic development to make additional commercial spaces available overnight. The city's regulatory arm doesn't reach regulating that parking rate, but certainly we can have those discussions with the parking operators. Speaker 5: At. Speaker 1: Least to recommend, you know, those. And I know that's always very difficult, but thank you. And to that point as well, in terms of talking, I know John Kaiser's team is working on that and talking to private lot owners, private property owners. I would also like us, and I think we've done this in the past. I mean, public public partnerships, you know, perhaps some of the school districts. I know sometimes it's a little bit difficult that through our joint use committee options, that could be an option. In some cases, they have often 200 spaces at any given time. So I think that's something to consider as well if we're not considering that already. And I'm also just interested in sort of revamping our preferential parking policies, looking more towards an overnight parking district, I think is great, especially for areas like the West Gateway, right by the courthouse. They have outside impacts. Most of the residents come in at night and there's like no parking. So that I think, could be very fruitful on the point of outside impacts like the courthouse. I hope that we can do a little bit more in that respect. Outside impacts and events. That's one thing I think we don't plan well for. I know when you go on the special events website, it says some of the events that we have in downtown, but it doesn't showcase all of the events that we have and that doesn't make a good experience for tourists coming in and looking like there's how do I know that there's parking for, you know, the I don't know. I'm just going to pick on myself the day of the event. Not good for them, not good for the residents coming in or the residents that are already there. So I just think we need to streamline that process as well in terms of events and overflow and what that looks like. And then again, outside impacts like a courthouse, like for instance, a temple on seventh, you know, that has constant flow of people every single Sunday and impacts the neighborhood that we know, that special temple that we love that does that. And I just think being able to be a little bit more proactive and finding solutions for these and these owners and these agencies and organizations would be great. Relative to the garages, I think. You know, we have a lot of that in some areas. And I'm wondering if we can cross-reference the parking enforcement data. So. We know that in some areas like in the Wilmore around like eighth and Magnolia eighth and Chestnut area, there are tons of owners who have garages that they use not for parking. And I know we can't necessarily enforce that, but I'm wondering, like tons of people are getting parking tickets in that area. And I don't know. I think we just I don't even have a solution right now, but maybe getting a little bit more creative on cross-referencing that data and being able to provide some relief. I don't even know what that looks like. I've tried to study other cities and I don't really have a good answer, but I just I really worry for those those residents. The last thing is just the consolidation of our sites. We have a city website with parking information, Easy Park, LP, Park, MLB.com, an app that not too many people know about. So it's like we're all it seems like we're all over the place. It'd be nice to have everything consolidated into one a bit more. I know. We know that. And then just lastly, I will say this. Better coordination with Long Beach Transit. You know, I'll tell you from experience in downtown. Not only is it parking impacted in certain areas of North Pine, but then language transit cut lines for seniors in North Pine at the same time. So it's sort of a double impact in that sense. So I would just hope we can coordinate a little bit better given these parking impacted neighborhoods. And I know we know that. I just need to see that. Other than that, thank you very much. I hope to work with Councilmember Pearce on many of these issues and along side many of you as well on these issues to continue the discussion. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilwoman Pryce. Speaker 7: I just wanted to add, and this is a lot of these. Comments that that I'm listening to are obviously issues in Belmont Shore as well and other parking impacted areas in my district. And one of the items that we brought to council and I don't know if staff has an update on it that my team drafted was an item to look at whether we could streamline the process for people to remodel their garages so that they can fit modern day vehicles in their garages. And I don't remember. It was right around the time that we did the Belmont Shore parking study and we came back with a series of recommendations. One was we actually had public works come out and help with a resident garage cleanup day where people were cleaning out their garages. And we put huge bins throughout the district in certain areas so that people could dump large items and clean out their garages for parking. But I do know that we also explored the feasibility of streamlining the garage conversion process, and I don't know if staff has done any work on that. Maybe this is an opportunity for us to revive that with discussion, that this would be an opportunity. It's something that we have on our work program to go back and take a look at that, given the number of small garages that are in the city's housing stock inventory. Yeah, that would be great. I know our home was built in the thirties and our cars certainly could not fit in our garage today. So we did have to do some some minor work when we remodeled. But if we can help residents with that by streamlining that permit process, I think that would go a long way as well for folks who want to utilize their garages. Speaker 11: So Councilmember, we can definitely look at the permit process, but part of that is also working with, I guess, our partners in the architectural and construction industry because for a lot of folks, a project like that can seem very intimidating. But the issue isn't actually the permitting process. It's finding an architect, finding a contractor so we can do a lot better on the communications front and making that easier for the property owner. And that's already on our work plan for 2019. Speaker 7: That's great. It would be great if there was an architect that specialized in that and parking impacted areas and they could have some, you know, some packages available that made it worthwhile for residents to do that. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Council Member Pearce. Speaker 2: Sorry, I just had two more things I left off. I was wondering if there was anybody on staff that could give us an update on Mola. I know that I've pushed pretty hard and I know that they're in the middle of revisioning their. Their property, but. Speaker 3: I think. Speaker 1: Economic development. Speaker 7: Will be the only person. And I don't know if John has an update on Mullah specifically. John, do. Speaker 3: You? Speaker 2: Wah, wah, wah, wah. Okay, let's let's. Speaker 7: So it sounds like the discussions are in process. Speaker 4: Okay. Speaker 2: Thank you. And then my other question is, going back to Salinas, Councilmember Gonzalez's point, have cities ever said we're not going to ticket for red curbs in between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. or 7 a.m.? I know. That's. I'm just asking. I'm not saying that I'm going full speed with it, but in parking impacted areas, we get a lot of people to park in the red. Speaker 5: Councilmember Pearce, to my knowledge, know that if you look at how the code is written, it's illegal to park in a red curb area regardless of the time of day. Speaker 2: Okay. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. There is a motion and a second. Please cast your votes.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file the Parking Study for Downtown and Alamitos Beach. (Districts 1,2)

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Speaker 0: Thank you. Consent, please. We're not going. We're not doing six on consent. But everything else on consent. Any public comment on consent signal, please cast your votes. Motion carries item six from consent. We pulled. We do that one item, please. Speaker 5: Yes, Mr. Geisler. Speaker 0: Well, we just I don't think we're getting a report. I think we want it pulled. Speaker 5: Right. We have to, like amend that. Speaker 1: Correct, John? There's an amendment on the floor. Speaker 0: Okay, so let's make the amendment on the floor. Speaker 5: Mm hmm. An honorable mayor and members of the city council. Yes, essentially the agreement reads as submitted, except for a single item relative to the reporting of and a quarterly calendar by our management partner. We are withdrawing that requirement as a part of the agreement. Otherwise, everything else as is submitted in the council letter, is still consistent. Speaker 0: I think any public comment on the change of the agreement? Please catch Vice Mayor Andrews. Speaker 5: Yeah. Speaker 0: No, I think she's I think she's good. Please cast your votes. Okay, we're going back up. 818, please.

Contract

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary for a Management Agreement with Long Beach Center, LLC, for the maintenance of City-owned property at 185 East 3rd Street, commonly known as Harvey Milk Promenade Park and Equality Plaza. (District 1)

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Item 18 report from Health and Human Services recommendation to execute all agreements necessary with the Long Beach Community Foundation to establish and administer the Mayor's Fund to end homelessness. Transfer the balance in the Mayor's Fund. Homelessness Trust to the Long Beach Community Foundation. Mayor's Fund to End Homelessness and authorize Health and Human Services Department to receive and expend funds from the Long Beach Community Foundation citywide. Speaker 0: Thank you. I'll just briefly I'll just just maybe I can get you a brief report in a in a nutshell, I think there's been for decades a mayor's fund for the homelessness. It's existed has not been active and probably it's been active, but it hasn't been proactive, I guess, in the last ten, 15 years or so. It collects maybe at any given year between 25000 to $30000 a year through the utility giving program. That's that's there. As part of the long term efforts around homelessness, there's a strong interest to activate the fund. And there has been the staff's recommendation, which I support, is to move the fund to the community foundation. They're willing to fundraise, manage the fund, and then maximize their work around homelessness to support that fund. And so I know it's something that that board strongly supports, and they believe they can significantly raise dollars as well as putting in their own matching dollars to work with the city on managing the fund instead of it being operated out of the health department. And so, Kelly Cartwright, did I miss anything on that? Speaker 6: No, I think you've got it. Speaker 0: Okay. There any public comment on that? Okay. Richardson, you have any comments on that? Nope. Country Ranga? No. Please cast your votes. Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Okay. We're moving on to public comment.

Contract

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all agreements necessary, and any subsequent amendments, with the Long Beach Community Foundation, a California nonprofit corporation, to establish and administer the Mayor’s Fund to End Homelessness; Transfer the balance in the Mayor’s Fund-Homeless Trust (EX 440) to the Long Beach Community Foundation Mayor’s Fund to End Homelessness; and Authorize the Health and Human Services Department to receive and expend funds from the Long Beach Community Foundation for Homeless Services Division programming. (Citywide)

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Speaker 3: Thank you very much. That concludes public comment. Now we're going to go back to hearing number one. Speaker 1: Report from financial management recommendation received supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing and grant an entertainment permit with conditions on the application of the loft on Pine, located at 230 Pine Avenue for Entertainment with Dancing District two. Speaker 3: Why do I have any public comment on it? Speaker 5: Thank you, Vice Mayor. The staff report will be given by Brett Jaquez and Emily Armstrong from Business Licensing. You get? I'm sorry. This one does require an oath. Speaker 3: Okay. Hi. Speaker 1: You and each of you solemnly state that the testimony you may give in the courts now and pending before this body shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God. Speaker 2: Good evening, honorable mayor and. Speaker 1: Members of the city council. Tonight you have before. Speaker 2: You an application for entertainment with dancing for Green Apple Event Company Inc doing business as the loft on Pine located at 230 Pine Avenue, operating. Speaker 1: As a hall rental in Council District two. Speaker 2: This application originally came before you on October nine, 2018 and was continued to allow the applicant enough time to address all requirements of the municipal code as it pertains to the. Speaker 1: Downtown dining and Entertainment District. Speaker 2: The applicant has since met all requirements of the municipal code. All of the necessary departments are recommending approval subject. Speaker 1: To the conditions as contained in the hearing. Speaker 2: Packet. I, as well as the police department, stand ready to answer any questions council may have. And that concludes staff's report. Speaker 3: Thank you. No one I public comment anyone to speak on this item. Now we'll go back to diocese council and. Speaker 2: I just urge support of this item. It's a great venue. Thank you guys for tackling it. Speaker 3: Thank you. So where first and second, would you please cast your vote? Speaker 1: Motion carries.

Public Hearing

Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and grant an Entertainment Permit with conditions on the application of Green Apple Event Company, Inc., dba The Loft on Pine, 230 Pine Avenue, for Entertainment With Dancing. (District 2)

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 3: Item 17. Speaker 1: Report from Financial Management and Water Recommendation to enter into a 15 year lease purchase agreement with Bank of America Public Capital Corporation for the Financing of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project for the Long Beach Water Department in an amount not to exceed 36 million citywide. Speaker 3: Remaining private companies under this price. We get. Speaker 2: Sorry. I know it's late, but I would love to hear from staff on this item. Speaker 5: Vice Mayor, Council Members We have a staff report on this by our city treasurer David Nakamura. And also Fidel will serve in the audience to members from the water department. We have Paul Fujita and Anatole Colligan and they'll be here to answer any questions as well. So, David, take it away. Thank you very much, Mr. West. Speaker 9: All Fidel Aguayo will be giving. Speaker 8: Us. Speaker 5: Our staff report tonight. Speaker 8: Fidel, is this the city's debt manager? Speaker 5: Honorable Mayor, Members of City Council. On November 1st, 2018, the Board of Water Commissioners authorized the financing of the Events Infrastructure Project. The A my project is a network of smart meters that allows meters to be read automatically and uploaded electronically. Automating the meter readers will allow the water department to increase operational efficiencies and achieve annual cost savings. City Council approval is required to execute. Speaker 8: A lease purchase agreement and not to exceed $36 million. Speaker 5: With Bank of America. The estimated annual lease. Speaker 8: Payment will be approximately $2.4 million. Speaker 5: Payable over the next 15 years. The lease payment will be payable equally from the water and sewer fund enterprise funds and will be partially offset by the elimination of the manual meter reading contract. This concludes the staff report. Staff and members from the Water Department are available for questions. Speaker 0: Thank you. If any public comment on this item? Seeing none. There's a motion concern, Ringo. Consumer price cap. Please cast your votes. Speaker 5: Vice mayor. Yes.

Contract

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary enter into a 15-year lease-purchase agreement and related financing documents with Banc of America Public Capital Corporation, of San Francisco, CA, for the financing of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project for the Long Beach Water Department, in an amount not to exceed $36,000,000, including interest costs and fees. (Citywide)

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: 23. Speaker 1: Report from Public Works, Financial Management and Police Department Recommendation to award a contract to W.M. Clurman Construction Corp. for Design. Build Services for a public safety parking structure for a total contract amount not to exceed 10,207,340 authorized public works department to initiate the realignment of the Public Safety Fueling Facility and the preliminary design for a new fleet maintenance facility. An express intent to issue a bond to finance up to 13,300,000 for the cost associated with the construction of a public safety parking structure. Speaker 0: District two Any public comment on this? Please come forward. Speaker 8: Dave Shukla on. Speaker 9: File in. Speaker 8: The staff report pdf with the item. Speaker 9: There's no mention of meeting the zero net energy. Speaker 8: Requirements for building. Speaker 9: Construction or for. Speaker 8: Putting battery storage. Speaker 9: Or doing any of the other fun things that you can do with a parking grid, a parking structure like a microgrid. It would be encouraging. Speaker 8: To see opportunities like this not go to waste. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. There's a motion in the second. Please cast your votes.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. RFP PW18-058 for design-build services for a public safety parking structure; award a contract to W.M. Klorman Construction Corporation, of Woodland Hills, CA, in the amount of $9,279,400, with a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $927,940, for a total contract amount not to exceed $10,207,340; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments; Authorize Public Works Department to initiate the realignment of the public safety fueling facility and the preliminary design for a new fleet maintenance facility, previously housed in the Lincoln Garage, in an amount not to exceed $500,000; Express intent to issue a bond to finance up to $13,300,000 for the costs associated with the construction of a public safety parking structure including project management, relocation of the fuel station, preliminary design of a police fleet maintenance facility, and costs associated with issuing a bond; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to ex

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you, Adam. Speaker 1: 24 Communication from City Attorney Recommendation of Declare Ordinance Amending the Long Beach Municipal Code all relating to sidewalk dining and parklets within the city's right of way. Read for the first time in lead over the next regular meeting of the City Council for Final Reading Citywide. Speaker 0: Any public comment on this item? CNN. Is there a question come from Boston? Speaker 8: Yes, just a question really quick for staff, our public works director. Speaker 0: Mr. Beck. Speaker 8: I wanted to just make sure the delay maybe for the city attorney, the language regarding the 10% parking is actually in the ordinance. Speaker 5: I didn't see it. I have. I do not have it right in front of me, but I believe it is in there and we will make sure it is in there or I will bring it back. Speaker 8: Okay. Thank you. Speaker 0: Okay. There is a motion in a second saying no public comment on this, so please cast your votes.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending and restating Chapter 14.14, and by adding Chapter 14.15; all relating to sidewalk dining and parklets within the City's right-of-way, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: 25 please. Speaker 1: Communication from City Attorney Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code all relating to smoking in public places. Read for the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for Final Reading Citywide. Speaker 0: Any public comment on this item? There's a motion and a second. Please come forward if you have public comment for this item. Speaker 5: Good evening. Bill Balding, a resident of five. District five. I'm here to talk in favor. Speak in favor of smoke free outdoor dining and shook in Long Beach. I'd like to see that ordinance passed without any amendments or restrictions, no time limits or exemptions. And I'd like to tell you why I think that's very important. So, first of all, residents of Long Beach overwhelmingly support smoke free outdoor dining. 85% of our population is nonsmokers, and the other 15% like to try to quit if they could find out a method that is effective. The up and down the coast of California, cities like Los Angeles, Huntington Beach, Redondo, Laguna Beach have gone smoke free. Their dining patios are completely free of smoke, and the residents support those measures entirely. Residents of Long Beach do the same here. They'd like to see smoke free outdoor dining. The second point is that we have a health equity issue here. 70% of office workers like myself and like you are protected by smoke free. Air ordinances don't have to deal with tobacco in the workplace. But if you're a low paid service worker working in a restaurant, you're forced to breathe in. To a second hand smoke on a daily basis, greatly affecting your health. Third, I'd like to address very quickly the notion that somehow there's a negative economic impact with smoking restrictions. That's absolutely opposite of the truth. The truth is, every time smoking restrictions are put in place, business improves. We know that. You know that because you've gone through that fight here in the seventies and Long Beach when you made bars and restaurants smoke free, I ask you to continue the work that you began then and put Long Beach back in the progressive column in bringing smoke free outdoor dining throughout the city. Thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Please come forward. Speaker 1: Hi. Good evening, Mayor and council members. My name is Amanda Staples and with the American Heart Association. And I've reached out to a number of the officers regarding. Just wanted to touch base and introduce myself. However, what we are looking at this piece of legislation very closely and as is I mean we are in support of is smoke free dining here in Long Beach. With the considerations made, we feel that the policy as is has been introduced here would not address that issue. So we feel as a mission, as our mission is, to ensure folks have longer, healthier lives, that this will be a determinant to that. Smoking is deadly not only to the smokers, but with regards to secondhand smoke. And so we want to just ensure that Long Beach is right there lung protecting those folks that work there and want to enjoy here in Long Beach. I understand that this city is a very tourist and engages in welcoming so many new folks. But I do ask that this legislation be look like be looked at to not only those that visit and come here to play, but those that live and work here. So we ask that that the considerations, considerations be removed, the amendments made be reconsidered, and we hope to continue working with the offices here. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 5: Yes. Speaker 9: I'm here as one of the co-founders of the Long Beach Farm and Alliance. Speaker 5: And since our city is based on this new design. Speaker 9: Of putting retail at the bottom and apartments on top of our a lot of our new apartments in a lot of these retails are. Speaker 5: Going to help restaurants with outside dining. Speaker 9: Which means the smoke would go up upstairs to the apartments. We've seen the commercials every day on TV where they show people smoking down below and the smokes, traveling into people's apartments with children and so on. And this was going to happen to everyday life. We need to have. Speaker 5: 100% smoke free dining so people can bring their families, their children. And we're known for being a. Speaker 9: Dog friendly city. And it shows now that our dogs are now getting cancer, too, from secondhand smoke. And we do a beach cleanup every four Sunday of the month and we pick up cigaret butts and we're. Speaker 5: Losing the battle. We're seeing more cigaret butts on the beach and so on. And some of these cigaret butts will come from the dining. Speaker 9: Area where people will be smoking if you let it stay in place. And one of the thing that came up was about the special permits, because children are not out after 1030. Well, Long Beach does not enforce its curfew laws. I hang out. Speaker 5: In the Pike Shoreline. Speaker 9: Village and down in Belmont Shores. I see. Speaker 5: Children out every time on the weekends past. Speaker 9: Midnight, coming from the movies. Speaker 5: Coming from special events that family events have. We have. Speaker 9: Down in the downtown area a lot of. Speaker 5: Events going on. Some of the events are like. Speaker 9: Gymnastics for youth. And these people come and spend the whole weekend doing these engagements and they're out about hanging out until past midnight. So the idea that having special permits where people can smoke after a certain time, it would not work because children are out during these times. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Our last speaker. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mayor Garcia. It's been a long evening, hasn't it? My name is Melinda Cotton and I live in Belmont Shore. I've worked with the Health Department and the Coalition for a smoke free Long Beach for many years. And we thank the Council for bringing forward the outdoor dining ban on smokers dining smoking in the dining areas. I and my friends are very excited about it because Belmont Shore has a lot of children walking along the street and to have smoking in the patios would certainly drift over toward the children and toward them. The problem I think with this is, is it was done late at night without a lot of consultation with the health department and the the Coalition for a smoke free Long Beach. And there's two exemptions that are concerning the one allowing smoking in dining areas after 11. There's still children on the street there, young people still the smoke still travels. And as we've heard, we have many multi-use buildings now that have retail and restaurants on the first floor and homes above. And the people above 11:00 are had their windows open. They're trying to sleep and there will be smoke coming in from them. And then there's the workers themselves, service workers who will be affected by the smoke. And then, I don't quite understand, to allow a site, a restaurant, to have two, ten day periods a year when they can allow smoking in the outdoor area, just open again , the restaurant and the public to smoking. And this is during the daytime hours. There's no limits on it. So we would certainly ask you to reconsider those two exemptions. If you talk to the health department, the tobacco education program, which does a great job and we'd all like to participate in and to try to improve that because as I say, people are really excited to have smoke free outdoor dining. Thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you. That concludes public comment. Councilwoman Price. Speaker 7: Thank you. I'm asking my council colleagues to support this item. This is an item that we've actually been working on for a few years. We have consulted with the health department. In fact, we postponed the item to tonight to ensure that they would be present in order to assist or answer any questions. There are some limited restrictions that applied to a very, very small number of facilities within the city. And those facilities include facilities that we have a lot of in the downtown area. So we did a lot of outreach with business owners as well, and they're really restricted on the time in order to reduce exposure to the children and youth, which for me was the reason that I initiated drafting this item and doing outreach on it a few years ago. So we think that the restrictions are limited in scope to address some of the concerns that were raised by some of our business entities in researching other cities and how they've done it. The smoking ban has been expanded over time in many cities. And so I think one thing that we can do as a city is maybe reevaluate in a year and see if there's an interest on council to expand this to include to to remove any and all exemptions. But I will say that the exemptions as outlined below are extremely limited in scope, affect very few establishments where the primary service is not food service and they do allow for special events permits to be obtained at the discretion of city staff and in regards to exemptions that would apply to this for a limited period of time . So I believe that this is an effort for a city of our size to be able to strike a balance and initiate some policy that is very positive and forward thinking and protects our residents from secondhand smoke and our visitors as well. And certainly I think this is something we can reevaluate in a year to see if we want to expand it further. But I think, again, we're talking about a very nominal, a negligible number of businesses that would even qualify within the exemptions that are listed here. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Vice Mayor. Councilman Austin. Speaker 8: Hello. I just wanted to get some some clarification. And just in terms of intent, because I know that there are and I think you you alluded to it. Councilmember Price businesses that that that are tobacco related with this particular item prohibit them from smoking on their patios. Speaker 7: You know, we've received some questions about that with cigar lounges in particular. I don't believe this word, but I'll defer to the city attorney on that as that is something we talked about when the item was first brought forth. Speaker 5: I'm not sure I got the whole question on cigar lounges. And does this apply to cigar lounges? Yes, it would. Speaker 8: So. So cigar lounges would not long be no longer be able to smoke on their patios. Speaker 5: Yeah. I think it if it's smoking. Speaker 8: Because if the intent is outdoor dining. Speaker 5: I think if the I'm sorry, if the if the, if it doesn't meet the definition of eating establishment, then it wouldn't apply, right? So then the answer is no. If it's the cigar lounge. I'm getting confused with the cigar lounge. We we have a lot of issues going on with the scar lounges and alcohol and whether alcohol is served or not. But I believe the answer is this does not. Could could we have Laura Turnbull or Kelly Collopy just answer that definitively? Speaker 4: No the ordinances for smoke free dining. Speaker 2: And so it does not apply to cigar lounges that do not serve food or alcohol. Speaker 8: At this point, yes. Understood. Thank you for the clarification. Speaker 0: Thank you. There's a motion in a second. I believe we did public comment on this, so please cast your votes.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Sections 8.68.020, 8.68.060, 8.68.065, 8.68.075, 8.68.090 and Subsection 8.68.110.A; all relating to smoking in public places, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

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Speaker 0: There's a lot of folks here for both. Just want to please be expeditious and respectful to each group so we can get one, one topic done and then move on to the next one and on our entire rest of the agenda. So item two, please. Speaker 1: Communication from City Manager. Your recommendation to authorize the city manager to execute all documents to enter into a S.A.F.E. City's network agreement with the Vera Institute of Justice to establish a legal defense fund and program in the amount not to exceed 250,000 citywide. Speaker 0: Okay, Mr. West. Speaker 3: Mr. Mayor, council members, we have a brief PowerPoint to go with this. Our deputy city manager, Kevin Jackson, will be here in a moment. Speaker 0: Well, you can go ahead and start it, Mr. West. Well, you set that up 1/2. Is Councilman Austin on on the line? Speaker 8: I am. Speaker 0: Okay. So let me so think so. We do have Councilman Austin who is here for hour from a remote location. So he is participating in just getting the clicker. So. Speaker 3: So this has been before us some time ago. We've been asked by the City Council to look at the Vera Institute to come back to help operate this program. And with that, I'm going to turn it over to our Office of Equity Manager, Katie, and she'll start the presentation until Kevin gets her. Speaker 5: Great. Thank you, Pat. Good evening, Mayor. And members of the city council. In this presentation, we will provide some background information as context for the recommendation. We'll provide an overview of the proposed agreement terms with the VRA Institute of Justice, and we'll share information about the recent interest in the justice fund we received from the Long Beach Bar Association. On March 13th, City Council adopted the Long Beach Values Act of 2018 and requested that staff investigate the establishment of a legal defense fund in the amount of $250,000, including universal representation, and to report back with options based on this initial council direction. Staff identified two potential options for creating a. Speaker 2: Local legal defense fund. Speaker 5: That could be feasibly implemented. We explored the possibility of having a local foundation serve as a fiscal intermediary with the city serving as the direct program manager. We found that this option would require a significant amount of staff, time and. Speaker 9: Capacity currently unavailable in the. Speaker 5: City. Specifically, it would require city staff to attain a high level of specialized expertize about the immigration system and additional staffing. Speaker 9: At at least half time. Speaker 5: FTE and the Office. Speaker 9: Of Equity to effectively. Speaker 5: Manage a legal service program for removal defense. Additionally, in this model, the city would likely have to pay an administrative fee for a local foundation to manage the charitable fund. We also explored available opportunities for initiating a community based fund and program with general city oversight and in the financial analysis, found this option to be the preferred approach to initiating the local justice fund. The results of this analysis was outlined in a memo to City Council on July 20th. Speaker 10: Yeah. I'll take over with me. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Katie. And on September 4th, City Council adopted the Fy19 budget and approved $250,000 for the land to establish the Long Beach Justice Fund. In order to initiate the community based justice fund, staff identified the need for four three things to meet three objectives one to identify an experienced agency to set up and manage the fund, including conducting an RFP process to select a qualified community legal services provider, and two a third party agency to administer grants to legal services providers. And finally, the third objective, in order to make this effort successful, would be to identify a method to expand the fund through matching donations and grants. In our research, we found that very Institute of Justice through its Safe Cities Network project meets all of the above all of these objectives. Viera has successfully worked with 12 jurisdictions in eight states across the nation to establish, manage and evaluate their legal defense fund. The jurisdictions identified here as part of the Safe Network have contributed public funding to initiate immigrant legal defense funds, according to the community's unique needs, with the benefit of in-kind technical assistance and match funding from Viera in one program with proven results. Beer has the capability to establish and manage a terrible fund in support of Remove Defense Services, manage and evaluate legal services programs requiring unique expertize about the immigration system, provide in-kind technical assistance to community based legal organizations and local jurisdictions. Provide match funding to support initiation of local funds. Facilitate access to successful practices through peer to peer information, sharing with network members, and ultimately build SD of the community to provide these very specialized immigration legal services. Because of these unique capabilities. It is the staff's recommendation that VRE is the most efficient option for providing these services at this time. Under the proposed agreement, Bera would conduct a RFP process and would work with the city to select a qualified legal services provider or providers. Establish performance metrics, monitor the quality of legal representation, and evaluate the success of the legal services program. We would also provide training and technical assistance to legal services providers, establish payment and reporting systems, work with the city, local stakeholders and legal service providers to communicate the status of the program implementation and serve as the fiscal intermediary for two years and work with the city to transition the fund to the appropriate local organization thereafter. Most recently, Vere has also announced the opportunity for additional jurisdictions to apply for Safe Cities membership, which could provide $100,000 in catalyst grant funding. Viera has affirmed with us that we are competitive. We are a competitive applicant because of the proposed model that the city is discussing tonight. The city as part of this agreement would commit funding an amount of $250,000, assist with the selection of a legal service provider. Identify local nonprofit to manage the fund after the two year agreement expires with beer assist bureau. With public communication efforts, we would assign a staff liaison to participate in beer, organize conference calls and convenings, assist bureau with the collection of data to evaluate the project and identify opportunities to sustain the legal services program into the future. Once selected, the legal service services provider would offer the following services removal defense to prevent deportation of detained or non detained individuals. Affirmative legal representation including support for Dacca, asylum seekers, victims of crime, domestic violence, domestic violence or human trafficking. Individuals seeking naturalization and other affirmative immigration remedies. In order to be eligible for these services, individuals would have to reside or work in Long Beach and have a household income below 200% of the federal poverty level, which is about $50,200 per family of four. Now we know many local regional partners, including the Legal Aid Foundation of LA, Central China, immigrant defenders and others have some level of experience providing immigration. Immigration Legal Services, and we would anticipate that they may be interested in responding to the RFP. On November 8th, the city received correspondence from the Long Beach Bar Association, indicating its interest in providing legal services as part of the Long Beach Justice Fund through its network of 400 attorneys working and working with the city to design a program around best practices. While the Bar Association does have experienced immigration attorneys within its network, it does not currently have the defined program a defined program for administering a legal defense fund for detain or detain immigrants at risk of removal. However, utilizing experienced immigration attorneys from its network, the Bar Association could respond to the RFP process as an eligible legal service provider. One potential source of funding that could help sustain the justice fund if established, is the state of California's one California Immigration Services funding. This initiative was funded in fiscal year 2016 through an initial investment of $15 million and now has increased to $45 million annually through 2020. With this funding, the California Department of Social Services, through its Immigration Branch funds qualified nonprofit organizations to provide services for immigrants, including removal, defense advocates seeking naturalization assistance services to assist applicants seeking other immigration remedies, legal training and technical assistance services and education outreach activities. In fiscal year 18, the state funded 44 organizations in Los Angeles County, three of which are located in Long Beach, including the Cambodia Association of America, Central Cha, the United Cambodian community and the United Cambodian community. These local organizations are funded to provide education, outreach and application assistance. 16 state funded organizations in L.A. County receive funding for removal defense, but none are located in the city of Long Beach. The city's one time investment of local funds for this purpose could address this gap and could could also help build the local capacity infrastructure needed to leverage the state funding moving forward. In addition to any future charitable donations and foundation grants that might be available. That concludes the staff's presentation and staff will turn it over to counsel for further questions. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. I do have a motion in a second by Councilman Gonzales. I think the council wants to do public comment. Speaker 5: You can do public comment first, please. Speaker 0: So if you're here for public comment on there's the motion currently on the floor is to approve staff's recommendation to go with the very institute. That's what there's a motion and a second on. If you have public comment, please come forward. Now would be the time. No other public comment. Please line, line up. And then I'm going to close the speakers list and we're going to we're going to move on to the city council. So please go ahead and line up if you want to speak on this topic. If not, I will close the speakers list. Kate, please begin. Speaker 3: Begin now. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, and members of the City Council. My name is Paul Carter and I'm president of the Long Beach Bar Association. The Long Beach Bar Association has a adjunct program, which is the Long Beach Bar Foundation. And both of those organizations have full time executive directors and staff, and the staff is also bilingual. And we've been in the community for over 100 years now, and we're Long Beach lawyers giving back to the Long Beach community. We do the scholarship program where we give scholarships to students. Mr. Mayor, you awarded the scholarships in 2016. We have a help. The public program where we meet once a month and we give free legal advice to members of the community. And what we do there is we triage their legal problem and send them in the right direction as to what is the next step that they have to take. We have a short step program where we meet with juvenile offenders and we help get them back on track so they can graduate from high school and go on to lead productive lives. Robin Perry, one of our members, is working with Doug Halbert on an expungement program and he's been doing that for quite some time to help members of the community get back on track. The justice fund is very important. And we as attorneys know it's very important. And we as attorneys know that the Trump administration has created a great amount of hostility towards undocumented people. And those people need our help and we're willing to offer a partnership to the city of Long Beach. We'll use our local expert immigration attorneys. With more than 100 years of combined experience will do direct billing for legal services rendered with no upfront commitment of the full amount. We'll only spend what we use. If the money is not spent, we won't spend it and we won't take it. We have flat rate structures, which is typical in the immigration representation community and we do quarterly report, we will do quarterly reporting requests with outcomes and identifying the clients that we have in the pipeline and letting the council know what exactly we are doing and what you're getting for your dollars. Will consult with Vera and other immigration rights groups. And we will build capacity within the language community immigration attorney network. Most of our staffs in our offices as language attorneys because of the large Hispanic Hispanic community, are bilingual. We have the ability to communicate. And we're here to serve. We. We will do everything we have to. I have already spoken with the next president, Long Beach Bar Association. She's 100% committed to this. She's asked me to stay on and help guide this. And I've told her I will do that and we can set up the fund and we can direct it and we can manage the money and make sure that if not all the money is spent, we're not going to take it. We're only interested in helping people and that's what we do. Thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Before our next speaker begins, I'm going to close the speakers list. So if you're not in line right now, the speaker's list will be closed, I believe our last speaker is Jessica Quintana. Going once, going twice. Speaker's list is closed. Next speaker. Speaker 2: Good evening. My name is Angela McGill. I am a lawyer with the Long Beach Bar Association. I have been. Speaker 1: An immigration attorney for 22. Speaker 2: Years. My office is in Long Beach and I'm bilingual in Spanish. English, and I am willing to help. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Absolutely. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening, councilmembers. My name is Jonathan Solorzano, resident of the ninth District and the senior community organizer for the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition. I'm here tonight to speak on behalf of the sanctuary lobby's campaign in favor of the Vera Institute and explain why the city of Long Beach should sign a contract with them to ensure the best possible scenario for the use of this deportation defense fund. The Institute has a proven track record of providing excellent service to cities and a Safe Cities initiative, a network of over 20 cities nationwide that have taken initiative to protect their immigrant communities without exceptions. One of the more important requirements that make Severe Institute appealing to partner up with is the universal representation aspect of their partnership. By partnering up with the Vera Institute, we are committing this city to ensure the protection of all our immigrant communities, something that is sorely needed during these difficult times as immigrants under the Trump administration, providing our communities with second chances to not only remain in this country but also rehabilitate is a step in the right direction to push back against the deportation defense machine and the criminal justice systems policies of mass incarceration. Finally, I wanted to reiterate that the use of these funds should go exclusively to deportation defense. The City of Long Beach has amazing local nonprofits to provide services such as Doc and Citizen Citizenship, among others. And it is because of this reason that we, the Sanctuary Long Beach Coalition, should continue the focus of this fund around the task of deportation defense, as that is what's most lacking in immigrant communities at this moment. Finally, as a representative of the Sanctuary Long Beach Coalition, we are urging this board to approve the Vera Institute as the fiscal sponsor for the Deportation Defense Fund. I will be sharing with you all a one pager that clearly explains the top five reasons why making this contract happen would be in the city's best interest, as well as the Long Beach immigrant communities best interest. And tonight, you're also going to hear from other community members who are going to further explain why going with the Vera Institute is the best option for the city. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Good evening, counsel. My name is Sho Asi. I'm a product of Long Beach's Cambodian community. A homeowner in the city's district and at Mama Justice strengthened. My girls in action. My Girls in Action is a youth organization here in Long Beach. Even though we work exclusively with Southeast Asian youth from refugee families, we've come, we detain men. Deportation is a critical issue to our organization because we know that detainment and deportation have impacts on families. Since 2000 to 550 Cambodian refugees have been deported. In 2018, we we hit an all time low. Deporting 43 Cambodian refugees, many of whom are were deported for decades old convictions and have. Speaker 7: And already served. Speaker 2: Time for. For those the fathers, brothers and families of five year olds in actions, youth are being deported, adding fear, uncertainty, severe financial hardship, childhood trauma and childhood trauma to our community, which already disproportionately suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Deportation defense is a critical resource to fight this administration's anti-immigrant policies. Speaker 9: And to and to support our community, which is still in the process of healing. Speaker 5: With our partners in the. Speaker 2: Sanctuary Long Beach Coalition. We strongly urge the Council to enter into a Safe Cities Network Agreement so that our community, because our communities, trust the very institute to provide matching funds that's for teeth needed technical assistance, and to work with our our community organizations to ensure that community members. Speaker 9: Including the Long Beach, Cambodian community, have access to the funds. Speaker 2: Thank you. Speaker 0: Yes, please. Speaker 2: Speaker Hello. Good evening, council members. Speaker 5: My name. Speaker 2: Is Stephanie Medina and I'm a student at Cal State. Speaker 5: Long Beach. I am also the president of Fuel, which stands for for Undocumented Empowered Leaders, a student organization on campus. I come here to represent all. Speaker 9: Undocumented students on campus. Speaker 5: And their families. I'm very happy that you were able to approve the resources to establish the Long Beach Justice Fund. I know that this accomplishment did not occur overnight, and I know that there were a lot of people that work day and night to make this effort a reality. So now we have to the next step is deciding on who will manage the fund. So this means that I fall under those who will benefit from this fund. And I believe that the Vera Institute is the most qualified sponsor to handle the Long Beach Justice Fund. I trust that this partnership with Long Beach will have us help assist undocumented folks if they ever find themselves in a situation. Speaker 2: Of. Speaker 5: Needing legal representation. I trust that their expertize across the country is enough for them to truly assist Long Beach folks. And I understand that this partnership with the Long Beach, with Long Beach will help continue the efforts of immigrant rights organizations in our neighborhoods. We must remember that universal representation is important when it comes to fighting against unjust immigration laws in our country. People who have the criminal justice system do not deserve to be double punished by the law. As a person who is directly impacted by the risk of deportation, I encourage you to vote yes on this contract with the Vera Institute. Thank you for your time. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, I know that had said that Jessica Quintana was the last speaker. So did you guys move? Did Jessica move up, too? Okay. You guys were already in line before. That's right. So just be clear. This isn't. There's no one else speaking. These are speaker's list. Next speaker. Speaker 5: Thank you. Good evening. My name is Lily Ortiz. I live in District nine and I'm a student at Cal State Long Beach. I'm also the commissioner for Undocumented Students of. As an undocumented student myself, the impacts of deportation are immensely negative for my family and I. I aspire to finish my bachelor's degree and continue in school until I reach my Ph.D. and ultimately obtain my career with the dream of giving back to my community and this country. Speaker 11: This will not be possible. Speaker 5: If I am at risk of deportation, and that is why I believe that this deportation fund is very important. Speaker 2: To those who are. Speaker 5: In this situation. The Vera Institute is the right institute to hold these funds because they have the capacity that is needed to distribute the funds and they will also match $100,000 more. The Vera Institute has the right expertize to accommodate the money to better serve those who need it. Universal representation is key because everyone should have the equal right to representation regardless if they've had history with the criminal justice system. People should not be double punished as a person personally affected by the risk of deportation. I want to ask you to vote yes on this contract with the Vera Institute. Speaker 11: Thank you for your time. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening. My name is Eduardo Lara, and I'm a resident of the Second District and a faculty at Cal State Long Beach. I am also here to lend my support for the partnership with the Vera Institute. First, I want to commend the Council members in support of the original funds and now in taking the next step. There are a couple of themes us to me during the equity presentation. Those themes are one of highly specialized expertize needed and an experienced agency and one that is efficiency because this is an urgent matter. Given those themes, I think it is important for us to move forward with our partnership with the Vera Institute and also in paraphrasing their area of expertize. I'm going to quote straight from their main site. For too long, most immigrants facing the terrifying prospect of deportation from their homes, loved ones, communities and families have had no access to legal counsel and have found themselves navigating have found themselves navigating the complexities of immigration law alone. The Safe Network, which has mentioned here Time Again, aims to change that imbalance and ensure due process for all immigrants. Much like a public defense model in criminal cases. The universal representation model advances the safe network, which means that everyone at risk for deportation should have access to due process under the law. In times like this, in this political moment, it is important for us to be urgent, to move expeditiously and move forward with experts. So I urge your support in partnership with the Vera Institute, and I thank you for listening to our comments tonight. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Speaker, please. Speaker 5: Hello, council members. My name is Sarah Compact, and I'm a legal fellow at the National Immigration Law Center. I'm here to show my support for the Long Beach Justice Fund and the recommendation to move forward with the VRA Institute. Currently, many immigrants fight their cases alone in immigration court. On one side is an individual fighting their case, and on the other is a government trained, a highly, highly trained government attorney with the full disposal of their legal skills, legal knowledge and expertize in immigration law, which is a very complicated area of law. The glaring imbalance of legal knowledge, access to justice and due process allows the anti-immigrant Trump deportation machine to blaze forward and full steam ahead. Losing a family member or a loved one due to deportation is serious, with long term impacts. When critical members of the Long Beach community disappear due to immigration, detention or deportation, families in Long Beach are ruptured. Communities are filled with fear and trauma, and the city and the city's economy, health and safety is severely threatened. The Long Beach Justice Fund is a significant step in restoring due process and fairness to immigrants and their communities. The fund must prioritize providing legal representation for immigrants who are fighting their cases in immigration court over affirmative representation services. Affirmative representation includes applying for benefits such as DOCA naturalization or an immigration visa. And while these are very important services, many legal organizations and nonprofits already provide affirmative representation services, and they receive federal and state government funding to do so. We cannot divert valuable and limited justice when dollars to these already funded services. Instead, we ask the city to go forward and prioritize providing critical legal defense services so that the justice fund can make the greatest impact for the unserved communities and populations. The Council should approve the recommendation and we ask that they move forward, that you all move forward with your institute tonight. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 11: Hello. My name is Ann. Speaker 2: Burdette and I'm Jan Ford. Speaker 11: And together we are co-founders of Sacred Resistance, which is a coalition of over 20 faith communities in Long Beach. And we are here to thank you tonight on behalf of that coalition for passing initially the Language Values Act Array and also for the Long Beach Justice Fund. We are thrilled that Long Beach has the opportunity to partner with the Vera Institute of Justice for fiscal sponsorship of our own justice fund. Speaker 2: I have read online the comments. Speaker 11: Of the mayors and council members of the dozen cities that have worked with Vera on the last year. And they unanimously speak to the fact that Vera's support, through its Safe Network, which stands for Safety and Fairness for everyone, has improved their cities. In the words of Councilmember Elizabeth Brown from Columbus, Ohio, she sort of summed it up When we give immigrants the resources they need to establish their legal right to live in the United States, we make our city a stronger, safer and more vibrant place to live. Well, that's what Long Beach is, and I think it will continue to be with his partnership with the Vera Institute of Justice. Speaker 2: Thank you for your time. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Good evening. Mayor Garcia, members of the city council. My name is Jessica Quintana. I'm the executive director of Central Asia. We have a long history of providing immigrant integration services that include citizenship and legal services for folks that are just as involved. Getting ready to apply for their green card status, renewing their green card status, helping folks who are low income, limited funds, and helping them with fee waivers to ensure that they achieve citizenship. I could tell you in this day and this climate under this administration, there is no one that's safe. I don't care what immigrant status you have. So it's very important that, you know, we take measures to protect our immigrants here locally. And I'm so glad and very excited about this agenda item and proposing the Safe Cities Network Agreement. I don't think there could be a better name for this this initiative. And I just want to thank Councilwoman Gonzalez and the rest of the council members for bringing this forward and really having this discussion and and really immigrant rights coalition for championing this initiative. But it's so very important in our long history of working with immigrants in this city. And, you know, we do this on an annual basis with thousands of people who come through our doors. And so this population, you know, is very much in need of support and in integration and not just immigration services, but with removal, defense and and helping them to integrate, you know, into the communities through citizenship, workforce development, housing. So I want to ensure that when we have this discussion, it's a discussion not on just one area, but that we're focusing on the whole integration part with the immigrants that live here. You know, we have folks that have gained their status and their citizenship, but they're still living low, low income. They're still living from paycheck to paycheck. So, you know, we've got to have, you know, a larger and bigger discussion as to how do we locally support our immigrants and how do we continue to help them through the pathway, through integration and higher wages and achieving the ultimate citizenship and keeping our families together and keeping them home. So thank you so much and thank you, counsel, for having this discussion and very proud of you guys tonight bringing this forward. And I look forward to to a great agreement among you all. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Good afternoon, Mayor City Council. Thank you, Lina Gonzalez, for bringing this item up. My name is Sandra L.A. and I'm with the great Lumbee Interfaith Community Organization. Speaker 11: My organization represents more than 15. Speaker 2: Congregations in Long Beach, and we are part of Pico, California State Organization and also part. Speaker 9: Of Faith in Action National. Speaker 2: I'm here today to urge the city council members to vote in favor of the Viera Institute. My organization has been working for more than ten years on immigration issues at different levels of government. Speaker 9: We stand with the VRA. Speaker 2: Institute not only because they will match the funds with an extra $100,000, but he has experience on managing deportation defense funds throughout the nation. When we learn that the Long Beach Bar Association was interested in also managing these funds, we called and asked some of the attorneys. I have been working with us for years. Their feedback was that they are not part of the Long Beach Bar Association because they don't have an immigration focus group as other bar associations such. Speaker 9: As the L.A. one. We are here advocating for what's. Speaker 2: Best for our community. The immigrant community has been very hurt for not by not expert immigration attorneys that have in some cases very damaging their chances of actually getting their residencies. Please do these right and vote for the contract. Speaker 11: With the Vera Institute. Thank you so much. Speaker 0: Q And our final speaker. Speaker 5: Good evening. My name is Tania Sasuke and I work for the Vera Institute of Justice. I have some materials for the council members if I can share them with you at the at the end. So Vera has a long track record in this space and a lot of accomplishments. No other organization has Vera's combined capacity and and experience in providing infrastructure and support to create and manage national programs in the area of legal services providers and legal information. Vera has had since 2005 and aggregate annual budgets of 70 million and federally funded programs to provide legal representation and legal information to both adults and unaccompanied children's and deportation proceedings, most of them detained. These national programs operate in more than 35 cities and have significantly increased the efficiency of immigrant proceedings. Through this work, Vera has constructed a nationwide network of immigrant legal service providers that serve more than 100,000 immigrants each year. Despite the high stakes, people in immigrations do not have a right of government funded counsel. They must navigate the notoriously complicated and ever changing labyrinth of immigration law by themselves against a government trained attorney. The Safe Network is a diverse group of a dozen cities and counties across the country that are dedicated to due process and a fair day in court. A principle that is central to America's vision of justice. Building off the success of the Safe Network on the first year and growing national momentum towards universal representation. Vera is inviting applicants to join the National Growing Movement by submitting a letter of interest. The city of Longreach has already fulfilled the first step towards membership in the network and based on various communications with representatives of the city of Long Beach. Its various understanding that Longreach Legal Defense Fund meets all the safe membership requirements. And we therefore expect the application from City of Long Beach to be a competitive one. As a member of the network, Vera would provide an ongoing data driven evaluation of this program to ensure accountability of the public dollar spent as well demonstrate the efficacy of the program in addition to the catalyst of up to 100,000 from Barrow . Our goal is to demonstrate the value of providing immigrants with legal representation using robust and evidence based models I have. These packets includes information on the request for proposal, as well as an evaluation and a fact sheet on the first year of the network. And another fact sheet regarding the impact that immigration attorneys have in removal cases. Speaker 0: They can you can just leave those actually with the clerk over here. Thank you very much. And I'm going to go ahead and close public comment. Thank everyone that spoke. So with that, let me turn this back to the maker of the motion. Councilman Gonzales. Speaker 5: Yes. I first want to thank everybody for being here and everyone who has worked with my office in particular. So I will thank the sanctuary, coalition language, immigrant rights, coalition language forward central chalk my girls in Action. CSU will be fuel. I am 947 for their letter of Support and National Law Center and we thank everyone for being here and all of their work. This is not been something that happened overnight. As someone said, this has been a lot of years of work that everybody has been gathering and making sure that we're being very mindful and thoughtful in this. I will just reiterate a few of the points about why the Institute is so very essential. Certainly matching funds, which you wouldn't get anywhere, but experience decades of experience in the issue of immigration, a national perspective. In fact, I work at Microsoft. We work with them as a data partner. So being able to have that global perspective that can bring the city of Long Beach on a higher level in terms of what we're doing here, that is so above and beyond what other cities might be doing, technical assistance and training. Training, of course, transparency overall in what we're doing, key performance indicators, evaluation and data, which I think when you're using city funding and money, it's exactly what you want. And over 90% of their funds goes towards programs and services and they post all of their financials and board information online. So everything is completely clear and transparent parent. But overall, they have community trust, which I think is extremely important, especially with this very important issue. So I will say, I hope that my colleagues can support this today. What I will ask is a couple of questions. I know that we have segregated within the item a percentage of of the funds dedicated towards Dhaka, asylum seeking and then another dedicated towards deportation defense. From what I'm hearing and what I've known about the community is that we have a lot of that work already being done. We'd like to transfer a lot of that, well, 100% of that work towards deportation defense. And I think that's the focus of this of this fund. So I'd like to make an amendment to be able to do that 100% towards deportation defense, first and foremost. And then secondly, I have a question. I want. Speaker 0: To make sure the second or the motion contrary. Speaker 5: CAP. Thank you. And then secondly, how quickly will you know this is the first step. This is the management aspect, the matching funds getting this this done. The second step is the RFP, which will include community input, which will also include the city working together. Correct. Okay. Speaker 10: That is correct. Speaker 5: And the RFP is out there. Anyone who is interested can respond to the RFP at this point. Who has immigration. Deportation. Defense? Yes. Speaker 10: The. Councilwoman Gonzalez, I just like to point out that the the RFP process has not yet been initiated. We were predicating that on, you know, council's decision on the agreement. But, you know, should council pass to adopt the agreement, we would immediately, immediately follow up with developing an initiating RFP process for the selection of a legal services provider or providers. That said, we would need to do some preliminary work with with Viera. And we also plans to work with community organizations in the process of defining the criteria for that RFP process. So there would be a little bit of work to do to initiate it. But certainly if council were to adopt the agreement, that process would start right away. Speaker 5: So we'd start right away. Do we have an estimation on when the fund would be available for. For this work. Given if everything runs smoothly with the RFP, do we have an estimation on when that could be available? Speaker 10: I would estimate. mid-February. Yes. Speaker 5: Okay, great. Well, I will conclude with, you know, we've decided that we wanted to move forward with this in the budget. Now, this is the next step in really, really receiving a return on investment on these funds with matching funds and then really moving forward and starting the the process in early February. And I really think Katie and Kevin, for all of their work as well in this, I know kind of getting the community together on many occasions, getting everyone involved and hopefully on the same page is very difficult oftentimes. But you got us there. So I really appreciate it and I urge my council colleagues to support this tonight. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Count summary, Ranga. Speaker 3: Thank you, Barry. And I want to thank Councilmember Gonzalez for bringing this forward. It's it's an issue that has been at the forefront of headlines for not only locally, but across the country. And I think that adding that aspect and making sure that it's that we concentrate on deportations, I think it's a Great Amendment and I certainly agree with that. And I think that we should move forward with that. I also want to thank staff for their thoughtfulness and in putting this together and putting a lot of reaching out to the community and trying to get as much information as we can to ensure that whatever package we put forward, such as the one we're putting forward tonight, is the best that can be possibly put together. So I strongly support the the motion and with the amendment, and I would also encourage my colleagues to do the same. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Mongo. Speaker 9: Yes, I have a couple of questions. So one of the things that was mentioned was that 90% of the funding goes to programs. What guarantees do we have or can we write into the proposal or contract that ensure that all $250,000 stays for Long Beach residents? Speaker 0: Mr. Jackson. Speaker 10: Councilwoman Mongo, members of city council. According to the draft agreement that is proposed tonight, 100% of the funding would the $250,000 would be committed to services here in Long Beach? That would be absolutely part of the agreement. Speaker 9: And what is the percentage of overhead? Speaker 10: There is no overhead. All the services that the Viera Institute plans to provide are in-kind in addition to any match that they might offer. Speaker 9: And then the document they provided shows ten cities. They mentioned 12. Do we know what the other two cities are that will be in competition with. Speaker 10: Well, there are 12 jurisdictions between cities and counties participating in the network now. And so this new RFP, they have room for including at least five more jurisdictions. And so if we are successful, we will be one of the five jurisdictions that would become a part of the network and receive the Kellis grant funding. Speaker 9: And what if we are not successful? Do we have the option to return our $250,000 and perhaps award it directly to Central Shore or directly to the Bar Association? If we are not chosen as a it says in the documentation a member and say we get a partner status or an affiliate status, do we at that time have the option to return to council and make adjustments? Speaker 10: I guess if council directs us to do that tonight, certainly we could do that. You know, the membership is not contingent upon receiving the grant. However, we're you know, we understand that we're in a favorable position to receive the grant based upon the model we propose, if any event that we weren't not successful in receiving the grant . We would still qualify to be a part of the membership so that that decision would be a council decision to to, you know, determine whether or not we should come back. Speaker 9: But it's an option. Speaker 10: It is definitely an option. Speaker 9: Wonderful. And have you done some research on the rates of the attorneys that are available through the Vera Institute? As I know, the Bar Association, when they discussed some things at a previous meeting, they said they had a flat rate of 20 $500 per case. I mean, do we have a flat rate? Is it billable? How do we ensure that the people who need the services don't start down a process and then are cut off in some way? Speaker 10: Yeah. Certainly the rate would be negotiated as part of the contracting process. I don't have any, you know, specific information about other agreements and about what those rates would conceivably be. I know early on in this process we were working on the Long Beach Values Act. There was an estimate of anywhere between, I think, 2500 to $5000 per case. But to qualify that, the idea would be for for legal representation for the duration of the case. So regardless of, you know, the rate, there would be full representation to to through resolution of the case because how much time it would take. Speaker 9: So I would be most supportive of any kind of amendments to the motion that would give the money directly to the organizations that have participated. I think that having a middle man is a challenge, and I think it loses our accountability. One of the things that I really appreciated about the Bar Association's presentation, I mean, I was able to talk with them a few weeks ago as well, is that they would give quarterly updates on the number of people who have applied for help. The number of people who have received help. The number of people who have been successful and how many of them are Long Beach residents and at what income base they're at. I think Central Shore has the same capacity to provide that kind of reporting, and I would be of the mind to make either a friendly amendment or a substitute. I would like to hear from my colleagues first, but to actually just give the full $250 to $250000 to either organization or a hybrid approach to giving them each a seed money and then let them come back in six months with whoever has helped the most people to have the rest of the funding. I really am passionate about keeping the money local and I think these two organizations have both demonstrated their success in the community, and I would be supportive of giving either of them the funding tonight. But I'm open to hearing from my colleagues. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman Brice. Speaker 11: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So the vote tonight is is about the RFP. Is that am I correct? Mr.. Mr.. City Attorney. Speaker 12: No, the action tonight would be to authorize the city manager to execute an agreement with Vera Institute of Justice, which would then. Speaker 3: Through that agreement, Vera would initiate the RFP. Speaker 11: Okay. Okay. I got it. So I. First of all, I want to thank the organizations that came out and spoke. I was very impressed with the Long Beach Bar Association's mention of the work that they're doing with Expungements. I've always felt that we shouldn't use public funds for individual claims or legal battles, but that if we do, we should have a broader category and that expungements should be included to allow our residents to be able to become employed and get jobs. So I'm grateful that they do offer that service. Having said that, I know we're not discussing tonight whether or not this money should be allocated for this purpose that's already been decided. I do have I would love to see some limitations on who becomes the beneficiary of this assistance. I think that if a person is facing deportation, there are different categories of folks who are facing deportation. And I see them every day and my day job and certainly we work very closely with those who are facing criminal penalties and are maybe having their DOCA application in. And the penalty that they're facing or the crime that they're facing doesn't really tell the story of who they are. And so there's an opportunity to really work with them on the charges so that they don't face deportation based on the charges. But once an individual is convicted of a certain category of crimes and their deportation is initiated based on that conviction, I don't think we should be using tax dollars to help defend deportations for individuals who have been convicted of a crime that is determined to be a deportable offense, which not all crimes. Are there specific categories of crimes that are such that a person would get deported? So I would like to ask the makers of this motion if we could include that as a condition that in terms of where this money is spent, if an individual is facing deportation because they were convicted of a qualifying criminal offense, which again is very limited and outlined in the federal regulations, that the the taxpayer dollars would not be used to assist that individual. Speaker 5: Well, this is a universal fund. So can we walk through that, what the Universal Fund means? Because from my understanding, we are able to use that on these on people that may have had criminal backgrounds from some time ago. So perhaps there's a discussion with what Councilman Price is saying. But if we can first talk about the Universal Fund aspect and then we can go back to her. Speaker 0: Well, let's see. What I want to do is I know that. I know Councilman Price has the floor. So did you want to finish? We want to get that question answered first or. Speaker 11: Sure, I'm happy to. And I can be a little bit clearer. Maybe I wasn't clear. People who are facing deportation specifically as a qualifying criminal conviction. So their deportation has been initiated because they were convicted of a qualifying criminal offense. Okay? Sure. Murder, robbery. Assault with a weapon. Gang related shootings. Crimes of moral turpitude. There's a whole list and category of them in terms of what's considered a significant misdemeanor and what's considered a qualifying felony. Speaker 2: Sure. Speaker 0: Do we want to, Mr. Jackson, do you want to go to that? Speaker 10: Councilwoman Price and Gosar and members of the council first elected to state simply that universal representation is basically the. The eligibility criterion is income. That said, we do have the Vera Institute of Justice here in the audience tonight. I think it would be more appropriate for them to help us get a better understanding about universal representation, if they could. Ms.. Tanya Salazar. I think it would be helpful for them to do that for a state. Speaker 5: To address your question. Yes, it would be a universal representation model, which means that there would be no looking at the merits of the case. So in addition, there would be no criminal carve outs. So that does include people that would be deportable because of crimes. Of course, that also does mean that those are legal permanent residents, veterans. That's the reason why they get into deportation proceedings. Speaker 2: So in that that would. Speaker 5: Include of aggravated felonies or any any type of crime, it would be a merits blind. Speaker 2: Approach. Speaker 11: Okay. So just just to add, I understand what you just said, but just to clarify it from my end city. Public moneys would be used to help individuals who are convicted of qualifying criminal offenses and as a result, deportation proceedings have started. We would be using public money to keep those individuals in the United States. Speaker 5: It would include everyone so that, as it was mentioned, it would only be based on income requirements. But I will point and I can provide those studies that in our other programs, a number what usually happens is that they are able to do what's called post-conviction relief and go reopen the case. If there was a constitutional violation or if someone pled guilty to a crime where they didn't understand the consequences or there was a legal defense. So they're usually the that the defense that's available for people in those situations. Speaker 2: Are actually. Speaker 5: Proving that the conviction should have never happened. Speaker 11: Okay. So this money that the city would be giving to Vera would also be used to appeal the convictions. Speaker 5: Not appeal, but post-conviction relief. Speaker 11: Even though the post-conviction release has nothing to do with deportation or immigration. Speaker 5: As you pointed, it actually is directly involved. That's the reason why they are in remote proceedings. So the underlying criminal conviction is actually the basis for the removal proceedings. Okay. Speaker 11: So let's just take a hypothetical here. We have an individual who's convicted of murder, okay? They're there. They're convicted. They've convicted by a jury, let's say. And as a result of that, deportation proceedings are started. You get money from the city of Long Beach to help them with their deportation, even though defending their deportation, even though they were convicted by a jury of a qualifying criminal offense. Speaker 5: First, let me clarify that although Vera would be receiving the funds, we would. Speaker 2: Not be. Speaker 5: Providing the attorneys. We would partner with the City of Long Beach to do an RFP to select whatever organizations. The organizations I spoke today would be perfectly fine that want to provide the representation. And Vera would not actually keep any any any money would provide in-kind services free of charge. Okay. Speaker 11: I appreciate that clarification. Speaker 5: Secondly, yes, but as probably I mean, speaking of hypotheticals, a person that was convicted by a jury trial for murder probably is not going to be able to get their case reopened because it was a jury trial, wasn't a plea, and therefore is probably an aggregate of felony or it is an aggravated felony and they wouldn't have any legal relief. So the representation would be a consultation and explanation that they don't have any relief and being in court with them as they accept the removal order. Speaker 11: What do you mean they don't have aggregate felony felony? Speaker 5: Aggravated felony is what would a charge of murder, a conviction of murder would be under immigration law, either Immigration and Nationality Act, and that would disqualify them from the majority of forms of legal defenses for removal proceedings. So as an attorney, you would look at the murder conviction, realize that it went to trial, that it probably everything was an up and up and that there's nothing you can do to look behind that case. And it would just be an explanation of your client that there's nothing that they can do, that they should probably accept the removal defense at their next hearing instead of asking for time and. Okay, so. Speaker 11: Okay. So maybe that was a bad hypothetical. Let's say it's an aggravated. But first of all, let me just say I disagree with you. I think there's a lot of post-conviction work that goes on with jury results. But I just because a jury has come back with a verdict doesn't necessarily mean there's no post-conviction relief to be had. So I just want to know, would the city dollars be used for post-conviction criminal relief? Speaker 10: If it's. I'd like to get Kent Councilwoman Price. Can I. Can I just like to make a clarification really, really quick before Tanya responds, and then she can continue if necessary. But I just I just want to point out, you know, the the basis the basis of the representation is to provide access to due process. There is evidence that in some. Some cases that people people are, you know, inappropriately charged or incorrectly charged. But the whole point of the. Speaker 11: I'm sorry, there's some evidence that people are in. Speaker 3: There. Speaker 11: With criminal offenses. Speaker 10: Yes. Speaker 11: Yes, I understand. But how does. Speaker 10: I don't want to mix the two. I just I just want to. Speaker 11: Make I just want to understand what we're using public money to. Speaker 10: So and I would I would affirmatively say that the basis of it is is to provide access to to due process and fair legal representation. Thank you. And that's it. Speaker 11: For criminal justice or for immigration? Speaker 10: For for immigration. Speaker 11: Okay. So for immigration. So the purpose of this fund is to help people due for have due process for immigration. So how is it that this fund is going to be used for post-conviction relief of a criminal case? And are we augmenting the budget of the public defender by allowing another layer of post-conviction review through city dollars? Speaker 10: No. Speaker 11: Okay. So let me give you a hypothetical, Mr. Jackson. Since since since you have taken over the answering of these questions, let's say someone has an aggravated. Misdemeanor. Let's take sexual battery. Okay, whatever I pick. Is there a aggravated misdemeanor that you'd like us to use is the hypothetical. Anyone. Okay, let's. Is sexual battery okay? Let's. Let's use sexual battery. Let's say they plead guilty to the aggravated misdemeanor. Their deportation proceedings are initiated as a result of their guilty plea. How would City of Long Beach moneys be used for that individual? But for their conviction, they would not be being deported. Speaker 3: Yeah. Speaker 5: Um, excuse me if I could. As Tanya said, if somebody is facing that situation, their case is going to be handled by the criminal court. Speaker 11: And when they enter deportation. Speaker 5: Proceedings, the lawyer who's providing those immigration services will do a consultation, determined that there's. Speaker 2: No. Speaker 5: Mechanism by which this person can be protected from removal. Speaker 2: And and provide. Speaker 9: Them with what resources they have available. Speaker 5: But at that point, their hands. Speaker 9: Would be fairly limited in the services they could provide just based on federal immigration. Speaker 11: Law. Okay. So what the representative from Vera said is that they would help with post-conviction proceedings. Is that accurate or is that not accurate? I just want to know what city dollars are used for. And frankly, I'm concerned that someone from the city manager's office in the conversation regarding where money for immigration purposes is going to be used, is talking about people being improperly charged in the criminal justice system. I don't know what that has to do with this immigration fund. We're just talking about these dollars. Speaker 10: I think I think the conversation has somehow gotten focused on post-conviction representation when the actual representation is representation for immigration assistance, period. Speaker 11: Mr. Jackson, how do you think the conversation got focused on post-conviction representation? How do you think we went there tonight? Is it because the representative from Viera said that they would look at post-conviction as part of the services? Speaker 10: That is correct. I mean, that that obviously is a factor in the analysis. Councilmember Price, the point that I'm simply trying to make is, is that all the services are focused solely on immigration assistance. Speaker 11: Thank you. I have nothing further. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor Pearce. Speaker 6: Well, it's hard to follow a conversation like that. I fully support these funds. I fully support it going to zero. I think we have already had these conversations behind the status around the the desire of the majority of this council to put these funds aside to make sure we can assist people in immigration. Unfortunately, their immigration status or situations that they get in, not all of them are because there's a criminal situation besides their immigration status. We have to remember that. And I think that those are the majority of cases that I've heard of in my district and in my surrounding districts. And so, honestly, the amount of money that we're putting out there is not not nearly as much as I personally believe we should have. And so I want to support Vera in this. I understand that they are going to be working directly with the the nonprofits that are based in our city. So these funds are going to be based with Long Beach residents, with Long Beach organizations. They have the data, they have the experience of working with this population as their priority, not as just an addition to. And so I think that is one of the reasons why why not the Bar Association or Vera is because this is all they do. This is what they focus on. And I think it's the wisest way for us to spend our city tax dollars. So I would urge my colleagues to support this as well. Speaker 0: Thank you. Before I go, I want to I know that Councilman Austin has queued up and think we're going back to the folks that have that gone already. So let me go to Councilman Austin first and I'll go back to the regular. A schedule. Katherine Austin. Speaker 8: Thank you. And can you hear me? Speaker 0: Yes, we can hear you. Speaker 8: Okay, thank you. I just wanted to weigh in briefly and thank particularly the public commenters. Understand, staff has worked many months to put this policy or this this act together. And I want to thank my colleagues of excellent points this evening. I am I'm in support of this in concept. I that I am intrigued with the and encouraged that so many community organizations are out in support of this. I think that makes our city at the end of the day. I read up on Vera. I am very impressed that with the work, the work that they're doing at the national level. But I think it's important also to all of our local stakeholders as well that that helps buy in for for the city of Long Beach and for for the people who who make up our city. There are some realities that we have to just, I think, understand, and that is that the bottom line here is our city our city council has committed to supporting families in our city and keep their families together. A reality is that we do have undocumented immigrants who live in our city and contribute to our city. And this is a complicated issue. And in listening to the debate, I will just say that I understand the concerns over how resources will be used. But I think that the vast majority of those who will be served by this this fund will be those who won't be facing the offenses that are deportable. They're going to be everyday citizens who are not necessarily citizens, obviously, but are going to be everyday residents who who support. I'm encouraged with the D e f the actual bonds. And I would just discourage anybody from thinking that or feeling that this this entire effort is about the money. Because I know that many of the organizations that are involved and have expressed support for this already and and many are not getting paid for it. So. So with that, I put the motion on. I'm I'm I'm happy to continue and hear the commentary from my colleagues. Some excellent points have been raised. But I would encourage that if there's an opportunity and a possibility to include the Lobbies Bar Association, we know that these are local stakeholders and folks who often live in our community as well. They may be familiar, have some some some input, some more intimate familiarity. And it sounds like there's an opportunity for for everyone to work together. I hope we can land there. So those are my comments. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman. So Vice Mayor Andrews was was on the list and he nationally deleted it. So I'm going to put him back on there where he was and then Councilman Mongo. Speaker 13: Yes. Thank you very much. I'm here. I was waiting to see how. Listen to all of our, you know, individuals in the diocese here, which I feel very strongly about this. They are just as fine because I when I first started by saying I'm supportive of the justice fund because despite of, you know, all the conversations as we sit here, we should embrace the diversity that we have. That is the and as a tribute to the immigration, you know, population living in our communities. You know, it's a large population of my district and it reside in the fear of reaching out because of their immigration status. And I'm always assuring them that we do not look at their status when providing services. And I want to thank Mrs. Jessica Quinten has been doing such a wonderful job with that situation there. And I stand by the immigration community and have a lot of respect for the stories behind each and every one of those. So I say that to say that I am truly and supported this. I've just as. Fine. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, councilman. Councilman. Mongo. Speaker 9: Thank you. You mentioned earlier that the qualifying factor would be income level. What is the income level for a single person that would be necessary to leverage the fund? Speaker 0: We got it. We got it. Speaker 9: I thought I read it was 200% below. Speaker 10: Poverty is 200% below poverty. Speaker 9: And what is that number? Speaker 10: It's 2% of the poverty level. We only have the calculation in front of us now for family for. Speaker 9: So is it divided by four, whatever number you have? Okay. Speaker 0: Well, we'll let staff come up with that. So let's keep going and we'll get that number. Speaker 9: So I'd like to make a motion. I'd like to move that. The Justice Fund go directly to support Central Shore and or the Long Beach Bar Association or partnership thereof, all $250,000, and that it would go to help Long Beach residents with immigration services that are not related to a criminal conviction, with an intent to help most people, help the most people possible with a limit on any one case at $11,000. And here's a couple of reasons why the bar association has already come forward and willing to work with Central Shore directly at $2,500, a case that would serve a considerable more considerably more individuals. In meeting with Long Beach attorneys, I met with and have talked to several some that have included interest are already doing this work in Long Beach today. And I kind of talked through with them the immigration court certified attorney work that can be done, illegal entry, illegal working dock, a conversion to work with expired work permit. Married to a U.S. citizen wanting a green card, immediate family member petition for green card, valid visa wanting a green card work, immigration. All of that is stuff that would be done at the 20 $500 rate. There's only one case that the attorneys talked about as a primary need to go up to $10,000 and they would be few and far between. They are the waivers of family based immigration and they are $10,000 flat fee. But I'm concerned that if we went with the $10,000 rate, the amount of people you would help is so many less. And if we were to want to help the most people possible, I also feel that 200% below the poverty level is just too low of an income. The individuals in our city who are working middle class and working at minimum wage would not qualify. And that to me is completely against what we're trying to accomplish here. If you are currently in Long Beach and you are working locally in one of our local businesses and living locally, you deserve the help. I don't know that I've heard of the reporting that is available through Viera, but I've heard that Central Shore and the Long Beach Bar Association would both be willing to do that partnership. And so I would love to give the money directly to those organizations. Some people have said, Oh, well, you'd need an RFP for that. No, you wouldn't. We can do a sole source directly to the organizations. Viera didn't have an RFP where multiple foundations came and competed to receive our funding, and so I hope that my colleagues will consider supporting directly funding these organizations, and I hope that they will work together and or come up with a flat rate structure that they would work on. I know that hope both of you know and many Shama have already stepped forward from the Bar Association, along with about a dozen other attorneys that have offered to step up and build to use their capacity exclusively for this over the next 12 months to ensure that every Long Beach resident who needs help can be served . And so cheers to both Jessica and Paul for stepping up. I think that the work that you guys could do together would be amazing and I would be 100% supportive and I hope that I'll have the support of my colleagues. Speaker 0: That's a second motion. So that's the motion on the floor. We saw the first motion as well. Let me go and keep going down the speaker's list, Councilor Richardson. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you to the public who attended this evening to to inform the council of your opinions on this. And thank you to my colleagues for the conversation. So I want to be clear on unequivocally clear on where where I where I stand here. There is a reality that our communities face, and that reality is that our criminal justice system is flawed and the deportation system abuse does take place. Deportation is a federal process that does have an impact on local communities. Therefore, it is the business of the City Council and our local communities to think about establishing funds or mechanisms to protect the integrity and security of our communities. So it is appropriate. Secondly, I was really impressed by the Viera Institute, particularly the way that they handled themselves tonight. It really demonstrated they have a cultural sensitivity and they approached this issue with the right lens. Therefore, it appears to me that they are the correct entity to handle this. So that said, I would like to continue with Vera. I'm going to offer a substitute substitute motion that encompasses the original main motion, but also provides implementation, provides an implementation timeline, as well as reporting to the City Council on the establishment of the fund, as well as so we can understand the levels, how this how this fund is going to continue. So that's that's what I that's my substitute substitute motion. Speaker 0: Okay. Now we have a substitute substitute, which is essentially the staff recommendation, but also an implementation timeline as well. Councilman Gonzales. Speaker 5: Yes. I appreciate the substitute substitute. And I think everybody for their comments. I will just say one thing I actually have here, a. I just wanted to make sure I'm hitting this point correctly. Every situation is unique and different. And one situation happened here in Long Beach, Mr. Falso. He was seeking a direct pardon for a second degree robbery offense committed in 1998 when he was 17 years old. He was transferred to adult court and tried as an adult, something that would not happen under today's reformed juvenile laws championed by Governor Brown. In the nearly two decades that have passed since his conviction, Mr. Silk has redeemed himself by pursuing his education, regularly attending church and becoming a beloved community leader. He actually worked with the Youth Justice Coalition in Los Angeles, an organization that collaborated with governors, the governor's team on many important juvenile justice reforms. In July 2015, Mr. Sock became one of the very first few offenders, first youth offenders, to be released pursuant to S.B. 260, exemplifying Governor Brown's commitment to giving people who committed crimes in their youth a true second chance. In fact, I wrote a letter for him, and that was one out of a thousand pardons that Governor Brown succeeded in conducting before he left office and before he will leave office before the year end. So I just want to make sure that every situation is extremely different. That person was a Long Beach resident, has a second chance now, given the opportunity. And so I hope we can stay on this. Substitute substitute motion. I truly believe in in this work, because this is the majority of our residents. This is not just something that we as council colleagues think is political. It's the right thing to do. Thank you. Speaker 0: Councilmember customary Ringo Thank you. Speaker 3: And I also was going to provide a bit of a real life example that happened here in Long Beach about two years ago with Mr. Gonzales. Mr. Gonzalez was a law abiding citizen in the city limits for 20 years. 20 years ago, he got convicted of of possession of a drug, got convicted, was served. His time was released and then continued to have a family. His kid, his son was an Army veteran, served in the armed forces, came back. And then because of some quirk in our justice system, his car, his vehicle was pulled over while he was picking up his son from Cal State, Long Beach, the Long Beach PD was outside its jurisdiction, stopped them for a busted tail light, basically did a background check on them, let them go. They were ready to go. The car stopped again. The PD, the Long Beach Police Department, stopped him again with what's up? They did a more thorough search, found that he had been deported. And what's he doing back? This is a perfect example of where this defense fund would have come in, very useful for for Mr. Gonzales and would have kept him here. He got deported for the very exact reason that Councilmember Price is saying if you're convicted of something, you're going to be deported, you're going to be deported. He was living an exemplary life after his conviction, paid his dues, raised his family, and now. He's a broken family. He's in Mexico, can't come back. And his family is now broken up and they have to go visit him down in Mexico. I was I was with Congressman Lowenthal. We went down to the border to Liberty Park. And we walked to the fences. You could barely touch your finger to that fence. And it was the most heartbreaking experience I had ever had ever had in this regard. So this motion that's on the floor now with the amendments I saw, I support the substitute substitute motion on this because it is it is the right thing to do. And let's vote for it now. Mayor Councilors. Speaker 0: I'm going to clarify that. Thank you, Mr. West. I have the two clarifications here. Councilman Surinam. Speaker 3: Thank you. I'd also like to thank all the speakers here tonight and especially the students from Cal State, Long Beach. Your stories were very compelling and I think we all support you. I don't want to be repetitive because my position hasn't changed here. I support the fund. What I asked for at the last council meeting was that we look for a local alternative. The difference here tonight is I think we just have a very valid, viable local alternative. And so I'm going to support the substitute motion, and it's better than I had hoped for. And when the Bar Association stated that they would return the money, they're not going to use. That seemed incredibly efficient to me. If anyone knows anything about my council office, we run on efficiency or at least try to do so. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Council woman Mongo. Speaker 9: I appreciate what you mentioned. Council member Super or not, I don't think there would be any leftover. I hope that there wouldn't. I hope that we'd be able to help that many people. And should the motion on the floor fail? I would be open to making it exclusive. All 250,000 to central chair. Thank you. Speaker 0: Councilman Price. Speaker 11: So as it stands, I support the sub. I know there's at least one other colleague queued up to talk. I would like this fund to go towards. Immigrants who are fighting deportation not as a result of a current criminal conviction. So if there's any way my colleagues are willing to work with me on that, I'm putting it out there. I think it's very important for us. I'm still unclear based on Mr. Jackson's comments and the comments from the representatives of Vera Institute, whether public moneys are going to be used for post-conviction issues in criminal cases. If that's the case, I have a major problem with that. We have a public defender's office and state and county taxes that go towards funding criminal defense. And we can argue all day long whether that's sufficient or not. I agree. There's probably a lot more that needs to be done to bolster criminal defense. But I do not think we should be using public money to fund individual lawsuits and certainly not public monies to be funding individual criminal defense. I just don't think that's where we should be spending public money. And although Mr. Jackson believes that people are charged commonly inappropriately as a prosecutor of 20 years, I can say that I know and understand the system very well. And when deportation proceedings are started on an individual, it's because they've committed recently a crime that qualifies as one of the aggravated felonies or misdemeanors. I don't think we should be using public moneys to help those individuals fight their individual legal battles. I think we should be saving that money for Long Beach residents who are facing deportation as a result of no action on their part. No wrongdoing on their part. They've applied for DOCA application, or they're cooperating with the police and with law enforcement as a witness in a case or a victim in a domestic violence case. And they're applying for a U visa. That's where we should be. Spending money if we're going to spend money is helping people who have applied for a U visa, people who are trying to do their part as victims of crime or as witnesses of crime. That's where our focus should be. That at least should be the priority. I don't think we should be spending city dollars to participate in post-conviction work for a criminal setting. I think that's way beyond the scope of how this justice fund was presented by our mayor. I don't know that that was the intent of it. To be honest, I don't know. I didn't propose it. But I think it far exceeds the scope of trying to help people who are fighting immigration battles stay in the country. So my my friendly would be that the money not be used for any post-conviction criminal work, but rather to help people fight their immigration cases. Iris Independent of any criminal action that they have suffered that is causing their deportation and I would ask that that friendly be approved. Speaker 4: Thank you. Council member I think Kevin. Mr. Jackson, Deputy City Manager Jackson did a good job in articulating and so did the Beer Institute that there's already a process in place and they would simply explain that process as a part of their right to have a consultation about their documentation status. So I'm actually comfortable with that and I want to I'll have the mic just say what an amazing job that Kevin Jackson and the Office of Equity that Katie have done in putting this together. So I don't want that to go unnoticed. So I appreciate that and I look forward to continuing great work like this with the both of you. Thanks. Speaker 0: Councilman Mango. Speaker 9: So just one last comment. I appreciate that. Even within the talks that I had with Maneesh and the others at the Bar Association, one of the things that they warned us against and I think it's important to state if we went with the substitute substitute motion, certain legal defenses that include a criminal defendant are upwards of $15,000 and that's on the low end. And at $15,000, we're only going to get to help 16 Long Beach residents, one 616 and for $250,000. I just hope that we would put it in a way that would help the most people. Paving a street in the district at $250,000 helps 200 people plus their children who need safety on their community. And and I'm not saying that one is more important than the other tonight. We're only talking about one. But I think that one of our responsibilities as councilmember supervisor said, is efficiency. And so I would like to support the justice fund. I'd like to support central charge. I'd like to support the Bar Association. I'd like to support the money going locally. But I can't support the substitute substitute because I just don't think that $250,000 for 15 residents is is the equitable and efficient way to spend the funding. So I'll be supporting the substitute motion, not the sub something you were. Speaker 0: Councilman Price. Speaker 11: Thank you. I did want to add and I forgot last time that I fully support the money going to our local organizations to administer as they see fit and keeping the money within the city of Long Beach because nobody knows the Long Beach community better than the organizations that are working in it every day. And I would support the money going either to Central Shore or the Long Beach Bar Association or a hybrid, as Councilwoman Mongo mentioned. So I would be supporting the sub and not the sub sub. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Two clarifications. I want to make sure that for the record, before we go to a vote, the first is that the sub sub includes Councilman Gonzalez's original motion, which was the staff recommendation and her amendment. And and also, of course, the the additions that Councilmember Richardson said and then that the fund would also, as per the staff report, I believe it's its Long Beach residents and those that work within Long Beach. Just to clarify that as well, that's I believe in the staff report as well. So there is a motion and a second on on this. Members, please go and cast your votes. Oh, I'm sorry. We had. Speaker 3: To substitute. Speaker 0: Motion. This is on the substitutes, so I'm sorry. Because this is because we have come to an Austin roll call. We'll do a roll call. So it's a yes or no. We start with Councilwoman Gonzalez and go down. And we also have councilman out. Speaker 1: And this is for the substitute substitute motion, correct? Speaker 2: Correct. Speaker 1: Councilwoman Gonzalez. Councilmember Pierce. Councilman Price. Councilmember Superman. Speaker 3: No. Speaker 1: Councilwoman Mongo. No. Vice Mayor Andrews. Speaker 13: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilmember Arango. Speaker 3: Hi. Speaker 1: Councilman Austin. Speaker 8: Hi. Speaker 1: Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. The motion carries. And just for clarification, Mr.. Mr.. Modica the the arc this will take us into the RFP process and I know that and I know there's interest from staff. I know that whether it's the Long Beach Bar or Central CHA others, there's going to be opportunities for folks to get involved in that process. So thank you very much. We're going to go out and just take 30 seconds for a minute as we set up and we're going to move on to the start, the round Airbnb in the short term rentals. Speaker 14: Thank you very much for coming. Thank you very much. We're happy. Speaker 0: Guys, I. I hate to break it to everybody in line, but it's I'll call when the line gets called and we're still going to do all the presentations and stuff first. So if you're in line, please grab a seat. Thank you. Okay. I need everyone that's chatting on the sides. Please, to either grab a seat or go outside. So if I could please go outside or grab a seat. Speaker 2: And. Speaker 0: We're going to start in a minute and we just need everyone either seated or outside. Okay. We're going to go ahead and start here in just a minute. We're going to go back to the council meeting so I can have everyone's attention and just also want to make sure I believe item 19 has been either pulled from the agenda or that was removed from the agenda. Is that correct, Madam Clerk? Speaker 1: And it needs to be withdrawn on the floor, I believe. Speaker 0: I think it's I think it's just it was just removed prior to the agenda. Do we need to do that? Is that a request? Speaker 12: It's a council district three item, so that something would have to ask Council District three. Speaker 0: I think she wants to pull it from the agenda. So. Speaker 3: Okay. Okay. Be fine with us. Yep. Speaker 0: All right. And then we'll go ahead. We're going to go ahead and go back to Esther's item 21. Yes. And we'll do a rock.

Contract

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into a SAFE Cities Network Agreement with the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit corporation, to establish a legal defense fund and program (Long Beach Justice Fund) for providing legal representation to low-income immigrants facing deportation in the City of Long Beach, in the amount not to exceed $250,000, for a two-year period. (Citywide)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_12042018_18-1072

Speaker 0: All right. And then we'll go ahead. We're going to go ahead and go back to Esther's item 21. Yes. And we'll do a rock. Speaker 1: Councilwoman Gonzales, Councilmember Pierce, Councilwoman Price. Councilmember. Super now here. Councilwoman Mongo. Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilmember your younger. Councilman, Austin. Councilman after Councilmember Richardson. Mayor Garcia. Speaker 0: Thank you. I'm here as well. And we are going to go ahead and begin our conversation on stars. So I'm going to start by turning this over to staff. Speaker 3: Mr. Mayor, council members, this also is an item that the city council and staff has been working with community groups for quite some time. I'm going to turn this over to our development services director, Linda Tatum, and she'll walk us through our recommendations for you tonight. Speaker 11: Good evening, Mayor. Members of the city council staff is pleased to bring forward to you tonight our proposal for addressing the short term rentals in the city. As you as council directed us probably close to a year ago with the 29 housing recommendations, this is one of those recommendations, and we will be coming to you within the next 30 days with a couple of more additional efforts. We've been engaged in at first light to acknowledge the really challenging work of a staff team that was led by Lisa Fall, our administrative services director, supported by Charles Farber, who's in our Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau, and also the work of our consultant team, Lisa Wise and Associates who are represented by Jen Daughtery as well as Henry Ponte Morelli. I want to just acknowledge that this was a really a challenging task and it was really important that we took the time to get it right. And a part of that was making sure that we listened to the community, that we listened well to all sides of the issue. And I think what you'll find is that the ultimate recommendation that staff will be presenting tonight reflects not only that we heard all sides of the issue, but that we also considered a number of other factors, such as city housing policy. We considered best practices in the industry and what was legally permissible and what made sense in terms of an implementation perspective. So with that, what I'd like to do is to have our consultant, Jane Daughtery, she'll be presenting an overview of the work that the consultant was engaged in. And I'd just like to highlight that it includes a wealth of data. So whether it's tonight at some later time, if you could certainly defer to the report because it does contain a wealth of data about the topic of stars that we won't be covering tonight in detail. But it is a very good resource for you to keep in mind. And also after the consultants presentation, they will be turning it back over to staff so that we can summarize the staff recommendation. So with that, I'll turn it over to Jen. Speaker 7: Thank you. Ms.. Tatum Mayor, council members, thank you very much. This presentation, I will go through some high level background information that includes the process, data and community input. Then I'll describe the three short term rental ordinance options in front of you before handing it back to Ms.. Tatum. Our approach for this process was organized into three phases, the first being research and analysis, where we conducted two public workshops. An online survey was completed and we conducted case study research. The second phase, that's the phase we're in today is looking at alternatives. In that phase, we developed preliminary options. We presented them at a public workshop and we prepared a draft analysis included in your packet tonight. The third phase is looking at code amendments and public hearings, and us moving forward with that phase is going to be dependent on the direction we receive from counsel tonight. To understand what's happening with Long Beach short term rentals, we collected publicly available data from short term rental hosting websites, and the data was collected in March of this year. This data found that there are 1532 active listings in the city, and of those, 1328 are actual individual units. While that looks like a lot of dots on the map, that comprises just under 1% of the city's total housing stock. These stars are not distributed evenly across the city. They're primarily concentrated along the coast and in downtown. And the colors represent different websites as TR websites. And the dominant website operating in is Airbnb with about 80% of the listings that's followed by the Expedia owned platforms, HomeAway and VRBO at about 12%. Speaker 2: About half of. Speaker 7: The listings are single family and about half multifamily. 52% multifamily. 48% single family. Two thirds of those are listings for entire homes and about a third for partial homes. Partial homes meaning that it's a listing for a bedroom or a portion of a home versus the entire unit. Speaker 2: About half. Speaker 7: About half of those listings are listed at a nightly rate of no more than $100 per night. And about half of those are estimated. Half of the overall listings are estimated to generate no more than $10,000 of revenue per year to the host. Based on the average long term apartment rate in the city, a short term rent and assuming a short term rental average nightly rate of $100 per night, that star would need to be rented an occupancy of about 44% or rented about 13 nights per month to generate more revenue than an average long term rental apartment. In looking at the number of nights per year stars are rented. About half or 654 units are estimated estimated to be rented. Speaker 2: For. Speaker 7: More than 90 nights per year. The orange dashed line is showing that threshold of the 90 nights per year and on the on the green bars that's identifying of those rentals, which are entire home units. So, for example, on the right hand side, those units that are rented for 180 nights or more are 380. And 140 of those are entire home rentals. Now the majority of hosts, almost 83%, have only one star listed. Just over 10% have two. It's about 93% of all listings are two or fewer short term rentals. Now, this may be overstated as professional operators have begun to list individual host IDs so it isn't appearing as though they have multiple units. Community input has been a substantial part of our process and some consistent themes have emerged through this, through the various outreach efforts and activities we've had. Those themes include positive ones, such as the reliance and supplemental income that staffers provide to hosts and property owners, and that that income is allowing property owners to maintain their property to make improvements to their property that they wouldn't otherwise be able to. And also that guess of short term rental units are supporting local businesses. We also heard negative themes complaints about noise, parties, parking primarily, or especially in coastal areas. We also heard concern about overall lack of enforcement and concerns of staffers impact on the availability and affordability of housing. Considering the community input we received, we began to prepare some preliminary options for for short term rental regulations. We also considered, in addition to that community input the city's current code. We looked at zoning and other provisions of the code, existing conditions in Long Beach and case study research. Now our research look at looks in-depth at four specific jurisdictions, but we looked at dozens of of case studies in California and nationwide to supplement our efforts here. We also also evaluated the California Coastal Commission's position on short term rentals and assessed potential city costs and potential city revenues from regulating short term rentals. The three options that were developed consist of the first being a baseline level regulation as the lowest level of regulation out of the three options. The second is a limited starters option. This adds additional regulation on top of those baseline restrictions. Lastly, an option, the third option and geographic to opt out is proposed that has additional level of restriction on top of one and two. These are the three regular or three options were presented at the last public workshop we had in October, and we provided some additional information to help explain the three options. The first baseline regulations includes registering short term rentals with the city, including the city's registration number in every listing for that TR. Providing a local 24 hour contact. Providing the rules for the str noise where to park and trash recycling egress routes ahead of the guest stays as well as posting those rules within the unit. Property liability insurance of at least a minimum of at least $1 million would be required. And some platforms offer this and that provision of insurance would satisfy this requirement. The payment of transient occupancy tax or TOTTY at the city's established rate of 12%. This is a tax that is paid by the guest, collected by the host or operator and remitted to the city. Also the business license tax, which currently for residential rentals, is about $80 a parcel and about $35 per each unit. And that's on an annual basis. As teachers would be prohibited in deed, restricted affordable housing units and dormitories. And this option also includes a 24 hour hotline. That would be a method to report and address nonemergency complaints. And the city would also offer a prohibited buildings list where staffers or short term rental activity is not allowed by homeowners associations. And C hours could apply a request to the city to include their development, their properties on the permitted buildings list. And the city would not issue STR registrations for those units. And finally, STR registration would be revoked under this option if three violations occurred within a 12 month period. Now, those aren't complaints. Those are violations. So if violations of these established regulations occur three in 12 months, your registration would be revoked and couldn't be renewed for one year. Option two builds upon and further restricts the regulations in option one. Limited staffers would limit staffers to residents of Long Beach. That would be verified through vehicle registration, IDs, utility bills, and it would allow for one primary primary residence. As Esther, now a resident, must occupy the primary residence for at least 275 nights per year. So it's about nine months for that to be qualified as a resident. In addition to the primary residence str a resident would be allowed to have two non primary residence staffers, so those non primary staffers would have no restriction on the number of nights hosted. For parcels that have two or more units, such as a single family home with an adu or a duplex. Only one of those units would be required to be occupied for 275 nights per year, with the other unit having no restrictions on the nights rented. And the city is still the city is coordinating with legal counsel on this resident requirement. And if if it is something continuing to evaluate it, if if it is something that must be removed from these options, the primary residence requirement could be revised to be at the parcel level. Now an additional restriction is included for under the limited staffers options for multifamily developments. And as previously mentioned, you must be a resident in Long Beach under this option to be able to operate in a STR and you could only have up to two non primary residence stars. So to limit the concentration of these non primary staffers in multifamily developments, those staffers are capped at 25% or no more than six in multifamily developments. So for example, this is particularly relevant when there's multiple owners or hosts in one building, but also in the case of, say, a single apartment building owner, that owner would have to be a resident of Long Beach and would be limited to up to two non primary residence staffers. If the apartment building is an eight unit building or larger, those two non primary residence staffers could be located in that building. The limited upstairs option also includes quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., during which outdoor pools and hot tubs could not be used. It limits occupants to two people per bedroom plus two with a maximum of ten people per TR. Large scale events would be prohibited, as would exterior signage. The last option, the geographic opt out adds an additional restriction where Unhosted stars could be prohibited within designated air areas through a petition process and vote of the residents within that area. Now, Unhosted means that the resident would be would not be present during the guest's stay, and this option evolved out of the continuing feedback from certain neighborhoods about the disturbance stars were having in those areas. Now many cities have begun to regulate stars, and we've looked at a number of them and some range from very simple and strict. Like Santa monica, where stars are only allowed if they're hosted, if the host is on on the premise during the rental activity to more lenient but cumbersome like Sacramento where they have different permit requirements for non primary residence stars. There is no standard model for STR regulations that applies universally across all cities. But the options we have presented include elements that have been instituted in different cities. And I think at that point, I'll hand it back to Miss Tatum. Speaker 11: Thank you, John. I would like to now just summarize the staff's recommendation. John talked a lot about in detail about option two. That is the option that staff is recommending. We think that it appropriately balances all of the the market that we have here in the city. But in particular, it also addresses specifically issues of community character. Our recommendation was guided by the fact that we clearly want to be able to benefit residents, local residents with the proposal. But we also want to be sure that we're addressing community concerns and mitigating those concerns through appropriate regulation. We're also concerned with making sure that the program includes a cost recovery component. So with that, staff is recommending option to the other direction that we're asking for. The city council is to direct us to enter into agreements with the the hosting platforms and that would enable the city to collect the transit occupancy task tax. And we'd also be asking Council's direction for to direct staff to continue to study the appropriate fee to address the affordable housing issue. We feel that it's important that that is a consideration in this item, but we will need to go back and do studies to determine to determine the appropriate share of the fees that are collected , how much of those fees should go to affordable housing? Because we've also we also need to address cost recovery efforts to cover the costs of implementation of the program. And I would like to highlight a couple of points that we have very intentionally included in the regulations for option two that do address housing and affordable housing. To note that as cars are currently, they are prohibited in any of the city's deed restricted affordable housing units. We also very specifically limited and thought really carefully about the limit that we are proposing in terms of limiting the number of short term rentals per each host. We are also considering the impact to the affordable housing stock when we also very specifically limit the number of units within each multifamily housing project. And again, we are very supportive of including a component of the fees for this effort to go towards affordable housing. But we will be taking a look at what that appropriate share should be, because, again, we have anticipated a share of the cities of these fees going into the current city budget, and we're hoping to hit those targets. And again, with some additional study we will be bringing back to the City Council once if you direct us to prepare the ordinance, we would be bringing back an appropriate analysis of what that affordable housing share should be. So with that, that concludes staff's presentation. And the staff here at this table, as well as our consultant, will be available to answer your specific questions. Speaker 0: Thank you. I know there's been a lot of work that's gone into this and a lot of community input. There is a motion on the floor which I know there's going to be some conversation about that that will likely change some. But we're going to take public comment for the makers of the motion so far. 1/2. I am. Before before everyone jumps up, everyone will get a chance to speak. This gentleman in the front is going to be controlling the public comment so we can't have bunching up like that. Guys, we're going to call. So it's one line. Speaker 3: Close to the start over on this side. Speaker 2: I didn't bring up that. Speaker 0: Everyone will get a chance to speak. So please take direction right now and we will get ready for public comment. Speaker 2: I'm. Yeah. Well, you can go ahead of me. Thank you. Okay. You can't be doing this. Speaker 0: We're okay. Just be a minute. We have a lot of people that make sure we get them in line for public comment. So. Guys, just just just to be very clear, we have two lines going on here. I can't have two lines. I need one line of speakers. And if that's not if people aren't going to fit, they need to take a seat and we will get to you. I need one line. I have multiple lines of people coming up and down this row. So I need about the last third of this in this line. It needs to grab it, take a seat or go to the other section. He's got it, please. And then if I can have you guys just kind of straighten out a little bit, that'd be great. Speaker 3: That. Speaker 0: Okay. Share of the tension, please. Okay. We're going to go ahead and start. Speaker 4: Just America to be recognized. Sure. I counted just in this about 50 people just on this side, and I didn't realize the rest of that was also speaker's line. So there were 50 here and there's probably another 50 there, maybe 30 at 3 minutes each. That's that's exactly 5 hours of public comment. So respect. Respectfully, there has been significant input and community meetings. So, Mr. Mayor, I would move that. We go to we go to 90 seconds. Speaker 2: Oh, dear. Speaker 0: They're second on that. I'll just say consensus on that if there's consensus. Unless there's any objection. Okay. We will go to we will go to 90 seconds. You can set that clerk at 90 seconds. Okay. Okay. We will. Please, everyone, quiet down. Shush. I want to make sure that everyone that speaks has a chance to be heard. Please begin. Speaker 2: Um, Mayor and City Council. My name is Barbara Schweiger. I live in the eighth district. My family and I have enjoyed several short term rentals, but we also live on a block that has two very large homes which are rented out for short terms. The problem is not with people when the host is in the in the house. Speaker 11: The problem is. Speaker 2: When the entire house is rented out with no owner to supervise. Generally speaking, the visitors are quiet and act like good neighbors. However, there have. Speaker 11: Been a number of instances. Speaker 2: Where very large part large parties have occurred, where trucks appear with professional caterers, extensive bars, elaborate decorations, loud bands, deejays or other entertainment which disrupt homes and families well beyond the boundaries of the property. And parking can be impacted for several blocks around. We have had big parties. We invite our neighbors and we don't disturb the neighbor beyond our home. We stayed at an Airbnb in Philadelphia, where my husband and I had the largest room on the third floor. However, there was one small. Speaker 11: Window and it was. Speaker 2: Painted shut and there were no smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors in the home. We went out and bought a hammer and chisel to crack the window in case of fire. On another occasion there was a serious leak, which the owner asked us to fix in their dark and scary basement. Based on this, I urge you to license and tax short term rentals. Mandate periodic. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Speaker 2: It's quick. Okay. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Speaker 2: Really need inspection. Speaker 0: Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: I'm bringing it to court and I live on Locust Avenue. There's an Airbnb right next door to me that's basically a commercial venue. They have weddings, they have deejays, they have live bands. They make the windows rattle in my home. My guide dog shakes at times that she can't even sleep and I can't leave. I'm stuck. Because it's where I live and I can't afford to just move. When I bought the home for retirement. There's another Airbnb that's across the street and down on the same block that I live on, and they do the same thing. I've corresponded with both of them with no results. We call the phone number. That's the non-emergency phone number, and we get no results for hours and hours at a time. I sat on the phone one day for over an hour with no response to the non-emergency number that were supposed to call. And then when we do call him, there's times I can't even leave my home because if I go left, the driveways are blocked with cars that are parked over hanging over him. When I go the other direction, it's the same thing. So I'm stuck in all kinds of positions that no one's helping me get out of. I adore Airbnb. I adore Furbo when they're done right. But when they don't care about people with disabilities to give us workouts out and they don't, they keep us trapped for 8 to 10 hours at a time with loud music DJs and live bands and catered events. Help us out. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please vote. Speaker 15: Mr. Mayor and council members. My name is Steve Scott. I've been a resident here in Long Beach in the third district and on the peninsula since I went to Long Beach State in 1966. I've been. Speaker 3: Part of. Speaker 15: All the code processors since 1970, and I think that's one of the reasons our neighborhood asked me to get involved in this project the second year. I've been through this process in our other home. Six years ago in Jackson, Wyoming, and we had a successful solution to it. All six varied interests from the tourists to the resort operators to the neighborhood, it is operating successfully. So with that reason, I participated in this process. I've solicited the entire peninsula and received responses from virtually everybody. And option whatever option can gain five council votes would be our preference that it would include and respect the right of self-determination like we have enjoyed with some of the other code processors, and that would include the designated area that has the right of that self-determination to include whether we should have hosted in UN hosted homes. But it is hopeful that we can have the right for our own determination. Speaker 0: Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Yes, my name is Martha Briscoe and I live in the area that the first two speakers spoke of. So I have experienced the large scale events. So I'm wondering how you all will define large scale events. Because my neighbor, who has turned a what had been formerly a residential home next to my retirement home, decided that it was a really great idea to start having weddings, all kinds of parties, all kinds of events, very, very commercial, the parking and all of that sort of thing. So even if even when there have been people there that have only been like 20 people, they can make a lot of noise. And as the former speaker just said, it's really difficult just having code enforcement. We've got to have measures to support neighbors who are being offended and stressed out on a weekly basis with no real hope that there's going to be some kind of disciplinary action that is going to result in real change when so much money is being made hand over fist by these folks that have their have their rental at the expense of the quiet neighbors who don't. So please define large scale events. And also, I didn't understand one of the recommendations where it said that the limitation would be the first home has a oh, I guess I'm out of time somebody ask about to answer about two residences. Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Speaker 2: Residences plus or and thank. Speaker 0: You very much yes thank you very much. We thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Good evening. My name is Diane and I live in South Division Beat six. Oh, wait, that's something else. I live in the first district. Seven years ago, I. Speaker 7: Became an Airbnb host. Speaker 2: I marched my little self right down to City Hall and I said, I want regulations, I want to pay tax, I want to be listed. And they said, No, we don't have. Speaker 7: Any way to. Speaker 2: Do it. Here we are only seven years later and all of this good work is going in. Thank you. Council Members Thank you. City Staff. I think it's absolutely fabulous that I can be legal. I want to also add during the fires that we've experienced over the last several months. In the greater Los Angeles area, over 1600 Airbnb host said, Come to my house for free. Yes, I depend upon this income. But we have opened our hearts and our homes to those who need shelter more than we need our income. Thank you so much. Speaker 0: You so much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Very much. Marilyn Eisinger. Thank you. Councilmembers. Mayor, I am a super host for Airbnb and like many of the Airbnb hosts, I am a senior citizen woman and supplement my income in order to maintain my house. I rent out two of my bedrooms depending upon how many I have 11 grandchildren, so lots of time. There's other people there. My one comment is I'm very happy that we would be paying room tax. I love the city of Long Beach. I want it to have what it needs. I was very sad when the 2008 crisis sent us to our knees and it's just never really recovered. But I would like to talk about that 12%, 6% of the hotel money for their taxes being used to advertise for the hotels. That will not be done for Airbnb or other short terms, which is fine with me, but I don't think an additional amount of money besides that 6% needs to be taken from us. For for yes. For for low cost housing or housing. We're trying to stay indoors ourselves. I'm just trying to pay my taxes and stay indoors. And so I want you to keep that in mind. Nobody here is getting rich. You know, we're scrubbing our houses down and working very hard to make them presentable and nice. And thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker. Speaker 3: Please. Speaker 2: Hi. I'm Kelly Hartwick and I own a triplex with my husband on Bayshore in Belmont Shores, and I've been doing. Speaker 11: Airbnb, the RBA, all of that for about ten years. Speaker 2: Now. I don't live in Long Beach to accept my job. I needed to be in Orange County. I'm a medical device rep and I had to live in the area I work. So I do not necessarily agree with having a host on property. I live 5 minutes. Speaker 11: Away in SEAL Beach. Speaker 2: I know my number. All of my tenants are renters, I guess as you want to call them. I have very strict rules about. Speaker 11: No parties. Speaker 2: No smoking, no pets in my property. Everybody agrees to that. I have better. Speaker 11: Success. Speaker 2: With short term rentals than I have with long term renters. Thank you. I've just had one long term renter move out and it costs me about $8,000 to have. Speaker 11: The apartment refurbished to be able to be occupied again. He didn't. Speaker 2: He smoked in it when he wasn't supposed to smoke in it. His pets defecated in it. Speaker 11: And I appreciate the ability to have. Speaker 2: Short term rentals. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Name is Drew. I am a homeowner in the fifth district. My wife and I back there, we are super hosts and somebody had mentioned about noise and parking and etc., etc. issues. I'll tell you what, my neighbor on the right have two large barking dogs every morning. They're howling. I don't need an alarm clock. So those are they're my alarm clocks. My neighbors on my left have an extended family that come over every other day partying, have a giant screen TV, outdoors, you know, smoking, etc., etc.. Yet we're paying out the bad guys. So. Speaker 0: Thank you, sir. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Well, that's my husband so I just that add to that. Thank you for the opportunity to speak here. We bought the house back in the 2015 when the price was kind of rising a high. So when we look for a house, we specifically looking for a place that has a back, like has a guest house that where we can host our family and relatives and friends at the same time, we can open to do Airbnb, to bring some income to supplement those, you know, those mortgages. And on top of that, we actually are keen to find our baby who like about six months old when we moved in like now she's four year old Jess if y in a long beach like average for a preschool is about $3,000 a month in average. So that's the income that we bring in for Airbnb. It's from that Airbnb. It's really helping on the preschools and on mortgages, which we opened here in Long Beach. So we would like to give back and we support option one and we would like to use to to have you consider the totty that 12% is a bit high because that put us in a disadvantage compared to our surrounding kids. So if we can lower down a little bit, that will help. Thank you so much. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Next week, please. Speaker 2: I live in the fourth district and I support option one. The top taxes are, I think, outrageous. It would affect, even though we're not paying it, the people that are coming to stay at our Airbnbs are. So we would have to lower the price of of of the, of what we're renting. Speaker 5: And I. Speaker 2: We already paid 10.25% taxes in the city. I feel that I support the city wholeheartedly. I love Long Beach. I want to stay here forever. And I again support option one and a lower totty, please. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Next speaker. Speaker 2: My name is Teresa Morse and I've. Speaker 9: Lived in Long Beach for over 40 years and in District nine for over 27. I've been involved with Airbnb for four years and I'm a super host for almost three. I have two listings here in the city and I also have one in Dallas, Texas. Speaker 2: I am in favor. Speaker 9: Of one with an amendment to the top tax for obvious reasons. We only. Speaker 3: Are we are. Speaker 2: Currently. Speaker 9: Paying 6%. We only need to pay 6%. Speaker 3: I don't see anybody. Speaker 9: Totally taxing long term rentals. We take. Speaker 2: Pride in our. Speaker 9: Homes as a host of Airbnb, so we self-regulate. We have welcome letters that do three things. We post them. Speaker 2: Onto the portal. Speaker 9: We provide them on the door of the Airbnb guest, and we also walk them through all the safety protocols. Speaker 2: The security alarms, the monitors. Speaker 9: We take care of our property at the time of check in. Speaker 2: My neighbors are completely aware that I do Airbnb and they always know when a. Speaker 9: Guest is there. They come. Speaker 2: From all over the world Singapore, China. Speaker 9: Australia, London. They know what country the person is. Speaker 2: From and they also know when that person's going to come and when that. Speaker 9: Person's going to go. As I said, I've lived there for 27 years. We are like extended family. One of the things. Speaker 2: You should know that when you are considering this. Speaker 3: Is that. Speaker 9: We're only talking about $10,000 a year. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 16: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And City Council and special shout out to Susie Third District. Right on the go. My name's Phyllis Mays Lawson, and my husband and I have been doing Airbnb since 4th January 2017. My husband is disabled. When he became disabled in 2012, we needed to check that we were falling behind in all of our and all of our expenses. We had our back house that was rented out to a mother and daughter, and fortunately that didn't work out as well as we had hoped that would. The mother passed away. The daughter stopped paying rent. We lost a lot of income just for that reason. When we went back in to go and do the renovation, we found out that it was torn up there. The door jammed, the windows, everything for long term rentals. It ended up being nothing more than a disaster to us. The Airbnb has been wonderful. We've been able to get hosts families with a lot of families. Laura A lot of kids, a lot of dogs. We live near seventh and PCH. We're able to direct. So all of our guests go to Denny's immediately. They go to Vons. They patronize the local neighborhoods every the the new baby target. So we were able to give back to our we're able to give back to our community and will as continue to put dollars in there. So we definitely want to thank you for your time. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Speaker 2: Speaker Hi, Mayor and the council people, I'm Celeste Keith and I'm in district two. I'm doing Airbnb and I love it. And we're no threat to the hotels because the people that stay in my place maybe five or ten times a week, a month, I have people and I'm on a very restricted income. And if I didn't have the money coming in from Airbnb. I'm a senior resident here and it would be a little difficult and I love doing Airbnb. I am a super host and people that come here when one person that came here bought a business and also bought a home here in town, and he told me when he came here he was not looking to go to any hotels, so it would not have been someone they would have lost. And we I think Airbnb provides a lot of things to a lot of people. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Evening. My name is Mike. Speaker 12: Patchett and I live in the third. Speaker 3: District. Speaker 12: And we've been Airbnb host for the last year and a half and frankly without it, we would have had to moved from the area. I've been a resident at Long Beach in the third District for the last 30 years due to health. Speaker 3: Issues are our need to host with Airbnb has saved our our residents and it has afforded us the ability to make upgrades pay local plumbers, pay local craftsmen. Pay the. Our cleaning ladies. Speaker 12: And it's brought revenue that never we never would have spent in the city. And the people who come and visit the. Speaker 3: The guests are constantly going to the local businesses and. Speaker 12: Supporting local businesses in the third district. And for that, I'm really grateful and I would hope that you would consider option one. Speaker 3: Thank you. Thanks so much, Nick. Speaker, please. Speaker 2: Hello. I'm Elizabeth. Thank you for the opportunity to share my input. I'm in District one. Thank you. And I am proud to be an Airbnb super host. And I'm also a HomeAway Premiere partner. I have. I prefer the freedom of continuing in the system that we've put in place and adhering to the rules and restrictions and guidelines that we have by the platforms. In addition, we also provide guidelines and rules and. Speaker 11: Restrictions to. Speaker 2: Guests. Speaker 9: And in multiple ways. We I list rules and restrictions. Speaker 2: On the website as well as in a house manual, and I also post safety rules and restrictions in the home. Speaker 9: And I think there's a misconception about the. Speaker 2: Type of guests that we host. They're not all partiers. Speaker 9: My guests have been absolutely wonderful. Speaker 2: They're engineers that work on the bridges. They're medical professionals that are working here in town. They are. Speaker 9: Scientists in. Speaker 2: Neurosciences that come in for. Speaker 9: Conferences. Speaker 2: And I give jobs as a as a Airbnb super host. I give jobs to a mom. I give it to a young deaf couple. I give it to a student next door. I give jobs to gardeners, plumbers, contractors, landscapers. And I would like to be able to continue to do that. So I am in favor of the. Speaker 9: Least amount of restriction as possible. We're self-regulated. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Speaker 2: Thank you. Thank you. Hi. My name's Jennifer. I'm in District eight. I'm one of the 890 entire home rental properties. I have been Long Beach residents for 26 years. My sons are grown and out of the house. I am renting the property now as an empty nester, keeping the property and making upgrades and repairs with the money that I'm earning. My hope is that sometime my sons will want to live there and raise their own families in the home they've owned for more than 20 years. I've rented to neighbors on multiple occasions. The families who stay at our property are visiting from all over the world France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Australia, Canada , Belgium, Scotland and many from our United States. And locals all spend their money in our neighborhoods and attend or compete in local sports arenas, such as the velodrome at Cal State, Dominguez Hills and the Honda Center. They stop in Long Beach before and after their arrival from the airports. They come in for flight training, aerial photography, conventions, etc. My property is best suited for multigenerational families enjoyed by young and old. I have an extremely large house, extremely large property, and I am one of those people that had a wedding in my backyard. It was beautiful, it was very small, was 50 guests and it was quiet, it was intimate, and there was no no problem. I don't want to lose long term renters because I occasionally love to stay in my own home and have our own special events there. I have student recitals. I teach music. I also don't want to sell my property. Allow me to continue with the least amount of regulation as possible. I fully support option one. I'd like to thank Lisa Weiss, Count Consulting for the extensive research that she did funded by the city of Long Beach, which showed overwhelming support of option one. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 11: Hi, my name is Veronica. Speaker 2: I am in District five and I just want to let you know that Stacy Mango put out a poll and I just looked at it about 25 seconds ago and option one had 50% of the vote, option two had eight, option three had 16% and other had 20%. I also have I took 27 of the rentals and decided to do a little calculation. So these 27 rentals came to 65, 65 a day, and the income for 90 days would be 590,000, but the 12% tax would be 70,000. So I doubled it to 180. The 12% in tax would be 140,000. This is all about money. It's about money for people who need it. It's about money for those for the homeless. In this in this district, you would make a ton of money by doing option one. And one more thing. When I hosted my last guests, they their severely retarded daughter had a fall. And we allowed them to stay for five days for free because they needed to take care of her. And I just don't think hotels would do that. Thank you. Oh, thank you. So I pay 15% tax. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker. Speaker 3: Please. Speaker 2: Hello. My name is Anna Evans. Speaker 9: Goldstein and I'm a researcher with Unite Here Local. Speaker 2: 11. I want to encourage the inclusion of two key provisions. The first provision is. Speaker 9: Platform accountability, and the. Speaker 2: Second is primary residence hosting. Speaker 9: We've entered into the record a memo delineating these provisions. Speaker 2: In detail for you to reference. These two provisions have proven to be the most effective way of regulating the short term rental market. Speaker 9: They are necessary to protect the future of Long Beach housing. Speaker 2: Market and stave off a. Speaker 9: Housing crisis that has seen the city lose valuable rental units for families to short term rentals. If these provisions are. Speaker 2: Not included tonight, as you move forward, we urge you to postpone tonight's. Speaker 9: Vote. This is such an. Speaker 2: Important issue and it. Speaker 11: Really must be handled with care for. Speaker 2: The future of Long Beach. The platform. Speaker 9: Accountability provision allows the City of Long Beach to request necessary data. Speaker 2: From hosting platforms in order to bring short term rental units into compliance with the law. Speaker 9: Platform accountability helps relieve the burden of enforcement from the staff. Speaker 2: Of Long Beach and onto the platforms. The primary residence provision is necessary. Speaker 9: To protect the city's housing stock, as it stipulates. Speaker 2: That there can only be one short term rental unit per host. These provisions have been successful in other cities. Speaker 9: And Long Beach has the opportunity to be a leader not just for the region. Speaker 2: But the nation, in regulating short term rentals. I strongly urge you to include these provisions in Long Beach, a short term rental ordinance. Speaker 0: Thank you. Speaker 2: So much. And protect the interests. Speaker 9: Of the city. Speaker 0: Of life. Thank you so much. Next week, release. Speaker 3: My name is Steve Askin. I want to thank my council, Jeanine Pearce, for her very thoughtful approach to short term rentals. I am an Airbnb host and I'm here to suggest some small fixes to option two to meet everybody's interests, to support tenants worried about gentrification, to help homeowners, angry about party houses for small home based hosts like myself, or try to cover our mortgages. And for my fellow trade unionists I see back there with whom I've walked picket lines at the Westin and other hotels. So I'm recommending option two with three clarifications. One, the previous speaker talked about limit short term rentals. Two hosts living on the property. This makes the short term rental a source of income for the resident, for the owner, and it will almost entirely eliminate the annoyance from Unhosted party houses. Number two. Speaker 8: And I've heard what people say about taxes. Personally, I'm willing to pay. Speaker 3: The appropriate tax if it goes for what's needed. Speaker 8: And what I would suggest, since a 6% portion of the. Speaker 3: Tax now goes for hotel promotion. Let's instead have half of the 12% the part that now goes to the hotel industry go to help the homeless or do something else for a housing crisis. Number three, and this is important for a short term, hosts make it clear that there will be no days rented restriction on resident hosts . Those restrictions would be a disaster for those of us who cover living costs and cover our mortgages by hosting thank you property where we live. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Speaker 3: Okay. And I have a longer copy of this. Speaker 0: Perfect. We'll grab it at the clerk's office next speaker, please. Speaker 2: My name is Kathleen Brady and I cannot see the clock. Speaker 0: That is the clock not up there. Speaker 2: So someone sitting. Speaker 0: There. Speaker 2: And. We have a recent state mandate requiring allowance of more adus even in areas zoned for single family residences instead of providing additional long term homes for us. I'm afraid they will be utilized to short term rentals and we would have the higher density without the intended benefits. The same could be said of the new land use element in certain neighborhoods in Long Beach. The housing crisis is real, it's serious, and a permissive ordinance about stars will make it worse. I would like to ask for option three, but I. I've been thinking seriously about it the last few days after I sent out a few emails, and I would like to add that I think there should only be two stickers per resident, one of which would be primary decrease the number and percentage of allowed short term units in multifamily buildings and prohibit accessory and use accessory dwelling units from being used for short term rental occupancy. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 11: Thank you. My name is Jean Young, and I live in Al Austin's district. I've been there for 30 years and I'm a super host. I'm asking you, council member, Austin, all this city council and mayor to allow short term rentals as a permitted use. I'm thrilled this is coming before the council and I. Speaker 2: Would urge you to support. Speaker 11: Opting option one. I know there are representatives of the hotel industry who would have you believe that their jobs are threatened by home sharing. That is not the case. We provide an affordable travel experience to many who could. Speaker 2: Not manage the expense of a hotel, stay or want the special care. Speaker 11: And guidance provided by an Airbnb. Speaker 2: Host. Speaker 11: I also hire local people to help me clean my property, paying them the exact cleaning fee than I obtained from a guest. I believe that if effectively managed, short term rentals can provide homeowners an additional opportunity for income to hold on to their residences and invest in upkeep, which supports neighborhood stability and vitality. So it helps seniors stay in their property and millennials get into a property. Speaker 5: I do not. Speaker 11: Want to see a restriction on the number of days we can host or different rules for home sharing while in the home. Then when short term renting an entire house, this restricts those who must travel for business or retirees who travel for pleasure from renting out their entire house. So that flexibility to take contract jobs in other parts of the country or invite family is the beauty of Airbnb. Speaker 0: Thank you so. Speaker 11: Much. Do not restrict. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 3: Good evening, council members and Mayor. My name is Brant and I'm here to support option one. My mother has loved the Belmont Shore area since 1969. Every summer she would take our family to play in the sun and water of Alamitos Bay. In 1979, her dream came true and my parents purchased a duplex and Bill mature. In 1984, they purchased another home in Belmont Shore, where we my family lived for many years. CSU will be alumni in 2014. At the age of 77, my mother came down with dementia as the illness progressed. My father had a harder and harder time taking care of his beloved bride of 61 years. In late 2016, we had to move. Speaker 2: My mother into a. Speaker 3: Home for dementia care at the cost of $7,000 a month. My wife and I soon came up with an idea on how to afford this daunting $7,000 a month bill. Our plan was to make the bottom unit a short term rental. We could make the extra income, but still have the bottom unit available for our family to visit. So we talked to our neighbors in Belmont Shore, as well as our long term tenant of ten years upstairs. All had no issue with the short term rental and were very glad we could take such good care of my mother and all have my cell phone number. In November 2016, we cleared up our family duplex. We also paid for a wheelchair bound neighbors tree to be pruned, and we cleaned up her yard as well. With the extra income, the downstairs short term rental plus income from the upstairs long term rental. My father's income shortfall dissipated. He now visits his beloved wife of 63 years daily while my mother, well, my wife and I take care of our family's duplex in Belmont Shore. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. The speaker, please. Speaker 5: Hello. My name is Olga. Speaker 2: I live in Belmont Shore. A solution to the noise because we're all here for solutions is that those Airbnb hosts should all purchased a noise monitor. And this will appease all those who are concerned about noise violation noise monitor. You can check it on your phone and everybody's in check. And also every city has a noise ordinance. Simply call the police for current noise problems. Airbnb takes away less than 1% of the housing that we're currently talking about. Lack of housing. I feel I'm forced towards long term rental. This is a horrible thought, especially when we had a very bad experience with long term tenants. Where are my rights to do what I please with my property? I pay thousands upon thousands of dollars in taxpayer dollars for in our experience, long term tenants were long term problems. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker. Speaker 3: Please. Yes. Hello. Stewart and I live in the First District and my concern is a little bit different than most of what you've heard. I believe in the stability of neighborhoods and communities so that children grow up going to schools with the same people all the time, that they aren't living in a neighborhood that sometimes has a lot of people there. And other times everybody just disappears when it's away from holidays and things like that. So I think these are important kinds of values to keep for our neighborhoods. And I think that if if there's only about 1% of the units in the city are being be well, let's just freeze it at that number . Don't let anybody else start adding new ones here. I'd be one thing and I would take care of that. Second thing is, do keep the 12% tax rate. We make it 18% and use that extra money to provide more for our schools, more for our housing. That's affordable, more help to our people who have to enforce the rules to do it. BND If there's going to be rules, it should be like Prop two. Option to here and then take and do it so and get someone in there to keep it going. So that's what I think. And I live here and I'm buying a very good place. I live in a good building in the Walker building and and we do not have been busier and we don't want them there, by the way, because we don't think that builds a strong, healthy community of people who know each other, who care about each other, and who prevent our neighborhoods from deteriorating. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thanks so much. Speaker, please. Speaker 2: My name is Nader. Speaker 11: Tushnet, and I live in the third district. Speaker 2: My concern is about the declining number of the housing stock as we have a great housing crisis before us in our city, which I see every day on my walk. Speaker 11: I think there are ways to deal with it without getting in the way of property. Speaker 2: Owners who want to have. Speaker 11: Airbnb or vacation rental by owner. Speaker 2: Which I've used around the world without getting in their. Speaker 11: Way. The first is to make the site. Speaker 2: Accountable and and find the site. The platform vacation rental by owner or Airbnb for any misdeeds. The second is, in fact, to make sure that it. Speaker 11: Is only in primary. Speaker 2: Residences. Speaker 11: So I would favor option two, though, a little bit stronger. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 12: Good evening, Mayor. My name is Brad Michaels and counsel. I'm living in the third district and I wanted to give you some feedback. What I'd like to say is we're actually kind of out of the box. I support option zero and here's my thoughts. And I know that if you're going to play ball, it's going to be wasting our time. But, you know, we come from the United States of America where there's liberty. And I'd like to push back on some government regulation now. And the because I think we're highly, highly overregulated right now. Also, what is the big fervor about stars? I'd just like to think out of the box. Speaker 3: I've had some long term renters. Where I live. Speaker 12: Beside that have been worse partiers than I'd heard on some of these stories here that I've heard of the nightmare stories of short term rentals. Thirdly, when my wife and I took over our property in Belmont Shore, we had two drug pushers that were growing pots in our in the house that we purchased and. Speaker 3: Selling it on the street. And we finally. Speaker 12: Kicked them out. After $10,000 of attorney fees, our neighbors thanked us for turning our house around. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Speaker 2: Wow. How do I follow that? Okay. Good evening. Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Linda. I'm a resident taxpayer of Second District. Many years ago, I was working as a traveling sales representative. And at that time, my company was giving me a stipend of $60 a night for overnight travel for a hotel. So you can imagine the type of hotels I might be able to afford. That was when I discovered Airbnb. I was able to find shelter in a safe, secure, affordable, clean home with awesome hosts. That was over eight years ago, and I've been part of the home sharing community ever since. My decision to become an Airbnb host started when my husband was laid off on my birthday, no less. And I a week later, the fear of losing our home in the city we've come to love was overwhelming. The Airbnb platform helped us through some very difficult times. Please don't lose that in this conversation that people are really using this as a forum to survive. Okay. And please remember that the sharing community cards, Lyft, Uber, Airbnb, all of that started because of a need, a need to find affordable ways to get around and an affordable way to travel. We met amazing people, a couple in their son from Kazakhstan who won the visa lottery and a couple from New York who needed who needed to find a home. And they now live here in Long Beach on First Street and our loyal customers. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Speaker 2: I really prefer no regulations, but if I could just number one. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 5: Hi, I'm Diana Wynne and I live downtown Long Beach. What got me into hosting was that I. I love to travel. Speaker 2: And so I traveled all over abroad. Speaker 5: And I didn't know what Airbnb was. And and so when I did, I started looking into it and it gave me options to giving up my family options of of where we can stay. And once when I got into it, I'm like, oh, my gosh, this is so much better than a hotel. And so I got myself into hosting here at my kind of Long Beach, and the experience I have has been phenomenal. You know, they I have so far zero complaints. And the platform. Speaker 11: Allows you to. Speaker 2: Actually rate. Speaker 5: Each other, not just rate me, but rate them. And so if you're able to look at them and say, hey. Speaker 2: You know, they have bad reviews, whatever, but I hadn't had one that had a bad review. Speaker 5: So I've allowed each one to stay in my home. I'm also, in a way, board member. And to me, the complaints that I have is actually for the more of the long term renters. And to say that it's it's. Speaker 2: Just the short term rentals. Speaker 11: That's making noise. Speaker 5: I think that's unfair because, you know, we were surrounded by great universities, colleges, and we've all been. Speaker 11: There, right. We partied. Speaker 5: And so just to say that it's just for the short term, it's not right to say so it could be any of those factors, not just, you know, people that are trying to, you know, give options, working. Speaker 2: Options, but if we. Speaker 5: Have Airbnb. Speaker 0: So thanks so much. Speaker 3: My name is Josh Butler, executive director of Housing Long Beach, a resident of the third district. And I am a super renter. There are so many unintended consequences with this. It feels like this policy at this point is half baked and there's more work to do. One for sure is, is what is the fare going to be and where is the money going to go? It doesn't make sense to me to come back and circle around and have that conversation. That should be included as part of this conversation right now. And that money should go to affordable housing. And I think that the hosts are lucky that it's only a minimum of 12%. We're in a housing crisis. We do not have enough affordable housing as is we do not have places for our current renters to be right now. And it's very discouraging that so many host have come up here and decided, rather than to speak about the positives of being a host, have chosen to disparage longtime Long Beach renters in the process of this. There are a lot of rules and regulations out there right now. I'm wondering how it's going to be monitored. Is it going to be done by current staff? Do we have the funding to do that? How many calls for service to the police department will go out? And is any of the funding going to support the police department? I think there's a lot of questions that still remain to be answered. All these hosts have come up here. It sounds like they're struggling to. Many of them have suggested that without the ability to rent out their second home, that they would be underwater. And so I think that we may have a larger problem if so many of our homeowner population are struggling to make ends meet. We might want to look a little bit deeper at that. So we encourage you to look at an individual option, which was the Santa monica option. Thank you. Passed over, which requires the owner to be. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 2: Thank you. Good evening. Councilmembers and Mayor Connie. Speaker 9: Llanos with Airbnb. Speaker 2: Thank you so much for allowing us to be here today and for really a thoughtful process that has undergone over a year of community feedback. I think you've heard better from our hosts today the stories of how. Speaker 9: Airbnb. Speaker 2: Is impacting everyday Long Beach residents and really allowing them to stay in their homes, cover important housing costs, medical costs, supplement retirement medical bills in many situations. These are also ambassadors of Long Beach who really take pride in being able to welcome thousands of guests into this community. In fact, in 2017, this resulted in about $42 million of new spending in local businesses right here in Long Beach, supporting jobs, helping folks be able to stay and live in Long Beach. We appreciate all of the work that's gone into putting together this policy. A couple of suggestions that that we want to urge you to consider. I think, one, you did call for a community feedback process. Your community asked you for option one, consider that. Hear their their voices. They were engaged. If you want to look deeper, I think we really would consider you to look at eliminating caps for the nights that people can share the homes they live in. These folks are going to take care of their community. They're going to take care of their homes. You're going to solve for a lot of these neighborhood character and safety concerns. I think vacation rentals have existed historically in Long Beach. I think there should be a way to legitimize them through this process, but create the rules that actually solve for the noise and concerns that frankly, can happen in long term stays as well as short term stays. We want to be your partner in this process very much. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Speaker 12: After attending and tending the community meetings. Everything is what it's come down to for me is that Airbnb people? What you're doing is. Speaker 3: Actually you're providing a hotel, you're not doing it because you like to have people come. Different people come every week and stay with you. Speaker 12: You're doing it for the money. As such, you're operating in a for profit business, just like any business like the. Speaker 3: That the city. You should be able you should pay a yearly license because again, I think it's important that the city knows how. Speaker 12: Many hotels are operating inside the city. Not only should they have. Speaker 3: That information, but they should share it with the police and the fire department so the fire they can respond better. That's why I think it's important. Yet when it comes to the overall, I think my biggest issue is with buildings, five units and above. These are not home sharing. These are commercial operations. And the city is at a minimum, I would hope that they would support the, you know, the 25%. But if they do that, I would hope that the landlords would be required to notify their long term. Speaker 12: Applicants that they're they're also hosting short term. Speaker 3: Rentals in that building. But in my opinion, I think it's best that these buildings were not built to be hotels. Again, it's going to be hard to implement this. Speaker 12: When inspectors going to go and be inspected as a hotel or. Speaker 3: An apartment building. Again, there's a lot of confusion, in my opinion. Speaker 12: Very best that unless. Speaker 3: You know, the only way to have short term rentals. Speaker 12: In apartment buildings is if they're converted, if they're zoned and permitted to operate as a hotel, because basically. Speaker 3: I don't know any landlords that are living in there. Speaker 13: Thank you, sir. Speaker 3: Okay. Speaker 2: Hi. My gosh, that number thing is really intimidating. My name is Natalie Barnes. I'm the proud owner of a home in Long Beach, and my home is a duplex and it resides in District three. I have been hosting vacation rentals and more recently Airbnb Rentals for the last eight years. I'd like to present a little bit more positive glimpse of what a host goes through. While many of the visitors may come from outside of our community, they come here for the community. The guests that I've had have been visiting nurses that take care of our community in our hospitals. They have been project managers that have built things for our community, and they have even been people that have come here because they want to eventually transition and live here and become a part of our community as a whole. There's another part of that which are. The people within our community. Speaker 9: That are looking for places to stay. Speaker 2: And I hope that you'll consider all of this when you consider what you're voting for. Thank you very much. Speaker 13: Thank you. Next. Speaker 2: Good evening. My name is Marianne Gleason and I'm in District three. I'm on the peninsula. I've lived there for 16 years and I have a duplex. I've started short term rentals because of my elderly parents come out from the East Coast for about three months. They're snowbirds and they come up for the winter. So the balance of the months, I thought, Oh, it'd be nice to rent out, since it's hard for me to rent out full term lease, a full year lease. Anyways, I take pride in I'm on a very visible area on the peninsula, I'm on the boardwalk and pretty much everyone knows what I'm doing because I see people there, new people and and they really like to see the new people and the new wherever they're from, the countries. And I really I've had no zero problems. I have parking. I'm I'm upstairs. I'm very village vigilant about parties and, you know, no weddings. No, there's no that it's very, very restrictive. I know that some of the people that came up here this evening. On Peninsula are obviously against it. One person there's one person I think is the only person that is having a problem. There's there's one short term rental. So I would like to probably maybe help with that person to oversee. And I'll do my best to, you know, help whatever I can do to make sure that there's not a problem. And I approve of option two. Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you. Speaker 3: Long night, huh? My name is Zach Kaczynski. I'm a resident of the fifth District and also an on income property in the third. I've emailed all of you my word. So I'm going to just stick to my main objection here and my proposed solution. Short term rentals are to be held to the same standards for noise ordinance rules as long term rentals. However, all three options proposed hold STR landlords directly liable for tenant violations based solely on the length of tenancy beyond the costly logistical hurdles involved with enforcement, the shoulders of the landlord with culpability for violations they themselves did not commit. And this is wrong. Landlords should not be required to maintain an asinine 24 hour complaint complaint hotline. We already have a hotline in place and that's in the form of the Long Beach Police Department. Transient occupancy tax revenue should be prioritized to ensure that the PD is adequately staffed with patrol cars, operators and dispatchers to handle any influx in disturbance calls with a focus on patrolling areas with higher densities of rentals. This is fair, it makes sense, and it's funded directly by the STR tenants themselves through tort revenue without creating a bloated, unnecessary licensing, registration and enforcement system. Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you. Next. Speaker 3: Hello. My name is Daniel Jimenez, and I'm here on behalf of Unite Here Local 11. I'm here to urge you to consider the serious impact short term rentals have on the region. I have seen the effects short term rentals have on the housing market and economic development. The time is now for Long Beach and other cities to adopt an ordinance that is a true reflection of what the region needs as we face the biggest housing crisis of our lives. Other cities, such as Santa monica, consider the grave impacts short term rentals have on their housing, stock and hotel industries and incorporated this understanding into their ordinance. The City Council of Long Beach has the responsibility to do the same. I urge you to take a strong action to protect the future of the families in the area. You have the opportunity to be a leader in the nation and you should take it. Speaker 13: Thank you. Speaker 8: Hello. My name is Pedro alone. Thank you for allowing me to speak today. I have been living in Long Beach for around almost three years. I live in many places in the United States. I currently will be able to leave behind my corporate job to begin managing property here in the Philippines. And one thing that I would like to mention to properly address one of the recent comments of the diff. Limiting the number for rental in the long term industry will definitely affect the rental market, but in a negative way because a lot of millennials like me will not be buying property if in a place where they are limited. I myself have been thinking about buying a full plate and if that is limited in number for rent of that, I can have, I will look for what else I will buy, for what I will now buy here. And a lot of people will do the same thing. But I love Long Beach and I think that you guys would probably look at this in a very fair way for everybody that will work in a way that everybody would be happy at the end. I, I forgive the probably the best option would be number one, even though I think the total is a little too high because we are not hotels and. One of the things that I wanted to mention is that the. That we do not support the platform liability. And I think the option it too is way too confusing for a lot of people and does not address all the issues that you want to address. Thank you. Good evening, counsel. Michael O'Toole and I represent Naples Islanders there. Homeowner's Association President. I think these are some amazing stories. First of all, I've never been in a room like this with this many. Speaker 3: Owners of or. Speaker 8: Workers with the BMB. It's beautiful, the nice stories, but what I think we're getting caught up in a little bit is forgetting it's not just hosts. They're also renting out complete houses. And I think that's a little bit more of a concern. Down in Naples Island, it's a community. It was it was built in 1905. It's a bedroom community. It's got a school right in the middle of it. It's got family houses, single family houses throughout. And by entering into the VRBO world, renting out entire house, it really changes the community. It changes the makeup of it, it changes the traffic pattern, it changes the parking. It's a little bit different. If a host is there, they can control what's going on in the House. They can control what their neighborhood is like. They control what the how all the neighborhoods get along and how they park and where they park and how they go about their business in that neighborhood. When you start adding homes that don't have any of that control, it gets a little bit tougher. So I think the Airbnb concept is beautiful and you've heard a thousand stories tonight that make that that make a good argument for that. But let's not forget, and you seem to be forgetting this VR part, where they rent out an entire house and a bedroom community changes that community tremendously. So along with the beautiful stories, let's think about the big houses, too. Thank you. Speaker 2: Good evening. My name is Johanna Cunningham and I'm founder and CEO for the National Short Term Rental in India. This industry is certainly growing, as we've heard, and we want to make sure that we were that we're exploring all of the different options. I have three issues that I'd like to speak to tonight. Number one is the transient occupancy tax. Short term rentals don't even come close to offering what hotels offer. Businesses and families use short term rentals as a way to be able to come to cities that they would be unable to afford in any other way spas, restaurants , workout rooms, events, sites, pools, parking. None of those are usually offered in short term rentals, but they are in hotels. The families are able to afford the opportunity to travel without the high prices that hotels charge. It is a different experience. However, short term rentals provide the city of Long Beach more tourist dollars. They're able to to experience and attend stores. They're able to go to restaurants, and they're supporting the viability of the job market so small and mid-sized business owners are able to thrive. The second is the annual business license requirement. Owners are already paying property tax as it is a private residence. Owners are trying to do what they can to supplement their income, and we don't want to cross over into private property rights. The last is a multifamily. Thank you. And we want to make sure that thank you at least do in part something to support this industry. Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 13: Yes. Speaker 3: John Dilatory, resident of the eighth where I have my home sharing within my house, and then also a property in the second and third district. Honorable Mayor and Council Members, Thank you for the opportunity to share with you an exciting opportunity that has been what an exciting opportunity has been to host people in my home. We have had people from every corner of the world and have taken every chance to share our passion for Long Beach. Many foreigner foreign guests do the usual. They go to the West Coast vacation of San Francisco, L.A., Anaheim, Las Vegas and maybe San Diego. Many of them have no idea what to do in Long Beach, and we take that opportunity to offer them and steer them to all parts of Long Beach, Pine Avenue and ST Sinners in the first Retro Row and the Socialists in the second, second street and open sesame in the third. Most goes on and on through each of the districts that we know and we share with these people and send them to the two main concerns found by the Wise Consultant Group where housing stock and noise parties. They also found that only 0.75% of the housing stock are stars, and many are like me with a room in their home that would not be available as housing stock if things were to change. So housing stock should not be a concern. As for noise parties, we have a noise ordinance in place that is taken care of by our police department. I feel a modified combination of option one or two, which I shared via email to each of you would be the best compromise for on page three. Table one Summary in Overview and Requirements. Speaker 13: Thank you so much. Thank you. Speaker 2: When I was just like, Oh, no, you stay. This number is my dear mother. Speaker 3: Good evening to each one of you. My name is Maria motta. Speaker 2: It's like going out on your local onsen. Speaker 3: And with the Unite here Local 11. Speaker 2: I will not be portraying the news. Speaker 3: I've lived in Long Beach for 30 years. Speaker 2: Asylum manager, the apartment. Those poor waitress iguanas. The one I had a dream day. Those apartments. Speaker 3: And I managed 32 apartments. Speaker 2: But also, Susana says that YOLO reckless regulation is a long beach. Speaker 3: For all these years, I've followed all the laws of Long Beach. Speaker 2: Like. No. Greylock is whose stock I ought to be. You're not. The link is that regulation is with you. Speaker 3: So I don't think it's fair that I have to follow all the rules and others don't. Speaker 2: Grace. Yes. Speaker 3: Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you. Next. Speaker 3: Dave Shukla, resident of the third. I'd like to thank the staff for their work on the short term rental ordinance and to support their recommendation for option two with specific modifications for Long Beach. We've heard a lot this evening about community character specifically. A couple speakers ago, Maples Island. There's a perverse incentive if you don't have for all these folks who want to make ends meet and rent out their homes to have. Owners not on site and multiple properties and often entire multi-family residential buildings rented out as a workaround to just renting them out as hotels or other short term rental options that actually do pay the transit oriented tax. Transit the total. Limiting the rentals to the primary residence, as well as including platform accountability, the ability to actually get the data from Airbnb over who's abusing the system and putting the onus on them to provide enforcement rather than the city. Having to chase stories or chase police reports is probably a much more effective option. Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you. Speaker 3: You folks. My name is Nathan Gordon with the local 11. Quick story. A few years ago, I was able to rent an apartment in this building on Broadway in Linden. It's called the Old Broadland Hotel, built in 1902. It was converted to apartments. Back then, the rent was $700. A few years later, when I returned to the country in 2015, it was 1400 dollars. Now this same building is list all pretty much all the units on Airbnb for 99 tonight. That's almost 2000 dollars for each unit you could make. What motivation does he have to rent it out to locals when he can just make all his money on Airbnb? Anyway. My point is that the Council should direct staff to draft an ordinance which includes platform accountability and primary residency posting. Thank you. Speaker 13: Okay. Thank you. Speaker 5: Hi. My name's Danielle Wilson. I'm here with the Unite Here Local 11. I've seen short term rentals decimate the housing stock in L.A. and other California cities where we are in a housing crisis. I've seen entire apartment buildings and multifamily buildings, like the gentleman said earlier, turned into de facto hotels in Los Angeles, Venice, Santa monica and here in Long Beach. Most notably about this phenomenon is the fact that it is already illegal. So I say that to say that the proliferation of stars in this way is largely a problem of enforcement, for one, and an inaccurate portrayal of the majority of our host to address enforcement. The city of Santa monica, where over 60% of illegal units have been taken off the market, has recognized how challenging it is for cities to ensure that short term rentals are regulated in a way that actually protects our housing and our neighborhoods. This is known as platform accountability, where the burden of enforcement is on the platforms, not on staff who are already inundated with complaints and other code enforcement issues. For every listing found on the platform's website that is not registered with the city, the platforms should be required to pay a fine for one. The platform should also be required to share data with the city because, like Santa monica and other cities have found, it is very difficult to get the platforms to comply when the city is trying to investigate, investigate a complaint. And as the majority of stars in the city of Long Beach are on hosted, this is the case all over the place. If you want to run out your bedroom, we're fine with that. But if you want to take a valuable housing unit off the market, that is irresponsible and the city should not come forward tonight if that's going to be the case. Speaker 13: Thank you. Excuse me 1/2. Now, the young lady up here disabled, she will be speaking now. Speaker 2: I'm Maureen Po. And I would just want to have you think about what it's like to live next to an Airbnb. We had the very sad experience with one that was across the street from us, and there would be people coming in for maybe two days at a time or maybe a week, but they would always be different people and there didn't seem to be any control over having late parties. After 10:00 at night, the night the noise was still going on, there'd be young women and men together out in front. And it was a constant noise and worry because when you get home, you didn't know where you could park. My husband and I are both handicapped and we need to be able to park close to getting into our house. And you couldn't do that. I really hope that you would think about option three, that that would have more restrictions. I know that we were told that an area could be actually cut out and left without having that rental. So please think about that for us. Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you very much. Next. Speaker 12: Yes, hello. My name is Al Farmer. I'm here with my union Unite Here, Local 11. I'd just like to echo what that last speaker said in terms of having carve out areas. Maybe instead, the city should consider exempting everywhere and letting communities opt in to having short term rentals in their in their neighborhoods before actually allowing these party houses and commercial businesses to take over whole apartment buildings. So obviously, owners who who make money on Airbnb do not want to be regulated. They they live in a current state where they they are not being heavily regulated by the city. They don't want any regulation. Airbnb obviously does not want any regulation because it is a corporate middleman. It is not here to benefit the community of Long Beach. It is not here to benefit the people who clean those places or the people who stay in them. And the benefit it gives to the people who rent them out isn't actually Airbnb's intention. Their intention is to make profit off of those folks, and to some extent they're being taken advantage of because they're harming their city by reducing the housing stock. That is why we need platform accountability to keep track of what is going on on places like Airbnb and VRBO. And it is why this council needs to include those things in in this short term rental rental regulation legislation, or it needs to hold this vote until these issues can be more properly studied. If you have 1% of half, half or 1% on Airbnb and you only have a 3% vacancy rate, that's, you know, 40% of your available housing. Speaker 13: Thank you. Speaker 3: Hi. Speaker 12: I'm Jonah Breslau. I'm also here at Unite here Local 11. And, you know, one of the things that's really stuck out to me is that a lot of the folks speaking are homeowners. And that's. Speaker 3: Wonderful. But this is a city of renters. Speaker 12: And I myself am a renter. And I think that as the last speaker mentioned. Speaker 3: One of the things that's really important is the housing market. There is a housing crisis going on. Speaker 12: And when you have a 3% vacancy. Speaker 3: Rate, it is very serious to have more than a thousand units off the market. So again, I just want to say that we need a legislation that we can actually enforce to make sure that there's affordable housing. We need primary residence requirements to make sure that people are actually using this as home sharing and not to run hotels out of their homes. And we need platform accountability so that it's possible to actually enforce this ordinance. I mean, I'm just listening to this 25% rule. How would someone even file a complaint about whether or not more than 25% of the units in their building are being used for Airbnb? That seems very complicated to determine if that's being violated. But the primary residence requirement is simple. It's clear it's enforceable, especially if you have the platform accountability provision. So if those can't be put into this, I think that the, you know, city council should thank you, sign and hear from more renters and neighbors of these Airbnb properties . Thank you. Good evening, counsel. My name is Jordan. I'm with you. Not here. Local 11. One of the great things about Long Beach has always been its affordability and accessibility to all residents. However, with the housing crisis that it hit all of Southern California, it's vital that we pass a real short. Speaker 12: Term rental regulation. Speaker 3: Given the shortage of housing, in particular affordable housing. We don't need short term rentals taking long term housing off the market, housing that can go to long term residents. In my opinion, long term residents are not long term problems, as was said earlier by one of the speakers there. Long there are Long Beach residents that create long term community hosts should be limited to one unit so that we don't take more units off the market and we need platform accountabilities that this law can actually be enforced. If you're not ready to include these sensible solutions, I believe you should postpones that. You have time to really look more into these issues with care. Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you. Speaker 1: Good evening. My name is Christine Miller. I'm a former. Speaker 11: Hotel worker and organizer. Speaker 1: With Local. Speaker 11: 11. I urge the council to pass an ordinance that holds short term rentals accountable to the city, regulates their usage, and requires sufficient. Speaker 5: Community benefits through proper oversight. Speaker 11: Of the crucial TOT. The City of Long Beach has the opportunity. Speaker 5: To create strong and thorough legislation that protects. Speaker 11: Our quality of life while creating a much needed and potentially robust source of revenue for the city. I believe this legislation should include a host be limited to one unit that is their primary residence so that we don't see the proliferation of unregulated hotels. I think it. Speaker 5: Is also crucial. Speaker 11: To include platform accountability. If you are not prepared to include these items tonight, we strongly encourage you to postpone the vote because we believe you really need enough time to look into these matters thoroughly and with care. I urge you to take this responsibility seriously. Thank you so much. Speaker 13: Thank you. Next. Speaker 3: Well, I am I live in the fifth District. And I just one of the things is, is that, um, what if basically everybody's covered all these points that I wanted to make and I do host Airbnb and I just wanted to remind that that we do bring money in because like you said, that that $10,000 that comes in, that money is, is been is, is very spent back into the community. So that we do have that. Sorry. But we do have the ability to invest in our community and we also invest in our houses we invest in and we spend the money to do other things. So the other thing I wanted to just to reiterate was that, you know, the people who come to stay at my house, they're doing things locally. They go to Cal State, Long Beach for conferences or they have to do things around around my neighborhood. So and those people need to have the housing so that they can have something that's affordable to them, because most of the time they're not working for corporations who are sending them on a business trip. They're doing it for themselves and they need to find ways to save money. So thank you. Good evening, Hawkeye Rivero with Libra. I'm just struck by sort of like what we're actually. Speaker 12: Talking about and then. Speaker 3: Just just keeping in mind that the city is currently trying to tackle the homelessness crisis, which has to do with housing availability, and yet we're here considering actually taking units off the market. Does it make any sense to me how is the city going to tackle homelessness and still allow for non hosted units to be taken off the market? It almost seems like a contradiction, so I don't know how we're going to deal with that. And with the housing crisis as it is low vacancy rates and we don't have any tenant protections, we don't have any money for affordable housing development or any significant affordable housing development projects. How are we replacing the units that we're currently taking off the market? By allowing these stores that are non hosted when we're not, we don't have any plan in place to replace them. And yet we're in a housing crisis and we're we we're willing for these units to actually be taken away from long term renters. And do we not care about stability of our communities? Because studies have shown time after time that community stability is is integral in a healthy community, in a safer community, in a more economically viable community. And yet we have hosts here coming up saying that long term renters are no good, that they prefer short term renters. So basically saying we like unstable communities and that's what we're going to line our pockets with. And I think that that's something that you all need to consider. We need sensible regulations that keep the regulations to host it. Speaker 13: Thank you, sir. Speaker 3: And people's primary residence. Thank you. Speaker 5: Good evening, councilmembers and Mayor. My name is Catherine Chappell. I'm an Airbnb super host in District six. I am in support of Option one as a best serves the range of hosts that are in this community and is the least restrictive. I ran one room in an owner occupied home. Speaker 6: Currently, the money. Speaker 5: I make from Airbnb is split between home improvement and funding a college education. Being an Airbnb host has increased the value of my home through these improvements. In addition, local businesses gain from customers through the recommendations that I make to guests far into the future. I like to imagine the potential for income that I could earn as an Airbnb host when I retire. Speaker 6: And that actually might be the. Speaker 2: Most important part for. Speaker 6: Me is income that I could earn when I'm no. Speaker 5: Longer getting a routine paycheck. I experience as a host a loud neighborhood. Speaker 6: With barking dogs, fighting. Speaker 5: Couples, dirty alleyways tied with graffiti. I'm doing my part to make my place as beautiful as I can and in it, and an inviting space that is a safe feeling as possible. I like having a short term rental. I've had a bad experience with long term rental. I'm talking teased on the front lawn and cops called twice, so I will never rent to somebody again. I like having a short term rental for that purpose, and I also like having a space available for a guest room ready for them to come into. Family comes to visit me all the time. Speaker 13: Thank you. Speaker 5: Thank you very much. Yes. Speaker 3: Good evening. My name is Kevin Yeager. I'm a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and a resident of District two. I'm here to urge the City Council to restrict staffers to only primary residences, no unhosted units. In previous city council meetings, when we've come here to ask for rent control or tenant protections, we've always had the conversation redirected towards housing supply. We don't need limits on rent increases or unjust evictions. We just need to build more housing. And while increasing our housing supply is not enough to address this current crisis, it's absolutely a start. And that's why we can't allow Unhosted Airbnb units to remove rental units from our already strained market. These Unhosted units would otherwise be rental units. Instead, they're operating as effectively illegal hotels. And there's really a discrepancy we're seeing where developers come in. They might build 500 units in downtown Long Beach with 3% in the affordable range. And then meanwhile, on the back end, we're allowing multi-unit buildings to give up to 25% of their rental stock to tourism. So this is just not a sustainable model for our rental supply. We need to resist this commodification of our community and put regulations in place to protect what little rental stock we have. Thank you. My name is Gerald Anderson and I am a resident of Naples. We have each have a copy of the petition that a group of us circulated in Naples. And in circulating it, we, we talked to the people who live next door to and in this disease as these stars and the people who are nearby, those at least in Naples, really feel strongly against against this this practice. So we we were able to get over a thousand signatures so far, and we were still getting more from. And that represents about 800 over 850 residences at different addresses in Naples. So we I urge you to accept, accept, pass. Option three and also option R petition did not designate and hosted. Reynolds Only it was was just general that we want the practice of stars stopped in Naples. So I think you should cover those and you should also consider covering other things by petition. I think that's a very good practice. So I urge you to accept our petition and. Speaker 13: To thank you. Speaker 3: Sir. Option three. Okay. Speaker 2: Holly and Anderson seven reveal also Canal Naples. We respectfully urge you to support the Naples position petition are only over 1000 signatures. To prohibit short term rentals in Naples. We are zoned in R.A. one for a reason. We are exactly three feet away from each other in that small community. We have no backyards, we have postage stamp front yards, and trust me, our houses back up to each other. If we have our kitchen doors open together, the neighbor and us have our living room doors open. You can hear everything. Our bedroom, our master bedroom looks right down on their deck. So our concern for a stranger is going in and out 8 to 10 strangers every two or three days because of safety and security concerns. There is also a liability for the city from from the water. Our homes are actually 12 to 15 feet from the water and the seawalls. There are a mere 18 inches for small children to climb up on the seawall and to go over into the water. Renters would be more careless with that. We bought our houses to live in many years ago as a family community. And most people we think if there were thank you, thank you must not buy a house next to a commercial enterprise like the many hotels. Speaker 13: Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Speaker 3: Leaving councilmembers. Mr. Mayor, Victor Sanchez of the Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs and a Healthy Community. We really want to kind of try and bring this home. This is this is about the housing crisis. And we're talking about short term rentals. They play a part in the housing crisis. And so what we're trying to advocate for is none of the options. Actually, it's an alternative option, one that focuses on platform accountability and primary residence as a requirement. The on the accountability piece, look, they will cut you a check for Toyota. You will get them needed revenue to fund vital city services and to continue right in that respect. But on the enforcement mechanism, you can create a registry, but without the necessary provisions in an ordinance to mandate that the platforms themselves share the data and the information so that you can cross-reference and actually hold the platforms accountable for the unregistered or unlicensed bookings that are potentially on there. You're going to be spending a lot of money on the back end as a city to try and recoup that later down the road. On the primary residence situation. Look, there's a fine line between speculation and supplemental income. And what we're trying to avoid here is for folks who own multiple homes to take away long term resident units that would otherwise go to long term resident families. And we can go and say that, oh, it's a small part of the housing stock. It's less than 1%. But in the housing crisis where you have such a low vacancy rate, right, every unit matters. And so we're imploring you to really pay attention to those two things as you decide and continue having this conversation. Speaker 13: Thank you. Just 1/2 and we're going to close the speakers list if there's a last person speaking. Anyone else? Okay. We're closing right there. The young man with the loudspeaker. Thank you. You can come up, sir. Speaker 8: Hi. Good evening. My name is a. Speaker 3: Shy and I am a super host with Airbnb. I live in District six. I have a little bit of stage fright, so bear with me. I own two units in District six. I do whole home rentals. I don't do a shared bedroom. I don't do any of that stuff. And that's because among Airbnb hosts, we're all different. Speaker 8: I mean, everybody has different needs. Speaker 3: I could go out and say, Hey, I want some income property. Speaker 8: And let's buy some long term rentals. Well, the thing is, you have bad long term rentals, just as you have bad short term rentals. But the problem here is that I think a lot of people are coming up to date that have had bad experiences with short term rentals, and they're trying to make that the norm. That's not my experience. I have adequate parking for all my guests. I've been a host for three years. I don't have any noise complaints. I manage my property very well. Now I'm an option. I'm in favor of. Speaker 3: Option one just because people should be allowed to do what they want. I feel to the. Speaker 8: Major degree, with a hard home when I travel, I have a need for short term rentals. If I move with my family of seven for a one week stay in some city, I can go to a hotel for that, you know, drinks of time. Neither can I do a long term rental. A short term rental. That's what I need this it need for that and we just need to regulate it. Speaker 3: Well. Speaker 13: Thank you. Thank you, sir. Speaker 2: That's good evening. My name is Tamara Swagger. I'm a resident of District seven. My husband and I moved to Long Beach from SEAL Beach four years ago. We bought a seven bedroom, seven bath fixer upper that had been bank owned for about 11 years. And we've spent the last four years remodeling it. Two of the rooms in our home are operated as Airbnb units are both Airbnb plus we are in our home full time. My husband has a full time job, as do I. We also have two long term rentals that we will keep long term rentals. We have no intention of converting them to short term. We have found it to be a really positive experience for both my husband, myself and my son, who is ten. And since we moved to Long Beach, we have a daughter who's two. Some of our guests, you've heard a lot of people tonight talk about they have had traveling nurses, people who are tourists. We had the opportunity to host two people who were negotiating their leases to become tenants at Steele Craft, which is a development in Bixby Knolls. And and since then, both have purchased homes in the Long Beach area. I am a strong supporter of the sharing economy. I do think that it self regulates, whether it's Airbnb or Turo or Lyft or Uber, and I think that regulation is good and something that should be considered and enforced because it legitimizes the platform in my opinion. I think that the study that was done was thorough and I would urge you to move forward with the recommendation. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Speaker. Speaker 3: Hello. My name is Sam Grippo from Belmont Shores. First, I like to say that thank you for doing the workshops. It was much appreciated and I support Option one and the only thing I don't believe in is the putting in the liability platform there. Second is, I believe in short term rentals and long term rentals. And as far as long term rentals, I live where I live and I have some long term, Reynolds said, that are pretty much partying all the time and there's nothing I can do about it. I don't even have a 24 hour calling number for long term rentals, and I think that should be an issue to who. If you're going to do it to short term rentals, you should provide it for long term rentals to now and. The thing I have is that I am I believe in the economy. I believe in free market. Now, what would be great if we can just make sure that everything is fair and that we make sure that people understand that people own their properties, they have the right to do what they can do with it, but not to make it so terrible that you have to use option three where people are just not able to do anything. And this is great for the economy. This is great for Long Beach sales tax. t0t it just brings a great economic situation for Long Beach. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thanks so much, Councilwoman Mango. Actually, now I'm sorry. Please come forward. It's a. No, I have two more speakers. I'm sorry about that. Please go ahead. Speaker 2: Yeah, well, good evening. There's more speakers. My name is Nerida, and I am a super worker and a super resident. Uh oh. Oh, sorry. It's been a long night. I've been at work here. Anyways, as a worker and as a resident of this city, I strongly encourage Long Beach City Council to do the right thing in order to ensure for us to work and live in Long Beach. We need a we need to continue with an ordinance for short term rental that will not threaten our ability to do so. It is your job as elected officials to protect our jobs by continuing to encourage the economic development of Long Beach Union Hotels. Allowing short term rental platforms to enter our city without any regulations would seriously harm our jobs and our industry. Thus, Long Beach City Council must follow the footsteps of Santa monica and approve that ordinance that hold short term rental platforms accountable in our community. Our community is not burdened. Some longshoreman long term rentals are not burdened. Some residents are not burdened. Some we are Long Beach. We are community this. We are what makes Long Beach great. And if we don't have that, where where are we to live? You know, I just strongly encourage Long Beach City Council to do the right thing tonight. Speaker 0: Please. Speaker 3: Hello. My name is Mauricio, and this is my daughter, Aubrey. I'm a minimum wage worker. I take her to school in the morning. I go to work and I get out of work. I pick her up and then we go to my second job. I work all day from eight in the morning till 11 at night. So she's there with me at work and work. And I just barely make the the train, which is 1500 here in downtown Long Beach. And just two weeks ago, two weeks ago. The businesses that I work with worked for, they shut down so I don't have a job anymore. And Airbnb has helped me pay the rent and now I can spend time with her. She's improving reading at her school. I read to her every day her ABCs, her numbers and everything. Airbnb has gave me a second chance to pay my bills, the rent, and spend more time with her. So all we ask from you is help. And we're good citizens. We pay taxes. And her name is Aubrey, and I'm a single parent. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. And thank you for coming to. Let me go ahead and sorry. It's not Councilwoman Mongeau. There is a motion in a second on the floor. So let me and I know there's going to be. I just hope people also can just bear with us here. There's questions and there's I know the staff has got I know a lot of information as well. So want to make sure I've got the chance to to do that. Before we begin comes when Councilor Pierce, I got a note from staff that you wanted to clarify something in the staff report just to make it clear. Speaker 12: Yes. First of all, that was a lot of great input, and I'm sure that'll be a part of the discussion at the council dais. But two things that I did want to point out for the audience that was not quite clear in the staff report. The first is option one versus option two is there are some differences and we went through those. But if you're a host who is living in your unit, there is no difference between option one and option two. So if you if the council wants to ask more questions about that, we can certainly get into that. But I did want to point that out. We heard a lot of people who live in their homes who are renting it out. There is no difference between option one and option to for them. The second is we heard a lot of input about the TOTY, about what the level of the TOTTY should be, whether we should exempt short term rentals when it should be higher or lower. I just wanted to point out that the city council, this body does not have the ability to exempt anyone from the TOTY. They can't increase the vote, they can't lower the totty that's set by the voters at 12%, and it would apply to short term rentals and could only be changed by the voters. And so with that, we're prepared to answer questions. Speaker 0: Thank you. Let me turn this over to Councilor Pearce. Speaker 6: Okay. Well, thank you. All of you. Plus, I think public comments that we had and I know that our staff has done a great job of listening and taking an input for the last year. And so I just want to thank everybody for going along this process with us. So I wanna remind us at the beginning of this process actually was not in the housing report. It was when this item was agenda was by the council. And the item is agenda is by the council to really try to tackle two things. One is to understand the impact of units on our housing stock, given that we are about 4% housing vacancy and to create a revenue stream to support protecting affordable housing. Two was to regulate home share short term rentals in a way that enriches the lives, invites alternative modes of tourism or regulating the quality of life, and providing for a revenue stream to monitor as towers, which we currently do not have. And so I want to recognize those that open up their homes are adding to the fabric of this community. I want to recognize those that are struggling to pay their rent are also adding to the fabric of this community. And so this item, listening to the public comments and I. There are so many people that said option one, two and three. And there are things that I agree with all of them. And so I really have spent the last couple of weeks since we've had the staff report out really trying to dissect, not just looking at the staff report as one, two and three, but as a policymaker. I spent a, you know, a decade at a nonprofit that did policy work, really trying to take it seriously and craft a policy that that will be good for Long Beach overall. So, no, no, that going into this that this is a very complex policy and it's not done willy nilly. And so with that comment, you know, there are a lot of questions that we have about the staff report. There are several opportunities where we do not have a lot of information yet. And so I think it's important that today that our council give some direction as to what we'd like to see in the short term rental world, but also give us some opportunities to hear back from staff and in some of these situations. So I'm going to go through all of them, but I just wanted to kind of put the context that I don't expect us to, by the end of today, have an ordinance that we are all 100% on board with, that the city attorneys on board with that staff is on board with because this is a really complex issue. And it is the first time that we as a council have heard this issue as a body. So typically we might have a study session ahead of time and then give some direction to staff to come back. And so bear with us with the process knowing that that hasn't quite happened yet. And this is our first time as a body talking about this in over a year. So with that, I wanted to make a couple comments from the data that was shared. Things that stuck out for me were that 84% of the sharing or people sharing an entire listing, that the average age is 44 people, you know, in their careers, maybe career changing, trying to supplement the majority. Almost 60% of them are women who are. As we know, women are often paid less and are still struggling to equal that same amount going down. See, I have several notes I'm trying to be mindful of. I'm going to start at the beginning. And if you look at the staff report, they have divided it up into several sections. And so I'm going to ask some questions of staff and then hear from my council colleagues and go from there with the. House parties. I know that there is a muni code chapter out there. Can staff just clarify for us what's happening in the city versus what we're trying to say in this staff report around short term rentals and where we might rectify that in the future? Speaker 2: Currently. Speaker 11: Any residential use or any other use that creates a noise that is in excess of what the noise ordinance allows. It can be investigated, incited if they are found to be in violation. I think what we were looking for here is based upon the feedback that we heard through our community outreach efforts, is that short term rentals in particular sometimes created noise impacts that may necessarily be over and above what you might experience in a regular residential neighborhood setting. So we wanted to put into place some protections that put a little bit more regulation around the short term rentals, because we did have the concern about making sure we protect the character of the residential area and minimize any potential impacts. And so the noise issue that we laid in place was in addition to making sure that the renters or the guests would be made aware of all of the regulations around the rental of the unit, including the noise issue. And the other consideration regarding noise was just the number of persons that were in the unit. So in addition to restricting the number of occupants in the unit, the intent was to just make sure that activities were not occurring during the rental of the property that might result in excessive noise. So that's that's the gist of how we came up with the regulations. Speaker 6: Okay. And then the limiting to ten people per household was a number that we based off of just wanting to lower the amount of people for noise or is there specific reason. Speaker 11: It was noise was one of the factors there. But the other factor is generally the fact that you we wanted to make sure that the size of the unit was or the number of bedrooms in the space in the unit was commensurate with the number of people that were residing in them. So it's a I would say broadly, it's just kind of a safety issue that you don't want to have an overcrowded unit that we think contributes to deterioration of the unit and other negative impacts to the unit as well. Speaker 6: Okay. It's Mike. Speaker 11: In parking. Speaker 2: And. Speaker 6: Parking. And I know that we talked about parking earlier and the parking is not something that we feel we can regulate because of the land use. Correct. So that is not something that that staff is recommending. I'm trying to get the the light easy things out of the way before we talk about the big thing. So bear with me so I can do this slowly. For house parties, what I would like to see if council is open to is having staff come back where we address the existing policy and look at something simple, like having the number of special permits for big events. So that we're not saying you're not allowed to host anything. So like I'm staying in a short term rental over Christmas, I'm having a Christmas party. I need to go get a permit for that instead of banning it completely. And that we can talk as a council about what we think is a reasonable number for that. Speaker 2: For. Speaker 6: Just to go back up to the top. So on option two. So if I based off of option two, I support option two. And I know that there's some things that are that are challenging with it. And so one of the the things that stuck out to me was the number of units being up to six stars or 25% of a total unit. And so walk us through what that looks like for, I mean, my district, the majority of the units say their ten unit buildings. And then I have on down in downtown, I have a 400 building unit. So one of the options we discussed was making it 10% across the board for any unit and not having a specific number like six. That's something that we can do that staff would recommend moving forward with. Speaker 2: I'm sorry. We would actually like to recommend a sliding scale. Speaker 9: So. Speaker 2: That under 50 it would be 25%. Speaker 9: With a max of six. Speaker 2: Units, a development with 51 to 115% or a max of eight and then plus 10%. Speaker 9: With a max of ten. Speaker 2: Mm. Speaker 6: Okay. I want to hear what my council colleagues have to say just on that. I talked to staff, I talked to the city attorney. I talked to Tom a little bit today. And so I think what is more comfortable for me versus this kind of piecemeal. Up to two stars or three if this in 25 year six there is that we would get to a place where we would say 1% of our housing stock across the board and that if we had 10% of every unit that way, we're not having units that have six or only have two whenever they actually might have a bigger capacity. So one of my challenges is my downtown residence. There is a very large percent of my downtown residents that live here half the time and live in Florida half the time. And so I don't want to limit the number in those areas where they have a bigger capacity for them versus a lower income building that I might have closer to the Alamitos Beach area. And so this, folks, is why this is challenging today, because we are literally this is a massive policy. And so I want to not ask for you guys to vote for those things today, but give us some direction. If those are our requests, come back with how we would implement those. Because I know that this is going to be too much for council colleagues to really dissect each little piece. So does that make sense? Speaker 0: I mean, I think we might be able to dissect. Okay, but let's try it. Speaker 6: I'm getting some very eyebrows. So I just wanted to make sure. Speaker 0: I think I just want to make sure. I just want to make sure. Just to clarify, I mean, maybe we can do that. You wanted the clarification at the end. Speaker 2: Clarify. Speaker 0: I think the 1% issue makes sense to most folks. I think. Speaker 6: That of the sliding or. Speaker 0: Changing a sliding scale to a percentage, which does not have very much. Practical, immediate effect. I don't think what we currently have is Mr. Motor. Speaker 12: So as we understand, those are two related but a little bit different issues. So as we understand there's a concept of saying we would put an ultimate limit on the number of stores in the city at 1% of the housing stock. That would be to prevent owed, you know, too many conversions over time that this becomes kind of a runaway ordinance and you start going to two to 3 to 4%. So that's one issue. Staff would be very supportive of that. We can bring that back as part of the of the ordinance. The other is the issue of and I think it was appropriately brought up that there are some small buildings, but then there's also some very large buildings. And so we could do a sliding scale, as was mentioned by by Lisa, to try to to equitably distribute among those larger buildings that, you know, a larger building could have a little bit more without having as much impact. It could be 10% across the board. That really is a policy issue from the council. We recommended the 25% or six, whichever is lower. It could be 25 or six, whichever is higher, it could be 10% or a sliding scale. So we're looking for some direction on that. Speaker 0: And you could bring those options back also. But I, I, I understand what the councilman saying there. Speaker 12: We could ideally what we would like to do is get some direction tonight on some basic framework for the street and come back with an ordinance. We can also you can also ask us to maybe pick one, come back in the ordinance, and then we could also come back with options, you know, you know, just to talk about it. But rather than we're trying to avoid bringing back three or four different ordinances, we'd want to bring back one ordinance. But if you want us to research aspects, we can do that too. Speaker 6: Yeah, there's just so many options here that I want to make sure that we as a council, all of us, I know that I've been paying close attention to this, but that we all are understanding the impacts of it when we see. 10%, 1% safety and liability. 10%. So on enforcement. One of the conversations that I've had both with the platform Airbnb and note, that's the only platform that's reached out or engaged with us at all. And that I've had with some other folks is the idea of a third party verification. And so I know when we talked about how we would verify and what that process looks like, there's still a lot of questions that staff has. So this again, is another piece of this that I feel like is not fleshed out and ready for primetime, per se. So I would like to ask that staff take the next hundred and 20 days or sooner if they can get it done sooner to meet with at least three platforms. And a third party like Vertu fi group. There's other groups out there to talk about how we can make sure that the is getting the information that we need. Not too much information. Not information that's going to result with a lawsuit, but basic information that's going to allow us to regulate this industry and collect the right amount of top end and fees that are required. So that was one piece out of this that I didn't feel really comfortable with. And I don't necessarily think that we have to go down the same path that other cities have gone. If we have an opportunity now to go with one of these newer routes. On the fines. I know that that staff had made some recommendation on fines. One of the things that was brought up, I think, if we're talking about a lot of these hosts are people that live in their buildings. The outreach for this, you know, I'm not really clear on how how thorough that's going to be. So one of the options I wanted to propose to my council colleagues was that the first instance actually be a warning instead of a $500 fine and that they have 30 days to register and apply for a business license, that the second violation be $1,000, the next violation would be 15, and the third violation would be 2000 and the registration would be revoked. Following with the the remaining recommendations that staff has on that process. But really, the main thing is that that first one is not a fine, but it's a fix, that warning. Speaker 12: So just for clarification, it would go from a three fine to a four fine. You get one warning, then it would go to 1000 for the first warnings that your first fine. Second fine would be 1500 third fine would be 2000. Okay. I'm sorry. Speaker 6: On the ACR registration, I know that one of the biggest challenges is making sure that it is a simple process and that hosts are actually going on and registering. So I know that staff has not made some recommendations that costs would be that that is our cost recovery fee and I wanted to go on record was saying I think it should be as low as a fee as possible so we can make sure we get more people registering on the platform than not and that that process be a simplified process. Someone just go on record with that and hope that when this item comes back that you guys have fleshed out what those numbers look like and what we can actually do. I know, tier two we address. That's one of the things we talked about with Toti and it was brought up in the audience today is that hotels get a benefit whenever they pay into Toti, they get advertising. And so I know staff will work closely with Steve Goodling and with our tourism, our CVB board to say that on the same website that says here we have, you know, the Hyatt and the Westin, that there's a platform link that says here's an Airbnb or whatever other links there. So the hosts feel like they're getting something for their investment. Speaker 12: And I do want to point out that the Convention Visitors Bureau is really seeing a change in the convention business in the last couple of years. So there is conventions that really their members want to do short term rentals instead of stay in hotels. So, you know, the convention center is is embracing that. There are people who like hotels, there's people who like stars. And so they're really embracing that whoever wants to stay because they're all coming to Long Beach to spend money. So they would certainly embrace that. Speaker 6: Well, and that's you know, I think that that is the hard part of the discussion today. And so I just want to address that because I haven't addressed it yet. I know that, you know, the hotel workers are seeing this as a as a challenge and that there's one is affordability. One is the challenge with the hotels. And I mean, I'm somebody that travels a lot. There's many times I want to stay in a hotel and there are times I want to stay in a short term rental. You know, they offer different things. So hosting a Christmas dinner, that's my short term rental, not doing that at a hotel. And I know that our hotel and tourism market is strong. I feel comfortable that it is going to continue to thrive. We've got, you know, six projects in the works right now looking at downtown. And so I'm really, really trying to be mindful about creating a positive policy that is not going to overburden us with excess of staffers, but is going to be mindful of those homeowners that are already doing this project. So I want to be mindful of that. And just to to reference that. So to be clear, for next steps, I think, as I mentioned, that this isn't fully fleshed out, that that there's a lot of information that we do not have as a council. And so when you do come back, just making sure that we come back with the enforcement piece, that we have a staff report and recommendations from you guys on the registration fees and the business licenses. And so that was one other thing with the business licenses. I wanted to ask if there was a way for us to not require a business license for hosts that rent less than 30 days. And I think that our city attorney might have had some challenges with that. So if you could elaborate on that. Speaker 12: Councilwoman Pierce. That's one of the things that we're looking at right now. Currently, the way the business license taxes is structured for these types of short term rentals, there's actually an exemption built in the tax. Speaker 2: For. Speaker 12: Fewer than four units. So we would have to look to see if we could even impose a business license tax for 1 to 3 units at this point because those taxes were adopted by a vote of the people. So that's one of the things we're looking at. It doesn't mean you couldn't charge fees necessarily, but it wouldn't be part of the business license tax. Speaker 6: Okay. So that that goes back to my point of making sure that when this item comes back, the only way that I'm able to support having up to 1% short term rentals is that we're creating some fees and some funding that has a nexus tied to affordable housing. So if this comes back and the staff report comes back and says, we can't do fees, we can't do these registration, then I'm going to I'm going to be in a challenging spot. So I just wanted to make sure that that was really clear. So I hope that we can find some avenue to support our affordable housing. So in the report, you guys talk about inclusionary housing. And I know right now we've just brought on our our consultant. They're out doing community engagement around inclusionary housing. Can you talk about one more time what the the nexus in between regulating our short term rentals and affordable housing might be? Speaker 11: We know that there is some limited nexus and that's the purpose of doing the study so that we can more fully establish that relationship. We feel that the short term that there is some opportunity to create a a some level of funding for affordable housing. But we really will rely on a study to determine what that level should be. And that, of course, would be in conjunction with looking at the cost recovery to put in place the the staff efforts in the implementation of the program overall. So it would really be balancing the amount that is going to cost recovery. The amount that would be left over would be something that we could consider for affordable housing. We just need to have a study to determine what those amounts are. Speaker 6: Okay. And when you do that study and look at those amounts, I know that we looked at inclusionary housing. I also would like to ask staff to maybe explore if there's some nexus with period to maintain existing housing so it doesn't get taken off the market. Just to make sure we're looking at any options in case the funding isn't a big enough number to have a real impact on on developing new housing. Speaker 11: And I think I mentioned earlier that it's pretty clearly spelled out in the options that were laid out for you that no currently dedicated and covenanted affordable housing would be eligible for a short term rental. So none of those would be taken off the out of the interest. Speaker 6: Yeah, I understand. So with that for the vote today, if we vote and we make some of these changes or give a little bit better direction to staff, and we haven't figured out that enforcement mechanism yet. What happens next? So just walk us through. We vote today. Everything that city staff will do. Speaker 11: Well, essentially what we would start with is taking the items that come out of the council's motion and we would tackle them one by one. We do the fee assessment to determine what the registration fee for short term rentals, what an appropriate fee would be. And I literally your request about special events. We would work with the city attorney's office to determine what mechanism makes that practical or feasible. We did ask specifically that you give us direction. You said you're not sure what the number would be, but what we would do is just look at the feasibility of implementing something and you could later on determine what the number of days that would be appropriate. And again, we would literally go down your list of items or the items that come out of the council motion, and we would address them one by one. It may be that we don't come back directly with an ordinance. Maybe we provide a24 from or something that could elaborate and give some of the preliminary responses that we found and get further direction. So all of those are possible ways that we could address it and bring you back something that is really responsive to the council direction. Speaker 6: That's great. So we wouldn't start collecting any totty or anything until this council gives a direction with an ordinance. Speaker 2: That is correct. Speaker 6: I just want to clarify that for for everybody. Speaker 12: Well, actually, that's a little bit different than what the staff recommendation currently is. So we are asking for authorization to enter into the contract to start collecting those based on what is there today. So we had held off on that for a long time while we went through this policy process over a year and a half. We did put a small amount of money into the FOIA 19 budget, and so the staff recommendation tonight is to start collecting that total. We can certainly wait, but then that would have some financial impact. So I want to make that clear. Speaker 0: Let me let me clarify one thing also, because I think it's important. So the council voted as a body to include revenues from Airbnb as we balanced the budget in this last cycle. And so I just want to make sure that one that we're aware that that is something that is being expected through the general fund at the same time. There I think there is there's interest, which I support, which I support. And having a discussion about how as the ordinance comes back, how and if we should be dedicating some of those funds and how those are dedicated. And so I think that's a conversation we should have and and I support. But mindful of the fact that we already made the decision to include some of those funds that are going to be coming in for other general fund purposes. So I just want. Speaker 3: Yes, that's correct. Speaker 6: Fire engines can't spend the money. We don't have it yet. So I think that, you know, in the very beginning, I wanted to make sure that we weren't collecting money before we regulated. And I had that very honest conversation with the platforms as well from the very beginning. I don't want to get us into not wanting to regulate too much because we've got some money already. I'm going to stop there. I think I've said a lot and I want to hear where the council colleagues are. But, you know, I think a fine balance in between protecting our rental market and ensuring that we are able to have a tie to that market is going to be key. So what's going to be important for me again, is really understanding the nexus with the affordable housing, where those funds could go and how we're going to use those. Speaker 2: Thank you. Speaker 12: Notes on Pearce before we move forward. I know you didn't phrase that necessarily in the form of a motion, although it's on the monitor. Was that meant to be a motion basically for staff to begin preparing an ordinance that we will bring back, that incorporate the items that you talked about and possibly more. Speaker 2: With friendly amendments? Speaker 6: I would honestly, because the way that this has been presented, it's been a little bit difficult to have a full conversation, I think. So I like the Linda Tatum's, you know, put an end to from for let us make sure that we have that data and then come back with an ordinance. So that would be be the process I would prefer. Speaker 0: So I just want to I just want to caution us that let's I think actually, Councilwoman, that we are on our way pretty I think your comments were fine. And I think. Speaker 2: They should they should a. Speaker 6: Draft an ordinance. But I think we need to see some information before that ordinance comes back to us. Speaker 0: And that's you know, that certainly can be expected. I just want to make sure that we are coming out of here with some direction about where we need to go. Yes. So, yes, I think so. I think then that. Speaker 12: That helps out. So we read all the things you just said as your motion. So to adopt kind of the staff recommendations option to with the following changes that we talked about. And if I need to read them, I can read them for the for the body later. So we have those written down. So we would understand that to be a motion. Speaker 2: Thank you. Speaker 0: Okay. Well, let's keep going to. Speaker 12: Prepare a draft ordinance and bring information. Speaker 0: Back. And there's still might be conversations about the ordinance itself. Let's let's keep let's keep going. So we have a we have a base. Councilman Price. Speaker 11: Thank you, Mr. May. And thank you to staff for your excellent presentation and the great work that you've put into this over the last over one year. I really appreciate the engagement. I appreciate the inclusion from every council district. And I want to thank my residents who have come out to community meetings, ones that I've hosted in ones that the city have hosted, who have provided petitions, who have provided us with comments and been very engaged in this topic. I'm very appreciative of that input. Personally, I do want to hear from my colleagues, but personally I'd like to move forward with an ordinance motion tonight, certainly something that we can tweak when it comes back for first reading. But I think that asking my I mean, I have residents here who've been here all night. It's late and expecting them to come back for a another meeting to, you know, talk about these issues a lot, again, is just really a lot to ask. So I'd like us to at least have some direction on where we're headed tonight. And I know Councilwoman Pierce has put a lot of work into this, and I appreciate her collaboration as well on this. I agree with all of her recommendations as to option two. And one of the things that she and I talked about and I know she didn't mention really tonight, but I want to highlight is I know I appreciate that that staff put them into different options for us because it was for the ease of discussion. But I think as you'll find, there will be things that we liked about one or the other that we want to mix around. So I don't I want to understand that the option to is not going to look much like your option. Once we're done with it tonight, probably. So one of the things so I have a couple of questions before I share some of my thoughts on this. In regards to the option three, which is really option two with the additional provision that it would allow communities, small sex sections or communities, however they're geographically defined, to be able to petition similar like we do with parking preferred preferential parking districts with two thirds vote to be able to limit the short term rentals in those communities. So my understanding is we cannot those communities, even with two thirds vote, could not prohibit hosted testers. Is that correct? That is correct. They would be prohibiting any unhosted short term rentals. Okay. And that's because we have access priorities with the coastal areas and things of that nature. That is correct. Okay. I will say I've heard from so many residents, both hosts, as well as residents who are neighbors to skiers. I don't I have not yet once seen an issue with a hosted short term rental where the resident, the owner is in the house and they're doing more of a home sharing type concept. That doesn't seem to be the issue. The issue in terms of quality of life impacts tends to be when the entire house or property is rented. Unhosted. And so that's the the issue that I think neighborhoods would want to try to mitigate if they could. The other question that I had is I want to hear staff's thoughts on the idea of requiring a business license if it's a hosted ACR and the homeowner or occupant is at the home during the rentals. Why would it be necessary for them to get a business license? I think what you heard us earlier just with the city attorney's response, is that we recognize that there is a something of a conflict now between our initial recommendation and realizing that currently long term rentals only require a business license if it's four or more. And we think that it's an appropriate fix to go back and just make them equal. So if it's anything less than three units, then I think we would certainly be exploring not having a business license as a requirement. And I think maybe something else to think about when you come back with that is I think there's a real difference between Unhosted and hosted in terms of the business license. So so what I'm saying is that if it's a hosted and the person's in the home and renting out a room in the home, why would they need to get a business license if they're using it as a vacation rental and, you know, exclusively renting it out, then it is more of a business operation than just sharing their home. Speaker 12: So, Councilwoman Price, one reason that you might want to have them get a business license is for tracking purposes. Mm hmm. So that you can make sure that you're collecting the total for each of those. So the idea would be that they may get a business. We may require them to get a business license, but not charge the business license tax. Speaker 2: For tracking purposes. Speaker 11: I see. I see. So if there was a way to maybe call it a STR registration or something like that, as opposed to a business license that might be more appropriate. Speaker 12: And I think that's what some other cities have done. We could look at that. Speaker 2: Okay. Speaker 11: Um, you know, so one of the things that I would like, I'm going to make a friendly to the motion and I've talked with Councilman Pearce about it. I would like neighborhoods to have the option to limit or ban Unhosted stickers if they get sufficient signatures. But I would like the staff recommendation when it comes back. So that would be option three to some degree, even though we're now modifying option two. So it's kind of a blank slate at this point, but it would be whatever we agree on with option two, but allowing neighborhoods to opt out. But I think we need further clarification on what that geographic boundary would look like in terms of the neighborhoods. Certainly, we don't want to be we don't want to make the neighborhood so big that it's impossible to obtain two thirds of a vote. But we also don't want to make it too small. So that block by block, we have different regulations because that's very difficult. So I would like that to be included as an option of for staff to come back with a recommendation on what a reasonable geographic limitation would look like. And again, it's only for Unhosted. So I don't know if that's a friendly that. Speaker 2: You accept? Well. Speaker 6: I'd like to hear from the city attorney, and then that's included as part of our back. Speaker 11: Well, it's going to be an ordinance back, I think. Speaker 12: So it would be helpful to get direction tonight if we don't get direction tonight specifically on that issue, we would definitely assuming that the friendly is accepted. We would bring back as part of the ordinance some form of geographic boundary with the justification for why we chose that particular geographic boundary and council after first reading, if the boundary we drew was too big or too small, you could certainly give us direction to go back. This is such a complex area. I mean, it would be great if we could get it passed on first reading. I'm not really anticipating that, so I'm sure we'll be making a couple of other tweaks and this could be one of them, but we'll bring back some boundary. Speaker 6: Can I address the friendly just quickly? Speaker 2: Sure. Speaker 6: Yeah. So I think I want to make sure that we are not taking a whole section of our city off the market, thus creating a pressure on, say, my district. So. So that's why I like to see what you guys come up with. I would, you know, if it's a very small pocket versus a census tract, which tends to be a little bit larger. And I'd like to hear from my council colleagues. I also think there might be some comments down the road around 80 years and stuff like that. So I'd like to hear everybody's comments on what units they feel like are appropriate before we kind of say like, put this in stone in the ordinance. Speaker 12: And so, as I understood Councilwoman prices friendly, it wouldn't take anything off the completely off the map. It would simply limit it to allow it to to be were it have to be a hosted facility. So they would in all areas of the city, there would be something or there possibility for something, but in some areas it might have to be hosted. Speaker 6: So this would be would you be talking about non primary or primary? Speaker 11: Primaries would always be allowed. It is the be unhosted that would not be allowed if we got the approval, the geographic. Speaker 2: Approval to opt out. Okay. Speaker 0: Can I add this one thing? I know that we have a Councilwoman Pierce, so I think there is an opportunity because I view this this component of the ordinance important because I understand what you're saying. I do think there is probably a way of crafting that piece that Councilman Price is talking about in a way that could work. I mean, at the end of the day, we are this council is not going to be banning these stars in these neighborhoods because legally it's not an option. So I think the next question then becomes how how are you able to create a policy where you can have some neighborhood input on what happens? But but yet recognizing that we don't want it to be a situation where if a community is all homeowners and they can, you know, all us dealers can get banned, but then how do other communities do the same thing? So I think we can I think staff can find a some creative ideas or solutions and on getting us there because I think it's a concern that we had heard before was a complete ban. And I think what's what's being discussed now is not a ban. It's really trying to target the non hosted sites right that were there aren't local Long Beach homeowners but as we know, these are oftentimes some are local folks, but oftentimes they are purchased from other folks that are just renting out or Airbnb being their house from from afar. So is there a way, Mike, as I'm actually interested in this component as well, is there a way of of coming up with some best practices on how we would do this option that Councilman Price and Pearce are talking about? Speaker 12: Mayor, I think where we would start with best practices, we take a look in those coastal cities that have dealt with this issue already and see what the Coastal Commission has actually permitted those cities to do. And from the coastal cities that I've looked at so far that have gotten approval from the Coastal Commission, it seems to be a situation where they do allow cities to limit it to hosted only, and that seems to be best practice. Maybe council member Urunga has more information than that, but I think that would be one of the best practices that we would have a legal ordinance. So look, start there. Speaker 0: Because I think that I'm glad you brought up the Coastal Commission. I think the coastal question because this would have to go to Coastal four four for that approval. That's right. So I think I'd be interested in that as well. I think if if if this is happening in other coastal cities, it is. And I don't think that's an unreasonable opportunity for homeowners. Sure. Give me 1/2, councilor. So so I do I would like more information if we're able to come up with a way of doing it, I think I don't I don't see the harm in that. So just this was just my $0.02. Councilmember Pearce. I just think that that's something we can explore. So let me go. Councilmember Ringa. Speaker 3: I just want to make a quick. Speaker 10: Interjection since it was brought up. Speaker 3: And my name was mentioned as part of the Coastal Commission. I forwarded a a. Speaker 10: Best practice. Speaker 3: Ordinance that was adopted by Pismo Beach a while back, which was recognized by the Coastal Commission as an exemplary type of ordinance that was that fit all the criteria that we're talking about here tonight in terms of stars in a coastal zone area. So I think that that's something that you might want to look at in terms of a of a best practice example along the coast. And of course, because of how we're set here, we're not we're a coastal city, but we have, you know, our coastline, our coastal zone, the coast. What about a mile, mile and a half, two miles. And, you know, other areas are a lot bigger than that because it's completely a beach city. So, I mean, I think that would be an excellent starting point for looking at how we can address the coastal zone part of of this ordinance, because it's going to be obviously bifurcated to a great extent because of the inner inland areas where we have these issues as well as the coast. So it just that I'll put it in there and maybe something that you can look at. Speaker 0: So let me go back to Councilmember Pearce and Price. I know that there was a a friendly on on that issue. And so I think we're going to have staff bring that back as part of what's coming back. Okay. All right. Well, if you accept that, that's okay. Because of what price for you. Speaker 12: And mayor, just to clarify that, is that just to look at the one best practice. Is that says limiting on hosted or is it also for us to look at different ways to achieve that same you know, to to do that. I mean there might be other ways such as. Speaker 0: I think I think it's both. I mean, I think you want to give us tell us how we open. Speaker 12: To other ways to just make sure that we we're addressing it. Okay. Understood. Speaker 11: Yeah. And just on that note, I appreciate Councilman Aranguiz comments on this, because one of the things for coastal zones that's very unique is many of them have high density and parking impacts. And so when we have an hosted, then there is a potential there to have additional cars taking available spots on the street or even in the beach, lots and other noise and other types of impacts that that really are detrimental. Again, I think getting a petition by two thirds vote is much harder than a lot of people think. I mean, we see that with preferential parking districts or even when residents want to do like a one way street. Everyone always thinks everyone in their neighborhood thinks like them. But when it comes to them signing a petition, that's not always the case. But I think neighborhoods having that option to be able to have a meaningful voice and what impacts they might have is good. It's a good option. And so I'd be interested to see what the best practices are. And my support of an ACR ordinance would most certainly include an option that allows residents to have a voice through a petition process. I like the sliding scale idea. I'm just sharing with my colleagues that I heard it for the first time tonight and I like it. I think it makes a lot of sense in terms of the number of units. I also like the 1% limitation. I mean. It's much more lucrative to have a short term rental than it is to have a long term rental. And what that does is it really limits the supply of long term rentals we have available, especially in the coastal zone, because there's so much money to be made per night for a short term rental in the coastal zone than to have a house that's, you know, workforce rates or affordable rates in the coastal zone. And so I think being mindful of the fact that we do want to have options for our residents to have housing that they can actually afford. They cannot compete with short term rental rates on a monthly basis. So I think having a 1% cap citywide is a good one. The the biggest problem that I see with any ordinance that we establish is enforcement. You know, I don't want us to be in the position where right now we have a ban on SDR, someone , a resident, calls us and has a complaint. The burden is totally on them to go and investigate, you know, find the listing, take pictures, you know, be the be very, you know, slick and identifying and grabbing evidence. It puts our residents in a very difficult situation where they're in a. Conflict situation with people who might be staying in the house next door to them. I don't want to do that. So whatever we do and I'm I've talked with Councilwoman Pierce about that, Councilmember Pierce about this. I like the idea of coming back and talking about the enforcement piece in a more detailed and robust way, because I think it's generally touched upon. But but I'd really like to understand how are we going to enforce this? And I'd like the taxes that are collected to go right back into enforcement, at least a part of them. I anticipate the taxes that would be collected would. Speaker 2: Would exceed the. Speaker 11: Costs that would we would need for one or two people to help enforce. And where that money goes in up above the enforcement mechanism, I'd love to hear my colleagues thoughts, but at the very least, we should be putting that tax money into enforcement mechanisms. And really, I do. I fully expect that whatever option council comes back with will include the platform to work with the city. I know there's pending lawsuits going on. I'll be watching those very closely. But the platforms have to be part of this process and engaged with the city. It can't just be completely our burden if we don't have full access to data. So I'm open to seeing how, how what that looks like and and whether there's third party vendors, which I'm hearing is an opportunity for us to be able to work with maybe a third party vendor to help us collect some of the data . I'm open to all of that, but to me, a partnership between the platforms and the city should be something more concrete. What is that going to look like? And so I, I fully support Councilmember Pierce's recommendation that staff meet with the platforms more than just the main platform that's come forward and engaged with us, which I'm grateful for, but with all of them, because it's also not fair to put all the burden on the largest platform. That's not fair to that platform either. There are a lot of different platforms, and everybody should be sharing in this in this process of setting forth policies and procedures. So I think we do need to come back with a more robust and specific enforcement plan. So those are my thoughts, and I look forward to hearing from my colleagues. Speaker 2: Whatever we do. Speaker 11: I'm hoping that this council is supportive of us coming back in about a year or so and really using this as a pilot period so that we can figure out what's working and what's not working. Have there been impacts in neighborhoods as a result of this ordinance that we need to address? So I look forward again to hearing your thoughts on that as well. Thank you. Speaker 0: Councilman Mongo. Speaker 9: Thank you. I want to start by addressing a comment from the audience regarding a survey that says I put online. I actually went out into the audience and saw the survey. It was not conducted by my office. But I do appreciate that neighborhood associations have taken the time to put surveys out there. It would also be helpful, though, when they do put those surveys out there that they communicate the results to our offices because we actually didn't have access to that private survey. So it was very interesting information and I appreciate the dialog and thank you very much. I want to kind of just start with an overarching discussion on. Buying a home is your one of your largest, most likely your largest financial investment of your life? And the number one thing that I have learned as a council member is the most important decision you make in buying a house is not how many bedrooms, it's not how many bathrooms. It's not any of that. It's who are your neighbors? The number one complaint that I get is I bought a house across the street from a park, but I didn't realize there would be cars and people in the park all summer or I bought a house across the street from a school in the summer and I didn't realize that when school started there'd be pick up and drop off and my driveway would be blocked or these things. And when I bought a house next door, I didn't realize I lived next to the the grumpy person in the neighborhood. And now I know why they're divorced three times. These are actual comments our office gets. And part of that goes to it's about who your neighbor is. And so we currently have a short term rental in our neighborhood that used to be a long term rental that had a horrible tenant. And so the neighborhood is like jumping for joy that it's a short term rental. Now, however, there are other circumstances where there were wonderful neighbors that live there and they were not renewed on their lease. And now it is a short term rental in that neighborhood. And that street particularly is very upset because they don't want a short term rental. So it's all about what you had before and what you have now in that comparison and knowing and understanding and whether you live next door to people who own their home, people who rent a home, whether they're visitors through a platform, whether you live near a park or a school, every single thing brings different pluses and different minuses. And so I think it's a good starting point. I would love for the ordinance to be as simple as possible. I agree with some of my colleagues who have stated if it's overly complicated, it's hard to monitor, it's hard to enforce, and it's hard for us to really get our arms around to explain to people who may want to get into this market, people who may need this money. I mean, I'm fortunate that my mom was here with me tonight and she was in the back and we were watching the meeting together. And I was kind of talking through her with her what what it would look like if she turned her rental property into an Airbnb and why people do it and what the platforms look like. And we were kind of doing that in context with the comments on the floor. We really appreciate all the comments tonight, so many well-informed neighbors, but there are a lot of people in that age group who could benefit that don't understand it because our ordinance could potentially be too complicated. So I'm all in favor of simplifying if the sliding scale is used or the 1% is used, all of those are great . I have a short statement that I want to read that I compiled after reading through the emails and talking to the neighbors that I was able to get to, many of you know, I didn't get to everyone. It's a heavy night on agenda items, so I had a lot of people. Short term rentals can have a big impact on neighborhoods and cities, both positive and not so positive. And as we've seen in the public comment tonight and in the news, we need to be aware of both sides of the issue. So because of that, I'd like to make a friendly amendment. I'd like to direct staff to track the implementation of whichever ordinance we pass and the impacts of the stars, including the number of registrations, the number of complaints, resolutions to the complaints, total tax received, and other relevant data that can be reviewed at a council meeting in October of 2019. So we'll have the data from last summer included in that and then we can see the full impact over several months. And then at that time we can say we love it the way it is. We'd like to make the following tweaks, we'd like to get rid of it altogether and all of those. So now that we would all at least be on the same page, that whatever we pass, let's be invested in making it the best we can, and let's continue to learn through that process so that a year from now , or a little less than a year from now, we can sit down and have a talk about where we've made the mistakes and what improvements we can make, but that we're all on the same page to know that another set of changes could come and what that timeline is, so that we can all be in a position to plan our future, because this type of ordinance impacts people's finances, and that's a really important concept. So I would hope that the maker of the motion would be open to that. Speaker 6: Yes, definitely open to that. I have a couple of questions that you mentioned from last October. Speaker 9: From now to next October? Speaker 6: From now until next October. Okay. And I think whenever we talked about that third party verification group, I think staff will really find that there's a plethora of ways to track data daily that on on any day you could pull up the dashboard and see where we're at on that day. And so I wholeheartedly support that for sure. Speaker 12: I think if I can add just two points to that, we can we can certainly do some of that. When an ordinance is in place, it's going to be easier for us to get that data. So right now, we don't really get a lot of the complaints that we get some, but we don't really hear about everything . We also don't have much of a way to track them without paying a consultant, which we did as part of this effort. And they, you know, it was it was a pretty intensive effort over three weeks. So the more this occurs, once the ordinance goes into effect, the easier it is on staff. But we can do our best to bring you back what we can. Speaker 6: So if we could say a year from the day that the ordinance was implemented, that we have 12 months. Speaker 9: So the reason that I was hoping to do October of 2019 is because one budget and two, we also would get through the summer months, which for short term rentals are really the bulk here. I mean, if it was Palm Springs, our bulk of months would be the January through March. But in Long Beach, coastal city, it's really summer. So I was hoping that summer would have passed. They would have had a short amount of time to gather that and bring it back to us so that we would be able to make some strong decisions. Speaker 6: So I'm fine with bringing it back in October for the budget. I think as we move forward to having that year evaluation, at least for the first three years, where every year we're looking at it and assessing it, our housing market's going to change drastically in the next several years or so. Speaker 9: And in future years I'm open for it to come back as a two from four like that. It wouldn't have to be a full council meeting, but I think in this first review period to have that additional open comment from the community and engagement is just really crucial. Speaker 6: Absolutely. Speaker 12: So we will bring back by October 2019 what we what we know, what we have based on the information we have, knowing that it may not be as robust as we'd like. And then once the ordinance goes into effect, we would do an annual review with the information that was requested. Speaker 9: So my next comment kind of goes to one of the first items I brought to the City Council. When elected in 2014, I brought a refund of your business license to the table because one of the things I feel strongly about is, one, getting all the businesses above board where they all have the licenses. And then also if you're going to open a new opportunity in our city that we would not want to burden you with those cost in their first two years. So we did that business license. We tried to do a waiver, but the city attorney advised us we could do a refund of those fees. And we we instituted a policy where we would refund your fees. But I do believe that registration is key. Not everyone uses the same platforms, whether you're using a far below or Airbnb or whatever. Some people register their homes on multiple sites for multiple types of renters that are looking in different sites. And so for that, I feel that the registration process is really important so that we can track better. I'm supportive of a reduced fee or zero out fee on some of them. It's interesting to talk about 1% of our housing stock. We don't even know what the housing stock of Long Beach is. If you call the county assessor and ask how many units are in Long Beach, they cannot tell you because it's so complicated. So the registration process would at least get us to a point to kind of know, but we need it to be as simple as possible. And so I'm really supportive of a registration. I'm also really supportive of a warning and then a very severe penalty if you don't register, because otherwise there's no incentive to get on board. And we've seen this in Manhattan Beach and some of the coastal cities that people are hiding their addresses and moving things around and and really trying to hide under underneath the radar. We need to be above the radar. I would also say that if the platform is not willing to work with us, they shouldn't be able to book locally. There's so many opportunities with local platform or with these platforms that they could collect the tax for us. They theoretically could even do the registration for us. But it gets more complicated when people are registered on multiple sites. You don't want people to have to pay multiple registration. So with that, I'd also like to warn the Council Against and I know we talk about this and Mr. GROSS or as he called himself earlier, Mr. Sunshine is not here right now. I am completely supportive of bringing back a component of adding staffing once revenues hit certain targets. But I would be careful about directing staffing. I'm sorry, directing revenues, as we've heard about with the directed revenues we were doing for marijuana, they haven't come in as planned. There's all sorts of different fluctuations. So if we think a staff member is needed, just pass a staff member from the general fund and just call it what it is. And in the future, then you still have that flexibility to add or subtract as you go. So I would just generally as chair of budget oversight and having heard Mr. GROSS say it, probably at every meeting we've ever had with him, I'm just going to say it for him so that he doesn't have to do it next time that he warns against that. And I support that warning. Lastly, about the option three, add on from Councilman Price. I appreciate that. In our neighborhoods, we have some problem neighbors and whether there are short term rental or whatever the case may be of what causes them to be a problem. What I wouldn't want to do, though, is I have a street. Let's just say we went with a 20 foot radius. So you take a house within 2000 feet. That's where you'd have to do the petition. What I wouldn't want to do is say like a housing track. And if this housing tract votes no, all houses in the track are banned. What I would like to do is if you have a bad player to be able to collect the signatures to get them to go away. Kind of like the dog barking. And the reason I say that is if you have a home housing track that has three good Airbnbs or FRB, far or whatever, short term rentals, and then you have one bad actor and that petition circulates. It takes the income away from three people who might be snowbirds or other things. And so I just want to. I want to hit a nail on the head. I don't want a pepper spray a problem, if that makes sense. I mean, this is the problem. Whac-A-Mole. Move on to the next problem. If I could do that with some of the other neighborhood issues we have, it would be so much easier. But I would also like it to be an easier process than our current barking dog complaint process because that people are not fulfilled and not able to resolve their issues. So I want to just make sure that we kind of look at that and how it's directed to the one person. So that would be my feedback and appreciate the discussion. Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you very much, Councilman Richardson. Speaker 4: Thank you, Vice Mayor. So a couple of things. So, number one, the turnout in the public testimony clearly shows that this you know, this is an issue that people care about pocketbook issues. So we'll take it with the utmost seriousness. And so I acknowledge all of you for coming out. I also acknowledge Airbnb for coming to the table because I understand there are multiple platforms that engage here. So that needs to be acknowledged. And given that it's a pocketbook issue. I'd like to just frame and say that, you know, the narratives that I hear about are the narratives of abuse. You know, take an entire, you know, entire buildings and turn them into pseudo motels. I think this ordinance, what it puts forward, prevents those apartment motels apart tales of different different ways of referring to these things. So I think that's good. It addresses abuse. The other thing I hear about is the speculation someone who was not a Long Beach resident, you know, owning, you know, five, six, seven properties in other cities and are simply speculating. And, you know, the problem with that for me is that those revenues generated. They're not you know, there have been if anyone in Long Beach, they're not staying in Long Beach. And that's that's you know, I don't think that we should be in that business and we should be keeping our properties as our housing market as stable as possible. So anything we can do to limit that speculation, I clearly support. But also say that there's value in having Long Beach residents and working with Long Beach residents if it's unhosted. You know, this policy is going to change over time. So you want to build up some. You want to give them a shot to see what they can do in terms of maintaining a standard of quality, quality of life and responding to their neighbors when there's a complaint and in following and monitoring this ordinance and not necessarily attempting to game the system so that I think there's value in that. I also think, you know, when I saw that map, the great majority of these properties, they're down in districts two in District three. And I think the two council members are doing a pretty good job understanding each one of those issues. And I think that's great. And so I just want to make sure that, you know, you know, the few just north of them that I think those are families that are just, you know, trying to make ends meet or have an extra room or going from, you know, their first home to their second home. I think we should make sure that as new technologies emerge, as these disruptive technologies emerge, we we make sure that it's accessible to working families as well and that they can benefit from this these economic opportunities. So I do want to want to lift that up. Speaking of local, in meeting with them and meeting with individuals, some of the hosts that came in, you know, I heard stories about how they're you know, they're proud to highlight different attributes about their neighborhood and proud to highlight, you know, where to get your groceries or where to get local food. And I see a big opportunity here for the city to partner with these hosts and with Airbnb to create. And well, I shouldn't say the idea yet, but the idea here is that let's create some some real local partnership to support local businesses. And and, you know, we can think about partnering with Kiva businesses. It's the businesses we're supporting through crowdfunding. That's when the community comes together to support and deploy resources, these small businesses. There are other things we can do, like leverage new technology to also support these small businesses. So I think in this too, from in this report back, I'd like for staff to do some thinking about leveraging this power that was just created through this platform to really amplify the local business, the local impact for those local, local businesses. And so, Councilwoman Pearce, I know we chatted a little bit about that. Is that something you'd like to think you would include in your motion? Speaker 6: Absolutely. I love it. Speaker 4: Absolutely. Great. Thank you. Just the policy points that I'll call out that sound that sound good to me. The concept of the registry, you know, we've got a lot of experience in registries in our city. You know, we were involved in creating the foreclosure registry, the vacant lot monitoring registry, you know, the vacant building registry. So there's experience there. And I think this makes sense in this particular case and in the foreclosure registry case, you have almost full compliance from the banks on the foreclosure registry because they threatened of a fine and they've never had to actually levy the fine. It was $1,000 a day fine to banks who leave these foreclosures in your neighborhood, you know, with, you know, vagrancy and weeds and all these things, they've never had to find a bank because the banks responded by just by the threat of a of a fine. And so that makes sense. Having a registry makes sense. I think the 1.1% cap on the house or the housing market, that that does acknowledge the housing stocks on the search situation with the housing crisis. So that makes sense. I think what Councilwoman Pierce said about taking a good look at evaluating whatever the verification process is makes sense. I look forward to hearing what comes back there. One question about the shift from 25% to 10%, just from a practical standpoint, when I think 25% of 25% can be rented out, I think in a four unit, that means one unit. I think 10%. I think of a bigger building. So how would a 10%, you know, we should think about how does 10% happen when it's less than ten units? Speaker 6: So one of my concerns outside of a duplex is that those units that are 8 to 10 are typically what somebody like me would run versus somebody that owns a condo on Ocean Boulevard that is a bigger unit. Therefore, those condos are probably higher cost. And you're not removing a lower cost housing? Speaker 4: No, I get that. What I'm talking about is 10% of a eight unit is not a full unit. So what happens if. Right. What happens if it's a fraction? Right. The 25% means at least I get a Lexus. At least one unit. Mm hmm. Right. So I think maybe up to ten, you got to say 25%, and then it turns into ten after that. Speaker 2: So I think they get to there. Speaker 6: So they're sliding scale point. So they're going to present to us the sliding scale. I think it'll fix that time. Speaker 4: That makes sense when I'm when I'm saying to get two. Speaker 12: Whole units and round up. But definitely look at different ways of that that we are we do think about that a 10% of a four simply before doesn't even get you. Speaker 4: Yes. Speaker 12: So we do want to look at that in the slide. And we're going. Speaker 4: To rule out when I Airbnb out the bathroom. Great. Well, look, it seems like this conversation is headed in the right direction. I know that there's a lot of interest. I know that the majority are in two districts. But let's be frank. All of you have lobbied all nine of us. And so there are expectations that we become familiar with this policy. We understand it because this won't be the first time that we see it. And I know that there will be changes, but it seems like things are heading in the right direction and I'm supportive of the direction we're heading. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 5: Yes. It's been a long night that thanks, everybody, for hanging in there. Everybody did such a great job and I think my council colleagues, Pearce and Price for their comments on this issue. So I'm certainly of the mindset as well. You know, obviously this is a huge disruptor in the market and with a disrupter, we often sometimes turn to regulation and we don't often have to do that. But I think I'm sort of in this middle space. I come from downtown, everybody loves R&B, Airbnbs and downtown, but we have to do so mindfully and with respect to the community. And we absolutely hear that tonight. First and foremost, I want to say the housing and business opportunities to individuals and the city of Long Beach, you know, looks good with this. The 12% total, obviously, is is something that was mandated by voters. I would just like to reiterate the points of of ensuring that what the information we get back I do want to support affordable housing in any way we can, whether it's through the linkage fee or the 6% that we if we can create that or add that to an existing housing trust fund, that would be ideal, in my sense, to to do that. I think this is the whole gist of of what everybody is talking about on both sides. That's the first and foremost thing. Second thing related to affordable housing that I just had a question on and I wasn't clear in the presentation. ADDUCE Does that include new ADU use or is it existing? Adus Because I have an issue with just the state's loosening of reforms on adus. Speaker 11: It. Speaker 5: Looking forward. Speaker 11: It was proposed to include any idea whether it's existing or new. They would both be treated as an idea, new or. Speaker 2: Proposed. Speaker 5: Okay. Speaker 12: So on the ad use, Councilwoman Gonzalez, we currently, as you know, banned them in the ADA ordinance for short term rental purposes. So if we bring something back that where you want to include ADOS as part of the, you know, acceptable uses for short term rental, we'd have to bring back to edu ordinance and amend that as well. Speaker 5: I just wanted to make sure we banned it from my memory that we did banned it. We didn't do ordinance when it came out. Okay. Just making sure of that because it was unclear in the presentation. It just included adus for primary residents and I thought that was. So is that existing then? ADOS. I'm just making sure. I'm just trying to clarify it. Speaker 2: So our current. Speaker 12: Ordinance, we require everybody that gets an approved EDU to sign a document that certifies that they will not use it for short term rentals. Speaker 5: Okay. So then I just want to because the presentation says, the staff report says a bit differently. So that's why I want to make sure we're on the same page to ensure that. Speaker 12: So that is the case. So current law right now, if you have an EDU, you're not allowed to have a short term rental. And it just is you actually are not allowed to have a short term rental anywhere in Long Beach. So when you did the ADU ordinance, we banded so that you would have the ability to make a decision in the future going forward. We are recommending in the options that an edu be an allowable use so that it would be allowed to be a short term rental. We would consider that a hosted model so that you're actually because you're on site and that's in your backyard or or however it's. Speaker 5: Attached at this point that we're suggesting. Speaker 12: Okay, we're suggesting that it be considered part of the hosting now. So that would be something the council would vote on and decide to include or not include. Speaker 5: Yeah. So I would just. I would just like us to think about. The existing, you know, grandfathering those in and then any additional because I just feel a little awkward in creating additional ADOS that we've loosened reforms on that were intended for affordable housing that we're now putting on the market for short term rentals. That's where I feel a little. A little off with, you know, what we've made in past policy decisions so. Speaker 11: Council when it wasn't clear is your proposal that any new ADOS not be allowed as hosted ACR? Is that what you're saying? Speaker 5: Well, here's what I'm yes, I'm I'm going in that direction. But I'd like to get some numbers on what how many of the ideas that we have got permits that we've received so far, and we can make that determination at that. Okay. I just I feel a little shaky on that, just given the fact that we had that policy specifically for affordable housing. Thank you. Okay. And then the next is, I believe in the consistency with noise and events. I think noise and events should be consistent all around. Whether you're a homeowner, that doesn't the long term, short term doesn't matter. Absolutely. That needs to be consistent whether no matter what. And on the parking situation, I was actually looking into the city of Palm Springs and I was unclear as we talked about parking and not being able to regulate parking the city of Palm Springs. I believe if you have a short term rental and or want to host an event which we don't have here, but especially for just in general short term rentals, they have a plan where you are allowed one car per room. So if you have four rooms. You're allowed four cars. That's it. I think that to me seems like a reasonable suggestion, but I don't know what that looks like on the enforcement side. I know that they're given a parking permit. And I know you had mentioned something about. Zoning. Speaker 11: I think that's something we can go back and take a hard look at, particularly we'll look at the Palm Springs ordinance. I think I just want to acknowledge that might be problematic because once a unit is is approved and it's already up, it essentially has its land use approvals. And I don't know that we could ask for additional parking spaces just by virtue of it becoming a short term rental unit. But we can certainly look at that and we'll bring you back some suggestions based upon what I think is the direction you're going. Yes. Speaker 5: And I just think that would be, I think, alleviate a lot of the neighborhood issues, especially in parking impacted neighborhoods. I think everything else we've covered the highway outreach. I'm just personally interested in that. A lot of houses have kind of back and forth said that they do want stars. So I'm just interested in knowing whether this information will live on our website like fake news, how that will look outwardly. I know a lot of other cities just have that available and I think that it needs to live somewhere. Just for clarity, once we get this all figured out. And then lastly, a lot more platform accountability, data access. I'm also just very curious as to what the lawsuits will provide. I also think we just got to be, you know, just tread a little lightly here. We have bad actors in every industry, even in this. You know, I've advocated for many years the apartment association knows the slumlords that exist in my my district. I want us to be as proactive on them as we are on the bad actors here in Airbnb, which I know are very few. But, you know, I just want to say that and ensure that we're consistent in all respects. So thank you so much, everybody. Speaker 0: Thank you very much, Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 6: I still have a long list of things to go through. Speaker 2: Okay. Speaker 6: First, I want to. Make some clarifying points. Can you speak about the Mello Act and how that might impact short term rentals in the coastal zone? I know not everybody up here is a mellow eyed fan, but you are aficionado. Speaker 2: That. Speaker 11: That is currently on our work program and we have the. In looking at the the 29 housing policies and that's something we are just starting to to scratch the surface. So we will be looking at that really carefully. And I think the first step is to probably do a24 from and just bring you back to current status of where we are on that. Speaker 6: Great. And just including how stars might be affected in the memo as well. To the point of the eighth use, I just want to say I like I like the idea of grandfathering in those that exist now and limiting those in the future, because that was done as a as an attempt to get more affordable housing and to increase our housing supply. I also wanted to clarify. I know that we have some different language and how we're talking about hosted and hosted versus primary resident and not primary resident. And so making sure that when we talk about excluding areas of non unhosted that we're talking about non primary residence of people that don't live in those buildings. Going to Councilmember Price's point. That's how staff understands it. Speaker 2: Yes. Okay. Speaker 6: And then also the 1% I know when I spoke with staff earlier and I wanted to make sure it was clarified that the 1% is for non primary residents. That would make up two to that point that you guys had that as well. Speaker 12: Oh, so that wasn't clear. So 1% is only on non primary residents, so you could go above the 1% if you. Speaker 6: Live in your home and you're. Speaker 12: Understood you can write that in there. Yeah, that's clear. Speaker 6: And then the part that I'm totally left off, even though I did have it in my notes as I wanted and I've talked to many groups about this was also including in the enforcement, the private right of action, an administrative subpoena. And so I think that those are the things that we're comfortable with now. And knowing that when you guys come back, we'll talk about the data and we'll talk about the the fines and penalties. As it relates to two platforms, if that is the case. And with that, I'm very excited, guys. I hope that we can. I look forward to getting lots of data and reevaluating this a year. And I want to say how much I appreciate staff, particularly with working with me today. I know I was very busy in meetings and committees and trying to to process some of this. So again, thank you guys very much for coming and meeting with us and working with us. And I really do think that this is going to be something that protects housing, that gives the city, you know, a path forward. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you so much, Councilman Price. Speaker 11: Thank you. Just briefly, I do want to clarify the the petition the neighborhood petition option that that I'm envisioning is different than petitioning to get a bad actor removed because the bad actor would come as a result of the fines and penalties where the final penalty is that you can't operate an SDR for a period of time , like a year or something. What I would hate for us to do is have neighbors petitioning against a particular home owner. I just think that's a really could be a confrontational situation. The petition concept that I'm talking about is the option three. So I just want to understood. Speaker 0: Thank you. Well, we we do have a motion in a second. And I want to just add that I think this conversation is actually going in a really good direction. I think there's a lot of information that we're getting back. It's clear that that both those that are those that are hosting want to be regulated and want to follow the rules and want to be a part of of the process. And it's also clear that regulations are needed so that we are following what all other cities are doing around Airbnb. And we also know from those of us that use Airbnb, that the services that's being provided by many folks is, is really great service. And people many people are choosing not to stay in a traditional hotel experience because they want to be in a neighborhood or they want a different experience. And so I appreciate that that interest people appreciate that there is so much interest in Long Beach. And at the same time, I want to thank those I've talked to a lot of Airbnb hosts that are also understand the issues around housing and understand the issues that that we have around availability of housing stock. And so the conversations around funding and how we get to bringing some some additional revenue to address those issues, I think are also important. So just think, everybody, we do have a master motion on the floor. I think you have written it down as we as we went along, which I appreciate that, Mr. Modica. So please cast your votes and actually we'll do a roll call vote. I'm not sure if Councilman Austin is there, still is comfortable and he's got someone else. And so there you are. Speaker 3: Okay. Okay. Speaker 0: All right, let's start. Let's start with Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 1: Council Councilmember Pierce, Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Suber now. All right. Councilwoman Mongo. Speaker 2: I. Speaker 1: Councilmember Urunga. Councilman Austin. Speaker 3: Hi. Speaker 1: Councilmember Richardson. Motion carries.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file a report on short-term rentals (STRs); select Option 2 (Limited STRs) for the framework of regulating STRs in Long Beach; direct City Attorney to prepare an ordinance to implement Option 2; and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to enter into voluntary agreement(s) with STR-hosting platforms for the collection and remittance of transient occupancy taxes. (Citywide)

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Speaker 13: Now we're going to move to our hearings here. And one, would you please be. Speaker 1: Hearing one report from Development Services recommendation to receive supporting documentation under the record, conclude the public hearing and adopt a negative declaration. Zero two Dash 18 Declare Ordinance Amending Title 21 of the Long Beach Municipal Code read for the first time and lead over the next regular meeting of the City Council for Final Reading and adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Development Services to submit amendments to the Long Beach zoning regulations to the California Coastal Commission citywide. Speaker 13: Can I get a second? Thank you. Our first and second. Who do we need to have a report on this? Oh. Speaker 3: It's a hearing. So, Linda Tatum. Speaker 13: Sure. Speaker 11: Good evening. Speaker 2: I have a very brief. Please. Speaker 13: Please be quiet as you leave. Speaker 11: Have a very brief staff presentation regarding Re Lupa, and I'll start by defining what Lupa is. It's commonly referred to as Lupa, but is the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act is a federal law that was adopted in 2000 and just two. Just to clarify the origins of it, it was originally. Speaker 2: Adopted by the federal. Speaker 11: Government as a way to to make sure that prisoners or folks who were incarcerated, incarcerated were not unduly burden on their ability to practice their religious activities. And that was the genesis of this. But it has spread, and it now includes land use and zoning to make sure that religious institutions are treated fairly relative to other assembly type uses. So that's essentially why we're here tonight. It is based upon a complaint that the city received from the Department of Justice regarding our current zoning code. And the observation that they made is that our code has not been updated since probably 20 years to specifically address religious uses. So this was essentially a clean up. It gave us the opportunity to go back and update our code to treat assembly uses for religious institutions in the same way that we treat other assembly uses, such as a movie theater, a banquet hall and other types of uses where you have an assembly type characteristic. So fundamentally what this code does is it updates the definitions it goes through. I think we have commonly referred to a religious uses as churches, but we've currently it just based upon the number of different religious practices. We've eliminated the use of calling it churches and we now refer to them as religious institutions. So there are a couple of other just minor definition that we brought into current practice in terms of terminology. We also are making sure that we're upholding the the community standards for how assembly uses are treated and focusing on the potential impacts for those uses. And more specifically, we have cooperative cooperated with the Department of Justice that in the changes that we're proposing to the code and they have been accepting of those changes, we took this item to Planning Commission. We had no concerns or issues. They adopted it unanimously and they were very supportive of this change. And with that, we're asking for your support. Speaker 2: To. Speaker 11: Adopt this code amendment. And that concludes staff's comments. Speaker 13: Thank you. And any public comment on this and you. CNN. Please cast your vote. Speaker 3: Rock n. Speaker 13: Roll cop. Yeah. Oh, that's right. Roll call. Excuse me. Speaker 1: Councilwoman Gonzalez. Councilmember Pierce. Councilwoman Price. Councilmember City pronounced. Councilwoman Mongo. Vice Mayor Andrews. Speaker 13: Here I am. Speaker 1: Councilmember Rhonda. Councilman Austin. Speaker 3: All right. Speaker 1: Councilmember Richardson. Motion carries.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Sections 21.15.590, 21.15.1470, 21.15.2005, 21.15.2810, 21.25.502.A.3, 21.32.020, and Table 32-1; by adding Sections 21.15.245, 21.15.595, 21.15.707, 21.15.1054, 21.15.2195, 21.15.2273, 21.52.219.8, and 21.52.232; and by repealing Sections 21.15.510 and 21.52.213, relating to assembly uses, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

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Speaker 1: Councilmember Richardson. Motion carries. Speaker 13: Thank you. Now let's move on to second hearing. Uranium ore to. Speaker 1: Report from economic development recommendation received supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing and consider an amendment to a proposed property sale that promotes and economic opportunity pursuant to California Government Code. Adopt a resolution approving the sale of property and finding that the sale will create an economic opportunity and authorize the city manager to execute all documents with Atlantic and Artesia LLC, reducing the purchase price from 2.1 million to 1.1 million District nine. Speaker 3: Vice mayor. Council members decided tonight will allow the opportunity for a signature project at a key point in North Long Beach for the intersection of two freeways at Atlantic Artesia. Sergio Romero is going to give us a quick presentation on it, along with John Keisler. Thank you, Pat. We're really excited about this project. As Pat mentioned, this is a project at a key intersection, a city in a, you know, key kind of gateway into the city at the north end of our city. Back in 2016, the city issued an RFP for the vacant piece of property. It's a former redevelopment agency property that was assembled back in 2010, and the property has sat vacant since that time. Through that RFP process, Frontier Development was actually selected for the property purchase and development of the property at a price of 2.1 million. At the time, the proposed property consisted of two retail buildings and a freestanding restaurant pad. Over the past two years, the developer has been working with city staff, the community, the council district to entitle this project to the credit of our planning department. Over that period of time, the project has now been redesigned. The project will consist is a very different product today than it was started two years ago. Heavy architectural improvements have been made to the project. The site is site design is completely different. It consists of heavy landscaping, nice hardscape finishes. The site design has been modified to increase a new building, so in total for new buildings in additional, the developer is now going to be undertaking significant offsite improvements that were not anticipated back in 2016, including new sidewalk and trees around the perimeter of the property, improvement of the alley behind the site, lighting a new bust off and on traffic improvements and undergrounding of utilities. The project will have significant benefits to the city. Speaker 12: We're anticipating about $90,000 in annual. Speaker 3: Property tax from this project once completed. Sales tax will also be about 90,000 a year, and we're expecting about 75 full time jobs with about 350 construction jobs during the 12 to 18 month period that this project will be completed in the city. Share from the sale. This property is approximately a little over $200,000 due to the economic benefits of the project and anticipated project costs. We're recommending a price reduction from 2.1 to 1.1. That concludes our report. Speaker 12: Happy to answer any questions. A representative from Tudor development is here in in the in the audience. Speaker 3: He's hung around for the meeting, but also has been hanging around for the past few years, working with the staff and community. So I'd like to thank him and he's here for answering. Speaker 12: Questions as well. Speaker 13: Thank you, Councilman Richardson. Okay. We'll go to public comment. Please come up in a few minutes. Speaker 2: We're having a long day on a night the evening. Good. You remember serious staff members. Nasty stuff on the metal. Speaker 13: Will you please state your name first, please? Speaker 2: My name is Gilbert Guyton. I am a resident of the North Long Beach area. I am opposed to the reduction in the price and the sale of this property located on 601. That 685 is Artesia Boulevard 6603 6620 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, California, 98. You're free. I am raising my voice in opposition to this agenda item because this development as designed now will be a detriment to the public health and the environment. To have a better idea of how much the city is going to gain based on the development, we are going to need to take in consideration the financial burden that will cost to this city, the implementation of health programs and services to treat illness and prevent diseases that this development will bring to the area. I understand the need of new businesses in the area and the good they may bring. I also know that implementing the right regulation and using the right tools for new developments will be the key in providing a sense of happiness and well-being for the residents of the area. Furthermore, bringing the community public health challenging challenges into the city development discussion will ensure good practices and equity for our most vulnerable communities. The purpose of this item is to benefit the developer for bringing in a public space for community services purposes. Since the project is not yet approve, I am asking you to wait for the project to be approved and use these benefits to ensure that public health is on the table of discussion to protect the health of the community that is already negatively impacted, but extra for external factors. These factors are well on display in the community health assessment from the Health Department. Since I have a little bit of time, I going to tell you that this development is also bringing three drive thrus and one fast food in the area that is already impacted by air pollution and fast food and is really close, less than a block from my high school and probably six miles from an elementary school and from middle school. Thank you very much. Speaker 13: Thank you. Next. Speaker 3: Good evening, city council, city staff and the rest of the people in the audience with me. My name is Kirk Davis. I am also ninth district resident. My residence is within to a 750 feet of this development and I am opposed to the reduction in price and sale of the property located at 6600 6620 Atlanta Avenue at 601 to 685 East Strategic Boulevard, Long Beach, California, and 85 to the Atlantic and Artesia LLC. The proposed development as designed will be a detriment, not a benefit, to the residential community. It looks like the city is selling milk before it has a cow. If a sale is being approved without the Planning Commission's hearing to approve the development requirements and approvals for the site, then reducing the price for the contemplated benefit should not happen before the project is approved. The terms of sale or inappropriate unless this is already a done deal and the Planning Commission hearing is simply for show, any support or opposition to the development is therefore rendered moot and the whole process is a sham. The developers basically looking for a handout because the city put demands on the development. It also seems a little fishy because in all of the productive and positive meetings with nine district councilmen and city staff, the community requested and were expecting a sit down restaurant, a bank and a community space. What girl was a translation? Now I see another fast food restaurant, a bank, three drive thrus, with two of them needing conditional use permit to be extended and a community space now with a kind of mini steel craft on the corner of Atlantic Artesia that for some reason the developers seemed to not know about as a condition from the beginning, since a project would be on schedule to be completed before any others, a precedent is being set that could be exploited by future developers in the area. I hope standards can and will be put in place to protect community health, since the area as a whole was negatively impacted, according to the Health Department's Community Health Assessment and bring in the fresh ideas are councilman and the community were expecting all along in the process. I know a lot of my neighbors are excited to see something done no matter what it is because we've been waiting a long time to see this light at the end of the tunnel. It may be hard to wait any longer, but the project will have a long lasting effect on our neighborhood. Successful or not as designed, the development is for commuters and does not seem to have that welcome vibe. To have me walk over and supported this constitute it. For the record, I am not against development of the site only as it is currently designed. I am asking for the terms of reduction sale to be tabled or postponed until after the final Planning Commission decision and thorough contemplation of public comment, especially as related to public health and overall neighborhood impact. Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you, sir. Speaker 3: Next. Speaker 13: I see numerous record companies. What? Oh, excuse me, sir. Speaker 12: Tom Carpenter. I'm with Frontier Real Estate Investment, where the applicant and the developer for the project. First, I'd like to thank the council for the time tonight. I'd also like to thank city staff as we've worked on this project. Like Mr. Ramirez has said over the past couple of years. It's been challenges that have come up and, you know, city staff has helped, you know, work through those issues. And, you know, the result has been a, you know, as Sergio, Mr. Ramirez said, a better project. So we're grateful for that. You know, when we started this process, we set out to accomplish, you know, a number of goals we got. Speaker 3: With Councilman Richardson and his office. And, you know, there. Speaker 12: Was, you know, uses identified in the RFP that we wanted to attract to the site coffee shop, a bank of sit down restaurant. We've worked really hard to bring those to the site. You know, we've always thought, you know, those are amenities that should be within the district. You shouldn't have to leave the ninth district to get these things as part of getting those uses. You know, we've subsidized those deals. We've done additional we've agreed to take on additional construction work for those tenants in order to get them to pencil on their end and attract them to the site. And we're really excited about the lineup that we have. We also wanted that community gathering place as referenced. Somewhere you can go, take the family, take a date, have a business meeting. We're really proud of the design that we've come up with on the corner to do exactly that. And then also, you know, raising the bar architecturally, we've worked really closely with city staff on that and we've really put a lot of money into the design. You know, we're we're all in as a company on the site. You know, we're putting our money where our mouth is in order to make this work and be sustainable, attract the types of tenants that we're looking for. You know, some of this is you know, we're we're early in the process as far as what's happening in the district from a retail perspective. Obviously, there's a lot of exciting things going on within the district and we're excited to be part of that. But you know, we're really that first development in and where we're trying to raise the bar and is doing so, you know, we're putting money in not only to the site, but also the offsite work that was requested by the city that was referenced by Mr. Ramirez. Again, you know, along the the project frontage, the landscaping all the way up to the 91 freeway and so on and so forth. So, again, we're really grateful for the time. We're excited. We have a planning commission on December 20th, and we're you know, we want to get under construction as soon as possible, you know, early next year and get this out of the ground and, you know, have a be a good amenity for the community, create jobs, sales tax revenue and so forth. So. Appreciate your time again. Thank you. And let me know if you have any questions. Speaker 13: Thank you. Thank you very much, Councilman Woodson. Speaker 4: Thank you, Vice Mayor. So just a few comments here. First of all, Kirk and Hilda, thank you so much for coming down and contributing believe in democracy. You guys, the two of you are probably one of the the, you know, best voices for the coalition for a healthy, healthy north Long Beach. You've been there since the beginning. Dynamic, dynamic team, the two of you. So thank you for for bringing these forward. And you know that we've had numerous conversations. We're going to continue talking about the future and the public health of North Long Beach. I want to refocus, though, on what this project is. This project gets us, you know, we set out years ago with a vision, and that vision was to bring a bank to District nine, where that's the only district we know. Bank Atlantic Avenue, which is our vision, is for it to be our main street. This is the first project off the gate, you know, out the gates on Atlantic Avenue in Artesia. And, you know, Atlantic Avenue doesn't have a coffee shop in RFP, was a bank, a coffee shop, a sit down restaurant. And what are we delivering? A bank, a coffee shop, a sit down restaurant. And we're very proud of that. And we're doing it in a way that we're stepping up the architectural standing architectural standard in the area. Sure. Banks that are not connected to a grocery store or shopping mall, they require a drive thru ATM. That's just a part of it. Wouldn't happen if we didn't have a drive thru ATM. The project on the breakfast side of the street. So you know, Starbucks is going to want to drive through if it's on the breakfast side of the street. So these are just things that come along with the project. And not only do we get the sit down restaurant, we got two additional restaurants as a part of the shipping container style plaza that we've created, similar to Steel Kraft right there in the heart corner of Land and Artesia. So all of these together comprehensively. Yes, there there's some trade off. On the drive thrus. And I just I'll say publicly, I don't love drive thrus. And you're absolutely right. If there was a way to do it without it, I would support it. But there isn't. And the historical context here is that the last two councilmembers in District nine have both attempted to develop on this site. It's a very difficult site to develop. You know, I've talked with Val about his experiences with the developer he worked with. I've talked with Steve Neal. I was there when we worked with Prime Store on the site, but we have the right developer. Tom, you've done a good job and we look forward. I love that you're eager to get this, you know, to break ground this march. And so we we we're not going to I mean, we're going to do what the community asked us to do and deliver on the site. And we'll make sure that we continue the same architectural standard that it carries all the way through the rest of our development. Thank you, city staff, for making this happen. I think one other note, you know, you said this, Sergio, but I'm going to lift this up a little bit. The 200 K that the city won't receive as a part of making this investment. We receive 90,000 in property taxes and 90,000 sales taxes the first year. It makes itself up in one year what we invest. So this is a smart economic opportunity we've created by making these improvements the site. And I think we should continue to think about how we make a small investment today and recouping a fairly short amount of time that will have a long term effect on our communities. That said, I encourage I vote. Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you, Councilman Pearce. Thank you. Okay, fine. I'd like to say a few words about this, you know, this development, because I think that if if my colleague, Councilman Richardson, is supportive of this project, I think we should all stand behind economic development recommendations. You know, sometimes people fail to say that there are certain, you know, communities in pockets in their cities which are avoided, that these kinds of projects added value to these communities. You know, they stimulate an active, you know, in the activities, you know, the corridor that they usually come with public amenities, you know, uptown is really transformed . And I know that if not if but when this project comes to fruition, I will definitely go check it out. Thank you. Councilman, could I please. Now I have a vote. Speaker 8: I like to weigh in a little bit. Speaker 3: Oh, sure. Speaker 1: Councilman Austin. Speaker 8: Oh, okay. Thank you. I want to just live my support to this development at RTG in Atlantic. Our Northlanders community has had much time over the last, I want to say ten years or so to dream about what the corner or that intersection should be. And I'm glad, like most I think are glad to see something finally happening. And I'd like to congratulate Councilmember Richardson, but the entire community in the ninth District who has really pushed to make that happen. The the economic development and impact is all positive. Local jobs will be created. And obviously, I think we need to also consider the fact that this is a youth center where there's a high schools close by, where there's a lot of pedestrian traffic, the traffic. And so hopefully we are looking at our our vision zero approach to traffic safety is that studying that intersection as well . But again, I'd like to just just lend my support to this item and look forward to moving forward. Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you. And Councilman Austin, can we please have a vote? No roll call. Speaker 3: I. Speaker 1: Austin is an I Councilwoman Gonzalez. Councilmember Pearce, Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Supernanny. Hi, Councilwoman Mongo. Vice Mayor Andrews I. Council Member Urunga. Council Member Richardson.

Resolution

Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and consider an amendment to a proposed property sale that promotes an economic opportunity pursuant to California Government Code, Section 52201(a)(1); Adopt resolution approving the sale of property and finding that the sale will create an economic opportunity; and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute any and all documents necessary to amend the requirements of a Purchase and Sale Agreement, with Atlantic and Artesia, LLC, a California limited liability company, an affiliate of Frontier Real Estate Investments, LLC, a California limited liability company, or affiliate (Buyer/Developer), reducing the purchase price from $2,100,000 to $1,100,000, for 601-685 East Artesia Boulevard/6600-6620 Atlantic Avenue, Assessor Parcel Numbers 7115-003-901, -902, -903, -904, -905, -906, and -907 (Subject Property). (District 9)

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Speaker 13: Okay. Now that's in the public comments. Now we will move to item number 18 with a quick please with the item. Speaker 1: Communication from Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Pierce, Councilmember Super Na recommendation to request the city manager to provide a report within 60 days on the number of private, nonprofit and public shelter beds that exist in Long Beach. And also include a report on the feasibility of the city. Speaker 13: Providing incentives will need to be put on that. No. Speaker 3: I believe this is from a council member. Speaker 13: Yes, it is. Speaker 11: It's okay. And the items are pretty self-explanatory. I think we just need to get more information. And I look forward to the recommendations that we're going to receive in the coming weeks from our Everyone Home Task Force. But without having access to the number of available public, private, nonprofit shelter beds, our police don't have the right information to provide services and options for people that they encounter. Our outreach teams don't have a place to route folks to with accurate information. And so this information, I think, is vital for us as we move forward as a city in making decisions about how we go about tackling some of our challenges with the homeless population. Thank you. Speaker 13: Mr. Soprano. Speaker 3: I stand in support. Speaker 13: Thank you. And also I want to thank the couch comes from a prize for this, bringing this forward, because sometimes you speak to the homeless people at my floor office and try to refer to them and, you know, to come back to the multipurpose service. You know, it's very frustrating for me to hear some of these, you know, individuals tell me that they have been turned away for whatever reason. And I don't know that. But, you know, I think that Councilmember Price, you are, you know, opening up so we can get some form of that information back and can also have a listing of these, you know, requirements that individuals need to in it, you know, do these and, you know, for the homeless back to where their cities are and where they're located for the council district. And this is not only just a matter of are we also I just would like to know that we are told in favor of that. And thank you very much for bringing this to the diocese. Okay. Now, could we have a count public comment? No one's here. Speaker 3: Look. Speaker 13: Roll call, please. Speaker 8: All right. Speaker 13: Oh. Speaker 1: Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilmember Pierce, Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Super nine. Councilwoman Mongo. Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilmember Urunga. Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 13: Yes, out of 19. Speaker 3: 19 with strong. Speaker 13: Okay, fine. Item 20, please. Would you please read the item to do 20? What do we know? 22. 22, please.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to provide a report within 60 days on the number of private, non-profit, and public shelter beds that exist in Long Beach. Also include in the report, the number of rehab, medical detox, sobriety, and other addiction related beds available in Long Beach and the surrounding area. As well as include an estimate of how many of these types of beds would be necessary to best serve the Long Beach homeless and those suffering from addiction. Additionally, include a report on the feasibility of the City providing incentives to create additional homeless ness and addiction related beds, including medical detox beds in the City of Long Beach.

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Speaker 13: Okay, fine. Item 20, please. Would you please read the item to do 20? What do we know? 22. 22, please. Speaker 1: Item 22 Report from Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communication. Fire and Police Recommendation to authorize the city manager to execute a contract with the County of Los Angeles to receive and expend Department of Homeland Security grant funding in amount not to exceed 1,857,345. Speaker 13: Citywide Councilwoman. Mrs. Pierce. She? You. You want a staff report? We can't quite. Speaker 3: If we have Reggie Harrison's ideas about if anybody has any questions. But this is simply to get $1.8 million to spend for our city. Speaker 13: Thank you, Miss Harris. We don't need you. We don't need you tonight. Let's put it that way. Yeah. Okay. At this moment. Excuse me. Yes. Okay. Let me see your hand. Would you like to speak? Okay, fine. Could you have placed a vote? Speaker 1: Public comment? Speaker 13: No comment with anybody in the public like I speak on this item. Speaker 1: Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilmember Pierce, Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Supernanny hi. Councilwoman Mongo. Vice Mayor Andrews Hi. Councilmember Ranga. Councilman Austin. Speaker 3: By. Speaker 1: Councilmember Richardson.

Contract

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and all necessary amendments, including term extensions, with the County of Los Angeles to receive and expend Department of Homeland Security grant funding for the 2017 State Homeland Security Program, in an amount not to exceed $1,857,345, for a period ending February 29, 2020; and Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications Department (DC) by $379,000, in the Fire Department (FD) by $1,328,345, and in the Police Department (PD) by $150,000, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)

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Speaker 13: Next remove item 24, please excuse me. Speaker 1: Report from Public Works, Energy Resources and my recommendation to authorize a city manager to execute a contract with Southern California Edison to participate in the Charge Ready Program. Authorize the city manager to execute all required documents and easements pursuant to the Charge Ready Program and adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Chargepoint for 300 electric vehicle charging stations in an amount not to exceed 4,000,200. Speaker 13: Citywide staff reporting. Speaker 3: Now we have Craig back to answer your questions. Craig, can you do a quick staff report? And we have Southern California Edison representative here as well. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Councilmembers. I did want to highlight this item for you this evening. I know it's. Speaker 0: Late, but just real quickly. Speaker 3: This item will allow for the installation of 300 EV charging units providing greater public access and supporting. Speaker 0: Expansion of the city's electric. Speaker 3: Vehicle fleet. We'll continue the partnership that we. Speaker 0: Have with Edison to implement. Speaker 3: Important. Speaker 0: Projects that align with the city's sustainable. Speaker 3: Efforts, including LED streetlight conversion, battery, store storage and this charge ready program. If you recall, last year Council approved us moving forward the Charger Ready program that installed about 13 electric vehicle chargers in our downtown garage. See, it's been a great success. We've seen over 3800 different charging instances at that location and we anticipate we'll see even more at the locations that would be installed under this program. And I want to remind you that it helps for a cleaner city by reducing greenhouse gas. Speaker 0: Emissions. Speaker 3: And concludes our staff report. Speaker 13: Thank you. Thank you very much. Councilman Ayariga. I'm going to public. Thank you, sir. Speaker 15: Good evening. And I'll make it quick and sweet. My name is David Hannam and I work for Southern California Edison. I'm a senior advisor for key accounts. I work with other municipalities, but specifically with the city of Long Beach, our Working Energy Leadership Partnership. I lead that effort for Southern California Edison and I lead the effort for the Charge Ready Program. You guys been part of a pilot? The power has been successful. You guys have implemented just one of the first applications to participate and be implemented. Craig mentioned that already, but we have additional funding coming in from the CPSC, additional authorized funding. It's a proposed decision has been approved to extend the pilot until we get our actual formal program. When we get our formal program, which will kind of call the charge ready to program. We're looking at we're looking to install 48,000 charging units across our service territory. So by you by the city taking advantage of this. You guys are definitely setting a tone leading and leading the other municipalities that we work with in the area. But you guys are leading the way and helping the communities adopt zero emission electric vehicles. And we commend you on this effort and hope that you vote in the affirmative. Thank you. Speaker 13: Thank you very much. Speaker 3: So just real quick, I saw the news this morning that our our president is looking at incentivizing electrical users. So I think we're going to be out there, going to be some challenges ahead. Speaker 13: Fine. And you want response from that or just. Speaker 3: You want to take it? I was watching CNN this morning and there was a marker set in there that President Trump is looking to reduce or remove the incentives for electric vehicles. Speaker 15: I think he is threatening and I believe he's threatening certain manufacturers and some of the incentives that are happening there. But there's so many other manufacturers are coming along, we're going to see a massive change in the future. California is definitely leading the way. The PUC has directed the utilities, not only Southern California Edison, but PGA, to move forward in transportation electrification to try to enable these efforts. The model that we have that we're working with our customers is this charge ready model where we do a lot of the work and cover the cost for the upfront installation of these units. And then the vehicles and the consumers, the vehicles buy hopefully will still see some tax credits. We also have other incentives that are through our utility to to offset the upfront costs for the vehicles, for the consumers. They can all be found at etsy.com. But the intent is here is that, you know, California is definitely leading the way. And the only way for California that we feel California to meet its emission reductions goals is to put about 7 million vehicles, electric vehicles on the road by 2030. And we're all for it and we're pushing however we can to get that done. So even though the federal level might see a little bit of hold up, I still think the states really pushing forward and we're going to be there to help out. And like I said before, you guys are definitely leading the way. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? Speaker 13: Council members. Committee vote. Please call for the vote. Speaker 1: Councilmember Pierce. Councilwoman Pryce? Speaker 2: Yes. Speaker 1: Councilmember Supernova. Speaker 2: Hi. Speaker 1: Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilmember Younger Councilman Austin. Hi. Councilmember Richardson.

Resolution

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract and all necessary amendments, with Southern California Edison, to participate in the Charge Ready Program, which will provide the electric infrastructure required to install 90 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and up to an additional 210 for a total of 300, if the Charge Ready Program is expanded and the City is awarded additional incentives; Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all required documents and easements pursuant to the requirements of the Charge Ready Program with the right to quit claim; Adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and all necessary amendments, with ChargePoint, of Campbell, CA, to provide, install, and maintain up to 300 (EV) charging stations, on the same terms and conditions afforded to the City of Santa Monica, CA, in an amount not to exceed $4,200,000; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW) by $2,622,220, offset by a $622,220 transfer of Mobile Source Air Pollutio

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Speaker 0: Thanks. Thank you. We're going to go out and take that picture and let's give them a round of applause to thank him for their work. Okay. We're going to hear item 14, which is related to the item. Madam Court, can you read 14, please? Speaker 4: Okay. Speaker 1: Item 14 is a communication from Councilwoman Gonzalez. Council Member Peers. Council Member Tauranga. Council Member Richardson. Recommendation to request city managers to send a letter. Opposition to President Trump, the Office of the Civil Rights and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding their efforts to establish illegal definitions of sex under Title nine that exclude transgender people and request new language in the state and federal agendas. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 1: Yes. Thank you so much. And I'm glad and thankful for my coauthors, Councilmember Richardson, Councilmember Muranga and Councilmember Pierce for supporting me on this item today related to really what has been dubbed the Discrimination Administration. And I will say that, as we had mentioned earlier in the presentation, that we had just done that, you know, this this city is so much more vibrant and so much better when we are inclusive rather than being exclusive. So since two years ago, this administration has been dubbed what I mentioned, the Discrimination Administration, because of its constant attacks and exclusion of the LGBTQ community. The National Center for Transgender Equality has tracked this administration's roughly 30 individual actions against the trans community. And what we're asking for today is to ensure that this inclusion, not exclusion, remains on our state and federal legislative agendas and also remains a mainstay of our policy work here in the city. Some of the actions taken thus far by this administration have included the Department of Health and Human Services, removed demographic questions about LGBT people that center that Centers for Independent Living must fill out each year in their annual program performance report. Secondly, the Census Bureau retracted a proposal to collect demographic information on LGBT people in the 2020 census. He's also made mention of banning transgender individuals from the military. And I think the very first action that I personally noticed when he took office was removing the LGBT page off of the White House, White House's normal pages, which was , for me personally a very strong reaction to being exclusive of the community. And so a few weeks ago, as we've seen this, they're trying to erase and redefine any definition of transgender form, form from federal law. And so what we need to do here is to just stand together, ensuring that, again, that we include the LGBTQ community in every single city policy that we have. So I urge my colleagues to support this item and certainly in a greater sense to support the LGBTQ community. And I think everyone, again, for being here at the center Long Beach, I see our Imperial Court friends and many friends that have been alongside us in our work for some time. So thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you. Can we make the motion, please? There's a motion and a second council member. Pearce. Speaker 6: Yes. I want to thank my colleague for bringing this item forward, I think. I feel a lot of the same sentiments. And tonight, celebrating remembrance. I've I've been there at Harvey Milk Park before when and I've stood there and I've read names. And it's really heartbreaking. And it's heartbreaking that it's typically once a year that we stand there and we share the names of people that have lost their lives for living to them their very best self, who they were born to be. And so it's heartbreaking because we often think about how do we educate small communities or, you know, after Prop eight, it was like, let's knock on as many doors as possible with members of the LGBT community so that we could say, Hey, I'm a normal human just like you, and we can break down those barriers. But when it comes from our president, it is a moment that is so disheartening and just rocks you to your core. But it stays like this that you get to remember that that that person still might be part of the community that we still have to organize around, and that by being a city, we have local power to do that. And so I'm really humbled to be on this item. And again, I just want to celebrate our community and thank you guys for being courageous and brave and and not backing down from being who you are. I'm really proud of everybody. So thank you again. Councilmember Gonzalez. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Pearce. Councilwoman Price. Speaker 1: I want to thank my colleagues for bringing this item forward. Speaker 2: I think it's a great item and I'm happy to support it. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Arango. Speaker 8: Thank you, marin. And I also want to thank Councilmember Gonzales for bringing this forward and for inviting me to participate in this. I know that when we exclude anyone, we exclude everybody. Speaker 3: So let's be inclusionary. And I'm very proud that I'm. Speaker 8: A member of the city council in Long Beach that is pushing this forward. Thank you. Okay. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. There's a motion in a any public comment on the item? Please come forward and just come to the podium, please. Speaker 5: Hi again. My name is Joel Jimeno, and I'm here on behalf again of the LGBTQ center of Long Beach. And we are here to express our support for this letter of opposition, the efforts of the current fit federal administration to exclude transgender people as it considers a redefinition of sex under Title nine is an offensive push that works to a minimum to minimize acts of hate against trans people. Should this effort move forward, it would place unnecessary barriers on trans individuals to live freely and would legally allow for discrimination. This is the latest in a string of attacks, as Councilwoman Gonzales was saying, against LGBTQ people. And what we know is it would actually work to increase social inequalities and disparities for our trans community members who already have disproportionate rates of these inequalities. And this is an effort that we as a community must visibly stand against. Your approval of last week's name and pronoun policy reiterates how Long Beach sees here and acceptance community members for who they are. This is a value that we hold in high regard, and as such we must stand firm and be vocal against any attempt to undermine this value. Last week I was at an event for the Center and the National Center for Transgender Equality, and I was fortunate enough to talk to a young person who had just graduated and said they were working in Wyoming with LGBTQ youth. And they said, I'm so happy to speak to you all, because our because the youth in Wyoming, you know, that they look at your Instagram page for the youth and Long Beach and they look at it as a possibility model. And I was so happy to hear this because it affirms something that I had thought for a long time. Long Beach isn't just is not invisible when it comes to these things, to this conversation. And it's not just a part of this conversation. In fact, it's a leader in this conversation. And so we urge you to approve this this item. Absolutely. Because as a leader, we need to stand strong, visible, and we have a responsibility to speak up. And of course, like always, the center offers its assistance and any items that you may need help with. So thank you very much. I appreciate your time. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Is there any other speakers? I'm closing the speaker. Mister, could you please get in line, please, sir? Sure could here. I think. I thought you were next, so. Okay, then. There you'll be the last speaker. Go ahead, sir. Bill size of Council District three of Mayor Garcia. Council members. I am encouraging you to accept this policy, but I have a little issue with the language as noted on item 14, which is in consultation with the LGBTQ center, Long Beach. I would like to make sure that the City Council does not use the consultation of LGBTQ center Long Beach exclusively. There are other agents that I work with directly in New York and Washington, D.C. that are do this every day. They establish policy on a national. Speaker 6: Level. Speaker 0: For federal guidelines. So I'd like to provide my resources directly to Councilmember Elian Gonzalez. Janine Pierce, Robert Ringo Richardson. We have policies in place. And if you listen to what Joel said, he's focusing on transgender youth. He's not even addressing transgender adults or transgender seniors last year or the LGBTQ center here in Long Beach didn't even attend any of the trans giving dinners or friendsgiving dinners here in our county. So they're not in our city, so they're not even reaching out to our total transgender community. So I don't feel that they're completely prepared to address this as an organization. When I have resources for you that I can provide, that are doing this, are reaching out, are finding that there are there are two organizations in L.A. County that are doing this already. So I'm more than willing to provide you the names, phone numbers and their policies on what they're doing for the entire LGBTQ community, which includes transgenders of all ages. Thank you. Thank you, sir. And Mr. Good here. And then the speaker list is closed. Speaker 8: Very good you, Clark, because of the address. This is a slippery slope. What say you to the individuals that want to marry somebody under age? And have two or three. We heard from the people last week and tonight who are championing this. They also championed Snoop Dogg. All right. With those views that he has relative to women. The councilperson from the second district. Doesn't even isn't even smart enough to know you can't fish off the company pier. So are you now going to allow. People in the city to fish off a company pier. It's a dangerous slope, but it's. There are. No limit to the number of cases. That come on the front pages of the news where you've got people that have ten. Eight, ten, 12. Marriages. American kids. They are under age. Five, six, seven, eight of the. There are three stories in that. There's a line to draw, and I think you've crossed that line. Notwithstanding the intense, the good intentions, some people. But you really haven't thought it completely through. What say you to the person that wants to marry his dog? Or as Kat. Because that's part of their family. Speaker 3: Mm hmm. Speaker 8: That's a slippery slope from which there's no return. Speaker 0: Councilman Gonzalez. Speaker 1: I'm going to leave with a positive note. Happy and International Trans Gender Remembrance Day. I hope all of you can join us tonight, and I thank you so very much for being here. Let's give them another big round of applause for all of their hard work. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you very much. And thank you all for being here as well. And it's always it's always good also to be remembered, to remember that not everyone in our community is supportive, is kind, is compassionate, and is willing to uplift and support people. And so more than ever, it's important for our community and for the LGBTQ community to to be strong and to continue the good fight. So thank you for being here today. And with that, we have a motion in a second, so please cast your votes. Speaker 1: Motion carries.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to send a letter of opposition to President Trump, the Office for Civil Rights and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding their efforts to establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX that excludes transgender people. Request new language in our State and Federal Agendas, in consultation with the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach, that specifically supports transgender-inclusive policies on the state and federal level.

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Speaker 0: Thank you very much. And thank you for being here. Well, going on to item 20, please. Speaker 1: Item 20 is communication from Vice Mayor Andrews, chair of the Housing and Neighborhoods Committee. Recommendation to approve renaming the Convention Center Exhibit Hall as the Ernie Kennel Hall. Speaker 0: Thank you. There's a motion and a second vice mayor interest. Speaker 4: Okay. Thank you very much. Because this is being the chair of this housing and neighborhood committee, I do put this in recommendation to approve the renaming of the Convention Center and exhibition hall as the only called the Long Beach Convention Entertainment Center. And now I'd like to would like to turn it over to Councilwoman Mongo, and then she will go to comments. Speaker 6: Thank you. I'm pleased that we have the opportunity to recognize Ernie Kell, our first elected mayor of Long Beach. Many of you know that over a year ago, when Ernie passed, there were a group of residents who approached me about naming something after him and made some recommendations on some items. I've really appreciated the process and the community input. I really appreciate and commend the neighborhood committee. It's been vetted through the committee and it has been in alignment with the city process and policies of a year since the passing, which has allowed us to take the feedback of the residents who care very deeply about our city assets . I want to express my thanks to Mayor Garcia and the Convention Center and all those who helped make this happen. Ernie Kell played a key role in envisioning the improvements and expansion that turned into the convention center and into an incredible hub for our community and a real center for tourism. So I think it's appropriate that this is the space that was finally agreed upon for which he will be honored and remember. And for that, I would like to state my full support for this item. And I really appreciate everyone who weighed in on all sides of the matter. Thank you so much. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilwoman, I want to make a few remarks. Let me just begin by thanking the members of the committee. That, of course, was Vice Mayor Andrews, as well as Councilmember Lawson and Councilmember Darryl Supernatant, who all moved the item forward. And I also want to thank both council woman Stacey Mungo, who has been working on this for for the last year, but also Councilmember Janine Pearce. The convention center, while a citywide asset, clearly is also in the second district. And I know that her and I had some conversations and I want to thank her for for supporting this as well. Ernie Kell was our city's first citywide mayor and made history when he was elected in that position. He has known as someone that was dedicated across the city. But his roots, of course, as we know, were in the fifth District and in Long Beach, East Side. He also is well known for spending a lot of his time out in his field office and going door to door and talking to neighbors across the fifth District , but also across the city. As mayor, he was known for being a kind person, a good leader and a good legislator. Of course, Mayor Kell also served on the city council before his time as mayor. Mayors, America's election was clearly a big step in the city's journey towards progress and a huge change in the way the city ran. Prior to that, as we're aware, the council was very different and Mayor Cal transitioned the council into a citywide and perspective and also a really took the city forward in many, many ways. He was a successful businessman who also served the city well. And of course, we know that his wife, Jackie, Jackie Kelly, also served the city of Palm Beach as a councilmember and in the fifth District. Besides being being known for being very focused on infrastructure and fixing potholes on a daily basis. He also had a love of flying, which is well documented and was instrumental in the creation and construction of the Long Beach Convention Center and Entertainment Center. It was during Ernie's time, first on the council, but then that and then as mayor that he led efforts not always supported by all across the city to construct what we know today as the modern Long Beach Convention and entertainment center of the building and all of its construction and plans were were constructed and created during his time. And the building opened just a few short months after he left office. And he was very proud to be able to go back and see all the work that he and the council, as well as the staff and the community put in building what is today a very successful convention center. I would also say that this naming of of Ernie Keel Hall, which essentially is the large exhibition hall that you see on Pine Avenue, is a is a substantial and important building in our city. And it really, I think, serves to remember someone that left that left us with a lasting legacy of service, but also left us with a strong tourism economy. This naming is supported by Jackie Kell and the Kell family, but it's also supported, I think, very importantly, by the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. They submitted a letter of strong support to rename the hall after Mayor Kell, and they are also very excited that it's a way to bring his legacy and his work in building that hall and that center back to where we are today. And so with that, I want to thank all the council members that have been involved in this. I want to thank the Kell family, especially Jackie, for for working with us. Sometimes this process takes longer than we would like, but it's important. And and we honor Ernie's memory tonight and every day. And so with that, if there any public comment. So could you. Speaker 8: I fully support this concept. Ernie Cal was the quintessential type of mayor this city should always have. Unfortunately, that's not the case. He was never involved in any criminal complicity. He was never in queue to be arrested, tried and sent to prison as our current mayor is. He was absolutely fantastic. And this should always. You can't say enough about. Ernie Kell. He embodies. What every single elected official should be like and how they should conduct itself. Personally and in terms of civic affairs and so forth. And it it'll be a pleasure to see his name on that and a constant reminder. Unfortunately, of how far we have slipped. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. There's a motion and a second. Members, please go ahead and cast your vote.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to approve renaming the Convention Center Exhibit Hall as the “Ernie Kell Hall” at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center.

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Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Thank you. We have item 21, which is another naming vice mayor. Speaker 1: Item 21 is communication from Vice Mayor Andrews, Chair of the Housing and Neighborhoods Committee recommendation to approve renaming the Long Beach Fire Department Regional Training Center. The Captain. David Rosa. Regional Training Center. Speaker 0: Vice Mayor Andrew. Speaker 4: Excuse me. Also, this is the same recommendation. You know, which was just read, you know, for Captain Rosa. And I'm very happy that this will go to the committee. And I'm looking forward to the ribbon cutting ceremony and much love for Station ten. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. There's a motion and a second councilmember. Austin. Speaker 3: Thank you. Happy to motion. Happy to be on the Housing and Neighborhoods Committee that unanimously recommends this this item to to the Council for your full support. Obviously, Captain Rosa gave a lot and contributed a lot and paid the ultimate price for his public service to the city. And so I think it's only fitting that that we recognize him on at the fire training station for his contributions as a as a training firefighter as well. He did so much for for and trained so many of the existing department at the Fire Academy and so look forward to supporting this figure. Speaker 0: Councilman, Councilmember Superdog. Speaker 4: Thank you. Would like to echo the sentiments of Councilman Austin as a member of the committee, and we are very proud and honored to have this recognition at the training center in the fourth Council District. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Any public comment on this scene? And please cast your votes. Motion carries a motion for the consent calendar, please. So much. Any public comment for the consent calendar? Say Nonmembers, please go and cast your votes.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to approve renaming the Long Beach Fire Department Regional Training Center located at 2249 Argonne Avenue, the “Captain David Rosa Regional Training Center."

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Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. Moving on now to where we're going to be doing. Uh, of course, there was a request to hear 16. Right. Is that right? 16. Mm hmm. And of course. Speaker 1: Item 16 is a report from Health and Human Services and Economic Development. Recommendation to adopt resolution read declaring a shelter crisis and authorize the operations of a winter shelter for a period of December 1st, 2018 through March 31st, 2019, and authorize City Manager to execute a lease with the United States Veterans Initiative, District eight. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember. Speaker 3: Yes. I'd like to get a staff report, please. Speaker 0: Thank you, Mayor. Councilmembers. I'm going to introduce Theresa Chandler, the bureau manager for Health and Human Services or Homeless Services Program. Speaker 8: Teresa. Speaker 2: Good evening, honorable mayor, vice mayor and council members. We are happy to support the winter shelter again for the service planning area eight. Speaker 6: In Long Beach here. Speaker 2: And our provider uSwitch is also here today. We have been a provider for several years. Speaker 6: The city of Long Beach has hosted. Speaker 2: The winter shelter. It's actually a program of last year, which is the combination of homeless services with the city and county of Los Angeles and the contract to provider us UCITS. For these years we have always supported the. Speaker 6: The excuse me. Speaker 2: Getting a building, getting a building and making sure that services are provided outside of the winter shelter. The Multi-Service Center has been a pick up. Speaker 6: Location, along with a location in San Pedro, and we help orchestrate that. Speaker 2: This year, the winter shelter will be at the old. Speaker 6: Library. Speaker 2: In the eighth District as it was last year, and this building is currently in the process of being sold. So this will be the. Speaker 6: Last year that the winner shelter will take place at this location. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Contrasted. Speaker 3: Thank you very much. And I'd like to just encourage our unanimous support for this item. Obviously, we are facing the winter months where the weather gets a lot colder. And this is an opportunity for us to provide shelter for for those who are living on the street, but also with that shelter providing access to opportunities and services that are that that our health department and U.S. vets can provide to hopefully get them off the streets and get them into services and the help they need. This is a multi-pronged approach supported by the County of Los Angeles, Lahsa, our our our health department, as well as our partner U.S. vets. And I can't say enough about the great work the U.S. vets did last year as the provider for the service in partnership with our city. It was amazing to watch them in action. The the the winter shelter, I think, was went without incident. Most of the residents who I had an opportunity to talk to, many were uneasy and unsettled by having the winter shelter in the neighborhood. I have told me that, you know, they didn't even really notice that it was there. So, again, hats off to U.S. vets. I'm glad that they are returning as a partner to to run this this program again and again. Council, I would ask for your unanimous support of sign. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Ringa. Public comment. You know, Councilman Gonzales, the Councilman Gonzales said. Speaker 6: Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Garcia, and thank you also Councilman Austin and the Council of Long Beach. I just wanted to add that us vets and our staff is here. There are some of us that are members of the California National Guard. Our job is to protect and to serve. And the winter shelter gives us the opportunity to protect and to serve the citizens of Long Beach and also for us to find military persons. Last year we were able to serve 815 and duplicated persons, and out of that we found 82 veterans. The Winter Shelter is a program that's designed to keep people off the street and to save their lives in the most critical weather conditions, which is cold and it's only a four month program. And we are gladly to be there even though we we work at US vets during the day. This is at night and we do it at night and we do it to save lives. And we thank you for. Speaker 2: Encouraging everyone that. Speaker 6: The homeless population and the homeless condition is going to be solved with all of our help. So thank you for the opportunity. Speaker 0: Thank you so much. Let me do let me do Mr. Good. Here, then I'll go to Councilman Gonzalez. Speaker 8: Obviously we fully supported this. And I want to suggest something also that can be done and I referenced this before are there are some small pods and I gave the council a few weeks ago, I think, pictures of them and I'll bring them down again that have been developed. And my thinking is what we could do is not just for winter but on a permanent basis, have three or four of those pods down. Next on on boathouse lane next to where the new eight end is going to be and which will have a complete can be a complete restroom and so forth. Then I research it and I think it's completely in concert with the basics of the Monroe Doctrine, which is the overall governing paradigm for that, and it would be specifically for people that are now being treated. At on a continuing basis at the VA hospital. And I have reached the stage where there are just a night circuit 60 to 90 days away from being released out into the wild, if you will, into their own home. And it's an excellent location for that, because with the motorized scooters people have, they could scoot down to either one of the two bus stops and be up at the seventh and the VA hospital and so forth. So I think I support this in concept. And again, I'll get the pictures out of the the pod. I have never personally seen them. I've seen the pictures of them and so forth. But I think there is ideal for that location and anything to support the vets. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. That concludes with a comment. Councilman Gonzalez. Speaker 1: Theresa, thank you for this staff report. Are the two pickup locations going to remain the same? I don't know if I miss that. San Pedro and the Multi-Service Center, for the most part, yeah. Speaker 2: For the most part, San Pedro, definitely. And the Multi-Service Center definitely in there could potentially be a third pickup site, but it has not been located yet and we'll be discussing that further. Speaker 1: Okay, great. Thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Austin. Speaker 3: Yes. And I would like to just take this opportunity before we vote in advance. Thank the Council for your support of this item, but also invite my colleagues to come and check out the winter shelter. I think if you haven't been to one or anybody in the community for that fact that wants to volunteer and help and do some benevolent good, good goodwill in the community, I think it will go a long way to dispel myths about who we're serving and the services that are actually being provided. Because I say once you go there and see it, you'll find it. There's powerful work actually happening. So thank you. And I would be happy to come along with you if you want to want to do that. Get you through the eight district personal tour. Speaker 0: Thank you. And before we vote, I wanted to just say just one thing. I think I shared this with the staff, but that this doesn't happen often. I was I was at a restaurant here in Long Beach, and a very lovely couple came up to me and they said, hey, we know we've never met. We live in the eighth District and we're the two that were the loudest in opposition to this winter shelter the last time it was in front of the council. You may remember us, and I did remember them because they were pretty vocal and upset and they said, you know, we live a couple of houses down. And I just want to tell you that we were absolutely wrong and we're sorry that we came in opposition. It was we didn't even know the winter shelter was there. And we lived just a couple of houses down from the site. They complimented Councilman Austin and his office and they complimented the staff. And they they just said that it was just it was amazing and that they would be supportive of continuing. And so I just want to thank them for comfort, for stopping me and in saying those kind of words and thankful to the staff for their work . So with that members, please cast your votes.

Resolution

Recommendation to adopt resolution redeclaring a shelter crisis; suspending applicable provisions of local law, including those contained in the City's zoning ordinances and regulations; and, authorizing the operation of a winter shelter, for the period of December 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019, inclusive; and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a Lease, including any necessary documents and amendments, with the United States Veterans Initiative (Lessee), for approximately 7,318 rentable square feet of space at 5571 Orange Avenue for use as a winter shelter. (District 8)

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Speaker 0: Great. Thank you very much. Next up is item 17. Speaker 1: Item 17 is a report from Long Beach Airport. Recommendation to adopt resolution amending resolution number C, dash 28465 with respect to the utilizations of flight slots allocated at the Long Beach airport citywide. Speaker 0: Thank you. I'm going to turn this over to Mr. West. Mr. Mayor, council members, this is an item that we've been debating for quite some time regarding how our slots allocations are flown at the Long Beach airport, especially with all of the new additions and improvements that we've made there. So with that, I'm going to turn it over to our executive director of the airport, Jess Romo, who will walk us through the proposed resolution Jess. Thank you, Mr. West, honorable mayor, vice mayor and members of Council. As Mr. was said, this has been a long and thoughtful process. And so tonight here, this culminates with a request for the city council to consider and look at proposed flight allocation resolution amendments. I'm sure you all had an opportunity to take a look at the very lengthy staff report. We want to make sure that all issues were covered. But this slide deck here really synthesizes it and summarizes it so that we could go through and look at the highlights of this project, as well as entertain any questions that you may have. So just to to cue this up, this slide deck here really is going to cover historical and legal context associated with the noise ordinance and flight allocation resolution. It will also speak to the current flight allocation resolution that's in place, as well as a summary of the proposed amendments. We also include data regarding average daily flight utilization on a monthly basis so that you can get a snapshot of what we've seen take place since January 1st of this year, including some projections that will take us into spring of next year. And then finally, we're going to cover the rationale that really is behind the proposed amendments to the resolution. So with that, in as most people who've been within the city for any length of time, you'll realize that this has been a very long process and very storied. Ordinance and allocation resolution there really they both support each other going back to 1981, which is when the first noise ordinance was enacted. And over a period of 14 years, there were steps along the way that included litigation, legal challenges, federal district court decisions, and finally culminating with a final judgment that allowed the city to adopt its current noise ordinance and companion flight plan allocation resolution. We want to make sure that members of the public, as well as the council and mayor are aware that, you know, there are two components to or noise restrictions here within the city. There is the noise ordinance and its implementing resolution. So as it's shows on the slide deck here, both documents balance the community needs for, you know, reasonable air service at the airport, along with environmental interest of the communities that are located within the city, within the vicinity of the airport. And secondly, what we're here for tonight is to look at the flight allocation resolution, and that really is what provides what we call the implementing flight allocation regulations that are consistent with the noise ordinance provisions. And just a little bit of background. You know, Long Beach Airport, along with a very small handful of airports in the nation in a fit of fairly strict noise regulations. And that's that's in part in large part because these regulations were initiated or put in place before the federal legislation, which has referred to the Airport Noise and Capacity Act or in shorthand referred to as anchor, which really now restricts airports from being able to set limits on certain limits at airports, especially those that would otherwise interfere with aircraft operations or those that would affect aircraft safety. So short of that, airports are allowed to do that, but it is a very difficult road to go down and to be successful at. So in that regard, Long Beach has the benefit of a noise ordinance and set of regulations that allow us to to manage that that balance of aircrafts or airline service and aircraft activity against the environmental needs of the community. These amendments, any amendments that we would make either to the noise ordinance or the allocation resolution, they have to be consistent with the City of Long Beach's sponsor, assurances that we have in other covenants that obligations that we have with the FAA. And finally, these amendments, they cannot or any application for federal grant funding, which is very critical for the airport in terms of keeping the airport operational areas safe and operational, or our ability to impose federal passenger facility charges or Pepsis, which is another funding mechanism that most airports rely on. The noise ordinance. As I said earlier, it is so, you know, we're one of the very few airports that enjoys this protection in it is unique as most of the noise restrictions that airports do have that are pre anchor. And because of that it's it's got to be protected. So staff has always been mindful and will continue to be mindful that it's a balance. But protecting the ordinance is one of our paramount duties. So we have or the noise compatibility ordinance, which is under, you know, the Chapter 16.43 and that is not being amended. So I wanted to make sure that was real clear. So people in the community had concerns about not touching the ordinance. So this action tonight does nothing with the noise ordinance itself. We know that the ordinance has been hard fought. It is one of the strictest in the nation. And again, instead, what we are looking at is amendments to the resolution, which is an enabling document that helps us protect and really show how we will enable airlines to maximize the capacity that does exist at the airport. So in particular, the flight allocation procedure procedure resolution, which is in place right now, was adopted back in 2004. It is worth noting that this is not the first or the second or third amendment of the allocation resolution. It's actually been amended six times to date, although the most recent one was in 2004. And again, it really supplements and buttresses the noise ordinance that your get provides that implementing allocation procedures that are in line and consistent with the noise ordinance. The resolution in particular addresses allocation, preference by air carriers, flight slot allocation process, the steps that are needed anytime an aircraft or an airline wants to secure flight slots. The minimum use requirements, which would be a key part of what we'll discuss here tonight, as well as a process to have the airport reserve and reallocate unused portions of flight slots. So a very high level summary of the amendments that are before you tonight is that what we're looking at is to have increased slot utilization of the slots that are awarded to the various air carriers. We'll get into the specifics of where they are today and where we would like to take them. It also revises certain definitions of flight slots and ferry operations is actually to help provide flexibility to the carriers and ferry operations, for example, or any time an aircraft needs to be repositioned. It's not a revenue flight, doesn't have passengers. It could be an equipment issue. But we want to make sure that that is clarified so that it gives more flexibility to the carriers, as well as a number of administrative amendments. And that is in part to help modernize the document itself as things have changed and references, you know, that that didn't exist back in the last time this was amended back in 2004. So this is a side by side. And we actually used this table when we held the community meetings earlier this year. So if you look on the left, this really speaks to the current minimum slot use requirements that are in place now under this resolution. And in short, really what it requires is for each slot that an airline has that they have to fly a minimum of four times per week, over a 180 day period. That equates to about 57% minimum utilization. So as long as they fly it on average over 180 days, you know, four times a week or 57%, they get to keep that slot on. The converse of that is that, you know, 43% could go unused if they choose not to fly that. There is another way that we look at that on a monthly basis or on a by monthly basis where they have to fly 30 flights in a 60 day period, which is 50% of that of that slot that's allocated on the right. We're looking at what we are proposing and what we're looking at is a stepped up requirement that really reflects a balance of working with carriers, understanding that schedules do change. But with that backstop of if you're going to have a slot, you should use it much more efficiently. So if you see they're on a monthly basis, what we're proposing to require is a 60% utilization, which is about 4 to 4 days out of the week. And on a quarterly basis, 70%, which is about five days out of the week. And then on an annual basis, 85%, which is about six days out of the week in order to maintain that slot. And this is the graph that I alluded to in the introduction. And really this is to help give everyone a picture of starting in January of this year. And obviously, we have data through October. And I'll just walk you through it real briefly that those months and those bars represent utilization. And if you look down below, really the blue represents the flights I'm sorry, the flight slots that were flown during that period of time. And you can see that for the first eight months, January through August, every every slot for the most part was flown very you see, very little in and probably no yellow. The as you move further on, we've got two months now that we've been able to see that since since September through and into October there has been a reduction in the use of the of the actual slots that are awarded either permanent or supplemental so that that green space. So the green and the yellow space represent that capacity that is available and the green of that represents what was actually flown. So the yellow across the board represents the UN flown capacity that's available but not being used by any carrier. Now of course, we are projecting and forecasting, you know, going forward, which is all we can do based on schedules that have been loaded. But if unless things change, this is what we're looking at in terms of a flight profile through March of next year. And again, if we don't change the allocation resolution, there would be no incentive for carriers to change behavior. So the main rationale behind proposing amendments are that it ensures that air carriers are adequately utilizing their flight slots. It also reduces the potential for anti-competitive conduct by certain air carriers. It promotes an airport operation on a fair and reasonable terms and without unjust discrimination, which is in accordance with FAA regulations. It also reinforces the proposition that our flight slots, they are not property rights or property interest of the carriers, but they in fact belong to the city to be allocated based on a reasonable use by the air carriers. The adoption of administrative penalty provisions, including the reduction of flight slots where there is underutilization under utilization, that is parcel part of the proposed amendments. Before you tonight. Again. The action tonight does not change the ordinance at all. The noise ordinance is not before you for any type of amendment at this point. It also does not change the structure for administrative violations that occur during the non permitted hours, which means that the fines structure for violations does not change because that's part of the noise ordinance, nor do the the daughters, the fine structure for consent decree violations that occur after 11 p.m. and before 7 a.m. again. Those are all those are part of a separate agreements with the city prosecutor. That's not up for discussion tonight, nor are we considering the number of permitted slots it is. There are 41 permitted slots that are permitted currently. And, you know, obviously right now we've got nine supplemental slots. That's not under consideration tonight. And then lastly, this does not in any way affect the flight profile of Long Beach Airport. Basically, the air carriers, so all the carrier, all the routes are and would remain domestic routes into and out of Long Beach. And as a reminder, we were very careful and thoughtful to make sure that we did a lot of outreach. So our outreach really in three tranches, you know, included outreach to the air carriers and the FAA. You know, you'll see the dates on there. We did it twice in 2017. We've done it three times in 2018. We had two community meetings earlier this year, back in January and February, where we presented this information and accepted comments by attendees as well as any written comments that the public wanted to submit at any time this this calendar year. And then, of course, the stakeholder responses really were based on the what the carriers, for the most part, and really the carrier responses were limited to Southwest and JetBlue. And those are part of your package. So tonight we are recommending that you consider adopting the resolution, the resolution of 28465, that would increase minimum flight slot utilization requirements and other administrative amendments. And with that, we're here to answer any questions you may have. Thank you, Mr. Romo. Very thorough presentation. I know a lot of work went into this. I appreciate that. Before I get to the council and Councilwoman Mongo, any public comment on this? Seeing no public comment or close public comment? Councilwoman Mongo. Speaker 6: I think and appreciate our airport staff. I think that you guys did an excellent job at the community meetings, and I think that that is why the community has been so supportive of this. I think that you guys have been great and I think you did all your research. And for that reason, I'm supportive. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Austin. Speaker 3: I, too, am supportive. Also want to thank our airport director and staff at the airport. They have gone through a very process oriented, detailed, methodical process to get get us to this point. The community outreach efforts, the updates to the Airport Advisory Commission and frequent briefings with the council, I think has been very, very helpful. I don't have really any questions about this. I think this is a a no brainer. I see this as a clean up effort and right sizing of our slot allocation resolution in an effort to maximize efficient use of flight start slots at Long Beach Airport. And it's also consistent hearing from our airport director that this resolution has been amended six times in the last couple decades. And it makes a lot of sense to us, for us to to look at how this flight allocation process benefits the airport and puts the airport in in the in the driver's seat. And so I am completely supportive of this this item, and I'm glad to see it before us. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 6: Yes. I also wanted to thank staff. I think when I first got on council, I didn't know that we would get to this place. And so I'm really proud of staff the direction and the council members who the airport directly impacts. I often think of the airport as an asset for my district because we have tourism in my district. But knowing that that we've come this far, I think not having public comment is one of the few times I will say it shows how far we've come. This is the least amount of people I've seen in this room whenever we've talked about the airport. So for that, I applaud staff for hard work and really taking your time to get it right. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Super now. Speaker 4: Thank you. I'd also like to commend staff for those of those of us who work with this on a daily basis. It's pretty simple. But if you don't, it's very, very complicated. And I think you did a great job, especially the PowerPoint here today, to make a complex issue, very simple and understandable. So thank you again. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Ringo. Speaker 8: Thank you, Barry. And I won't add my voice to the congratulatory comments that we made to the staff. You came in within two. Speaker 3: Years, have made a quick evaluation. Speaker 8: And see that we can do a lot better with our. Speaker 3: With our flights. And I'm very pleased that it's going to make our airport that much more efficient and helpful for the community. So thank you for the working to. Speaker 8: Put into this. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Members, please cast your votes. Speaker 1: Motion carries. Speaker 0: Great. Thank you and excellent job by the team at the airport as well. So thank you very much, the whole team. Moving on to item number 18.

Resolution

Recommendation to adopt resolution amending Resolution No. C-28465 with respect to the utilization of flight slots allocated at the Long Beach Airport and related administrative amendments to the Resolution, in accordance with the Airport Noise Compatibility Ordinance set forth in Chapter 16.43 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. (Citywide)

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Speaker 3: Thank you. Speaker 0: We'll hear the one concern item that got pulled. There was an item that was pulled from content, I believe. Speaker 10: Yes. Speaker 3: Report from police. Recommendation to receive and file the application of Long Beach. Finest Sports Bar and Grill for premise to premise and person to person transfer of an ABC license at 3 to 9 West Willow Street, District six. Speaker 0: Okay. So going to Councilmember Andrews. Speaker 10: Yes. Thank you very much, Peter. Before this we move this motion, I would like to hear from any public comment on this item. Speaker 0: Is there any public comment on this item? Please confirm. Speaker 5: Good evening, counsel. My name is Dennis Banks. I'm the applicant's representative for the application at 3 to 9 with Willow. Just like to give a quick little background. Um, the owners of the operation actually own the sport. The barber shop next door, Long Beach, finest barbershop. They've been in the community for 13 years. And they would like to stay there as part of the community outreach for this application. We've spoken with the Wrigley Neighborhood Association, and we've actually spoken with them about some of the concerns they've had to address those. Also, we have reached out to the Wrigley's going Green Association and the Wrigley Neighborhood Alliance. Also, we've been responding to people through social media, the Wrigley Neighborhood Community Group. We've been answering their questions and concerns as well. Many people had concerns that, well, the place was formerly the 710 bar where there were some issues in the past . And what we've tried to let the make the residents aware is that this will not be the same thing. This will absolutely not be a bar. This will be a family oriented, sit down restaurant. We have a menu. We have a floor plan. All the old layout, such as pool tables and things of that nature, have been removed and will not be coming back. Also like to mention as far as outreach over the weekend, we went to everyone within three foot radius. We knocked on doors. We talked to people about it and we actually had a community meeting last night. A little over 15 people showed up. And there we talked with the residents about the concerns and issues. They had to just help, you know, educate them, make them understand that this will be a restaurant, a family oriented restaurant operated by two people who, you know, live and work in that community and will want to put something that will be the benefit to the community better. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 9: Good evening. My name is Lynnette Firenze and I'm a 2926 Eucalyptus Avenue. And I just wanted to say that we are looking forward to this tenant. It used to be a bar and now it's going to be a bar and a restaurant, and we're glad that it's going to be occupied. I just have a few concerns. One of them this was is just a bar. Now they're adding a restaurant and they do not have an on site trash enclosure. So there's a lot of food waste. And so I would like to see a trash enclosure also that should be large enough to accommodate recyclable materials. It's unclear what the hours of operation are going to be. I think they might be 2:10 p.m. and I don't have an issue with that, but they are adding outdoor dining on the West Side and there's a single family home directly to the north, no alley separation. So I was hoping I would recommend maybe the outdoor dining area hours end at 9 p.m. daily. The applicant should provide a parking lot lighting plan for approval by the city just to make sure it's safe. And also a security plan with the hours shall be submitted and reviewed and approved by the city. We will. There is a landscape planner along the north elevation. We'd like to see that just landscaping installed in the existing plan or if possibly they could add a small planter area because a parking lot does not have anything there right now. So maybe we'll go in chosen at a landscape planner and then maybe just a trash receptacle near the front door in the parking lot. So people have a place to throw away trash and it end up on the street. And if the door on the west elevation could be closed during operating hours. So if there's a noise, it doesn't interrupt the adjoining residents. Thank you very much. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 9: Good evening. Do I have to give my name. Speaker 2: Please? Speaker 9: Colleen McDonald, 525 West 19th Street in Wrigley. Good evening. I just wanted to let you know that I did speak to Dennis earlier, and we're pretty much in agreement on the six items that Lynnette just mentioned. I support her letter or her requests, especially as it has to do with trash. Those are very important elements to me as a member of the Wrigley Clean team. Um, so I'm very happy that this establishment is coming to Wrigley of. That's about all. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. That concludes public comment Council member Andrews. Speaker 10: Yes, thank you, ma'am. Also, could I please have a staff report on this listing the conditions that will be forwarded to the ABC, if that was possible? Speaker 0: Commander LeBaron. Speaker 2: Honorable Mayor and City Council. Speaker 0: Item This item is an. Speaker 2: Application for type 47. Speaker 0: It's an on sale general ABC license for a restaurant. This license would authorize the furnishings of beer and wine and distilled spirits to patrons. And the police department has conducted our investigation, and we do not anticipate any adverse impact with the issuance of this license. That is the. Speaker 2: Conclusion, my report. But per the. Speaker 0: Request that was made, I'm happy to read the conditions that we. Speaker 2: Will be recommending. Speaker 0: To ABC. There are a total of 12 conditions. One is sales and service sales. Service and consumption of alcoholic beverages shall be permitted only between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day of the week. And number two, any graffiti or marked upon the premise? Upon the premise or on any adjacent area under the control of the licensee, you shall be removed or painted within 24 hours of being applied. Number three, there will be no happy hour type of reduced priced alcoholic beverage promotions that shall be allowed. Number four There shall be no live entertainment dancing disc jockey or no amplified music or stereo systems permitted on the premises at any time. Speaker 2: Number five The quarterly gross sales of alcoholic beverages shall not exceed the gross sales of food during the same period. The licensee shall at all times maintain records which reflect separately the gross sales of food and the gross sales of alcoholic beverages of the licensed business said records shall be kept. Speaker 0: No less frequently than on a quarterly basis and shall be made available to the city on demand. Number six There will be no dancing allowed on the premises. Number seven, the side door shall be kept close at all times during the. Speaker 2: Operation of the premises. Speaker 0: Except in case of emergency said doors do not consist solely of a screen or ventilated security door. Number eight The parking lot of the premises shall be equipped with lighting of sufficient power to eliminate, illuminate and easily just dissemble the appearance and conduct of all persons on or about the parking lot. Additionally, the position of such lighting shall not disturb the normal privacy and use of any neighboring residences. Speaker 2: Number nine Trash. Speaker 0: Shall not be emptied between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8. Speaker 2: A.m.. Number ten, no alcoholic beverages. Speaker 0: Shall be consumed on any property adjacent to the licensed premises under the control of the licensee. Number 11 The permittees shall take reasonable measures to prohibit and prevent the loitering of persons immediately outside the establishment at all times. Speaker 2: In number 12, the petitioner shall be responsible for maintaining free of litter. Speaker 0: The area adjacent to the premises over which they have control, as depicted on the ABC. 257. That concludes the conditions that we will be submitting to ABC. Councilman. Anything in addition. Speaker 10: Yes, please. You know, I'd like to say a few things concerning this, you know, petition. You know, I am really always grateful for a business trying to, you know, grow and become a part of the sixth District. You know, I believe that Africans can do better for our community. You have come a long ways from the 17 bar because I know that this is now going to be a restaurant where where public meetings were information for you. Residents were promised. And my office would try to help in any way we can. But we got to do we've been very minimal and efforts in trying to get this done. But I know we will do better as a minority owner business. I want to give this restaurant restaurant an opportunity, but I expect engagement with the community. And I do not want neighbor neighborhoods being disturbed at any time. If the applicant is here, I hope that you can hear me. I do need for you to be better. And as we will be finding ourselves here again, I encourage you to take a look at the landscaping around your restaurant and trash enclosure that keeps rodents out. Talk to the neighbors. You need to work with them. And with that, I would like to know if there's any council comment. Speaker 0: Thank you, Vice Mayor and council comments. Okay. Can you get a motion, councilman? Speaker 10: Yes. Speaker 0: I'm assuming it's to approve with conditions. Speaker 10: Yes. Speaker 0: Kate, can I get a second? Give us a motion in a second to approve with the conditions read. Is that correct? Yes, it is. Okay, then. Then with that members, we had a roll call vote, please. Speaker 3: Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilmember Pearce, Councilman Price and team member supernova. Hi, Councilwoman Mongo. Speaker 9: Here. I mean, I. Speaker 3: Vice Mayor. Speaker 10: I. Speaker 3: Councilmember Arango. Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. Motion carries with it. I understand. We're going to go. There's been a request to go back to the hearing. To reopen the hearing. We got a motion.

ABC License

Recommendation to receive and file the application of Long Beach Finest Sports Bar & Grill, Incorporated, dba Long Beach Finest Sports Bar & Grill, for a premise to premise and person to person transfer of an Alcoholic Beverage Control License, at 329 West Willow Street. (District 6)

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Speaker 0: Cancer Council member Wangari there. I thought I heard you motion curious. Thank you very much. That is so. We just finished the hearing, so we will be done with that. So now we're we're moving on to item 31. There's been a couple of items that have been asked to be moved up on the regular agenda. So let me do 31/1. Speaker 3: Item 31 Communication from Councilmember Richardson, Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilmember Pearce. Councilmember Arango Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Department of Human Resources to create a preferred name and pronoun policy for all city employees and return to the City Council within 90 days for review and adoption. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I want to thank my coauthors, Councilwoman Pierce, Councilwoman Gonzalez and Councilmember Turanga. And this proposal was to take an internal look at our efforts to promote a more inclusive work environment. And as a city, we we take great strides to make sure that that we include our residents. And we must be equally committed to fostering inclusive, nondiscriminatory workplace respect of all of our employees. And and we've been recognized by this municipal equality index, recognized city of Long Beach as one of the best cities for LGBTQ inclusion through law and local policy, following the local policies by our educational institutions Cal State, Long Beach and Long Beach City College. Both of those institutions have included have began the process of implementing preferred name policies. A preferred name is a first name that may be used instead of a legal first name. The city of Long Beach currently distributes city ID badges and email domains based on one's legal name. So if an employee were to transition names that would be required to undergo a court order process for their for their place of employment to respectfully change that individual's name. This process can be rather extensive. And in the interim, I think it's important that we create an internal policy that is both sensitive and responsive to the needs of our transitioning and gender non-conforming employees. As staff examines what this policy might look like for Long Beach ID badges, internal external directories, name plates, email, email domains, staff signatures indicative of one's preferential pronouns should be considered. So I am. I'm also encouraging city staff to work with the center in Long Beach to make sure that this is a policy that is thoughtful, thoughtfully prepared. And so I encourage my colleagues to support this effort. And I look forward to more more dialogs on this topic as we move forward. Thank you. That's one motion. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 9: Thank you. I want to applaud Councilmember Richardson for bringing this item forward. I know there's been a lot of great work done in the community. And this item, you know, knowing a few people that are transgender or have changed their names legally or had hoped to change their names, this is not a very simple item. This is about somebody's identity and how they walk through the world and how they live, how they use their credit cards, how they use their driver's license. This is something that really should carry a lot of weight with this item tonight. And I think we should really be proud that we as a city are saying we want to respect how you show up in the world and how you want to be seen in the world. And so I wholeheartedly support this item. I think working closely with the center, there's no other way to pass an item like this without working with them because they are experts and leading and they do education in our schools on these issues. They live it every day. And so I'm just really proud and humbled to be on a council that is recognizing this and working in a great partnership. And I can't wait to hear some of the public comments because they're always so heartwarming. I'm smiling at you, Missy, over there. Speaker 0: I thank you, Councilmember Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 8: Yes. Thank you, Councilmember Richardson, for bringing this forward. And I really it's timely because of so many different attacks on this community specifically. But I think our city is definitely moving in the right direction by putting this on the agenda. And I want to thank Porter and Maricela and all the advocates that have been sticking, you know, making sure that this is sticking above every other issue to ensure that we move this forward. And I would just like to reiterate that what Councilmember Richardson mentioned about working with the center and groups to ensure that we get this right in terms of training. When you go to other cities, what I love about other cities and how inclusive they are is every time I sit down for a meeting in other cities, my other job, everybody starts with how they would prefer to be recognized. And I think that that's important just to have like a community understanding of where people are at. So we don't assume that people are one way or the other. And I really hope that we can get to that place in one point. So thank you so much. Speaker 0: Thank you. And I just want to add and I want to, first of all, thank Councilmember Richardson for bringing this forward. And for those that have signed on to this, I think you had mentioned that Long Beach has consistently ranked in the top cities in the country on LGBTQ, LGBTQ inclusion, on the municipal index. And we have received perfect scores, I think, almost every year, not every year that that index has been out. And I think this is a great next step and important in this next conversation, particularly in the area of trans inclusion and gender non-conforming conversation with folks that are trying to ensure that they are recognized the way they would like to be recognized. And so I really appreciate that conversation. And so I fully support this, and thank you for bringing this forward. Any public comment on this item? Speaker 2: Hi. Good evening. My name is George Jimeno, and I'm here on behalf of the LGBTQ center in Long Beach, where I am employed as the youth services manager. Today, I'm here to express our support for the preferred name and pronoun policy for city employees. Given the statistic that 77% of transgender, gender nonconforming and non-binary individuals report that they have to take steps to avoid mistreatment and harassment in the workplace. Speaker 5: This policy is a vital display of support for. Speaker 2: Individuals seeking to live authentically in their workplace. Additionally, the preferred name pronoun policy will help to minimize the risks that are related to outing. Speaker 5: As it will, as it will give individuals the ability to be. Speaker 2: Known by their true. Speaker 5: Selves. Speaker 2: While still maintaining agency over disclosure of their identity. Not only does this policy set a standard for inclusivity for those who work in the city, but it also sets a precedent for other employers in the city as well as well. Speaker 5: And and that also well as well as neighboring municipalities. The policy also signifies a continuance of support for our. Speaker 2: Trans community members in Long Beach. Any person now has the ability to go through primary, secondary and post-secondary. Speaker 5: Education systems. Speaker 2: Using the name and pronouns they identify with, regardless of their ability to have their legal name and gender. Speaker 5: Changed. Adopting this policy at the city level would give trans and gender nonconforming community members of Long Beach the. Speaker 2: Assurance that their city government, in addition to their local school districts, have their backs. As we currently are in Transgender Awareness Week. Speaker 5: A week dedicated to. Speaker 2: Celebrating the contributions of transgender individuals and encouraging us to engage in advocacy for trans rights. There is no better time to approve this policy. The Center would like to thank Councilmember Rex Richardson for presenting this item. Speaker 5: As well as Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez. Speaker 2: Councilmember Janine Pearce and Council Member. Speaker 5: Roberto. Speaker 2: Aranda for. Speaker 5: Your continued support of LGBTQ inclusive initiatives. Lastly. Speaker 2: As you all were saying, the center is happy to. Speaker 5: Offer its assistance and in the creation and implementation of this policy and work with you all. Speaker 2: So thank you for your time. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 11: Good evening again. Puerto Golberg now also representing the LGBTQ center of Long Beach. I want to echo what our youth services manager, Joel, said, and thank Councilmember Richardson and everybody's leadership on council who has really prioritized increased increasing equity for our LGBTQ community and especially equity for LGBTQ municipal employees. This preferred name and pronoun policy, I believe, is going to make an incredible difference in continuing to recruit top tier talent, including top tier talent and the LGBTQ community to work for the city of Long Beach. This policy will create a more inclusive workplace, a more accepting workplace, and is a win for the city as a whole . I'm very excited to be here tonight and that this agenda item got moved up. A number of us are also gathering at the Socialist across from the Center for Reception with the National Center for Transgender Equality, as it is Transgender Awareness Week. And we are going to be celebrating with our national partners. And I really look forward to going back to our event this evening and letting letting our attendees know that tonight the city council has really fought for and increased equity for our transgender communities. So thank you to each one of you for your support and for being here for the discussion this evening. Really appreciate it. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Speaker 8: Good evening, Mayor Garcia and council members. My name is Maricela de Rivera. I am a North Long Beach ninth District resident. I am also the mother of a transgender daughter. I intended to come here as a ninth district resident and sing the praises of my councilmember and his colleagues on this item. I still feel that. But I'm too angry right now to be a cheerleader. Rosita is too scared to be in this building in front of all of you tonight to join me. And she and her baby sister had planned on it. We had talked about this. I don't know why we have never done this, but she thought for some reason. She said, I thought it would just be the mayor, Rex and Janine. And she is not shy. She does not suffer from stage fright. A year ago. We came here as a family to thank you for drag queen story time. Which garnered national attention, death threats and a number of ugly things. One of the things that happened when we thank you for that was that I stood here and I said, I'm the proud mother of a transgender daughter, and having her reflected in our community is important for her mental health. 60% of transgender people tried to commit suicide. I am committed every day to my daughter not being one of them. Your action with drag queen story time, I believe, helped ensure her mental health. Someone yelled Freak at her more than once publicly while we stood at this podium. Knowing that we were going to get up here tonight. She started crying and said she knew it was important. She wanted to talk to you. She was excited to see Robert because she likes Batman and he likes Superman. Somehow she thinks that's a connection and. She was scared. She was scared to be in city council chambers. And that is why this agenda item is important, because there are real people. And I wonder and I worry about where my daughter. We'll work. When she's an adult, she's smart. She's creative. She's innovative. She's everything that a city employee you would want them to be. Where will she work? Policies like this ensure that you get people like my daughter who are innovative and creative and committed and passionate. And I thank you from the bottom of my very angry, hurting mother heart for seeing. Speaker 9: Her and for seeing our community. Speaker 8: And I love you for that. Speaker 9: Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Speaker 9: Hi. My name is Zoe Nicholson. My pronouns are she her hers. I live in Rose Park. You know, the binary is what separates us. The puny, narrow, limited borders of the binary. Up, down. Right. Left. Cold. Heart. Fat. Thin. Tall. Short. Young, old. But what lifts us and what moves us closer to divine insight is to name oneself. Speaker 1: It was a gift. Speaker 9: Reserved for the gods in Genesis. The Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and birds. He brought them to Adam and said, You can name them. And with that dominion he gave him, he also gave him the responsibility of stewardship. My favorite. The Gospel of John. Speaker 10: In the beginning was the. Speaker 9: Word, and the word was with God and the word was God. Naming is in all our Scriptures, in the ghetto, in the Koran, in the Douching. Naming is how we actually stand fully. Naming has been taken away from women because of trying to follow paternity lines. Naming oneself. Is important. And now as we find ourselves scraping our knuckles across the ground. Our entire society hoping to stand tall. I want to confirm. To know oneself and the state for all to hear. To name oneself is the ultimate self-realization. I am Zoe. My pronouns are she. Her, hers. Bravo! Brava! I'm so proud of you for voting for this tonight. Thank you very much for. Speaker 5: Excuse. Good evening. My name is Doris Hogan. I am a member of the Human Relations Commission for the City of Long Beach. I am also a member of the Board of Directors for the LGBT Center. And I stand here in support of the preferred pronoun this evening. And we thank all of you on the Council for your support. We thank Joe. For his. Talk to about the feeling from what we have from the center. And I stand as a board member of the center with Joel and Porter to say thank you. And we stand and support and thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you. Any more public coming? I would take Rocco. Speaker 3: Councilwoman Gonzalez. Councilmember Pierce, Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Supernanny. Hi, councilwoman mongo. Vice Mayor Andrews, I. Councilmember, you're UNGA Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson. Motion carries. Speaker 10: Thank you. Now we'll go to item 40. Speaker 3: A report from Public Works recommendation to request city attorney to prepare an ordinance amending Title 14 of the Long Beach Municipal Code to streamline the permitting process for temporary installations related to sidewalk dining and parklets within the city. The city's right of way citywide. Speaker 10: We're going to probably come in first. Do you have any report on this. Speaker 11: Vice mayor? It's up to the chair, but we were scheduled to do public comment prior to this item. Speaker 10: Yes. Okay. Any public comment on this? Speaker 11: The public comment period for the city clerk as the names? Speaker 10: Okay, fine. We have five, seven, eight items. Excuse me. Okay. First would be Mr. Goodell. 3 minutes. State your name, please.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Department of Human Resources to create a Preferred Name and Pronoun Policy for all City Employees, and return to the City Council within 90 days for review and adoption.

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_11132018_18-1016

Speaker 0: Thank you. Moving on to item 40, please. Speaker 3: Report from Public Works Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending Title 14 of the Long Beach Municipal Code to streamline the permitting process for temporary installations related as sidewalk dining and parklets within the city's right of way citywide. Speaker 0: Thank you. Let me turn this over to Mr. West. Speaker 11: Mr. Mayor, council members. One of the real cool things about our city is the opportunity to have outdoor dining. Speaker 2: More and more and more restaurants. Speaker 11: And cafes want to do that. In addition to that, we're one of the few cities in California that does parklets out on our streets, and those are getting more and more popular. So to smooth that so people know exactly the path to get a parklet, the path to get outdoor dining. Mr. Beck and his team in public works have put together a booklet so that there's a clear path to follow to get those permissions. And I'll turn it over to Craig. Speaker 2: Thank you, Mr. Manager. Good evening, Mayor. Members of the Council. Let's see here. We have a presentation that we wanted to share with you just to kind of detail some of the work that's been done and what's being proposed tonight. So we're talking about both parklets and sidewalk dining. And essentially the city has been operating under a pilot program to allow these to go into our public right of way. As the city manager indicated, it really does provide a nice sense of neighborhood and community and has been a game changer for many of our business and entertainment corridors. Interestingly enough, we were here talking about fore street business corridor earlier. Our first parklet in the city actually happened on Fourth Street in front of Lola's in 2011. And you've seen kind of a number of them go in since. And we've really treated these as a case by case basis. So an applicant would come in, they would meet with city staff, they would have a conversation about what their goals were, what the sizing of the parklet would be. We worked with them to ensure that they were putting the right materials in the public right of way, and then all that would kind of culminate to come to council for action and direction on how to move forward. So it was a very labor intensive process and we wanted to take a look at how could we streamline that and make it easier for the applicants and honestly for the community to engage in the process. So our goals were really to standardize and simplify the approval process and also to develop a technical handbook, as the manager mentioned, to guide people along the way of of really what are elements that we would accept and what are elements that we wouldn't accept in? So those are our goals. This is there is a really robust document and I really would like to recognize the hard work by our planning team. So development services planners were very involved in putting together our guidebook. And I think from the images that I'm sharing here, these are just some excerpts from the actual guidebook itself. But it's very user oriented. It's, it's, it's put together in a very cohesive way. And I think it really helps people understand what the goals are of our particular program. So part of what we're here to propose this evening are a couple of things. One have to do with the uses and I'm sorry, I just want to see if there's another page here. No. One has to do with the uses and when. You may recall that we had an item before council, I don't know, about eight or nine months ago to have a use on Pine Avenue that was outside of typical dining uses that we've approved in the past, and that was to provide for fitness activity out in the right of way. And at that time, the council directed staff to really evaluate what are the best uses for parklets and where would we land on recommendations and how should we utilize our public right of way, not only for parklets but also for sidewalk dining or other uses? And so we're really back to make a recommendation for you this evening that we keep that relatively narrow, that we would continue to support dining activities both in our sidewalk right of way and as a parklet that we would allow planting to occur. So if there was a desire to add some landscaping that complemented the business area, that those would be things that were supported. Certainly bicycle parking or maybe e-scooter parking would be one of those items if the council adopts a permanent E-SCOOTER program. And also we believe that it's important to support public art and there may be opportunities where public art would be appropriate in a public right of way or parklet. That doesn't mean that we want to preclude those other uses. We just believe that it's important that Council has an opportunity to weigh in on what those might be. So what we're essentially proposing tonight is that if something falls within, what we're saying would be a permitted use, that it would be a streamline permitting process. And that streamlined, permanent permitting process would be provided at the staff level. So the value of this is that it can happen much quicker, A and B, that it would cost the applicants less money. So as you know, we base our fees on cost recovery. And if we were able to eliminate some steps in the process, the amount of staff time involved could also reduce the cost to the applicants. So part of what's being proposed tonight is just that. And it would allow folks to utilize the guidebook, bring forward their application in a streamline application process. It could be handled at the staff level and approved. If there was a desire to go with a non typical use, then we would go through a traditional process, evaluate that, bring that forward to council for consideration. There is another discussion as we went out to the different business improvement districts about the impacts to parking. And as you know, with this council, there are some community groups that are very concerned about parking, rightfully so. And as we kind of evolve as a community where parking is in great demand now, that may become less demand in the future. And we just want to strike the right tone. So what we're recommending this evening is that we would cap the amount of parklets in a parking area at 20%. So we would believe it's appropriate, again, at a staff permitting level to allow up to 20% of the parking used to be converted into a parklet. If an application came in that went beyond that 20%, that would be an item that we would bring to Council for Council's full consideration. So again, we wouldn't preclude those parklets, but we want to have this body have an opportunity to weigh in. So that is essentially what we're proposing. So the benefits of these changes are that it strengthens the current program by being more informative, by utilizing the guidebook where we're much more transparent into what would be allowed in the right of way. It simplifies the process, as I mentioned, it does reduce costs to the applicants. It does address the design standards that we've collaboratively worked with, with our planning team. And I think it's ultimately a more efficient and effective collaborative process with the business community. So that concludes my staff report, and I'm certainly available to answer any questions. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 8: Yes, thank you so much, Craig. I think this has been a policy many, many years in the making. And I just want to I'm just glad that we've gotten to this point. Thank you for your work in this. And I know Bill Pittman has also been behind the scenes, working very closely with a lot of our businesses to make sure they come to fruition and streamline the process. So it's wonderful to see that. I guess you sort of answered my question because this has been in the works. But I know this sort of came about because of Joe Ferrara from Groundwork Fitness that wanted to do a gym parklet, which is going very, very well. And I know along Pine Avenue we're even looking at like a bar for small dogs. We've looked at how we're looking at a kid's parklet just different uses that could be a mix of something really creative along Pine Avenue. And so from what I'm understanding here is that aside from what we have there, like the bicycle, the art, it will have to come to council for review, which is great. At least there's a process there. Have we explored any have there been any other request in the meantime for Parklets that are sort of out of that scope at all? Speaker 2: Not currently. The applications that we have are typically dining and so those there are a couple of dining permits that are pending, but I don't have any to my knowledge that are outside of what we're presenting tonight. And I think, Councilmember, that you did bring up a number of different uses and we recognize those. And actually at the staff level, I think we would support them. I think we found it challenging to try to list them all and it became this kind of exhaustive list. And so we thought that for the sake of simplification, it was easier to just designate a few uses in the guidebook and then tailor the guidebook to those uses and but yet still allow and certainly provide and support a path forward and just bring those kind of outside the normal use or whatever is normal, but outside kind of the standardized use to council and allow council to support that. And I agree that GEO Jim Parklet is fantastic and it really does a lot to activate the street. Speaker 8: It really is great. And one last question. What is the fee? What what type of sort of permitting fee is associated with this parklet? Speaker 2: So currently the fee is 40 $800. We believe that will ultimately cut in half. I don't have that for you this evening, but I think that's where it will land. 24, 20 $500, most likely. We haven't actually gone through the streamlined process yet, so we're not 100% sure how much staff time is is involved. But that's our our current belief is that it should cut in half. Speaker 8: Okay, great. Well, thank you so much for. And thank you for getting us here. Speaker 0: Q Council member Pier. Speaker 9: Yes. I also want to thank you for the work. I know that going through the Parklet process, each one is very different. Each one has a different staff, different ideas, different point people. So having had the socialists go through their experience with trying to add the parklet on the side, it gave me an appreciation for the work that you guys do and trying to get folks to follow a guideline. So I really am very excited about this. And when we unfortunately we used to have the toy shop on Broadway and one of the ideas we had was when we finished the Broadway project that we would have a like a toy corner that was a parklet there. But we will find another use for that parklet. Just want to thank you guys, the team and really appreciate this. Thank you. Speaker 0: Councilman Austin. Speaker 6: Thank you. Had a couple of just quick questions. I think there's a lot of great work that's going on going into this the staff report and the the. I like the idea of streamlining the process for particularly those business owners and business districts that want to activate the corridors. But in improving this, will we be basically approving giving up 20% parking in any business corridor? Speaker 2: That's the recommendation before council is that we would allow at a staff level for PARKLETS to be approved up to 20%. If there was a desire or an application came in beyond that, then those would come to council for review. Speaker 6: So the item before us does more than just parklets though, right? I mean, it's for outdoor dining. So beyond parklets, I mean, if a business wanted to just create an outdoor patio. Yeah. Speaker 2: So thinking of Bixby Knolls, I think an example is we do have a couple sidewalk dining permits and Bixby knows that certainly isn't currently impacting any parking. I consider a parklet is something that's happening in the street right of way versus sidewalk dining, which is happening in the sidewalk right of way. Speaker 6: And we talk a lot about local control. I'm really the the blanket giving up 20% parking potentially is a concerning to me because not every business district not every corridor is created equally. And I'd like to at least have the discretion to to to work with my community to determine whether or not that is something that that would work. I mean, that I think that is a pretty big leap. And so I would ask for for an amendment, friendly amendment. And I don't know who I propose that to be, possibly the the maker of the motion here to to exempt that that particular piece of that or to give discretion to to to various communities on that. Speaker 2: I'm just going to say that a bit. Speaker 0: Councilman Gonzales. Speaker 8: Well, it's a staff led item. So what? What would you suggest, Greg? Speaker 2: Maybe I could just comment on that. I think, Councilmember, the staff struggled with that as well and trying to find what is that right balance. One of the things that we are requiring is support from the bid. If it is in a business district to move the parklet forward. So I'll give you an example. Right now, there are currently no Parklets in Belmont. Sure, there have been folks that have brought forward a desire to place a part parklet in Belmont Shore, but so far the bid and the parking commission have not been supportive. So that is a different control point potentially. I'm certainly open if the council wants to lower that recommendation. Again, we were thinking about Fourth Street as an example where roughly a hundred parking spaces were created tonight. That will be part of the parking district. And when you think about those spaces, what would be the appropriate number for Parklets? And we felt that 20 of those hundred would roughly be the right number. But again, I'm open to the council's direction. Speaker 6: So I'll have them in my motion and show some flexibility here. I would be be I think 10% would be good. But then beyond that, it would require a process that will come before the council. I will just just note that our our business improvement district do a great job. None of our business improvement directors are elected by the residents that surround those business districts. And so when we talk about parking impacts, we're not quite there yet in some of my areas. But I can tell you the Long Beach Boulevard, you know, we want to do some things up in Virginia, Bay Village, Bixby Knolls. I know there's some some request and ideas for for Parklets there as well. And I'm certainly open to that. But I want to I want to be be cautious that I don't jump ahead of myself and give away parking, that that is so preciously needed for all of our businesses. So so I wouldn't make a friendly amendment to the 10%. Speaker 0: Councilman Gonzales. Speaker 8: Sure. We can do that? Or would would the language be relaxed to be able to say like contingent upon community? Input. I mean, what can you give us some direction here on? I mean, I'm. Speaker 2: So currently the proposal in front of council to consider is 20% of the available parking spaces. I think the better thing to do would be for council to come up with what that discretionary number would be. Because you remember we're essentially talking about a two step process. There's going to be one that can happen at the staff level. So if you're telling me tonight that 10% is a more appropriate number, then I would be able to, at the staff level, approve permits up to 10% if a parklet came in. That took more than that 10%, then that's coming to council. So again, I think it's really where council feels comfortable at having a more streamlined and discretionary process with staff versus the items that you want us to bring forward. And I'm completely open to, to where this council lands. But. That may also impact the the fee structure that we ultimately end up with. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman. Speaker 8: Yep, it's fine. I just wanted to get some input from our director, so thank you. Speaker 0: Okay, so we're going to amend that to be 10% as a motion. I want to also give you a public comment here in just a minute. But what I just said, Mr. Beck, how many parklets do we have total across the city? Speaker 2: Mayor, I knew you were going to ask me that question, and I wish I had the number I tried to to if you had the number don't have I believe it is 12, but I didn't get that number verified before then. Speaker 0: Okay. No, thank you then. They're fantastic. So the one thing I will say, I mentioned this before to Mr. West, and it's just something I think we just need to do a better job of is we have these 12 parklets all amazing, all different, all different. They look great. The architecture is fantastic. I think where we're behind is none of them are true public Parklets I believe all 12 of our parklets are essential extensions of a sidewalk experience, which is which is great, and we encourage those and we want more of those. But I think if you go to most cities that are really progressive on on these types of uses and you are seeing public parklets that are open to the public where you don't have to actually purchase something. And so I would just encourage us that as we move forward, that we really look at locations where we could put in like, like councilwoman, like you mentioned, the public, the Parklet or a an area for for families to to relax or just pedestrian space so that people can enjoy the parklet. Because I do, I'm a little concerned. I every time we add a parklet. And don't add the public component. We are removing space and not adding to public space. And so I just my concern not I support this item, but I just don't want us to continue to approve or give more leeway to keep approving this these these these expansions while not. Giving the space back to the public in any bigger way. So if we can just make that note and I'd love to see us address this, I also how would and looking at this proposal, it certainly is geared towards a business or a restaurant wanting to come forward and propose a parklet. What about a public parklet? If an organization wanted to do that, it sounds like they can do that through this process as well. Speaker 2: Yeah. In May, I should point out something else which I didn't mention in my staff report. There is an annual renewal process that currently required under our PARKLET program, and we are recommending that that continues. We are going to streamline the annual renewal so we wouldn't require a full RESA medal, but there is a renewal process. So if we do get to kind of a critical point and we feel that we need to take back some public space, we have that opportunity to cancel the actual permit and have the parklet removed. So that's try to address part of your first question. The other part of your question, we have seen for the first time multiple business applications for a parklet that happened for Pine Avenue. So our last parklet that was put in was actually is actually there to support multiple and not just one business. So I think we are moving in that direction. I think that you've experienced and I agree you'll look when you look through the guidebook, there is some imagery from other cities where it's more of a public space with seating, etc. in in this permit process that we're proposing this evening, for example, in the downtown, the debate could be an applicant on their own. It doesn't have to be for a business. They could propose a public space or a Berkeley or something like that. So it could come forward from a community organization and not necessarily just a business. Speaker 0: Thank you. And I just want to reiterate, I know means I'm interested in removing anyone's permits or taking back all of these fantastic parklets as I love them and use them. I just think we have to. If the city does not make a focus effort on actually converting these into public spaces and not private spaces, I think we're doing ourselves in the public a disservice. And so I'd like to see an effort from public works in in getting public parklets built across the city. So any public comment? Seeing none. Rock roll call vote. Speaker 3: Councilman Gonzalez. Councilmember Pierce. Councilwoman Price. Councilmember Suber not. Hi, Councilwoman Mongo I. Vice Mayor Andres. Councilmember. Your Honor. Speaker 1: I. Speaker 3: Councilman Austin. Council Member Richardson. Motion carries.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending Title 14 of the Long Beach Municipal Code (Streets and Sidewalks) to streamline the permitting process for temporary installations related to sidewalk dining and parklets within the City's right-of-way. (Citywide)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_11132018_18-1007

Speaker 0: Thank you. Great work. Next up is item 30. Speaker 3: Communication from Councilman Austin. Recommendation to refer to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Housing and Neighborhoods Committee. The request to consider and make a recommendation on renaming the Uptown Dog Park as the Gail Carter Uptown Dog Park. Speaker 0: Councilman. Speaker 6: Thank you. So I'm honored to bring forward this recommendation to recognize the many contributions of Gail Carter to the Long Beach animal loving community since its opening. Gail Carter became an unquestioned champion and leader of the Uptown Dark Park community. Since she organized, she organized the friends of the Uptown Dog Park to raise more money for improvements at the dog park. She organized numerous events to foster a strong sense of community around the dog park, including wiener dog races, potlucks, canine fashion shows, photos with Santa. She also arranged obedience training, agility classes and spay and neuter clinics to be offered at the Uptown Dog Park. She helped create and establish dog parks at the Jackson Park and Coolidge Park. Her compassion and determination endeared her with many in the animal community and throughout the city of Long Beach. Gail was a tenacious advocate in her efforts, but her passion for the dog park community and caring for pets and people was really infectious. She worked to make all users of the dog park feel welcome, but also ensured that they understood their responsibilities as pet owners. She enforce the rules. She was generous in helping others when they or their pets were in need. Gail helped those who are experiencing homelessness, who had trouble taking care of their animals, and organized fundraisers for pet owners. They needed help and rescue efforts. She passed away on September seven, 2017, of congestive heart failure at the age of 69. And given the tremendous impact that Gail Carter had on the Uptown Dog Park and the compassion and support she provided so many pet owners throughout the city of Long Beach. It is only fitting that we honor her legacy by renaming the Uptown Dog Park as the Gail Carter Uptown Dog Park. I ask my colleagues for the support of this motion. This motion is long overdue, and there were a number of people who signed petitions and asked us to actually bring this forward. And so I ask my colleagues support. Speaker 0: Thank you. And this item is referring this item to the committee, of course, and Councilman Price. The comments. Okay. Any public comment? Please come forward. Speaker 9: My name is Brandy Gaunt, and I am here as a representative of the Friends of Uptown Dog Park. Councilman Austin, thank you so much for taking this motion forward and and for helping us see this. Speaker 8: Potentially actually happen in. Speaker 9: Honor of our friend Gail. Speaker 8: When Gail left us. Speaker 9: 14 months ago, we lost. Speaker 8: A really vital life force. Speaker 9: In the pet owning community. Speaker 8: In Long Beach. She really reached out and touched not just Uptown Dog Park, but Coolidge Jackson. Speaker 9: You couldn't go to any place Rosie's Dog Beach, even. You couldn't go anywhere with your dog without without feeling Gayle's. Speaker 8: Influence and knowing that she was there and she had influenced dog owners and and had a lot to do with training pet. Speaker 9: Parent behaviors. Speaker 8: Uptown was her base of operations. That's where her heart and soul was with the dog park activities. From it being the central hub of all of the social activities she arranged for the pet parents and their and their babies. Speaker 9: To actually putting her. Speaker 8: Own sweat equity into the upkeep and and TLC from her that went into that park from painting the benches to, you know, buying the chairs. And she did a lot. Speaker 9: She formed Friends of Uptown Dog Park. We we try to to. Speaker 8: Carry that on in her honor. And, of course, we fall very, very short because, you know, Gail was a rock star. Speaker 9: I thank you for considering this. It's it's so fitting that her. Speaker 8: Base of operations be named in her honor. Speaker 9: And again, Councilman Austin, thank you. Councilman Richardson, thank. Speaker 8: You for your support in this as well. Speaker 9: Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Moving back to the council, Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And thank you all for for bringing this forward. And, you know, Gail was an amazing individual, and many of us knew her, and we were all shocked when she passed away. But I think this is appropriate. This is a great time moment to name our facilities after Gail. Brandi mentioned it. You know, I first met Gail. It was at Uptown Dog Park, but I built a relationship with Gail as she helped us to create the Coolidge Dog Park and to build a community around the Coolidge dog park. And that's the kind of person she was. She would you know, she this wasn't her dog park. This wasn't her neighborhood. But she was she knew that most of us were coming to her dog park. She said, you need your own, you know. And we ended up with a very beautiful, nice dog park and and an amazing legacy on her part. So thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Often bringing this forward, it clearly has my support and I look forward to this coming back to council. Thanks. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilmember Pierce. Speaker 9: Yes. Similar story. I got to meet Gail twice. We were just in the conversations around our Bixby dog park and we had a lot of it was contentious, that dog park. And so we knew we had to build a community around it and we knew we wanted to engage people early on. And she really stepped up and met with Second District residents and and third District residents. So really congratulations to the community for having a place to honor her and Councilmember Austin for bringing this item forward. Speaker 0: Thank you. With that, we'll go ahead and do the roll call vote. Madam Clerk. Speaker 3: Councilwoman Gonzales. Councilmember Pierce. Councilwoman Price. Councilmember. All right. Councilwoman Mongo, I. Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilmember Urunga. Speaker 1: I. Speaker 3: Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to approve renaming the Uptown Dog Park as the "Gayle Carter Uptown Dog Park".

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_11132018_18-1006

Speaker 0: Thank you. Motion carries item 29, please. Speaker 3: Communication from Councilmember Richardson. Councilmember Pearce. Council Member. Stronger Councilman Austin. Recommendation to request City Manager to explore the feasibility of establishing a higher education center in North Long Beach. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilor Richardson. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We have an opportunity tonight to address an incredible need, North Lawn Beach, and provide an opportunity to help our community college. The the motion before us tonight is to engage the necessary stakeholders in evaluating the short term and long term possibilities of expanding higher education uptown. As many of you know, the lobby City College has been experiencing a declining enrollment which negatively impacts their budget. According to a 2017 Long Beach labor market report, the 90805 zip code was identified as the area with the most potential increase enrollment and strengthen and strengthen the college's revenue. And this was a study commissioned by Lobby City College. So here's a few facts on why. So number one north on beaches, the nature of its diversity. The ethnic ethnic makeup is predominantly people of color. And North Lombard is also very young. 50% of the population is under the age of 30 years old. Uptown, the median age is four years younger than the rest of the city and almost six years younger than the county. And looking at the numbers, North Long Beach has the most adults who can benefit from a community college. There are over 44,000 adults and the 90805 community with some college or less as their highest level of education. This includes adults who have completed some courses without obtaining a certificate, certification or degree. Adults who have completed high school, attended high school, obtained less than a high school education. And that said, adults with these educational attainment levels and education and limited English language skills have the most potential to benefit from community college classes in basic skills, careers, technical education and courses such as English and a second language. From an economic impact standpoint, community colleges confer more certificates than any other sector of higher education. As workforce programs help fill labor gaps, which is which fuels our local economy by 2020. And when now we're talking workforce readiness by 2020, 65% of all American jobs will require some form, some form of postsecondary degree or credential. By 2025, California is projected to face a short shortage of workers with post-secondary education less than a bachelor's degree. And there are two employment projections, which will exclude many of our uptown residents from the workforce if we choose not to address our higher education ease now. So here's the opportunity, because community colleges are the primary institution for our workforce development and an affordable pathway toward higher education. We want to ensure that distance is not a barrier. So it's been ten years in the since the inception of the college promise. I think we can all attest to the importance of aligning public institutions, the important that the impact has had on our community and on our education system. Establish establishing a North Miami education center will be no different, and timing is key. With new development and construction projects happening on the Atlantic Avenue corridor, such as private retail that we know is coming out and part community center modernization improvements to the North Long Beach Health Department facility. The ongoing modernization of Jordan High School, North Long Beach. Is it all of these things aligning tells us that it's it's time to explore additional potential partnerships on the private and the public side to help help with this this the improvements this corridor. And so by by collaborating with lobby City College Pacific Gateway and those who are excited about this could mean that the community could mean for the community. I'd like us to explore identify both short term options which can be retrieved within a year. And I'd like us to identify a long term plan which is assessed, which assesses the sustainability, the ongoing sustainability of anchoring a higher education center in North Long Beach. And so tonight, Lobby City College is considering a similar direction to partner with the City of Long Beach to explore feasibility. So I want to thank Lobby City College, particularly more specifically trustee input for this partnership on this proposal. And then I want to thank the council members who signed on to this motion, Councilman Austin Pierce and U ranga as well. And I look forward to our conversation and moving forward. Thank you. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you very much, Councilmember. Councilman Austin. Speaker 6: Thank you very much. I was happy to sign on to this very innovative item. I want to thank our Councilmember Richardson for bringing it forward. And and I just want to be be clear that that, you know, I think our city is is actually known for its collaborative partnerships with our educational partners. Long Beach Unified, as well as Long Beach City College and Cal State, Long Beach. You know, this is the the home of the college promise. And I think exploring opportunities to expand the community college experience is something that we should definitely support. I was community college student, I'll just tell you. I think most people go to community colleges because they are convenient and where they go to community colleges that are most convenient for them to attend. And so when I was a community college student, I was it was close to my my place of employment. So I could just walk across the street and and be at Long Beach City College. And it was a great experience. And so I think others should certainly have that opportunity. I just want to make sure that we're clear on who's leading this this this feasibility study. Is it Lumbee City College or is it the city of Long Beach? Speaker 4: The question for me this so so the idea here it's a good opportunity. The hope here is that we're going to assign dedicate some staff is excited to work work on this on our site and they put some folks on their site because there's two different things need be evaluated. So they're going to do some internal sort of evaluation and we're going to look at some of the opportunities with some of our public public investments as well as some of the private retail. So released two focuses and the hope will be some sort of a joint task force that that sort of explores this feasibility. Speaker 6: Well, I'm happy to support Long Beach, Long Beach City College's efforts to expand their their their footprint in the city of Long Beach. I think they definitely have a footprint in the east side of Long Beach and I would say the other east side of Long Beach in the central area. And so northern beaches, if they can do that and expand that model is something I certainly support also would just just make make suggestions that, you know, since we do have a college promise that we engage other educational institutions in this as well, like Columbus Unified because, uh, well, I'll just, just say this, that they are brick and mortar public institutions that are already in existence that may require just a joint partnership agreement to, to, to make things happen. And so and to to increase access for for folks in North Long Beach. I think there's a whole I don't I don't think we should have to limit our scope. We should look at all possibilities. And so happy to support this. Speaker 0: Thank you. Council Member Pearce. Speaker 9: Yes, I am also was really excited to see this. Also as a community college student, I went to three community colleges before I graduated at Cal State Long Beach, so definitely making sure they're accessible. They often have classes that are different times than a university and so having access to them is critical. I think our partnership with the community college, I know that often we talk about partnership and that sometimes it's, you know, we support each other. But actually being at the table together with skin in the game on both sides is where we're going to see the most change for our community. So I was happy to sign on to this. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Supernova. Thank you. I just have a comment or a question on one part of the report here. A sentence caught my eye that says the average bus commute from Jordan High School to Albuquerque campuses. Our campus takes 2 hours. The fact if it takes 2 hours to go 5.6 miles. Maybe that's a different problem that we can address along with this report, because that seems. Speaker 2: Outrageous to think you. Speaker 4: Absolutely so. I mean, in the conversations, there's a lot of benefits. I would just say transportation access is going to be a part of that, hopefully will be a part of that ongoing discussion. And there and we were, you know, we think there is opportunities for other agencies, not just lobbies unified, but, you know, the number one the number one matriculation campus for Jordan High School for Community College happens to be Compton College. Number two is Cerritos College. Number three is Lobby City College. Right. And so we come third in terms of matriculation for law for these students. So I think this conversation, once it begins, we're going to find how many different opportunities there are for higher education. And there's also, since it became public, Cal State Dominguez Hills reached out and said, hey, we consider North Palm Beach in our service area. So I think it's a huge opportunity for us to really just talk about the point of higher education. North Palm Beach. But thank you, Councilman Rubino. Speaker 0: Thank you. Any public comment on this item? Speaker 1: Mayor Roberto, go here. Speaker 0: Sure. Speaker 1: Yeah. I'd like to also chime in. Being a former communications trustee. I think that any opportunity that we have to expand the footprint of the Green College within the language community is wonderful. I want to thank, of course, the Cosmo Rich to bringing this forward and to working with our community college trustee. Would like intact from City College in bringing this forward. It would be my expectation and hope that we look at like a satellite campus. I think that is what we're going towards, that we would also include areas such as West Palm Beach, which has the the same basically demographic in regard to being away and not not a center for people to go to get to go get an education there as well. The real high school is there. Many of our career high school students go to City College, but the commute is can be quite extensive going to our PCC campus or to the east campus. So having one in our town, it would provide an excellent opportunity for choices in where to choose to continue education. But at the same time, I'm hoping that whatever comes out of this feasibility study that we look at the types of programs and the kinds of educational opportunities and options that might be available for students who want to enroll in a in a satellite like campus. So I would look I look forward to working with that. I look forward to that cooperation in coordination with our Albuquerque counterparts, as well as working with the Long Beach State to get their ideas on what would be a real good program that would provide unique and successful opportunities for students to participate in these colleges. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Let me go to public comment now. Please come forward. Speaker 8: Hello once again. My name is Maricela de Rivera. I am a ninth district resident. Live within walking distance of Highland Park and the beautiful and much used Michelle Obama Library. This is a absolute welcome conversation and agenda item. I am here half an hour past bedtime. That's how important this is to me. Higher education is the cornerstone for everything. At the Latino Economic Summit that I attended earlier today, I think it was clear that educational opportunities for all of our residents and that doesn't just mean a four year college. Right. Or even an associate's degree, but some sort of post-secondary education is really going to make a difference in the future success of Long Beach when we ensure success for Long Beach residents, particularly in north Long Beach and West Long Beach, where we see less economic development and investment. As a North Long Beach resident, I'm very excited about the things that are coming along the Atlantic corridor, the Artesia corridor. I see this is really good timing because when you bring in college students, when you bring in the additional economic benefit of any sort of satellite campus, I mean, I love that this is not being pigeonholed into one type of thing, but we're really open to whatever best serves my new community. People are going to want to eat. They're going to want to go to a bank. They're going to want to shop, they're going to want to go places. And we already have that peace in motion. So this feels like really good timing. I would also like to just take a moment as a board member for Long Beach Transit, a city commissioner, to address the issue, we recently conducted a very comprehensive star initiative is what we called it. It was basically a complete system review and there is a lot of room for redoing our routes, our systems, our timings. Of course, all of that takes money like everything. And so I would just say that while I have personally talked with our CEO or our deputy CEO who are really engaged and really concerned about equity, about getting people the places they need to be. And this review came after, I think it's been 12 years since the last one. And so people are different places. People have congregated in different places and need to get different places than perhaps they did 12 years ago. So this is something that Long Beach Transit has really taken as a top priority for us. And so I hope that that is something we can say we're addressing very soon. There were many, many different things that came out of that study as recommendations and so service to North Long Beach and West Long Beach. I hear you. Councilmember Urunga is is really paramount to us at Long Beach Transit. Thank you. Speaker 2: Very good. You Clercq has to address the need for improvements in that across the board in the ninth district. So obviously they need now they need not be discussed. I think that this approval and complete aid is the resignation of council in Austin and Richardson. For their championing of the deviant Snoop Dogg. That the. Police department. A number of years ago rated as. Long Beach is number one thug. But more disturbing is their championing of the individual Snoop Dogg. With his deviant position relative to how women should be treated. In this day and age. That is a that is so obviously that should not be discussed. And anybody championing it them has no business in any leadership position there. And it speaks very poorly of the community that the community would support those with deviant minds. And they would support people that had those views. Toward women, period. Thank you. Speaker 0: Hi. My name is Robert Bonow. Um. Speaker 5: I am currently a senior at Jordan High School and it is time for senior go. We do that. We all, we all play for colleges. So most recently play college for every student will be obviously at the community college. And so. Speaker 4: For students it's it's. Speaker 5: Like a problem to have transportation from north damage. Speaker 4: All the way to east side. Speaker 5: Long Beach for obvious. You see, transportation is always the main problem. Um. Speaker 4: Mostly, uh, students. Speaker 5: Also apply for like cause. Speaker 4: They see you, you see. Speaker 0: And so. For us students. Speaker 4: It's, um, it's difficult for us to get there. Other students decided to go to, like, Dominguez or Compton College. Speaker 5: But if you live in if you were born in Lombard, you get a lot of promise. Speaker 4: One year free education. Speaker 5: Of college. So if. Speaker 10: You go to college. Speaker 5: You wouldn't be able to have that. Speaker 4: Opportunity as other. Speaker 5: People and Long Beach. Speaker 0: So I do believe that it would be, uh, an amazing idea to have like a. Speaker 1: Um. Speaker 5: A site in, like, North Long Beach of Albuquerque. Speaker 4: So easier for kids. Speaker 5: At least have a walking distance or take a bike. Speaker 4: Instead of taking like an hour or two hour bus ride to get. Speaker 11: Some education. Speaker 10: Thank you. Excuse me. I thought you. Go ahead. Oh. Speaker 0: Um. Speaker 5: At a school. What they do, they also have a career center. So have many students apply for college at different colleges. Most are part of the YMCA. Speaker 0: I am alumni. We also do also help students apply for colleges as well. So I haven't had a couple calls of the mind, obviously. So we always. Speaker 4: Will be the first opportunity. Speaker 5: First up because I applied for Boston, decided I wanted to play for. Um. Going to college Hollywood, which does more for media and stuff like that. We just look at. Speaker 0: An L.A. ballpark. Speaker 4: We decided to do a year free of community college. Speaker 5: At least it's because I believe that it's. Speaker 0: Better to have one. Speaker 5: Year of college instead of having no year at college at all. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you. Thank you. Next. Speaker 8: Good evening. Members of the City Council. My name is Anita. Ravi and I am a K-12 education leader, a Long Beach resident of seven years and a parent. Speaker 9: I live in the fifth District. Speaker 8: And I currently work in the ninth District. I've spent my whole 24 year career expanding access to college for students of color across the country. As a teacher and a school district leader, my work has focused on empowering teachers and school leaders with the resources and knowledge to ensure more students have. Speaker 9: A rigorous and relevant K-12. Speaker 8: Education that prepares them for college. Research shows that four years and research shows that two and four year degree. Speaker 9: Attainment remains the best. Speaker 8: Pathway out of poverty. Four year degree attainment is linked to higher wages, higher job satisfaction, and a higher sense of overall well-being. In addition, families that make 75,000 or more per. Speaker 9: Year are twice as likely to vote as those. Speaker 8: Making less than 75,000 per year. Access to second says to higher higher education in college. And attainment of a college degree is therefore vital to a functioning representative democracy. With the shift to the Common Core and career ready standards, we in the K-12 space are aligning our efforts to prepare all students for college. Our standards and the teaching and learning that go with them are meant to provide all students with the skills, knowledge and practice they need to be successful in college and beyond. However, academic preparation is only one piece of this puzzle, albeit the most important. Speaker 9: Students also need to be able to envision themselves. Speaker 8: On college. Speaker 9: Campuses and in. Speaker 8: The many careers they can access via a college degree. They need to physically be on these campuses, utilize their facilities, and see peers from their own communities there. One strategy to increase access to higher education in the communities. Speaker 9: Where students most. Speaker 8: Need it is to bring it to them. North Long Beach is one of these communities where the current rate of four year degree college attainment is just 13%. Given that 80% of Americans live their entire lives within an 18 mile radius of where they were raised, this means that a majority of young people living in North Long Beach may not currently have family members or neighbors with college degrees. Councilman Richardson's proposal. Speaker 9: Backed by some of. Speaker 8: You all to bring higher education, access to a community that most needs it will greatly enhance what we're trying to accomplish at the high school level. By showing students the way and providing increased access for all. As the founder and. Speaker 9: Executive director of. Speaker 8: We the People High School, a new public charter high school coming to Long Beach next year. I strongly support this effort and this proposal. Speaker 9: Our North Long Beach students and their. Speaker 8: Families deserve access to the same high quality options that other communities here in Long Beach currently have. Speaker 9: Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you very much. Next. Speaker 0: Thank you, sir. My name is Reverend Leon Wood. I am not longtime resident of Long Beach. I'm also a former upper bound and talent search director at UCLA back in the sixties and early, early seventies. Speaker 1: And I wanted. Speaker 0: To say that Councilman Richardson and the rest of the team here. What you've done. It's begin to change the attitude and the spirit of the people who live in North Long Beach. The Michelle Obama Library and now with the coming of the college into that area is going to reduce crime. It's going to it's going to increase high school retention. It's going to stop. It's going to enhance the racial relationships in that area. It's going to give people a sense of hope. And you will see in the area you'll be able to feel the change for what you're doing and what you're going to do. You're going to see and feel the change of the people in that area. And we're going to have a better Long Beach because of it. And the north Long Beach area is going to thrive and grow, and it's going to be unrecognizable in the next few years because of the investments that you're making right now. So I think this is a wise idea, very sharp idea and much needed. And I congratulate you all for doing it. And thank you very much. Speaker 10: Thank you so much. General public comment. Constitutionally true. With this? Yes. Thank you. Fine. Go for the vote. Speaker 3: Councilwoman Gonzales, Councilmember Pierce, Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Superhot. Speaker 0: All right. Speaker 3: Councilwoman Mongo. Speaker 9: All right. Speaker 3: Vice Mayor Andrews, I. Councilmember Urunga. Hi, Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson. Ocean carries.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request City Manager to work with Long Beach City College (LBCC), the Long Beach Department of Economic Development, Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network (PGWIN), and North Long Beach higher education experts and advocates to explore the feasibility of establishing a higher education center in North Long Beach.

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_11132018_18-0962

Speaker 0: Thank you. With that, we're moving on to the next item, which is 42. Speaker 3: Communication from City Attorney Recommendation to declare ordinance. Amend the Long Beach Municipal Code relating to hotel worker safety precautions read and adopted as read citywide. Speaker 0: Okay. There's a motion in a second. Councilman Price. Speaker 8: Thank you. If I could just have clarification from the city attorney on what the passage of WW will have on this ordinance, or vice versa. Speaker 11: Yes, Mayor. Members of the Council. With the passage of measure WW. That measure is more restrictive and applies by its definition to hotels or as they define hotels in that initiative of 50 rooms or more. So all of the provisions of that initiative will go into effect pursuant to the election code after the county certifies and it comes to the city council and it's certified by the City Council ten days after that certification. WW will go into effect. So the impact on this ordinance that's before you this evening then would be this ordinance would apply in essence to hotels as defined in this ordinance of 49 rooms or less. And it will also be changed. This ordinance has a an application period or it applies to rooms of 50 or more. Immediately that will be trumped and overruled by measure. WW. So in essence, this would apply to the 49 rooms or less, and they would have up to one year to come into compliance with this ordinance. Speaker 8: Great. So as for the public safety piece, only the public safety provisions of WW would then apply to hotels of 49 rooms or less. It meaning panic buttons. Speaker 11: I maybe misunderstood that. I think they would apply to 50 rooms or more. The panic buttons the panic buttons that are required by this ordinance would apply to 49 rooms or less. Speaker 8: Right? That's what I mean. So this ordinance would augment that public safety piece and apply to a broader group. Speaker 11: In essence all hotels and would be required to have the panic button. Speaker 8: WWE of their. Speaker 11: Size, regardless of their. Speaker 8: Size. Got it. Great. Okay, well, I'm glad to be passing an ordinance tonight that takes care of the public safety piece and leaves no one vulnerable regardless of the size of hotel they work with. And I urge my colleagues to support this. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Austin. Speaker 6: I second the motion and hope we can put this issue to rest for a while. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 9: That'll be so easy. I want to thank at this moment, I want to thank all the workers and the community members that made Measure WW possible passing with 62% of the vote. I know that we've had a lot of discussion here. I hope that we don't have to have a long part of a discussion. But I did want to highlight that there were three different things that were really important to me someone who values writing good policy, who's been a director at a public policy organization for a decade. And these three things were that it did not include contract employees, that the issue that's in front of us tonight does not include a retaliation clause as it is read in measure. WW And that the retaliation part as well as the notification parts are not included. And it's my understanding that if we included those tonight that there would need to be a would have to start the clock over again. Is that correct? Speaker 11: That is correct. If we amended it with those provisions, as you've just outlined, it would come back. We would need to rewrite it and it would come back for first reading. Speaker 9: Okay. And I do I think that, you know, there's a lot of conversation around all of the items and. WW And so I feel confident that constituents and myself feel that these are really important. I know that my colleague, Councilmember Price, and I have had a couple of conversations. I wanted to ask you if we passed this tonight and came back and I believe it's 31 days with amendments, including all of these. Is that something that you're okay with? Speaker 8: I, I would be more than happy to consider any amendments. And I think having a no retaliation clause and applying it to all employees, whether they're contract or not, is totally reasonable. So I'd be I'd look forward to seeing the language of any proposed amendment. But I really do want to close the chapter on this ordinance tonight. And as with any of our ordinances and our muni codes, we can amend them at any time to make them better, more robust, whatever we'd like to do. Speaker 9: Okay. I know. You know, for me, this has been an emotional process. And there have been a couple of things that we said were really important to us. One was not doing this before the election, and two was that it included these items that I feel like really do protect hotel workers and make sure that if you have a panic button, you're not scared to use it for fear of retaliation. So it's great to hear you say that you support those two items which are near and dear to me. I want to hear from my council colleagues before I take a vote on this item. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 4: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So two things. One, we just had a conversation about a motel ordinance that we're going to be crafting, and I'm sure there's going to be some outreach. And then this this ordinance going to pass tonight. Are there any opportunities to save some money and just have one outreach process that goes to, you know, all because we're talking, frankly, to all the motels about safety, really, that's the common denominator of safety. So can we have one? Is it possible to have one safety conversation as we go out and do outreach with city manager or development services? We just make a mayor councilmember. Speaker 11: We can certainly do that, although these are kind of two separate items. So one would definitely be the ordinance that we just passed or that that you're dealing with right now. But I think we'd like to make sure they're on parallel passed, but we can certainly talk to folks at the same time when we're talking to them . I don't know what's going to be first when we get out there and talk to the the motels. But we can certainly do that. But I think ultimately we're going to probably do parallel paths to get the message across on both items. Speaker 4: Okay. Because I think there's value. There's value if we're going to engage because some of them are difficult to track down and find some of these these motel owners, these operators, the small folks. I think it makes sense while we're there and we have their captive audience, if the city is going to require panic buttons for them while we're additionally requiring lighting or whatever is going to happen this new ordinance, I just think it makes sense for them to understand that all of these are important to the city, not, you know, one and then the other, and especially if we're talking each other the same way. That makes sense. Okay. Just wanted to make sure this wasn't way out of left field here and then and then the second part is just picking up the conversation. Councilwoman Pryce and Councilwoman Pearce, I'm you know, frankly, with the election behind us, I am looking forward to moving forward with one ordinance that makes sense. And I think it does make sense. I understand that folks want to move forward tonight. I get that. But what I'm unclear on those three things that you mentioned. And so one of them was, you know, if you're an employee, clean the housekeeper. If you're a housekeeper cleaning the room, whether you're, you know, paid for directly as an employee or you're a contractor brought in, the truth is just the same. You're going into a room with the same scenario. And so it sounded like there was consensus in your motion to ask staff to come back with these amendments. And 30 days we look at that when I understand that I would like to there is a there is a way here to adopt the ordinance and give staff direction to come back with it written out so we can evaluate it. Speaker 8: No, I actually don't believe legally that that's an option. Speaker 11: I, I agree. I think that tonight either your action tonight is either approve the second reading or tell me to change it however you'd like to change it. And we would come back and would come back for first reading. I think what I heard the councilmember from the second district say is, which I think is correct, is that this ordinance within 31 days after it's approved by the mayor would become effective at any point thereafter. You could amend it that day or bring back direct city attorney to amend with A, B and C or D, whatever it is you'd like to change. And we could do it at that time. Speaker 4: So the 31 days was after it signed, after it's voted on. Tonight, it goes into effect after. Speaker 11: You could amend it any time after it goes into effect. Speaker 4: So any day after 31 days. So I guess my question would be, can we just give some direction and say bring that, you know, adopt the ordinance and then a separate motion in addition that says no, now we're post WW, right? We're post WW. There's an interest here in seeing some of those clarifications come back after it's fully implemented. So is there is there a way we can give directions? They make sure that this comes back after a month. I think that kind of brings people together saying both. Speaker 11: I think the answer to that is no. I think you what? You either are going to approve an ordinance or are you going to tell me to amend it tonight? You can't do both. Speaker 4: Okay. Good to see you, Tony. Thanks. Speaker 0: Now some our. Speaker 9: Councilmember Price. Speaker 8: So I just wanted to say, I think once we approve it tonight and I know you know this, Councilman Richardson, so I'm not trying to like preach or anything. I'm just saying procedurally, I think what will happen is if we want to have an amendment, we'd bring a separate agenda item asking the city attorney to change the ordinance to include this or that. We've done it for a couple of our existing ordinances already that maybe needed some fine tuning in the language so we can make it better or broaden it or whatever we want to do after it's approved. And then we can give them direction at that point through a separate agenda item. Speaker 11: And if I may, Councilmember Richardson brought up the point of the employee on the contract. I think in our ordinance, we do cover both the employee and a contract employee who's cleaning. I think where we have a difference with WW is how we define a hotel employer, and that's not including the contract. And so I if I understood the councilman from the second District correctly, that is something she would like to add to include that. Speaker 0: Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 9: So to be just to clarify on timeline, I think we all want to kind of put the heartache and the pain of this behind us. I really would like to to be able to to vote to support this. And I think to trust that the council is there and that so that's kind of the process part. So. We have 31 days after the mayor signs it, then we can bring back the ordinance. We can't bring it back sooner than the mayor signs it. Speaker 11: Well, I think you could bring back an action agenda. Is it at the next meeting or whenever after the mayor signs it? We would probably bring it back after the effective date to amend that ordinance. We don't have an effective ordinance to amend until that time, but you could next week put something on to say we want to change it or in the next council meeting or whatever period time. Speaker 9: And then the next question is on the timing. So the way that the ordinance is written is it's a 12 month implementation plan. So while it would be 31 days and maybe three months until we finally have a final change with the amendments, that's not to say that in those next three months, you guys are already going to have. Speaker 8: This rolled out. Speaker 11: That's a great question. I think what we would do is if. If it's approved this evening. The ordinance allows these hotels that will fall under this ordinance up to 12 months to come into compliance if there's something that's placed on the agenda immediately or shortly hereafter. We would wait because we don't know what the council's going to do if you're going to be changing or before we start sending out some sort of notices to the employer, we don't want send mixed messages to the hotels. So we would probably wait. And something else you could consider if you are going to amend it is to extend that period out. And it would you would start the 12 month clock again or you could change that, you know, period of time. That was part of the original motion to allow these hotels to have up to 12 months to come into compliance so that they can, if it's a burden on them to purchase or how they're going to do it. Speaker 9: And then my my next question is for city manager. Have you guys. Speaker 8: Thought about how your outreach as. Speaker 9: I know that no outreach has been done yet to the 12 motels are boutique hotels on my district yet. Speaker 0: There's been no plan yet. Speaker 5: So given that it's a long time that they have 12 months to be able to actually implement it. Speaker 11: We looked to basically do business licensing, reach out to those. The latest I don't have a number of how many are 50. Speaker 2: And below, but just for. Speaker 5: Scale, the. Speaker 2: Number of. Speaker 11: Properties that. Speaker 2: Have 100 or below is 40. Speaker 11: So we're looking at a relatively small population that we would reach out to each one of them, and we could do that in writing and say, here's what the the ordinance was passed, give them a copy of a. Speaker 2: Of a summary letter, and then, of course. Speaker 11: Provide the ordinance so we could do that whenever you're ready. Speaker 0: And I would I would also just recommend if there is going to be changes beyond if the if the ordinance is adopted tonight and if there's going to be changes, then those should be submitted as soon as possible, I would say. And so I think that you don't have to wait for a signature. You can submit that agenda item. Speaker 9: That's what I was looking for. Speaker 0: I think, you know, as soon as possible so that we know what the final product is. I would think so. Any other public comment or I'm sorry, public comment on this item is seeing none. Let me go back let me go back to the council on the other council. Then let's go ahead and do the roll call vote by. I'm sorry, is there is there a comment, by the way, that a comment from Councilor Mongo or. Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 0: Go ahead. Speaker 1: Sorry to interject myself here. You know, one of the biggest issues that we had with his ordinance right from the beginning was that it was our belief. My belief that it was for the structure, poorly written. They're not really as comprehensive as WWF. From what I'm hearing now is that if we were to adopt this ordinance, it would take us that much longer to reach a middle ground that would be acceptable to everybody. I don't see that happening. I think that this ordinance still has issues we still need to work on. Any of that is in fact what we want to do with the passage of WW. I think we have a good ordinance there that we can abide by. While it might be a good thing for the this this ordinance to pass to deal with the hotel, hoteliers that are 49 rooms and under is still not it's not as comprehensive as we had been arguing for for the last year. So just to let you know that I'm not supportive of it and that's where I want to. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you, Councilmember Councilwoman Price. Speaker 8: Thank you. And I appreciate Councilman Randy's comments. I do want to take a moment to thank and appreciate the work of Linda Vu, the attorney who helped draft this ordinance. I completely disagree with Councilman Arango regarding whether it was poorly or properly drafted. I think it was drafted very well. And ironically, much of the language was exactly the same as WW. So a big thanks to the city attorney's office for ensuring that there was consistency and synergy on the public policy piece. I want to make sure that our city staff gets the recognition they deserve for doing the work that we've asked them to do, even if we don't agree with the premise of what they were asked to do. Thank you. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. I do have a broader question, Mr. City Attorney. Maybe this is to the city manager. It's just more of a compliance question. I know that, you know, regardless of the outcome tonight and if this passes and then the broader question about all the hotels, including the smaller ones, is do we have a strategy on the compliance side? I think there is some compliance language in the law in the broader WW language. And can you just speak to that? I've had some questions about that. Speaker 11: Yes. Maybe the WWE does have a self help, basically section and enforcement mechanism. This would be fall under city staff through code enforcement and business license to enforce the provisions of this if there are violations by the hotels. And we can do that through administrative lines, through citations. And so that's how this ordinance would be affected. Speaker 0: But as far as WWE is concerned, though, isn't there also a compliance piece that the the city is responsible for in the larger measure, or am I wrong? Speaker 11: Currently there is is not. It does allow the city to consider adopting rules and regulations to if necessary. That's one thing after the implementation. If if, you know, we get down the road and have some experience with this and we believe that there's additional measures that the city needs to take to make sure that the hotels are complying with it. The city has the council has that ability to do so. Speaker 0: Okay. Well, thank you. Let me go back, Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 8: Thank you. So I just want to be clear as well that we will move this if this should pass and move forward, then if there is interest in create. So we. So basically we would have to create another agenda item versus just making the amendment tonight, but yet we would still be on the same timeline. Speaker 11: The timeline would slip a little bit, right. Because if if it passes this evening, the process of it becoming effective begins in the 31 days. Clock would begin probably tomorrow. The if there's another agenda item to now modify what is adopted this evening, we would make those changes. It would come back for a first reading, a second reading on the amendment, and then the 31 days would start. So I don't have a calendar in front of me, but if we depending on when this proposed amendments come, if there's a three identified, they'd be pretty quick too for us to be able to return that back to council. Speaker 8: And I know I can't predict the future. On what would happen if we move forward with another agenda item. But I just think that to have amendments now seems like it would be a little bit more expedient versus waiting for an agenda item. Hopefully it passes and then waiting some more time to get that implementation done. So I just wanted to be clear on that. Okay. Thank you very much. I too think that although we had a city staff member who generously provided language for this item, we appreciate that certainly very much. I do also think that there were components missing relative to the W.W. item, and I, too, am glad that voters certainly decided overwhelmingly about that item. So thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 4: Just just one additional thing. So I think and I liked that the conversation got really narrowed to just what's the difference between, you know, this and WW and what I'd like to see. So we move forward with this ordinance tonight. But what I actually see is just a very brief to form for that just outlines the differently the to to help support the crafting of what the amendments are. Because really we're talking about two or three very narrow changes that make that aligns it with. WW The differences between this ordinance and WW. Speaker 11: I think pertaining. Speaker 4: To the public safety. Speaker 11: If you're only talking about. Yes, there is the other provision of the work search. Speaker 4: Yes, yeah. Without talking about that piece, just talking about the safety side, I'm really interested in how they're like seeing the language or how they're different. So can we have just the two front four come back just talking about the differences in those two. Speaker 11: Yes. Speaker 4: Okay, Councilwoman, you go with that. The memo. Okay. So you set that friendly. Thank you. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. See no other comments and no other comments from the outside. Location. Madam Clerk, please call the room. Speaker 3: Councilwoman Gonzalez. Councilmember Pierce. Councilwoman Price. Councilmember. Super Now. Councilwoman Mongo. Vice Mayor. Andre. Councilmember. Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson. Did we hear from. Speaker 0: I think that was everyone but Councilman Mongo. Speaker 3: Councilwoman Mongo. Speaker 0: I. Oh, there she goes. Speaker 1: I better say that. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you very much. Motion carries. Moving on to the next item, 32.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amend the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Chapter 5.54 relating to hotel worker safety precautions, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_11132018_18-0972

Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you very much. Motion carries. Moving on to the next item, 32. Speaker 3: Communication from Councilman Austin, Chair, State Legislature Committee recommendation to approve the 2019 state legislative agenda as recommended by the State Legislation Committee. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Austin. Speaker 6: Yes, I'd like to turn it over to staff for staff report. Speaker 11: Diana Chang. Speaker 9: They are members of the City Council. Thank you for considering the proposed 2018. Speaker 8: State legislative agenda this evening. This document. Speaker 9: Is foundational to the work that the city conducts in Sacramento, advocating. Speaker 8: For and against state legislative proposals impacting lawmakers, municipal authority over land use revenues, programs. Speaker 9: And services as a part of the process to bring that item tonight. Speaker 8: The 2018 state legislative agenda was circulated to all city departments, including. Speaker 9: Harbor and Water. Speaker 8: For their review and input on staff's recommended changes. The State Legislative Committee met to review these changes. Speaker 9: On October. Speaker 8: 23rd and also recommended a few changes of their own. To summarize, Staff. Speaker 9: Is recommending the. Speaker 8: Following changes to the 2019 state legislative agenda. Speaker 9: We're recommending support for economic development consistent with our economic development blueprint, which was also. Speaker 8: In the 2018 legislative agenda. We're recommending the recognition of ongoing development and implementation of state and local cannabis laws and regulations. We're recommending to continue support for partnerships with our local educational institutes where we have mutual interests. We're also recommending to continue supporting a sustainable and livable city through funding for complete street transportation initiatives, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and opportunities for funding to support affordable housing and staff is also recommending, in addition to that, a 419 state legislative agenda that adds language to highlight the city's opposition to legislation that would reduce the city's local land use authority, which is essential to providing housing as well as facilitating healthy communities. At the State Legislative Committee. Last month, the committee recommended to Ford Staff's recommended changes through the council's consideration tonight, as well as a few recommendations of their own. These include support for LGBT owned businesses where appropriate and the agenda support for streamlining the eminent domain process for motel acquisition. If the property owner agrees to utilizing the streamline process, if and only if the acquisition is for homeless, supportive or transitional or affordable housing. Support for policies and legislation that provides the city with tax increment for affordable housing and public infrastructure, benefiting affordable housing, and of course, support for policies, legislation, and grants that support the attainment of seismic complaints that community hospital. As you may be aware, there was an election last week. We will begin the 2019 state legislative session on January 7th with a new governor and several new members of the state legislature. One which is delegation will remain the same with the exception of the third Senate District, which will be vacant of Sarah. Lara is elected to state insurance commissioner. While the vote has not been certified yet, he is in the lead. The 2019 state legislative agenda, which is before you tonight, is an important document from which we will draw from to introduce the city's legislative priorities for the coming year to the state legislature. And with that, I am available for questions. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Austin. Speaker 6: Thank you. And I want to thank Ms.. Ting for her work and her staff. Our teams work to a to prepare this agenda, working with all of our city staff, but most importantly with the state led committee, the vice chair Gonzalez and Councilmember Richardson. I know we look forward to engaging with the legislature over the course of the next several months to impact legislation and to have input on legislation that that impacts our city. I think we've done a pretty good job with our our lobbyist up in Sacramento, but also with our our government relations team. So with that, I would ask for your support of the proposed let's say let's agenda. Speaker 10: But Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 8: Next. Speaker 10: Excuse me, gentlemen. Speaker 4: Thank you, Vice Mayor. Just wanted to chime in as a newest member of the state pledge team. Do we have? Yeah, we got one. As the newest member of the state ledge team wanted to say, I'm really excited to be a part of this, and it's a good agenda. And you know, we were able to integrate a few things on the first run. Good stuff. You know, the talk about bringing back some form or streamlining some form of redevelopment in our city, you know, new governor or fed legend, I know it's a part of his priority. So our agenda should reflect that and a number of other things, you know, with our state lead. Scuse me, I've been Fiddler's chair for a while. It's hard to make the transition a big, big difference between the Fed, feds and the state right now. Big, big difference. But ah, but a lot of good things here and I see a lot of good opportunity for us and and thanks a lot. Good agenda I supported. Speaker 10: By now Councilwoman Gonzales. Speaker 8: Yes. Thank you so much to Diana and my colleagues on the state legislative committee. I'm glad that we were able to add LGBT owned businesses, the Fair Education Act and support for environmental protections. I do have an item coming next week, but since we are formalizing the state legislative agenda, I did want to include the following support policies and legislation that are that are transgender, inclusive, and oppose efforts to remove or to redefine support and or funding for the transgender community. So I'd like to add that and. If I can get a friendly amendment from the, uh, approved from the king maker of the motion, can you. Speaker 6: Can you repeat that? I'm sorry. Speaker 8: Yes. I'd like to add support policies and legislation that are transgender, inclusive, and oppose efforts to remove or redefine support and or funding for the transgender community. Speaker 6: Okay. I'm fine with that. Speaker 9: Thank you. Speaker 8: And thank you for your work. Speaker 0: Okay. Thank you. Any public comment on this item? CNN. Please go ahead and do a roll call vote. Speaker 3: Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilmember Pierce, Councilwoman Price, Councilmember Super Councilwoman Mongo. Councilwoman Mongo. Speaker 1: She told you that these were would only get I. Speaker 3: Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson. Yeah. Councilmember Austin? Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 9: Excuse me. Speaker 0: Thank you. Motion carries 34.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to respectfully request City Council approval of the 2019 State Legislative Agenda as recommended by the State Legislation Committee.

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LongBeachCC_11132018_18-1017

Speaker 3: Councilwoman Gonzales. Councilmember Pierce. Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilmember Durango. Hi, Councilman Austin. Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 0: Thank you. Item 41. Can I get a motion in a second, please? Speaker 1: Well. Speaker 0: Okay. There's a motion in a second to get a second place. Can I get a pub? Is there any public comment on this item? Seen to a public comment. 41. The roll call, please, actually, is that comes from Gonzales. Yes. Actually, it doesn't appear to. You want to say something or no. Speaker 8: Go ahead. Speaker 9: Yes. I just wanted to add two questions. And I guess we don't need to go into the staff report getting that feeling. We don't want staff reports at this moment. Will Sharpe be taking the current devices in and accumulating? Those are what's going to happen with the devices. Speaker 11: I'm going to turn that over to our tech representatives, Danielle Mitchell and Leah Erikson. Speaker 9: Council member Piers Sharp will be is is will be buying out the existing leases, the existing devices, and replacing them with new technology. And that would be pursuant to the council letter and will be coordinated with each department in conjunction with an analysis of each department's management services needs. Can you go ahead and give a very brief staff report? Oh, sure. Speaker 0: Staff reporter, please. Sure. Speaker 9: Honorable Mayor members, before you, is it a recommendation to award a contract to Sharpe Business Services Systems to provide managed print services and an annual amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for a period of five years, with the option to renew for two additional one year periods. Management services are services offered by print providers that manage all aspects of an organization's business printing devices. This includes a needs assessment, selection, or general placement of printers, scanners, faxes, copiers in the service parts and supplies needed in order to operate the new and existing and or existing hardware. And by optimizing these devices, organizations save money, produce less paper waste and increase efficiency. The city released a request for proposals for managed print services to ensure compliance with purchasing policies and to implement a single source vendor. Having one vendor will simplify device and infrastructure support, streamlined device selection for departments and result in cost savings for the committee or for the city. A selection committee representing the diverse business needs of the city evaluated the firms on the criteria stated in the RFP. Department of Representative representatives were from department firm Development Services, Library Services, Police, Public Works and Technology Innovation. The committee used a consistent evaluation methodology to thoroughly evaluate each vendor solution based on the criteria. The evaluation included review of the written, technical and narrative proposals, in-person interviews and demonstrations of the devices. Additional onsite testing of the devices. Clear clarifications from the top two proposals and a review of the top two proposals. References based on the information provided. A cost analysis of the proposals was also performed and reviewed after this thorough review and evaluation process. The Committee determined that the proposal from Sharp was the most responsive to the terms of the RFP and will provide the best value for the city. Sharpe's proposal represented the highest level of cost savings from the current contracts, and Sharpe has a proven track record of working with public agencies similar to or larger than Long Beach. The new agreement with Sharp will also include defined service level agreements around service response times and consistent data reporting. The new sharp devices also have a number of unique and new features. Examples include scanning and converting documents to various applications like Word or PowerPoint printing and scanning from cloud storage applications like Microsoft, OneDrive or SharePoint. SharePoint. Wireless Printing. Walk Up Motion Sensing to save electricity. A customizable 10.1 inch color display and a built in retractable keyboard for faster data input. Sharp will also be participating in the buyout of existing printing device leases, which will replace a significant portion of the city's printing device fleet. And Sharp will work with the Technology and Innovation Department to perform the pre implementation analysis of department needs to develop this final change management plan. Sharp will fund to the city an amount needed to cover all agreed early termination charges for devices replaced. The city would then use those funds to pay those Xerox and Cronica payoff invoices. It is estimated that this will result in reduced cost to the city sooner as more expensive contracts are terminated or taken over. The executions of these groups will. Agreements will authorize Sharpe as a designated vendor for managed print services for city departments for a five year period. This contract does include replacement of the current multifunction devices copiers, printers and scanner devices. These costs are borne by departments will use existing appropriation for their managed print service needs. Is anticipated that once the contract with Sharpe is fully implemented, there will be a potential cost savings of 300,000 annually citywide due to the reduced cost structure of this new managed print services vendor to allow the existing agreements for management services to either be phased out over time or be bought out and to cover the estimated cost until the new Sharpe contract is executed. Increases to existing blanket purchase orders are necessary so this council at or also includes an increase for Xerox of 998,492 and an increase of four Konerko of $218,043, along with an appropriation increase of 1.2 million in the General Services Fund in the Technology and Innovation Department, offset by funding from Sharpe for early termination charges. With that, I conclude my report and I'm happy to take any questions. Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilor appears. Speaker 9: I thank you for that report. I know that changing vendors was a big decision, and I know that when I talked to staff, they talked about what a great service Xerox was. And I want to thank you guys for the work and thank you for informing us on why that decision was made. Speaker 0: Thank you. Any public comment on this scene on road companies? Speaker 3: Councilwoman Gonzales. Councilmember Pierce. Vice Mayor Andrews. Councilman. Rear Unger. Councilman Austin, Councilmember Richardson.

Contract

Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP TI18-048 and award a contract to Sharp Electronics Corporation (Sharp), dba Sharp Business Systems, of Santee, CA, to provide managed print services, in an annual amount not to exceed $1,000,000, for a period of five years, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments; Authorize City Manager, or designee, to increase Blanket Purchase Orders (BPO) Nos. BPTS13000020 with Xerox Corporation by $998,492, for a total amount not to exceed $2,373,492, and BPTS16000044 with Konica Minolta by $218,043, for a total amount not to exceed $858,146, to continue providing multi-function devices, maintenance, and supplies, and extend the term of the BPOs to December 31, 2020; and Increase appropriations in the General Fund Services (IS 385) in the Technology and Innovation Department (TI) by $1,216,535, offset by funding from Sharp. (Citywide)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_10232018_18-0962

Speaker 0: All right. Oh. Okay, now you guys are going to move on. I'm going to move up in I because in fact, I do have to leave in a few minutes because I'll move up to item 40 and can we please read that I didn't put. Yes. Now I'm going to go back because I have to leave. Can I move that up? Speaker 13: Unless. Objection of the council. Yes, the chair can move the calendar. Speaker 0: Okay. The projection. Okay. Please come up. Item number 40, she believes item. Speaker 2: Item follows communication from city attorney. Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code relating to hotel worker safety precautions. Read the first time and later What to do next. Regular meeting of the City Council for Final Reading Citywide. Speaker 6: Yes. Speaker 0: We have a member first instance. Could I have a second, please? Fine. Okay. Yesterday. Any comments on this item? Public comment. Speaker 7: I wanted to make a few changes to the proposed ordinance, if that's possible. Speaker 0: Public can you want? Well, we'll let you go, that's for sure. Speaker 7: That way they can comment on the proposed budget. Speaker 0: For that purpose. Thank you. Speaker 7: Very much. So there's just a few clarifying changes I would like to make, and I'm asking that through the process of inter delineation that we make the following changes on page one, subsection f. Hotel employer means a person who owns controls and or operates a hotel in the city of Long Beach and ask that everything after the word beach be deleted as not necessary. Under on page two. Item 5.54.030. Subsection A. I would ask that we add on the first section there, a hotel employer shall provide a panic button to each hotel employee assigned to work in a guest room without other employees present. Regardless of job classification and at no cost to the hotel employee, it is recognized that b I would like to add it is recognized that because of the varying size and physical layout of each hotel, different devices may be appropriate for different hotels. And then to resume the rest of the paragraph under sub b. I'd like to add, after the hotel, employer must allow guests room doors to be left open during cleaning. I'd like to add nothing herein shall prevent a hotel employee from voluntarily electing to keep a guest. Speaker 6: Room door closed. Speaker 7: During cleaning as the hotel employee sees fit. Under item B sub two a I'd like to add. After the word behavior for the duration of any continued occupancy by the person at the hotel. Under Section 5.54.040. On page two of three, I'd like to remove the word immediately. The chapter shall be brought into full compliance with provisions of this chapter. And I'd like to add, not later than six months following the effective date of this chapter, to allow compliance by hotels of all sizes. Those were my only changes. Speaker 0: Thank you. Speaker 7: So with that, thank you. Vice Mayor. Yes. Speaker 0: Councilwoman Margo. No comment. Okay, Count Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 5: Can we is there public comment that we. Speaker 0: Can get when we go into that? Okay, fine. Could we have public comment on this item? You want to come and speak on it? Speaker 1: Be. Speaker 12: Good evening. My name is Gary Hetrick. I reside in the fourth district and I do have a few comments. I've actually got a letter on behalf of the Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs and Healthy Community that I'd like to read into the record. I'm also on the steering committee of the Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs and Healthy Community. Community, excuse me, Honorable Vice Mayor, members of the City Council, Long Beach, City Attorney Charles Park. And on. Speaker 4: September 4th, our council members Pierce. Speaker 12: Mungo Andrew Super. Now, Austin brought forward an item that directed the city attorney to draft a similar ordinance to measure WW, slated to be on the Long Beach November 2018 ballot. That includes a request for hotels to have safety panic buttons, but similarly ignores working conditions of workers by not limiting the square footage assigned to hotel workers . We believe this creates a conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act. We have submitted a formal request to the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practice Commission for further investigation and clarification regarding the Long Beach City Council. Item 8-0797 and its conflict of interests with the Long Beach Council item Agenda Item Resolution 8-0118. We believe that this undermines the efforts and hard work of major WW proponents 46,000 plus voters and residents of the city of Long Beach. We are clear that these efforts are put forth to confuse voters to the advantage of hoteliers and opposition to the measure. Additionally, it should be noted that these same five council members who were the same ones who opposed similar previous motions brought forward in the past year advocating for these safety measures. It was made clear to us that we could not count on our city council to protect Long Beach hotel workers due to this measure. WW As set forth on August 17, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution 18 Dash 0118 for the placement of Measure WW on the November 2018 ballot measure. WW, if approved by the voters, would require a hotel in the city of Long Beach. Of 50 or more rooms to supply hotel employees who work in guest rooms without hotel employees. Present with an electronic contact contact device for summoning unseen assistants and reporting threatening conduct absent from tonight's proposed ordinance. However, our measure WW provisions that hotels and business lobbying groups disagree with most venomously. The proposed ordinance does not include a proposed excuse me a provision requiring hotels to post a notice in guest rooms, advising guests that hotel employees have panic buttons and are protected under the law. The proposed ordinance does not include protections against inhumane workloads or mandatory overtime. The proposed ordinance does not include robust enforcement and anti retaliation provisions that major WW does. Again, we believe this creates a conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act with grave concern. The Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs and a Healthy Community. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you very much. The aim of public comment on this item. And we move back to the diocese. Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 5: Yes. Thank you. So I still have the same concerns as I did last time relative to timing the process. I spoke with Charlie today about legal implications that we had talked about. And you'd met and I was on the in the understanding that when we had brought this when this was brought forward last time, that we would receive a two from four some sort of memo that would talk whether it was no legal implications or legal implications, that it would at least address that question prior to this coming back. So can you address that city attorney? Speaker 13: After our conversation, I'm been able to watch the entire tape because it went on for quite a bit of time. But at some point, 7 hours and 42 minutes into the meeting, you had raised those questions. But the only report that was requested back at that time was the Economic Analysis Report. I believe we had asked about the Political Reform Act, and I had indicated I had just received the proposed ordinance on the Friday before and had not done any research on it. But I, I didn't know that there was a request for a two from four and I didn't see that in the in looking at that. And I asked Linda in my office to also look at the tape. If we missed that, I apologize. But we did not provide it to from four. We did do the legal research. We do not believe that this proposal before you this evening is any way illegal or that the council is prohibited from moving forward. If it wishes to do that tonight, it does not violate the Political Reform Act. We did receive one letter from the law firm Democrat and Stamper and Hillsborough. We had two different conference calls with them, with their research analysts, their general counsel, and their outside counsel on September 7th and on September 19th, where we discussed in detail their letter and why we did not believe that it supported the conclusion that the Council could not move forward with that. So we did our own research on this and we believe that it is if both measures, if this is adopted and WW is adopted by the voters, they can coexist. It does not conflict if one passes and the other doesn't. Obviously then the other one could go forward. So with that said, we believe that if council wishes to move forward with this ordinance this evening, they can do so. Speaker 5: Okay. Thank you. So I would like to I'm still I have a lot of questions. And I think another major topic that was brought forward was outreach to the motels that I don't believe has been done. I've connected with a few motels in my district and they've not even heard of this ordinance whatsoever. And so with that said, I'd like to make a motion for a substitute motion for a received file of this and for us to get additional information back, whether that's the legal implications in a two from four and then maybe even I'd like to hear from my colleagues as to what they'd like to do in terms of the business outreach and then even a fiscal impact study on this, as we talked about. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Pearce. Speaker 1: Mm hmm. Speaker 8: Yes, I think I still have the same concerns. As we previously had. I think that I did outreach to my businesses as well and received an email today that said that there had been no outreach done. So I'm curious from city manager, you know, as we stated the first time this came up, we did four years of outreach with big hotels that are very different from hotels of 50 rooms or less. And I feel very uncomfortable with continuing to move forward with an ordinance not, you know, a study, but an ordinance today that would dictate something for those hotels. 50 rooms are lost. So can somebody clarify where we're at with that community process? Speaker 3: I'm. Speaker 9: I'm not sure that we were directed to do a committee process that the staff level for hotels under 50. Speaker 8: We had about a 30 minute conversation about it last time. Speaker 0: I don't recall. Speaker 8: I mean, I support the substitute motion on the floor. I think my position stands the same as previously. You know, approving of this ordinance today. I'm not comfortable with the fact that there's an OPC, you know, request for investigation on this. I'm not comfortable with the fact that our vote has already been used to politicize something that's on WW, which is what we said would happen. There's already a mail piece that's out there that's paid for by the chamber that's trying to interfere with something. It is not appropriate for us to be voting on this before the election. I'm all for waiting and getting some more information and engaging with constituents and businesses. I think that that is the responsible thing as elected officials to do. So I support this substitute motion. Speaker 0: Thank you very much, Councilman Richardson, please. Speaker 11: Thank you. Thank you, Vice Mayor. So so we had a long back and forth about the process and not what we landed on was that this will come back after we conduct the public outreach. And I believe it was Councilwoman Mango's motion. And I, I, I offered a friendly to say no outreach during the election period, simply so that, you know, simply so that we maintain the integrity of the election that was happening. And then Councilwoman Mongo accepted that friendly and then I went back and watched the earlier today and that's exactly what happened. So, Mr. City attorney what what how did how is this in front of us today? Speaker 13: Council member and members of the Council. I do not recall the direction to do public outreach prior to bring this back. There was a discussion with the mayor myself on that. This may come back. They were asked within 30 days and my recollection was there was discussion and I think John Keisler was talking about the study, the economic impact of that study and how whether they would be studying hotels with only 50 rooms or more. And I believe he said in the tape that the study may have some hotels in it with less than 50 rooms. So some of that impact analysis may be applicable. May not? I, I don't recall, but I do not recall any direction from the council that prior to bringing this ordinance back, that some sort of outreach and report be presented to the city council. That to me, that wasn't clear in the motion and on the vote. Five oh to bring this back to city council. Speaker 11: So there was a bit of comment or back and forth about how long it would take you to bring this back. I believe he said something like, you know, 6 to 8 weeks it would take to bring this back. Then we had a conversation about we had a conversation about outreach and a number of councilmembers expressed their concern about, hey, this is very different than WWE because it impacts a lot of smaller businesses. And in general, I don't think people would have a problem with, hey, if this is the direction the voters want to go or the council wants to go. Sure, implement it citywide. But we should have a conversation with small businesses. And a lot of questions were raised about just, frankly, the political nature of this, given that there's an election, you know, two weeks from now with Major WW And already I received over the weekend a mail piece stating that the city council already has an ordinance on panic buttons. So this is the timing of this is exactly what we talked about. Political. It's political. And if we really want to do it, this is a sin. Since a sincere effort, then what we should do is do what the motion what my understanding of the motion was, and we can talk about that offline again. But my understanding was we are going to do outreach to the small businesses and we were going to begin the outreach after the election has come and gone and so and so and so that would be my sub so that we go back to what the original Y understanding was and if that wasn't what was what the motion was, if I misunderstood, if I have a misunderstanding, then that's what I would offer to the full council today that no, I don't think that we should receive a file. I think there's a lot of merit to the proposal, but it should happen after we've conducted outreach and that outreach should be in after the election period. And when I and to be more specific outreach to and there are there are groups that represent these smaller motels I know because they engaged with us when we initially talked about cracking down on nuisance motels. And so there are groups of stakeholders that probably we know who they are because we're engaging on the conversation with the motels right now. So we should engage with those groups in small and maybe talk with the different council members about the smaller motels in their district about implementation plans. I think in general, in general, it may not take a very long time if we're already engaged in these people to say here's our rollout plan. But I think it should be I think we should do everything we can to be sincere about moving this forward without any appearance of this being politically motivated whatsoever. And I am not making any implications to any city attorney, anybody on the council. I just think in an election season, that's when people are going to people going too soon. So my substitute substitute motion here is that we pick this up with outreach after the election period, a period of outreach to the small businesses. And then we bring that back and allow that to inform the crafting of this ordinance and bring that back to city council after that process has been concluded. And so that's my substitution. Speaker 0: Danny in 1/2. Okay, fine. Yes, Councilman, you may know. Speaker 12: Vice mayor, many of the concerns that were raised during the first discussion of this really raised eyebrows, especially in the sense of that this was item was being fast tracked. It was presented as a supplemental item or a holiday. And then we discuss it on a Tuesday following the supplemental introduction of this item. There was a lot of discussion, as the city attorney pointed out, there was a seven hour discussion that went into well into the morning and a lot of things were probably missed. And I don't blame either the city manager or the city attorney for probably missing some of those points that were made by Councilmembers Gonzales and Pierce in regards to doing outreach and getting a24 from Memo to the Council regarding some other background and some other discussions that we had that evening. It was a long night. And certainly reviewing the the video, you know, 7 hours, 7 hours the same. It's a full day of employment. So it's it very easily I could see where we could miss that. Or a lot of the questions that I had then are still not answered. And this is incomplete staff work as I as as I see it. And it's not complete. It's still had to work to be done. I support the motion currently on the floor because we do need to wait and we do. This has been totally, completely politicized. Like we didn't want it to be in the first place. And yet here we are and there's probably some more hit pieces out there talking about the city. You know Mr. Good. Mean the the problem is is that when you put a part of an item on supplemental. It's it's supposed to be something that's going to be well looked at. It's going to be studied. It's going to be properly reviewed and presented. And this item was not. And so I my position stands and I will be supporting the substitute item. Speaker 0: Thank you, Congressman Young Councilman Austin. Speaker 10: Thank you very much, Mr. Vice Mayor. I'll keep my comments brief. As I know we have been going back and forth and debating this particular issue for now, well over a year. And this council and many members of this council have come under serious criticism from various organizations for not moving quick enough on this. I don't necessarily see this as a politicized issue. I'm going to be very quick when I do see it. It has been politicized. But in terms of this ordinance, this ordinance, I think reflects the will of this entire council, and that is to provide greater protections to the women in the hotel industry. And whether or not what happens on a ballot in a couple of weeks, this issue will provide an assurance that greater protections will will happen for for women who work in hotels, for any employees who work in our hotels in the city of Long Beach. And so I don't think I want to support the substitute motions. And for that reason, I won't. But I do have a question for the the the maker here Councilmember Price you in one of your your amendments to your original motion you struck the word from 5.54040. Any hotel containing 50 or more guests were suites rooms operating under existing business license. On the effective date of this chapter shall immediately be brought into full compliance with the chapter. You changed that to six months. Can you explain why? Speaker 7: Sure. I did that to be consistent with our desire to have outreach, similar to what we did with the Styrofoam ban to give smaller businesses or hotels the opportunity to win, get educated, and then figure out because the cost is going to have to be borne by the motel. So they'll have to figure out what the costs are going to be an address to the ordinance. So that was the point of it to roll out implementation for the motels. Speaker 10: So it was actually to do the outreach that's being recommended. Speaker 7: Yes, because we don't currently have an ordinance to outreach to them on. But once we do, we'll have they'll have six months to get into compliance with the requirement that they have panic buttons and they'll have to evaluate what the fiscal impact is going to be for their own business, depending on the number of employees they have , that it's a broader category than just housekeepers pursuant to the amendment. Speaker 10: Okay. Well, thank you for that clarification. I was concerned about the shift from immediately to six months, but understanding the reasoning and then hearing comments from our colleagues, I think that makes good sense. Speaker 0: Congresswoman Press? Speaker 8: Yes. Could the city attorney read the changes again? I was trying to find the ordinance. You were making changes? There were a number of them. Speaker 13: Yes, I can. The the first changes in 5.54.020 definitions and subsection F and the new language reads as follows Hotel employer. That means a person who owns controls and or operates a hotel in the city of Long Beach, period. The remainder of that definition is stricken. The next change is found at 5.54030. Subsection A After the first sentence, a new sentence is added that reads It is recognized that because of varying size and physical layout of each hotel comma, different devices may be appropriate for different hotels, period. The next change is added at 5.54030. Paragraph B, subsection one. A new sentence is added. Nothing here in shall prevent a hotel employee from voluntarily electing to keep a guest room door closed during cleaning as the hotel employee sees fit. The next change is in that same section at paragraph two. Small a at the end of that sentence, they add the language for the duration of any continued occupancy by the person at the hotel. Subsection 5.54040 Application to existing hotels. That first sentence strikes the word immediately and adds so that it reads I'm sorry. So that it reads any hotel containing 50 or more guest rooms or rooms operating under the existing business license on the effective date of this chapter shall be brought into compliance for compliance with the provisions of this chapter not later than six months following the effective date of this chapter. And that would conclude those reports. I would add that on that last change, if WW were to pass, as a number of people have said here, WW would take precedent over this ordinance. So anything that is in WW or is more restrictive as to the 50 or more hotels, that would be the applicable law as to the 50 or more hotels. Speaker 8: Okay. Those I think those are my questions right now. Speaker 0: All right. Thank you, counsel. Come to us and you through our council. Okay, Councilman. Speaker 11: Okay, Mr. Attorney, going back to. So if we have a conflict that I believe one thing was voted on, but what was presented is something very different. What is what is the process to resolve that conflict? Speaker 13: The you could do a motion at the evening of the meeting where the vote was five. Oh, you could have done a motion to reconsider that matter. No, I mean, that time has passed. Speaker 11: If the process let me be more clear, if the process that I believe was voted on, if there's a conflict on how we interpret what happened, is there a path or a process to reconcile that? Speaker 13: You could do a motion to rescind the previous action by the city council to reflect any changes the item and and or when you approve the minutes from that previous council meeting you could say that there's an error in the minutes or there was an error in the in the in the minutes as prepared. And you could do a motion to rescind the previous action by the city council and clarify it. Or you could clarify if you believe it was an error in the minutes of what was actually voted on. You could have that could be clarified at that time. Speaker 11: And that we are here today. Speaker 13: There's nothing you could you could put an item on the agenda to do to rescind the action taken on September 4th, or, as you've done in a subject, one of the substitute motions to receive and file this current item. And at that point, you're free to start again. You really haven't taken any action on the ordinance itself. Speaker 11: Hmm. So really, there's no path beyond relitigating the conversation through re agenda, izing a motion to rescind that action. If we believe that what you have interpreted and what you've prepared is not consistent with the path that I thought the council voted on. So that's the only path to reconcile it? Speaker 13: That's correct. It's a policy decision for the council that if what we brought before you and what you have before you this evening is not what you asked for, then you can vote to send us back, to change it, to receive and file it to do whatever it is you'd like to do that. Speaker 11: Next question is there. So in crafting this ordinance, was this done internally or was this was this was a consultant hired on this? How was this crafted? Speaker 13: This was done by one of the attorneys in my office. Okay. Speaker 11: So it was crafted internally. Was any language in this ordinance lifted from the ordinances on the ballot? Speaker 13: The answer to that is yes. We tried to, in the definitions and in the body of the language, to look at the proposed measure that is on the ballot, so that in the event that both of these passed, we could be consistent with our interpretation and and with the operation of it. Speaker 1: Okay. Speaker 11: Was has industry at all at any level of the industry? Have they been consulted on this? Speaker 13: We have had conversations with, yes, hotel representatives. And as I mentioned earlier, individuals from Unite here and their law firm. Speaker 11: So. So. And when did that outreach take place? Speaker 13: As I indicated, we got a we received a letter from the law firm. The date of the letter is. September 12th. And on September we had a meeting with them on actually September 7th before their letter. And on September 19th after their letter. Speaker 11: Okay. So September 12th and September 19th. And then this was crafted in those subsequent weeks, obviously to be be placed on the agenda. So this was had to be completed and then go through a review process and and then the noticing to go on the agenda. Right. Speaker 13: That's correct. We because of the meeting was dark last week. It probably would have been ready for last week, but we weren't ready before that time. Speaker 11: Okay. So this was drafted in about two weeks then. If we were we spoke with them about a month ago. This was drafted in two weeks. Speaker 13: Yeah. The ordinance had been drafted and was being reviewed. Yes. Speaker 0: Okay. Speaker 11: So how long does it normally take to craft ordinances of its nature? Speaker 13: That's impossible to answer. Tell me what the ordinance the marijuana ordinance took as years. Other ordinances take us a week. Speaker 11: Yeah. I mean, this is like lightning speed. I mean, I've never seen an ordinance. And this. Speaker 13: This ordinance is almost. Speaker 11: Every council meeting. Speaker 13: And this ordinance isn't that complicated. And it's four pages. Speaker 11: Yeah, well, I don't know. I think, you know, we worked on a motel ordinance for human trafficking and conversions and all that, and it's been it's been well over a year, and I haven't seen an ordinance come back. It just it just seems to me that this came came it was developed fairly quickly. And I really wonder what the urgency was, because I didn't hear any motion, anything, any language in the motion that said expedite. Speaker 13: Actually, there was conversation during the meeting between the mayor and there was an expectation that this would come back within 30 days. And I was saying I didn't know whether we could do it within 30 days. It's now 49 days after the request to prepare. Speaker 11: So there was also conversation about waiting until we had outreach done after the election cycle. So how do we determine which comments we include and how we consider what we receive from the council and which comments we don't? Speaker 13: The comments that were made, if they're not part of the motion, they remain comments and questions unless there is a direct request for that to be included or to be part of the motion. So while there was, as I think Councilmember Urunga mentioned, there was extended discussion on this item. I believe at the end of the day, the motion that passed five zero was to bring this back and there was no at least I wasn't aware and I wouldn't be doing the outreach study anyway, but I didn't hear that as part of the motion. And if I missed it, I apologize. But I certainly did not hear that. Speaker 11: You have a copy of the motion. Is that available? Speaker 13: Yes, it was a second substitute motion was made by Councilmember Mongeau, seconded by Councilmember Price to approve the recommendation as amended with a one year implementation period and remove recommendation for the motion carried by the following vote. Price. Supernormal Mungo Andrews and Austin. Yes. Absent Gonzales, Pierce, Suranga and Richardson. Speaker 11: So there was so there was no no direction in that motion to expedite it and have it done in two weeks then. Speaker 13: I just read the motion. Speaker 4: Okay. Okay. Speaker 11: Right. And then so in terms of in terms of the ordinance that's here and then what's going on the ballot in November in general, would you say that it's better or worse to have a little bit more time to see what the rules of the lay of the land or the law of the land is? If that if that happens in two weeks, we know with the law of the land. Is this the process you prefer to move forward? You know, in general is our city attorney is our elected city attorney. I would like for you to have a you know, a position on how you'd prefer our laws of our city to be created. And it just seems that this has been rushed a bit. And I just wonder if you didn't have direction from the council to expedite. Is this what you prefer to do? Speaker 13: There's a lot of things probably I don't prefer to do, but this isn't this isn't this isn't political on my part. I was asked to prepare a motion. I an ordinance. I prepare the ordinance and brought it back if if there's the will of the council to adopt it. The timing of that is I'm not going to play games on the clock. If it's ready, I bring it back. If I could point out that one of the motions made that evening, but then there was a second substitute motion. The substitute motion was to spend 60 days doing outreach, feasibility study for hotels under 50 rooms and request city attorney to use language currently in WWE and apply it to hotels under 50 rooms. That motion was made by Pearce, Councilmember Pearce and seconded by Councilmember Urunga. That motion failed. The substitute substitute motion was what was passed. So there was no request for outreach in the substitute substitute. Speaker 11: Okay. And so my next question. Councilwoman Price, is there a copy of all those editions? There were. I tried with my highlighter when he read them off to try to keep up, but they came out pretty quick. Is there a copy, though, somewhere? No. The amendment? Yeah. Is there. Is it written anywhere? I'd like to. Okay. So I'm going to say I'm sorry I missed I missed probably the first few. So unless you want to like. Maybe we go through them again. I'd like to actually. Speaker 7: Share that always some additional time. Why not? Speaker 1: Okay. All right. Well. Speaker 7: Then you can tell us some stories. Anything. Let's do it. Speaker 1: All right. Speaker 11: Okay. So what was the first one? Speaker 7: I think the question would be directed to the city of Fallujah. Speaker 11: And what was the first one? The first I missed like the first three when you read them on. Speaker 13: The first change that I have in. Is that under section 5.54020 definitions, paragraph F Hotel employer. The new language will read Hotel Employer means a person who owns controls and or operator of a hotel in the city of Long Beach, period. The remainder of that definition to be stricken. Speaker 11: Why was it why? Why was it included and why was it stricken? Was the impetus for that? Speaker 13: I have no idea. He'll have to ask the maker of the motion. Speaker 11: Miss Price. Speaker 7: I'm sorry. Councilman Richardson. You cannot ask me questions as if I am your witness in a case that's not pursuant to Robert's Rules of Order. It is, if you'd like to vote, if. Speaker 11: The chair would like to allow it. Okay, so I'm going to ask you to. Speaker 7: Vote against it if you don't understand it. Speaker 11: Well, I'd have an opportunity to discuss it if the counts will be reasonable enough for us to have some time to actually deal with this. But we have to deal with it tonight. We're going to go through that grueling process of dealing with it tonight. All right. So so what it said was hotel employer means anyone who owns controls and operates a hotel in the city of Long Beach. But it struck out or a person who owns controls or operates any contract leased or sublet premises in connect to or operated injunction with the hotel's purpose or person, other than that hotel employee who provides services at that hotel. That seems like a lot of legal clarification. And what I don't want to do is strike it. If that somehow creates a loophole for people to somehow say that this doesn't apply to me as a hotel employer. So maybe, maybe, maybe one way to go about this is why was that extra language included? Mr. City Attorney. Speaker 13: That language was included to include subcontractors, and it's similar, if not identical, to the language that is in W.W.. Speaker 11: Okay. So that that's language that came from WWE. Okay. Could it be in a situation where there's that would create a conflict between WWE on this if both of them passed? Speaker 13: No. Speaker 4: Okay. All right. Speaker 11: What was the next one? Speaker 13: The next added a sentence and per in subsection 5.540300. Paragraph A. After the first sentence, the sentence that is added reads as follows. It is recognized that because of varying size and physical layout of each hotel comma, different devices may be appropriate for different hotels, period. Speaker 11: So what will be the impact legally from adding that line? What does that what does that mean? I mean, some. So that doesn't need to be the same panic button, same device at each hotel. Speaker 13: That's correct. That there would be some ability for the hotels to have whatever is appropriate for the different size and layout. So may have something more akin to a radio that wouldn't be applicable in other hotels. Speaker 11: Right. Makes sense. So. Okay. That's good. What's the next one? Speaker 13: The next one is in the same section, paragraph bb1 adds the sentence. Nothing here in show prevent a hotel employee from voluntarily electing to keep a guest room door closed during cleaning as the hotel employee sees fit. Speaker 11: Okay. And. And that seems like it makes sense to me. I just wonder if this was some of the if this was motivated by any of the input from the the outreach or I just wonder if it if this is like informed by a hotel employees experience or is it the hotel employers preference? I'm just curious. That's not something you can answer. Speaker 13: That's correct. But my interpretation of that is it does provide some flexibility for the hotel employee. If this is a room where there's it's directly accessible to the outside and they felt safer keeping a close, this would allow them to do it. Speaker 11: Okay. So and and what was the next. I believe I have the next one. Can you remind me what the next one was? Speaker 13: Yes. The next one is in the same section, paragraph two. So A and that's since they're adding language at the end of that sentence to say for after or threatening behavior for the duration of any continued occupancy by the person at the hotel. Further clarifying how long they could be reassigned. Speaker 11: Understood. Understood. Okay. And so and now a question for you about implementation. So this goes to a first reading than a second reading and then the process of improvement. What is your understanding on that process of implementation? Because you said in the last motion there was a year. Process. What does that actually look like? Speaker 13: Well, I think there's two questions in there. The first is, is that if this were to pass this evening, you would have the first reading. The next reading would occur at your next regularly scheduled council meeting, which I believe is in two weeks. And then 31 days after the mayor signs it, the ordinance would go into effect at that time based upon the change in language in 5.5 for the hotels, 50 or more would be brought into compliance. They would have six months to come into compliance with the effective date of the chapter, and those hotel rooms with 50 or less rooms would have up to 12 months to come into compliance with this ordinance. Speaker 4: Okay. All right. Speaker 11: I understand that, but I'd like to amend my my motion to say that, like a like a two from four in addition to this, that outlines what that implementation looks like. And I'd like to understand if there is an opportunity to because we're going to be doing work with with nuisance motels in the city. Is there an opportunity to find some efficiencies in how we conduct outreach to the small to the small, you know, small operators? Because if we're telling them, hey, we have a vision for what a modern motel looks like in our city, it should be consistent with our safety standards. I consider this a safety standard as well as all of our nuisance abatement, anti-human trafficking standards, all those things we're already engaging on so well. So what would be the proper way to do that? Should we just include it in the motion to include a two from four? Or is there some additional work that needs to be done to make sure that those efforts are aligned in some way? Speaker 13: Yes, I think you could request the city manager, whoever this will be assigned to for implementation of this ordinance, would then be charged with notification and letting these folks know that this new law has been passed by the Council and business license could do outreach and and discussions with them. And I think they already do so. And there's the task force that talks about the hotel issues that you mentioned. Speaker 11: Who who would take the would which department would take the lead on this outreach. Speaker 13: So if this is a change in operation of a business, this would likely be a notification from business licensing as to a change in status. Speaker 1: Okay. Speaker 11: Understood. And the last thing I'll say is it seems like the motion in front of us, it seems like the motion in front of us says that we vote on this tonight. And then in two weeks we have the second reading and then a month for the mayor to to sign it. And then the outreach would be would begin. Speaker 13: And I'm sorry, correction. The motion that's before me right now is a substitute substitute on the floor. Speaker 11: I understand. And then the substitute substitute would say essentially that that process would just be pushed back for two weeks. So they're relatively the same, with the exception of what I just added about outlining that process. So so frankly, they seem very similar to me. So they seem very similar to me. The motions now they've been explained. Speaker 1: Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you. Next, please, Councilwoman Rice. Speaker 8: Okay, thank you. Councilmember Richardson and I do it while you read me the the changes. I do appreciate some of the questions that were asked. And it reminded me of some of the other questions that I wanted to follow through on. It looks like by reading the ordinance that it does include subcontractor workers. Is that correct? Speaker 13: City attorney does not at this time as amended. Speaker 8: Okay. And I know I'm not putting you on trial, Councilmember Price, but I do want to ask if there's a reason for not including subcontracted workers, because we know that that is a very large percentage of employees in the hotel industry. Speaker 7: I think I've made my amendments clear. Thank you. Speaker 8: Okay. So I will just note that many hotels in our city use subcontracted workers for entire departments, sometimes housekeeping. And so while we could pass this and we could pat ourselves on the back and say we passed something, if a hotel has an entire department that has subcontracted housekeepers, like many of the hotels in the city, we are actually not doing what we will say we will do. This also does not include the retaliation part. Is that correct? Speaker 13: City Attorney That is correct. Speaker 8: Okay. So I will be brief in saying that we can arm our housekeepers with panic buttons, but if they use them and they get retaliated against, they are no use to them. One of the conversations that we have had many times is Why do women not speak out? Why do women not break their silence? Why do housekeepers not go to their bosses and is because they do not have protection from retaliation? And that is something we have seen in our hotels in the city. So, again, we can pass this ordinance tonight, but if there's not a protection for retaliation, we are not doing our housekeepers any good. I have two other questions, particularly around public records request. What's the city's policy on Paris? What's the timeline that we typically get those back? Speaker 0: So each period is different. Speaker 13: The statutory requirement is that we respond within ten days of whether or not there are documents to produce. We had the ability to ask for an extension to determine whether or not there are documents that are available to produce, and then the peer statute says you have a reasonable amount of time to produce those. So some things go very quickly. If it's an easily identified document, we find it, we tell them we have it, and we sometimes produce it all within those ten days. Some praise take us months and months and months, if not years, to produce over a year, probably not several years, but at least over 12 months sometimes. Speaker 8: If not years, 12 months. Can you give me an example of a PR that would take 12 months if it's a PR about emails? Speaker 13: We got asked for any and all documents one time related to litigation on anything dealing with PCBs that the city has ever done and any water and and any data we have back to the 1930. So that took over a year, I'm guessing. So something along those lines. Speaker 8: So a letter came into my. To my attention that there was a PR done on September 7th in regards to this item with entities related to the Long Beach Area, Chamber of Commerce staff, affiliates or agents including but not limited to attorneys. Long Beach Police Department and Affiliates. California Hotel and Lodging Association. Its staff. Affiliates or agents including but not limited to attorneys. Long Beach Hospitality Alliance. Its top affiliates or agents including but not limited to attorneys. Any third party. Any members of a Long Beach City staff, including city manager's office, city attorney's office and city clerk's office. How long do you think it will take for us to get that PR back before the people that requested this? Speaker 13: I don't really have an estimate on time. So we get about 3500 press requests a year, and so staff do as best as we can to respond to each one of those periods. Some are quick, some take longer. I don't have an estimate on that one. I'm not aware of that one. Speaker 6: Okay. Speaker 8: So I think that my points that I wanted to make tonight before this vote happened was that I do feel unlike some of my council colleagues that this is political and the fact that the timing is not being negotiated at all, the fact that we're not adding third parties that are in there is political. The fact that there is not a retaliation clause is political. And I would love to know if in between the last time this council item came forward and now if we've had any conversations with the lobbyist or businesses that represent hotels of 15, 50 rooms or more as a an opportunity for them to use this. So it's very you know, I had hoped that reason would have allowed us to have this conversation after the election so that we could all feel better and we can make that clear to our constituents. And it's just pretty disheartening that we can't come together as a council to do something as simple as wait two weeks. Speaker 0: Thank you. Comes from New England. Speaker 12: Thank you, Mayor. At the beginning of this item here, the councilmember from the third district made some amendments to this ordinance. In the past, when we talked about amendments to any ordinances that would basically restart the clock. That is not the case in this situation here. Speaker 13: I'm sorry. I didn't. I'm sorry. Speaker 12: In prior discussions with about ordinances, when we have an ordinance brought me before us either for our first or second reading and there were additions or changes made to that ordinance, it would basically trigger a restart or re discussion or new a new amendment coming in to the city council with these amended motions or changes to an ordinance. I don't hear that happening here. Is there a reason for that? Speaker 13: Yes, Councilmember. And you are correct. When there is a substantive change that the public would not be aware of, then we would say that you have to start the clock over, start first, reading again. The item this evening and the changes, as I understand them, are in early delineations and changes to the language that exist so that the public is on notice of every said. There's no new sections being added. They're not changing the overall sections. They've changed some timing. But we believe these changes could be made this evening and you could have first reading this evening if the council so desires. Speaker 12: Okay, so if today's a first reading, then they will come back to the city council at at a later date for a final adoption. Speaker 13: Who would come back for second reading? I believe it's the 13th. The workload dark next week and dark on the Tuesday for the election, so that following Tuesday it would come back to the council for second reading. Speaker 12: So if we still had some concerns on the 13th about this ordinance, as there is worry with the changes and the amendments that are there, can we still introduce other concerns that we might want to add or make other changes to the ordinance at that time? Speaker 13: Yes, absolutely. Speaker 12: Okay. All right. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Gonzalez. Speaker 5: Yes. The impact analysis, it is dated October 11th. And can we can someone walk through that? Because although it's it's discussing the hotel ordinance that is on the ballot, I think it's pertinent to this discussion overall because it it goes over the impact analysis economically for us here in Long Beach and then also goes through methodology. And so I'd like us to just sort of walk through that a bit and in our findings and all of that because it just came to us in a two from four version. Speaker 13: Well, I will do my best. So we if you remember, the city council requested to do a impact analysis and that the scope of which was sort of spelled out here on the council floor. And we did our best to implement that through a group called Bay Economics. It's somebody we have used in the past, as we have looked particularly about any hotel incentives to be able to bring high scale hotels into our city. And so the city council asked for it to be done in about 30 days. That was at its August 7th meeting. We reported back at that 30 day mark about where we were and quickly engaged by it ended up taking us about. Speaker 4: 60 days to do. Speaker 13: That was for the methodology. It was really turned over to Bay. We gave them the scope of work. They interviewed a number of stakeholders from large hotels, small hotels, medium hotels. It was really focused. Speaker 3: On the measure. Speaker 13: It wasn't focused on this particular item, but rather on the initiative ordinance that was brought to us to both understand the the scope of it, the financial impact primarily to the city. In order to understand that financial impact, we needed to understand the impact of the various provisions on the hotels themselves. I concluded that some of the provisions would have very little impact or no impact, and it has financial conclusions which were very difficult to put into real dollars, especially in the short term, but did have some conclusions about the potential impact on hotels that have not yet decided to be constructed in Long Beach. They're under the entitlement phase but have not pulled the trigger to actually begin construction. It interviewed some of the, you know, samples, and there were confidential interviews of small, medium and large hotels, as well as the CVB, as well as Unite Here for to be able to get labor perspective. And finally, it looked at various other similar ordinances that were done in other cities to try to understand their experience of the implementation of the ordinance. And then that entirety of the report was presented to you and the public on October 11th via memo. Speaker 5: Okay. Thank you. I appreciate you going over that a little bit. Okay. So with that and this is my main issue with this is that we we don't even have obviously WWE on the ballot. We didn't even have an ordinance that came back and we did a study which I think is fine. We did that. It was very in-depth. It was a third party and now we have this motel ordinance in front of us with absolutely no study. No information, no economics. We don't know. No business outreach and different from the polystyrene. And I will make that distinction. We did do outreach with polystyrene. In fact, myself, I went with my office to every single business improvement district to talk about polystyrene. So there's a difference in that. In addition, and I want to ask our city attorney this question when when the when the polystyrene styrene ordinance came before us, I believe there were a few amendments that were to be made. I think that was on timing. And you had mentioned that it would start over the clock. So are you saying now the amendments made by council member. Price would not start the clock over. Speaker 1: I. Speaker 13: If I recall correctly. Speaker 5: Seems very there seemed very stark to not do that. Speaker 13: If I recall correctly. I don't know what changes you're referring to on the polystyrene, so I don't have that in front of me. These changes and why we don't think they start the clock is it's it gives the hotels more time rather than less time. So it is it from that perspective, they have additional time to do that so that it's more favorable to the. Speaker 5: And we did that with polystyrene as well. Speaker 13: And I believe that I'm not sure what we do with polystyrene. I don't have it for me. Speaker 5: So it was a I believe at one and it was a we I think we had like a one year period and then we moved it to 18 months. And that started. You said that. We would have to start over the clock. Is that what I'm getting? Speaker 13: I don't recall. I have to go back and look at the minutes from that meeting. Speaker 5: Okay. So you're just saying now. So I just. So I'm clear. We're not starting over. She's going to go in first reading. Whatever happens tonight, they will move forward. Speaker 13: That's correct. That this if the council approves this this evening, this would be first reading. Second reading would be November 13th. Additional changes could be made there that could start the clock over if additional changes are substantive and then depending on how the council decides to vote. Speaker 5: Okay. I think everything else has been mentioned. The last thing I will just continue to to harp on is the just impact analysis. And I don't know if there's been any thought about that. Knowing that this is going to be a major impact, whatever happens. On the election with the election or even aside from that? Okay. I had one other just clarification, because we didn't take a two thirds vote to rearrange this agenda item. Correct. Speaker 13: It doesn't require a two thirds vote to rearrange the agenda item. Speaker 5: I thought it did because. Speaker 13: This does not take the council and the chair can change the agenda unless and I mentioned this prior to the start of this, unless there is objection from the council hearing. None. He moved it forward. If there is objection and it's a motion in second and a simple majority can move this forward. Speaker 5: Okay. Well, I didn't hear him call any. Point of order in that sense. Okay. Well, I think those are all of my questions. I think on the substitute substitute. I heard that. Thank you. Appreciate that. On the substitute substitute motion, I certainly will support that, given the additional amendments that Councilmember Richardson included. And we will go from there. Thank you. Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Austin. Speaker 10: I have nothing. I'm ready to vote. Speaker 0: Let's call for the vote. So who vote? I ask to come comments before. Speaker 13: Public comment has already been asked for. Speaker 0: Yes, it's already been asked for. Speaker 10: On the substantive surface to substance. Speaker 13: This vote is on the substitute substitute motion to write requested to from for in the implementation to outreach to small businesses and bring back after the election. Speaker 11: Point of order is it since this a different motion than the main motion? Does it require new public comment. Speaker 13: Or does not question? Speaker 0: Okay. Speaker 1: All right. Speaker 0: Don't try. Speaker 3: That's right. We just spent 5 hours. Speaker 4: On shaky. Speaker 0: Vote. Speaker 2: Motion. Motion feels. Speaker 1: Good. Speaker 13: But the next vote would be on the substitute motion to receive and file. Speaker 2: Cosby, Bill Richardson. Motion fails for five. Speaker 13: We are now on the main motion as amended by the Council member from the third District. Speaker 11: QUESTION Cannot an amendment to this is there? Is that appropriate? Speaker 13: Not at this time. Speaker 11: We've friendly member. It's not. Speaker 13: Appropriate. You could certainly ask for a friendly amendment and. Speaker 11: They have the option saying yes or no. Right. Speaker 13: That's correct. Speaker 11: I'd like to offer a friendly amendment that we still get the outline to the council, the two from form, what the implementation looks like and and ways that we can integrate both. The Nuisance Motel ordinance outreach efforts with this effort. Speaker 7: I declined that at this time, but I look forward to having that come back as an agenda item on its own at a future meeting. Speaker 11: All right. Speaker 0: And we're voting on the name of. Of up voting on the main issue. Speaker 1: It kills. Speaker 2: Me when. Speaker 10: A word. Really? Are you allowed to abstain? Speaker 13: There should be a basis for the abstention. Speaker 1: You know. Yeah. Speaker 10: Took the point of order. Speaker 1: Okay. Speaker 0: It passed. We move on now. Speaker 1: No. Speaker 2: Motion carries five zero. Speaker 0: Thank you. Now we'll start our hearing now. So the presentations. Speaker 10: Coming to the. Speaker 1: Commission, please.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amend the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Chapter 5.54 relating to hotel worker safety precautions, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_10232018_18-0948

Speaker 0: 27. Okay, fine. We'll move up. Number 27. Speaker 1: Please read the item. Speaker 2: Item 27 is a communication from the Mira Garcia recommendation to confirm charter commission appointment by the Personnel and Civil Service Committee. Speaker 0: Any public plan in place? Excuse. No further comment. We don't have any. What about. Speaker 10: The chair of the Personnel Select Service Committee that you. Speaker 1: Might. Speaker 0: Choose that Bernie? Julian, would you please come up? Just we just want to call you up and just let you know that you've been appointed, that's all. And you want to come down to a few words. Speaker 1: Just let us say a few words. Yeah. We love you. Yes. Speaker 7: Thank you. I look forward to serving my city. Speaker 1: Yes. Yeah. Speaker 0: Thank you. This is my recommendation. Thank you very much. Okay. Could you please have your. Speaker 1: Okay. Speaker 10: I just want to congratulate John for her appointment to the Civil Service Commission. It's a very big, big deal. It's a charter commission with great responsibility in the city. And I know you're up to it, so congratulations. Speaker 2: Councilmember Price. Bush and Kerry's six zero. Speaker 1: It's. Speaker 5: The basement. Speaker 1: He can.

Appointment

Recommendation to receive a Charter Commission appointment pursuant to Section 509 of the City Charter and Section 2.03.065 of the Long Beach Municipal Code.

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LongBeachCC_10232018_18-0924

Speaker 10: Okay. First of all, I'd like to call Harry number one. Speaker 2: Hitting item one is a report from economic development recommendations to receive supporting documentation into the record. Conclude the public hearing and Adobe resolution. Continuing the East Anaheim Street BID's Parking and business improvement area assessment and authorize city manager to act to extend the agreement with the Safe Area Business Association for one year term District three and four staff report. Speaker 13: Yes, we will have a staff presentation by Eric Romero, our project manager. Speaker 4: Honorable City Council members. This item is the annual approval of the East Anaheim Street Parking and Business Improvement Area Annual Ongoing Assessment. The city contracts with the Zafira Business Association to promote business activity and market the East Anaheim Street commercial area, using funds generated through the assessment of businesses located in the East Anaheim Street Parking and business improvement area. To continue the assessment state law requires that a public hearing be held on the proposed program and assessment. On October 2nd, 2018, the City Council approved a resolution granting approval of the annual report and set today's date for the public hearing staff request. The City Council received the supporting documentation into the record, approve the resolution, continue the assessment and authorize the city manager to extend the agreement for one additional year. That concludes my report. Speaker 10: Okay. Council member super or not. Speaker 3: I stand in support and I'd like to go to public comment. Speaker 10: Okay. Any public comment on this item? Speaker 7: I stand in support to go Zakaria. Speaker 4: I was going to call you. Speaker 7: There are awesome. Speaker 10: I'll say this is a public comment on the item before us, which is a renewal for the Business Improvement District. Speaker 6: Please say hello to the council members. Hi, Mayor. My name is Latoya Marshall. I am currently a homeless person who has been homeless for two years and it just like astonish me that I could just sit at there and make jokes about stuff. Y'all waste our time sitting up here. King George is Marshall the size of a way. Excuse me. Now this building. Excuse me. I'm talking. I need you to talk about this building. Right. I understand you have a right to my opinion. Speaker 10: This is not about the building. Speaker 6: You said the parking and everything else. Zone is Anaheim, right? Speaker 10: Okay, so if you can stick to the point. Speaker 6: I know I am making a point. Speaker 10: Thank you. Speaker 6: My point is, you guys are constantly building up buildings, parking everything else. But you guys have not made no buildings for low income. Anything that is helping the community stay doing these restaurants that is closing down right when they open up. Now you need parking and in half the time people are parking in the parking stars that they have for those apartment buildings are these units. The units are built saying that they're low income housing. Then after they're done, they're condos. So what is really going on? When are the council members really going to start telling the community their true and where this money or funding is going? Because I'm not seeing anything done. They're supposed to be doing yard work, 2 hours to not come up with nothing. And now we're talking about parking. We didn't even get to no public comment, no nothing. We don't push everything up on calendar like people ain't got nothing to do. Now I'm homeless. I've been homeless for two years. And now y'all got these elections coming up. I hope everybody is removed from my seat. Speaker 10: Thank you for your comments. Any further public comment on this particular item? Here? None. Please cast your vote on the motion.

Resolution

Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and adopt resolution continuing the East Anaheim Street Parking and Business Improvement Area assessment for the period of October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to extend the agreement with the Zaferia Business Association for a one-year term. (Districts 3,4)

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Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 10: Next up is here in item number two. Speaker 2: Hearing item to report from economic development recommendations, receive supporting documentation into the record. Conclude the public hearing and Adobe resolution continuing the Bixby notes parking and Business Improvement Area Assessment and authorize city manager to extend the agreement with the Bixby Nose Business Improvement Associations for a one year term District seven and eight. Speaker 13: We have a short staff report from Eric Romero. Speaker 10: Thank you. Speaker 4: Honorable City Councilmembers. This item is the annual approval of the Bixby Knolls Parking and Business Improvement Area Annual Ongoing Assessment. The city contracts with the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association to promote business activity and market Bixby Knolls commercial areas using funds generated assessment of businesses located in the Bixby Knolls Parking and Business Improvement Area to continue the assessment state law requires that a public hearing be held on the proposed program. An Assessment. On October 9th, 2018, the City Council approved a resolution granting approval of the annual report and set today's date for the public hearing. Staff request the City Council receive a supporting documentation into the record. Approve the resolution, continue the assessment, and authorize the city manager to extend the agreement for one additional year. That concludes my staff report. Speaker 10: Thank you for the staff report. Is there any public comment on this renewal? Harry Nunn. I motioned into support of this. Obviously, the Bixby North Business Improvement District is located both in the eighth and seventh districts, and they do a great job of promoting economic development in the uptown community of Bixby Knolls. And there's a lot of excitement going on. I will say that that, you know, I just want to want to put put everyone on alert that, you know, much of the funding for the Bixby A is done through redevelopment, former redevelopment funding, and that that funding is going to be expiring. And so I talked to the city manager. I'm talking to economic development. We're looking for strategies to make sure that, you know, those lost revenues are not lost revenues. And we were creative with continuing the the the the Renaissance and the success of the Bixby Knolls community. And so I ask for your support for this item, but also ask for your continued work staff to ensure the success of the business district. Councilmember Urunga. Speaker 1: Thank you. Speaker 12: What do I call you? Substitute me, says the future. Thank you, Councilmember Austin. Yeah, I totally agree with your assessment that was going on. And although I might have a small portion of the Bixby area still, it's it's growing, it's thriving, it's becoming very dynamic and certainly support this. But also aware that moneys are running out. And we do have to look at creative ways to ensure that it stays at that same level as we move forward. Thank you. Speaker 10: Though hearing no further comment, please cast your votes on the recommendation. Speaker 2: Motion carries eight to.

Resolution

Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and adopt resolution continuing the Bixby Knolls Parking and Business Improvement Area assessment for the period of October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to extend the agreement with the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association for a one-year term. (Districts 7,8)

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Speaker 10: I want to acknowledge all the representatives from the Port of Long Beach. We have the H.R. director and finance director and another director. Thank you for being here this evening. Moving on to the next item, I'd like to take item number 28. Yeah. Speaker 2: Item 28 is a communication from council members who panel recommendation to request the mayor, city manager, city clerk and city attorney to review best practices for streamlining city council meetings to report back on their findings within 90 days. Speaker 10: Okay. There's a motion on the floor. Mr.. Council Member Supernova. Speaker 3: Thank you. Keeping in the spirit of this agenda item, my comments will be brief, concise and streamlined. I'll just read part of the discussion for those of you who can't see it. And that is in over the past year, one third of our council meetings lasted six and a half hours or more, concluding at 11:30 p.m. or later. Discussion of important public business in the late hours of long meetings diminishes public participation. So what this item does is it? Asks the mayor, the city manager, city clerk and city attorney to examine best practices for streamlining meetings by concerning what other municipalities or government entities have implemented. This may include, but is not limited to setting a meeting curfew, tracking time and setting time limits for council members. Comments adding structure to the public comment process, receiving staff reports prior to the meeting and closer adherence to parliamentary procedures. And we also have a guideline. It's part of our city charter for how these meetings are conducted. And in fact, that is number 2.03.0440. The order of business and item be their list at the rules of parliamentary practice contained in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Council. Also, just so you know that the things we do the Council meeting, for instance, I'll just take an example of the moment of silence that's dictated by this document. So in order to remove that, not that it saves a lot of time, I think that would save 10 seconds per council meeting. Symbolically, it might be great to remove, but it is required by by the order of business. So with that, I would encourage my colleagues to support this. And thank you. Speaker 10: Councilmember Michael. Speaker 6: I look forward to the opportunity to hear the stuff, recommendations and the community's input on opportunities. I know that many of my constituents feel frustrated when they come to council meetings, and the item that they're looking to speak on isn't heard until 1130 at night. They oftentimes go home and we often have agenda items that impact young people, and those agenda items aren't heard until we pass their bedtime. And I think that there are opportunities for us to be more transparent and to ensure that when the community wants to engage, that it's done in a meaningful way at an hour that is reasonable for the community. So I look forward to hearing the options. Speaker 10: Thank you, Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 8: I yes, thank you. And I think Councilmember Super and offer this item. I agree that our council meetings are very long. I think a couple of things that I would like to to highlight as one definitely understanding, you know, the process with Robert roles that all of us on this council, including city clerk and city attorney, that we're all under the same understandings and process and making sure that we try to keep our agendas in the same format as they're presented publicly. I also really like the point that was noted around making sure that we have reports earlier. I know that that might be a little difficult for some of us, but being able to have those reports early where we're able to digest them, ask questions on Monday and Tuesday, instead of actually being presented at council with a report, it's difficult sometimes to digest them while also engaging in a debate about it and then being required to vote on it that same time. I, you know, like today we had some hearings, I think, exploring options. For us to have hearings moved up earlier than 5:00 would be a great option. I know that some conversations have been held behind the dais around supporting the committee process. If we do have that conversation around supporting more items going to committee, I would ask that staff also provide us with a report on each committee and how the city has been represented on those committees. For example, bossy. How many people from the seventh District have served as chair on the bossy for how many years? And making sure that we're able to, if we implement a committee process, that we're making sure that it's equitable across the entire city. But I think that this is a great option for us to recognize that we are a big city of half a million people and we take on big items. And it's time for us to really address how we run our meetings and how we make sure that they're accessible to everybody. And I realize that that is a difficult conversation to have after what we just went through, but I think it is an important conversation. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you. Yes. Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 11: Thank you, Councilman Austin. So. So, first of all, Councilman Super I think you're right on that. We need to have this conversation. And, you know, having participated in council meetings have been someone who's somewhat been a little long winded at times. I'll say I think there is more that we can do, but I think we do need to acknowledge that the count, the purpose of the council meetings and the structure that we have them, the purpose is for the public and it's the public's opportunity to see us at work and and for them to engage in this process . And so we need to always keep in mind the community that we have and the fact that we, you know, that the great majority of our community is working families and they work and they don't get home a lot of time. A lot of times we don't work in Los Angeles and we have traffic in Los Angeles. A lot of people do not get home until, you know, 7:00. My wife, she works in L.A. and she gets home every day around 630. People pick up kids and all those things. And so I think we need to make sure that we keep keep our families, our working families in mind as we talk about as we have this conversation. Then if I think about was your statistics 7 hours, seven a half hour or something like that per meeting was seven a half. Councilmember. Speaker 3: Well, no, I'm violating Robert's rules if I answer that question directly so that the whole point here is we have a structure to these meetings. Speaker 11: Yeah. The time it took you to. Speaker 3: Say so, my point about adhering to Robert Robert's rules is that these the it gets conversational. That takes up time. The time is written in the document. Speaker 11: I see. I think sometimes the best public policy takes place when people have an exchange. And I don't want to sacrifice quality policy with with. But it's fine if you don't want to answer the question. But I thought I heard was seven one half hours. If we have if we can't if we have the last meeting of the month cancel and we have three meetings. So that's 22 and a half hours that we typically use on average to get through the amount of work that it takes to get to get through them out the body of work in one month. 22 and a half hours on average. So if it's 22 and a half hours, one way that we can you know, one strategy is to spread out the work a little bit. Right. There's nothing that precludes us from having the fourth that fourth Tuesday of the month or having that last Tuesday, the month having a council meeting there. So I want to make sure that we as we have this conversation, we keep that on the table as well. Do I want to sacrifice another Tuesday? No. I know that we have a lot to do. I know that, you know, this is this is, you know, a working council. I understand that. But the reality is there's only so many so much in terms of pie. So either we grow the pie or we slice of the pie and give people less. And what I don't want to do is give less to the public unless it's a way that's vetted out and they have a part and a part in that process. The other thing I would say, the consideration I would just give the staff is I know the motion says to include city attorney, city clerk and city manager and the mayor. I think we should include the public in some way in this conversation. So the motion as it is, doesn't preclude us from doing additional outreach. But I think we should figure out a method to engage the public in this conversation if we want to buy in. And then in times in terms of sort of timing, I think it makes sense. And, you know, I've had this conversation with the mayor. I think it makes sense to go ahead and try to have this process wrapped up, wrapped up by the time we move into the new city hall, because that's a good opportunity for first, you know, have a hit the reset button and start fresh and just have one standard as move into the new city hall. So those are some my thoughts and a thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you. I'll just take this opportunity to just be brief. Understanding the spirit of this item and what it would council member supervisor seeking to accomplish. I certainly support it. I think, you know, we need to be looking to become more efficient with the public's business before as we we do the public business here. During the city council meetings, our meetings do run long on. And there's probably many reasons why that that that is happening. But there's one great thing about this city, I think, that distinguishes us from many other cities, and that is our robust public participation process. And I don't want to do anything to damage that. I think we have more civic participation, more. I mean, our council meetings are packed week after week after week. And so. But I do like the idea of looking at other public agencies and how meetings are run. For example, in L.A. County, I know for the county it's run much differently. The city of L.A., other, larger, larger public agencies that don't have as much public participation, but still are managed and or comparable amount of public participation, but they manage to still run meetings efficiently. And so I'm completely in favor of this. And I think the larger conversation, the conversation that we will have in terms of getting it to the meeting, this is when this item comes back from staff with recommendations. So I'm happy to support. Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 8: Thank you. I forgot to mention, I'm not sure if everybody has this letter yet or not, but there was a letter that I received today in support of this item, just asking for a couple of recommendations. I believe this is a small group of local organizations Cal State, Long Beach, Legal Aid Lane, Long Beach, Forward and Walk , Long Beach. That all want to be a part of the process as well in exploring how we can make our council meetings more streamlined, but also ensuring that there's maintaining community engagement in the process. So I just wanted to mention that and say that I hope that that report, when you bring it back, has included conversations with these organizations. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you. Councilmember Super Supernova. Speaker 3: Okay. Just a point of clarification. The agenda item asked city staff to look at this. Any member of the public can submit anything anytime over the next 90 days. If anyone would like to Google streamlining council meetings, there's a good starting point. You can look at what other municipalities have done. It was mentioned moving into the new facility. I think Palo Alto. One municipality was considering a timer clock for council comment. So that would be a piece of hardware that would be mounted on the wall. I assume, you know, like an NBA 24/2 clock as the councilmember speaks. So those types of things we'd like city staff to explore, but I don't want to. The item doesn't preclude anyone from the public sending a memo to my office or anywhere else or to any of these entities here. The one point about it was mentioned, the letter we received today, I think it was at 2:05 p.m., so it was kind of late. We started with a closed session today at four that mentioned additional council meetings or as I mentioned here on the dais was we have so many hours of work to do, so let's look at other meetings. I think that's counterintuitive. If you if you look at the option of adding meetings, you're not going to work on efficiency of existing meetings. And that's the focus of this item, is to look how we can streamline the existing meeting structure and not we're look at best practices, but the item does not include adding additional meetings. And thank you. Speaker 10: Next up, we have Councilmember Urunga, then Mongo, then Gonzalez, and then we'll go to public comment. Speaker 12: Thank you. Got to remember us, too. This is sort of deja vu all over again because many years ago, the reason we have the meetings where we have them now and the structure we have right now is because of the concerns raised by the community in terms of the city council not being accessible about transparency. Meetings were held during the day starting at 2:00 in the afternoon with hearings and committee meetings and and then starting the council meeting that at four, I think it was two or three in the afternoon. So we are here because of the review that was done before and this this this meeting that we have now a result of that. However, I am supportive of the fact that we should revisit where we're at. I mean, I can see time now to look at our efficiencies as we are currently so that we can make even more refinements. But I think that anything that pushes meetings out or adds meetings or makes them even earlier to where the public is not going to have access to these meetings, I think would be, as you said, counter-intuitive. So let's keep that in mind as we move forward with this and looking forward to what the what results. Speaker 10: Councilmember Gonzalez. Speaker 5: Yes, thanks for bringing this forward. Council Member Super. And I think it's a great item. Anything we can do to be more efficient. So a couple things that have not been mentioned is I'd like us to just think about in this research the the preplanning of holidays and days that we remove off of the the council calendar just because, you know, there's a lot that we're like, for instance, after the budget, we usually have a day off Thanksgiving, Christmas, so perhaps we could be a little bit more strategic and in how we're removing those off the council calendar. Of course, we don't want to be here during Christmas or Thanksgiving, but the days surrounding that would be something to think about. And the only reason I think that the the group had put together an extra day like Dark Tuesday and I had to explain this to council member super not is because we have additional duties. So many of us are on committees, state, federal legislative housing committees, etc. study sessions that we have, charter amendments that we're going to do, a study session, etc., etc., etc.. And so that may be a good opportunity for us to use the Dark Tuesday for those specific meetings. So that's one thing I'll mention. Other than that, I think this is great and I look forward to it coming back. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you, Councilmember Longo. Speaker 6: Thank you. So just to kind of align with Councilmember Austin, I'm sorry, Councilmember Richardson's comments on the previous agenda item, there's always a lot of input from council members and that's great. But unless it's a component of the friendly amendment of what's being considered, I, I just wanted to kind of throw that in there. And so while I appreciate the idea of a stop clock, I always appreciate staff's responses. But I know that kind of a component of a stop clock is also if I ask a question, how long does it take staff to respond? And that can be a part of the whole dialog. And so one of the other components could be perhaps a number of questions before reviewing. And I really appreciate the Dark Tuesday because when big items are coming, it's a way for community meetings to happen and for us to talk with the community. And it's often difficult to get these chambers, as Councilman Gonzales said, for our committee meetings and our structures where we have the public coming in. And so I know that in looking to offer opportunities, it's great that anyone can come and speak for 3 minutes at the dais, but to have a real dialog with the community, there have to be dates for that. And one of the other dates that I would comment on is I know Councilmember Durango and I consistently want to be able to be able to be out in the community for neighborhood night out. Our communities consistently ask us to be there. It's a time when they have the ability to ask questions that are already gathering. It's a national day, but yet every single year we have to struggle to either get it on an agenda and by then it's too late, or when we want to ask for it, we're not sure what the agenda might be and if there would be something time sensitive. And so I really appreciate this agenda item. And I think Councilmember Suber not for his step forward on this. Speaker 10: Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 11: Thank you. So just a few more thoughts. So one, I think another way. So if we say there's only so much PI, if it's 22 hours on average, we spend on and through three meetings we do have. And thank you for bringing it up. The committees. The committees. I mean, we should take a real review at the committees. Which committees are not like how much work is on the docket in committees, how much stuff, how many people don't call or utilizar committees when they should? Right. And if people utilize those committees, maybe they've set out some of their ideas. Or if we created the process that if there's a fiscal impact, it has a committee review first. It could it could potentially vet out some of the some of this work. So the council meetings are more are are less of a proving ground for new ideas, but rather we use it to to improve things. So that's something we could we could think about. Additionally, I'd like to just have a little more specificity on how we how we plan to engage the community. So and I'm going to pose this the city staff since apparently. Well, first, let me ask, is there is it against Robert's rules or order any any process to for us to speak to the maker of the motion or ask for clarity or anything, and. Speaker 13: You're supposed to go through the chair. So you're not under rubber rules. You're supposed to ask the chair, and then it goes to the member of the committee. If you're not if the chair doesn't do that. Okay. Yeah. Speaker 11: So I'm going to ask city staff. So how would we I just want to and I don't want to belabor this, but I do want some clarity before I cast the vote today. How would we plan on actually getting input from the public on this before we make a decision? Speaker 13: Well, as the motion stands right now, we would do what staff would normally do, which is do some research. We would bring back a report and then that community input would really happen at the council stage. So we would certainly take community input. We would be providing a menu of options and some recommendations. If you wanted to amend the motion to actually include a robust public outreach method, it could be anything from, you know, just having it will collect input from anybody or we'll have a survey or we could go out and do full blown meetings. So I think the more work you do, the longer the item would take. Speaker 11: Sure. And and I think moving into the new building give us gives us roughly a year or a bit less. I would offer a friendly than that. We and I don't want to belabor it, but I want to actually have a meeting. I would like a meeting. And you should be inclusive of those those individuals who submitted the letter, as well as common cause because they've consulted our city before on good governance measures just to see if there's any ideas that the when the first time the council sees it, any good ideas that are out there. I like the conversations about I like one idea, for example, that when you submit an agenda item. Excuse me, Councilmember. I just want to be able to speak clearly, make sure my ideas were recorded. So, you know, like, one idea I think is good is when an agenda item is placed on the agenda, there's a time request on how much time you're requesting for, for debate. I've seen other agendas do that, and it actually allows you to sort of predict how much time you're going to spend on it. Then the council gets to make a choice whether you want to spend, extend the debate or continue with what's approved sort of proposing the meeting. So that's just a suggestion. So that's my friendly to the maker of the motion. Can we have as they conduct outreach, can they also meet with some of the community stakeholders in common cause? Speaker 3: I think what I said previously, it was wide open for anyone to submit anything to city staff. Mr. Parkin, is there anything in my motion, this, my agenda item that would preclude the public from contacting you on this? Speaker 13: There is in the motion, as I understand it. No, there is nothing that precludes the public from sending their comments or suggestions to city staff or to any of the council members or the mayor. Speaker 11: So that's a no. Speaker 3: Then it's a no. Speaker 11: Okay. Subs to motion the motion as written. That includes community part one meeting for community part partners, including Common Cause I myself through motion. Speaker 10: It's been moved and seconded. Councilmember Mungo. Speaker 6: Did you call? Yes. I'm sorry. I appreciate the comments in my support of this item. One of the things that I think is really important is that there's an equal footing for anyone to have input. And one of the things that I would potentially encourage would be that perhaps the city clerk has a specific designation on emails that all come in related to it. I know that one of the challenges sometimes is we'll know what items coming two months out and people want to provide comment. However, until the items agenda is the e-com, it can't be there. And so even with Councilmember Supernova's original motion, if people wanted to make that comment for it to really be filed into the record in the most efficient way, for us to aggregate that and give access to us as a council of what those comments are, because they feel like it's really important that we are able to read those when considering this item as it comes back in case staff does not fold that in. So what I'll do is I'll make a substitute substitute motion that we reach out to the community through insight will be Twitter and Facebook posts that let them know that the council is looking to better include the community in the dialogs related to council agenda items and provide an email address where all public comment could be gathered so that we as a council can have that as an aggregate provided digitally when the report comes back. That work. Great. Speaker 13: I'm sorry that this second or. There goes the vice mayor. Not present. Speaker 11: I second. Speaker 1: That. Speaker 6: That's crazy. Speaker 13: So the second will be by Councilmember Richardson. Thank you. Speaker 6: Perfect. Trying to bring everyone together on one thing. So this is something the city clerk has done for us in the past when we know an agenda items coming, but we don't have the AECOM an option. And so I guess we would maybe say anyone who emails the city clerk with the subject line streamlining council meetings, all of that would be aggregated so that we would all have that available to us. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you, Councilmember. So we still have three councilmembers cued up in the interest of efficiency. We still have public comment on this item. Councilmember Arango. Speaker 12: Well, very briefly, I actually and this is part of the discussion that we're talking about at the super and I want Councilmember Super in Dialogs Alliance and that's good. However, I think that in addition to this, this built in efficiencies using Robert's rules for parliamentary procedure. And I think that one of the things that we should be including in this is also a training, if you will, by my parliament, by certified parliamentarian and Robert's Rules of Orders and how you can use those to make a meeting much more efficient. And I think that none of us what I have, but many of us have not been officially trained or no Robert's Rules of Order. I mean, we I think a lot of us have been sort of learning parliamentary procedure as we go along, and people in the audience have been learning about Robert's Rules water. And as we go along there and but nobody has actually received a training. Let me rephrase that again. I've taken it. But we need a parliamentarian to come in here and let us and actually show us through the ropes of using Robert's Rules of Order to make the meetings more efficient. Speaker 10: I can train you, sir. Just kidding. Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 8: You're doing a great job chairing the meeting. Councilmember Austin, by the way, I take training from you any day. I just want to concur with that. Is that the the process of us always asking the city attorney for tips on Robert's rules, I think is stalls us a lot of times. And I come from consensus building and grassroots organizing. We don't use Robert's rules. You know, I never chaired on a Democratic club or anything like that. I just I cued up not to make that comment. I queued up to say that the reason why I think it's important to highlight organizations that we want the staff to work with is not because not anybody can email the staff and ask to speak. It's because history shows that not everybody has been invited to be a seat at the table. As somebody that was working in nonprofits for ten years before being on this council, I know many times and we had asked to have a seat at the table and we didn't. And so that is why we ask for it. It's not because it's not accessible for somebody to send an email, but we there are people out there that work on this stuff that are experts and that engage with this council often. And I think that it's important that we include them. So I hope. Councilmember Super. Now that you will accept out that substitute motion. Thank you. Speaker 10: Great Council member supernova. Speaker 3: Thank you. I just want to direct everyone's attention to an item I placed on this item. That is the fiscal impact. We did the legwork on this. We went to city manager, city clerk and city attorney and asked about staff time. This is something had been brought up in previous council meetings. So if we expand this item, I have to go back and ask staff if there is an impact on staff time. Otherwise, it's not the same item that the focus here. I hate to call it narrow because it was wide open. Look at best practices anywhere, but it was did and did not include reaching out to the public. Okay. So I was saying that anyone can do this. But my question is basically going back to I was speaking to the substitute substitute. Is there an impact on staff time or a fiscal impact to add this item? Speaker 13: So for the substitute substitute motion, adding a inside Long Beach and doing some Facebook and social media that's, you know, can be done, you know, fairly easily. Speaker 3: We've done that. Speaker 13: In the past. You put it out, that would be pretty low impact on staff. To put that question out, we would aggregate the responses and bring those back and those would help inform staff recommendations. Going beyond that to do meetings and others, that obviously is a little is a higher level of of work. So we believe from the substituted service to motion, we could accomplish that fairly easily. Speaker 3: Okay. So if the maker of the motion agrees to that, that I would support that, that there is no additional fiscal impact. Speaker 6: I really appreciate the comment because I'm very. I would want to send it to committee if it had an extended fiscal impact. And one of the reasons why I specifically talked about setting up the email address was I know that in prior times we can just click those select all turn into a PDF and you're talking about minimal stuff, time variance. And so I think that the fiscal impact would be as close as it could be to the original motion, and that was my intent. Speaker 10: Thank you. Public comment, please. Speaker 3: Very good. You click as the address. I support this 100%. The same way I support Councilperson Price and her positions on things. We do need efficiency and all we have to do is look back at what happened. A few dealing with the the hotel issue and the panic button. Some of the people, particularly the one that doesn't know enough that you shouldn't fish off the company pier or the two council people from the eighth ninth district that the D that support the deviant. Snoop Dogg. Speaker 1: All right. Clearly. Speaker 3: Didn't don't do their jobs correctly. That whole debate we had on the discussion, the hours it took relative to the panic button at the council, people done their job. There would be no need for that lengthy discussion. You've got a staff. You've got a telephone. All of that should have been worked out. Worked out publicly with your people. Then you bring it here. The public doesn't need, although it was very instructive to show how incompetent. The Councilperson for the second district and the two counsel to the council, Austin and Harrison. Are and should really be. Removed. If we want efficiency, you can set up all the rules. But when you have clowns like that, you're not going to get the efficiency. So I have clear confidence, as I said in the Council on Supernova and Super and Councilwoman Pryce as. And I've got great confidence in our vice mayor. I only wish. I only wish he would. If our mayor had the decency to recognize that his career is over and that by late spring he will be in prison, he should be resign now and let our good vice mayor take over for the balance of the year. But it goes back to again the council. People have to do their own job. When you come here, you should have done all your homework. And you're not doing it. What you're doing. I do not. Well, I do know what you're doing. So thank you again. It's a commendable idea and it should be implemented. Thank you. Speaker 8: I just feel. Speaker 10: Thank you, Mr. Good here. You had 20 seconds to spare. Speaker 6: Thank goodness. I'm Karen Reside, president of District one. I come frequently to the council on meetings. Thank you very much. Council member super north. This is long needed this discussion. One of the things that I really would like to recommend and. The previous speaker. I think it's an example of this. We limit the number of times that people can come up and speak and waste our time. That's really a critical issue for me. I, I believe that all the city employees and all the council members work really hard and they do the best that they can with the tools that they have to work. I don't know if full time council can be on the table at this point in time, but I think that's something that our city is growing to the point where we really have to seriously look at. And I believe education. Lots of people come to the council meetings and they don't know what to expect. There are some very limited instructions on the agenda. It doesn't help people understand what it is that they need to do in the process. And they get frustrated and upset because the council members or city staff can't answer their questions. They don't understand that's not allowed as part of the process. So people need to understand the process better. And really, I think there are better ways to put the lovely PowerPoint presentations that parking districts CVB. All those presentations that take a large amount of time and have a large amount of staff in the audience, and I don't know if they're on the clock. I believe that those would be better if they were put on the website where people could view them at their leisure and it through their choice. So I see a number of efficiencies. We look forward to the opportunities to submit comments and we'll have a have a discussion of it at the Gray Panther meeting. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you. Speaker 6: Finally, these people. It's way more so again, why she's sitting there talking about limiting the times people could come up here. I don't understand why why we sit there listening to say the same thing over and over again. I feel like Yasha have a timer. We have a timer where we only get 3 minutes and some people don't even use theirs, which always sit there and linger over for 15 or 20 minutes, going ping pong back and forth and all this stuff. And it's okay. Yea, the ones that waste the majority of our time which are comments or notions or do we do this? Can we do this? I don't know. That's your position. That's your chair. I just come here because I'm part of the community and I just want to know what's going on or different resources that pose to be out here to help me where I don't have to come cry to y'all about the issues I'm having are not in place. So if it was more structured and y'all will really manage them more and make sure that everybody is on top of their job, doing their job. But y'all could do your job. It'd be better. But just like y'all drag your feet, they get to drag their feet. They get to slip people underneath the rug. They get to push it to the side. In a way, y'all cancel city council meetings and then way then don't have one. So is a lot of things that can be changed or, you know, done differently. But it got to be some give and take. And Jackie bringing up all the new building. A new building. Yeah. And all of that sort of new building. But I don't hear anything about the new park. I don't hear anything about how you guys are going to help all the thousands of homeless people. They used to at least get help at that part. I haven't heard one time y'all say anything about that part, but I heard John say building at their building. At the building. At the building. That's it. It's not about the people. It's not about the community. It's just. Let's see how we going for Dangote is money. Let's go sell this property to this owner where they do a you know what, a gated community. At the end, they had to pay $3 million to upgrade the park because you guys didn't have the funding. Their job was that every they wondered about the riverbed. Come on now. I do do my research and I do read and I'm very educated budget and saw a lot of people there is not even trying to know all this. I don't care about which I do. I'm a mother. I'm trying to be a mother. I'm not a politician. Speaker 1: I have a good. Speaker 10: Thank you very much. And I appreciate the robust conversation around this and look forward to it coming back in 90 days. Please cast your votes. Speaker 13: Misses the vote on the substitute substitute. Speaker 10: On the substitute substitute, yes. Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 10: Okay. Thank you very much. So next, we're going to take item number 30 and then we will go to public comment and then the rest of the agenda.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to request the Mayor, City Manager, City Clerk, and City Attorney to review best practices for streamlining City Council Meetings and report back on their findings within 90 days.

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_10232018_18-0951

Speaker 10: Okay. Thank you very much. So next, we're going to take item number 30 and then we will go to public comment and then the rest of the agenda. Speaker 2: Item throws report from Energy Resources Recommendation to award three contracts for conducting a comprehensive community choice aggregation feasibility study for a total aggregated amount not to exceed 350,000 citywide. Speaker 10: Okay. Can we have a brief staff report? Speaker 13: And certainly our energy. Speaker 9: Resources director, Bob Dow. Speaker 13: Will give her a quick report. Speaker 4: The item before you this evening seeks approval to award contracts for conducting an investigation into the feasibility of establishing an electrical power purchase, community choice aggregation or CCE program for the City of Long Beach. Under CC a program, the city will either form a new agency or join an existing agency to purchase and sell electrical power to all the people who live and or conduct business within Long Beach, the existing local utility. In our case, Southern California Edison or SCC, continues to provide the transmission, distribution and customer billing services for a fee paid by the customers. Typically, CCAS offer customers a wider range of renewable power options than those currently available from the local utility companies. Additionally, all the people who live and or conduct business within the newly formed CC would automatically be enrolled unless they proactively elect to opt out and return to their local utility company. In January of this year, the city issued an RFP seeking the services of qualified and experienced consultants to to access to assess the feasibility, size and general characteristics of implementing a potential seascape program for Long Beach. Five proposals were received in response to the RFP by the March 12th deadline. A seven member selection committee consisting of staff representing finance, harbor, water and energy resources departments, along with the Office of State of Sustainability, evaluated the proposals in accordance with the evaluation criteria specified in the RFP. After a thorough evaluation process and additional due diligence activities, including requests for clarifications, the selection committee selected three individual firms as the most qualified to complete portions of the requested services and when combined, will provide the entirety of the scope of the desired feasibility study. The companies selected were M RW Associates, LLC, Grit X, Inc and Global Zglobal, Inc. Each company possesses its own expertize in the unique areas required for the thorough and comprehensive analysis to be performed. The feasibility study is anticipated to take 4 to 6 months to complete, at which time staff will return and present the results to council. The aggregate amount for the three contracts required to conduct the feasibility study is $300,000. With a contingency in the amount of $50,000 for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $350,000. This concludes my report and I'm available for any questions. Speaker 10: Thank you for that staff report. Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 8: I yes, thank you very much. I want to thank staff for all their hard work on this. I want to highlight that we've had several community members engaged in this process for the last year, that this was something that was talked about in great detail at the Sustainability Commission and that I want to thank Connor lock out of my office who's been working really closely with the city manager's office and for bringing me Sprite. It's a good Sprite bringer and for working with Bob and his team. I know that this is a conversation we've been having for a very long time, but we haven't really had it at council. And I do want to highlight for my colleagues that like shorter meetings as we contemplated having a full PowerPoint presentation tonight, but we opted not to. So you're welcome. So one thing I want to highlight is that the model that the city has gone forward with is doing an RFP for three different companies is something that I fully support. I think that this is a complex issue that should not be rushed into. It is something that a lot of cities are already doing and have been leading the way. And so we really do need to take the time to make sure that we get all that information. But we also want to make sure that we get in queue, right? That we are not missing out on the opportunity to create good jobs, a stronger economy in our city, but also cleaning up our environment in a way that residents really have a choice and an option, which is something that in Long Beach we haven't really had. And so I'm not going to give the full presentation around why cars are the best model. I think that we're going to have a lot of community members that want to speak to that tonight. I did have some questions on timeline moving forward. I know that we had some questions around the end of the year. DEADLINE When do you think we're going to be able to get back some of the data that is required to meet that deadline? Speaker 4: What could you be more specific or the deadline? Speaker 8: Well, I think that we were looking at a deadline of the end of the year that we had talked about getting our load data, the 15 minute interval load data. How long do you think that's going to take through our process? Speaker 4: The item here tonight seeks approval for the contracts. When the when the consultants get together, they would be able to provide that information to us as to if the data that we currently have received from Edison through our NDA is sufficient enough to move forward, or if they are going to if they really need that 15 minute interval data to conduct the analysis. Speaker 8: Aha. That is the question that I was looking for. Thank you very much. That is the answer. I hope that my constituents in the audience could hear. I think we should go to public comment and then hear from our council colleagues if we have any other questions. If that's okay with the chair. Speaker 10: That's fine. Council Member Richardson. Are you okay with that public comment, please? Speaker 3: Very good. Quick as the address. I think this is a fantastic idea. As a matter of fact, you'll hear from this Templar of some new information that she brought to my attention. Recall, if you will, about a month or so ago, I suggested on the advice of Homer Simpson, one of my great sources of the concept of solar panels being put over the tennis court at Marina Vista Park, and then also capturing the energy of solar panels from the Peterson Rowing Center, as well as the as well as fire station 14 and the street lights leading up to that. But then I started thinking a little bit more. And after talking to Homer and listening to this gentleman. We're really talking about a billion, billion dollar. Proposition. Our revenue stream about $1,000,000,000 to the city of Long Beach. Because every neighborhood, every corner, every street. As lights. Buildings had to have lights. Edison is not giving that money away, that electricity away. Somebody is paying the bill? No, unfortunately, in our set up, we don't know. I've tried to get a financial the financial service people, they don't know. Who's paying the bills. But I think if we apply that. What I referenced before that one area like powering the electricity of fire station 14, the police, I mean, the lights and so forth, and extrapolate that through the entire city. We are really talking about a revenue stream that's got to be at least a billion. That's Beavis and Butthead. That is a lot of money. So other people will talk more cogently about it and with more, more detail. But the, the I yeah, that idea just popped into my head this past week and so for the last few days. Give it a lot of thought because it is $1,000,000,000. It's a billion. A billion. They're not giving up. Edison's not giving it away. So we can harness that. Thank you. Speaker 10: So thank you for that public comment. And I see quite a few people lined up in the spirit of our conversation here this evening. You have up to 3 minutes, but you don't need to use all 3 minutes. Speaker 3: Understood, councilman. My name is Sarah Jones. I'm a District nine resident. Speaker 4: And I'm also a union electrician with IBEW 11 and also a journeyman. The vast majority of CCAS or more use more renewable energy. And are current utilities too. This means more projects and jobs and also cleaner air all in one package. We have had blackouts and Long Beach case will help address this. But the projects like battery storage and microgrids in order to stabilize our electric grid during the worst parts of summer. I seek and buy. Speaker 0: Energy from this. Speaker 4: As our project. Speaker 3: Are a plant which is creating good union jobs. Speaker 4: On average, the rates at municipal utilities are 20% cheaper than our investor owned utilities. What does that tell you guys? Southern California Edison care about Long Beach. Do they care about the air quality along the 710 corridor, which is happened to be where I live? Do they care about local jobs or are they only bringing in their own people? Why should a huge utility decide what programs like feed in tariffs, energy efficiency, electric vehicle incentives? We should have local control. Speaker 3: I also worked on the Blue Line upgrade a few years back. As a Long Beach resident. Speaker 4: And a Long Beach worker. Thank you. I mean, my Clemson I'm a District four resident resident. I am the energy program manager at the Cal State Chances office. One of the projects we're working on right now is a K for higher education. I think it's important to note that the keys are largely a solution that's actually kind of been solved, which is the integration of renewables into the electric grid. Edison's actually become one of the leading utilities in the country, having to install renewables and advanced battery technology. For example, we've seen the power content, the carbon content of Edison Power reduce by 50% by from 2009 sales. To just a mention, though, that the renewables have changed the utility game. The current kind of idea is that you dispatch the load to follow the demand, but because of the variability of renewables, you have to you have to reduce the use to address dispatch the demand of all follow the supply. A lawmaker can help facilitate that, but only if it's only if it's set up that way. One thing I think is important to note is that the state there are times when we have to export our power at a loss because there's so much solar on the grid that we can't use it. If we had a way to change the demand profile, then we'd be able to take advantage of that. One thing I think we shouldn't do is include whatever electricity operations in with the natural gas operations. The two are kind of at cross-purposes. And, you know, if you're trying to reduce emissions, that goal is not aligned with Long Beach gas. And I just want to mention how gas was recently found to be implementing or impeding the transition from natural gas to protected business. And we can't allow that to happen here. This could include a small charge to drive emission reductions through energy efficiency or by displacing natural gas through electrification. This would make Long Beach K a leader in the utilities. This program doesn't exist anywhere else. It's one to say the city can't just buy more renewable power and expect this to be make Long Beach a leader. I think there's a path forward with a K, but has to be intentional on reducing emissions, not just accounting for more renewables. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you. Next up. Speaker 1: Good evening. Speaker 0: Counsel. My name is James Grant. I'm a member of IBEW Local 11. I'm mainly just want to say I'm here for support to say we should go ahead and move forward with this proposal and get this study going forward. Mainly just because. Speaker 4: I support union workers. Speaker 0: This gives us a lot of opportunities to move forward with providing good jobs, solid jobs, people that we can be proud of. I mean, when I go home every day, I worked here over on Ocean and Alamitos. I help build the current over there. When I go home and see with my friends and family and I can look at something now proudly built in my city, man, I feel good and I feel like we should get more support like that. This is an opportunity for us to do what we love. We like doing what we do, but we need those opportunities and this here agenda here with this. This change in the grid provides an opportunity for future bills. And I like to see a lot more apprentices coming in from the city so they can also go home and talk to your family and talk to their friends about something that they proudly build. This is one of those things that you look back on from years from now and be like, Man, I helped build that. And this is one of those opportunities that can provide that for the youth and also for the current workers. It sounds like this can really help lower bills for our community as well. Give us options, give people a little bit of that alleviates part of those bills. Mainly electricity is something that we need. But, you know, it's getting is getting high. It's getting expensive unless bureau is getting hot because, you know, global warming, global warming is real. I've been a member of IBEW since 2015. I want to give that opportunity to other folks and I think you should definitely vote for this. Have a good evening. Speaker 6: Jane Tamplin 623 Rose Avenue District two Proud member IBEW. I'm here to speak about you support. For this, a feasibility study. I think we need to look at renewables. I think we need to look at newer types of energy. And here we are with a green port getting greener. I'd like to see our city following suit. I have concerns. I support the master plan. We're a growing city. I'm looking back a year ago when. Speaker 3: Edison was blowing men. Speaker 6: Man covers off the Volt, and I have a concern about our power supply. I would like to ask you to make sure included in this feasibility study is the battery power, our stored energy consideration that comes for our first responders and for some pardon my voice and for some of our private industries like hospitals where they have fallback. When they lose power, they go to generators which are not always reliable, unfortunately, but stored energy is in all times, and it is something that is directly fed from photovoltaic straight DC very savings involved. Excuse me. So for all the good reasons are more you're going to hear. I do ask for your support on this and I thank you for that. Speaker 10: Thank you. Speaker 12: Good evening. Speaker 4: Counsel. My name is Robert Diaz. I'm a journeyman. Inside assignment for the IBEW Local 11. Two years ago, I purchased a home in Long Beach, where I reside with my wife Molly and my son Bronson. My son is a third grader. He goes to Bernie Elementary. CCAR would lower utility costs, which would help families like mine with the rising cost of living. Most importantly, it will create local jobs employing local workers. I would love the opportunity to build in my community, build in Long Beach. I'm very proud of what I do. And I. I'm very proud of what I do and and the feeling of accomplishment that I would receive building in my own community. Working closer to home would reduce travel time, lower emissions, and it would allow more time for working families to spend together. Thank you for your time. Speaker 6: Good evening, council members. My name's Jennifer Noé. Not only am I a proud member of IBEW Local 11, but I am also a mother of two children that go to couple's junior high school. I hope we can get your support on this. Not only will it create jobs in our community, it will create a sense of community pride, and it will give our children clean air, which is very important not only to them, but everybody else on the planet. Thank you. Speaker 10: Hello, council members. My name is Manny Solis. I'm a longtime IBEW member. I have 32 years in local 11 IBEW Los Angeles, and I have resided in Long Beach on Bourbon Street here in a and Stacy Mungo's district. I was accepted into the IBEW in 1987. And at that point in my early career as an apprentice, I was very fortunate to have worked on a few projects here in Long Beach and Terminal Island as well. But one I wanted to mention was the Surf Project, the Southeast Resource Recovery Facility, where they burn trash and and created power through a steam turbine when they heated up the the water and the piping. But that was one of the projects that I worked on. I'm very proud when I go by that project, even today, 32 years later. And also, I worked on projects like at the port where we did ship to shore power. We provided power for the container ships that come in, and then they were able to turn off their diesel engines, which limits the pollution. So we've done that for the city of Long Beach as well. And being in this trade has provided me many, many years of great service and giving back to the community through the IBEW and also that. I'm thankful that our city leaders, leaders such as yourself had a vision back then. And I would hope that you'd continue to have that same vision for renewables and for clean power. As I have progressed in my career now. Not only electrician, also high voltage cable slicer and an instrumentation technician. That was free education through the union. So we are providing free jobs and outstanding careers for many, many youths that are coming up. And with that, I just wanted to say that approving this CCI feasibility feasibility study would move this clean, clean energy forward. And also, I would like to ask you to approve. We're also likely to approve the implementation of the C c k in a dual path so that both of these. Both move forward and create clean air and clean power for all the residents, not only in Long Beach, in Los Angeles and on the West Coast. Thank you very much. Thank you. Speaker 6: Good evening, council members. I'm Patricia Chen with Long Beach 350. Um, we support the staff recommendation and are pleased that the city is taking the first important step to implementing community choice aggregation. Um, it's probably one of the most important things that can be done within the city towards implementing the upcoming Climate Action Plan. Um, and it's particularly timely now that we have a U.N. report that tells us that we're in even worse trouble with the climate than we had previously thought. We do ask that you guide the development of CA in Long Beach in a direction that will result in the fastest possible transition to renewable energy and keep rates low for residents. Build a just transition with good green local union jobs. Um, for instance for gas and oil workers to move into as they move out of gas and oil extraction in Long Beach. And we'd like to see solar and electric incentives that are attractive and meaningful to residents of all walks of life. Thank you very much for your consideration. Speaker 10: Thank you. And while we're here, I just want to make sure everybody lined up that wants to speak. And if not, please. Okay, I see you and I see a different guy. This lady in the front will be the last speaker. Speaker 4: Perfect. Council members. My name is David Brzezinski of Unite and Energy Consulting, Efficiency Hero Consulting and member of the Long Beach Sustainable Business Network. With the conclusions of the recent U.N. report in mind, Long Beach has a societal and economic responsibility to investigate the feasibility of crime and to take steps between becoming a more sustainable city. That being said, we need to do it correctly. We must be intentional on the implementation and making this particular measure and this particular study. Extremely important for us to be able to become that city that we want to become. It will not work if we do not take due diligence in taking a study and learning how to become the most effective care possible. Thank you for your time, and I appreciate. Speaker 10: Thank you. Speaker 6: Hi there. I'm Gabrielle Weekes, resident of the second District. But I'm the chair of the Sierra Club for the region. So I represent somebody in every one of your districts. And we've heard from people from all the districts. Obviously, I'm here mostly as an environmentalist. If we had community choice aggregate, we would have less air pollution. And boy, we're at capacity with that. I've been following Community Choice for over a decade. They were doing it in the Midwest and Massachusetts, smaller states than us worked the bugs out. Obviously, you know, we've got quite a few of them going in California. The Marin County, one is so very, very popular. It's now selling energy to a lot of its neighbors. Lancaster came here and did a speech to the Sustainable City Commission over a year ago. Lancaster's is doing really well. They've signed on a bunch of other cities and now the county. Sheila Kuehl started one for Los Angeles County, and it's got a lot of cities in it. I can't remember how many, but a lot of the big cities. So everyone's doing it and it seems to be working well. No one's had any problems yet. Large cities like Culver City and Santa monica are in the county. One I hope we move forward. It's not just good for the environment and good for the workers. A lot of workers have talked about getting good paying jobs here. These are jobs that can't be outsourced to China or someplace. But the another thing that we haven't talked about is that when we provide job opportunities for our neighbors, it is a lot less money we have to spend on city services, parks, programs, babysitting the babysitting that happens in libraries a lot. If people are making a decent wage, they don't have to rely on you guys to provide all kinds of other services for them. So that's it's really a win win win economically for the environment. It's really going to help all of us. I'm pretty sure if you have any doubts, just look at Marin County, look at Culver City. They're loving it. And if you want to talk to me about it, I know I emailed you guys last September about it with our one page flier with some information. Some of that's changed a little bit. But if you want to have a conversation with me, feel free to get a hold of me, because in the last year, I've only learned to love it more. Thank you. Speaker 14: Okay. Hello. My name is Dean Thorgy. I'm a Long Beach resident. Seventh District. I support signing the contract. I think it's going to confirm that the code be feasible. It's worked everywhere else. There's no reason why I shouldn't work here. A k if it's well managed, you have some money to work with. Mainly because we don't pay dividends to stockholders. That money is to use here for things and we could do a lot of good things with our money. We have to choose from some options. So here's my wish wishlist. Number one is to move as rapidly as possible to 100% renewable energy. The state has targeted 2045 when all the electricity in California has to be carbon free. That's pretty good, but we need to go a lot faster. As a couple of other speakers said, climate change is the big problem, right? It's getting worse and it's getting worse faster than was expected. The science, the climate scientists have told us that the world needs to get its greenhouse gas emissions down to net zero before 2050 . That's everything. Everything. Not just electricity, but everything else. And electricity is actually the easiest part. So we should move really fast on that. The second thing is that I think we should put a large piece as possible that makes sense into local generation to build things in the locality, to provide local businesses with contracts, and especially to target local employment, especially for people who really need those jobs. The third one is that connected with this is that we should have programs that help reduce air pollution in the neighborhoods with the worst air pollution. So that doesn't directly come from the electricity generation, but it comes from other things, like we can use it to use this as a support for more electric vehicles to get vehicles that use gasoline and diesel and natural gas off the road with EVs. Then you can use the EVs and the charging system as the battery system for storage. So we generate a lot in the afternoon. We charge the batteries and draw them at night so there's no waste. So it can be part of the electrical system of the car. Thank you very much. Speaker 6: Thank you very much. Council members Angelina Galette of I'm founder of the Renewables 100 Policy Institute. I chaired the World Council on Renewable Energy, and I'm also a member of the Long Beach Working Group for Community Choice. I'm here in support of this item, of course, and believe that this is the first step that allows Long Beach to empower the option of choice and enable the city to have a more local control and visibility into its energy future. The future that we all see in the energy business is highly digitized, decarbonized, decentralized and democratized. This initiative literally allows power to the people because renewables are very flexible, very modular, and they enable us to be building the community by community, sector by sector, focusing on the local needs with local control and what we need for our communities to achieve the goals of decarbonizing the future. CCI is another high risk at this time. They've existed for almost eight years. They have credit ratings. They have been able to be funded. They have access to funding. And they operate well and efficiently. They have a track record of providing reliable service, improving resiliency, investing in jobs and economic development, and ensuring community inclusion and control. A feasibility study and more importantly, an expedited implementation plan would allow Long Beach to have the option of exploring a CCI and indeed moving forward with the CCI. Being able to keep the deadlines that are imposed by regulations and statutes is important so that you have the option to transition as fast as possible to be able to take advantage of this opportunities. You can certainly work with local utilities, with the local city departments and with all stakeholders to shape the energy future of this great city. The 18 cases that have existed today have saved more than 100 million to their customers, and they have done it reliably and also with a remarkably low attrition rate of less than 3%. So people are incredibly happy with their case and they like to stay there because they have the option. Working with the utility hand-in-hand means it's a win win for everybody, including the utility, including the CCI, including the city and all stakeholders. Bottom line, while being low risk can provide benefits such as improving the environment, creating local jobs, investing in new technology, new development, improving resiliency and reliability of the system, creating economic development, and, most importantly, under local control. We heard about the Europe plan. We heard about the fears of the community, as would enable Long Beach to epitomize the saying Act locally, think globally while you create the best K that I'm sure even Council Member Rex Richardson could be proud of for Long Beach. Thank you. Speaker 13: Good evening, council members. My name is Kobe Sky. I'm a second district resident and I'm very proud to chair the. Speaker 4: Sustainable City Commission. I'm speaking in support of the item and I want to say that I was thrilled to see that the city staff. Speaker 13: Was presenting a recommendation to. Speaker 4: Move forward with a comprehensive study. Speaker 13: And to move forward. Speaker 4: With this item. I was a little crestfallen that it's a. Speaker 13: One year. Speaker 4: Item with three years optional to extend. I just want to say that Long Beach sometimes takes a while to develop good policies. It took us. Speaker 13: Ten years of discussing before we finally banned Styrofoam. It took many years to discuss urban agriculture. Speaker 4: Before we adopted a good policy. I think those policies certainly benefited from a lot of discussion. But Councilmember Pierce pointed out that there is an opportunity cost and so just urge you to move forward as quickly as possible on what is really a good policy that's going to benefit the city in so many important ways. It was two years ago that the county launched their CA. Since that time, over 70 cities. Speaker 13: Have joined them. Speaker 4: Including almost the entire county of Ventura. And the cities that have moved forward with CCS have seen reduced rates for their citizens and businesses with increased renewable. Speaker 13: Energy portfolios, more local generation, more local jobs. Speaker 4: There's so many benefits to it. So I just urge a yes vote and to encourage city. Speaker 13: Staff to move forward as. Speaker 4: Quickly as possible. Thank you so much. Good evening. My name is Dave Shukla. My address is on file and I am one of the founders and the operations director of the Long Beach Alliance for Clean Energy. I'm here this evening to urge for your strong support for a feasibility study for a Long Beach Community Choice Aggregation program . These programs provide too many tangible benefits to communities and municipalities in California for our city, for Long Beach, to ignore the first and as we've heard many times, is the transition to a 100% carbon free, clean energy system meeting net zero goals, something that the investor owned utilities have steadfastly not achieved. But it is something that now that we have not only AB 32 and SB 100 on the books, Long Beach must have the ability to determine the viability of whether these programs are feasible and perhaps even beneficial. Second tangible benefit is expanding the development of local integration of distributed energy resources. Dealers are some of the most promising and innovative pieces of the transition to clean energy from demand reduction incentivized in place to new generation to battery storage throughout the city, to microgrids. These assets can not only be owned by their local CA programs, but they can provide more than just mitigate of measures to energy demand load and the resultant pollution, but also allow us to adapt to lock down climactic changes and provide greater reliability of grid service. And this should be really great news to all of us in Long Beach. Seeing as how we all have seen blackouts and common increasingly. The third benefit is economic development. These programs such as Marine Clean Energy, SBA, Clean Energy, have already broken ground on a number of projects in their localities that have strong economic fundamentals. From job training and apprenticeship programs to local hire to quality working conditions and high standards and output of work. As we heard about so eloquently from the gentlemen who worked on The Current. We can build jobs. Careers. Workforce development that you can't offshore. That we can build out from our existing high schools and community colleges. Job programs that like the the nursing program at City College. We can be really proud of for for the tangible benefits that they provide. The next benefit, obviously, is something I don't have time for. So please, I urge you to vote for this feasibility study and do so with all posthaste. Thank you. Speaker 6: Good evening. Thank you for allowing me to address the Council on for our city as you all represent a wide array of constituents. My name is Tiffany Davey. My address is also on file and I'm the average director of the Long Beach Alliance for Clean Energy. And we would like to express our support for the site of. Let's start with the first reason as this would provide the option for Long Beach to move towards 100% renewable energy, which would. Speaker 4: Allow Long Beach as. Speaker 6: Well as we've seen with other cities, to achieve their sustainability goals much faster. In light of the IPCC report, which has been mentioned many times before this evening on the global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius, Long Beach does have the opportunity to create the pathways that will mitigate our solutions in the required 12 years of action. This item. This item also supports the United Nations SDG number seven, which stands for the Sustainable Development Goals. Item 7.1 ensures universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. 7.2 by 2030. Increase sustainability and the share of. Speaker 0: Renewable, renewable. Speaker 6: Energy in the global energy mix. And 7.3, which by 2030 would double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. I want to thank you and again, ask you to support this item. Speaker 1: Thank you. Speaker 9: Good evening. Council Staff Thank you for the opportunity to speak and thank you for your service. My name is Joe Sullivan. I work for IBEW Local 11 as well as the National Electrical Contractors Association. This represents about 350 electrical contractors in L.A. County that employ approximately 10,000 electricians. We are in support of moving forward with this feasibility study. We think when CCS are done right, they can create jobs more quickly than utilities do. And when they have the right structure and the right workforce standards and the right partners involved. Other CCS have achieved record clean energy levels. We're seeing other benefits, like creating jobs. Lancaster As you know, there are several businesses we're seeing with other CCS solar projects on brownfield sites in low economic areas. We're seeing EV programs of EV by gallons and free EV charging systems to improve air quality in areas. And we've seen cities that have goals of 100% renewable energy. And these are 20, 30 years goals. And they achieve them right away once the key is in place. They facilitate these goals and they can facilitate the port's cleaner action plan as long as as well as the city's goals. And what's important with these cases, they can help the community economically. When you create jobs, you force us to go out and hire apprentices and our apprenticeships. Amazing. It's a five year program with a remarkable education. It costs nothing for the students. It includes not even books, tools. After the fourth year, they have full family, medical, dental. They retire with dignity and a great retirement. And they earn family sustaining wages. And all this is taught at a net zero facility with a state of the art microgrid. So these cars are proven. We believe they can create good benefits. But not only do we want you to go forward with the implementation plan or the feasibility study, but we also encourage you to concurrently move forward with an implementation plan. You cannot get in the queue with the resource adequacy delay without an implementation plan. The CPC has passed a law that requires you to wait one year to start a CCAR in the clock doesn't start until the beginning of the year. So if you wait till after this year, the clock takes two years to launch your CCR. So the implementation plan needs to start concurrently. Okay. Thank you. Speaker 7: Good evening for the council. In name is Sona Coffee. I'm a resident of. Speaker 6: The fourth district. Speaker 7: And I'm vice chair of the city's Sustainable City Commission. I'm also here to speak in support of this item and to thank you and the staff for bringing this item to the city. You've heard the infinite amount of opportunity and benefits. Speaker 6: That a community choice aggregation. Speaker 7: Program can bring to Long Beach. Speaker 5: And there really are. Speaker 6: It's a lot for the. Speaker 7: City to take in. And it's important that this. Speaker 6: Study is structured properly so that we. Speaker 7: Can really. Speaker 6: Incorporate all the benefits that we're looking for. Speaker 7: Some things that were mentioned today, really looking at. Speaker 6: The different structures of the amount. Speaker 7: Of renewable energy we want to bring to Long Beach. So looking at the scenarios where 50%. Speaker 6: 100% renewable energy. Speaker 7: And making. Speaker 5: Sure that those are part of. Speaker 6: The study and that we get to assess the scenarios and the rates for that. Probably one of the most exciting things about CCAR is that you, as we as the city, will get to set our rates for electricity and pass those benefits on to the businesses and the residents in this community. Speaker 7: And doing that in a way where. Speaker 6: We're focusing on green energy. So we're trying to move towards 100% renewable to meet the state's goals, meet the city's goals that are reflected by what the community wants here and by the Community Action Plan that we'll. Speaker 7: Be working on. Speaker 6: One request I would have to make of City Council and we've heard this I think a couple of times is the timing. The data that the city has now would be enough to start the risk assessment piece of the study. That should take a couple of months if it would be possible for the staff and consultants to come back in the first quarter and three months to bring that to you. That won't be enough to do the implementation planning that Joe just mentioned from IBEW 11. The implementation planning requires that interval data that Councilmember Pierce was asking about. So if there's any way to fast track that request through Edison and get the data back as soon as possible so the city could meet the year end deadline, that would be key in terms of getting that implementation plan in place. If not, if that takes some time to get from Edison, at least putting in a structure for a timeline every three months, every quarter, something like that. So the council hears back on the progress of the study and that the community hears back from it as well. Would be great. Thank you. Speaker 10: Okay. We appreciate all the public comment. I'll take it back behind a real council member, Pearce. Speaker 8: Thank you. And I want to thank everybody that made public comments, everybody that's been a part of the process of the work group. I know that everyone that spoke today has been involved in this not just for this week, for this year, but for a very long time. And so I really want to thank you for educating me, my staff, and working with city staff along this process. And so I want to be clear, I hear the concern loud and clear to clarify with staff that we are concurrently doing the implementation plan along with the study, and that the implementation plan based on trying to get the data and some of our legal questions addressed, that that is a 4 to 6 month process. Is that clear? I mean, is that correct? Speaker 13: I'd actually like to clarify that. So we would absolutely be trying to get that data from Edison. So we we are the single largest customer. We believe that we will be asking for that implementation data, the 15 minute data. However, we have done some research into this about whether or not we can file an implementation plan prior to the end of the year. In order to do that, you would have to pass an ordinance saying We are doing SCCA. So you would have to positively pass morning saying We're in, we're going to do it before you complete a feasibility study. That's not something that staff is comfortable recommending. We believe you need to be doing that feasibility study. That's why we're here tonight and then we will continue to try to. Speaker 4: Get that data. We are hopeful we'll be able. Speaker 13: To access it or we'll do as much of the feasibility study as we can. And our process is right now about a 4 to 6 month process. If we can go faster, will go faster. But we do believe you need to have a feasibility study before you make a decision on whether to take that next step and do the implementation plan. Speaker 8: Could we request? I would like to request that this item comes back in four months with a review, even if all the data is not there, but that in four months we actually have a staff report on where the implementation in the study is. Speaker 13: Sure, we can certainly do that. Speaker 8: Okay. I know that. I think one of the challenges with this item has been that we've had a lot of dates, we've had a lot of information. There are a lot of aides out there, 18, that already exist. We've seen Lancaster that's done a great job with their work. And just trying to get us to have these conversations holistically with everybody at the table has been the goal. And so can you briefly talk about the process that the study is going to to implement for how they're not only gathering the data, but some of the things that they're going to be doing to include all the stakeholders. Speaker 4: Certainly Pearce, like any study, it starts with gathering the data and then the next step would be doing the analysis. In this case, you have to look at a load analysis and that would look at Long Beach is very unique. These other cities that that have been mentioned are nowhere near as complex as Long Beach. I think there's approximately 140,000 Edison accounts in the city of approximately 150 of those control, over 50% of the load. So their participation and their opt out status would be critical to this study. And those things have to be looked at in very much in detail. There's been some recent regulatory changes that have impacted the PCR charge. Those also impact the feasibility study and next year there's going to be another direct access offering by the PUC whereby large industrial and commercial customers can elect to participate in those procure their own power, basically circumventing a PC or a city's choice. So we need to look at those very much in detail. So that would be part of the analysis. Once you've completed that portion, you would have a better understanding of your load. Then you have to look at forecasting the rates to compare. Would a pricing schedule be advantageous to what Edison's offering? There's a number of things that are changing in that arena as well. So all those need to be conducted first. Once you complete the analysis, you would draw some conclusions from that and make some recommendations. And we're hopeful to have that completed. We could do something hopefully very quickly in four months, but if it got more complex, it would certainly take a little additional time. Speaker 8: Okay, great. So just no matter where we're out of in four months, we could get a report back at council. Not a two from four, but at council. That would be amazing. Keep us on track. I want to also highlight knowing that Long Beach is complex, knowing that it's different. I know that it's been brought up several times that here we have city and other cities don't have. SC You know, Lancaster has a different structure than us, but they've really worked with seemed to be clear with everyone is that this doesn't take SC out, but they deliver the energy that we opt on what percentage we want to be renewable? 100% renewable would be amazing of course, but that SC still has a role to play in this equation. And so I just wanted to to say that I urge my council colleagues to vote to move this forward. I think that this is the way that we can democratize power. This is the way we can ensure that we have job creation, not just for Long Beach residents, but we can have a conversation down the road about how do we prioritize who gets those jobs. You know, is it single families? Is that people that have been previously incarcerated? This is really an opportunity to lift all boats, to clean the energy, to clean our air, and to transform the city of Long Beach into practice of what so many of us have felt here for a very long time. And so I think it's the right thing to do, and we can continue to have community conversations about this in the next several months. But I'm really happy that we're finally at a place where we're agenda raising this and bringing all these consultants on board so that we can do it the right way. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you, Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 11: Thank you, Councilman Alston. So I think this ESEA conversation, I've followed it for a long time and though a lot of people have, I think it's a really interesting conversation and I won't elaborate too much, but I see some real potential opportunities here. More specifically to the benefit programs for our local residents as well as create local jobs. Now I want to say that I don't want us as long, long beach as the second largest city, not just in L.A. County, but in six Southern California counties. I don't want us to be absent from the regional conversation in our case. And I know that the county, Los Angeles, has been for a while talking about a countywide SICA or establishing some guidelines or some rules. I knew that there was a deadline before about a opt in and when they didn't get certain participation, I know that conversation had changed. And so I think being the large the large city that we are and our relationships with the county, we should communicate to the county that we are engaging in this discussion and see if whatever accommodations can be made for us to participate in the regional conversation. Because what happens is those cities who have opt in, opt in, they're going to be able to help create the write the rules for whatever happens at the you know, whatever happens at the county wide level. They're going to be able to help write those rules. And although we're not at the place where we have an ordinance passed tonight, I think they will want to know whether or not Long Beach is interested in engaging in this conversation. So I don't think it would be too too much to ask, you know, ask, you know, Tom or whoever to to reach out to Gary zero , the county or whoever is engaging and say, hey, look, we've taken this first step to engage in this study. Our council is very interested in this, but we haven't until we figure out these things, we don't know if we're going to be in or not, but we like to participate. And that might help inform our decision of whether or not we participate. So so first, Tom or Mr. West, is there is there any headaches with reaching out to the county and requesting that we be a part of those regional conversations? Speaker 13: So we have been part of the regional conversations. We sent staff to just about all of the regional county meetings. So we're very much plugged in to what's going on at the county. And part of this study is my understanding is we would be looking not just do we do our own care, but could we participate in somebody else's. So yeah, we you know, we can certainly reiterate the discussion that we had tonight, but also we'd be looking at their model to see what what they do that might work for us. Speaker 11: Great. And again, you know, I think this is very interesting, some real opportunities. You know, everything else we've done, we've aired on the side of local control. We've aired on the side of the American Army. Conclusion. We've, you know, we know that there are gaps in terms of like, you know, there's a lot of programs for low income solar individuals. And solar is very expensive. But what about those middle class working families who are getting 300, $400 light bills and they want to participate, too? And we can figure out, you know, we can figure out programs by utilizing this. So I think the opportunities are there. And I'm glad to hear that you're at the table for those regional conversations. I know that they want Long Beach to be a part of this conversation, but we should do our diligence. So those are my remarks. Again, I thought, I think this was healthy. And again, whatever we can do to make sure we don't miss any opportunities with the county, I think that's helpful. Thanks. Speaker 10: Thank you, Councilmember Gonzalez. Speaker 5: Yes. Thanks so much for everybody staying real late. We appreciate that very much. I know this has been a good conversation so far. And thank you, Bob, for being here and certainly doing the work behind the scenes and getting us to this point. So we appreciate this very much. I just want to reiterate, you know, there have been a lot of interest within our residents and not just people who are environmentalists by trade, but really people that just absolutely care about our city and want to diversify our energy portfolio. And having been a councilmember that experienced in 2016 the drama we went through with Edison, and not to say that that can happen anywhere else, but I think that we have an opportunity here to really look forward and see what the options are. And really, as I mentioned, put the power to the people. I really love that because that is very important. And I know a lot of our residents really want to have that choice for many, many reasons. And I do think, you know, the governor, Governor Brown, has mandated by 2045 to get to 100% renewable. But we can absolutely do that beforehand. And I know that's something that is attainable and this is moving forward in the right direction. We'll do that. A quick question. If we were to once once the feasibility comes back and if we were to create that the ordinance, are there any challenges with the implementation plan with the state Speaker 4: ? Know you would follow the implementation plan with the CPC and it would basically put them on notice of your plan and expected load requirements and your methodology for preparing it so they could schedule that accordingly. Speaker 5: Okay. And then is there any other, like issues with that at all? I mean, anything else that. Would keep us from doing that? Speaker 4: No. Speaker 5: Okay. And so what I would just close in saying is that, you know, the K what's nice is that in getting it, you know, move faster is that there are rules changing every day with energy and with state legislation. And so I would say the faster we can get this done and I know we're doing as much as we can, you've heard it from various people, the better in terms of being able to make our own decisions and do what's right for Long Beach. So thank you so much for indulging us and we appreciate it and I look forward to moving this forward. Speaker 10: Great. So I'll just add my comments here and say that I'm going to support this item because I've been intrigued with the case for some time now. Many municipalities, local governments throughout the state are looking and going in is moving in this direction because it does provide an options for clean and renewable energy for for our communities and it creates good local jobs. And from from my standpoint, those are those two points alone should be merit this council being aggressive about moving in that direction and staff for that matter. And so I'm really encouraged by the fact that we are moving forward. We're going forward with a feasibility study tonight. I know under the staff report, it says timing, considerations. And I just want to be clear on that. It says to expeditiously complete the cay feasibility study for the city. And what is expeditious me. If you just one more time if you could just tell us what that means. Speaker 13: So the current estimate, based on the scope, is about 4 to 6 months we've been asked to come back and four months, and we can certainly do that and we'll let you know where we are from from that point. So as Bob mentioned, it can be pretty complex. And if we need to do additional study, I will have the contract authority to do so. But our plan right now is 4 to 6 months. Speaker 10: Okay. I know there is a lot of urgency and excitement from the public on this and certainly by some members of the council as well. But I think tonight by approving this this item, we will make a great first step in this direction. And so I'm supportive of doing that. Thank you. Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 8: Great. Thank you. I just had two comments. One. One in reference to County versus Long Beach. I think we're a city of half a million. And when we talk about local control, we talk about job creation. The county level doesn't have as much detail to what kind of job creation we want to the type of level. So I think it's great that we're having this conversation about Long Beach and what that might look like because the county's kind of already done their process and we would be opting into that. So we we have that there. But it's important for us to identify what a Long Beach process would look like. And to I guess, my my question on the implementation plan, if we did an implementation plan and we did an ordinance, is there anything keeping us to that say we submitted that to the CPC? Is there anything saying that we couldn't three months later go through a process and say, you know what, a CCAR isn't right for us? Speaker 4: Certainly you have that option. I believe it's the Palm Desert one just did the same thing where they filed their implementation plan with the APC and then recently withdrew that great. Speaker 8: So that was the clarity I was looking for, that we could do an ordinance, we could do an implementation plan. If that takes 4 to 6 months, however long that hopefully sooner rather than later, but that even that doesn't tie our hands requiring us to move forward. And I just want to make sure that was stated clearly. So thank you, everybody, for your support and thank you. STAFF Let's vote. Speaker 10: Members, please cast your votes. Speaker 2: Motion carries a two. Speaker 10: Right. Looks like we finally did something right tonight. So next up is a public comment for those who signed up early. We have Larry Goodhue, Christy Moore, Melly, Fernando Gallardo, Alex Armstrong and Latoya Marshall. Please line up. You have 3 minutes each.

Contract

Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP GO18-060 and award contracts to GridX, Inc., of Milpitas, CA; MRW & Associates, LLC, of Oakland, CA; and, ZGlobal, Inc., of Folsom, CA, for conducting a comprehensive Community Choice Aggregation Feasibility Study, in an aggregate amount of $300,000, with a contingency in the amount of $50,000, for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $350,000, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contracts, including any necessary amendments. (Citywide)

LongBeachCC

LongBeachCC_10232018_18-0958

Speaker 10: Next item, I believe is 35. We can we can hold that item until she comes back. Let's move to item number 36. Speaker 2: Item 36 is a report from police. Recommendation to receive and file an update on the just our progress and accomplishments citywide. Speaker 10: It's been moved by Councilmember Price and seconded by Pierce. Would you like to speak to the motion? Speaker 1: Part. Speaker 10: Great staff report, please. Speaker 9: Yes. This tricycle uncle will give us a quick intro and I think there's. Speaker 13: A brief PowerPoint or slideshow. Speaker 7: Great honorable mayor and city council. Good evening. Just a quick recap. In January 2017, the mayor and city manager asked the Long Beach Innovation Team to work with the police department on the public safety priority. From that yearlong research process in January 2018, the city launched a first of its kind justice lab to provide new tools to city staff to deliver individuals out of the criminal justice system and toward treatment care and other resources. We've developed a justice lab video that we're premiering tonight. We're encouraging the community to share this at community events, community meetings, committees, commissions, and on social media. Speaker 6: How can data be used to improve public safety and help residents stay out of prison? This was the question that launched a new collaboration between the city's innovation team and the Long Beach public safety continuum, which consists of police, fire, health and other organizations throughout the county. Speaker 7: The Justice Lab is a strategy that the city of Long Beach, too, developed to focus on the top 5% of repeat offenders. Speaker 4: When we cite or arrest them and we pull their criminal histories. They've been arrested ten, 12, sometimes 17 or 18 times. So these are the same people that are being arrested and cited, are also being transported to the hospital. And we're having interactions with the fire department. Speaker 6: They're not the ones committing the violent crimes. They're not the ones that are committing the high level property thefts. They're really the folks who often in fact, half of them are homeless. Speaker 7: They're intersecting with our various city departments. But historically, those departments hadn't connected the dots that we're all seeing that same person in our different outreach efforts, if you will. Speaker 6: This is the first time a robust and comprehensive data sharing platform has been created where all the involved partners and departments can input and access information. So the more that we can connect them to service, the less likely they are to end up back in jail and about on our streets. Currently, the justice lab has launched three key initiatives. Each is designed to intervene at points where low level offenders interact with city services. First, the jail, where a clinician first offers help. Speaker 5: I have had the opportunity to meet with approximately 400. Speaker 7: People who are open to getting help and so really is planting that seed of hope. Speaker 2: And letting them know. Speaker 5: That once they're out there, we have a plan. Speaker 6: Another key point of intervention is the actual courtroom where, again, individuals who committed low level crimes are offered alternatives to time in jail. Speaker 4: Instead of seeing that case come out with jail or incarceration. Speaker 9: It's not solving the problem. So we need to look at what approach will keep that person off the street and in some kind of treatment. You're going to have better results for the individual and you're going to have safer streets where those people are not on the streets. Speaker 4: So committing crimes again. Speaker 6: Lastly, both the police and fire departments have active outreach teams who are often the first to connect with low level offenders. Speaker 4: This data driven approach allows us to focus on specific people who are committing crime over and over and are impacting different systems within the city. I think that's where we're going to see the benefit from this team is we're not going to just keep on recycling people back through the system, back to the hospital, back to the street, back to jail, back to the hospital, back to the street. It's going to be we're going to get a solution. Speaker 7: I'm so proud to say that the city of Long Beach is a frontrunner in the nation. We have other cities and counties across the country that are looking at us. They want to understand how do we analyze our data and where what they're watching us as we launch the justice lab in hopes that when it is successful , that they can replicate something similar. Speaker 5: In their own cities. Speaker 6: For more information visit Long Beach talk of. Speaker 7: Wonderful. We really want to thank our partners who are here, most of them sitting in the front row who really helped us develop the justice lab. Special thank you to the police department, health department, fire, city prosecutor, city attorney, the guidance center, several other nonprofits, many county partners and departments, Cal State University. We actually have rising Cal State University Rising scholars here with us this evening, UCLA and our valued city residents. Now, I would like to turn it over to Alma Castro, our justice lab project manager and data scientist, Nichelle Chaudhry. Thank you, Tracy. Originated in the city manager's Office of Civic Innovation, formerly known as the A-Team. The team conducted a people focus and data driven analysis in 2017 to understand the experience of individuals who frequently interact with law enforcement for low level offenses. After analyzing over 100,000 offenses in Long Beach during a five year period, that determined that 85% of repeat offenses are not serious crimes but rather low level misdemeanor offenses. The Justice Lab has several initiatives aimed at disrupting a cycle of incarceration that currently includes. The Minister of Regulation on interdepartmental data sharing. Multidisciplinary Team. MDT Clinician and gel program. Priority Access Diversion Program. Pad 2.0 PM. Long Beach Guides. Government User Integrated Diversion Enhancement System. Cal State. Long Beach Rising Scholars Education Lab here today and the Data Warehouse. The City Administrative Regulation on enter department data sharing changed the way we discuss information within our city institution. The agreement develop policies and procedures regarding data sharing among city departments that enables providers to access information to better serve residents who frequently interact with the justice system and our service providers. Due to this added regulation as city departments, we can now see that many of the same individuals are coming into contact with PD via health and other departments. The MDT multidisciplinary team is a prominent initiative among the justice lab framework that MDT convenes city and county departments monthly to better coordinate and reduce the burden on individuals accessing and navigating services such as mental health, substance abuse and homeless services. In addition to government entities, the entity also includes nonprofit and university based partners. As you can see here, the MDT framework encompasses a variety of touchpoints from the street, jail and pretrial intercept. The goal is to have a team based approach in our efforts to coordinate services that engages with individuals who are frequently coming into contact with law enforcement and city departments who can benefit from treatment and care. Our university based partners will be rigorously evaluating and testing the MDT effectiveness and reducing law enforcement citations and jail bookings. The clinician, the 18, funded a six month pilot from April through September 2018 for the Clinician and Jail Program, a partnership between the police department and the Guidance Center that provides a full time mental health professional in the jail who assesses, connects and diverse individuals into care. In the six month period period, the clinician saw a total of 297 individuals from those interactions. 106 were identified as individuals who frequent the criminal justice system. In total, the clinician provided 214 direct referrals that mostly involved mental health, substance abuse and homeless services. We wanted to share an example of what a success stories looks like. The clinician met with a young man, let's say, named John, who had previously been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. It was noncompliant with medication. John was receptive to services and authorized a clinician to contact his father to be part of his support system. The clinician, the father and the father produced a recovery plan for John that linked him into inpatient into an inpatient program. Not only did John receive the services he needed, his father also was referred to a parent support group within the same agency. The Priority Access Diversion Program paid to point ARM as a pretrial program through the City Prosecutor's Office. This initiative offers a unique opportunity for residential, mental health and substance abuse treatment in lieu of county jail time. The program focuses on individuals in custody that have mental health or substance abuse challenges. As of now, a total of 42 individuals have been referred through the clinician and jail pilot. Currently under final development, the city prosecutor's office and the police department are working together to to develop guides government user integrated diversion enhancement system. This application will equip first responders with needed information to quickly identify clients and their service connections. The rising scholars here today, thank you so much for being here tonight. The Rising Scholars Education Lab is a program launched by the form by formerly incarcerated students at Cal State Long Beach to mentor and provide peer support to other formerly incarcerated students. The rising scholars firmly believe that higher education is key to reducing recidivism. We are excited. We are excited to work and be part of this student led program now transitioning for the data warehouse. I will let my half of my colleague here, Nicole, give that update. Speaker 4: Thank you all. So the justice lab is part of the Nationwide Data-Driven Justice Initiative. And as part of that initiative, we gather data from different departments police, fire, health services, ingests them and integrate them so that our clients can be provided with comprehensive wraparound services. Speaker 7: Thank you. In summary, together these initiatives make up the justice lab. Each initiative works towards common goals to connect individuals in need to services and to reduce recidivism for individuals who frequently interact with law enforcement for low level misdemeanor offenses. Currently, the justice lab is funded by multiple streams of funds. That includes $1,000,000 in grant funding from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation to implement the MDT and Data Warehouse. This funding source also provides dollars to evaluate the effectiveness of the MDT through our UCLA and Cal State Long Beach Partners, who will conduct a feasibility study and asked to evaluate the MDT team based method of service coordination due to the success of the condition. And Jill Pilot PD is funding an additional year of the clinician and jail program. Recently we were notified that the Health Department received 50 K of grant funds from the MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge. Together, Health and PD are developing innovative ways to connect individuals to services through a warm hand-off process upon city jail release. Thank you. And this concludes our report. Speaker 10: Okay. Thank you very much. Councilmember Price, that you want to speak to this. Speaker 7: Yes. Just briefly, I wanted to thank the I-Team and everyone who has partnered on this video. First of all, I think the video is a really great way to showcase the efforts and the multiple departments working together. Is the video going to be available for us to share on social media? Yes, it will look good if we can get a copy of that. And I'd love to see it come to Public Safety Committee meeting as well. So Jacko will connect with you guys on that. I like the data driven portion of this, and I know our city prosecutor had a lot to do with making it such that different departments can communicate and share information. I know that's always a major area of concern, given all the different privacy issues that are concerned with when we're talking about individuals health and welfare. But I think being able to do that and share that information is really going to help us be effective. I'm wondering some of these programs that we tried or that we're trying that are part of this presentation are is there a plan to make any of these permanent programs for the city like the jail clinician program? That pilot has ended, correct? Yes, that's correct. And due to the success of the six month pilot, PD is funding the clinician and jail program for an additional year for fiscal year 19. That's fine. Okay. So you should have started the presentation with that because that's a really, really good news. And so I, I want to thank the police department for doing that because, you know, when you try a pilot and it works, figuring out how to incorporate it and making a permanent program is really important. And I think the jail clinician program is is one of their step that, you know, it's from the presentation that you guys said of the 800 and something folks that you interviewed of, over 50% were homeless. And many of them indicated that going to jail was not something they viewed as a deterrent, but rather they view jail as a place of respite. And I've repeated that many times. So I think being able to capture that moment and some of the vulnerabilities and sensitivities that come at that moment through the use of a jail clinician is really powerful. So thank you to the police department for making that happen and to everybody. There's just a lot of great work here. I'm I'm I wish this was a little bit earlier in the night because this program and the efforts deserve a lot of recognition and certainly something that we will share with our community. I mean, as I'm sitting here, I'm getting emails from residents about this encampment here, this homeless individual here, and what are you why aren't you doing anything about this there? And so if we can convey kind of some of the work that you're doing on behalf of the city, in this regard, in a in a way like a video like this, I think that will go a long way, not for everyone. It won't appeal to everyone, but it will appeal to some. So thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you. Councilmember Pearce. Speaker 8: Yes, I want to echo those comments. I think that this is definitely great work. I know you guys have been doing a lot of work over the last several years and it's great to see it finally come to fruition and this holistic view and implementation. I, you know, this weekend I was fortunate enough to be at the women's shelter event in Councilmember Price's district. And, you know, we got to hear everybody speak. And I think one person that spoken, Dave Halbert, got mentioned it. Then your comments about the changing times and how we engage with those that come through the system and whenever we're dealing with so many different crimes and some of them, you know, crimes where mental health is a big player in that, it's really important that Long Beach really is leading that way. And I think we don't celebrate the work that you guys are doing enough as council officers are. I don't. And so I do want to ask for the the video to be shared with us and any information that you can share directly with my council office so that we can include that in our emails that go out . And also want to thank Petey for funding that for another year. I hope that this is a model and that if we need an additional one as years come forward, that we can have that conversation then. But just congratulations team for really taking technology, taking the the equity lens that you guys have been talking about and partnering with with all the key players in this. So really proud of you guys. Proud of the city. Speaker 10: Councilmember Richardson. Speaker 11: Thank you, Tracy Alma, the entire team. This was fantastic. This was an amazing presentation. I think, you know, considering all the work that's happened over the years in terms of violence prevention. I felt like a lot of that conversation had had sort of diminished. And this was evidence that, no, this pivot to, you know, data driven justice and, you know, integrating sort of this this focus on data. I think it was smart to take it, take some time, refocus, rebrand. And I think this is if anything, this is a lot cooler. And it's going to it may build broader support because the concept of violence prevention in general is still a difficult concept, concept to explain to the public. This has a lens on on on the actual whole person. It's data driven. It makes a lot of sense. And so I support this and I think this presentation has sparked a lot of questions for me. And one in particular, what are the what are the opportunities by what what will this data what is the potential for this data to tell us about our city? Or what tactics what tactics are most successful in terms of saving saves and saving resources into the system, not only the system, but our our direct budget? Is this going to show us or give us some opportunities to see which tactics actually save money and save lives? If so, how soon will we start to see evidence from some of those tactics? Speaker 4: So as Alma mentioned, we we are doing a rigorous evaluation in collaboration with our research partners from UCLA and Cal State, Long Beach, and identifying what are the outcomes beyond just the immediate individuals and looking at the cost effectiveness, looking at the amount of time law enforcement spends with a given individual or fire department spends on a given individual is part of that evaluation. So the evaluation period right now is. It's between 18 months to 24 months. So at around that time, we should start. Well, at that time we will have conclusive numbers, but as we proceed forward with the evaluation periodically, we will start generating those numbers as well. Speaker 11: Okay. So between 18 to 24 months from the beginning of the pilot. Speaker 4: From the beginning of the program. Speaker 11: Getting into the programs and going for how long? Speaker 4: So I think we started out. How long do you want? Speaker 7: Yes, thank you. Council member. The justice plan was officially launched in January 2018, but clinician and jail pilot was from April, April through September 2018. So that's a six month period. And with our other initiatives like the MDT, we're refining and deploying a feasibility study. So through that process, we probably will start looking at outcomes. Six months from now on that what we were able to gain from the feasibility study of the MDT, the multidisciplinary team. Speaker 13: And councilmember, if I can add, one of the neat things about this is this was funded by team resources, this effort which then led to an implementation plan. We got grant money to actually build the implementation and then we got grant money to monitor about what implementations we do are actually the most effective. So all of this brought additional money and we can do exactly what you're talking about, which is seeing which are the most effective ways to intervene. Speaker 11: Absolutely. And so I'll close with this. I think this is a step in the right direction. It has my complete full support. I want to make sure we stay on top of the evaluation. And I want to I want to begin now, if we haven't already thinking about how we continue to support this funding through that two year period, we should continue this pilot. And even if it requires us being creative about our general fund, we should support this pilot all the way through with with the idea that we're going to make a case for to structurally fund this because it long term saves not just the system, but it saves our budget. And so and so I'm going to be I love that you made this presentation to the station tonight, and I'm going to make sure that we I'm going to be engaging on this issue to make sure you have the resources you need. Thanks. Speaker 10: Councilmember Jurado. Speaker 12: Thank you, Councilmember Orson, for recognizing me. I totally support this item. I think this is one of those programs and pilot programs that we have to look at with the idea of full implementation and full resources to continue this program all the way through. I think we need to find a way other than grants and temporary funding to continue this. I think that already it's having some positive effects and we need to continue that and with a sustainable budget that will that will keep it going into the future. So I could support this and with the expectation that we can get more data in terms of outcomes as where how we can really acknowledge our successes with this program so that we can for further sustain it as part of our implementation plan for addressing our crime. Thank you. Speaker 10: Councilmember Gonzalez. Speaker 5: I thought you were next. That's okay. I just want to say thanks again so much. And, you know, I think this is wonderful and it's a really good example. I hear it working for Microsoft. I hear it up in the Silicon Valley about the justice lab in Long Beach. And I think that that's a really I'm excited. People don't even know who I am on the city world. They know who I am with Microsoft. And when I hear great things happening about our city, that really makes me very proud. And I'm glad that we were able to to do this and get this running. And we have really great numbers, too, to prove that this could be a long lasting, sustainable program. Just one thing I'll just and I'm sure you already know, but the Obama Foundation has tons of money they do for these specific projects. We actually have an Obama fellow in L.A. who's working on similar projects, and he's looking to work specifically in Long Beach. So I'll make sure to put you in contact. But I think that that would be a great one. But I just think overall, congratulations. Thanks so much for all your work. Speaker 10: Thank you, Councilmember. And I'll add that, you know, I believe that this this what this report was great and that it was clearly paying dividends and producing deliverables early. This is shows that, you know, we can be smart with data and smarter with how we use our resources. And this this video and the report here demonstrates that that our city is really taking a team approach to to justice. And I salute the everybody who has been involved in this. I got to give hats off to the to the council for for taking the the leap and helping to create this this team, but also our city manager and the entire city team. This is a very encouraging report. And, you know, I will support this and look forward to more data and in the months and years to come. Thank you. So members, please cast your votes. Public comment. CNN cast your votes. Speaker 2: Motion carries eight to. Speaker 10: I did. Speaker 1: So I said. Speaker 10: They're waiting to see somebody. Want to make comment on this? Please come forward. Oh, no. Speaker 11: You said there's. No. Speaker 6: No, no. Hi. My name's Irene Sotelo. I'm a student at Cal State, Long Beach Rising Scholars Lab. I'm one of the co-founders of Rising Scholars, Vice President. I'm also formerly incarcerated. We started education lab for the city Long Beach for Cal State, Long Beach. And now we're we're all up and down through California. We go representing different states, trying to make it nationwide. What we do is we help those who are getting out of prison work with like probation or parole department, and we help them. Get those who are just getting out of jail or prison into the education, either GEDs, community college, wherever they need to go into. And we help them step by step into them getting enrolled. And I believe education is a great step to help those to not return back to prison or to jail. And I've been in and out of the system since I was 12 years old. And now I'm already graduating with my masters to help those that are getting out of prison and. Speaker 12: Can I can I ask you a quick question? Back in the day when I was at Cal State Long Beach, there had a program called the Pinto Program. Is there something very similar to that? It is. It is a somewhat a similar similar to pinto beans ex-con. Speaker 6: Going to one on Thursday. Speaker 4: There is no Pinto Club no more. Okay. Very Long Beach when the funding left. All the programing that we're at, any university or any any educational system. Those were the first programs that were cut, was the education for those that were coming home from incarceration or for those that were currently incarcerated. Currently, what we do. My name is John Lewis Hernandez, and I'm the president for Rising Scholars. And so what we have done is firmly believed in how education can change lives. Similarly to her, I started very young with my and my criminal record. Tino's incarcerated for the first time at 21 is back in Joe. And it wasn't that I went to school, but what ended up happening is that I went to go menial labor where I felt that there was nothing for me to do. And it wasn't until I was in school and I made a decision kind of looking at the continuum that you guys were doing it and the referrals and that and the substance abuse and the mental health. But then I started thinking for myself when I wanted to be a drug and alcohol counselor, I was like, Well, what are they going to do once they have their life together? And I thought about education, and education had set me straight. Currently, I'm earning my master's degree in counseling with an emphasis in student development, higher education, looking to work at community colleges, starting a program like Minto programs, which is right. We have 114 community colleges in the state of California, and only about two thirds of them have something for formerly incarcerated students. All the schools have, have or are beginning the process for a project rebound, which is what the new iteration of the Pinto Club is, and not all the community colleges around them will support it. We're uniquely in in a city like Long Beach that has a community college and a CSU located within the same city where you can have a warm hand-off. So that's why we kind of do the work that we do here in the city of Long Beach to just believe in those that that want a different life but don't feel that they can have something different. Because maybe like me, there are two time high school dropout. They didn't complete high school with the regular way and they don't feel they tested in remedial English or math and they don't feel they're going to make it. So we show them where we're at in Masters Programs Awards that we get this year. Almost like a doctoral scholar. I'm a graduate research fellow for the for Long Beach State, two very prestigious awards for our schools. And I'm happy to represent us in that arena as people that have been impacted by incarceration, who usually when you think about someone that has been to jail, you don't think about someone that is going to have these type of awards. You think, so we want to change that narrative, and that's why we do the work that we do. Speaker 10: Thank you very much and I salute you both. I'm glad we had the opportunity to hear from you. Public comment. Thank you. Some members have cast their votes on this. We're going to move on to item number 35, back to 35.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file an update on the Justice Lab progress and accomplishments. (Citywide)

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Speaker 10: Thank you very much and I salute you both. I'm glad we had the opportunity to hear from you. Public comment. Thank you. Some members have cast their votes on this. We're going to move on to item number 35, back to 35. Speaker 2: Item 35, support from police. Recommendation to receive and file the application. A bright spot coffee shop for an original ABC license at 412 West Pacific Coast Highway and submit a public notice a protest to ABC on the basis of high crime in the reporting district residences within 100 feet of the establishment and a school within 600 feet of the establishment. District one. Speaker 10: Councilmember Gonzalez. Speaker 5: I would like a staff report first. Speaker 13: Commander LeBaron. Speaker 5: Thank you, Commander. Speaker 3: Councilwoman Gonzales and City Council members. Item 35 is an application for an original Onsale Beer and Wine ABC License for a restaurant. The police department has conducted our investigation and recommend that a public notice of protest be submitted to ABC for the issuance of this license. A license to sell beer and wine would create an adverse impact to the neighborhood and the surrounding area. The basis for our recommendations are the high crime statistics in the reporting district residences within 100 feet of the establishment, including a sober living home and a school within 500 feet I'm sorry, 600 feet. Furthermore, this location previously held an ABC license, which was ultimately suspended and later revoked as a result of numerous violations and violent crimes at the location in 2009. The business owner has previously applied for an ABC license in 2010, 2013 and 2016, and the City Council protested the application on all of these occasions and the application was denied. That concludes my report, and I'm available for any questions you might have. Speaker 5: Thank you, Commander. I appreciate that. I you know, given the information and having known this location for some time and I understand I is here as well, the business owner, we appreciate you being here and staying and sticking through it. And I appreciate you listening to this as well. But knowing that location and everything that the commander had mentioned, I also do not feel comfortable providing going forward with an ABC license at this time. We have had historic issues. That's probably the most challenging pocket of the district, to be quite honest. And so it's been a struggle for us to just maintain public safety standards and really just ensure that everybody, specifically families that live there, can live with a better and higher quality of life standard. And so I just would like to uphold the the recommendation at this time. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you, Councilmember Pearce. CNN. Is there any public comment on this? Please come forward. Speaker 6: Oh, my name is Norma. And this is the third time I'm here. And I work really hard. And my husband to. And I think the cramming is everywhere. And next to my business is a restaurant. It's like three blocks from my business. They have a license. They get a light year and a half. And I know I'm a mom, but my son and my daughters work with me. I don't want to increase a crime. You think I'm working? They want to increase the crime? No, because my son, my husband and me work there. Speaker 1: And we don't want to close this. I don't know. Speaker 6: Because that's hard for me to walk there. You know this right behind my business. I talk every time with the guys in it and about them. You don't have to dream. You don't have to be drunk. I want to sell beer just for my customers. My good customers. I don't have I don't want license to tell everybody. You know, because we have a very we are people when this we're we throw away we don't want the people in my in my business who has been almost. Sorry. Eight years of. I don't. I really, really want the business. They license. The license? Sorry to be open. Not to sell beers. To help me to be. That's the way I want. That's the service. Thank you. Speaker 5: And Norm, I'm sorry. Thank you again for being here. And this isn't any reflection of your specific business, because we know we've talked about it. You have great food, you have a good ambiance there and a great environment. It is just really, you know, the surrounding area. And you we know you've been here for some time. I just want to walk through the process, Commander. So for any reason, we decided at any point that we did want to move forward with an ABC license if. Well, let me let me back up if for any reason. We said, you know what? No, we're not. We're going to say no to this as a council to this recommendation. What is the process then? Because it still has to go to ABC with your recommendations, is that correct? Speaker 3: Councilwoman That is correct. It would go to ABC with a recommendation for denial. ABC would then hear or hold a hearing with an administrative judge. Representatives from the city would come. The applicant could also come with her representatives and the case would be presented where ABC would make the ultimate decision on that. That decision would then either issue an ABC license with conditions or it would deny the ABC license. And from that point, if an ABC license were issued, the applicant would have to operate under those conditions. But there's also the potential that that could then allow for a person to person transfer, which would make the city much more unable to address some of the issues that might come up with the licensee if it were to change. Speaker 5: Right. Absolutely. Okay. Well, we'll up we're going to uphold the recommendation at this time. And I know normally you're going to speak to my chief of staff, Corey, tomorrow, and we'll continue talking to you about the area. Okay. Thank you so much. Speaker 10: Okay. Councilmember Granger. Speaker 12: Yeah, I just had some questions, if you don't mind. Councilmember or Labor. The alternatives that we have here for for this business owner, I know we always want to support business in Long Beach, especially along that corridor, because it's it's important to sustain it. Are there like in terms of some of the issues with the crime around that area? Is it is it a crime that that is related to maybe the hours that the business is open? For example, where is it? When do they open and when do they close? Speaker 3: So, Councilmember Your Honor, the last time that there was an ABC license at this location was 2009. And the actual. Dates and times of the crimes at that time I don't have in front of me. But what I can tell you from our crime breakdown is looking at the total reported crimes in that reporting district during the time it had an ABC license and I can go back to 2008, the total crimes reported in that district were 360 and within five years of the ABC license being revoked. Going down to 2013, that crime, the total crimes dropped from 360 to 189. So it was a significant drop in total crimes in that reporting district, which was in conjunction with the ABC license being revoked. Speaker 12: You know, I was trying to provide the owner with maybe some options that you might want to look, revisit your hours of operation, especially if you want to serve alcohol, because as we know, the later of businesses open, the alcohol is offered it up. It requires an opportunity to come with it. So I'm looking forward. I'm going to support the recommendation, but I just want to provide the business owner with some options to consider if they want to stay in business. And then we certainly want to encourage you to stay in business. However, you might want to relook, revisit your your business plan and you're always in operation so that you can be successful. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you. Are there any other comments, public comments here or none? Please cast your votes on a motion. Speaker 2: Ketzel Levine Price. Motion carries eight zero.

ABC License

Recommendation to receive and file the application of Norma Mora de Perez, dba Brite Spot Coffee Shop, for an original Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) license, at 412 West Pacific Coast Highway, and submit a Public Notice of Protest to ABC on the bases of high crime in the reporting district, residences within 100 feet of the establishment, and a school within 600 feet of the establishment. (District 1)

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Speaker 9: They're here. Speaker 1: No, no, of course, I. So let's move. Let's move to here. Number mountains, which we open in second reading the audience, which we continued to February the fifth. Kirk, could you could you please introduce the unemployed. Speaker 0: Hearing number one report from Energy Resources recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record. Conclude the public hearing regarding the natural gas franchise with Southern California Gas Company. Declare the ordinance granting a limited, natural French gas franchise to SoCal Gas to transmit and distribute natural gas within the city of Long Beach Red for the first time and lead over the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading and authorize the city manager to execute any and all documents in connection there with citywide. Speaker 1: Like yes, I'd like to transfer to a mr. Assistant City Manager. Speaker 9: Yes. We actually like to ask for a. Speaker 4: Continuance to postpone this. Items of the city attorney will. Speaker 9: Read that vice mayor. Members of the council. Speaker 4: The the motion, I believe it is made by the vice mayor is to continue this item to a date certain and staff is asked to continue this item to February 5th of 2019. Speaker 1: Yes. Do either by name first and second public comment, please. No one in the diocese. Fine. Can I please have a vote? Okay. I liked your ass. Speaker 0: Councilman Austin. Councilwoman Mongo. Councilwoman Price. Motion carries. Speaker 3: Okay. Speaker 4: Excuse me, Vice Mayor, if I could just make a brief announcement just also for the audience items number four, 21 and 28 have been pulled from the agenda this evening. Those items will not be heard tonight. And also under the closed session labor relations, there is no reportable action from the closed session. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Any public comment? Speaker 3: No. No. No. Okay.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance granting to Southern California Gas Company, a corporation, the right, privilege and franchise upon terms and conditions herein set forth to lay and use pipes and appurtenances for transmitting and distributing gas for the purposes as specified hereinafter under, along, across or upon certain public streets, ways, alleys and places, as the same now or may hereafter exist, within the City of Long Beach, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

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Speaker 3: No. No. No. Okay. Speaker 1: Okay. Now, your number two crackerjack, please. Any news item? Speaker 0: Hearing number two report from economic development recommendation or receive supporting documentation into the record. Conclude the public hearing and adopt a resolution continuing the Fourth Street Parking and Business Improvement Area Assessment for the period of October 1st, 2018 through September 30th, 2019, and authorize City Manager to extend the agreement with the Fourth Street Business Improvement Association for a one year term. District two. Speaker 1: Thank you. Speaker 4: Yes, Mr.. Speaker 9: Vice Mayor, members of the council, the staff report will be given by Eric Romero, our project management manager and the Economic Development Department. Speaker 4: Honorable Vice Mayor and Members of the City Council. This item is the annual approval of the Fourth Street Parking and Business Improvement Area Annual Ongoing Assessment. The Fourth Street Business Improvement Association promotes and markets, the fourth Street Commercial Area, using funds generated through the assessment of businesses located in the Fourth Street Parking and Business Improvement Area to continue the assessment levy. State law requires that a public hearing be held on the proposed program and assessment on September 11th, 2018. The City Council approved a resolution granting approval of the annual report and set today's date for the public hearing. There are no proposed changes to the basis of assessment, nor significant changes to an proposed activity. Speaker 9: Staff request that the City Council receive the supporting documentation. Speaker 4: And to the record. Speaker 9: Approve the resolution, continue the levy. Speaker 4: Of the assessment, and authorize the city manager to extend the agreement for one additional year. That concludes my report. Speaker 1: Thank you. Any public comment in this? Please support. Speaker 3: It's going to be. Speaker 9: Very clear as the address as the circumstance has it. I sent to our council members an email over the weekend last week relative to an issue that touches upon this relative to traffic and parking in general and also illegal parking in bus spaces and so forth in the second District is prone to very serious problems. And if one needs to understand that hop the 151 bus at some time and moments after it turns the corner and gets into the ditch, these ones district are. Until you pass. Redondo What you've got are large trucks, including including 18 wheelers that have stopped in the middle of the road to offload. As well as smaller trucks. And it goes through the various different districts all the way down to, as I pointed out, as I referenced earlier, just beyond Redondo. So somebody has got to marshal those various different neighborhood group groups to work on the street isn't that way to start with. But then if you've got parking on both sides. And very few lots parking in the middle of the street, just stopping and offloading. It just intensifies the problem. So there really needs to be some intelligent leadership in that area to solve the problem. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. Hill. There's any comment from the council. Speaker 6: I just want to thank staff for their work on this. And I know that at the last board meeting that I attended, we had a discussion around the parking lot at Fourth and Cherry and making sure that we are enforcing the hours and pay and everything. Can you speak to that briefly? Or some stuff. I know it might not be you, but. Speaker 4: Sure, I believe that Public Works is responsible for ultimately enforcing parking in that area, and. Speaker 9: I believe that someone should be following up shortly. Speaker 6: Great. Thank you. Speaker 1: Yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez. Speaker 0: I'm just supportive of the item as well. So that's all. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Now we move to the hearing. Number two, could you please. Speaker 3: We need to take a vote. Speaker 1: Please take a vote. I'm sorry. Excuse me. You couldn't take a vote in that.

Resolution

Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and adopt resolution continuing the Fourth Street Parking and Business Improvement Area assessment for the period of October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to extend the agreement with the Fourth Street Business Improvement Association for a one-year term. (District 2)

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Speaker 1: Okay. Thank you very much. Now we're going to move on to item 29 with the clock. Please read item. Speaker 0: Actually Item 29 Communication from Councilwoman Gonzalez, Chair Tidelands and Harbor Committee Recommendation to direct City Attorney and the Board of Harbor Commissioners to explore ways to address the protection of proprietary interests in Labor Code violations at the Port of Long Beach and City Manager to report back on the impacts of SB 41402. Speaker 1: Thank you. Could Noelle please come up and speak on this? Speaker 9: Good evening. Thank you, Mr. Vice Mayor. Members of the City Council and the well, Hasegawa, deputy executive director at the Harvard Department. I want to begin by thanking you for the opportunity to provide a brief report on the Harbor Commission's hearing that took place September 26th. The request of the Harbor Entitlements Committee. The Harbor Commission conducted a hearing on September 26th to explore ways to address the protection of proprietary interests and the Labor Code violations at the Port of Long Beach. A memorandum summarizing the hearing from Harbor Commission President Tracy Agus, who was also in attendance tonight, was provided to the mayor and the city council last Friday. During the hearing, the Harbor Commission heard a staff report as well as testimony from representatives from the Teamsters, Senator Ricardo Lara's Office. Harbor Trucking Association. The California Trucking Association. A truck driver and two of our marine terminal operators. Long Beach Container Terminal and SSA Marine. The testimony and discussion focused on truck operations, efficiencies and driver misclassification. The city attorney's office also clarified that the Port of Long Beach has very limited abilities to act on the issue of driver misclassification due to federal preemption on truck regulation outside of safety, security and environmental issues. In spite of this, the Harbor Commission recognizes the critical role that truck drivers play in supporting port operations and the gross inequities involved with truck driver misclassification. We believe that Senate Bill 1402 provides a critical new tool that could be instrumental in addressing and possibly ending truck driver misclassification. In addition, the Harbor Commission and port staff are diligently pursuing multiple additional avenues to address the problem, including requesting action from the Attorney General. Actively monitoring judgments issued by the Labor Commissioner on misclassification. Working with city staff to take action against business licenses when that options are available. Engaging neighboring municipalities to take similar actions. To revoke business licenses in their jurisdictions, engaging stakeholders and working with them to develop business solutions and exploring potential state legislative solutions. Concurrently, the port will continue to focus on improving efficiencies and reduce truck turn times, as this is also a critical component in the success of the dredge trucking industry and for the truck drivers. In furtherance of this, the Harbor Commission directed the following actions during the hearing. The Harbor Commission's Subcommittee on Efficiency, which was established last week, will continue the review of truck driver misclassification issues to identify any additional actions that can be taken by the port to gain compliance with state laws. This subcommittee will report back to the full commission with their findings no later than the first of the year. The Harbor Commission and port staff will continue to pursue ongoing plans and explore new suggestions raised at the hearing that will also improve efficiencies and working conditions for truck drivers servicing the Port of Long Beach. This will include a review of appointment systems, chassis management and uses of land to support truck operations. And Mr. Vice Mayor, council members, this concludes our report. As mentioned, the president of our Harbor Commission, Tracy Gasgas, here in the audience, as well as several of our staff members. And I also want to recognize Deputy City attorney Don Macintosh who was very helpful in helping us to formulate are hearing. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Is there any public comment on this item? And please state your name and you have 3 minutes. Speaker 11: My name's Zoe Nicholson. I live in Rose Park. Speaker 2: Good evening, Council vice mayor. And in particular, the audience, of course, there the primary reason we are here. Over these past few years, I've stood with the port workers and those seeking to work in the port. I prayed with them and I've spoken on corners in support of them. I've spoken to the commission and the Harbor Commission. And now to you. I want to tell you the truth here. As I told the Harbor Commission. This is too much power for you to hold. When you look at each of these workers here tonight and you think of them standing out in the street and strike, I ask you to see that they are representatives of an entire family. They want to work hard, get paid fairly, feed their kids, and some just. Speaker 11: Want a few dollars. Speaker 2: To send people who live in other places. It's not moral for you or anyone who has a vote to vote on this. It's not meant to be personal. This applies to all issues around equity and equality. The very idea that we vote on these things is immoral. What we are being denied here, what they are being denied here is the minimum of that human being should have and it should not require a vote. And then add insult to injury, you most likely already know how you will vote and we really are lining up in front of you to assuage our own consciences and tell our truth. Well, here's my truth. These workers have no campaign funders, no business allegiances to consider. They are simply representatives of their spouses, their children, their parents. I stand here on a regular basis asking for a vote. And I want to tell you that I come from a darkly conservative family that lives in the mindset of scarcity . They believe that if workers, people of color, LGBT people and women get full rights, it will reduce their slice of the pie. I argue with my brother constantly and I tell him, All we really want to do, Fred, is build more bakeries. All these workers want is the dignity of work with fair wages. And as I said, this is too much power for any elected body to hold regardless. You have this power. Speaker 11: You can lean in and. Speaker 2: Hit a green light and support them, which I hope you do now and every night that the possibility of equity and equality is in your hands. Thank you very much. Speaker 7: Good evening. Long Beach City Council. My name is Reyes, Mongolia. I'm a business representative of Teamsters Local 48. We represent hundreds of men and women drivers that are driving the Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles. I'm here to just give a message. Speaker 9: The port trucking industry is out of control. Speaker 7: Every possible government agency has found drivers to be. Speaker 9: Employed and told companies to follow the law. Speaker 7: But they keep breaking the law. Workers are also fed up. They just went on strike for 16 times in five years and they won't stop until they get justice. The union represents workers at high road companies at the port. Some example companies are toll shippers. C logix hlt eriko flor weber. But these companies are undercut by all the lawbreaking companies at the port. Law abiding companies can't survive if they have to compete against lawbreaking companies. The union has supported drivers in their fight to end the abuse at the port, like the wage theft and driver misclassification . The union has backed these workers in every single one of the 16 strikes. The union will stand by these workers. Speaker 4: And as. Speaker 9: Long as. Speaker 7: It takes and as many strikes as it takes. Thank you for your leadership time and city council. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Next week. Speaker 7: Thank you for letting me be here. Council members. My name is Bruce Jefferson. I work at California Courage. I'm a warehouse worker. We will. House workers. Back to truck drivers. They're in California College. You know, I just recently bought a company. But this company in June had just I myself, along with a few more of my coworkers from the warehouse, have filed racial discrimination lawsuit against California courage. Not only that, we talking about the wage theft, the misclassification in unsafe working conditions, such as just recently. Within the past two years, a man passed out in 110 degrees inside a container, shipping container now. And we were told, get back to work. Just put a cardboard box over it. These are some of the laws that this company is breaking. They also broke the law by. Dismissing me, terminate me. As a worker there in California, a college, supposedly for my attitude. But the only thing that I was doing was speaking out about the safety net. My coworkers know about the conditions going on in here in the building. This old building has been up since World War two. Yeah, the company may have put some work in up there, but you had bathrooms up there, still got peepholes in them. You also have rodents running around where we get water. There's not even a cooling off stage. And this is just some of the things that me and my fellow coworkers go through. Even though I was wrongly terminated. I've been on strike seven times and I'm still. Given my time to support my workers up there, even though I'm no longer working there. Thank you for your time. Speaker 1: Thank you, sir. Matchmaker. Speaker 2: Good afternoon, City Council. My name is Tracy Ellis and I am a Long Beach resident. I also work the harbor. I'm one of the very fortunate ones to have a job that happens to be a Teamster slot. And our company that I work for is one of the fair employers that are. Working out of the port of Long Beach. I can't express to you enough, you know, my experience of working in the harbor. I've been working out of the harbor in trucks since 2001. And. It's hard for me to explain how my family and I have suffered. You know? Yeah, I'm growing old, but, you know. Speaker 3: Um. Speaker 2: You know, having to pay a truck note on top of the insurance, the fuel, uh, and everything else that goes along with it and raise a family is one of the worst experience that I can, you know, really imagine upon anybody. But yet we show up every day. And still go to work. You know, there are a lot of jobs in this area. You know, being from here, I'm sure, and you guys being here, there's only a few choices of both industries where work is available for average little people. So, you know, I'm here today to give my voice, to ask you to stand up for us little people. You know, the majority of these companies have a hiring ratio of hiring 10% whites, 10% blacks and 70 to 80% Latinos because they know that they're afraid and won't say much. But the the ways theft that these companies are performing on all of us is ridiculous. There's been a 100%. Excuse my French, but. Every lawsuit that's been put in, let me put it this way, has came back, approved for the workers. So I just suggest, you know, just wake up and know that this movement is moving. And it's moving and it's moving and it's only getting stronger. And thank you. My time's. Speaker 3: Up. Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Next week. Good afternoon. My name is Randy Williams. I work for the same company, Tracy. Speaker 7: People ship Transport Express. Proud Teamster member. But before I became. Speaker 1: A Teamster member. Speaker 7: I was on the other side. Drive in. You drive from. Speaker 1: Both shells, start to finish 18, sometimes 20 hours a day, and you're going way over your hours. The equipment is faulty, but you got to do that to make money. One story I always like to tell is. This one company. Speaker 7: Is still there, still working in existence. I got there. Speaker 1: Checked the truck out, went to the port, sat there for about. Speaker 7: Maybe seven, 8 hours, didn't get my container. When I got back to the yard, they said, Oh, sorry you didn't get your container. Speaker 9: But you owe us for gas, for. Speaker 7: Fuel, for this and that. Speaker 1: So at the end of a working day, I owe them money. And this is going on to this day. And that's why you see a lot of the accidents. Speaker 7: Not all, but a lot of the accidents. Speaker 1: Are people. Speaker 9: Who are overworked. Speaker 1: Stressed out, moving too fast, flipping containers because they're trying to get from point A to point. Speaker 4: B just to make make. Speaker 7: Money. So I already like I. Speaker 1: Like approved previously said, I already have a good contract. Speaker 7: But I'm out here every strike to support the ones who don't because I've been on that side and I know what it feels like. So that's all I want to say. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Next speaker. Speaker 9: I'll be translating for him. Okay. When I started this. Good afternoon. Same number as Napoleon. I think when I got done. Try at home. Para La Compania the explore. I drive for expo format that is annual for the last ten years. I don't like it out here thoughtlessly. You know, they've completely put me up a lot. First of all, I want to thank you all for giving me the opportunity speaking here tonight. And after the asanas, you are handling it all and what any knew about this size? Well, in the last ten years that I've been working for Expo, we had done six strikes and it does say, well, I see the material. They came on to protect handle. And ended in the last six strikes we've done. We've been protesting because of policy proposals, because of the abuse, because a lot of wage deaf mal classification misclassification, getting a housing credit that is almost going to make us believes are we're truck owners independent contractors one then the real. Yeah. I'll go. Yeah, I reckon rocinante they'll go more and play. When in reality the government agency, government governmental agencies have proven that we're employees. As a la semana pasada just last week. Two inventories, the perimeter of the ang welder. We were on strike for three days. Our cows are at mala. Normally a parte de la compania could be all because of all the bad things exposed to us. Eating it after Israel got. And we didn't in an end. And this three days a strike. It was a retrial. We have fought but get to Compania and well I've said can be what we're fighting for so that this company can make a change. Apparently their 100 crore salary and to stop stealing our wages there aren't they thought well during the strike and to problematic is America role model material come to your payroll during the strike I had a problem where my truck broke down. Yeah. Yeah. Welcome, owners. Also, the Yassine Central Waha and I being out of work for the last eight days and it was actually no it they knew only warm people the the the narrow anatomy family. I have not had any income in the last eight days to sustain my family. A la compania. I thought that zero zero appointment para reppenhagen in El Camino and the company has refused to help me to repair the truck. It meant I would like it. Cuando Mr. Ohara And what's sad about this is that when they come back to work, men have yet been given compromiser their resolve and the narrow, um, uh. Gay egos and uh may not. But if that. But but l mortadella they'll come in in the event the company does lend me the money to repair the truck. When they go back to work, I have to repay every penny back to the company and a that animal if they maldonado la compania for mother cientos in Guatemala. Dolores. So right now I'm suing the company for more than $150,000 for. Por la por la mandela compania No, no. I thought of Rwanda. Rwanda. Alvaro Then interest because of this company has been stealing our wages, the US payroll going now all this. And I hope with the help of all of all of you it's a lower tax and lower resolution problema that with your support we can fix this issues you guys the companies are fighting and for this companies to stop. They can literally breaking the law. Nicola who thinks Sarah. But isn't that. Pardon me, but attorney companion and justice be served for me and all my coworkers, which I could ask you. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Speaker 9: Good evening, council members. My name is. Excuse me. My name is Jeremy Hoke. Thank you for having me here. I'm a Navy veteran who has worked off and on at California Cartage for about 15 years. I've spent most of my life since leaving. They are working for temp agencies, which is part of the problem. But a whole other story that would take up a whole other evening's worth of discussion. But during the time I've worked at California Cartage, I've seen constant safety violations turning turning their back on needed heat breaks for the workers. The containers used to be located real close together, dangerously close together. But I guess OSHA came along at some point and got them to moving them farther apart. So. Any kind of OSHA violations, safety violation, labor violation. They've kind of been doing this damage control, but very grudgingly and sluggishly, only at the prodding of the Teamsters helping us, we workers with the help of the Teamsters and Warehouse Workers Resource Center. I've often reflected that if I didn't know about if I didn't work in the warehouse industry myself and didn't know about the violations of my end of the deal, I reflect. I've always hoped that I would have known about the raw deal my brothers in the trucking industry get, because I certainly hope that if I wasn't involved in the warehouse industry, I would know about their plight and be able to help them in some way during that. I've also wondered why the warehouse has remained in in this 1930s era buildings over the years when the when the lease was so nice and cheap for for the occupants. I don't know. It's because the the specter of the railroads moving in, preventing people from saying, well, we're never going to bother to fix this up because the trains are going to get in anyway. So. So I don't know or if it was everybody pointing their fingers at each other about who the responsibility was. But it seems like with a sweetheart deal like they had, they could have maybe one building at a time, modernize it, because this whole warehouse every year becomes more and more obsolete compared to the other warehouses that you see springing up in the city that are entirely self enclosed. You don't have outdoor docks where the workers. Where the workers have to work out in the foul weather. But regardless of what kind of building contains, as long it remains as long as a safety and. Labor violations continue, we will continue to strike. And that's about all I have to say this evening. Thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you, sir. Speaker 9: Good afternoon, councilmembers. My name is Jim Danto. I actually belong to two unions. I'm a teamster and also I belong to L.B., the Association of Long Beach Employees. Whether we're maintaining the city or moving freight, please respect labor. It's what keeps things going and keeps things in check. And if you can just please support us with your conscience. Thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you. Good evening. Speaker 9: Everyone. My name is Warrior Mayorga. I am a truck driver for many, many years in the port, around 30 years working and different company looking for the best. The best life gave it to my my family. I'm here because I am supporting also the SB 402. It's the law. Give it the lever to you know, to the to the driver for for the company is to break the law and exploitation for all of us. I am I'm here. You know, I'm telling you, I participate. And in the past for for many, many strike and different times. And the last the last week we finish and support in one one of the last one because we want to stop, you know, all the the companies continuing breaking the law. And it's about I asking you to to help us as a boat driver, as a family, as a human, you know, to to attend that that big issue we have that the truck driver, you know, because only that the company they make money in and how is possible my my my coworker he say you know they had to pay for fix the truck and they don't have no money for fix it. Speaker 3: And who has the money. Speaker 9: All the time? The company coming here they say and they allowed so you know they let the driver has the money is not true. It's about asking you, you know, do something better for the truck driver. And otherwise, you know, we continue in fighting. We we continue in supporting to all the driver I am working the and the cheaper transport right now with those union job but I am scared I am scared all that I run more than a thousand companies breaking the law and I lose my job. You know, it's says only the job I have for support my family. Thank you for for the time. Speaker 1: Thank you, sir. Speaker 2: Hi. Good evening. Speaker 0: My name is Jessica Durham. I'm the director of the port's. Speaker 2: Project at Lane. And as part of the Our People, our Port Coalition. Speaker 0: We work together with our community. Speaker 2: And labor partners. Speaker 6: And the faith community in solidarity with. Speaker 0: Port drivers and warehouse workers, like some of those you heard today. And first off, I just want to thank you for your. Speaker 2: Leadership on this issue, especially Councilwoman Gonzalez, for moving forward with the original. Speaker 0: Motion brought forward. Speaker 2: By Mayor Garcia back in February and conducting a thorough series of hearings and. Speaker 0: Taking a really close look at this issue over the past several months. Speaker 2: And this vote could not come at a more critical time. You know, as you heard from the workers just last week. Speaker 6: Port drivers and. Speaker 2: Warehouse workers. Speaker 0: Just concluded their 16th strike in just five. Speaker 2: Years. Speaker 0: And I think the message from the workers is loud and clear that this crisis. Speaker 2: Has only grown as the port trucking companies have refused to change their behavior. Speaker 0: And the rampant and systemic lawbreaking. Speaker 2: Despite the countless rulings by every government agency that is investigating the issues and as you heard from the workers and as I shared in one of the committee hearings. This includes the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Employment Development Department. Speaker 0: The California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Labor Commissioner's Office, Cal OSHA, you name it. Every government agency has looked. Speaker 6: At these companies, has found. Speaker 2: Violations. And since these companies continue to violate our laws misclassification. Speaker 0: Wage theft, retaliation, violations of the health. Speaker 6: And safety, as you. Speaker 0: Just heard from the. Speaker 2: Workers, the only recourse they have is to take to the streets. The picket lines from their unfair labor practice. Speaker 0: Strike have spread from the the truck yards. Speaker 2: All the way to the port terminals. Speaker 0: Causing massive delays and disruptions in cargo flow. And this crisis doesn't just impact. Speaker 2: Drivers in our communities. Speaker 0: This disrupts port operations and it harms the port's reputation. Speaker 2: So the port has the. Speaker 6: Clear authority to protect its proprietary interests. Speaker 0: From these disruptions. Speaker 2: So, again, we thank you for your leadership. You know, we work we look forward to forward motion at the Harbor Commission. And again, thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. You guys like to go to pull up comment or you would like to. Councilwoman in Dallas, should you start now? Speaker 0: So I want to just first thank everybody that has been with us through these committee meetings. I'll give a quick timeline of what that will look like, what that looked like, as well as what we did here on the full body of the city council. And thank you to everybody who came tonight to speak. I know this is probably the 100th time you've come out, but we really appreciate your voice nonetheless. Thank you. And so as a quick timeline, back in February of this year, the council voted to move forward with request to find solutions that protect the the port of Long Beach has proprietary interests and labor code violations. And just recently and thank you to my fellow committee members and the Harbor and Tidelands Committee Councilmembers Pearce and Pryce. I appreciate their participation and involvement in the three meetings that we had. Two were held in May. One was held this last September. The first two were open forums and hearings. That was the reaction to the February council item that requested hearings on this very issue. The last meeting we held here in the council chambers, and that was to discuss and just deliberate among ourselves and connect with our city attorney's office. Thank you, Don, for being there. And thank you to. Speaker 2: JT. Speaker 0: From the city clerk's office for providing a lot of the presentations that you'll see that are embedded in this item. And I urge my colleagues, if you haven't seen the presentations, there's a lot of information in their presentations from various organizations and groups, as well as letters from one in particular, a large retailer Target. So we'll get into that in just a bit. So thank you again to the many stakeholders Lane Teamsters, the California Trucking Association, Employment Development Department, the Harbor Trucking Association, and most importantly, the truck drivers that were affected by this issue and gave firsthand accounts at these various meetings in the reports that they discussed, specifically nationally, that 71% of all freight tonnage moved across the United States in current and is currently done via truck. And we need about 90,000 new truck drivers each year for the next ten years to keep up with demand. However, statewide, we have seen, as has been mentioned, over $46 million in judgments from the Labor Commission of California since 2011. And of course, it's been said that we've had about 16 strikes in over the last five years at our ports with hundreds of thousands of dollars being won by truck drivers, and rightly so. We also heard that locally there are about 1900 trucking companies that are registered at the Port of Long Beach, representing 17,000 individual trucks. And during this time, I do want to mention that the state of California was actually examining what it could do to support the trucking industry. And we were we were examining that as well through the city attorney's office. So that is SB 1402, authored by Senator Ricardo Lara and supported by the city of Long Beach. And it basically asks for two things. First, it requires that the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement post on its website the names, the addresses and essential information for any port dredge motor carrier with an unsatisfied final court judgment. That's number one. Number two, it extends. Yeah, we can clap for that. That's fine. It extends a to a customer, which is in this case could be a Home Depot or target. But they share civil, legal and civil liability for all port dredge services obtained after after the date the motor carrier appeared on the list. So that's number two. And due to the Senate bill, we received a letter from Target, as I mentioned, and the letter actually states just to kind of keep it short here. It states and details our commitment to continuous improvement in the industry, as well as using enterprise and industry to benchmark best practices while acknowledging the issues at the port related to wages. And what I would like to say to is I really think our Port Commissioner Harbor Commission, because I know they took on a lot in that September 26 meeting. So thank you to Noel, our government relations team, the rest of our port team, and Commissioner Tracey Agus, who is here today. She had attended our meetings as well. And I think the actions that, you know, have been taken place and specifically I like to see that we do have a new port productivity committee that will be discussing and engaging stakeholders, which is I'm excited to be a part of that and even to bring more information back to the Harbor and Tidelands Committee as to next steps and evolving this issue. So what I will say overall, with all that said, that was just sort of a snapshot, but we as a city have a duty to effectively compete for cargo, find new ways to gain market share, as well as stay competitive in the global market. And this is truly undermined when labor unrest continues. And I asked my colleagues for support and providing additional insight and information from our city attorney's office on the protection of these proprietary interests, and especially Labor code violations at the Port of Long Beach. So I ask my colleagues to support this. Thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you. Consolation prize, Pierce. Speaker 6: Yes. I want to thank everyone that came out to speak today, as well as everyone that's come out to speak and engage in this issue, not only in the last several months since we've agenda business and Long Beach, but for the last nearly 20 years that we have been tackling this challenge. And I want to, you know, echo that at every single commission meeting, I have made it really clear that while, you know, the issues that are happening with our truck drivers is one that's of great importance to me. The number one issue is our proprietary interest at the port and the fact that this is city land and that ports do have a legal ability and right to make sure that we're competitive, to make sure that we do not end up on the national market as a place of of unrest, of labor disputes that are consistently disrupting business and the flow of cargo. I think 16 strikes in five years is I think that sends a strong message. And I'm I don't know the answer, and I don't know that anybody on the council right now could answer. But I think it would be interesting to find out how many labor disputes have happened to this degree at any other port in the nation that might put at risk their competitive edge? Or is it just the L.A. Long Beach port that is facing this unrest? I think that after the last five years, you've really seen that that unrest has increased and so much so into a civil disobedience with arrest this past week with hundreds of people down at the port. So I want to echo and urge support. I know that there's conversations around what labor peace looks like at our port, and I know that there are some legal concerns and questions. And I want to be real clear that we all are on the same page and understand that a labor peace agreement is not an agreement with a union. It is not requiring a business to go into a contractual agreement with a labor union, but rather that it is a it puts it on the company to make sure that there is labor peace, that there is not a conversation around workers going on strike or walking out that's going to disrupt the flow of products in our port. And so I hope that as we continue the conversation, that we really do dove in and make sure that we talk to many attorneys and that we understand our rights as a port and that we're doing the very best we can to end this disruption at our ports. I think that our staff has done a fantastic job. I've really enjoyed the committee meetings and I know that it takes a lot for workers to come out and speak. And I wish that we hadn't been doing this for the last 20 years, but I know that that there's a lot of progress being made. I want to thank the leadership at the state level. I also want to recognize that there are several companies in our port that would like us to to end the labor disputes. I think that we. Let me see. Let me. Speaker 3: Look. Speaker 6: We have not only target, as was mentioned, but SSA Marine also supports a labor peace that our port making sure that they can compete at the local level and that we are not disrupting the the move that cargo movements as well. So I look forward to the next steps. I hope that the process is not lengthy and through several months, but that we can kind of come to some conclusion sometime soon. And so I want to thank again the port and the the commission for all of your hard work and urge my colleagues to support this. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you very much, Councilwoman Rice. Speaker 5: Thank you. I want to thank my colleague, Councilwoman Gonzalez and Councilmember Pearce for bringing forth this discussion. And I think the city attorney's office has done an amazing job. So thank you for providing us with the education that we need to be able to look at this. Issue in the context of recent, caselaw and legal trends that are taking place on a national level on this topic. Certainly, this is not an issue that's unique to our port, and certainly it's not an issue that's unique to the industry. Although here in Long Beach, it's it's an area where there is some prevalence. And there is no question, I don't think by anyone who's studied the issue that there has been misclassification taking place. And I think state legislation is going to go a long way in neutralizing and making it a fair environment to work and to compete . And I'm looking forward to that. I do think it's something that has to happen on a statewide level. I do appreciate the city attorney's guidance to us as policymakers. I think they've been very prudent and very clear in outlining the areas where the city has room for implementation or discussion on limitations thereof. And so I appreciate what you have done in terms of the guidance you've provided. It is it's obviously an issue that affects many people. And there are very clear legal limitations in terms of what the city and the port can do. So I appreciate the harbor commission and the port staff taking this issue on and it's been an eye opening experience on many levels. And to see where the the national trends are going in terms of a legal interpretation of employment status has been enlightening on many levels. So I want to thank my colleagues for bringing this forward. Speaker 1: Thank you, sir. Speaker 7: Thank you very much. I also want to thank the committee for bringing this this forward. I want to thank that the hopefully the actions that we take this evening are moving this issue forward and raising the bar for the the truckers, the workers who are so valued, you know, a fair day's work for a fair day's pay is really the American way. And I'll just repeat that. A fair day's work for a fair day's pay is an American way. Whether or not you are represented, employee or not, you should be treated fairly. The truckers in our our ports deserve way wage protections, job security and healthy safety protections, just like any other worker. And I believe that this independent operator model is is a flawed model, particularly in the trucking industry. It's unfair and it leads. And we've heard much testimony here today that leads to abusive practices by by some companies and their their customers, but by extension of SB 1402 now. Our drivers are literally in. These poor drivers are literally driving the economy. There's some crazy number like 40% of our nation's economy comes to our ports. And that is that's a senior significant number. And for these workers not to be sharing in the wealth that they create in this country is just a damn shame. And we need to do more. And I'm not sure that this body has the power to do that. We are going to work within the confines and whatever we can do to do that. I'm sure that there's there's a resolve here among my colleagues to support fairness for for the truckers, port truckers in our in our city . But we've got to work with Sacramento, and we're going to, I think, ultimately need some some federal intervention to to make this this this issue. Right. I want to be realistic, too. The looking at the numbers. I think, you know, we would we would do well to to get to a present, a place where at least 50% or more of those poor truckers are in an employment model. And I think there should be be some some some regulations in place similarly to and I've been thinking about this quite a bit over the last several months, similarly to how we we regulate the construction industry with prevailing wages. I think there needs to be some sort of prevailing wages for for poor truckers as well, too, to ensure that we are being fair and that they are being treated fair. And again, benefiting from from the great wealth that they are creating for for our our country. And they deserve fair compensation. I can't can say that enough. They I'd like to think that this model that we currently have and I've heard this for years, I've been around long enough to to 20 years to to understand, you know, where it went when this this first started with with with. With the labor organizations that have been working to so, so tirelessly over the last 20 years to to get us to a place where these these workers are sharing in the economy as well, and have been on the lines the job actions with these workers. I mean, I'm going to say that I am fully supportive of their efforts to to to actually unionize and become part of the collective bargaining process. That, too, is the American way. And so the objective, when somebody gives up and goes to work every morning, the objective is for them to make money. Right, not to pay the employer to for or for an opportunity to drive a truck and then come back with a deficit. And so, again, I'm glad that this issue is front and center. I hope this issue won't go away until we we get to a place where there is some real justice here. You know, but I will say that this feels a little bit like deja vu, right? Because just a few months ago we were here, we heard the same many of the same testimony. And I'd like to say, like I said, I'd like to think that we are moving in the right direction. Um, but, you know, just in the last few months, I'm not too encouraged by that. So for, for these workers less than solid and let's continue to move it. I like the fact that we'll have a report back on SB 1402. I like the fact that we are instructing our city attorney to to look at creative ways for us to to help regulate labor violations. And then I can't say enough for the Port of Long Beach and their efforts. Thank you for being here. President Garcia, you I know you care about, you know, the the the port and its place in our city. I would just ask that that your or your organization, your agency, our Port Commission, also continue to work with all the stakeholders to make this right as well. Thank you very much. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Speaker 6: I yes, I had one comment that I left off, and I did want to highlight, I think, the conversation around the labor piece part. And as I'm reading the memo that we have, we do have labor peace at our airport and our convention center. And I understand that in the memo that we're looking at, that we talk about entering into a third party agreement. And so I would like to ask if it would be possible to have a report back to the Tidelands Committee on the the difference in between why we can have that for these two entities and why not , or what might stand in the way or what challenges we might have at the port. Speaker 0: Are you able to answer that now? Yes, absolutely. We can certainly provide you. Speaker 2: With that report. But if you'd like the answer now, I can give it to you now. Okay. Speaker 5: Basically, at the convention. Speaker 0: Center and at. Speaker 2: The airport, we have a direct contractual relationship with the concessionaires at the port. We do not have a direct contractual relationship with the trucking companies. So that provides a entirely different setting. Speaker 5: There is case. Speaker 2: Law that established that when a municipality is essentially acting in the market and has a contractual relationship for services, they have the right and ability to enter into labor peace agreements. So under that law, it works out just fine at the airport, at the convention center. But at the port there is not that relationship. We do not have we do not hire truckers. Others hire truckers who then come in and serve the people who are hiring them. So we do not have that direct relationship with them. Speaker 6: And our direct relationship, though, is with just the Marine, with the terminal operators. Speaker 2: Right. The people who we have leases with. Speaker 6: Mm hmm. Okay. Thank you. Speaker 1: Anyone else. You have public comment? Speaker 3: Mm hmm. Speaker 1: Okay, fine. I have folks over. It's about. Speaker 3: Okay. Speaker 0: Motion carries. Speaker 1: Yes. I'm going to move that item 25.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to concur in recommendation of the Tidelands and Harbor Committee to direct City Attorney and the Board of Harbor Commissioners explore ways to address the protection of proprietary interests and labor code violations at the Port of Long Beach, and City Manager report back to the City Council on the impacts of new state legislation SB 1402.

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Speaker 0: Motion carries. Speaker 1: Yes. Now we're going to go to item 32 and we're going to put these items up here. We're going to item 32, item 27, and item 30. So if you can kind of in that order. Speaker 0: I'd encourage you to report from economic development. Recommendation to execute all documents necessary for their relinquishment of the City of Long Beach. Right of first refusal, termination of use covenants and termination of access easements pertaining to real property located at 240012401. East Wardlow Road District five. Speaker 1: Fine. Speaker 9: Thank you. Nice. Very nice, Mayor. We will have a report by Sergio Ramirez, our deputy director of economic development. Thank you, honorable mayor. Actually, vice mayor and council members. Speaker 4: In 1981, the city of Long Beach. And Board of Water Commissioners approved the disposition of city property to McDonnell Douglas Corporation for Aircraft Manufacturing, approximately 62 acres. And that was followed by an additional sale of property in 1987 for an additional 80 acres that are adjacent to the site for the production of a C-17 aircraft. Totally. In total, 80 acres of land were sold by the city. In the compensation received for that property was approximate about $19 million. The agreements and deeds associated with the subject parcels included provisions for the restriction of use of the property for aviation, aerospace and production. And. Additionally, the agreements and deeds provided for the provision of repurchase of the property by the City or water board or as was referred to as the first right of refusal. In 1997, Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas Corporation, and in 2015, Boeing ended the production of the season 17, and with it came the closure of the plant and the loss of over approximately about 10,000 jobs. We've been in discussions with Boeing for the last couple of years over the future of the site and staff has secured approximate about $4 million in grants from the Federal Government for the transition of the workforce and the transition of this site. Boeing has indicated that they are ready to proceed with the disposition of the property. Staff recommends that the city remove the provisions limiting the property's use from aviation and aerospace, since there are no longer the highest and best use for the properties. And additionally, we recommend the relinquishment of the city's option to repurchase or the first refusal facilitating Boeing's efforts to initiate marketing and sell the property. That concludes our report. Happy to answer any questions. Speaker 1: Thank you very much, Councilwoman Mongo. Speaker 2: Thank you. I really appreciate the dialog the Council had on this. So we look forward to continuing to be a part of the discussions of the future of the property as Bowie looks to find a buyer. Speaker 1: Thank you. Congressman Soprano, fine is the only public comment in this. I see. I have a first and second to please cast your vote. I am 27.

Contract

Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary, including any as-needed contracts, for the relinquishment of the City of Long Beach's Right of First Refusal, termination of use covenants, and termination of access easements pertaining to real property located at 2400 East Wardlow Road and 2401 East Wardlow Road (APN's 7149-003-017, 7149-003-018, 7149-006-053, 7149-008-004, 7149-008-007, 7149-008-012, 7149-008-015, and 7149-008-016). (District 5)

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Speaker 1: Thank you. Congressman Soprano, fine is the only public comment in this. I see. I have a first and second to please cast your vote. I am 27. Speaker 0: Report from Development Services recommendation to declare ordinance amending and restating in its entirety. Southeast Area Development and Improvement Plan Read and adopted as read District three. Speaker 1: Should you like to have a report on that? Okay. Now this one. If not, we could. Speaker 4: Suggest second reading of the ordinance. Speaker 1: Okay, fine. Okay. Any public comment on this? Yes. Please come forward. Speaker 9: Very good you Kirk. As the address as a is the tapes from last week's council meeting will reflect. And as the commanding officer of the commanding general of the Corps of Engineers for this area. We'll see when he reviews that tape. And my testimony last week is that I received from the city, from Craig's shelf on a letter indicating that this was going to be held last week and it was not. To this date. To this date, the city of Long Beach has not held one single meeting that will meet the Corps of Engineers. Guidelines. Period. I tried to find out where that at the time I had heard about a rumor. About a meeting being held sometime in the next couple of weeks. It's way up east, Jesus miles from any homes that would be impacted by any change. In the breakwater period. What this council needs to do is commit to having here in this chamber next week. A well noticed meeting dealing with sea dip period. Those that doubt that. You turn and look at what has happened to the houses on the peninsula and other areas. You're is clearly the Corps of Engineers is not going to approve it. So you've got to step up to the responsibility that you should have that parenthetically, the first meeting the city had. Unfortunately. Who the individual that was in charge of scheduling the meeting did not realize that that building was not ADA compliant. It was on the second floor. No escalator, no elevator. The Corps wouldn't touch any any program. Where. That was part of the public process. So what this council needs to do is step up to its responsibility. Issued a clarion call. Let people know that in this chamber next week. There will be a full, complete hearing. On their breakwater issue. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. Gardner. Speaker 9: Oh, and parenthetically, parenthetically, when the mayor returns, if he's not in prison by then. The mayor and Pat West will not sit behind the rail. Rather, they will sit in two of the broken seats up there that they refuse to get fixed. Period. Speaker 1: City Staff Thank you, Mr. Clinton. Speaker 9: City staff can make them very easily. Yes, thank you. Speaker 1: Mr. Price, that you want to speak on this. Any more people coming? Despised by Mrs. Pierce fine people in its colorful workplace.

Ordinance

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending and restating in its entirety Southeast Area Development and Improvement Plan (SEADIP) (PD-1), read and adopted as read. (District 3)

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Speaker 1: And with that item 30. Speaker 0: Communication from Councilmember Pearce, Councilwoman Gonzales, Councilman Price recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the Long Beach Pilot program, The Free Ride and their models in other cities and direct city manager to report back in 120 days on a feasibility study of implementing the free ride model in downtown and Belmont. Speaker 1: Shaw as fares winners. Speaker 6: Thank you. I want to just make a couple comments before we receive and file the presentation. I want to say that we have worked with Free Ride for since the beginning of the year to implement a free ride pilot program in our downtown mainly. The first goal was to try to meet the needs of the Grand Prix and really the idea was that residents or travelers or anybody could hop on this free ride and get wherever they needed. They could wave it down, they could use an app and that we put that in place to meet the needs of the Grand Prix and I think that it was a huge success. I want to applaud staff for turning it around really quickly. And so tonight we're going to hear from them. The second part of this agenda item was to have staff come back. What I'm going to ask and I've talked to the chair of the Transportation Infrastructure Committee is that we agenda is the second part of this conversation for the Transportation Committee. Since this item has been agenda is I know that there's several other conversations. So I want to make sure that we use our committees to kind of tease that out before it comes back. So with that said, I hope that I can count on everybody's support for the agenda item tonight. And I'd like to invite gentlemen down to introduce themselves and give the presentation. Do you guys have the clicker? Is it on the back? Staff. There's somebody we need, like three of these. I feel like this is always the fun part. So if you could introduce yourself a little bit about the history first and thank you. Speaker 3: Yeah. Speaker 4: Good evening and thank you, council members. I thank you, Councilwoman Pearce, for for bringing this to the agenda. I'm James Myers, co-founder of the Free Ride. My business partner back there is Daniel Kramer. And we run the free ride on the West Coast, as well as where we started on the East Coast in New York. We've been running the company for about seven years now and have really transformed the company into from an advertising based model to a true transportation mobility solution that we've applied again across the country in different cities through different partnerships and relationships with those municipalities. This is pretty much our system in one slide. What we need to do is provide fleets of fully 100% electric shuttles. We do that at no cost to the rider, and we also do that through fully W-2 employees that are the drivers of the shuttles. And the idea of the system is to innovate and really solve the last mile gap. That's been a been a constant issue in cities around the world, especially here in California and New York, where I'm from and where Daniel's from, Long Beach here. The goal always is to create a system that fits the city's needs. No city is one size fits all. We have a service that we like to consider interchangeable and adaptable and flexible to each city into and to their needs. I think what this slide shows and what was great to see here is that every item tonight seemed to connect to this on one level or another, whether it's access, employment, parking issues, environmental issues, getting people to and from where they need to be if these programs and cities programs exist from there. What we try to do beyond what the system does is when we come in, we like to be flexible. Let's start in phases. We start with the pilot in Long Beach, which we'll get into in a second. But the flexibility is what really allows the system to kind of, you know, take on a life of itself. We can adjust the level of service income incrementally, which reduces our costs and makes it run more efficiently. And our job is to really have the least amount of cars on the road at the at the at the least amount of money. Our next thing we want to complement existing and other forms of transportation. There's no one size fits all transportation solution for a city. There's many different needs by many different people, and from residents to workers to visitors. What we need to do is become multi-modal and complement those other forms of existing transportation. That's at the core of what we do and really is what drives its success. It's really our niche to fill that last mile gap that others can't or they shouldn't, and it's more efficient for it to be done with a smaller electric vehicle. The only thing we're trying to replace is single occupancy vehicles. Everything else is a is a compliment and should be put into the same system. Reduction is the obvious one. We're here to reduce emissions congestion, single occupancy vehicles and vehicle miles traveled, which are the main factors in pollution and congestion problems down the country. Data driven technology. So we use an app. You can have the car multiple different ways, but it's all tracked by the driver through a mobile application. We can then use that data to see how people are moving historically and in real time when they're moving, where they're moving. And we can adapt the system to kind of learn as it goes and become smart and not only to run most efficiently, but move the most people. The real time solution is the bottom line. It's here. We ran the pilot program. It exists. You know, we're there's plenty of time and ideas and stuff to work into the system, including autonomous vehicles and the such. But right now we've run a fully electric shuttle service that is a last mile solution. And we can look at some of the data here from the pilot program to show its success. A few pictures here. So we ran a pilot for eight weeks. And a little bit of background on that is, as Councilwoman Pierce said, we started from the beginning of the year discussing with herself and public works on how to make this happen. We landed on, for budget reasons, eight week pilot with eight vehicles. And this is kind of the result. The only thing to mention here is that we actually launched in one week. Usually we require 90 days to launch a system and we launched this all in one week. So that's where you'll see on the first step there about riders, the tremendous jump from the first four weeks to the second four weeks. You learn the system. We train, staff, the drivers. It's a very much a living system that learns on itself and only gets more efficient. So with time, we could see those numbers go up. So again, in May, in the last four weeks of the programs, we gave about 11,500 riders. Wait time was five minute, 14 seconds. The 17 jobs created again are full W-2 employees. And depending on the situation, it ranges from, you know, our average is about $15 per hour. You can see the emission reduce that and that's based on mileage and people driven. The increase in ridership, again, shows the trend and what it can do. We haven't even seen its potential eight weeks where a pilot is is is a pretty big feat. Most pilots we run are six months to a year and you'd only see that number grow at the same amount of assets in the same manner. Expenses. The five star rating I want to throw in there, what I really saw on Long Beach was to see in another couple slides, which I'm not from here, but I don't have to tell anybody here, should be proud of it. I've never seen a community react to a system like it was their own and they were part of it. And it was really cool to see the feedback like we've never seen before. And even people, you know, when we launch coming up to a street, just wondering what it is happy it's there just it was real community feel more than other cities I've walked into so it's good to see this is you know in quick what we learned we can expand the coverage area we currently we started in that was again for the pilot program see where it left off and to learn from it. In our experience, that's also the best way to grow it, start incrementally and grow it to where it should be and grow it how it should grow rather than guessing what's going to happen. The trends in that ridership and in support show they can only grow and become more efficient. And from the data and what we'll run through here is definitely used by by all parties in the city. We have a ton of traffic from the hotels, but just as much of of people reaching out now asking where it went. And I live downtown and how I don't have a car or I can't ride a scooter or, you know, it's it's part of that system. And I think we really noticed that in the pilot. This is some of the feedback. I'll go through these quick. This is from the app feedback just straight from the app, from the rider. No surveys or anything from us. It was again, this is really where we saw probably 50% more response rate than in any other city that we were in. And most of it was either suggestions as the bottom rate to expand a couple of blocks or to show their support. And there's more of this. There's hundreds more of these, but just want to show some of them. And then after email feedback, I know we were pointing that to public works at the time because we ran through it, but we received a lot of phone calls and email support as well. This is part of the dashboard. As you can see, the the this is our internal proprietary dashboard. We run these heat maps based on different times of the day, the month, all of those good metrics and then from a pickup point of view and a data and I've drop off my view. So this is pick ups, obviously. I wish this was an actual computer screen so I could zoom in and show you where, but you get the idea of where the heavy traffic is and then drop off close to the same. You see a lot more spread out and drop off. Usually people centralized pickups and spread out drop offs. But again, all data we can report and makes the system stronger and also shows who's using it, who's benefiting it from it, what stakeholders should be involved in the program on top of a public works or another funding source . The press that comes with it. It's a it's a free electric shuttle service. It tends to line up well with press and hopefully positive press at that. This is Long Beach. It was $100,000 for eight cars for a two month pilot. Again, that was kind of I mean, it was actually just under that. But we rounded up the goal was to first start with Grand Prix and launch for that, and that's why we launched in a week. But from there, really show the range in the system from when different events are in town and to when it's really just a regular Tuesday, when it's more of a resident and workers of the city type shuttle. The results which we saw the other piece to think about this and that I didn't mention is a lot of times we as a company, we set up a relationship with a municipality, whether that's through a city, CVB traveling, tourism, convention center directly, hotels, whatever group it is, business improvement district, downtown associations. We set up that relationship to see where the needs are. Try to execute on that and get some secured funding in place in order to roll out the program. And then we use the program's kind of benefits to then hopefully and over time reduce the net cost of the system to the original funding party. We do that through advertising. We also do that through the efficiencies of the program as well as the constant building on the technology, as well as the staff. For example, here in San Diego, we've running for two years now and we're every month we. Of ridership to date. And that's all with the same amount of vehicles. Speaking of San Diego, that looking at different ways, we have partnered with cities in the most successful ways. This was a public private partnership in its truest sense. Civic San Diego is a public organization that handles the parking meter revenue from the downtown community parking districts. There's very defined geographic borders there. And since our funding is from there, that is the geographic border of the coverage area. And that came through an RFP in San Diego. They were looking at a traditional trolley system, but to move people short distances in a congested downtown area, they did had a few consultant studies tell them that just didn't make sense. The cost of it, the infrastructure, the size of the vehicles, all of that good stuff's. We ended up winning the RFP. That was two years ago. We want a couple of awards. Since then, we've extended the program and it's really shown its value. And one of the biggest things that we didn't see going into it, this was a transportation system for the residents, residents first and workers and then visitors of the area. And that's what we focused on. The biggest thing we saw was the increased utilization of the service from the transit hubs. I don't know if you've been down San Diego on the Amtrak or the coaster. You come in on the west side of the city, getting to the rest of the city, besides support from there is is a walk or a taxi or an Uber. And we've seen a lot of increased utilization of that for different reasons to go to to go to work, to go to ballgames, all of that good stuff. Same thing from the MTS trolley lines. And we work hand in hand with them in order to make sure we're complementing them and really focusing our efforts on where their transit deserts are, so to speak. And again, that revenue and the money for the system is from the parking meter revenue in the downtown area. Recently we got approved to move that uptown and expand the entire system from downtown to uptown, using the same funds just from the Uptown Community Park District. On the other side, but same, you know, general idea of service in Santa monica. We work with Santa monica Travel and Tourism, which was previously the Convention and Visitors Bureau. This is more focused on the hotels and the visitors of the area first, residents second, and we're working to expand that with the city. But the program with City is an annual contract. It's from the time assessment funding that they receive. And from there we have each hotel which you'll see on the top of that, which who wants to participate in the program, can sponsor their own vehicle. We've grown that from three cars to eight cars over the past two years, and we continue to have more demand. And it's been a huge, huge success for them in this case. What they wanted with their program is to have destination general destination branding on the vehicles so we don't sell much advertising, but on the back boxes it's a little bit different. So we don't share that that revenue with them. But this is this is where their funding goes. So they own the vehicle and they can do what they please with it. So that was the other way. They've also won awards for the best new idea, which is a pretty general category, but I think a good one. And we've also again keep growing that service. In West Palm Beach. We've also worked with the Downtown Development Authority, which runs a complimentary trolley system in the city. We use our vehicles. They co-branded just on a regular advertising contract in order to increase the mobility in the area. And that's it. I think from here that what our job to do is we saw the mobility solution work in Long Beach and we wanted to bring it back and bring it back for the long term. It's our job to do that and find the funding to do that, and that's why we're here to ask for your help in doing that. And, you know, our goal and Daniel over the past couple of months as well as going forward is to really identify the stakeholders in the city that we can draw those funds to . What our plan is to do. And what we need to do is create one system. Whether that's involving different groups and their different goals is is only more beneficial to us. But making it one cohesive system is really the goal. Speaker 1: Thank you very much. Speaker 6: Thank you. Speaker 3: Go ahead. Okay. Speaker 6: Okay. You can go ahead. I really appreciate the presentation. I wanted to make sure that all of our council members had the same information that I had. As we move forward in this discussion, I think I also want to let folks know that at the very beginning we had the CVB as a part of the conversation as well. And so I think trying to work with the CVB and the hotels, at least in downtown, but I've heard a lot of requests from other areas of the city, which is why we wanted to bring it to a public conversation. Again, just for the record, I hope to receive and file this today and then to have a fuller conversation on the second week in November at the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where we can engage with some of those other stakeholders and continue the conversation around how do we have a solution to that last mile? Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Speaker 5: Councilwoman Price. Thank you. I, too, want to thank you for the presentation when this project was first rolled out in downtown. I contacted the city manager and I think our mayor at the time and said, this is fantastic. I really want this in the Belmont Shore area. So I'm glad that Eric and John are here. I really think there's an opportunity for us to think about utilizing the service to connect Belmont Shore to Alamitos Bay, especially with Second and PCH coming and we've got Ballast Point and Boathouse on the bay and all those businesses. And if we had a system like this in place, we can keep keep the transportation corridor, the primary transportation corridor, a second street, and avoid going up and down the residential streets, which has been a major concern for residents who live on some of those densely parking impact, densely populated parking impacted streets where they don't want any transit vehicles going through it. We could just keep it on Second Street and go back and forth between the shore and second and PCH. I think if there's a way and I know that's one of the things and I think Council Member Pearce for bringing this forward and for allowing us to put some language in there that says let's look at whether or not we could use some of the money from some of the self-assessments that we have or some of the meter money that is collected in those areas to put towards a program like this gentleman, Gabriella Yates from my office is going to come and give you my card, if you wouldn't mind reaching out to me via email tonight or tomorrow, I would like the two of you, if you're okay with it, to present to the Belmont Shore Parking Commission about this program. They've been looking for an idea like this for a long time. So, Eric, is that okay with you if they come and present to the Belmont Shore Parking Commission about what this concept is? Because really that would be a partner that would have to have some skin in the game if we're going to move forward with a concept like this. So I love it. I think it's great. And I think, you know, we're going to have. Thousands of new spots created in terms of parking with the development of Second and PCH and the reconfiguration of Marina. There's a real opportunity to have that be the parking center and have people just be able to leave their cars there and go back and forth using transportation like this and keep Belmont Shore active and thriving as a experiential corridor. So thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilwoman Pat. Speaker 3: Councilwoman Mongo. Speaker 2: So I'm really appreciative that this is going to go to the Transportation Committee. I think that's a great place for it to start. I think that. By Boccia over the next few weeks, the last few weeks said to be consistent with that, making sure we know what we're talking about, feasibility studies at all of those things, what they cost. But I tell a huge supporter of this, just in looking at Douglas Park and the number of individuals who wish they could get on scooters and or bicycles to get to and from either Doris Way, our newly improved and more traditional business corridor or to Long Beach Exchange and the number of businesses that have six or more people who are all going there at the same time to be able to coordinate large pickups and drop offs because the parkade is already just at capacity. You not get into Jersey Lakes, you not get into California Fish Grill. You're literally waiting for a parking spot for 15 minutes. And so some of those businesses could have more business if we had a trams like this. And I see either a luggage exchange management company or any of those businesses looking to be sponsors on the sides of the vehicles to be able to provide that funding. So I'm really excited that this is going to committee. Great idea and very supportive of the ideas overall. So thanks so much. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilman Cipriano. Speaker 4: Thank you for bringing that forward to committee. Our our first meeting in November would be the 13th. I see we have a surf JPA meeting, Native American Heritage Month and Housing Authority at 430, but I'm willing to try to work that in at 4 p.m. if that works for everyone. Otherwise we'd have to go all the way to the 20th. So we'll work with you on that date. Also, just one question, general destination branding. Would that include like a phrase like go forth? I'm just just going to. Speaker 1: Yes, it's a. And anymore comment. Speaker 3: Good stuff. Speaker 1: Yes, fine. I see. I have a first and second respondent, please. Speaker 4: Any public comment? Speaker 1: I, i public. Speaker 2: Know that this. Speaker 8: Presentation. Speaker 1: And any public comment. Speaker 9: When people come here for when they bring this back and have public comment, they should know that if they have a transparency like it, that we're on a transparency, they will be able to show it. I have discovered that some mental twit summarily made the decision that no longer our transparencies are allowed to be used. The city tax staff says they have no problem whatsoever. If somebody comes with a transparency, they make the arrangements ahead of time and let them know that what they want to display can be displayed, period. It's been done for years. And so, as I say, just recently, apparently, I was just told tonight some metal to it made a decision, it's my words, not theirs, that you can't use the transparency and it can be done very simply. Just why I say it. And it's not limited to next week's presentation. It's limited to it includes every single presentation somebody wants to make during their comment, public comment time. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Mr. Goodyear. Know what type of comment she can? Please go for the vote. Speaker 2: Motion carries. Speaker 1: Now we move to item 12 with the clock. Please read the item.

Agenda Item

Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from Long Beach Pilot Program The Free Ride and their models in other cities; and Direct City Manager to report back in 120 days on a feasibility study of implementing The Free Ride model in Downtown and Belmont Shore and identify options for special events to utilize The Free Ride throughout the City.

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