2026-10-13 - City Council

04:26If there are any members of the public in Zoom that would like to speak on the consent calendar, items on the agenda, or second public comment, please use the raise hand feature. If dialing in, please press star 9 now.

13:20All right, well, let's go ahead and get started. Welcome to the October 13th meeting of the Long Beach City Council. We'll start with roll call, please.

13:58Councilman Sendejos? Present. Councilman Allen? Present. Councilmember Duggan? Here. Councilman Supernaw? Councilwoman Kerr? Present. Councilwoman Sorrow? Present.

14:10Vice Mayor Yerunga? Councilwoman Thrashen Took? Here. Councilmember Ricks-Ody? Mayor Richardson? I am here. We have a quorum.

14:18Thank you. I'm going to ask Councilmember Kerr to lead us in a moment of silence in the Pledge of Allegiance. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here with us tonight.

14:27I'd ask that you join me in a moment of silence to lift up and hold in our thoughts all of those who are so deeply impacted by the hurricanes and the weather, including our peninsula, friends and folks in Newport and all along our coast.

14:44Thank you. If you could please stand if you're able and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

15:03All right, so we have three presentations. One has been withdrawn on National Disability Employment and Awareness Month, so we're going to start with Filipino American History Month.

15:38All right, Jessica, welcome. Floor is yours. Thank you, Mayor. I have a few friends with me here. Sure. Yeah, we'll give it a minute to gather the friends.

16:00Good evening, Mayor and City Council members. My name is Jessica Gillette. I'm a District 2 resident and founder of Long Beach PhilippineX Action Network, also known as LB Fan.

16:35Happy Filipino American History Month. On October 18, 1587, the first recorded landing of Filipinos took place in present-day Morro Bay.

16:52This history is why we celebrate Filipino American History Month in October. Established by the Filipino American National Historical Society in 1992, the observance led to the historical marker in Morro Bay in 1995, an official recognition by Congress in 2009.

17:10In 2020, I discovered the marker neglected and buried behind portable toilets and a dumpster. I advocated for the city of Morro Bay to remove the obstructions and preserve this historical landmark.

17:25The city issued an apology and worked with me to relocate the marker to this new setting overlooking the Pacific Ocean with Morro Rock in the background.

17:37The city manager explained that the city had been unaware of the marker's historical significance. This experience taught me an important lesson. If we don't actively preserve our history, it can be forgotten.

17:53Even here in Long Beach, where Filipino Americans are the city's largest Asian population, there is still much work to do. Archive records show that in 1992, the Long Beach City Council recognized a stretch of Santa Fe from 20th Street to Spring Street as Filipino neighborhood.

18:16Building on that legacy, our hope is to bring that vision to life and one day establish a Filipino cultural center where our history, culture, and contributions can be preserved for future generations.

18:31That is why our work through LBFAN and our annual Filipino American History Month celebration matters. I want to thank my fellow planning committee members, Catherine Tolentino, Angeli Sampson, Christina Reyes, Clarissa Tolentino, and Maria Klim Kim-Yepes for helping bring our fifth annual celebration to life.

18:55I will now turn it over to Clarissa.

18:57Thank you, Jessica. My name is Clarissa Tolentino, and I'm currently working out of District 9. We invite everyone to join us this Saturday on October 17th from 3 to 9 o'clock, and it'll be right here held in the city plaza in front of us here.

19:19I want to just extend our event as an invitation to you all and everyone who's listening to attend from 3 to 9 o'clock. We will be featuring a lighting ceremony by Mayor Richardson, remarks from our community members,

19:42and also featuring cultural dances, live performances, DJ karaoke, of course, and also I want to also ensure that during that time we want to extend and recognize an influential leader in our district.

20:04We want to thank the offices of Mayor Rex Richardson, Vice Mayor Orranga, Councilwoman Sorrow, and Supervisor Hahn for their contributions and support.

20:15And then we would also like to feature additional sponsors. We are still accepting additional sponsors at this time, and we welcome them through the QR code that's being postured in our, or shared here in our flyer.

20:27Each year, our ceremony and celebration recognizes a local individual whose contributions have made a lasting impression and legacy and impact.

20:40So this year, we are going to be recognizing Dr. Linda Nueva España Maram, who has sadly passed away in August. I'm going to pass it on to Maria, who's going to go ahead and share her story and the honor of her legacy.

20:58Good evening, Mayor Richardson, and members of the Long Beach City Council. My name is Maria Calumquimiepas, principal at John Muertique Academy in West Long Beach.

21:14My daughter Isabella Calumquimiepas is also here with me, and we are members of LB fans Filipino American History Month planning committee.

21:23I'm speaking today on behalf of the many students whose lives were touched by Dr. Linda Nueva España Maram.

21:32I immigrated from the Philippines when I was nine and was raised in West Long Beach.

21:36I assimilated quickly and lost my ability to speak my native dialect Pangasinan and Tagalog, along with some of my connection to my history and culture.

21:46That began to change in Dr. Maram's Asian American Studies class at CSULB, where I learned about Filipino American contributions into our history.

21:56Her class inspired me to visit Delano and learn about Filipino farmworkers' role in the 1965 grape strike.

22:03Years later, I spoke before the LBUSD Board of Education alongside Johnny Itliong, son of Larry Itliong, a Filipino American labor leader who helped lead the 1965 Delano grape strike,

22:16and the Filipino migrant center joined us to advocate renaming one of our schools after Larry Itliong.

22:23Dr. Maram was a Fulbright scholar, a UCLA trained historian, and a professor emerita at CSULB.

22:32She helped establish the Asian American Studies major in 2004 and worked to expand ethnic studies across the CSU system,

22:40helping more students see their histories represented in higher education.

22:44Her award-winning book, Creating Masculinity in Los Angeles' Little Manila, published by Columbia University Press,

22:53explored how Filipino immigrant workers built community through dance, sports, and everyday life.

22:58She listened to their stories and showed they mattered.

23:03She brought that same care to her students.

23:05Department of Asian and Asian American Studies and the Program of American Studies and APN at CSULB referred to her lovingly as "moms"

23:17because she mentored first-generation and working-class students of color, as well as beyond color, well beyond graduation,

23:25reminding them that their voices, ideas, and history mattered.

23:29Dr. Maram's impact helps me serve the same West Long Beach community where I grew up.

23:35Her influence helped shape the Filipino leader I am today.

23:39At Muir, I want students to see their cultures, languages, and histories reflected and valued,

23:45and to see leaders who share their backgrounds.

23:48I want them to know they belong.

23:52This Saturday, October 17th, Dr. Constancio R. Arnalo Jr., a CSULB alumnus and UNLV associate professor,

24:01will share reflections during her tribute.

24:04I also want to thank Gerald Gubata, secretary of the historic Filipino Town Rotary Club,

24:10and founding board president of Phil M. Arts, for helping honor her.

24:16I am grateful to have been her student.

24:18What I learned in her classroom continues to guide how I lead, how I serve students' families in my West Long Beach community.

24:25Thank you, Mr. Mayor and City Council members, for recognizing Filipino American History Month.

24:31We are honoring Dr. Linda Nueva Espana's lasting legacy.

24:35And thank you for helping us celebrate our history, our culture, and contributions.

24:40All right. Okay, well, we certainly want to recognize you for leading this effort.

24:50Jessica, the whole team, we look forward to celebrating this weekend.

24:55We know that the Filipino community here in Long Beach is a large, prominent community,

25:01the largest API community in our city, contributions in every industry,

25:05from government to civics to healthcare, every industry.

25:09You have made incredible contributions to our community.

25:12So we thank you, and I think we're going to come down and take a quick photo,

25:16and then make sure you all come out and support.

25:18If you can just repeat the details for this Saturday.

25:21This Saturday, October 17th, 3 to 9 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza, right here, 411 West Ocean Boulevard.

25:29And this is a big deal because we're doing it differently for the first time this year.

25:32Normally, it's on a Tuesday, but we've moved it to a Saturday to make a larger event out of it.

25:38So thank you. Congratulations. Whoever wants to join me, feel free to welcome.

26:25All right. Next is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

27:33And I think we're going to pass it to Councilmember Threshantup.

27:36Councilwoman Allen, thank you so much.

27:45So October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month,

27:48and we wear pink to show our support for everyone affected by breast cancer.

27:54I want to thank Memorial Care for joining us.

27:58And thank you for being such a wonderful partner and for returning to council every single October

28:05and sharing important presentation with our community.

28:08As a breast cancer survivor diagnosed in 2014 and after a radical double mastectomy,

28:15this cause is very important to my heart.

28:19I'm grateful for Memorial Care's compassion, expertise,

28:23and continued commitment for caring for your patients and raising awareness.

28:28So joining us today is Dr. Maya Sargeono,

28:33who is a board certified radiologist at Memorial Care Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial Center.

28:39Dr. Sargeono earned her medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine at USC,

28:46completed her radiology residency at Mayama Nudis, did I say that right?

28:53Okay, Medical Center in Brooklyn,

28:55and went on to complete a fellowship in breast imaging at UC Irvine.

29:00She's passionate about women's health and helping detect breast cancer early through advanced imaging.

29:08So please join me in welcoming Dr. Sargeono, who will share a short presentation.

29:13Dr. Please come up.

29:22Thank you so much. Mayor Richardson and council members,

29:25thank you so much for this opportunity to join you again this October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

29:31And today I'd like to highlight a little bit about screening,

29:35mammography, and risk assessment and evaluation,

29:39and share a little bit of update about our breast center.

29:44As many of us know, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.

29:49About 13% of US women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.

29:54And last year in 2025, there was an estimated 42,000 deaths from breast cancer.

30:00It's the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women,

30:03despite the fact that it's the most commonly diagnosed.

30:06And some of that is attributable to screening mammography.

30:09So when we think about our risk factors,

30:13there are of course several risk factors that we cannot change,

30:16as well as some factors that we do have control over and can change,

30:21change in our lifestyle.

30:24To know our risk, I think, is very useful in determining what we need to do for screening.

30:33There are prediction models that incorporate all those risk factors listed on the previous slide

30:39to provide an estimated lifetime risk for breast cancer.

30:43Any risk estimate greater than 20% is considered high risk.

30:49And we at the Long Beach Breast Center use the Tyre Cusick model.

30:54So anyone who comes in, if you come in for a mammogram at our breast center,

30:58that risk assessment will be performed during your exam.

31:02It helps us to identify patients who are high risk,

31:07and if you are high risk, you may benefit from early screening

31:10or supplemental screening or genetic counseling.

31:15We recommend that a risk assessment be performed between the ages of 25 to 30.

31:20And one thing to note about the risk factor of family history

31:24is that the majority of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer

31:27do not have a family history of the disease.

31:30So screening mammography remains the only screening test

31:34that is shown to reduce deaths from breast cancer.

31:38In addition, it decreases treatment morbidity, which means

31:42the adverse effects of treatment for breast cancer.

31:45And that is because most of the time with screen detected tumors,

31:49meaning an asymptomatic person comes in for a screening mammography,

31:53those tumors are typically smaller,

31:56and they're more likely to have negative lymph nodes.

31:59Screening guidelines, there are so many different guidelines out there,

32:05so that's why I think it is important to understand our risk

32:08to determine, you know, are we higher risk?

32:12Do we need something earlier?

32:14Do we need something in addition to a mammogram?

32:17So we recommend annual screening starting at 40.

32:20For people who are higher risk, we recommend starting at 30

32:24and considering a supplemental screening staggered by six months.

32:28So that includes an MRI, an ultrasound, or contrast-enhanced mammography.

32:33Now that last one, contrast-enhanced mammography,

32:35it's something that we are starting to do at our breast center currently.

32:39And it's sort of a hybrid between a mammogram and an MRI.

32:45So that's an alternative as well for a supplemental screen.

32:48So our breast center, we see over 23,000 screening mammograms every year.

32:53We have highly specialized breast radiologists

32:56who focus solely on breast and breast care.

33:00And I think it's important to note also that our technologists

33:03are also highly specialized.

33:06And so the person who's doing your mammogram is only doing breast imaging.

33:10And we have a patient-centered multidisciplinary team

33:14of breast surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists,

33:18nurse navigators, genetic counselors.

33:20We have a lot of supportive care.

33:22And having been a patient there myself,

33:24it makes me even more proud to be part of this breast center team.

33:28And these are just some of our accreditations,

33:31and we're just happy and proud to be serving the City of Long Beach.

33:36Thank you.

33:37Thank you, Doctor.

33:41If you'll just stay right there for a second.

33:43I just want to thank you for the presentation

33:45and for you encouraging our residents to stay informed,

33:49to prioritize screenings,

33:51and to talk to their health care providers about their individual risk.

33:55You do this every year.

33:56I appreciate you.

33:57I'm going to come down and just bring you some flowers as a thank you.

33:59Thank you.

34:00Thank you, Councilwoman.

34:41That concludes the presentation.

34:42Yes, that concludes.

34:44Thank you.

34:45We want to thank Memorial Care,

34:47and thank you, Councilwoman Allen,

34:49for bringing this every single year.

34:51And we got the note.

34:53The Council got the note to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

34:57and to wear our pink.

34:58And I think you got mostly every one of us takers this week.

35:02So good job.

35:03All right, thanks a lot.

35:05Well, now that concludes our last presentation.

35:07Thank you so much, Long Beach Memorial.

35:09We're going to take up the consent calendar now.

35:11Is there any public comment on consent?

35:24There are two speakers on the consent calendar,

35:26Dave Shukla and Samwise.

35:28I'm sorry, four speakers.

35:29We get Dave Shukla at the lectern.

35:38And then Samwise Gamgee, LOL, and Ellie.

35:41Thank you.

35:46Both items 11 and 14 involve significant sums of money,

35:52sums of money that are treated as pro forma.

35:57They're simply something that passes through the City Council

36:03without much scrutiny.

36:05If somebody wants to take the time, you can go back through

36:09the online listing of the consent calendars

36:13in City Council meetings.

36:15And often there are multimillion dollar contracts

36:18that are just treated as pro forma.

36:21That's just something to be approved without much scrutiny.

36:25The City has made a lot of its financial woes

36:33over the past few months.

36:34And one of the things that a considerable staff time

36:41and City Council deliberation have been devoted to

36:44is limiting the ability of people like me to come and speak

36:47on not only the consent calendar but individual agenda items

36:51when they're actually heard.

36:54And that's going to come up later, item number 25.

37:00And if that's something that bothers you,

37:02I strongly suggest that people in the audience sign up

37:05for that item.

37:06Thank you.

37:07Next speaker is Samwise Gamgee calling in.

37:13Can you please hit star nine and unmute yourself?

37:15Samwise.

37:24Hi, can everyone hear me?

37:25We can hear you.

37:28Can you hear me?

37:29Yes, we can hear you, thank you.

37:31Okay, so it looks like the first three items

37:35are about increasing the general fund group

37:38in the City Manager Department.

37:41And even item six is about increasing funds

37:44for the special advertising and promotional fund group

37:47also in the City Manager Department.

37:49So I guess my question is why does the City Manager Department

37:54need all of these appropriations?

37:56Do they not have enough money in that department?

38:01Because the City Manager, Tom Modica,

38:05makes almost $400,000 a year.

38:08So I just assumed that that department

38:10had plenty of money to spend.

38:12And I guess if they don't,

38:15then I could probably make an obvious suggestion

38:18as to where they can begin making cutbacks.

38:21I'm tired of all this weird shuffling around of funds,

38:26just so I'll let the public know

38:28what you're doing with our money

38:30and stop spending it on contracts

38:32for weapons manufactured without our consent.

38:34So free foul sign

38:38and stop trying to steal our public comment done.

38:40And I'll yield the rest of my time.

38:42Next commenter is LOL.

38:46And then Ellie.

38:57LOL and then Ellie.

39:06All righty, so I put my name as LOL

39:12because you guys are fucking hilarious.

39:14You know, I actually sort of agree on item number two,

39:20even though it's Mary who did it.

39:23Yeah, you know, the only thing I would change

39:27is it's not Hispanic Heritage Month.

39:30If anything, it's indigenous.

39:32At the worst, it's Latino, okay?

39:36Now that we got that out of the way,

39:38I want to say fuck eyes, viva la raza,

39:40free Palestine, free the Congo, free Venezuela,

39:44and also Uranga, yes.

39:49I'm going to be doubling down on what I said.

39:54And look it, I want to show you what this coward does.

39:58So this is what he does.

40:00So he, last week when I said that he was a waste,

40:06well he wasted space, he's not the only one.

40:09Many of you waste fucking space.

40:12No, no, no, no, I'm not.

40:14Don't interrupt me, I'm not.

40:16All right, no, no, I'm still talking, okay?

40:20You guys are trying to take our right away to talk,

40:24and you need to stop and let us do what we need to do right now.

40:27No, no, no, that's the problem.

40:29You don't listen.

40:30That is the problem that you don't listen.

40:32And Tanua, for you to have that snide remark leisure time,

40:37okay, I want to ask, how many of you is this leisure time for you?

40:41I don't know, he's not on top of it.

40:43Why don't you rather be doing something else?

40:46I am not finished.

40:48You're not hopping.

40:49You need to listen to what we're saying.

40:51Bring it back to topic.

40:54Bring it back to topic.

40:56Okay, here it goes again.

40:58So now I'm being shut down by our own mayor.

41:01We have already told you we want our time.

41:06You are not listening to your constituents.

41:08Mayor, you're not listening to your constituents.

41:13Thank you.

41:43Thank you for your testimony.

41:48All right, so just so we're clear, general public comment is coming.

42:06So before you start, general public comment is please don't disrupt the meeting.

42:13General public comment, you can talk on anything.

42:15This is consent calendar.

42:17You have to speak on consent calendar.

42:19Those are the rules.

42:20Thank you.

42:21Let's continue.

42:22Next speaker is Ellie.

42:29That's good, that's good.

42:30It's a hard job out there.

42:31It's a hard, hard job that y'all signed up for.

42:35It's not always easy.

42:37I just wanted to reference a few things on consent calendar.

42:42Agenda item number four, got an agreement for legal services with the

42:46firm Atkinson, Andelson, Lloyd, Rudd, Romo.

42:49God, that's a lot of names.

42:52Amount, not to exceed $300,000, that's a lot of money.

42:56This law firm just has a history of some sketchy clients, some clients that

43:02probably don't quite align with the values of the people of the city.

43:05One of clients helped design and build the LA county central jail.

43:10On this law firm has argued to the California Supreme Court and one that

43:16you can't sue construction companies whose winning bids are allegedly based

43:21on violations of prevailing wage laws.

43:24So that just seems like some real sketchy behavior that I don't think we

43:28want to be giving our money to.

43:30Agenda item says related to employee disciplinary appeal hearings, which I

43:34know is a employee discipline, kind of a hot topic, hot button issue right

43:40now, justice for Anthony Holmes.

43:43Moving on to agenda item 14.

43:47Recommenders, blah, blah, blah, Tyler Technologies, Inc. of Yarmouth, Maine.

43:54All right.

43:55That's certainly not local.

43:58Contract amount, $554,262.

44:04Okay, now, 637, 401, a lot of it, a lot of big numbers in consent calendar

44:10that we sometimes just like to gloss over real quick.

44:13I think it's just important to take a minute and check in, check in with all

44:17the people on what our money is actually being spent on.

44:21Tyler Technologies, this is for provide citywide enterprise resources planning.

44:29That doesn't mean anything.

44:32A lot of controversies with this firm as well.

44:35Multi-state software issues leading to wrongful imprisonment.

44:40Also pretty hot button issue these days with all of the surveillance cameras

44:46that you all are trying to set up in the city.

44:49Their software is used in over 500 jails and correctional facilities.

44:54There was one more.

44:56Yeah, agenda item 9 with United Parcel Service, Inc.

45:05in an annual amount of $65,000, 20% contingency, total contract amount,

45:11not to exceed $78,000, I guess.

45:14I'm just curious as to why we're not using the United States Postal Service

45:19for that.

45:20It would be great to get a little more clarification from the council

45:23on what's motivating that choice.

45:25Cool, thank you very much for your time.

45:27I appreciate your testimony.

45:28All right, next speaker please.

45:31That concludes public comment for consent.

45:33Okay, great.

45:34All right, members please cast your vote on the consent calendar.

45:45Motion is carried.

45:46All right, next are the hearings.

45:48We have two hearings.

45:49Cue up hearing item number 15 please.

45:54Report from financial management.

45:55Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record.

45:58Conclude the public hearing and grant an entertainment permit

46:01with conditions for entertainment without dancing

46:04to the pool.

46:09All right, next is the bamboo club at 3522 East Anaheim Street,

46:12Long Beach, California, District 3.

46:15There is an oath required for this.

46:19All right, please administer the oath.

46:21If I can get the witnesses to stand.

46:24Do you and each of you solemnly state that the testimony you may give

46:27in the cause now and pending before this body shall be the truth,

46:32the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God.

46:34You may be seated, thank you.

46:41All right, we'll go ahead and begin the hearing.

46:42Staff presentation please.

46:43Thank you.

46:44This is an application for entertainment without dancing

46:46at Tropical Hospitality, LLC, DBA, the bamboo club.

46:49The establishment is located at 3522 East Anaheim Street

46:53and operates as a restaurant with ready-to-eat food with alcohol.

46:58This location has been in operation since January of 2026

47:02with a temporary entertainment permit.

47:05All appropriate departments, including health and human services,

47:08development services, police and financial management,

47:10have reviewed the application and have provided

47:13their recommended conditions as contained in the hearing packet.

47:16The following recommended conditions in Attachment A should be noted

47:19from the additional conditions section.

47:21Entertainment activity shall be restricted to Sunday through Thursday,

47:2512 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.

47:30Outdoor, amplified entertainment and dancing are prohibited at all times.

47:35I, along with Commander Fernandez from the Long Beach Police Department,

47:38are available to answer any questions that you may have.

47:40That concludes my staff report.

47:43All right, let's administer a public comment on this hearing, please.

47:47There's one public comment, Dave Shukla.

48:03The report on this item is pretty accurate,

48:07and I support this item and think we should do everything in our power

48:11to support local businesses. Thank you.

48:13That concludes public comment.

48:17All right, Councilmember Sorrow.

48:20I'll switch with Councilmember Duggan to second it.

48:24All right, Councilmember Duggan.

48:29I support this item.

48:31This business owner has shown, he's done a lot of work to,

48:35when he purchased this property about a year ago.

48:40So, very supportive.

48:42All right, well, congratulations to the Bamboo Club

48:45on their new entertainment permit with conditions.

48:50Members, please cast your vote.

48:57Councilman Allen, the motion is carried.

49:03All right, next up is Wicket-Wolf, item 16.

49:07Report from Financial Management.

49:08Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record.

49:11Conclude the public hearing and grant an entertainment permit

49:13with conditions for entertainment

49:15without dancing to the Wicket-Wolf

49:17at 2332 Pacific Avenue, Long Beach, California, District 6.

49:21And there is an oath for this as well.

49:23And you solemnly state that the testimony you may give

49:26and the cause now and pending before this body

49:28shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

49:30so help you God. Thank you.

49:32All right, thank you. Let's begin the presentation.

49:34Good evening, Honorable Mayor and members of City Council, once again.

49:39This action is another application for entertainment,

49:42and it is with entertainment without dancing at the Wicket-Wolf.

49:46The establishment is located at 2332 Pacific Avenue

49:50and operates as a bar, tavern, lounge.

49:52This location has been in operation since January of 2023.

49:56All appropriate departments, Health and Human Services,

49:58Development Services, Police, and Financial Management

50:01have reviewed the application

50:02and have provided their recommended conditions

50:04as contained in the hearing packet.

50:06The following recommended conditions in Attachment A

50:09should be noted from the Additional Conditions section.

50:12Entertainment activities shall be restricted

50:14to no later than 9 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday,

50:17and no later than 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

50:21Entertainment can begin at 5 p.m. every day of the week.

50:25There shall be no live entertainment or dancing

50:28permitted outside at any time.

50:30And once again, I, along with Commander Fernandez

50:33from the Long Beach Police Department,

50:35are available to answer any questions that you may have.

50:37That concludes my staff report. Thank you.

50:39- Thank you.

50:42All right, let's go to public comment, please.

50:44- There are three speakers for this item.

50:47Thea, Elliot, and Dave Shukla,

50:49if you can come to the lectern.

50:50- Thank you.

50:54Honorable Mayor, City Council Member,

50:56especially our Councilwoman Saro.

50:58Dr. Saro, happy birthday.

51:01Thank you for taking our entertainment license

51:04under consideration.

51:06I'm Taya Markofer, Artistic Director

51:08of the Wicked Wolf Cocktail Lounge

51:10in Tea House in Wrigley.

51:12I call myself Artistic Director

51:14because at the Wicked Wolf,

51:16we believe that a bar can be a hub for the community

51:19and a home for the arts.

51:23Thank you.

51:24For over three years, we've been creating a third space

51:26where guests from Wrigley, Long Beach,

51:28and the larger region can experience everything

51:30from book clubs to magic shows, game nights, open mics,

51:33Bridgerton tea parties, poetry workshops, and so much more.

51:37Yes, our cocktails have won awards,

51:39and we have the best staff

51:41and the best mixologist in the city.

51:43Thank you.

51:46And the Wicked Wolf has won the hearts of many locals,

51:48as you can see,

51:49but entertainment is the heart and soul of what we do,

51:52and a major reason guests come to Wrigley

51:54from all over the city.

51:56We're a stopping point on the busy Pacific Avenue corridor

51:59and would like to continue being a cultural center

52:01for the neighborhood and a draw for the region.

52:03There is no live music

52:05for a radius of at least five miles,

52:08definitely much more to the north of us,

52:13and we are an oasis of live entertainment

52:16and would love to keep expanding our programming

52:18and supporting so many of our wonderful local musicians.

52:22For clarification, we applied for this permit

52:25before we even opened, but the process seems so daunting,

52:29and running a business so overwhelming

52:31that we never followed up, but we are excited,

52:33at long last, to legitimize our efforts

52:36and to be a beacon of live entertainment for the region.

52:40Thank you.

52:41Thank you, Leah.

52:43All right, Elliot.

52:44Hi, good afternoon.

52:46My name is Elliot Smith.

52:49Since the Wigley Wolf has been open,

52:51I personally witnessed a remarkable and positive change

52:53in the neighborhood.

52:54I've been living in the regular area for over 26 years,

52:57and living there, getting out of your home

53:00and traveling is kind of scary unless you're driving.

53:02Since the Wigley Wolf has been open,

53:04we've been able to walk around our community.

53:06We go there.

53:07There's no--the area is cleaned up a lot.

53:09We don't feel threatened.

53:10We don't feel scared,

53:12and actually go enjoy our neighborhoods,

53:14and our lives now in the area is cleaned up

53:16because of this place, too.

53:19We frequently--we bring all of our friends.

53:22You can play scrabble.

53:23You can play cards.

53:24It's just a very, very nice, very fun place you can go

53:28just to get away from everything.

53:30No loud music, no live bands, no dancing.

53:33It's just a perfect place to go relax and have a good cocktail,

53:36eat some good food, and just do what you need to do.

53:41Good vibes.

53:42Thank you.

53:43We're going there after this place.

53:44After the night.

53:46Meet me there.

53:47All right.

53:48You love it, Rex.

53:49Thank you.

53:51Thank you.

53:52Thanks, Elliot.

53:53Appreciate it.

53:54All right, Dave?

53:59Thank you again.

54:00It's nice to see some levity in these meetings.

54:02I support this item.

54:03I am a fan of the Wigley Wolf.

54:06I think it's great that the Wigley neighborhood

54:08has been revitalized.

54:10Fun fact, 33 years ago, I played my first live show

54:15a block away from the spot,

54:17and it's wonderful to see that it's coming back.

54:19Thank you.

54:20That concludes public comment on this item.

54:25All right, we'll take it back behind the rail.

54:27Councilwoman Sorrow?

54:28Yes.

54:30So I definitely want to just give you your flowers.

54:33You've been an amazing business owner

54:35in the Wigley corridor on Pacific Avenue.

54:38And you really have hit the ground running

54:41and not just do work on your business,

54:43but to make sure the community is thriving.

54:45And that was your priority when we met and talked.

54:48And I'm so excited that we can continue to partner together

54:51in the ways that it's going to work for the businesses

54:54in various parts of our district.

54:57And so I appreciate your patience.

54:59I know that sometimes we can be a little bit slow,

55:02but our commitment is long and we make sure we get that done.

55:05And the other thing is that, you know,

55:07I'm really excited that you're part of leading

55:09the Wigley Business Improvement District

55:11that we're forming.

55:12Things can only just get better

55:14with having a stronger business community

55:16with residents involved.

55:18So I really appreciate your leadership

55:20and making sure that you're building community

55:23in the midst of doing, you know,

55:25building a business corridor.

55:26So thank you very much.

55:28And thank you to all the business owner

55:30who are trying to figure out how to activate

55:32the space that their business is in,

55:34because it's just not only obviously improved business,

55:37but it builds a thriving and healthy corridor.

55:39So thank you so much.

55:41- Thank you, Council Member Kerr.

55:42- It's a great place.

55:46I've enjoyed the couple times that I have been,

55:48and I look forward to going more.

55:50Congrats.

55:52- All right, well, I'll offer my congratulations

55:54and thanks to Leah and your team.

55:57You are a great hub that we want to just continue

56:00to see grow happen on the Pacific Corridor.

56:04A few, you know, all it takes is a few leaders

56:06to really create that spark.

56:08And, you know, I also want to recognize

56:10that you reached out about your process.

56:13And the process in general for entertainment

56:16needs to be a whole lot easier.

56:18And that's why we have, we've begun this whole process

56:20on the entertainment strategic plan.

56:22So it's underway.

56:24You're, I think you're engaged in that now.

56:27So it's looking at a review of cities across our country

56:33and what they do to encourage, from a policy standpoint,

56:36more live music and entertainment in our city.

56:39So it starts with that review and that study.

56:42And then what will ultimately come forward

56:44are recommendations for actual policy action

56:47that City Council can take to make sure

56:49that we cultivate more and that you can grow

56:52and that the rules are clear for everybody to understand.

56:55So thank you for being a part of it

56:56and for using your voice and your platform.

56:59So yeah, great.

57:00Thanks, Tia.

57:01All right.

57:02So members, please cast your vote.

57:06Certainly, you got it.

57:14So the process is on right.

57:16It's happening right now.

57:17All right.

57:19So great.

57:20Thank you.

57:21Congratulations.

57:22All right.

57:28Now we're on to general public comment.

57:30Please administer general public comment.

57:31When I call your name,

57:39please line up at the lectern.

57:41Ted Zellmer, Maria, Lara Foy, F.B., Anthony Holmes,

57:48Anne Cantrell, Samwise, Bruno, Kaitlyn, and Maria.

57:54Again, first speaker is Ted Zellmer,

57:56and then Maria and Laura.

57:58Hearing these presentations brings back old memories.

58:04I'm the contractor retired that built Barwinkles,

58:07Deepiazza, Georgia's Greek Cafe,

58:11and many other restaurants in the area.

58:13I did some wonderful projects here in the city of Long Beach,

58:16and lately I've been at the peninsula last weekend

58:23with KTLA-5 and a couple of the residents and veterans.

58:28We were there discussing matters.

58:30We were offered to be interviewed,

58:32and we made the decision, "No.

58:34We do not want to be interviewed unless we have solution."

58:38In front of you, I delivered what I gave to you

58:42a couple weeks back,

58:43and we were directed to the United States Navy.

58:48And with that said, we have our swell shields,

58:54barges that are being conceived now at this time,

58:57so that we can partner with the port

58:59and protect the peninsula from the ocean's waves.

59:04The Navy said, "If we do that,

59:07here's the barges to block the waves coming in."

59:13And the Navy said they'll put some vessels out there immediately,

59:19anchor them in place to create a shield

59:25from those swells coming ashore, protecting the work area,

59:29providing that our city produces the barges

59:36with the swell shields that we've discussed.

59:38This is going to save us thousands and thousands

59:41and thousands of dollars.

59:43Howard Hamlin, his plan to rebuild the beach with the sand,

59:51will be protecting that work area.

59:53work area. And if we don't, we're soon to lose the peninsula.

1:00:00And so with that said, I want to thank you all for allowing me this time, because last week I came with the same,

1:00:10and by the way, the Navy logo is not for public use, it's a notion, working with the Navy.

1:00:17And last week I came with this, and it was devastating because I got here at three o'clock to be the first non-agenda item speaker,

1:00:26and that's when Mayor Rex put 90 speakers in front of me. So I had to get home before dark and I couldn't speak.

1:00:36So here it is, the Navy is willing to park vessels off of our jetty, going back towards Long Beach,

1:00:47to protect all the property, and they're willing to do it immediately, but I'll need to work with the city to do so.

1:00:56Christina, I'll call you tomorrow in your office, and please assign me with the team to make it happen.

1:01:04Thank you for your comments. Thank you, next speaker please. Next speaker is Maria, and then Laura Foy. Maria, and then Laura.

1:01:50I am Maria Bernal, I am a member of the community, and I want that the City of Long Beach, to take action and to pass a resolution on values, a values act,

1:02:13that the City protects our rights. ICE has threatened our communities for 45 days. You have the power to protect us,

1:02:22because immigration is separating families. The children are without their parents, and are causing many harms to our community. Thank you.

1:02:39Next speaker is Laura, and then F.B. Laura, and then F.B.

1:02:51Yeah, I just want to say that I am in solidarity with everybody who's here.

1:02:56Happy birthday, Dr. Sorrow. I wish I was here for a different reason. I am a medical professional, and therefore a mandatory reporter.

1:03:13My understanding is that the people of Long Beach, it's our taxes that pay your salaries, so that would mean that you would be our employees,

1:03:25and that the head of H.R. would be the people in City Council. In the last six months, I have had four different patients come to me,

1:03:36to express concern that Mary Zendejas' election campaign has been involved in elder abuse and voter fraud.

1:03:48These people are not connected to me politically or socially. I do not know them out of the clinic, they do not know each other, and they are not here.

1:03:57I think that sketchy corruption can occur with the assumption that people will never find out.

1:04:04I want you to know that the people know. What was reported to me, and piecing together stories from four different patients,

1:04:12is that for many years, in old folks' homes, which I'm sure, raise your hand in the audience if you have any parent or grandparent in a facility,

1:04:23and an elder facility, or a memory care facility, that someone with power of attorney has defrauded these people,

1:04:34who is heartbreaking when someone has Alzheimer's or dementia, and these facilities often are underfunded, understaffed,

1:04:44and you watch your loved one get neglected and abused, to imagine that someone with power of attorney was tallying up votes for Mary Zendejas illegally,

1:04:59that that was investigated, and came within 22 votes of having a runoff with a local activist.

1:05:13So my understanding from what they told me is that City Council is aware, and the Mayor is aware.

1:05:20Now, over the weekend, I met someone at a gathering in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day.

1:05:27I said I was from Long Beach, and the first thing she said was, "Rex Richardson hates us."

1:05:33And our City Council is corrupt.

1:05:35This is not a time to lean into taking away, it's not the time to rock the boat.

1:05:41Cindy Allen, Christina Duggan, and Megan Kerr, thank you for voting to keep public comment as is.

1:05:47It's not the time to mess with the people.

1:05:50The United States is a tinderbox.

1:05:52You see what's happening in this city.

1:05:54People are about to replace you, they're extremely angry.

1:05:58Next speaker is FB, next speaker is someone's time.

1:06:16This is a disruption, please issue, please restore the room, state of order, please.

1:06:21This is the first warning, please do not disrupt the meeting.

1:06:27We will be issuing second and third warnings and asking you to leave the chamber.

1:06:31Thank you.

1:06:32Thank you, you have the floor, sir.

1:06:36Thank you, hello Mayor and City Council, my name is Fernando Acevedo, community lawyer with Orale.

1:06:42I'm here on behalf of the Long Beach Justice Fund, coalition, and the community members

1:06:47raising their signs today to demand that you all agendize our Long Beach Values Act demands.

1:06:52Your offices have told us you're aiming to do this on November 10th

1:06:56on that City Council meeting and all of us here today are going to hold you to that.

1:06:59I especially want to highlight the importance of ensuring private right of action which will

1:07:04ensure the Values Act has teeth and a local surveillance ban on automated license plate

1:07:08readers and facial recognition technology are part of our demands on the agenda.

1:07:12The federal government has awarded immigration enforcement with billions of dollars

1:07:19and California is facing a 45-day campaign of heightened immigration enforcement.

1:07:23The City must act and stand up against the federal government and ensure our Values Act

1:07:28is as strong as it can be.

1:07:30The City cannot allow fear to stop it from having a stronger policy.

1:07:33We've heard concern that these amendments could lead to further targeting but we are already

1:07:37seeing it. Lastly, funding for the Justice Fund fell below our demands.

1:07:41The reason is that we were told we were in a budget deficit.

1:07:45If that's truly the case and you do support the immigrant community, then show us.

1:07:50This is the way to do it.

1:07:52Most of our demands have little to no financial considerations.

1:07:54Stand up for immigrants and adopt our demands on November 10th.

1:07:58Thank you.

1:08:03Next speaker, FB and Cantrell.

1:08:07Samwise, if I can get FB and Cantrell.

1:08:14If you can unmute yourself.

1:08:22FB.

1:08:23Me.

1:08:26Because they don't like me.

1:08:35Because I tell the truth.

1:08:37I just heard a 10-year-old girl from Gaza who had to have her leg amputated without

1:09:15any anesthetics.

1:09:17In honor of Indigenous year, month, every single day.

1:09:24Fuck you, you white supremacist pieces of shit.

1:09:27Fuck Zionists.

1:09:29We are three years into a genocide.

1:09:32More than 247 journalists have died in Gaza.

1:09:36Foreign journalists have been barred from entering Gaza independently

1:09:40since October 2023.

1:09:42Approximately 75,000 deaths have been recorded in Gaza.

1:09:46And about 80% of these deaths were civilians, meaning unarmed men, women,

1:09:52elderly, handicapped individuals, and children.

1:09:55I have seen footage of Israeli soldiers gang-raping prisoners.

1:10:01Actually, they're not really prisoners.

1:10:03They're hostages, Palestinian hostages that have been caught on video.

1:10:09The Israeli soldiers, the IDF, have also trained dogs to sexually abuse Palestinian

1:10:16hostages.

1:10:17Disgusting.

1:10:19Here, I am quoting-- I'm quoting a man here.

1:10:23We are raped.

1:10:24We were raped after being stripped of our clothes, he said.

1:10:29We were shouting, oh Lord, oh God.

1:10:32But they were laughing and filming us.

1:10:34Al-Baqri then echoed that several rights agencies have also reported that

1:10:40guards also use dogs during their sexual abuse of prisoners.

1:10:45The dogs were following commands from the officers.

1:10:49This city council continues to weaponize our tax dollars against us by doing

1:10:59business with Israel.

1:11:01That's LexisNexis General Dynamics Information Technologies, CDW Government,

1:11:08Gov Inc. Connection, Andral, a weapons manufacturer being built by the Long Beach

1:11:12Airport, Flock.

1:11:15Shame.

1:11:16Flock, which is infringing upon our Fourth Amendment right.

1:11:20I want to say that fuck Israel, fuck ICE, protect black workers, free Palestine,

1:11:26free the world from Jewish and white supremacy.

1:11:30ICE is IDF.

1:11:31Wake the fuck up, America.

1:11:33And fuck Josh Lowenthal, bitch.

1:11:36We have, thank you, ma'am your time's concluded, ma'am your time's concluded.

1:12:01Time to queue up the next speaker.

1:12:03Next speaker, if I can get Ann Cantrell on Zoom.

1:12:10Ann Cantrell on Zoom.

1:12:12Can you please unmute yourself?

1:12:15Can you hear me?

1:12:19Yes, we can hear you.

1:12:20Good evening, Ann Cantrell, 93 year Long Beach resident.

1:12:26I would like to address again the city's lack of accommodations for disabled

1:12:31citizens who wish to come to City Hall.

1:12:34Since the council and mayor have reserved parking at City Hall, perhaps you are unaware

1:12:41there are no disabled parking spaces on Chestnut.

1:12:45Although the city does provide parking spaces for the disabled in the parking garage on

1:12:52Chestnut and Broadway, there are no street parking spaces for the disabled closer to

1:13:00City Hall.

1:13:01Using a walker, cane, or crutches from the parking structure is very difficult for many.

1:13:08Disabled spaces could be placed on Chestnut on both sides of the street where now cars,

1:13:17usually those owned by the city, park illegally.

1:13:21If this council truly cares about the disabled population, disabled parking spaces will be

1:13:30provided for those who make the effort to attend meetings and camera access will be

1:13:37provided for those who use Zoom.

1:13:40Thank you.

1:13:41Thank you for your comments.

1:13:46All right, before we go to the next one, Madam Clerk, this situation that's happening

1:13:53over here is a disruption to the meeting.

1:13:56Disruption also means our ability to hear public comment and individuals in the audience's

1:14:03ability to hear.

1:14:04So please issue a warning to that area there.

1:14:11This is your first warning.

1:14:14If you are going to continue to disrupt the meeting, you will be asked to leave the building.

1:14:17All right, let's continue.

1:14:19This is your first warning.

1:14:21You will be asked to leave the building if you continue to disrupt the meeting.

1:14:25If you continue to act aggressively and threatening to other speakers, you will be asked to leave

1:14:29the building.

1:14:30Thank you.

1:14:31Thank you.

1:14:32So I have next, I have Maria on my list next, and there is Anthony Holmes.

1:14:35There is another Maria.

1:14:36I believe Anthony, did you have somebody speak on your behalf already?

1:14:48This is, is Maria in the audience?

1:14:52Is Maria in the audience?

1:14:57Is Maria in the audience?

1:15:03All of you busting pieces of shit, you're all sold.

1:15:08All of your skulls are sold.

1:15:10I don't know how any of you sleep at night with the amount of disgust and the amount

1:15:16you see this city that knows you hate us and you hate, we hate you back because you

1:15:22hate us so dearly, so violently you've treated this city.

1:15:27You've trashed the shit out of it.

1:15:29You sold every inch that you, that you could have it.

1:15:34You, Rex, you never really look at the people while they're speaking.

1:15:38But if you could look at me instead of shopping on Amazon right now, that would be fucking

1:15:43fantastic.

1:15:44I don't know how many of you guys sleep at night.

1:15:46You make me fucking insane.

1:15:47When I sit here, I'm the fucking craziest I ever have felt because I'm like, all of

1:15:53these people are so sold.

1:15:54They try to pretend like they care about us, but they don't give a shit about us.

1:15:58They sell the fuck out of our city.

1:16:00They take every check that they can from us.

1:16:02I can't wait to recall your asses.

1:16:04I can't wait to get the check that y'all just got back to the fucking city.

1:16:08I want it back.

1:16:09Whatever check y'all just collected, the city wants it to fuck back because you've

1:16:13never done anything efficient for us.

1:16:15You've sold the fuck out of our city.

1:16:18You guys are fucking terrible.

1:16:20The city hates you back as much as you've hated it.

1:16:24Every fucking second of sleep you get, I regret it.

1:16:29I regret every second of sleep that you've gotten in the past year, month.

1:16:35Any moment of sleep that you've had, just know I wish I could take it away from every

1:16:39single one of you.

1:16:40Fuck you!

1:16:41Fuck you!

1:16:42Fuck you!

1:16:43Fuck you!

1:16:44Fuck you guys!

1:16:47I hope you guys don't rest tonight, genuinely.

1:16:49I really hope you guys don't rest tonight.

1:16:51Every time I walk past a person on the street who doesn't have a place to live, I wish

1:16:55that they were in your homes.

1:16:57I wish they were eating your food.

1:17:00I wish that they had access to your fridge.

1:17:03I wish they had your AC.

1:17:05I wish they had the library hours that you took away from them.

1:17:08I wish they had everything, every fucking privilege that you had, I wish that they could

1:17:13take it from you.

1:17:13So, every time I see a dirty pair of feet on the sidewalk, I say, "Damn, I wish you

1:17:19were just nomming on Rex's fucking apples."

1:17:24You guys make me fucking insane because you don't give a shit about any of us and you

1:17:28pretend like you do.

1:17:29Every time I come here, I'm like, "Wow, they're just gonna feed me a bunch of bullshit

1:17:33right now, huh?

1:17:34Right?"

1:17:35But, it really brings me relief when I get to say, "Rex Richardson, you are so fucking

1:17:40disgusting!"

1:17:41That's what gives me relief right now.

1:17:43So, thank you for letting me do that, and fuck you guys!

1:17:50Next speaker, Samwise Gamgee.

1:17:55Next speaker is Samwise.

1:17:58If you can unmute yourself, star nine, Samwise.

1:18:04Are you able to hear me?

1:18:05Yes, we can hear you.

1:18:06Thank you.

1:18:09That last comment was awesome.

1:18:12Anyway, fuck ICE, fuck Israel, free Palestine.

1:18:18So, this council cannot claim to be protectors of democracy while simultaneously trying to

1:18:24limit public engagement.

1:18:30You claim that we can make other arrangements, have a special council meeting, or get coffee

1:18:35with a council member.

1:18:36But, if I can scarcely make a 5 p.m. meeting, what the hell makes you think I can schedule

1:18:41appointments earlier in the day?

1:18:42Are you expecting to take time off of work in this economy with these gas prices?

1:18:49And maybe I don't want to ask these questions behind closed doors because I want more transparency.

1:18:53I want the answers this council gives to be easily available for the public to access.

1:18:58There's another no kings rally coming up, and you can't claim to be separate from Trump's

1:19:04fascist dictatorial takeover of our country, not when you're making contracts with the

1:19:09very companies that enable ICE to roll through our neighborhood.

1:19:13Not while you're selling out our information acquired from cameras that were supposedly

1:19:17only for speeding, like ICE is stalking people so that they can kidnap and disappear them

1:19:23more quietly, which means they're getting this intel from somewhere.

1:19:27And this is conveniently during a time when this council proudly touted avoiding any cuts

1:19:33to the police department and is misusing our funds to invest in more flock cameras.

1:19:39Your residents are working unpaid to keep our neighbors safe while you're selling them

1:19:44out in order to cooperate with a fascist government.

1:19:47I don't want to see Mayor Rex Richardson running around telling military moms that

1:19:52he's so sympathetic, and that these things have nothing to do with like a little mayor,

1:19:58and that he doesn't even get a vote on these contracts that are getting passed.

1:20:02But yeah, you don't have a vote, but you do have influence, and it's really disingenuous

1:20:06to pretend that you don't.

1:20:07Like, you don't know that there are connections between the council members that go beyond

1:20:11these meetings, like you think we're fucking stupid.

1:20:14Anyway, you're making deals with companies like Andrew Industries, which will never

1:20:20remake weapons that will be used in war crimes like the ones that we've witnessed in Gaza.

1:20:25And it'll also leave the public vulnerable to events like chemical spills, like what

1:20:29happened in May in Garden Grove with a similar manufacturing company.

1:20:34Like, for a lot of us, like Long Beach, like isn't a job for us.

1:20:37This isn't just like a thing we're doing on the path of like some political career.

1:20:41We love our city, and we love our neighbors.

1:20:45And we get really fucking mad that you're wasting our money on fucking weapons manufacturing

1:20:49and on flock.

1:20:50Like we've brought this up before, but you're using our own money to repress us, and it's

1:20:54fucking disgusting.

1:20:57We don't support weapons that will contribute to the massacre in Gaza, or deals with companies

1:21:02that support the DHS that is continuing to support Israel's genocide.

1:21:07Most of us who support Palestine.

1:21:09Your time's concluded.

1:21:10We need to fill Nazar.

1:21:11Thank you for your comments.

1:21:14Next speaker, Bruno.

1:21:17The next speaker is Bruno, and then Caitlin.

1:21:20Bruno and Caitlin, if you're in the audience.

1:21:23Oh, I'm sorry.

1:21:25On Zoom.

1:21:26Bruno, if you could please unmute yourself.

1:21:27Hello.

1:21:30Can you hear me?

1:21:31Yes.

1:21:35Hi, thank you.

1:21:36Hello, my name is Bruno Isar.

1:21:38I work at the California Immigrant Policy Center, and also part of the Los Angeles

1:21:42Sanctuary Coalition.

1:21:44I'm here today to request the City of Long Beach defend the health, safety, and rights

1:21:49of all residents and families of Long Beach, specifically by, one, adding all of the demands

1:21:57from the Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition related to Long Beach Values Act to the agenda

1:22:01on the November 10th City Council Meeting, two, ensuring the private right of action

1:22:06is included in the agenda to ensure robust implementation, and three, banning local surveillance

1:22:14technologies such as automated license plates readers and facial recognition technology.

1:22:21The LA Sanctuary Coalition has helped pass sanctuary policies all across LA County,

1:22:25including the cities of Los Angeles, San Fernando, Burbank, Lynnwood, Cudahay, Huntington

1:22:31Park, and tonight, hopefully, Southgate.

1:22:34Lynnwood, Huntington Park, and Cudahay have the private right of action, and we ensure

1:22:39Long Beach to follow suit as well.

1:22:41ICE, Border Patrol, and DHS have over 200 billion with the B of our federal tax dollars

1:22:49to carry out mass raids, detentions, and deportations.

1:22:53Long Beach can do something about it.

1:22:55Long Beach can take action and ensure local tax dollars are used to promote the safety

1:23:00of all residents, not to help ICE abduct and terrorize our families and neighbors.

1:23:06We also demand that Long Beach join cities across California and nationwide in canceling

1:23:12their partnerships with FLOC, including Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Mountain View, Los Altos,

1:23:17Lynnwood, and many more to come.

1:23:22Long Beach can ensure families and residents don't have to fear they'll be handed over

1:23:26to ICE and face the nightmare of ICE's deadly detention centers when families are driving

1:23:33on our public roads or seeking out emergency help or government services.

1:23:38Long Beach should be a city where people and families can feel safe from government surveillance

1:23:43and ICE enforcement.

1:23:45Immigrant families should feel safe when applying for city services and not worry that our private

1:23:50information can be gathered and shared with immigration authorities to target us and

1:23:55our families.

1:23:56In solidarity with the Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition, we urgently request these

1:24:01demands to protect the health, safety, and rights of all families.

1:24:04Thank you.

1:24:09Final speaker, Caitlin.

1:24:10My name is Caitlin Bellis, and I'm speaking to you today in both my personal and my professional

1:24:20capacity as the Director of Advocacy of the National Immigration Project and a longtime

1:24:25resident of District 3 and a member of the Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition.

1:24:31When City Council considers an updated Long Beach Values Act in order to meet this moment

1:24:36of unfathomable ICE violence, that ordinance will not contain any provisions banning the

1:24:41use of certain surveillance technologies, specifically automated license plate readers

1:24:45and facial recognition technology.

1:24:48I have been coming to City Council in both my personal and professional capacities to

1:24:53advocate that you ban these technologies for the past five years.

1:24:57That was soon after L.B.P.D. shared data with ICE, apparently by accident.

1:25:02They need a ban, sorry, the need for a ban has only become more urgent as the power

1:25:11of these technologies, big tech companies, and federal immigration enforcement agencies

1:25:17have all grown.

1:25:18There is no safe way to use these technologies.

1:25:22There is no safe way for a government to employ tools that can track people's movements

1:25:26in real time without a warrant.

1:25:29There is no safe way to amass this data on our community's residents.

1:25:34Across the country, we've seen communities reach the same conclusion and move to ban

1:25:37flock cameras for these exact same reasons.

1:25:41The city has to contract with a private vendor in order to acquire these technologies, and

1:25:47that means trusting a company that makes these technologies.

1:25:50Meanwhile, ICE and C.B.P. have unprecedented amounts of money, which over the next few

1:25:55years, you've heard a couple of different amounts, but over the next few years, it's

1:25:59three quarters of a trillion dollars, unprecedented power, and act with unprecedented lawlessness.

1:26:06We know they scrape databases for enforcement purposes with or without the permission of

1:26:10the agencies that assemble them.

1:26:13There is no user manual, no protocol, and no contracting provision that will ensure

1:26:17our faces, our locations, and the data that reveal our daily lives stay out of the hands

1:26:23of DHS.

1:26:25These tech companies don't deserve any more trust than ICE does.

1:26:30Please reconsider and include a ban on automated license plate readers and facial recognition

1:26:34technology in the Long Beach Values Act ordinance.

1:26:37Thank you for your time.

1:26:43That concludes public comment.

1:26:44All right.

1:26:46Well, thank you for your public testimony.

1:26:50I want to acknowledge Orla for organizing the march and coming in and talking with

1:26:57our office, and I want to recognize Vice Mayor Yirranga and the council members who

1:27:04are working together with you to bring forward a recommendation to update the Values Act

1:27:11in November as discussed.

1:27:12So thank you so much.

1:27:13All right.

1:27:14We're now going to go to item 17.

1:27:17Recommendation from Councilwoman Thresh-Endook and Councilwoman Kerr.

1:27:21Recommendation to request city manager in collaboration with city attorney and relevant

1:27:24city departments to report back to the city council within 90 days on legally permissible

1:27:29and operationally feasible options to strengthen the regulation and enforcement of unattached

1:27:35or unhitched trailers, nuisance trailers, oversized vehicles, mobile billboard trailers,

1:27:40and trailer-based commercial activity on public streets, including potential Long

1:27:45Beach Municipal Code amendments regarding mobile billboard advertising, traffic engineering

1:27:50and location-based parking restrictions, business licensing, permitting, and compliance

1:27:54mechanisms, administrative citations and progressive enforcement, public nuisance

1:27:59remedies, towing, removal, storage, and release protocols.

1:28:02All right.

1:28:04Thank you.

1:28:05I want to go to Councilmember Thresh-Endook, and I want to note for the record she's making

1:28:09the motion.

1:28:10She can't.

1:28:11It's not working for her to push the button.

1:28:12All right.

1:28:13Thank you, Mayor.

1:28:14Okay, so tonight I'm bringing forth an item focused specifically on the enforcement of

1:28:20nuisance trailers within our community.

1:28:23This hopefully will tackle reoccurring blight, enhance the quality of life within the eighth

1:28:28district and across our entire city.

1:28:31This item asked us to strengthen our enforcement tools against unhitched nuisance trailers,

1:28:38oversized vehicles, and mobile commercial billboards that convert our public streets

1:28:43into private storage lots.

1:28:46While Long Beach already has rules to address these issues, they are divided across multiple

1:28:51departments, codes, and protocols.

1:28:54Our goal today is to streamline and strengthen these regulations so that our right of ways

1:29:00remain clear, safe, and accessible for all.

1:29:04So before we dive in, I want to thank the Ridgewood Neighborhood Association for their

1:29:07active participation and letter of support.

1:29:10And I also want to thank my co-sponsor, Councilwoman Megan Kerr, for her partnership on this

1:29:16item.

1:29:18So as we go forward with our slides, let's take a look at what we're seeing on our streets.

1:29:23To be clear, trailers and oversized vehicles serve legitimate purposes for many residents,

1:29:28contractors, local businesses, and a vast majority of them use the lawfully.

1:29:34The problem arises when a trailer is left unhitched, stationary, or repeatedly stored

1:29:40on a street for weeks at a time.

1:29:43It converts limited public curb space into long-term commercial storage or mobile advertising

1:29:49when owners are hard to identify or constantly shuffling vehicles just in time to dodge

1:29:55time limits and enforcement.

1:29:58This isn't about penalizing trailer ownership.

1:30:01It is about stopping the prolonged, unlawful abuse of our public right of way.

1:30:06These abandoned trailers rob our families of curbside parking, our small businesses

1:30:11of access for their customers to have parking, create dangerous blind spots for children

1:30:17and pedestrians, and get in the way of our street sweeping and accumulate trash and

1:30:22blight.

1:30:23Our neighborhoods and residential communities are not commercial parking lots.

1:30:28When residents call our office, they report these hazards responding to departments and

1:30:36wanting to engage with the property owner.

1:30:39These actions are based on law -- we have the city responding based on specific laws

1:30:44within our municipal code.

1:30:46For instance, Title 10 governs the parking of unattached trailers and restricts oversized

1:30:52vehicles of a certain height and length on residential streets.

1:30:56Chapter 9.65 allows for administrative fines through financial management, while our nuisance

1:31:03code under Chapter 9.37 handles certain business violations.

1:31:09The gap we need to fix is what happens when a vehicle acts like trailer, is a storage

1:31:15shed, is an advertising, and is an ongoing nuisance to the neighborhood all at once.

1:31:21We need a cohesive system that connects all of these dots.

1:31:26Trailer-based commercial activity requires a much closer look.

1:31:30Back in 2019, Long Beach rightly prohibited mobile billboard advertising on our streets,

1:31:36but operating any business without a required city permit is a violation of our code.

1:31:42We need to evaluate whether our code should explicitly define when a commercial trailer

1:31:47requires a business license, regulatory permit, or both.

1:31:51Additionally, state law and federal court rulings give us strong backing here, allowing

1:31:57cities to use warnings, citations for faster removal, and upholding these restrictions

1:32:02as fully content neutral.

1:32:05Our enforcement should always turn on how the public right-of-way is being used, never

1:32:10about the message that's being displayed.

1:32:14So business licenses are the backbone of a thriving local economy, but economic activity

1:32:20must respect the rules and regulations that protect all partners in that system.

1:32:25The workers, the owners, the patrons, and the surrounding community.

1:32:29Through our licensing process, staff should evaluate how a business's compliance history

1:32:34or lack thereof is factored into granting a new license.

1:32:38Titles 3, 5, and 10 all interact here.

1:32:41If a business plans to operate by storing commercial trailers illegally on public streets

1:32:48in violation of Title 10, can we deny their license on that basis?

1:32:53Can we establish an objective criteria like unpaid citations or repeated parking infractions

1:33:00to guide these decisions?

1:33:02I want to emphasize this is not to overburden any business owner.

1:33:06Any consequence must have a remedy-focused solution, providing a fair opportunity to

1:33:12correct the issue.

1:33:14But the privilege of holding a business license must go hand-in-hand with respecting our

1:33:19local laws.

1:33:20Slide 6 So as we look at, everyone deserves a chance

1:33:25to correct a mistake and bring their business into compliance.

1:33:28But for operators with a documented pattern of serious and repeated violations, we need

1:33:33stronger tools.

1:33:35We should evaluate whether a probationary, conditional, or limited term license, perhaps

1:33:40lasting six months, with mandatory compliance reviews, would be an appropriate mechanism

1:33:46to reduce the impacts of nuisance trailers.

1:33:51Right now, our tobacco, sidewalk, vending, and cannabis frameworks operate under different

1:33:56legal rules, but they do provide a procedural blueprint for our city and how we might structure

1:34:01a progressive enforcement and accountability.

1:34:04Slide 7 There are and will be instances when administrative

1:34:09notices fail to change behavior on a chronic block.

1:34:12For repeated offenses, we need physical tools on the ground.

1:34:17Let's explore location and a time-based parking solution on the ground so that we can ensure

1:34:23that this nuisance applies to trailers so that we can get them off the street from

1:34:28reoccurring over and over again.

1:34:30Finally, we must establish clear legal defensible towing protocols.

1:34:36Residents deserve immediate relief from abandoned or illegally stored commercial equipment,

1:34:41and our protocol must protect public safety while respecting constitutional due process.

1:34:48To close, my item asks here for the staff to identify a department that will lead on

1:34:55this, map out existing authorities, close the enforcement gaps, and bring us clearer

1:35:01citywide data on complaints and towing.

1:35:05The goal here is to report back within 90 days on legal, permissively, and operationally

1:35:10feasible options to strengthen these regulations.

1:35:15The blight and safety hazards that unmanaged commercial trailers represent in our neighborhoods

1:35:21are unattainable right now.

1:35:23We need a protocol and coordinated tools to fix this.

1:35:26By connecting the use of oversized vehicles, as well as the privilege of doing business

1:35:31within our city with actual compliance, we can protect the quality of life, keep our

1:35:36streets safe, and support businesses that play by the rules.

1:35:40Colleagues, I respectfully ask for your support on this matter today.

1:35:46All right.

1:35:47Thank you.

1:35:49Uh, seconder of the motion, Council Member Kerr.

1:35:50Yes.

1:35:52Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you to Councilman Thrashenchuk for the introduction

1:35:55of this item.

1:35:56Um, I was happy to sign on.

1:35:59Since coming into office, my office frequently fields calls related to unattached trailers,

1:36:03oversized vehicles, creating hazards, um, line of sight issues, and nuisances across

1:36:08our neighborhoods.

1:36:10Sometimes they're parked too long, impeding street sweeping, residential access.

1:36:14They make it difficult for drivers to see past.

1:36:16Other times, they appear to be business related, creating unwanted advertising in the midst

1:36:21of residential neighborhoods or business corridors.

1:36:23Other times, they're in blatant disregard for the rules around no oversized vehicles.

1:36:28For almost a month and a half in our district, there was an unattached trailer near a business

1:36:31corridor that caused much distress to residents, and its contents, contents were disconcerting.

1:36:38And while we have regulations in place to address some of these issues, it can be difficult

1:36:41to enforce.

1:36:43Parking enforcement often relies on calls for service, uh, they're busy in other parts

1:36:47of town and may not get there for a day or two after the 72 hours has already passed,

1:36:54and then notes for an additional 72 hours before any citation or towing can happen.

1:37:00It leads to mounting frustrations as a nuisance situation with no clear path to resolution.

1:37:04I look forward to the report back from staff that can help identify ways to provide clarified

1:37:09and strengthened regulations to more efficiently enforce our municipal code and better resolve

1:37:13these issues.

1:37:14I urge my council colleagues support.

1:37:15Thank you.

1:37:18All right.

1:37:19Thank you.

1:37:20We'll go to public comment, please.

1:37:21There are two speakers on this item, Dave Shukla and Ellie.

1:37:22If you can make your way to the lectern, Dave Shukla and Ellie.

1:37:44Thank you, Mayor.

1:37:45Council members, thank you, Councilwoman Threshen took for that presentation.

1:37:53I think we both agree that, uh, as well organized as that slide presentation was, there's no

1:38:00substitute for actually hearing it delivered and hearing not only intonation, but the specific

1:38:07emphasis that you've chosen to give, um, I am in support, but I do have some concerns.

1:38:16Uh, it, it would be unfortunate to me if people who aren't using their trailers or

1:38:24mobile homes for business purposes were to be targeted by, uh, expanded regulation and

1:38:32enforcement.

1:38:34But I certainly understand the need, uh, and as Councilwoman Threshen mentioned, there

1:38:40often can be quite questionable uses, business uses of some of these, these trailers and

1:38:47items and particularly near schools or business corridors, they can create real hazards.

1:38:53Um, this city thankfully is not like Oakland.

1:38:57Um, I've lived in West Oakland and, uh, I can tell you that we are not that bad.

1:39:04Um, Oakland is great, but the trailer situation is off the hook and my ability to respond

1:39:10in real time is of course something that I cherish, um, because I like to think quick

1:39:15and act quick.

1:39:18Um, thank you.

1:39:27Um, I just, uh, want to, uh, address the, the issue that, um, you know, significant

1:39:33numbers of these unattached trailers are residents of this city who have been displaced from

1:39:40their homes due to gentrification, uh, rising rents, predatory landlords.

1:39:46Um, all that have, uh, become more and more endemic in our city, especially in the last

1:39:5310 years.

1:39:54So this reads as just another ploy to further criminal, criminalize homelessness in our

1:40:01city, and, uh, take even more resources from those who are already struggling the most.

1:40:07Like we can solve this very easily by passing stricter rent control policies, better tenant

1:40:15protections, moratoriums on substantial remodel evictions, closing that loophole, um, help,

1:40:23helping people stay housed.

1:40:26Yeah.

1:40:27Vacancy.

1:40:28Yeah.

1:40:29So if we, we help people stay housed, they will not need to be staying on trailers in

1:40:34our streets, which I'm sure we can all agree.

1:40:37Nobody wants.

1:40:38We all want our neighbors to be housed.

1:40:41Um, we don't want our neighbors getting kicked out of the trailers that right now they need

1:40:49to live in.

1:40:50Like they're just going to be living on the streets.

1:40:52It's not like they're going to magically go away.

1:40:55They're just going to continue getting caught up in the sweeps that L BPD is conducting

1:41:01with greater and greater frequency.

1:41:03Um, there, yeah, I'm also worried about how this could potentially affect a street vendors.

1:41:11I know the, obviously 72 hours is not as long as, you know, some street vendors are

1:41:19posted up the, I think the language in the ordinance needs to be, um, just very clear

1:41:27that, you know, that this is not what we're targeting.

1:41:30Uh, we aren't, and that we shouldn't be targeting the unhoused community of Long Beach, um,

1:41:37just because they love our city and want to live here, but can no longer afford to

1:41:42pay the rents that are, that have been really affecting our, our residents for, for a long

1:41:49time now.

1:41:51Thank you very much.

1:41:52All right.

1:41:55Well, thank you council member for bringing this item forward and the coalition of council

1:42:01members.

1:42:02I think the approach of looking at the category is the right approach.

1:42:06I think it's, you know, we know that there's, you know, crazy signage and you know, there's

1:42:12all this other stuff, part, you know, things that are blocking access, things partner

1:42:16near schools and you know, there are sometimes really crazy activities happening and businesses

1:42:21going on inside of some of those trailers.

1:42:23Uh, so I think by looking at the category in general, you can think about, um, how you

1:42:30can address if a trailer or, or something's being used for housing and where a safe parking

1:42:36space would be versus something that's a nuisance or pretend or potentially, um, a

1:42:43use that's actually making money, um, by bringing down, uh, the access and the quality

1:42:47of the neighborhood.

1:42:48And I appreciate you looking at it broadly from this perspective members, please cast

1:42:52your vote.

1:43:04Motion is carried.

1:43:0518, please.

1:43:1418 communication from councilwoman Thresh and took councilwoman Zindahas council member

1:43:18Duggan recommendation to direct city manager in collaboration with city attorney and relevant

1:43:23city departments to one, bring forward for city council consideration within 60 days

1:43:28and ordinance amending the Long Beach municipal code that codifies the prohibition on the

1:43:33retail sale of nitrous oxide established by Senate bill seven five eight conforms to

1:43:39the product and device prohibitions established by Senate bill nine three six and provides

1:43:44for local enforcement upon its effective date through the city's existing permit suspension

1:43:49and revocation administrative citation and business license remedies and to return to

1:43:54the city council within 120 days with proposed amendments to strengthen the codified ordinance

1:44:00through greater local restrictions informed by the areas identified in this letter and

1:44:05any additional regulatory or enforcement opportunities identified by staff to the extent permissible

1:44:11under business and profession code and other applicable state laws without restricting

1:44:16legitimate uses, including, but not limited to medical dentistry, food preparation, industrial

1:44:22manufacturing and automotive services.

1:44:26Thank you council member Thresh until thank you so much mayor.

1:44:29So I'm bringing forth another item and this one is co-sponsored by my colleagues, council

1:44:34woman, Mary's and day house, as well as councilwoman Christina Duggan.

1:44:38Thank you for your partnership here.

1:44:40We are looking to take a direct and urgent action against the proliferation of recreational

1:44:47nitrous oxide, commonly known as whippets, not or galaxy gas.

1:44:54I'd like to thank the Ridgewood triangle neighborhood association for submitting their

1:44:58letter of support and joining me and addressing these matters over the past year.

1:45:03This substance has flooded our streets, leaving behind hazardous metal cylinders and silver

1:45:09canisters as litter in our neighborhoods.

1:45:11I've done the cleanups and seen them more importantly, it has caused severe permanent

1:45:16health impacts in our community, particularly among our youth.

1:45:20Let me be clear, not just oxide has legitimate vital uses in our economy.

1:45:26It is used safely and automotive repair, culinary arts, medical care and dentistry.

1:45:32But what we're seeing on the ground is entirely different and it is marketed, flavored and

1:45:37sold over the counter for recreation inhalation, creating a public health crisis that demands

1:45:43localized, robust response.

1:45:46The medical data behind this is quite alarming.

1:45:49Nitrous oxide and activates vitamin B12 leading to devastating health outcomes.

1:45:55During the state health data, emergency department visits related to nitrous oxide surged 246%

1:46:03between 2018 and 2023 while hospitalizations for related spinal cord degeneration jumped

1:46:09175%.

1:46:12And this just isn't an abstract statistic.

1:46:16In district eight, we've been dealing with bad actors who exploit loopholes to keep selling

1:46:21these products.

1:46:22For instance, we have a reoccurring problem with a business operating under various categories

1:46:27and selling.

1:46:29Because they don't hold a standard tobacco permit, a narrow ordinance would let them

1:46:33slip right through the cracks.

1:46:35This is why our approach today has to be comprehensive.

1:46:39Here's some images of nitrous oxide.

1:46:41As you can see, these canisters are marked with bright colors and designs.

1:46:47This distracts from the incredibly harmful impacts the substance brings if used as a

1:46:52recreational drug.

1:46:54Fortunately, the state legislature has already acted.

1:46:57This past September, Governor Newsom provided two landmark bills, Senate Bill 936, which

1:47:04bans statewide the sale of oversized containers over eight grams directly in inhalable canisters,

1:47:12flavored products, and inhalation devices.

1:47:16Senate Bill 758, which adds section 22984 to the business and professions code, explicitly

1:47:24prohibits retailers from selling nitrous oxide and empowering cities to adopt even

1:47:29stricter local regulations as long as legitimate uses are protected.

1:47:35This goes into effect in January of 2027.

1:47:39We have also taken action here in the city.

1:47:42Later this evening, the city manager will propose a new regulatory framework for tobacco

1:47:47retailers and smoking lounges.

1:47:49This is a report back from an item that was introduced by my colleague Councilwoman Megan

1:47:53Kerr, and I was proud to co-sponsor this policy.

1:47:57The policy was geared toward creating a buffer zone between tobacco retailers, smoke shops,

1:48:02and youth-serving institutions such as our schools and daycares.

1:48:06The city manager and staff have done a great job in evaluating how to incorporate nitrous

1:48:12oxide bans in a broader tobacco retail permit framework.

1:48:15I want to thank the staff for their initial collaboration on this issue.

1:48:19However, due to the loophole, many businesses like the one in our district cannot relate

1:48:29it to tobacco shops.

1:48:31There is a retail loophole that we must close.

1:48:34To close those loopholes while protecting legitimate businesses, I'm proposing a rapid

1:48:39two-phase local strategy.

1:48:41So phase one is within 60 days directing the city manager and the city attorney to bring

1:48:46forward an ordinance codifying the state's prohibitions into our local Long Beach Municipal

1:48:52Code.

1:48:53By placing these rules into our own code, we attach local law enforcement remedies

1:48:59such as administrative citations, business license actions, and permit suspensions under

1:49:04Chapter 5.81, giving our code enforcement and police immediate tools in tandem with

1:49:10the state law taking effect January 1, 2027.

1:49:15Phase two will be a 120-day report back, returning with stronger locally-tailored amendments.

1:49:23This phase will explore closing the loopholes for non-tobacco retail bad actors, establishing

1:49:29strict display rules, setting per-transaction quantity amounts, designating youth sensitivity

1:49:36zones around schools, parks, and libraries, all while preserving exemptions again for

1:49:42legitimate medical, culinary, and automotive suppliers.

1:49:46Now, as we build out these regulations, it is equally important to emphasize what this

1:49:51policy does not do.

1:49:53Nitrous oxide is a dual-use substance with critical, critical, and lawful applications

1:49:59across several industries.

1:50:01Under Business Professions Code Section 22984, state law explicitly protects legitimate

1:50:07commercial use, and our local ordinance should do the same.

1:50:11We are crafting this policy to ensure that medical and dental practices, commercial food

1:50:16preparation, chef's supply stores, industrial manufacturing, and legitimate auto repair

1:50:22services remain unimpeded.

1:50:25Our objective here is quite surgical.

1:50:27We'll close those retail loopholes, and we want to make sure that we don't burden those

1:50:32lawful uses.

1:50:33So, colleagues, finally, as you take a look at this framework, I believe that our residents

1:50:38and our young people deserve a clean, safe community, free from the dangerous and unregulated

1:50:44substance here that can be abused.

1:50:46By pairing the state baseline with our own powerful local enforcement tools, we can protect

1:50:52public health, support legitimate industries, and stop bad actors right in their tracks.

1:50:58I respectfully ask for your support in approving these recommendations today.

1:51:02Thank you.

1:51:04All right.

1:51:05Thank you.

1:51:06The seconder of the motion is Councilmember Zendaya.

1:51:08Thank you.

1:51:10Thank you so much, Councilmember Zendaya, for inviting me to sign onto this item, alongside

1:51:19with our Councilmember Duggan.

1:51:23Because of the growing, I'm very supportive of this because the growing retail availability

1:51:33of nitrous oxide for recreational use presents a serious public concern.

1:51:40The increase in emergency visits showed that this is not simply a question of production

1:51:46choice.

1:51:48It is an issue involving neurological harm, youth exposure, and preventable medical emergencies.

1:51:56I believe the two-faced approach is thoughtful and responsible.

1:52:01It allows Long Beach to establish local enforcement close to the state law's January 1st effective

1:52:08date while giving staff more time to evaluate stronger regulations carefully.

1:52:16At the time of this ordinance, I am absolutely clear that this ordinance will protect legitimate

1:52:31uses and screen for other illegitimate uses.

1:52:37Screen retailers and legitimate users should receive clear information about what remains

1:52:45permitted and what will be prohibited.

1:52:49Happy to sign onto this item.

1:52:53All right.

1:52:54Thank you.

1:52:55This is the work of the city.

1:52:56This is important legislation.

1:52:57The state has taken an issue with this.

1:53:00We know that occasionally the smoke shops in these other areas offer these things that

1:53:05are easier to access, and students are able to get in there and buy these things that

1:53:10are used differently.

1:53:11So we have to make sure that we address those gaps.

1:53:14So thank you, council members, for bringing this forward.

1:53:16We have two members of the public signed up to speak.

1:53:18Let's administer a public comment.

1:53:19Dave Schuchla and Ellie, if you can make your way to the lectern.

1:53:23Dave Schuchla and Ellie.

1:53:35Thank you again.

1:53:36There really is no substitute for doing democracy in real time.

1:53:40If it wasn't for Ellie's previous comment, I wouldn't have even thought of the danger

1:53:45that over broad language in some of these regulations could pose to legitimate uses

1:53:53like food trucks.

1:53:55And that's something that frankly I'm glad to see.

1:54:00There's some emphasis on in trying to restrict this to illegitimate, compactly illegitimate

1:54:06uses that are targeted at kids.

1:54:11The general rule, the more concentrated something is, the worse it is for you.

1:54:16The more colorful the packaging, the more likely you're being lied to.

1:54:21And if something's free, you're the product.

1:54:24Thank you.

1:54:28Next speaker is Ellie.

1:54:30Ellie, you're up.

1:54:37As a mistake, I signed up for 19, they registered me for 18, so they're pushing that right

1:54:42now.

1:54:43All right.

1:54:44Good.

1:54:45Thank you.

1:54:46That concludes public comment for the public.

1:54:47All right.

1:54:58Members, please cast your vote.

1:54:59Motion is carried.

1:55:00All right.

1:55:01Thank you.

1:55:02So the next one, and I know I'm getting a bunch of messages to try to move up the

1:55:06ordinance, I want to defer to Council Member Allen, because the next item has about seven

1:55:11speakers is yours.

1:55:12The other one has about 40, so your call?

1:55:15You want to do 40, or you want to take the next one?

1:55:17It doesn't matter to me, whatever you prefer.

1:55:19Okay.

1:55:21All right.

1:55:22We'll take the 40.

1:55:23We'll take the 40.

1:55:24Okay.

1:55:25Yeah.

1:55:26We'll do item 25.

1:55:29Item 25, report from city attorney, recommendation to declare ordinance amending and restating

1:55:34Long Beach municipal code related to chapter 2.03 city council article one, rules of the

1:55:40council read and adopted as read citywide.

1:55:42All right.

1:55:43We already had a presentation on this, so we'll go straight to public comment.

1:55:48We need a motion and a second on the item.

1:55:50All right.

1:55:59So let's administer public comment now.

1:56:02Okay.

1:56:03We have 38 speakers.

1:56:05When I call your name, if you can line up at the lectern, Stuart Galloway, April Renee,

1:56:10Lisa Smock, Jim Hannigan, Corliss Lee, Lee Charlie is in Zoom, Azura, Dave Shukla, Joanne

1:56:19Garnica, Tara Coomans.

1:56:23Those are the first 10 speakers.

1:56:24If you heard your name, please line up at the lectern.

1:56:27Stuart, you are the first speaker.

1:56:30What is the, and what is the time allocated, Madam Clerk?

1:56:33The time allocated, since we are over the number, over 10 speakers, it is 90 seconds,

1:56:39a minute and a half.

1:56:43Please begin.

1:56:44Go ahead.

1:56:45Please proceed.

1:56:46As I just said, and I quote, "We should be creative and we should accommodate the needs

1:56:51of every community to open up to the democratic process.

1:56:55We should make it easy and accessible for every citizen to participate," end of quote.

1:57:01You are doing the exact opposite.

1:57:03Last week, after more than a thousand residents spoke, wrote, or petitioned against this

1:57:08egregious Trump-like proposal, we all had to listen to the most disingenuous gaslighting

1:57:14that I have heard in a long time.

1:57:17As well as a pathetic refusal to compromise by adopting Councillor Duggan's eminently

1:57:23sensible proposal.

1:57:26That behaviour clearly shows that you don't want to hear us.

1:57:30On this subject, this council already acts as if you are the most important people in

1:57:34this chamber and in this city.

1:57:37But let me assure you, you are not.

1:57:40We, the residents and voters are.

1:57:43I would like to hear you say, "Sorry, we have made a mistake," but those of you who voted

1:57:48in favour last week and no doubt will vote in favour again today are just far too arrogant

1:57:55to admit that.

1:57:56If this outrageous ordinance is approved, be prepared for another John Lewis quote.

1:58:01He said, "Speak up, speak out, get in the way, create good trouble."

1:58:08I will continue to do that as much as I can and I hope my fellow citizens of Long Beach

1:58:13will do the same.

1:58:14Good evening Mayor and Council Members, my name is April Rone and I'm here in opposition

1:58:27to item 25.

1:58:28I believe we need to ask ourselves a fundamental question, who does the government serve?

1:58:34Because these chambers do not belong to elected officials, they belong to the people, public

1:58:39comment is not a courtesy.

1:58:41It is an essential part of government accountability, transparency and public trust.

1:58:45I've spent years advocating for families and working with legislators to change public

1:58:49policy and I can tell you that meaningful change often begins with one person who refuses

1:58:55to remain silent.

1:58:57Not everyone has the resources, relationships or opportunities to reach their elected representatives.

1:59:03Sometimes those few minutes at the microphone are the only opportunity a resident has to

1:59:08be heard.

1:59:10And those voices matter, especially when they challenge us, question decisions or bring

1:59:14uncomfortable truths into the room.

1:59:16A government that welcomes public participation should not fear public scrutiny.

1:59:22Efficiency matters but efficiency should never come at the expense of accessibility,

1:59:27accountability or public voice.

1:59:28I respectfully ask for you to preserve the existing public comment rules and vote no

1:59:33on item 25 because the measure of good government is not how efficiently it conducts its meetings

1:59:39but how faithfully it listens to the people it serves.

1:59:42Thank you.

1:59:43Next speaker is Lisa and then Jim Hannigan.

1:59:50Hi, my name is Lisa Smock.

1:59:52I'm here today to discuss Agenda 25.

1:59:55We today have a White House that is blocking certain news outlets from...

2:00:00We're covering the administration. We have a state government that has allowed non-disclosure agreements to be signed to prevent the public from knowing what is going on with important projects like high-speed rail and the capital annex.

2:00:15In Long Beach, our city government is trying to limit public comments to the beginning of the meeting in the name of convenience and cost.

2:00:23Democracy is not easy. It can be messy, but public comments are the fundamental right and are not meant to be for the convenience of our elected officials.

2:00:33It is for the public to bring issues that are important to them and to hold our elected officials accountable.

2:00:41There is a better way to manage council meetings such as limit on how ceremonial presentations are done, to hold meetings once a week like it used to be, and to be mindful of how the city's agenda is created.

2:00:55You have chosen to represent us and to answer to us, limiting the public comments to a short period of time at the beginning of the meeting and not conjunction with the agenda item is not keeping in line with the fundamental contract with your citizens.

2:01:11Thank you very much.

2:01:12Okay, Jim Hannigan, I'd say reject this and start over with a different ordinance.

2:01:26Sign-ups begin at 4.30 for open comment, will be at the start of the meeting.

2:01:30Item comment will be during the meeting.

2:01:32Open comment sign-up closes at the call to order.

2:01:35Item comment closes when the item is called.

2:01:37Speaking time is three minutes.

2:01:39For 20 speakers, 90 seconds for more than 20.

2:01:42One minute is too short.

2:01:44Individual can speak at most three times per meeting.

2:01:48That's better than one.

2:01:49It's not as good as it is now.

2:01:50Open comment at the start of the meeting can be on agenda and non-agenda items at the speaker's discretion.

2:01:56Open comment is 60 minutes at the start of the meeting.

2:01:59The chair can extend it, whatever.

2:02:01Open comment, the clerk will report at the end of open comment.

2:02:05The clerk will report how many items are signed up, people are signed up, and the chair like now can adjust the agenda to accommodate that.

2:02:15When an agenda item is called, any verbal presentation should be limited to 10 minutes, maybe expendable.

2:02:21After the verbal presentation, I'd really encourage the council members themselves to comment.

2:02:27Offer something before item comment begins so we have some sense of what's going on.

2:02:32After item comment, or after that, after this council has spoken, then the mayor can speak, rather than the mayor dominating the whole thing.

2:02:41After item comment, everything goes as it is now, and then the other thing is you might have to have more than three comments if a public hearing.

2:02:48Because it would be, I think that's required.

2:02:51Anyway, thank you very much.

2:02:53My suggestion.

2:02:55Next speaker, Corliss Lee.

2:02:58Okay, Corliss Lee here.

2:03:02I'm at, I'm District 5.

2:03:04I'm advocating that you vote no.

2:03:07This situation has the easiest win-win solution.

2:03:12All you have to do is both.

2:03:14Have an early segment allowing public speaking and leave the ability desired by the vast majority to speak with each agenda item.

2:03:24You've always had the ability to move items up on the agenda.

2:03:28No one is being sacrificed.

2:03:31The handicapped or anyone else, all you have to do is move their agenda item up.

2:03:35There's no good reason to do this.

2:03:39It diminishes public comments.

2:03:41Is that what you want?

2:03:43When I've gone back and looked at the letters to you from the June and this time, it isn't just the citizens that are complaining.

2:03:53It's the Chamber of Commerce, the LA Apartment Association, and I have to say that recently I was in a Zoom meeting about global pollution.

2:04:04And one of the things that was said there was that political organizations are there to make life better for the citizens they serve.

2:04:14If they don't do that, they are considered not fit to serve.

2:04:21And I have to say that in this particular case, you're not representing the vast majority who oppose this if you vote in favor.

2:04:30You're also embarrassing the Democratic Party, I think.

2:04:35I think most of you that voted.

2:04:37Thank you.

2:04:40Next speaker is Lee Charlie in Zoom.

2:04:42Lee Charlie.

2:04:45Can you hear me?

2:04:46Yes, we can hear you.

2:04:48Hey, have a happy Tuesday.

2:04:50I think this is a bad financial agenda item.

2:04:53Government code section 54954.3 of the Brown Act states that local government agencies must provide an opportunity for the public to address the legislative body on any agenda item, quote, before or during the items consideration.

2:05:14There are two legal precedents that talks about this, and I believe Long Beach is saying the word or as we're saying, and or or, and actually, there's two court cases, the Center for local government accountability versus the city of San Diego, ultimately, the city of San Diego back down

2:05:34and changed its ordinance based on this statute to preven versus the city of Los Angeles. It's a lawsuit 2019 the court of appeals ruled on the word or.

2:05:46So what is the or mean or with local government code. It's called the disjunctive rule means or and the word. So it's not a or B, it's a and B, so you can speak earlier, and on the agenda item.

2:06:04And then I looked at how much of those lawsuits cost the city. The first lawsuit cost San Diego 170,000 and the second.

2:06:13Was 300,000 by literally voting for this, you're going to throw the city 150,000 plus and get vote.

2:06:22Thank you for your comments.

2:06:26Next speaker is Azura, and then Dave Shukla voice. We take your seat. This whole council is pathetic losers who do not do not deserve there to be in these seats over 730 people, Mary, do you know how many votes away you were from losing your seat.

2:06:54Five, this council claims to listen to the community when the community speaks Rex I believe those were your words, yet each one of you went against close to 800 people not only those that signed but also that we're here to speak.

2:07:14You went against an in opposition to limiting our public comment, Mary your whole argument is about disabled people and transportation access, yet many of those exact same people were in these chambers screaming at you, along with your colleagues already stating that this is current in current

2:07:34rules, that you can move public comment for that is also outlined within the ADA for that exact purpose, which proves you don't care about your disability community as much as you think you do, or claim that you do.

2:07:51Your argument was a multitude of people in your was about multitude of people in your district that had three jobs, and also about human trafficking. Have you heard about the US government.

2:08:07Thank you for your comments. Your next speaker is Dave Shukla, and then join Garnica. Thank you. Next speaker please, your time's concluded.

2:08:35This experience has been described by some as Orwellian by a couple other parables in mind in Kafka's before the law, a man finds the door of the law open with a gatekeeper who tells him he can't enter yet.

2:08:48The man waits his whole life. This ordinance builds that builds that door with confusion as a feature, not a bug. Our gatekeeper, the mayor may reduce speaking times with no minimum, and is not required to extend the 90 minute cap.

2:09:04There's no standard for people to follow and it's just a power grab by a gatekeeper so residents can't know and prepare for that. They're speaking in time in Alice in Wonderland, the queen of hearts demands sentence first verdict afterwards.

2:09:20This ordinance demands that the public speak ahead of the staff presentation and council discussion in Animal Farm, the commandments get repainted every night and the people are gaslit about the commandments.

2:09:31This is the city's FAQ, it calls three minutes a quote starting allotment, but it is only the maximum. This FAQ never mentions the mayor's duty to quote strictly enforce whatever time is set.

2:09:44It says the agenda documents are to be posted in advance, but the code requires only that the presentation visuals be filed with the clerk, which is different.

2:09:53In the Wizard of Oz, everything is intentionally opaque because the leaders fear what people would see if they knew the truth. Vote no on this shameful ordinance.

2:10:04Next speaker Dave Shugla, then Joanne Garnica, the next speakers. After that are and can travel. Tara Coomans, Tara Riggy, Jenny Gonzalez, Anthony Holmes, Leslie Goldman, see more comments, Sam wise enough is enough, lol, and Eric G.

2:10:35If you heard your name, please line up at the lectern, Dave Shugla. Thank you city clerk.

2:10:41I've written a response to the fact that was posted on the city meetings web page very prominently. I think it is fair to question whether that is the work product of the city clerk's office.

2:10:58I'm gonna swerve here and say something that most of you won't expect, which is that I believe it's not too late for you to do better.

2:11:10I think the assumption that this is a fatal complete is self perpetuating and self limiting and not very becoming of our elected officials.

2:11:21I think it is perfectly within your power to look me in the eye and say, Dave, we got this wrong. We can do it better.

2:11:32Please let me have a chance to speak.

2:11:35I have had since 2020 my own reasons for coming to these meetings each and every time that I've been able each and every time that I'm in town.

2:11:47They have to do with considerable personal loss and betrayal by members who used to occupy the seats that you now do.

2:11:58And I, for the most part, I thought that this city council is better.

2:12:03It makes your chance to show it or to set yourself up for a very costly lawsuit and potential recalls. Thank you. Good evening.

2:12:24I am here in opposition of item 25 on the agenda. Restricting public comment is one of the greatest detriments to our democracy.

2:12:32On October 7th, 2020, while I served on the civil service commission, we were presented with a racial inequity and reconciliation initiative.

2:12:40What stood out to me was one of the first lines spoken to regain trust and city government. These words resonated.

2:12:50We didn't feel heard or served. Now, six years later, that's true more than ever.

2:12:55We often think of our federal government when we think of the erosion of our democracy.

2:13:00However, the actions of our local government mimic the actions in the playbook under different spots.

2:13:05Stifling public comment is not the actions of people who value and defend democracy.

2:13:11I know each of you are smart enough to accomplish the efficiencies without sacrificing.

2:13:17One of the things this country holds most dear, the ability to speak freely.

2:13:23You don't need to permanently eliminate the ability to speak for most to be inclusive of others.

2:13:29The need of a few to speak at a certain time doesn't mean I shouldn't get to speak at the time of an agenda item and vice versa.

2:13:36We can have both. This is diversity, equity and inclusion fail. Your vote should align to defend democracy.

2:13:51Next speaker is Anne Cantrell. Please unmute yourself. Anne Cantrell, please unmute yourself.

2:14:01Good evening. Can you hear me? Yes. Anne Cantrell, according to Robert's Rules of Order,

2:14:10discussion on a motion comes after the motion is made and seconded.

2:14:16This ordinance requires the public to speak to an agenda item at the beginning of the meeting before the motion is made.

2:14:25This appears to be illegal and puts the public at a big disadvantage.

2:14:30Number one, the public will not have seen the staff report, which may differ from that in the agenda.

2:14:38Number two, the maker of the motion may make a different motion from the one suggested, but no public discussion will be allowed.

2:14:47Number three, the council must remember every public argument and discussion made sometimes hours before.

2:14:57Number four, the public wishes to speak on a number of agenda items.

2:15:04They will be forced to cram all of them into 60 to 90 seconds.

2:15:08Number five, those who choose to speak on Zoom will be punished by having no face, only a voice.

2:15:18Please take this ordinance back to the drawing board.

2:15:23Listen to the public and find a way to follow SB 707 to allow more, not less public input. Thank you.

2:15:32Next speaker, Tara Riggy and then Jenny Gonzalez and Anthony Holmes.

2:15:41Good evening. I want you all to look around this room.

2:15:45People from all walks of life are here tonight, different backgrounds, neighborhoods and beliefs.

2:15:50But we all have one thing in common. We love our city.

2:15:54We love Long Beach and we care enough to show up and hold our government accountable.

2:15:59And what do we get in return? An ordinance designed to hear less from us.

2:16:05Last week, overwhelming public opposition was met with six council members voting to move this forward anyways.

2:16:11You argue residents shouldn't have to stay late at City Hall, yet most supporters spoke remotely through Zoom.

2:16:17So why aren't we expanding accessibility instead of restricting participation?

2:16:23These meetings are funded by our tax dollars.

2:16:26Yet you're treating public comment like a box to check before moving on with your agenda.

2:16:31And frankly, it's ridiculous how little effort is being made to disguise what's actually happening here.

2:16:37This isn't about efficiency. This is about a corruption of the democratic process happening in plain sight.

2:16:44Public comment is not an inconvenience. It is accountability. You work for us.

2:16:49And if you don't want to work, then this isn't a job for you because the people of Long Beach deserve better.

2:16:56Thank you. Next speaker, Jenny Gonzalez.

2:17:02Jenny Gonzalez. After Jenny is Anthony Holmes and then Leslie Goldman and see more comments.

2:17:09Good evening, Chief Council and audience members.

2:17:19My name is Jenny Gonzalez. I live in the 9th District. I'm a CPA and a real estate agent.

2:17:25According to the laws of physics for every action, there is an opposite but equal reaction.

2:17:32What will be the opposite opposite reaction to City Council doing something as drastic as cutting public comment?

2:17:41It might be civil unrest.

2:17:44City Council members, your families come first. If family commitments make you a distracted council member,

2:17:54then resign and go home and take care of your family.

2:17:58I have a daughter at home who requires 24/7 care. I have cared for her for 24 years.

2:18:08I have resigned two jobs in order to keep my commitment to my daughter.

2:18:13It was well worth the sacrifice.

2:18:18I'm also very disappointed in the disrespectful way the audience members speak to the City Council.

2:18:27I think it's disrespectful and I wish that they could speak in a more peaceful manner.

2:18:33But there's one thing that I want to let you know. This is why I'm here.

2:18:40I propose that public comment be extended by one minute for every percentage point.

2:18:46Thank you for your comments.

2:18:55Thank you, Jenny. Take care.

2:19:02Next speaker is Anthony Holmes and then Leslie Goldman.

2:19:05They don't deserve our respect back.

2:19:12Yes, ma'am.

2:19:13I came here to support all the speakers that came to speak on this item today.

2:19:19I really didn't have nothing to say, but hey, I'm here, right?

2:19:24Protect public comments, justice for Nolan Wells, protect black workers always.

2:19:36And I just want to as Mary Zendaya, Darryl Supinol, Dr. Sully, Robert Urenga, Tanua,

2:19:48and I know Joni Rick's not here, but it's Rex y'all pimps.

2:19:51I just want to know.

2:19:55And, you know, I didn't write nothing down.

2:19:59So let me watch my words because I don't want to be put on your investigation for something that's not work related.

2:20:04But again, protect black workers and protect public comments.

2:20:13Leslie Goldman again. Can you hear me? I think you need a better microphone for the public.

2:20:24It's not as loud as yours, but I'm here.

2:20:28Leslie Goldman to give you the update on the petition.

2:20:32Stop Long Beach City Council from suppressing public comments today.

2:20:37I submitted to the city clerk the number of twelve hundred signatures as of right now.

2:20:46There are twelve hundred and forty eight.

2:20:48Sorry, it's hard to breathe with this mask on at last week's meeting.

2:20:54I don't think that the petition was given the weight that it deserves.

2:20:59So I need to impress upon you that this is a formal request made by twelve hundred and forty eight people.

2:21:08We're the signers of this document.

2:21:12I don't think you heard us last week, so I want you to see it.

2:21:18The signers of this document, we are formally petitioning you, each of you council members.

2:21:24We're asking, we're petitioning you to respect the significance of overwhelming public opposition

2:21:32and to reject the ordinance as revised.

2:21:36We're asking you to put the public interest above your own and vote no on item twenty five.

2:21:44There should be a review of any changes you make in three months.

2:21:48And then if you do, if you read the thank you for your comment.

2:21:58Right, right. Thank you for your comment. Thank you.

2:22:08Next speaker, Seymour, can you please unmute yourself in Zoom?

2:22:13Seymour, if you're in Zoom, can you please put your?

2:22:17Thank you.

2:22:19Next speaker, please.

2:22:20Seymour, if you are in Zoom, can you please unmute yourself?

2:22:26Samwise.

2:22:31Madam Clerk, who's the next speaker?

2:22:34Seymour is in Zoom.

2:22:36We're not getting response.

2:22:37Is Seymour here?

2:22:38We can.

2:22:39OK, in Zoom.

2:22:40He's not responding in Zoom.

2:22:43We can move on to the next speaker and come back.

2:22:45Samwise, if you can please unmute yourself, star nine.

2:22:48I think Samwise is in person.

2:22:56Come to the lectern.

2:22:57It's ridiculous how relentlessly you keep trying to steal time from us.

2:23:06We obviously need to be here.

2:23:08If we weren't here to speak, you would cut hours at the library

2:23:12or cut funds to the fire station, which you did.

2:23:17Or cut funding for union jobs, which you also did.

2:23:20Or remove a local business and replace it with a big corporation,

2:23:25which you also did just last week.

2:23:28You're already not listening to your public, which is the heart of this city

2:23:32that you're so proudly toting as Vibe City.

2:23:35You obviously need us to tell you what's the right thing to do.

2:23:38And you want to give us less time?

2:23:40The system is already bad.

2:23:41Public comment should not close when an item is called.

2:23:44It should close at least after a presentation has been read.

2:23:48Preferably, if there's still people in line to speak,

2:23:50anyone should be able to join anytime before the last speaker has finished.

2:23:54This would actually increase public engagement

2:23:58if that was truly your intended goal.

2:24:00But this item will only inhibit our communication with you, the council.

2:24:05The current system is already inefficient,

2:24:06and this item is an outright attack on our right

2:24:09to communicate with you, our elected officials.

2:24:12Your job is to represent us.

2:24:15And we need to be heard.

2:24:17So vote no on agenda item 25.

2:24:20Next speaker, enough is enough.

2:24:26And then LOL and Eric G.

2:24:29Enough is enough.

2:24:30LOL and Eric G.

2:24:34Hello. So I'm here again to try to appeal to your common sense,

2:24:44to your right, to do the right thing by the people of Long Beach.

2:24:49Apparently that hasn't worked neither for the petition

2:24:51or the thousands of letters or comments that were sent.

2:24:54So now I'm going to talk about self-preservation.

2:24:56Save your own jobs.

2:24:58Because you guys are not listening to anything else.

2:25:01Darryl, I'm really surprised at you.

2:25:03Normally, I haven't agreed with a lot of your voting in the past

2:25:06because I'm not saying agenda.

2:25:07But you always seem to have common sense

2:25:09and your constituents seem to believe in you

2:25:11because you send out your newsletter every week.

2:25:13Like clockwork, you respond to your residents.

2:25:15But you're not responding to them.

2:25:16You're not listening to them.

2:25:17Why do you think Rex is having you do his dirty work?

2:25:21He can wipe his hands and say, I have nothing.

2:25:23Can you look at me, Rex, while I'm talking and not your phone?

2:25:25That'd be great. Thanks.

2:25:26So why are you going to hang up your career?

2:25:30Is this the hill you want to die on, Darryl?

2:25:32Your own political suicide by supporting this agenda?

2:25:36And you can do the right thing tonight.

2:25:38Withdraw your motion.

2:25:40Be strong like Christina Duggan was.

2:25:42She realized her motion wasn't good back in June

2:25:44and she voted against it.

2:25:45So why don't you do the same?

2:25:47Save your own career.

2:25:49Don't worry about Rex because Rex is looking out for Rex.

2:25:51Rex will always look out for Rex.

2:25:54So save your jobs.

2:25:56And should Mary be voting?

2:25:57I mean, if there's concerns about campaign,

2:26:00Miss Frode or anything, should she actually be voting right now?

2:26:03And for Yeronga, nice parting gift.

2:26:06This is your legacy.

2:26:07I know Tanya is running for water district.

2:26:09We're going to make sure she doesn't win.

2:26:10No more Yeronga's in Long Beach politics.

2:26:12Thank you for your comments.

2:26:14Next speaker is LOL, Eric G.

2:26:20And then Megan O'Connor, Joe Weinstein, Matt Goldman.

2:26:23LOL, if you're in the audience, please come forward.

2:26:28If not, Eric G., Megan O'Connor, Joe Weinstein.

2:26:34All right, let's stop interrupting public comment.

2:26:42Please issue a warning.

2:26:43Issue a warning for Yeronga.

2:26:46Thank you, Madam Clerk.

2:26:47And I'm going to make this is your first warning.

2:26:50All right, thank you.

2:26:53You got it, Eric.

2:26:54Eric Garcia, Organizer in front of the Director of the Royalty,

2:26:58and I'm here to speak against Item 25.

2:27:00Many a times we've come in here with over 10 members

2:27:02ready to give public comment.

2:27:03And as the night progresses,

2:27:05folks have had to leave due to conflicts and commitments.

2:27:07So believe me when we hear you,

2:27:09that we understand how much more convenient

2:27:11it'll be to have public comment at the beginning,

2:27:14but it's not in line with democratic values.

2:27:16Listening to the public is such a fundamental part

2:27:19of your jobs.

2:27:20Y'all chose this.

2:27:21It doesn't make sense for you all to take it out

2:27:24on the democratic process and the civic engagement process.

2:27:27For so many of our people, public comment is the first step

2:27:31to more robust civic engagements that come to council.

2:27:34They feel heard.

2:27:35And in some cases, you all have changed your opinions

2:27:38because of the public comment.

2:27:41And so for us, that's just the first step,

2:27:43and we've learned that our folks grow in their civic engagement

2:27:46so much more, and the public comment is just the entryway.

2:27:49And so I think folks have had great suggestions.

2:27:52I'll leave that to them.

2:27:54The last thing I'll say too is like,

2:27:56if you all truly, truly take yourself seriously enough

2:27:59to think that you are capable of representing other people,

2:28:02then represent them.

2:28:03And listening to them is such a fundamental part of that.

2:28:05Thank you.

2:28:06- Next speaker is Megan O'Connor.

2:28:12Joe Weinstein, Matt Goldman, please come forward.

2:28:15Is Megan O'Connor in the audience?

2:28:21Please come forward.

2:28:22And then Joe, and then Matt.

2:28:24- Last week in defense of item 25,

2:28:31my councilwoman Thrashen Took stated that her constituents

2:28:35were too scared to attend these meetings in person.

2:28:38I'm curious why that concern was directed at members

2:28:41of the public rather than prompting any examination

2:28:44of the experience of attending city council itself.

2:28:47(audience applauding)

2:28:48Because I agree, it can be scary to attend these meetings.

2:28:51There are armed police stationed at all entrances and exits.

2:28:55We're let in one at a time.

2:28:57Our bags are searched.

2:28:58We're put through metal detectors.

2:29:00And today, by my count, there have been six people

2:29:02with guns in this room alone.

2:29:04It is an impressive show of force and a potent reminder

2:29:08that we best watch our tone in front of our betters.

2:29:11A reminder that is underscored by the revisions

2:29:13memorialized by item 25.

2:29:16Speaking at a city council meeting is a civic right

2:29:19and currently one of the least scary things to do

2:29:22in Long Beach as ice gangs are disappearing people

2:29:25and terrorizing our communities and neighbors.

2:29:27But oh, a moment of silence for poor, poor Newport Beach.

2:29:33The true lack of decorum that needs to be addressed

2:29:36is how little concern I see from the people sitting

2:29:39in front of me.

2:29:40Your empty platitudes, long size,

2:29:42and lack of action or care are a discredit to yourselves,

2:29:45the city, and all of us.

2:29:47And again, Councilwoman, since you've described

2:29:50attending these meetings as leisure time,

2:29:52I assume you won't be expecting a salary for yours.

2:29:55[applause]

2:29:56Next speaker, Joe and then Matt.

2:30:02From last week's discussion, if not earlier,

2:30:07we learned two things.

2:30:11As a council, you have two obligations

2:30:13in regards public comment.

2:30:15First of all, to hear the public on agenda items.

2:30:19Second of all, to hear the public when it's convenient.

2:30:24These are not contradictory requirements.

2:30:28The trouble with this item is that it presumes

2:30:32that if you listen to the public at their convenience,

2:30:35then you can dispense with your obligation

2:30:38to listen on actual agenda items.

2:30:43And as a matter of fact, when it comes to your actual business,

2:30:48getting the agenda items right is extremely important.

2:30:53Experience that you have had in recent months

2:30:57shows that you cannot trust your staff

2:31:00to bring a public speaker pointed out

2:31:02that the proposed action you were about to take

2:31:06was not legal and would involve the city in legal troubles.

2:31:10As a matter of fact, if you pass 25 here tonight,

2:31:15you will be involved not only in one lawsuit,

2:31:18but potentially on every decision that you make

2:31:22that you did not follow the legally required process

2:31:25of involvement, you could be sued.

2:31:30Thank you.

2:31:32[applause]

2:31:33Matt Goldman, Ben Deese, Carolyn Essex,

2:31:36Phi, Ray Gableich, B. De La Torre, Carmen, and Sultama.

2:31:43Matt?

2:31:46Good evening, Matt Goldman, District 4.

2:31:50I was here last week,

2:31:53and I really didn't think I would be back here this week.

2:31:56I fought the number of speakers, your constituents,

2:31:59who spoke against this ordinance.

2:32:02Now over 1,200 people signing a petition.

2:32:05Three of your fellow council members

2:32:09rationally explaining options to this ordinance.

2:32:14I thought maybe naively that that would be enough

2:32:18to sway the vote to no, but I was wrong.

2:32:23So here I am.

2:32:24I've been in Long Beach about 20 years.

2:32:27The community is great, welcoming, open,

2:32:32and my experience has been council has kind of represented

2:32:37the community, but it doesn't feel like that now.

2:32:40I think if you approve this ordinance,

2:32:45it's a dangerous step for the city of Long Beach.

2:32:49In some ways, it makes us a little more

2:32:52like our neighbor counting to the south of us,

2:32:56but it's also a slap in the face of democracy.

2:33:01It's a dangerous step.

2:33:04So I respectfully urge you to vote no on this ordinance.

2:33:08Thank you.

2:33:09Next speaker is Deese, and then Carolyn Essex.

2:33:17She does not believe you guys skipped L-O-L, no?

2:33:22You guys didn't skip this.

2:33:23We called her earlier in this public comment period.

2:33:27She was not in the audience at that time.

2:33:30Okay.

2:33:34Go ahead.

2:33:35We'll take your public comment.

2:33:36Go for it.

2:33:40I'm very disappointed with the council members

2:33:42that decided to take our way out of democracy.

2:33:45I've lived in Long Beach for 30 years, District 7.

2:33:50So it just pains me even more that you and your wife

2:33:53for the past decades have been just putting District 7

2:33:58into the dirt.

2:33:59And that's going to be your legacy when you go,

2:34:03whenever you croak or whatever.

2:34:06You have no balls, no spine.

2:34:09And the fact that you're acting like a child,

2:34:14the fact that you're acting like a child,

2:34:16when months ago, you tried to scold us

2:34:19by telling us to act like an adult and act mature.

2:34:23Yep.

2:34:26You scolded me for mentioning your son.

2:34:28I apologize to your face.

2:34:30You never apologized directly to me when I went back again.

2:34:33In fact, you said, "Fuck you" to me.

2:34:37And months later, you still continue this behavior

2:34:40of a child, this vice president of the council,

2:34:45to which everyone seems to take what,

2:34:47"Admirate and narration" for.

2:34:50I just want to finish that with taking away our time,

2:34:57these next months are going to be very dire

2:35:00due to MAGA and the Trump Administration of the regime.

2:35:03And I hope that we can deal with ICE.

2:35:07And if LBPD doesn't want to help,

2:35:09then they could get out of the way

2:35:11and we'll run them over as.

2:35:14Thank you for your time.

2:35:19Next speaker is Carolyn Essex.

2:35:21And then Vee, Ray Gableich, and Zoom.

2:35:27Greetings, everyone.

2:35:29Mayor Richardson and members of the City Council.

2:35:32My name is Carolyn Essex.

2:35:33I'm in District 1.

2:35:35Many of us are here every Tuesday,

2:35:39not only for ourselves,

2:35:41but as advocates for residents who cannot attend

2:35:44because of work, family obligations,

2:35:47disabilities, and other responsibilities.

2:35:49We are advocates.

2:35:52We are taxpayers.

2:35:53We are constituents.

2:35:55We are part of this government,

2:35:57and we care about how our tax dollars are being used,

2:36:00especially all of these young, single people here.

2:36:03Their gross annual pay is estimated.

2:36:06You know, here are some of the figures,

2:36:0830,000, 12, to 15%.

2:36:1140,000, 15, and 19%.

2:36:1350,000, 18, to 22%.

2:36:16So before we eliminate a public comment opportunity,

2:36:19we should remember the people who rely on it,

2:36:24the people who support you, actually,

2:36:26and especially the people carrying some

2:36:28of the most impactful tax burdens.

2:36:30Please make City Hall a place where every resident knows

2:36:34their voice is, matters.

2:36:37Keep the second public comment for us.

2:36:40And end your meetings by 9 p.m.

2:36:43That's how you cut overtime and get home at a semi-decent hour.

2:36:50Next speaker, P.

2:36:55I'm a mother.

2:37:03I make time to research and show up to these meetings.

2:37:06Last week, there was a lot of gaslighting

2:37:09from our City Council, saying people were too scared

2:37:12to attend or as inaccessible to other --

2:37:15for families and people with disabilities.

2:37:17It's ridiculous.

2:37:18I thought the Zoom call was to help that.

2:37:22Getting rid of all this pageantry, photo ops,

2:37:24and the thank you circle jerks that you all do.

2:37:27You guys can do that on your own time.

2:37:29Social media, you guys all have that.

2:37:31You're embarrassingly trying to remove a democratic right

2:37:34to speak in our city.

2:37:36During dark times as we battle fascism on the rise,

2:37:39I think it's vital to hear from the citizens on each item,

2:37:42especially now.

2:37:44Hearing from your community should be your top priority.

2:37:48If you aren't here to listen, actively address these problems,

2:37:51you don't represent us.

2:37:54I have to admit, agenda items are very cryptic,

2:37:59which I assume is by design.

2:38:01You don't make information easily accessible.

2:38:04Showing up and hearing to the community speak is the best way

2:38:07to actually understand what's happening here.

2:38:09You are our representatives, and this is valuable time for us.

2:38:13These times are important to us.

2:38:16Do better, because Long Beach, the vibe will be resistance.

2:38:23[cheers and applause]

2:38:24Next speaker is Ray Gablech in Zoom.

2:38:31Ray Gablech, please unmute yourself.

2:38:34Good evening, Mayor and City Council members.

2:38:38My points remain the same.

2:38:40If you truly support an environment that welcomes all people

2:38:44to address their concerns, then don't ignore the letter

2:38:48you received dated today from the Chamber of Commerce

2:38:51that represents over 1,100 local businesses.

2:38:54The petition now signed by over 1,200 individual Long Beach citizens,

2:38:59the hundreds of written comments you've received in the past two weeks,

2:39:05you can allow for both to accommodate all of your constituents.

2:39:09Please vote accordingly.

2:39:11You ran for the office.

2:39:13You ran to represent all citizens of Long Beach.

2:39:16Be respectful of the process.

2:39:18Increase enforcement of the rude disruptions,

2:39:22and vote to allow the majority of respectful citizens

2:39:26to remain engaged in a timely manner to disable the seniors,

2:39:31the youth, the young families,

2:39:33and the rest of us who want to make the time to be there.

2:39:38Thank you.

2:39:39Thank you for your comment.

2:39:44Next speaker is B. De La Torre and then Carmen Sultama,

2:39:48Kat Mays, Ellie, F. B. Nina, Slayer D.

2:39:55If you can line up with the lectern if you heard your name.

2:39:58Next speaker, B. De La Torre.

2:40:00Are you in the audience?

2:40:03Okay.

2:40:07Next speaker, Carmen.

2:40:08Good evening.

2:40:14Thank you for giving me this opportunity today.

2:40:16I'm back again this week because not all of you heard me last week.

2:40:22Councilmember Truschnen took.

2:40:24I'm not here during my leisure time.

2:40:27I have given up yet another day's wage to address you here today.

2:40:33And for you to insinuate that I am here on my leisure time is insulting

2:40:39and completely out of touch with the people of this city.

2:40:43Furthermore, before some of you ever even moved to Long Beach,

2:40:49I would drag my school-aged child to council meetings

2:40:53where he would sit and work on his homework without issue

2:40:58while I waited for my time to speak,

2:41:01simultaneously giving him a lesson in civil engagement.

2:41:06Having the responsibility of children is no excuse

2:41:10for trying to silence the citizens of this city.

2:41:14I spent many hours of my own college days driving home

2:41:21and public transportation doing homework.

2:41:25When something is important, one finds solutions.

2:41:28Students who want to address the council can find a way to do so.

2:41:31There is no need to use them as an excuse to silence us.

2:41:35So I say once again, if doing your electric responsibilities

2:41:39interferes with your leisure time, it is time for you to step down.

2:41:43Listen to us.

2:41:45Next speaker is Sultama.

2:41:54Sultama, are you in the audience?

2:41:57Kat Maze, Ellie, F.B.

2:42:00If you hear your name, please line up at the lectern.

2:42:03Sultama, Kat Maze, Ellie, F.B.

2:42:07Please come forward.

2:42:09Kat Maze, Ellie.

2:42:14Everyone who supports item 25 is a coward in undeserving a public service.

2:42:29Let's just get that out of the way.

2:42:31Who here in the audience actually supports this? Raise your hands.

2:42:35You can take a bloody hint. You really can.

2:42:39It seems only council members, Diggin and Alan and Kerr,

2:42:43seem to understand their actual duties here.

2:42:45And I find that really kind of astounding.

2:42:47And the best way to hear from fewer of us is to do a better job.

2:42:51If you want to hear from fewer of us,

2:42:53start representing us better and putting our actual interests first.

2:42:57You can easily ignore letters or emails or phone calls.

2:43:01I've seen you guys do it. I work for the city.

2:43:03But you can't easily ignore the voices of multiple people coming up

2:43:07day after day to the same podium to tell you that you need to do better

2:43:12and to bring things to your attention.

2:43:14You just can't ignore our voices.

2:43:16You can ignore our calls. You can ignore our emails.

2:43:19But you can't ignore our presence.

2:43:23So the power of this podium lies with us, not with you guys,

2:43:27which is why you're trying to take it away from us.

2:43:29That's the reason that you are trying to sacrifice our First Amendment right

2:43:34for your temporary, minimal comforts.

2:43:39So I just want to remind you one last thing.

2:43:41The more you silence us, the more you radicalize us.

2:43:46And that is not in your interest.

2:43:52Darryl, you know this is a bad idea.

2:44:01You're better than this man.

2:44:03Swilly too. Dr. Sorrow, I know.

2:44:07I know you know there's no real benefit to this.

2:44:10This is going to get tied up in lawsuits.

2:44:13You've seen the amount of public disapproval for this.

2:44:17There's no way this is not going to be taken to court under the Brown Act.

2:44:22This is not going to do anything to reduce public participation in meetings.

2:44:29That's the goal.

2:44:30People are going to keep showing up specifically out of outrage to this.

2:44:35We've seen the same thing with lots and lots of policies

2:44:39that the Trump administration has implemented over the past couple of years.

2:44:43Like once you start restricting people,

2:44:46the only way to keep that sustainable is to keep placing more and more restrictions,

2:44:51which, again, ultimately will just open up more and more Brown Act violations,

2:44:56open up more and more lawsuits.

2:44:58Well, shout out, Dave.

2:45:01Real quick, this amazing, double-sided, very small FAQ sheet that he made

2:45:10to help explain to the people what was going on with this agenda item,

2:45:14because we don't know.

2:45:16It just showed up on the agenda as a whole bunch of different municipal code things.

2:45:23I don't know how the working people of Long Beach are supposed to know how to comment.

2:45:29Your time's concluded.

2:45:33Thank you.

2:45:34Thank you.

2:45:42Next speaker is Effie, and then Nina, Slayer, Nahu.

2:45:46If you heard your name, please line up for the lectern.

2:45:49Hello, King Mortica and Queen Rex.

2:46:00I wrote this poem specially for people like you.

2:46:03Please vote no on item agenda number 25.

2:46:07It's called "Fertuitous Enterprises."

2:46:10Big fat man, what are you selling?

2:46:12A wish?

2:46:14A dream?

2:46:15A hope?

2:46:16Your big, fat, shiny shoes lodged up my rectum.

2:46:20Such pressure.

2:46:21You figure me a dope?

2:46:23I'll take your lodged shoe and raise you a finger,

2:46:27a thumb down your throat, and two at the sphincter.

2:46:31Now, tell me again, big fat man, what are you selling?

2:46:35Choke down that digit first and swallow those hemorrhoids,

2:46:38because we know you have them, Rex.

2:46:40You sit a lot.

2:46:42Swallow those hemorrhoids.

2:46:44Big fat man selling lies found dead.

2:46:46Read all the tabloids.

2:46:48How dare you, like, sit here.

2:46:51You've heard the public.

2:46:52You've heard us for probably about a year.

2:46:55You keep infringing upon our First Amendment rights.

2:46:58You're er, er, eroding all of our civil liberties,

2:47:01and you think we're not gonna do anything about it?

2:47:04We're gonna keep showing up.

2:47:06You restrict, we show up.

2:47:08The whole point of public comment is so we can tell you

2:47:11that you're doing a fucking horrible job, which you are.

2:47:14You really are.

2:47:15And Uranga, you're a fucking disgusting piece of shit.

2:47:18How dare you blow kisses at us.

2:47:21You're fucking disgusting, and--

2:47:23Next speaker is Nina, and Slayer D,

2:47:31and Nahu, Karis, Mendoza after that, and then Seymour.

2:47:36Hello, all.

2:47:42This is my first time here, but I'm certain

2:47:44that it will not be my last.

2:47:46Disclaimer, I know my shirt is shocking,

2:47:48but I do not condone violence or death.

2:47:50I'm sure you know who the KKK are,

2:47:52and I'm sure I don't need to explain that.

2:47:54But as a Long Beach resident and a child

2:47:56of a Salvadoran woman who was forced to flee her country

2:47:59back in the '80s, I was taught what oppression is,

2:48:02limiting public comments, banning books, or should I say,

2:48:05banning--or cutting funding for the library--libraries,

2:48:09and separating family, which--ice.

2:48:12So, yes, my name is Nina.

2:48:14I've been born and raised in Long Beach.

2:48:16Lately, I have become more and more aware of politics.

2:48:19I love learning about local issues

2:48:20and spreading that knowledge to my friends and family.

2:48:23I consider myself a human rights activist

2:48:25who tries to represent those that can't represent themselves,

2:48:28and I hope you are all too.

2:48:30When I found out about Space Beach, I was devastated.

2:48:32I used to be a student at LBCC,

2:48:34and now I'm at Cal State Long Beach,

2:48:36and I dreamt I could be a successful engineer down the street.

2:48:39However, none of those companies I would ever want to work at.

2:48:43I have learned a thing or two about economics and business,

2:48:47and I know these companies will bring in high-earning

2:48:49aerospace engineers and their families,

2:48:51but as they move in, where do the low-income families go?

2:48:54I'm going to skip some stuff.

2:48:57I don't recall us being known for defense technology companies,

2:49:01and yes, that leads to economic growth,

2:49:03but at the expense of the weak and voiceless--

2:49:05voiceless.

2:49:06When I say the weak and voiceless,

2:49:07I'm talking about the people who get killed

2:49:09by the weapons manufactured by the companies with Space Beach.

2:49:11So, yes, I'm a human rights activist.

2:49:13Thank you for your comments.

2:49:23Next speaker is Slayer D.

2:49:25And then, Nahu.

2:49:26And Carice Mendoza.

2:49:28And then, Seymour.

2:49:30Come forward.

2:49:36My name is Carice Mendoza.

2:49:38I'm once again speaking in opposition to what was item 29 last week

2:49:44and is now item 25.

2:49:46Way to make sure everyone stays confused.

2:49:49Last week, I came here right from work,

2:49:53and I came here right from work again.

2:49:56To some of you on council, you see that as leisure.

2:50:00I do it because you want to get rid of the most important part of your job.

2:50:05Since the majority of you don't know what to do to be efficient

2:50:10and be more accessible to the people,

2:50:12I'm going to give you a few ideas.

2:50:14Here's what we can do.

2:50:16One, stop skipping the last meeting of the month.

2:50:20Don't take a few weeks off for summer break.

2:50:26And finally, don't waste our money on a BS study

2:50:30to convince a pro sports franchise

2:50:33to make its home in a new stadium along the city's waterfront.

2:50:37Rex Richardson, you keep saying that the city council is part-time.

2:50:43The reason you are all part-time is so that you can be on the council

2:50:47and then be amongst us, the people, and hear what we want.

2:50:51If you don't want that, go find another job.

2:50:54And if you do, good luck finding another part-time job

2:50:58in Long Beach with full benefits and a pension.

2:51:01Vote no on 25.

2:51:03Next speaker is Slayer D.

2:51:10If you're not in the audience, we will move on to Nahoo Chi

2:51:18and then see more comments is in Zoom.

2:51:20I'm good. I got it. Thank you.

2:51:24I don't have a friend like Mary out there

2:51:28send a fake letter to the city.

2:51:31I'm here to say, "Darryl, I can't see you.

2:51:36I respect you for so many years.

2:51:42I worked as long as you for so many years, but you let us down."

2:51:46You don't have any word to say about that one

2:51:53because, you know what, you're the one who brings the whole chaos in this shit.

2:51:57A whole lot of respect went out the window.

2:52:02Proceed, Darryl. Thank you for what you do.

2:52:06You know, Megan and Cindy,

2:52:10questioning you guys how you did it, but thank you for coming back.

2:52:13And that little one right there, Sorrow, whatever your name is,

2:52:18he sat down here listening to you last time.

2:52:22You f*ckin' lie after lie after lie after lie.

2:52:27Rex, you're in charge on this place.

2:52:30You could have dropped the shit out right away now.

2:52:33But, you chose not to do it.

2:52:38This is not in the best interest of anybody in the city

2:52:42except you all right here.

2:52:44I'm not going to say nothing about the rest

2:52:46because you're just the f*ckin' kiss-assers.

2:52:48That old man, Rolando, whatever your name is,

2:52:51you made a comment last time, "I'm not feeling this and this."

2:52:55You know what, if not, get the f*ck up. Mary?

2:52:58Thank you for your comments.

2:53:04Next speaker, Skylar D. My apologies, Skylar.

2:53:17Seriously, if you don't like your jobs, you can resign.

2:53:25You don't have to commit career suicide.

2:53:28Clearly, we're in listening last week

2:53:31when you voted to restrict our voices,

2:53:33but you get another chance tonight, so do better.

2:53:36I've heard it over and over again.

2:53:39I talked a lot about how often you're restricting how we talk,

2:53:43but you're also restricting how we talk.

2:53:48There's changes to Section 10 decorum

2:53:50that haven't really been talked about.

2:53:52Language has been changed.

2:53:53No person shall be permitted to use any language

2:53:56or engage in any conduct that disrupts this meeting.

2:53:59Pre-existing verbiage was in itself ambiguous and subjective,

2:54:04but under this updated ordinance,

2:54:07the mayor presiding officer is granted open door

2:54:10to shut down any language or conduct that you don't agree with.

2:54:13This ordinance is written in an intentionally vague manner

2:54:16and leaves authoritarian power to limit our voices in your hands.

2:54:19This is textbook fascism.

2:54:21Words matter. Our words matter,

2:54:24and tonight we're saying we're taking notes,

2:54:27we're taking names, and if you vote this through,

2:54:29we're taking your seats.

2:54:35Last speaker is Seymour.

2:54:37If you can please unmute yourself, Seymour.

2:54:39Yeah, hi. I'm Seymour Comments.

2:54:44I live in District 5,

2:54:47and I'm here again to urge you to do what's right

2:54:53and vote no on this item.

2:54:57You know, 707, this new law that allows us to speak on Zoom,

2:55:03works great.

2:55:04The fact that I'm able to call in on a night when I have my daughter here,

2:55:08I'm making dinner, I have swim practice,

2:55:11I have the ability to listen in and hop off mute for a minute

2:55:15and make this comment.

2:55:18These public comments do work, someone said.

2:55:21They actually worked a few months ago

2:55:23when you all tried to jam the same infringement

2:55:27of our First Amendment rights to speak down our throats.

2:55:30We showed up, and you ended up voting against it or pulling it.

2:55:34It does work.

2:55:35I hope it can work tonight as well.

2:55:40So the other thing is don't decouple our comments,

2:55:47just the same talking points that people have already said.

2:55:50You need to be able to talk at the comments right before the agenda item

2:55:55is called so we can hear the presentations, et cetera.

2:56:00I think the solution is decouple presentations and ceremonies.

2:56:04Carry the dog around and get adopted dogs at 430 before the meeting starts.

2:56:10All those things are great, but they jam up the meeting

2:56:14and we shouldn't lose our right to speak.

2:56:16Thank you for your comments.

2:56:18That concludes public comment on this item.

2:56:20All right, well thank you for your testimony.

2:56:25I don't see any council members queued up to speak.

2:56:27Is anybody queued up here?

2:56:32Council Member Kern.

2:56:33Yeah, my thing sometimes doesn't.

2:56:34Just throw your hand if you want to say something.

2:56:36Just point of order, Mayor.

2:56:39There's a motion and a second.

2:56:41Is that the normal way you would go with the motion?

2:56:44For some reason this is not showing me.

2:56:46Okay.

2:56:47Go ahead.

2:56:49Okay, thank you, Mayor.

2:56:50First of all, I want to thank everyone who came out tonight,

2:56:54as well as those who showed up when these changes were first proposed

2:56:59and so many have been committed over and over again

2:57:04to making their voices heard during every step of this process.

2:57:11Whether you've come in person, whether you've sent emails,

2:57:16you've contacted me.

2:57:17I've been at two community meetings this week.

2:57:19This is what everyone's talking about and what they're concerned.

2:57:23And even seeing that petition tonight with, I don't know,

2:57:29what was it, 1,200 signatures?

2:57:311,248.

2:57:35I still remain opposed to this.

2:57:40I understand the importance of streamlining our council meetings,

2:57:44but I simply don't believe that consolidating this to one period

2:57:47is a solution.

2:57:49Today's environment, folks have had so much taken away from them,

2:57:54and this is just a step too far.

2:57:59And at this time, with so much happening in our communities

2:58:01and across our country, I believe that we should be creating

2:58:04more opportunities for residents to engage with their local government

2:58:08and not limiting them.

2:58:10Under our current format, residents have the opportunity

2:58:14to hear an agenda item and then give a public comment.

2:58:17I believe that that opportunity is an important part

2:58:20of helping and transparent local government.

2:58:25And it's something that we really should work hard to preserve.

2:58:29And let me be clear too, it doesn't matter what anyone says

2:58:33or what you read, this is not about 707 or increasing access.

2:58:38We are already in compliance with the law.

2:58:43So once again, I want to thank everyone who has continued to show up

2:58:47and make their voices heard throughout the process.

2:58:50I agree with so many of your comments.

2:58:53I think that we need to be respectful and kind,

2:58:57and I would wish that.

2:58:59But I do hear you, I see you.

2:59:01I will continue to fight for this until the very last vote.

2:59:06Thank you.

2:59:09Thank you.

2:59:14Whoever the seconder is, okay, Council Member Saro.

2:59:20Yeah, I just want to make clarification on my name.

2:59:22It's Dr. Sue Lee, Sue Lee Saro, thank you.

2:59:27Thank you.

2:59:28Council Member Kerr.

2:59:29Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2:59:33I have shared previously, I have concerns about this ordinance moving forward

2:59:36as proposed and I feel it ultimately works against the intention

2:59:39of increasing public access and engagement during City Council meetings.

2:59:43While I understand the desire to run meetings efficiently

2:59:46and that time certain opportunities to speak on that in the evening

2:59:49may be beneficial and preferred by some,

2:59:51I fear the complete consolidation of public comment

2:59:53is a disservice to the general public,

2:59:55as it limits their ability to provide fully informed

2:59:58and timely comments on the importance

3:00:00I think there are solutions we can come up with that better respect the time, energy, and voices of all who make the effort to show up.

3:00:08And with that, I'd like to make a substitute motion.

3:00:10I'd like to retain all current order of business and establish a separate opportunity for 10 members of the public to address the city council on agendized items combined across in-person and remote participation following the general public comment period.

3:00:28So that would, I think the city attorney, was that clear? Can you repeat it one more time? I'm sorry there was so much going on in the audience.

3:00:41So my motion is to retain all of the current order of business as it is now and establish a separate opportunity for 10 members of the public to address the city council on agendized items combined across in-person and remote participation following the general comment, the public general comment period.

3:01:04So currently, we have 10 speakers on public comment of non-agendized items. This would retain all current order of business and add a separate second 10 members of the public to be able to address the city council on agendized items, both in-person and remote as is current for the current 10 members.

3:01:26That's my motion.

3:01:28All right, so there's a substitute motion. Is there a second?

3:01:33Second.

3:01:34All right, okay, that concludes council comments. Let's go to a vote on the substitute motion.

3:01:40Can the city attorney clarify?

3:01:44Well, Deputy City Attorney, Minister Horace Orsoro is going to present the motion that was presented to the council.

3:01:55Oh, so we have two votes. So we have the substitute motion, which is the ordinance will move forward except the order of business will remain as currently written in the municipal code with the addition of a agenda public comment period for 10 members across

3:02:1210 members of the public in-person and in Zoom to address the council on any agenda item.

3:02:19So it's in the night. I tried to write it as clear as possible because I know when we say it out loud, it's hard to see what that means.

3:02:27So it's a rejection of the ordinance on the table tonight. It is a retention of the current practices with the addition of the 10 the additional 10 speakers for agendized items, correct?

3:02:38Yes, yes, that's what I stated. Yes.

3:02:41Thank you.

3:02:43All right. It's clear. Members, please cast your vote on the substitute motion.

3:02:48The motion on the floor failed.

3:03:00Thank you. Now go to the main motion, which is the ordinance on the table.

3:03:05Point of order. Am I allowed to make a sub sub?

3:03:09We already be in voting. You can't keep it in the motions once you start voting.

3:03:12All right. Now we're on the main motion. So I vote approves the ordinance in front of you and no vote rejects it.

3:03:18Members, please cast your vote.

3:03:28Motion is carried.

3:03:29All right. We're going to we're going to, Madam Clerk, please ensure issue a warning.

3:04:00The meeting is being disrupted.

3:04:04We want to talk about the next steps.

3:04:06This is your second warning.

3:04:11If you continue to disrupt the meeting, you will be asked to leave the chamber.

3:04:16Mayor, Mayor, point of order. Can we can we move on to my item?

3:04:22Once we restore order.

3:04:25If this meeting is not restored to order, we will clear the chamber.

3:04:41Madam Clerk.

3:04:47All right. So we're going to call a recess to restore the order to the meeting.

3:04:52Thank you.

3:04:55If we can't conduct the business of this council, we will clear the chamber.

3:15:47We will be clearing the chamber to continue the meeting and prevent further disruptions.

3:18:13So if you can please exit the chamber.

3:18:15If you are part of the press, we are clearing the chamber.

3:18:20There will be no more public comment.

3:18:22If you are a member of the press, you may be allowed to enter the chamber after it has been cleared.

3:19:07So if this meeting can be restored to a state of order, we will continue the meeting as is.

3:19:14This meeting needs to be restored to a state of order.

3:19:18If you can please take your seat, we will continue the meeting.

3:19:21We'll continue the items and public comment.

3:19:23This meeting needs to continue without disruption.

3:19:29We will continue the meeting as intended with public comment, as long as the meeting will continue without disruption.

3:19:36It has to be restored to a state of order.

3:19:38If we can't continue the meeting without disruption, we will be asking people to leave the chamber.

3:20:10All right. Let's go ahead and have a roll call, please.

3:21:50Councilwoman Zindahas.

3:21:51Present.

3:21:53Councilwoman Allen.

3:21:54Present.

3:21:57Councilwoman Kerr.

3:21:59Present.

3:22:00Councilwoman Sorrow.

3:22:02Present.

3:22:03Vice Mayor Yeronga.

3:22:06Present.

3:22:08Councilwoman Thrashe Ntuk.

3:22:09Present.

3:22:12I am here.

3:22:14Councilmember Duggan.

3:22:15Mayor Richardson.

3:22:16I am here.

3:22:17We have a quorum.

3:22:18All right. Thank you.

3:22:19So Madam Clerk, thank you for restoring the room to a state of order.

3:22:22So what that means, we don't want to clear the whole room, but if there are disruptions, individuals will be asked to leave.

3:22:30So I'll call.

3:22:31What a disruption.

3:22:32You're free to call.

3:22:33What's the disruption?

3:22:34But we want to continue.

3:22:35There's still a number of items.

3:22:36So we're going to do the next item is item 19.

3:22:40Oh, before we call item 19.

3:22:42Mr. City Attorney, walk us through the next steps now that the ordinance has moved forward.

3:22:47Just walk us through the next steps.

3:22:54So council has approved this ordinance on the second read.

3:22:58This ordinance becomes effective on the 31st day after the mayor signs the ordinance.

3:23:04Great.

3:23:06And Tom, the six month update.

3:23:07Yes.

3:23:10Part of the original motion.

3:23:11The council asked for a six month update to come back and be able to talk about how things have gone over the past six months and whether there's any recommendations and for council to consider it.

3:23:20Good.

3:23:21Thank you.

3:23:22So over the next six months, we'll review the data, public comment, compare previous system, the current system.

3:23:28We'll go through implementation after implement after please restore the room to the state of order.

3:23:35I think is the individual with the flag.

3:23:38Yes.

3:23:40This is your second warning.

3:23:42Thank you.

3:23:44And so I will also say that between now and then it doesn't stop the city council from continuing to look at, you know,

3:23:52there's this natural tension again between the amount of time.

3:23:57Heard a lot of comments.

3:23:58Folks say in the meetings at nine o'clock.

3:24:00If the if the please issue another warning, the gentleman in the glass.

3:24:04This is your second warning as well.

3:24:06Thank you.

3:24:07You're disrupting the meeting.

3:24:08If you continue to disrupt the meeting, you'll be issued a third warning and asked to leave the chamber and the and the lady here in the front row again.

3:24:17So just this front row.

3:24:19Thank you.

3:24:20All right.

3:24:22So so again, there's a conflict inherent between our charter and how public how our city officials are structured and what our ordinance and our laws on public comment are.

3:24:36People really want more.

3:24:37Maybe it's time to channel that energy.

3:24:40It's a comprehensive charter reform to look at putting it on the ballot to expand, to look at new governance that allows more than one council meeting in a month.

3:24:49And so and look at the compensation issue.

3:24:52That's something I'm interested in.

3:24:54Let's go to the next item now.

3:24:56Item 19 item 19 is a communication from Councilwoman Allen Councilmember Duggan Councilman Supernaw recommendation to request amendments to the Long Beach Municipal Code specifically under the section of the order of business in order to adopt changes related to city council deliberation.

3:25:12The projection of publicly displayed timer and adjourning remarks.

3:25:18All right. Councilmember Allen. Yes. First of all, I want to thank my my colleagues for signing on to this and and also just their input and shaping this.

3:25:28And I know over the past several weeks we've had a lot of conversations about streamlining our council meetings and about making better use of our time.

3:25:37As I mentioned over the course of these meetings, I don't think the solution is consolidating public comment for regular items or general public comment to one period, but that's where we're at.

3:25:50But if we're asking residents to be mindful of their time when addressing the council, I think it's equally important that we as council members hold ourselves to the same expectation.

3:26:02What this item is really about is making sure that we are leading by example and holding ourselves accountable to the same standards we expect from the public.

3:26:11One of the key recommendations is to have a publicly displayed timer during council deliberations and ceremonial presentations.

3:26:20So just as you would see the timer that you're being you're being clock, we would also see the time we're being displayed.

3:26:28And city manager is that do we have the capabilities of doing the same thing for a council that we do for the for the public? Yes, we can put that up.

3:26:37We might actually add another screen that is just for that timer because when we put it up, it actually removes the content that the public can see.

3:26:44But if that's a direction of the council, we could figure it out. OK. All right.

3:26:52Please issue a final warning to the to the front. This is the business meeting.

3:26:56Public comment has its time and there's time for deliberation and you can't disrupt the city council meeting.

3:27:02So the individual sitting in the front. So what I'm hearing just to finish my warning, your behavior is disrupting the meeting.

3:27:08If we do have to issue another warning, it will be asking the entire front row to leave the chamber. Thank you.

3:27:14Thank you. All right. Any additional questions, council? Yes, I still I'm sorry. I'm still on my comment.

3:27:21So thank you, Mayor. And we all have important things to say and I recognize that some may require more discussion than others.

3:27:27But having clear expectations around speaking time helps us stay focused and respectful of everyone's time.

3:27:33So when it comes to ceremonials and presentations, our municipal co-establishes a five five minute limit.

3:27:40And so I would just ask that we would be considerate of that limit and try to hold those those presentations to that five minute limit.

3:27:48However, on numerous numerous occasions, there's been a number of occasions where presentations and ceremonials go way over.

3:27:57So I think by having a visible timer, even on those ceremony presentations that it even helps people doing that understand their time limits.

3:28:07And I think that every ceremonial presentation is meaningful to the people in the organizations being recognized.

3:28:13So we just want to conduct our council deliberations and closing remarks, including establishing clear guidelines to help us stay on track and keep our our meetings moving.

3:28:24I also want to emphasize that the goal here is not to limit meaningful discussion.

3:28:31We should absolutely take the time necessary to consider important issues and make informed decisions.

3:28:38But I also believe that we can do that while making while being more mindful of how we use our time.

3:28:45And at the end of the day, if we are serious about making our meetings more efficient, we need to look at our own practices as well.

3:28:52And I believe that these changes are reasonable step towards creating a more transparent, consistent and respectful process for everyone.

3:28:59So with that, I would ask my colleagues for their support on this item.

3:29:03Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Duggan.

3:29:07Thank you, Council Member, for inviting me to be on this item. Thank you. And I support.

3:29:13All right. Council Member Sorrow, do you want to speak now or before or after public comment?

3:29:20I just needed some clarification. So if I can ask my question now, go ahead.

3:29:27So I wanted to just understand what is the current protocol now and how would this change what we already do?

3:29:36Thank you for that question. As currently written in the municipal code and the adopted ordinance that council adopted tonight,

3:29:48there is a five minute limit on ceremonials and presentations.

3:29:52So that currently exists and that does not change with the ordinance that was adopted tonight.

3:29:57Additionally, the five minute time limit on council deliberations that exists in the current municipal code and that also exists in the current ordinance to be the proposed ordinance.

3:30:12All right. Well, thank you very much for clarifying that, which means that it would basically clarify what we're already doing.

3:30:24Thank you. I can have a break and respond to that. I think what I think.

3:30:28All right. Thank you, Council Member Kerr. Yeah, I appreciate that.

3:30:35But we need to hold ourselves accountable to the things that we say.

3:30:39And Council Member Allen, I also appreciate you acknowledging that when we do ceremonials, when we do have people in front of us, oftentimes there are things that are really significant to the community.

3:30:48They're community partners who assist the city tonight. It was about breast cancer awareness that went about two minutes over that five minute limit.

3:30:55We know that when we bring people to present on something that is meaningful for our community, that oftentimes five minutes isn't enough.

3:31:04So I know I have had at least one presentation go over. It was the pancreatic cancer one last year.

3:31:10So I think that I appreciate that the chair gives discretion to some guests who come to us.

3:31:15But I don't think the presentations should be more like we've had some that go 10 or 15 minutes.

3:31:19So I appreciate the effort to to rein us back into what's important.

3:31:25There are presentations occasionally that do go longer.

3:31:27Mr. City manager, including when we do employee recognitions.

3:31:30So that is one that doesn't happen frequently.

3:31:32I think it's quarterly. So how do we continue to do a practice that is meaningful for our city employees who have the opportunity to come before council in the public with their supervisors and receive recognition for their good work?

3:31:47So I just want us to be able to be mindful of things like that as well, because I think there is a little bit of gray area on some of it.

3:31:55So any suggestion? I don't have an answer other than you only come four times a year.

3:32:01So maybe you get your five minutes out at one time from a couple of things.

3:32:04I don't know. I just wanted to bring up that particular point.

3:32:07And if I may, just to clarify, what is proposed in this item is the timer.

3:32:12So the timer would be displayed.

3:32:14And then the second thing that would change is the one minute per council member in terms of announcements at the end of the meeting.

3:32:21Got it. Thank you for the clarification.

3:32:23Thank you, Councilmember direction to thank you so much.

3:32:26So as I'm listening to the conversation, having read the item itself,

3:32:32I just see a number of redundancies that already exist and are already codified in our system.

3:32:38So City Attorney, I think you've already confirmed that both for council meetings as well as hearings,

3:32:48five minutes is what each council member gets for speaking time. Yes. OK, so that already exists.

3:32:55And then there is maybe city clerk can help with this. We all have a clock in front of us that we can see as council members here that is readily available for each member as well as for the mayor.

3:33:11Is that the case? That's correct. OK, so if one of the things that I really think is very important, I come to these meetings prepared.

3:33:19I have presentation. And if I'm giving a presentation, I would want to make sure that that was visible to the public as opposed to a clock, which I have access to a clock here, as well as my colleagues and the presiding officer.

3:33:33My colleagues are bringing up the fact that when it comes to our ceremonies, we currently our ceremonies are five minutes. Is that correct, City Attorney?

3:33:43Yes, that's in the municipal code. OK, so that's another redundancy that is in the memo that stated here.

3:33:50And with those ceremonies already being five minutes, I think we should work really hard to try and keep each ceremony activity within the five minutes.

3:33:59But as was noted, sometimes it's culturally affirming to have activities like we had here today with the Filipino American heritage.

3:34:07And it might take more than five minutes. Certainly our employee appreciation every quarter is going to take more than five minutes.

3:34:15And I love the stop the bleed session that we do. There's an opportunity for there to be a demonstration and that takes more than five minutes, but it's a really important activity that our community is able to get trained on.

3:34:31So frankly, as I look at this item, I think it's just incomplete. It goes over a redundant set of things that we already are able to do, already have access to and limits our ability to celebrate during our ceremony.

3:34:47So many important cultural and community activities during the ceremonial time. So with that in mind, this is something that is going to be very difficult for me to support. Thank you.

3:34:59Thank you, Councilman Brower. OK, so for Councilman Tanua City Manager, could you could you remind the Councilwoman what this motion does?

3:35:11Can you say that again? Could you set it earlier? But maybe she wasn't. She didn't understand it.

3:35:16What was what? What does this item do? You said it earlier. This item is about a clock.

3:35:22Well, I think there's I understand there's four items. So one of it is to keep ceremonials to five minutes, which is in the municipal code.

3:35:31But it's it's to kind of reiterate that the second one is that the council members keep to five minutes, which we have a practice of doing that.

3:35:39And that's in the municipal code. The two things that I see that are different than what are not in the municipal code is direction to the staff to place a timer that says five minutes that is publicly visible.

3:35:50So we do count that. But it is the only one that we show that's publicly visible is the three minutes.

3:35:56And then the last one would be actually changing municipal code for the one minute at the end for announcements.

3:36:02That's not currently in municipal code, to my knowledge. OK, so that would be a new thing.

3:36:05OK, so a couple of things just so folks understand, like I have a computer here, we have a little timer and most of the a lot of times council members go over that five minute clock.

3:36:16And I've been guilty of doing that, too. It's really hard to see this little clock, especially when I have a computer.

3:36:22So to have to have a clock in front where we could see it and also the council and the public can see that, I think it's just it's just a reasonable thing to ask.

3:36:32But and then then secondly, I also there are times when I don't know if this is possible when a mayor, I think, or anyone running the meeting has a hard time understanding who motion and who second.

3:36:50That would be another thing if we could show that on these screens. Who's the motion? Who's the second?

3:36:55So that whether it's the mayor or anyone running the meeting doesn't have to ask who second and who first.

3:37:02I don't know if that's even something that's possible to be able to show that up on the screen or even for folks to see that because sometimes there is some confusion.

3:37:10I know our last meeting three times and it was the mayor had asked about who was the motion. So and and I have the same confusion, too, sometimes.

3:37:21So it's not I just think if we were able to see who motion and who second, it's easier and makes that more efficient.

3:37:27So just to get clarification, you want it to be just the motion during the second or on the screen, because currently when an item is up, we do have motion by and second by up on the screen.

3:37:37But your request is to have that be larger and more visible. Well, there are many times in the meeting where you can't when a presentation is up or the mayor or whoever's running to me may not see who's the motion and who's the second.

3:37:54And so I don't know if that's possible to keep that up. If it's not, I understand. But if that's possible to keep that up, I think that's what I'm asking for.

3:38:02We can work with technology and innovation and see if that's possible to have split screens, one with the item with the motion or second or second screen dedicated solely to a clock.

3:38:12I don't know if that's possible right now, but that's definitely something we can work with technology and innovation to look at.

3:38:18OK, that would be great if we could just just so it's easier for all of us to see that. And then as far as the the one minute at the end, what I'm trying to say is just that we just in the in the spirit of efficiency, you know, at the end of our meetings or announcements, what's going on in the future of our city.

3:38:39And so I think having a minute timeline would be great. Of course, there's going to be exceptions. And I think that we have we do a memorial and all of those are exceptions.

3:38:50But I think in the spirit of this, if we could just try to keep our comments to five minutes and if we could try to be more efficient on our closing comments, that was the spirit of this.

3:39:00And then also looking at how we make make the meetings be more efficient with regards to seeing where we're at on our comments.

3:39:07All right, I will say in terms of the I can see that right sometimes when we're doing virtual and council members are not here.

3:39:19It's not queued up yet. That's one scenario or this pad doesn't tablet doesn't work and there's a presentation up.

3:39:27So those are the only two areas when we don't see, let's say, the order of the speakers and then I'll say, OK, who's cute? I don't see anyone on my screen queued up.

3:39:35So those are technical issues, technological. Those can be worked out. The clock may actually makes a whole lot of sense.

3:39:43The clock, the one thing with the stuff at the end of the meeting, I will say that the like closing in honor in honor of the memory of sometimes those do take a little bit of time.

3:39:56So I wouldn't want like and no one's here at the end of the meetings.

3:39:59Like it's not like we're waiting on additional public comment. It's the last word I wouldn't want to interrupt. I wouldn't want to interrupt someone who's closing the meeting in honor of a community member.

3:40:12So so I just want to be mindful of that piece and like if council members are there at the end of the meeting, I want to spend a little more time talking about what's happening in their district or whatever.

3:40:23I'm not really I'm not as concerned about that. But I actually and I actually agree with the spirit of the item. We have these rules.

3:40:32You add more rules. It doesn't necessarily mean there's a real mechanism to enforce those rules. The spirit is if it's five minutes, try to stick with five minutes and queue back up.

3:40:42If you know, if it's times like budget and things like that and we know that council members are going to queue up in the past, we've said, OK, we're going to just relax it a bit because these are difficult questions.

3:40:54But try to stick to the five minutes and we have to self. We have to really self self-regulate because there's really no these are meeting rules.

3:41:01There's really no way to truly enforce them. So those are those are my thoughts. Council members and a house.

3:41:09Thank you. I do appreciate this item coming forward.

3:41:13But thank you for the clarity from city staff. One of the things that does stand out to me is the clock when we're getting presentations from the community.

3:41:25It might seem distracting from what they're actually trying to say. So I would be concerned with that, making sure that we are all our focus is on them.

3:41:36And yes, I do believe that we should try our best to keep it to five minutes.

3:41:41And honestly, I think we do try our best at everybody has brought presentations forward and the excitement of sharing whatever it is that we're sharing of that day may take over us.

3:41:55But or it may take over the community member that's presenting.

3:41:59So I think that that's very important to be able to just focus on them for as far as the one minute at the end of the meeting.

3:42:10I do think that one of the traditions that we've had on council, this is very important, is when some of our community members have passed that we have had the opportunity to extend our condolences to the family.

3:42:26And not only that, but we've also had the opportunity to let others know of their passing.

3:42:33I think that that's one of the great things that our city council meetings do when streaming is that we have a bigger reach throughout the city.

3:42:45So I think keeping it to one minute might I know that that might be an exception, but also one of the things that I feel is that that's also our time to talk to our residents and let them know about things that are coming up.

3:43:03And so I think that that is very important to have because that time right there we let them know about what's happening this weekend.

3:43:14All right. All right. All right. Front row is interrupting the meeting. Yes. Well, let's issue a first read first warning to the last row, but the first row.

3:43:27What's the protocol?

3:43:30We are issuing a first warning to the two individuals in the back of the chamber.

3:43:34Again, this is your first warning. If you receive a third warning, you will be asked to leave the chamber.

3:43:38So again, I will say that it's very it's a very important time for us to reach our residents and let them know what events are coming up so that they can be aware of all the events and be able to participate because they like being out in the community.

3:43:58We put these events on for our community, whether they're neighborhood association meetings, whether they are, you know, so I I think that that's very important.

3:44:10So I would like to say maybe a solution to this could be if you councilwoman would accept a friendly of change in the one minute to a five minute.

3:44:20And that way everything is in even with everything else. And so that way we have the opportunity to share.

3:44:29So that's a friendly idea, of course. So any item it does speak specifically a memorial that that would not be obviously for for talking about members that have passed.

3:44:41That's that's not what I included. That does say that in my item. And and yes, I mean, whatever whatever the council feels, I'll accept that friendly.

3:44:50I just I guess the spirit of this is just that we're asking the public to be efficient. Why can't we be efficient?

3:44:56I mean, do we really need five minutes? So whatever whatever you feel this fair, I'll accept that friendly.

3:45:02All right. Councilmember Thrashen took.

3:45:06I just wanted to note that in addition to the timer, can the city clerk confirm that once the timer gets to less than a minute, it goes to orange and then it hits red and it shows negative.

3:45:19Just want to make sure that everybody knows that we have access to that information here at the dias.

3:45:24Yes. So the timers that are on the tablets in front of you, we do set them when council members start speaking and they do change colors.

3:45:33There is a five minute clock. Once the time goes beyond five minutes, it does keep track of the time that has gone over the five minutes.

3:45:41So you can see that if you're a negative one minute, negative two minutes. So we're tracking all the comments and each one of you should be able to see that timer up on your tablet.

3:45:50Thank you. The other thing, when thinking about closing announcements, I want to thank Councilwoman Zendaya for sharing how important it is for a community to be able to hear what's happening and for us to hear what's happening across the city as well from one another during that closing comments time.

3:46:08You know, we have lost quorum during that time as a result of being able to have, you know, conversation.

3:46:16Would there be a friendly accepted if we were to at any point during the meeting whenever someone left the meeting early that that could be announced out publicly so that everybody understands who has left the meeting?

3:46:31Would that be a friendly that simply said our Councilwoman Allen would accept? OK, so repeat that you want you you want who to do what we have found that there are members who say that again.

3:46:49We have found that there are members who don't stay the entire meeting. So I'm suggesting that a friendly would be that there would be a public announcement by the clerk regarding the fact that there was a member who had left the meeting.

3:47:07Except if you think that makes sense. I mean, everybody there's cameras, everybody can see who's left the meeting.

3:47:13But if you want it publicly announced, if that's OK, you, that's fine. That makes you feel better.

3:47:24And then also, can you can you clarify, can I clarify what Councilman Zendaya's recommendation is?

3:47:34So it's already in the item that anything a memorial doesn't that can go on as long as it wants. But her her her friendly is to go for five minutes. Is that correct?

3:47:44That's correct. That's that's how I understood the friendly from customers in the house to be a five minute limitation on the announcements by each council member.

3:47:52OK, is that for five minutes for a memorial and for announcements? Would that be 10 minutes? My understanding that's five minutes total. Is that correct, Councilwoman? Five minutes for the announcement and five minutes for a memorial.

3:48:15So sometimes they may go longer than five minutes if we all speak on a memorial. That's fine.

3:48:26So then is it five minutes for typical announcements and 10 minutes for memorials?

3:48:36I think what what they're asking is clarity with the five minutes and the end of the meeting be inclusive of all your comments, including your individual memorial, not 10 minutes for a separate 10 minutes collectively for memorials.

3:48:53So the question really is, are you talking about five minutes per speaker or 10 minutes per speaker? So what's the goal? Is it five minutes per speaker? Five minutes.

3:49:02I'm clarifying. I'm going to say no to the friendly on that. That would be that would be 10 minutes. And that would be adding 90 minutes.

3:49:08I was asking her to state what her intention of her friendly is. Is it five minutes or is it 10 minutes?

3:49:14Five minutes for announcements only and anything after that, including memorials, I didn't request the time for that.

3:49:24OK, so you're saying five minutes is what the request is from one minute to five minutes. OK, Councilwoman Allen, now the accept or reject the friend.

3:49:33Yes, I accept that one because I'm because if you're we are doing something memorial that can go as long as it needs to go to respect our community.

3:49:40So you're saying with the exemption on memorials. Yes, sir. OK, understood. All right. Council members and Dejas, you're back. You're up now.

3:49:48I'm fine. OK, Councilman Sorrow. So I just want to come back to clarification again. So is there really an amendment needed then if we're just going to make sure a clock is displayed?

3:50:07I understand that we're adding time limits to adjournment. I don't think that was the request previously to do time limit specifically on adjournment.

3:50:18This is already towards the end of the meeting and we usually wrap it up pretty quickly. I just heard there was a lot of concern about ceremonies and I agree with them that we always strive to keep it to time.

3:50:29But that is really spotlighting community and and public health issues or others. But but I did want to clarify if it was just for the clock.

3:50:38Do we really need like an amendment for that or even limit timely adjournment remarks? I mean, so all the discussion, all the changes that are being discussed tonight, it can be in the form of a council policy.

3:51:01So we could do a policy that's adopted the night council votes on it or we can do an ordinance which requires a first and second read. So something like the timer, depending on which direct direction council wants, it could be in a policy.

3:51:17It could be an ordinance. Obviously, there's different mechanisms to get this task.

3:51:23OK, so Councilwoman Allen, is this in the form of a policy or is it an ordinance that you're requesting right now?

3:51:34I'm I'm being informed with policy and I think whoever's leading the meeting and if we're able to do these these technical advances with our screens and and we can time it and see things easier.

3:51:47We can see motions. I think all of that stuff if it's doable, it shouldn't cost us any more money. Think that would be that would help with efficiency.

3:51:56And then it is in this item to to address closing comments to limit that time as well.

3:52:03OK, so then are we back at square one as far as we don't we kind of then could just maybe in the spirit of raising the concern rather than I mean, yeah, just having it as a like good to do.

3:52:18Yes, I think that that could be the council discussion of whether it's a policy in an ordinance and difference of an ordinance is it takes a lot longer.

3:52:24We go back. It's actually written in municipal code. It takes a first reading, a second reading, takes 30 days to go in effect and then goes into effect.

3:52:31What I'm hearing the I think the councilwoman say is it could be a policy.

3:52:35We I just need direction. Do we show the timer or not?

3:52:38And we can incorporate that into our next project and then that wouldn't need an ordinance.

3:52:42It's really down to the five minutes, which your ordinance already says you you generally speak for five minutes.

3:52:47So that would be kind of implementing that practice.

3:52:49And then the chair could allow for more time for the memorials.

3:52:53OK, I'm still I wanted to follow up on that.

3:52:58Then is it possible for us to then make that request without doing an actual ordinance?

3:53:05Right. Like I'm in support of the policy or even just a rule of practice, honestly, a practice to have.

3:53:13It sounds like that we can make sure at least adding the clock, but keeping to practice what we just discussed versus.

3:53:19I mean, because usually it is a guideline, but and we all keep to that spirit.

3:53:24But if that's OK, we can move forward that could be direction tonight and then it's done tonight.

3:53:29Otherwise, it could be an ordinance, but then there's multiple steps that we bring it back to you for additional discussion.

3:53:34So for efficiency purposes, direction tonight would probably be the fastest.

3:53:37The other way would codify it into municipal code.

3:53:40All right. Thank you.

3:53:42So and I'll just weigh in.

3:53:44I think a policy is the way to go.

3:53:46That's what I would support.

3:53:47I welcome the county.

3:53:48I mean, we already have these rules on the books with the exception of the cap at the end of the meeting.

3:53:53That's new. And if council wants to reaffirm and say we're going to try to work harder to stay within the five minutes,

3:54:01because I'll be honest, it is sometimes hard to inter interject when a council member is there.

3:54:06What I wouldn't what I want to just be mindful of is I'm concerned.

3:54:11The one concern I have, which I'm supportive of these changes if we're in the middle of a sensitive presentation,

3:54:17community presentation and it ticks down to five minutes and people start shouting down our guests.

3:54:22That is an unintended consequence.

3:54:24That's a problem we have.

3:54:28To be clear, we used to have three.

3:54:30I think we went down to two per meeting that we go down to two in the ordinance.

3:54:34It's still three.

3:54:35So it's three.

3:54:36OK, so we've started scheduling and trying to schedule two and three was, you know, exceptional.

3:54:43Right. Like tonight there were three.

3:54:44One was withdrawn, but the last few months has really been two.

3:54:48I support the five minutes, but we just have to make sure we don't create an environment where let's say that is a sensitive presentation.

3:54:56Something is brought in that is incredibly sensitive to our community.

3:54:59We know what they are, that it doesn't create an environment where people begin getting shouted down our guests at City Council.

3:55:07But in general, having the council reaffirm their their policies issue a clock to say we're going to try our best to stay within our limits.

3:55:15I welcome that.

3:55:16I that will help me do my job.

3:55:18I certainly welcome that.

3:55:20And and I appreciate the fact that the council members came together on the last five minutes piece.

3:55:26I think five minutes is plenty.

3:55:27I think I don't honestly think most of the council members are going to use the five minutes.

3:55:31Those are an exceptional circumstances when there is a really solemn memorial and seldom do they do you see them go beyond five minutes.

3:55:39So so thank you.

3:55:40Counselor Zendaya, are you queued up again?

3:55:42OK, one more time.

3:55:45Yes, thank you.

3:55:46I just wanted to get a little bit more clarification from city staff on if we're moving forward with the policy.

3:55:56What would that look like?

3:55:59Tonight would be the vote.

3:56:00You would give us direction.

3:56:01We would end up writing that down for you and transmitting it to you.

3:56:04And then that would be part of the record.

3:56:05So that would be voting yes on what's in front of us right now.

3:56:10Yes, you would with the friendly is accepted.

3:56:13There's one motion on the floor.

3:56:14If the friendlies are all accepted, you would vote on that.

3:56:16That would become the policy.

3:56:17And then we'll, for clarity purposes, send that to you.

3:56:20What we heard.

3:56:21And then if there's no changes needed, that'll be the policy.

3:56:24So updating the council policies to include these things and your practices by including the clock.

3:56:31Right.

3:56:33Right.

3:56:34So that's what you're voting on.

3:56:35It's a policy.

3:56:36All right.

3:56:37So we're going to go to public comment now.

3:56:39Please administer public comment.

3:56:40When you hear your name, please line up with the lectern.

3:56:45We have 12 speakers on this item.

3:56:47Dave Shukla.

3:56:48Lee Charlie.

3:56:49Seymour.

3:56:50Sam Wise.

3:56:51Ginny Gonzalez.

3:56:52CJ.

3:56:54Ree.

3:56:55FB.

3:56:56Ellie.

3:56:57Marco.

3:56:58And Jeff Malin.

3:56:59And Joanne Garnica.

3:57:01Dave Shukla, you're first.

3:57:03If you can please come to the lectern.

3:57:05And the city clerk or city attorney's office confirmed that more time was spent deliberating on this item than the previous one.

3:57:22I'd like to thank Councilwoman Allen for bringing this item forward.

3:57:27I appreciate the effort to try and hold the council itself accountable for keeping time.

3:57:38You know, life's full of its little ironies.

3:57:43I have never been more ashamed of Rex Richardson in my life.

3:57:48And I've never been more thankful for Christina Duggan in all of my time coming here.

3:58:03And I'm grateful to say that not only I, but my entire family, voted for you during the primaries, man.

3:58:19I don't know if I'll ever support you, Rex, again.

3:58:22I really don't know if I can trust you.

3:58:25I don't know what you promised the other folks to get their votes.

3:58:29On the previous item, but it would have been worth just giving to them and saying you were wrong and doing something better.

3:58:42If you get your time's concluded.

3:58:44Thank you.

3:58:45Thank you.

3:58:46Next speaker is Lee Charlie.

3:58:50Please unmute yourself.

3:58:51Lee Charlie.

3:58:57Hey, we can hear you.

3:58:59Okay.

3:59:00Yeah.

3:59:01I think this is incredible.

3:59:02This is an amazing, brilliant move by Councilwoman Allen.

3:59:08He's my city clerk.

3:59:09Number one for five minutes restricting or trying to do your best.

3:59:14I was signing up for agenda 25 and somebody told me to speak on this agenda item.

3:59:19So I just listened to the presentation and your, your comments.

3:59:25And I took notes.

3:59:26Number one, the timer is not seen by the community.

3:59:29So y'all see it, but we don't.

3:59:31And then I love that the point of, um, to new up,

3:59:34I want to make sure that we're not.

3:59:36You know, we're not.

3:59:41And then I, I love that the point of, um, to new up,

3:59:45I want to make clear that there's a big difference and clarification

3:59:49versus contradiction.

3:59:51And redundancies versus contradictions. Number one.

3:59:55Y'all are worried about five minutes. And if you go over, oh, well,

3:59:58what about 90 seconds for speaking on agenda 25, 19 and general public

4:00:00We're worried about five minutes. I'm going to talk like this. I'm going to be able to talk like this and be like, I'm going to say like, I'm going to say like, that's what you're going to want us to talk about and it's really ridiculous.

4:00:12Next thing, you're creating an environment. People should be shouted down with their clock. Then why do you think people are shouting at you currently? I'm looking, I have 15 seconds left. It's frustrating. So it's not okay for the community to abide by these rules, but it's okay for you to violate the rules and go over.

4:00:30It's a contradiction hypothetical. Vote these people out. Thank you for your comments. Next speaker is Sam Wise. Oh, I'm sorry, Seymour. Seymour, you're in zoom. Can you please unmute yourself?

4:00:45Yeah. Hello, council, Mayor, Micro King Tom Modica. Some of the previous statements were the same. The fact that you deliberated and nit-picked this motion to the extent you did, those who did, and I noticed the people who did that on this to scrutinize limiting yourself

4:01:11and putting your own time on public notice were those the most in favor of limiting the public's comments and shame on you both for that. I'm talking to Dr. Sulisaro and the council member Thresh Ntuk.

4:01:25In particular, Councilwoman Thresh Ntuk. That was a master class in obfuscation or whatever the word for pretending you didn't understand the spirit of this motion to waste our time.

4:01:40I'm guessing you probably spent way more than five minutes on that obfuscation. So shame on you for supporting it to be held against us, but not for yourself. A clock for five minutes is what makes public transparency.

4:01:55What you see behind the dais does not help us. And about worrying about people shouting down presentations, I get that it's been a raucous night. Put presentations and ceremonies before the meeting at 430. The people who come for those presentations, the fancy people in the suits and whatever else,

4:02:14they do the presentations and then bounce before the meeting even really starts when you do that. So that's my statement and shame.

4:02:21Your time's been concluded. Thank you. Next speaker, Samwise. After Samwise is Ginny Gonzalez and then CJ.

4:02:28So I'm all for this agenda item. I can't think of a good reason not to add a clock for us. Time in the council should be part of the process. It should be part of your protocol since it shouldn't be the public's job to time you.

4:02:45Transparency like give us a clock so that we can see if you're staying on track or not. It's a good idea. So thank you Councilwoman Allen and Councilwoman Duggan. I don't know what the fuck the rest of you are doing.

4:02:58Not you, Councilwoman Kerr. You actually voted against an awful agenda item tonight. So thanks for that.

4:03:04Some people I don't normally think, but the rest of you fucked up so bad that I have to acknowledge the people that didn't. And Rex, you said that this is a business meeting. So then what do ceremonial and photo apps have to do with business?

4:03:17And if you're going to do ceremonies, then extra time needed for those presentations to be culturally respectful should come out of your speaking time, right?

4:03:26And if a clock is distracting for presentations, what the fuck is it when we're fucking talking this whole conversation like about this agenda item alone proves why we need a five minute clock.

4:03:37And also, I want to be like clear. Does that five minute clock reset every time you submit for a new comment or do you get five minutes total? Because I feel like that is an important distinction.

4:03:49So a timer is not going to fix all the problems this council has, primarily listening to the public, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

4:03:59One public comment is not enough for us to voice our concerns about the city and how our money is being spent.

4:04:06Thank you for your comments. Jenny Gonzalez and then CJ is Jenny in the audience. All right. CJ is CJ in the audience.

4:04:28So let me get this straight. You have no problem policing us, but when it comes time to hold yourselves accountable, you'll come up with every stupid excuse known to man to get out of it. Cool.

4:04:39All of this is a circle jerk of incompetence. It's clear that you have no respect for your constituents or the seats that you sit in, because time and time again, constituents come up here to make their case for protecting citizens rights and urging you to come up with better and more innovative solutions to make Long Beach a better place.

4:04:57And to be honest, most of the public common speakers have better solutions than all of y'all put together. Yet we continue to fall on deaf ears over and over again.

4:05:10How come you get so specific on rules set on you, but you will pass any agenda item that's vague as hell? These agenda items are so confusing to begin with, not to mention it's so clear that most of you can't even comprehend basic proposals.

4:05:25The past 20 minutes are actually the past 35 minutes is exactly why the meeting runs long, not because of public comment. We the people are witness of your incoherence and your incompetence.

4:05:38Please enroll in some form of reading comprehension class or toastmasters to improve your public speaking skills. Seriously, I encourage it. You are an embarrassment and such a poor representation of the Long Beach community.

4:05:52But I want to take the last five seconds to thank everyone who comes out here and stands up to you lazy fuckers.

4:05:58Next speaker is Rhee and then FB and Ellie and Marco, Jeff Malin and Joanne Rhee. Hi, I love it when we're practicing accountability your attempts, I appreciate at transparency is something very wonderful to see.

4:06:17I love that timer idea. I'm pretty sure if you don't set it up someone else will and you probably want to be the ones to do that. Just saying.

4:06:24It's very much nice that that's a consideration. It's really frustrating that we are here again.

4:06:30Y'all got to stop evaluating your regulations over resources because more rules does not get anyone anything that they need looking at YouTube who love your rules but don't you talk about providing for your communities, but I don't see that.

4:06:45Maybe it's just me. All your rules actually prevent you from providing care for residents in your city. So you also belittle us every week when you refuse to hear listen, consider and apply with the people actually want.

4:06:57There's a song from a musical called Hadestown that reminds me of what I imagine you're thinking about while you make the decisions for the community. So I'm going to read it to you.

4:07:04Why do we build the wall? We build the wall to keep us free. That's why we build the wall. We build the wall to keep us free. How does the wall keep us free? The wall keeps out the enemy.

4:07:14And we build the wall to keep us free. That's why we build the wall. That's why we build the wall that we build the wall to keep us free. Who do we call the enemy? The enemy is poverty and the wall keeps out the enemy.

4:07:28And we build the wall to keep us free. That's why we build the wall. We build that wall to keep us free. You won't be free. You won't be kept free by the wall that you are building between yourselves and your constituents.

4:07:40Fuck the poor. Thank you for your comment. Next speaker is F.B. And after F.B., it's Ellie and then Marco and Jeff. All right.

4:08:03Well, my friend here timed you for 19. Your conversations that went nowhere. Pepto Bismol, trash and took. You need some help. Please add additional staffers for her to for her to ask questions before she enters the city council meeting.

4:08:26I'd like to suggest to the public to remember these Nazi fascist faces. Remember them when you make the food they order. Remember them when you see them walking freely with their families in public.

4:08:40Remember them when you get hired to enter their homes to fix their toilets. Remember that they took our right to speak away. Our right to call their bullshit out.

4:08:53Whatever you do, please, please don't piss and shit in their food. They don't deserve that. Only criminals deserve that.

4:09:01When you see Queen Doughboy Rex and his little puppet micro king Tom Mordecai, please, please, please, please don't shit in their food. Please, please, please don't piss in their food. Please, please, please don't do anything to these idiot fucking losers that are taking our First Amendment right when you study their faces and do what you need to do.

4:09:33But don't piss and shit in their food. Fuck you, Free Palestine. Next speaker, Ali. Just a clarification for the council. Correct me if I'm wrong, Councilmember Allen, but I think that the five minute clock is for the public to see and not for the council members to see.

4:09:54Fix a lot by fixing this screen right here. I know we're spending a lot of money on on all this vibe city type beat. But I mean, if you walk into our city council member chambers, like we look broke. That's that's not a good look right there.

4:10:10Yeah, five minutes should be more than enough. Again, we just we want to see the clock right here when clock gets all the way to zero. You know, Mike cuts off. We hear from from the lady right there. Thank you. Your time is concluded.

4:10:25Move on to the next speaker thing they move. That's that's efficiency. That's operational efficiency right there.

4:10:30I think an additional amendment should be added or proposed somewhere in here that anytime an amendment to the municipal code is proposed in the city council meeting attached to that agenda are included in that agenda item is an explanation in plain English of what that amendment is going to entail.

4:10:52Another clear example is that where in the newly revised public comment structure, there's there's no way that ordinary citizens are going to just come up and know what this is.

4:11:04There's no way that working people are going to have the time to study the entire length of the Long Beach municipal code and know what to give public comment on to make these changes, please. Thank you.

4:11:15Next speaker is Marco, and then Jeff and Joanne Marco, please unmute yourself. Hi, good evening.

4:11:27I just like to show my support for item 19 and I want to commend and thank Councilwoman in the Allen for bringing this forward and the support of council members Dugan and supernal.

4:11:40I can't see why any of the council would be opposed to this idea.

4:11:48I think clock is a very good idea to allow transparency and the public to see your clock on the other side of the dais.

4:11:57I also would like to say, I was surprised to hear what was even a small amount of opposition to this item, as I do feel it really does allow us the public who is put into a time restriction and muted at the end of our time.

4:12:21To say that they can't even be willing to see a clock while they're speaking so I do support this item. I do appreciate hearing the dialogue that happened prior to my public comment.

4:12:36Following the item discussion. That was very important to me to hear that, and then to be able to public comment on that. I would like to just stress that point as well. Thank you very much.

4:12:49Thank you. Next speaker is Jeff, please unmute yourself. Jeff Malin, please unmute yourself.

4:13:02I thank you very much. I agree with the previous public commenters. I think that this is a common sense proposal and I appreciate our Councilwoman Cindy Allen for bringing it forward.

4:13:15I think it's something that already exists on the other side of the dais. I think that it largely brings transparency to the public, where it would be only beneficial for the public to see it, unlike the timer that exists for public comment,

4:13:33where the countdown ends in the microphones being turned off. This would not have any, as far as I see it, any enforcement capability, any accountability, or change anything that already exists.

4:13:49There is no mention to that when it comes to shouting. There are already mechanisms in place that I believe the Council and the Presiding Chair or Mayor has to control that. So nothing is really changed.

4:14:03I think it only adds additional transparency to the public, where transparency could be of value to everybody. So I would urge a yes vote on this. Thank you very much for the opportunity to comment.

4:14:18Speaker Joanne Garnica. When you say residents speak, we listen. What are the metrics used to listen. How many voices have to speak for or against an item for representatives to vote along the lines of public comment, a simple majority, 70%.

4:14:44What about 100% as it was tonight. I've seen many items over the years have overwhelming support one way or the other, while votes, while council votes in the opposite direction, including item 25 tonight.

4:14:57Constituents deserve to know how decisions are made and if you're going to govern with impossible metrics. The lack of transparency this Council continues to govern with is a great concern to our democracy.

4:15:08Speaking against a timer for the public to keep track as well. Who does that hurt, extending Council speaking time yet stifling the public's right to speak. Sometimes it's really hard to believe that things that come out of the elected's mouths.

4:15:23Constituents deserve transparency, government, and to understand what metrics are used to cast votes. The moving target is unjust and stifles democracy. Council votes need and deserve to be aligned with how the people before you speak, and how they communicate

4:15:40with you prior to the meetings. Our voices matter. And just as an added, there's no way I would have had enough time to speak on these two items. As soon as this new thing continues.

4:15:53Thank you. That concludes public comment for this item. All right, thank you members please cast your vote. Motion is carried. Item 20. Item 20 report from city manager recommendation to receive and file a presentation on proposed ordinance amendments for tobacco retailers and

4:16:26smoking lounges and request city attorney to prepare amendments to the Long Beach municipal code to create a new regulatory framework for tobacco retailers and smoking lounges citywide. Thank you. We have a staff presentation.

4:16:39We're prepared to do the staff presentation unless there's comments from the from either of the motioners first. No, it's a report back from an item in April that we asked for.

4:16:51Okay, we are prepared to give the presentation so I will turn it over to the presentation or not to grace. Okay, I heard yes. Okay, ready. We will turn it over to grace you know our deputy city manager.

4:17:04All right, I'd like to introduce Valencia Romero, who will give the presentation. Hi, good evening members, mayor members of the city council item 20 on tonight's agenda is a presentation on the proposed regulatory changes for tobacco retailers and smoking

4:17:22lounges. This item is a follow up to the memorandum released on August 25. And with that, let's get started. So I do want to provide some brief background on this. Again, there is, there's going to be the background compliance issues will

4:17:37also go over examples in other cities, as well as potential changes and then recommendations and policy directions. As a quick refresher, this item is in response to a city council request on April 7 asking staff to begin the process of amending the municipal code with distancing requirements

4:17:56between tobacco retailers and smoking lounges and report back within 120 days, the comprehensive memorandum released on August 25 as mentioned earlier, right just just a moment on the presentation.

4:18:09If we can just take the conversation outside the council's having a hard time here in the presentation. Thank you. All right, thank you. Please proceed. And then again just for some to have some general grounding there are different state laws that govern tobacco products

4:18:28and businesses. The cigarette and tobacco products law as one of them flavor tobacco law sees illegal tobacco products act stake act stop, and then also the tobacco 21 law at the state level tobacco is regulated by the Department of Tax and V Administration

4:18:45and Department of Public Health CDTFA is a is the regulatory body responsible for enforcing tobacco retailers versus, whereas CD CD pH is responsible for conducting media campaigns and working with local jurisdictions to limit

4:19:00the accessibility. Just a moment, sir. If you, thank you. All right, that's your final warning. Let's, let's, I'm asking her, let's restore she got it. She got four. Yes, I'm sorry. That is your third and final warning you are being asked to leave the chamber. No, I'm talking to this person on the front row in the green dress if you can please leave the chamber that is your third and final

4:19:23warning. All right, let's continue the presentation please. So now as for our local regulations chapter 5.8 one established the application and retailing requirements of tobacco retailers and chapter 5.8 eight established the application and operation operating conditions for smoking

4:20:15lounges. An important distinction between these two chapters is that chapter 5.8 eight limits the number of smoking lounges to eight, whereas chapter 5.1 has no caps on the number of permits for tobacco retailers, each of these chapters is also administered by a different department which

4:20:31we'll get to a little bit later. And also want to highlight the definitions for tobacco retailer and smoking lounges defining our municipal code currently the tobacco retailer definition in particular is overly broad lacks physical attributes

4:20:46of the establishment and does not distinguish between businesses that sell tobacco as a primary or accessory business activity. In addition to the overly broad definition tobacco retailers and also smoking lounges are treated as general retail establishment for the city's

4:21:01zoning regulations. This generalization allows these businesses to locate virtually anywhere in the city without regard to sensitive uses location requirements or special planning entitlement processes.

4:21:12I also want to take a moment on this slide to show you the number of tobacco retail permits by category. We have a total of 423 with the bulk coming up but coming from convenience stores grocery stores and gas stations.

4:21:27These businesses may sell tobacco products but the permit is treated as an accessory to their primary business. The number of what we consider true smoke shops is actually at 67 so it's on the lower end of the table.

4:21:39Also provided the number of tobacco retail permits broken down by category for each council district. The data that you see here on this slide in the bar graph and the table there are the same we just presented different visuals depending on everybody's learning style.

4:21:54For instance City Council District 1 and Council District 6 they have the highest number of permits in total whereas Council District 4 and 5 have the lowest.

4:22:04So I do want to spend some time going over the compliance issues that we have identified as part of this project.

4:22:12So starting with the again compliance issues with smoke shops convenience stores and gas stations alike they are often selling illegal cannabis and tobacco products especially flavored tobacco.

4:22:26There are other illicit sales other illicit activities that go on at these at these locations as well such as frequent loitering. We've even seen gambling illegal gambling rings robberies and firearm incidents inspection staff are often unable to fully inspect tobacco retail establishment due to hidden storage compartments or entire rooms that are designed to conceal legal products.

4:22:52These spaces can only be accessed with the key fob or our cards it is not uncommon for inspectors to be denied access altogether into these businesses.

4:23:01So I'm actually going to show you some pictures and videos provided by our inspection team.

4:23:06It is very important to us that we show you these visuals so that we all have a shared understanding of what's going on at these businesses note that the photos and videos you will see they do come from different smoke shops convenience stores.

4:23:19I don't believe we have a gas station in there but they're also problematic as well.

4:23:23So I want to show you the first picture. So in the first picture that we have here we do have if you look at the top right.

4:23:31They are bags of cannabis flower we also see containers of cannabis pre rolls and boxes of THC concentrates for babes.

4:23:39As a reminder cannabis products can only be sold at licensed cannabis dispensaries here in the city and I believe at the bottom right you can also see that there's can can canisters of nitrous oxide in this photo.

4:23:51The second picture is a hidden storage room built top to bottom with flavor tobacco products.

4:23:58Again the flavor tobacco products are illegal here in California.

4:24:02This third picture is intended to show the hidden storage compartments below the display shelves.

4:24:08This is a hidden compartment that can be opened with the key fob.

4:24:12This compartment in particular contain banned flavor tobacco products and also THC products.

4:24:18So this next three slides are going to be the video.

4:24:22So I will show you in a second and all of these are intended to show the different hidden storage compartments at these businesses and establishments.

4:24:29This video shows an inspector using the key fob to open the hidden compartments within the shelving unit.

4:24:36We do have volume on this so I just want you to be mindful of the sound as he's moving the key fob throughout the video.

4:24:43So in this next video you'll also see hidden shelves containing vapes but in this one I'm not sure if it's clear to see from the screen behind me.

4:25:10It's covered with cans of soda I believe it's Shasta cans but when you open the open the hidden compartment you'll see what's behind it.

4:25:33And lastly this video shows the hidden compartments in the floorboards and these contain banned flavor tobacco products THC and untaxed cigarettes.

4:25:41So now what I want to highlight here is that these blatant compliance issues do not go without frequent inspections and enforcement from our team.

4:26:30However the repeated administrative citations and fines are simply treated as the cost of doing business with this industry in particular.

4:26:38Perpetually non-compliant tobacco retail establishments often make changes to business ownership or entity structure that can complicate enforcement in the application of enhanced penalties.

4:26:50So I do want to spend some time going over what other cities have done about tobacco retailers and some of the issues they're facing again we're not alone in this.

4:26:58In 2026 alone there has been several cities in Southern California that have adopted new regulations for tobacco retailers and smoking lounges.

4:27:07Some of these common regulatory requirements include the limit on the number of permits zoning permits such as a conditional use permit or administrative use permit sensitive use buffers distance requirements between the same business type

4:27:21developing development and operating standards and additional things can also include moratoriums illegal nonconforming and amortization periods have also been established to gradually phase out these businesses.

4:27:34In May the city of Newport Beach adopted an ordinance that established new permitting requirements operational standards location restrictions and other provisions for tobacco retailers and cigar lounges.

4:27:45These restrictions prohibit a tobacco retailer from operating within 1000 feet of another tobacco retailer 500 feet from a public or private school park or playground civic center cultural site or religious institution 500 feet from a residential zoning district

4:28:02or residential use existing tobacco retailers within sensitive use buffers area such as schools may be considered legal nonconforming uses within the city but would be required to obtain a tobacco retail permit within 60 days of the ordinance becoming effective.

4:28:19In July the city of Riverside adopted several zoning code amendments to establish new space regulations and location requirements for standalone tobacco retailers we also called the smoke shops, smoke shops are all are now identified as an individually regulated use and subject to new location requirements

4:28:37as opposed to a general retail use that previously allowed them to be permitted by right in all commercial and mixed use zones.

4:28:44Again these smoke shops are prohibited from operating within 1000 feet of a public or private school licensed childcare facility assemblies of people public park or another smoke shop 100 feet of an existing residential dwelling or property zone for residential uses,

4:29:01excluding the mixed use zones. Riverside also established an amortization period of two years from the effective date of the ordinance for smoke shops that no longer comply with the zoning and location requirements.

4:29:14Non compliance smoke shops must relocate to a compliant location or cease operations at the conclusion of the amortization period. And lastly we have in March the city of Santa Ana adopted an ordinance and inspection fee resolution to regulate the establishment

4:29:29and permitting of smoke shops. These regulations include restricting the location of smoke shops in proximity to sensitive uses, requiring a conditional use permit for approval for new smoke shop establishments, and creating a development and operations operating standards.

4:29:45The inspection fees intended to recover the cost of routine annual inspections and as need inspections for illicit activities. Like Long Beach and Riverside there is no distinction between smoke shops and general retail uses prior to the adoption of the ordinance in Santa Ana.

4:30:00The adopted ordinance seeks to correct, sought to correct at this point, the issue by defining smoke shops as a distinct land use separate from retail and service uses and restricts the location of smoke shops to commercial zones if they obtain a conditional use permit.

4:30:15Further, in addition to the land use requirements smoke shops are prohibited from operating within 1000 feet of another smoke shop, 1000 feet of youth centered uses including recreational facilities and schools, 1000 feet of an alcohol or other drug abuse recovery or treatment facility,

4:30:33and 500 feet of a property zoned or used for residential purposes. The ordinance also includes non conforming rules that allow existing smoke shops to continue operations if they have a valid certificate of occupancy and tobacco retailer license.

4:30:48Non conforming smoke shops must meet the new development and operating standards within six months of the affected date of the ordinance. These non conforming rules were established to gradually phase out clustering of smoke shops and near sensitive uses.

4:31:01Now going back to the compliance issues again we are not alone in this all, all the three the cities that are listed here have identified the same types of illegal sales and products that their tobacco retail establishments,

4:31:14and all of their ordinance included some type of mechanism to improve and to strengthen their enforcement regulations.

4:31:21Okay, now let's transition to the potential regulatory changes now that we have some grounding of the issues and they also examples in other cities, the staff proposed that City Council repeal chapter 5.9 5.8 one sorry 5.9 I want to use the cannabis 5.8 one and 5.8 eight of the municipal code and replace

4:31:40these chapters with a new and consolidated regulatory framework for tobacco retailers and smoking lounges. These changes also includes updates updates to the zoning regulations and title 21 and title 22 to ensure alignment.

4:31:54This approach aims to best address the original request made by City Council as well as ongoing issues with tobacco retailers identified by staff. Staff also proposed new definitions to distinguish between a smoke shop a smoking lounge and other tobacco retail

4:32:09companies such as a convenience store and a grocery store. This includes defining these establishments for the purpose of issuing these permits and to differentiate the land uses under title 21 and title 22.

4:32:21Using the Newport Beach example again, the definition for tobacco retailers include exceptions for other uses or businesses as you can see at the bottom of the screen, such as the grocery store since those are defined separately.

4:32:34Santa Ana as part of their recent ordinance changes included three new definitions for a convenience store grocery store and smoke shop.

4:32:42They're really detailed and these definitions all include physical attributes of each establishment as they are separate land uses again versus being treated as a general research retail establishment.

4:32:53Staff proposed to create similar definitions to ensure consistent applicability of land use reviews and approvals for new smoke shops and smoking lounges.

4:33:01These definitions are non-existent in the current zoning regulations under title 21 and title 22.

4:33:07In terms of zoning requirements, tobacco retailers and smoking lounges will be able to locate within the city's commercial and industrial zone as well as specific plan and plan development districts that allow for commercial uses, which is pretty much the same as we have for cannabis right now.

4:33:22A conditional use permit will be required for new tobacco retailers and smoking lounges just depending on the location and zoning district. Existing businesses would be exempt from this requirement.

4:33:33This approach is beneficial to allow for the provisions of chapter 21.27 of the municipal code which provides regulations and procedures which ensure that the elimination of nonconforming uses and structures occurs as expediously and as fairly as possible and avoids any unreasonable invasion of established property rights.

4:33:53Now I do want to spend some time to talk about the proposed sensitive use buffers for these businesses. We are proposing to establish sensitive use buffers for smoke shops and smoking lounges in alignment with the existing adult use cannabis business locations requirements.

4:34:09The list of sensitive use buffers does not include elder care facilities as it would severely limit the allowable area where smoke shops and lounges may locate in the city. The allowable area is already severely limited making it difficult to find a viable location.

4:34:24According to historical feedback from cannabis businesses, the inclusion of elder care facilities would effectively create a de facto prohibition of smoke shops and smoking lounges.

4:34:34This table shows the sensitive use buffers just for easy reading. So we do have 600 feet buffers for schools, daycare centers, playgrounds, community centers and libraries.

4:34:46We have a thousand feet between smoke shops and smoking lounges. In other words, these businesses cannot be within a thousand feet of each other like cannabis dispensaries as we have now.

4:34:59Convenience stores and grocery stores with a tobacco retail permit are excluded from the proposed sensitive use buffer requirements as tobacco sales are not their primary business activity.

4:35:09However, if the city council should decide to take a more rigorous approach to best address ongoing compliance issues with tobacco retailers, convenience stores, grocery stores and also gas stations are part of this.

4:35:19May be added to the list of businesses required to abide by the 600 foot sensitive use buffers. These businesses would be exempt from the 1000 foot buffers between smoke shops and smoking lounges under this approach.

4:35:31So we also what I'm excited to show you, we created an educational tool known as the tobacco map to display where smoke shops and smoking lounges may locate within the city based on the proposed requirements.

4:35:44This map currently displays the existing businesses to show how the buffers work and essentially how many and as it stands right now fall outside of the location requirements.

4:35:53So I'm going to leave this up on the screen for a second. I do invite everyone to follow along by scanning the QR code on your phone or typing in the link, the direct link to the tobacco map.

4:36:05In the next couple slides, I will be showing you different stills of the map to illustrate different information. But first, I do want to explain what the different layers, colors and shapes mean because there is a lot going on on this map.

4:36:18There's a lot of good data, starting with some helpful tips. Number one thing is I recommend that you zoom in as much as possible.

4:36:25It can be difficult to view it in the default mode because it does show the overlay just like in a zoomed out version. So again, the more you zoom in, the better.

4:36:36So what I have here on the screen is what you'll see as far as the legend on the map, which is located on the left hand side.

4:36:45So we also, we have the different categories that are identified, permit categories that are identified within the map. So we have the blue stars as a smoke shop. The tan colored stars are a smoking lounge.

4:36:57The little like bag or purse icon is a convenience store. We have the gas pump as a gas station, shopping cart as a grocery store, and then like the white circle we have as other, which is kind of like miscellaneous businesses.

4:37:10You'll see different like circles, which are the smoke shops and smoking lounge buffers, which I'll show you in the next slide.

4:37:18But you also in this legend have the community, the base layers, which will show you the different sensitive use buffers. So again, these are libraries, playgrounds, community centers in school, they're all color coded.

4:37:30And then in the green spaces, you will see the allowed green area, which is what we typically called the green zone. So that's where you could locate as one of these businesses.

4:37:41Then anything in the gray is where you cannot locate. So that's within a sensitive use buffer. So I opted to include this still just because it's a little bit zoomed out and it shows you at a high level what all the different shapes looks like.

4:37:57So again, we have the sensitive use buffers out in the gray. You'll see in different parts of the map, different colors within the gray. So again, there could be schools or could be a library, a daycare center.

4:38:09You also see the blue stars with the circle around it or a radius around it. So that is to signify the thousand foot buffer that we are proposing.

4:38:19So that's just a visual so that they know not to be located within each other. Of course, this is for new businesses, but it's also helpful to see how close these existing businesses are as of right now.

4:38:38Just just a moment on your presentation. I think they're announcing their exit like a like an airport. All right.

4:38:53Let's restore the room to a state of order, please. This is your third and final warning. I am asking you to leave the chamber. She was in the front row. They got their final warning.

4:39:05She's going to stand there until someone actually puts her out. You will be escorted out of the chamber if you can't. Again, you are disrupting the meeting. This is your third and final warning.

4:39:23If you can please leave the chamber. Please continue. So I'm still on the same slide. So the other thing I wanted to show you is the again, the tan color star is what represents a smoking lounge and the radius around is also the thousand foot buffer.

4:40:02What you'll also see in the map is like the designated green zones. Some of them are a little like darker or lighter, depending what part of the zone like commercial or industrial zone that is.

4:40:13And then as well, you can see everything in like the light gray, which is basically all residential. So on this still the map on this next one, I do want to show you part what the view of the western and southern part of the city.

4:40:27This area encompasses Council District one, two, three, four and six. And as you can see, there is a over concentration and lots of clustering of tobacco retailers.

4:40:38This includes smoke shops, convenience stores, the grocery stores, gas stations that have these permits and with a ton of overlap in this area.

4:40:46I also want to show you the still of the northern part of the city that encompasses Council District seven, eight and nine.

4:40:53There is less over concentration in this area, but there is still some clustering of convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations with tobacco retail permit.

4:41:01And I also want to show you the still the eastern part of the city that encompasses Council District four and five again, some clustering of these different business types.

4:41:11The overall there is less prevalence of these retailers in the area in this area of the city.

4:41:17The next one I'm going to show you is just I picked these at random just to show as the visual. So this is a visual of Star King Elementary School.

4:41:28It is intended to show the proximity of these businesses near school. So just in this area alone, we have one smoke shop, one smoking lounge, five convenience stores, three gas stations and three grocery stores that all hold a tobacco retail permit.

4:41:46This next one is we have three different schools. So we have First Baptist Church School. We have Renaissance High High School for the Arts.

4:41:57And we also have Jenny Oropesa Elementary. The area surrounding these schools includes eight smoke shops, ten convenience stores, four gas stations and twelve grocery stores.

4:42:09There are many more instances of tobacco retailers located near schools and other sensitive uses within the map.

4:42:15If you just kind of mess around with it a little bit, there's a ton. But for the purposes of the presentation, we opted to only show you to just we want to get we want you to have a general sense of the issue.

4:42:25But again, we made the map public for this reason. So folks are able to look at it in greater detail now for the operating conditions that we are proposing again, proposing to create operating conditions for smoking lounges and all tobacco retailers, which include include grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations.

4:42:43While these sensitive use buffers would only apply to smoke shops and smoking lounges as currently proposed, the operating conditions would apply to everybody.

4:42:53And so these operating conditions that will apply to all these are some pretty basic stuff that we're going to implement or we are proposing to implement.

4:43:01We have this for cannabis. So these basics include hours of operations, security standards, video surveillance requirements, signage and lighting requirements, visibility requirements, limited display of smoking paraphernalia, age restrictions, prohibition of sales via vending machine and, of course, a list of prohibited products.

4:43:22So I do want to know on the list of prohibited products that we will include nitrous oxide to complement the request put forward by City Council earlier this evening.

4:43:32Again, the recently passed SB 758 legislative bill prohibits tobacco retailers from selling nitrous oxide.

4:43:39However, it's already it's again it's already prohibited by state law.

4:43:43The new tobacco retail regulations would include it as part of the list just to further strengthen our local enforcement or look for enforcement and penalty staff proposed to consolidate the city's enforcement authority and penalties for tobacco retailers and smoking lounges into a single ordinance as opposed to the separate ordinances we have now.

4:44:04The differences between these two are down to having different department designees that no longer reflect current practice and the proposed consolidation will ensure consistent enforcement across all tobacco related businesses and align the ordinance with the city's current interdepartmental enforcement model.

4:44:23We will also include provisions for repeat violations occurring at multiple locations that have a common permittee and ownership control. This pattern of violations has been a persistent challenge as staff have been unable to effectively stop non-compliant activities carried out by the same business owner at multiple tobacco retail locations.

4:44:42The administrative fines are routinely absorbed as a cost of doing business limiting their deterrent effect as mentioned earlier. Specifically, we will be creating a separate and tiered administrative fine structure for repeat violations.

4:44:55These fines would escalate with the subsequent violation similar to the civil penalty assessed by CDTFA for non-compliant tobacco retailers.

4:45:04Should an enforcement action reach the point of permit revocation, staff propose to prohibit the business owner and all related parties from reapplying for another permit altogether for an extended period.

4:45:14We currently have something similar in place for cannabis business. I believe it's about three years as we'll be capped at.

4:45:21The property owner may also be prohibited from having another tobacco retail permittee at the location for the same period should the City Council prefer a stricter approach.

4:45:32Based on the legal non-conforming examples in other cities, staff propose a short-term period for existing tobacco retailers and smoking lounges to come into compliance with the proposed operating conditions.

4:45:42The length of this period shall be determined by the City Council. Based on other research in other cities, this period can range from three, six to 12 months, depending on your preference.

4:45:53If the operating conditions are satisfied by the deadline, then the business will be deemed as a legal non-conforming business.

4:46:00This designation allows businesses to remain at their existing location even if they do not meet the new zoning and sensitive use buffer requirements.

4:46:07Businesses who fail to come into compliance with the operating conditions set by the deadline may be subject to permit suspension and revocation or denied renewal of their permit, whichever occurs sooner.

4:46:18These businesses will be subsequently be deemed as a non-conforming business and required to cease operations.

4:46:25Again, should the City Council decide on a more strict approach, we are proposing an amortization period.

4:46:32An amortization period may be established for all businesses in addition to the legal non-conforming provision.

4:46:37So just so we have an understanding what amortization means in this context, it is a process to terminate a non-conforming use after a period of time.

4:46:45That is sufficient to allow the owner of the property and/or business owner to recover their investment in the use in business.

4:46:53This process may require additional impact studies and thus add cost and timing restraints for implementation.

4:46:59Though I do want to take a second to highlight that amortization in this context does not necessarily mean that we are pushing everyone out of business.

4:47:07Given that the majority of the tobacco retail permit holders are convenience stores, grocery stores, and gas stations, they could simply stop selling tobacco products and continue operating with their true primary business activity.

4:47:21A true convenience store, for example, doesn't need to sell tobacco.

4:47:25But again, as illustrated in the presentation earlier, most of these businesses are primarily selling illegal products anyway.

4:47:31So implementing an amortization period would be a two-prong approach beginning as of the date that the ordinance is in effect with the amortization running longer than the legal non-conforming period.

4:47:44We wouldn't recommend going over three years for the amortization period based on research that we've seen.

4:47:49At the conclusion of the amortization period, businesses regardless of their legal non-conforming status must satisfy the new zoning and sensitive use buffer requirements.

4:47:58This will allow businesses to either cease operations altogether or relocate to an allowable area before the end of the amortization period.

4:48:06A tobacco retail permit previously renewed for a legal non-conforming business shall be void at the end of the amortization period if they do not cease operations or relocate to a compliant location.

4:48:17So if you want to conclude with some final recommendations and policy directions, this is basically just summarizing everything I just said, but I want to have a nice visual for that because I know it's a lot.

4:48:28Staff propose a set of baseline regulatory changes for tobacco retailers and smoking lounges as part of the new consolidated ordinance.

4:48:37These baseline changes represent the minimum adjustments needed to modernize definitions, strengthen operating standards, and align enforcement tools with best practices.

4:48:46Essentially, these baseline changes would include these categories that you see here on the table, which are the new definitions, zoning requirements, operating conditions, as well as the enforcement and penalties.

4:48:57Again, to meaningfully address the city's most persistent compliant issues, particularly those involving youth access, the legal products and retailer over concentration and more stringent regulatory approach may be required.

4:49:11So this is why we are presenting both baseline changes and enhance regulatory options for the following categories in the next two slides.

4:49:19I do want to emphasize that this direction is important because of the level of regulatory stringency selected by the City Council will directly influence the structure of the consolidated ordinance and its enforcement framework that we will bring back to you at a later date.

4:49:33Going back to the sensitive use buffers as a baseline, we are proposing to require sensitive use buffers to be applied only to the smoke shops and smoking lounges.

4:49:42So those are like the blue stars as well as the tan color stars that you see on the map.

4:49:47This approach would limit youth access to tobacco as well as illegal products and substances on a smaller scale based on the number of permits issued to smoke shops and smoking lounges.

4:49:58If the City Council wants to go with the more elevated approach, which is the right hand side of the table, then we recommend requiring the sensitive use buffers be applied to to smoking lounges and to all tobacco retailers.

4:50:09So this would include the convenience stores, grocery stores and the gas stations.

4:50:14As for the matter of legal nonconforming businesses, we ask the City Council if you wish to implement a single approach, which is the short term period for all existing tobacco retailers and smoking lounges to come into compliance with the new operating condition.

4:50:29Or do you wish to implement a two prong approach, which includes a short term period as previously mentioned and a longer term period, which is the amortization period for nonconforming businesses to relocate to an allowable area that conforms to the sensitive use buffers and zoning requirements or they cease operations.

4:50:47The length of each period is to be determined by the City Council.

4:50:50The two prong approach would gradually phase out the over concentration of tobacco retailers and locations near sensitive uses in Long Beach.

4:50:59In addition to the proposed baseline changes and elevated approach options that I just mentioned, the City Council may also establish a moratorium on the issuance of new tobacco retail permits until a new ordinance is adopted in effect.

4:51:11This is something that the City of Riverside did before enacting their new ordinance.

4:51:15I believe their moratorium was set at three months initially, and then they later extended it to give staff sufficient time to draft the ordinance changes.

4:51:23A moratorium will help prevent perpetually noncompliant business owners from opening new tobacco retail establishments in Long Beach.

4:51:31This may also help stabilize ongoing compliance issues and enforcement operation.

4:51:36So based on the feedback and policy direction that you all provide tonight, staff may return to the City Council with the following.

4:51:44So we will return with either a moratorium on the issuance of new tobacco permits and or a first reading of the ordinance with the consolidated regulatory framework for tobacco retailers and smoking lounges.

4:51:56So that concludes our presentation. I'm available for any questions. Thank you.

4:52:01All right. Thank you for the presentation. Let's just not take care of public comment. Let's administer public comment, please.

4:52:09We have two members of the public signed up to speak in person, Dave Shukla and Brian Lamb in Zoom.

4:52:28I wonder how contraband makes its way into prisons.

4:52:32For the record, since my ability to respond directly to staff reports and information that can only be obtained during staff presentations, it's about to be taken away.

4:52:47I'd like to state for the record that I sincerely hope that those videos did not, when they were taken, did not violate California's two party consent clause.

4:52:57I find it highly ironic that this city will have no problem defining sensitive use buffers on various, on tobacco, like cannabis, on things that the city collects tax.

4:53:16But has forestalled for years the full implementation of SB 1137, which historically for California created sensitive use buffers around schools, hospitals, health care facilities for oil drilling and gas operations.

4:53:39The city fought it for years. With specific regard to this proposal, I think the baseline is probably more than enough.

4:53:55I think the expanded regulatory framework is a bit too aggressive.

4:53:59I worry that the amateurization period is perhaps a little optimistic considering the kind of laggard economic fundamentals in not only the U.S. but the California economy.

4:54:19Not everyone is invested in the magnificent seven top stock companies. Most of these businesses, right or wrong, good or bad, are giving the people what they want and still struggling to make ends meet.

4:54:39And this city will be accused of, you know, in the name of checking the kids and cleaning things up, of driving folks out of business and say what you want about their business, but it's not as dirty as yours.

4:54:55Not as dirty as what the city's is. I mean, for all the harms that are done by tobacco smoking, they don't put people's homes at risk unless you, you know, accidentally light your house on fire.

4:55:11But they certainly don't intentionally and we know we should get off that narcotic, have the kind of severe harms to human and all other form of life that fossil fuels do, and that the city continues to traffic.

4:55:29I mean, what happened this weekend at the peninsula? Your time's concluded. Thank you.

4:55:34Our next speaker is Brian Lamb in Zoom. You've been unmuted. Your time gets down.

4:55:43Hello. Madam Mayor and Council. It's been, excuse me, it's been a long night for you so I'm going to try to keep this brief.

4:55:52My name is Brian Lamb with the California Fuels and Convenience Alliance representing independent gas stations and convenience store owners throughout the state, including in the city of Long Beach and I just wanted to speak real quick to share our perspective on the proposed

4:56:04policy options here.

4:56:06First and foremost, we share the council's intention to regulate safe and responsible tobacco sales, but only with a measured approach that considers and nuances between tobacco retailers as the cities that were cited by staff, even in Newport

4:56:23Beach, the restrictions only apply to standalone tobacco stores, which the city does define as tobacco retailer businesses.

4:56:31We are supportive of distinguishing between the different types of retailers but using a one size fits all approach that loops in retail convenience stores may also bring unintended harm to these local businesses.

4:56:43Retail fuel and convenience stores provide immediate access to everyday essentials, employ local residents and generate significant sales and tax revenue for the city.

4:56:52And you know we acknowledge that there are bad actors in the community but a blanket approach would create a system of winners and losers that punishes compliant retailers that already follow the law, and it is already illegal to sell tobacco or flavor tobacco

4:57:07in general but tobacco to minors and so it's not quite as much a policy issue, but this is an issue that does warrant a nuanced careful approach, and we respectfully urge the council to adopt the baseline policy changes and exempt

4:57:24infestation convenience store locations from the proposed distancing requirements and hours of operation requirements as well. And I just wanted to take this opportunity to flag that I did recently reach out to your office as well in hopes of meeting to discuss

4:57:39a potential solution that would further their pursuit of our shared goal of, you know, keeping the tobacco away from our youth, and I would truly appreciate the time to me, but thank you for your time tonight, and I hope to speak with you soon.

4:57:53That concludes public comment. All right, thank you. We're gonna go to the council councilmember Kerr. Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor and thank you to the staff for such a thorough presentation I know when we originally talked about this, your

4:58:08department was, was interested was highly interested in making sure that our current policy or any new policies, clean up the areas of the past as well as addressing the newer issues that we're finding, and to put some, some parody with what we're

4:58:24doing with cannabis. I brought this item back in April you've done extensive work we have, you know, I appreciate the interactive map I'm going to spend some time with that between now when you bring a policy back.

4:58:38But what we have found is that the distinguished smoke shops are popping up next to schools, because there are no buffers. So I appreciate the work that we've done. I'm curious on as we move forward in terms of policy.

4:58:54I'm curious on slide 65. When we're talking about baseline changes.

4:59:03Is it a both and or an either or if we were to look at baseline changes across the board now, or could we look at baseline changes in sensitive areas and elevated regulatory approaches for legal non conforming businesses, or is it is it one or the other is there a way

4:59:18forward, a baseline with giving us kind of showing us a way forward if we chose some more stringent options as the policy comes to us. Yeah, so it would be a both and situation we would go with the baseline changes and if you were to opt into the elevated regulatory

4:59:37approach you would also include that in there. Again, what these are, especially like for the not the sensitive use buffers for like say legal non conforming they run on different timelines anyway they're parallel to each other.

4:59:49So that could be again the both and just answer your question directly. Thank you

5:00:02I'm going to go through these one more time and I'll let my colleague, seconder of the motion, speak as well.

5:00:06Thank you, Councilmember Prashantuk.

5:00:09Thank you so much. That was an absolutely excellent presentation, the level of detail, the research with the other cities,

5:00:17the, you know, just the thoughtfulness at which this was presented. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that.

5:00:24I noted that when it comes to sensitive use buffers, I did specifically ask that we consider elder care facilities, nursing homes, and convalescent homes.

5:00:36And I noted that you found that that would be too expansive and not allow additional shops to potentially open.

5:00:45But I do appreciate you taking a look at that.

5:00:48And I'll just keep a, you know, keep an eye on that because there may be some areas where there may need to be some sensitivity around that.

5:00:55One of the other things is the operating conditions. You speak about applying this to whether we should apply it just to smoke shops and smoking lounges or should we include grocery stores and convenience stores.

5:01:11One of the things that I am noting in my community is that there are shops that say smoke shop but have a grocery license.

5:01:20And so that is something that I think, you know, I really, we may need to do some analysis on how much of their revenue comes from grocery versus smoke shop related activities.

5:01:35And because we haven't had this clarity, there are those who've been able to get that grocery license and sell only tobacco.

5:01:44Yeah, that's what the definitions come in. So that's exactly right.

5:01:47There is tends to be a lot of like mix and matching or today I'm a smoke shop or tomorrow I'm a grocery store.

5:01:52So, yeah, the definitions are going to be very important on that.

5:01:55And then I'm very excited about these operating conditions and the potential changes support all of them.

5:02:04The video surveillance, is that inside or outside the facility or both?

5:02:09It would be both. And as we have it for cannabis right now, these are pretty much would mirror what we have for cannabis.

5:02:15It does help with the enforcement as well.

5:02:18So our inspectors have the ability to go into these businesses in case there's an enforcement issue.

5:02:22They could ask for the video surveillance, like records of it.

5:02:26So, yeah, both inside and outside.

5:02:29Potential changes related to legal nonconforming businesses.

5:02:35I support the shorter time period of six months to have them come into compliance.

5:02:43That would be I just wanted to provide that feedback.

5:02:47And then in terms of the recommendations and policy direction, again,

5:02:52because of the grocery store designation for so for what I think will be a number of retailers in my community,

5:03:01I'm interested in the elevated regulatory approach beyond the baseline changes because they might say smoke shop,

5:03:09but truly have a different kind of operating permit.

5:03:13And I want to make sure that those are the entities that are included in this strategy.

5:03:19So that's both for the two pronged approach as well as the sensitive buffer.

5:03:29Those are my notes for now. Thank you. All right.

5:03:36Councilman Kerr, anything else? I know you deferred. Okay.

5:03:40Well, Councilman sorrows next. Yes. Thank you again.

5:03:43I agree with Councilwoman Thrashenchuck about your thorough presentation as well as the app that you provided for us to be able to see clearly where tobacco is accessible.

5:03:55Obviously smoking lounge, you know, I think this is long overdue.

5:04:01I think that with the presentation slide you had earlier with District one and six,

5:04:08having the most location with access to tobacco is is putting me in a place where I believe that we need to have a moratorium right now in order to make before.

5:04:21Or so that when we have this ordinance, then we can figure out how to proceed.

5:04:26Otherwise, I think it's going to continue to be oversaturated given the way that businesses are dictate designating what they are,

5:04:34but then making all of these tobacco accessible.

5:04:37I cannot I do not want a district where you can have access to tobacco and alcohol more than you do fresh food.

5:04:47It's just unacceptable to me. And I just think that this is also just a district that has been as we historically have heard about Central Long Beach under resource heavily inundated

5:05:03with a variety of substance that people from outside of the district come to get and take it back to their homes where they don't have them all around.

5:05:12So it makes it one of the other things that I think needs to be considered is not just elderly home and convalescent home or transitional housing for people who are who are on their road to recovery.

5:05:24Right. They're not designated necessarily as recovery homes specifically or behavioral health homes.

5:05:30But I really think we need to look at all of these mental health facilities that are also by these tobacco smoke shops,

5:05:37because I think that it becomes a trigger for other forms of substance as well.

5:05:43So I think that needs to be taken into consideration.

5:05:46I don't think that was probably on the map, but that makes a big deal in my district because when we're building more affordable housing homes,

5:05:53especially transitional homes, people who are trying to figure out how to recover.

5:05:57But when they're across the street from alcohol and other forms of substance, it makes it a little harder for them right when it's just across the street.

5:06:05The other issue that I want to make sure we address is I appreciate that while we may have facilities and permits that are selling tobacco,

5:06:17I do think that we need to look at the operating hour.

5:06:20I just recently had a business that is opening 24 hours to have access to a variety of tobacco and paraphernalia,

5:06:29which is, you know, again, I don't think you should have access 24 hours to tobacco when you don't have access 20 hours to fresh foods, right?

5:06:38I think as well as I mean, I'm happy to have a 24 hour laundry store because people work in odd hours and can do their laundry.

5:06:46That makes sense to me.

5:06:48But I really think we need to restrict in terms of the hours just because it also is connected to other forms,

5:06:54a string of use of other substance as well.

5:06:59You know, and it all goes back like I am very much in support of small business.

5:07:03It's really important that we support those who are doing the right thing.

5:07:07And that's why I want to go back to those who have been consistently violating and has built up fines.

5:07:13There needs to be some, you know, level of obviously as we're considering this ordinance, giving the businesses time.

5:07:21But they already should know all of these rules to begin with.

5:07:25And I'm just I'm at a place where I think that we need to take some really hard approach to this,

5:07:34especially obviously I understand there are some businesses don't solely rely on tobacco as a source of business.

5:07:41But I think that it needs to really be reviewed around just the impact it has when you have access to it every block possible in Central Long Beach practically.

5:07:51So I appreciate this coming back so that we can look at all of these ways that we can address the buffer zone as well.

5:08:03Yes, definitely, obviously, and very important with young people and youth.

5:08:07But I also want to make sure we're consider people who are on road to various levels of recovery in their life.

5:08:14And sometimes tobacco brings is a trigger to back to other forms of substance.

5:08:20Such as alcohol that they've been trying to recover from.

5:08:23So I, I think that as far as looking at level of levels of the I think the amortization right process, I really want to consider us looking at that.

5:08:36I know it costs more money and more time, but we already lost so much by not being able to be a little stricter in this process around lives impacted because of this.

5:08:46One last thing I want to ask about, I know I'm at time, is where does the fine go?

5:08:50I want to make sure the fine of those who are violating rules and laws, where does that fine go?

5:08:56It needs to go back to the people who are impacted by this, who lives around various activities and remediation funds that needs that needs to fill for something.

5:09:06So that's what I need clarification on.

5:09:08Aye. Council member, I'm Judith Leung, environmental health bureau manager.

5:09:22Our tobacco retail enforcement program was established in 2008.

5:09:26We do have an annual inspection program.

5:09:29We issue citations for those that are not, have not been in compliance.

5:09:34And so that money, the permit fees, the fines, they all go to the program to pay for inspections.

5:09:44The videos, the photos that you see are part of our inspection program where we do joint enforcement actions with business licensing and city prosecutor's office.

5:09:54We also partner with our tobacco education program prevention, where some of those money go out to do outreach and education.

5:10:03We have a Department of Justice grant that we received from the DOJ where we're doing some diversion programs for retailers that are illegally selling to minors.

5:10:15In addition, the Department of Financial Management Business Services Bureau would also be issuing citations and the revenue associated with that would be going back to the general fund as an offset to the expense of the staff that,

5:10:29and the cost of the actually doing the enforcement from the commercial code enforcement team.

5:10:39Yeah. All right. Thank you. Council members in the house. Thank you. That was a fantastic presentation.

5:10:46Thank you for all the hard work that went into that.

5:10:50I also want to say that I agree with my colleagues, especially around the hours that hours should be limited.

5:11:00But one of the things that I would also recommend that we look at, especially being representing a district where it's mostly dense with with small businesses like this is maybe considering capacity or maximum number in a radius of where these businesses are.

5:11:23I think that that would be very helpful, especially because as we see, there's so many clustered together.

5:11:32So that may be something that we I would like us to consider. Thank you. All right. Councilmember Kerr. Yes. Thank you.

5:11:45And I appreciate that everyone's here who would have some kind of part in this, which shows the interdisciplinary interdepartmental approach that you all are taking on on 50 sun slide 56.

5:11:56You're talking about enforcement. Should an enforcement action reach the point of a permit revocation, staff proposes to prohibit the business owner and all related parties from reapplying.

5:12:06And also consider that the property owner may also be prohibited from having another tobacco retail permittee at that location if and that's the stricter approach.

5:12:15I think that is the right move here. I think one of the concerns we have across our neighborhoods are landlords and property owners who do not live locally and do not always consider the impact.

5:12:27So if one out of compliance business goes out, they're ready to bring someone else in that has the same business.

5:12:35So I would appreciate if we could add that into the recommendations, please. I think that's it. Thank you. All right.

5:12:44Well, I want to thank. So Councilwoman, did you bring this forward a few months? I seem I seem to remember that.

5:12:49I want to thank you for bringing this discussion forward. It's not lost on me that this is important work.

5:12:56There's this issue, the issue that Councilwoman Thrashen took brought up earlier with the Knox.

5:13:04These are important issues that the city council should spend, frankly, more time on. And it's it's 10 oh eight.

5:13:12It's it's late. But this is the work of the city council. And I just want to encourage the council members continue to do the work that makes our community better.

5:13:20Don't let it get drowned out and pushed later. These are important topics.

5:13:26So continue to bring them forward. And I'm glad that we went through this presentation because this is the work of the city.

5:13:31It's incredibly important work. That said, let's let's move on. Members, please cast your vote.

5:13:36Councilman Thrashen bring technical difficulties with our display. But the motion did carry. We're going to reset the screen.

5:14:14OK, great. All right. While the receipt reset in the screen, let's call item twenty one.

5:14:20Item twenty one report from community development recommendation to adopt resolution approving the permanent local housing allocation. Twenty twenty four to twenty twenty eight formula allocation.

5:14:38Five year plan and to execute the application standard agreement and any documents and subsequent amendments or modifications.

5:14:47There too for the California Department of Housing and Community Development to accept and expend permanent local housing allocation program grant funds in an amount not to exceed twelve million eight hundred forty thousand twenty five citywide.

5:15:00All right. Thank you. So this is important. Again, it's another important item that we're getting to it at 10 o'clock at night.

5:15:09I know the screen's not working. So do we want to go through a verbal oral report or do we want to wait a moment for.

5:15:16Oh, there's the screen. OK, let's proceed with our staff presentation. OK, I'll turn it to our community development team.

5:15:21Good evening, mayor and council. We're excited to accept more than twelve million dollars in affordable housing money from the state of California.

5:15:29And Stephanie Harper is going to walk you through it. Hello. The purpose of this item is to bring forward a spending plan for funds that the city receives from the state's permanent local housing allocation or PLHA program.

5:15:48PLHA is a fee on real estate documents when they are recorded with the county.

5:15:53The state collects that revenue and then passes it on to cities and counties.

5:15:57We in turn have to use it to help address our unmet housing needs.

5:16:00This summer, the state released a notice of funding availability for the second five year cycle of funding.

5:16:10They released funds to us over a five year tranche for this second cycle.

5:16:16We are expected to get about twelve point eight million.

5:16:19The state requires that before we can apply for the funds, our city council must adopt a spending plan showing how we're going to use that funding source.

5:16:27And last month, the Long Beach Community Investment Company conducted a public hearing on the proposed plan and recommended that city council adopt the plan and then authorize its submission to the state.

5:16:37We received sixteen point nine million in PLHA funds for the first five year cycle. The LBCIC awarded those funds to four affordable rental housing developments that will deliver a combined total of three hundred and seventy one units.

5:16:56The slide shows photos of two of those projects. Both of these are dedicated units for older adults.

5:17:02We have eighty two units on Alameda's and Fourth Street and then sixty three units for the armory. That's these are both projects that are currently under construction.

5:17:15As I mentioned, for the second five year cycle, we're expected to receive twelve point eight million. That amount could change.

5:17:21It's a maximum amount. And that just depends on the revenue that's actually collected from the the fee on the real estate documents.

5:17:27The funding for the first two years of the cycle has been confirmed.

5:17:30So for year one, we'll receive about two million and for the second year, we'll receive two point two million the first two years of the five.

5:17:37So to receive these funds, we must adopt a five year plan.

5:17:40This plan needs to show how the funds will be used to address unmet housing needs, how the investments will prioritize households that are at or below sixty percent of the area median income, and then how our spending plan aligns with our housing.

5:17:53So the proposed plan is to dedicate ninety five percent of the funds to the development of new affordable rental housing.

5:18:02P.L.H.A allows for households up to one hundred and fifty percent AMI.

5:18:06The remaining five percent of funds would be used for eligible administration costs.

5:18:10These funds would be provided to affordable housing developers as loans.

5:18:14And we offer them through a competitive notice of funding availability or NOFA process.

5:18:19And we'd issue NOFA's that seek projects that include units for households earning up to sixty percent of the area median income.

5:18:25I do want to note that P.L.H.A guidelines allow for the funds to serve households that earn up to one hundred and fifty percent of the area median income.

5:18:34However, we do not expect to be able to actually fund projects that serve households at that level.

5:18:39And that's because in order to make an affordable housing project work, developers have to layer different funding sources together.

5:18:47Most of those funding sources either require or prioritize much deeper levels of affordability.

5:18:53And so in reality, we don't expect to see projects that have units serving households above eighty percent of the area median income or the lower income limit.

5:19:01We don't expect those to be financially feasible.

5:19:03This plan, we are proposing it because it aligns with our housing element and specifically the need to develop more affordable housing units.

5:19:12Program one point six in our housing meant requires the city to provide loans to affordable housing developers.

5:19:18The state requires that we have a public comment period on this spending plan.

5:19:25This plan was posted on our website and we provide notice to residents and stakeholders about the opportunity to review and provide comment.

5:19:32Again, we held a public hearing last month.

5:19:34We posted it in two newspapers and sent out email notifications, but we did not receive any public comments on the plan.

5:19:42So our recommendation is to adopt a resolution approving the spending plan for the next five years.

5:19:48I'm happy to answer any questions if you have any.

5:19:52All right. Thank you. I think the maker of the motion comes from the question to thank you, Mayor.

5:19:59Thank you for this presentation and pleased to see these resources coming in to support affordable housing development.

5:20:05I recognize the level of layering that affordable housing developers have to do with the financial infrastructure that is needed to develop such projects.

5:20:14Given that we have now the introduction of La Casa as a source, might there be a chance to get closer to the 150 percent of AMI from time to time with projects that they might be funding as well?

5:20:29So council member, I know you've had interest and other members of the council have had interest in what's referred to as moderate income housing.

5:20:38The team here has not given up on moderate income housing.

5:20:41We just don't think this funding source, PLHA, because of the way this state structures it, is the right tool.

5:20:48But we do have other tools in the toolbox.

5:20:50So it could be a project that receives money only from La Casa and is not a tax credit project.

5:20:56It could be a future round of Cal Home.

5:21:00It could be other funding sources and it's also use of density bonus and some non-financial tools.

5:21:07So we haven't given up on moderate income.

5:21:09We're just telling you for these 12 million dollars, we don't think because of the way the state wrote the rules, this is the set of money to do that with.

5:21:18Thank you so much and thank you for outlining that quickly here to give some sense as to how we can get there with moderate income as well.

5:21:25All right, thank you.

5:21:26All right, council member Carr.

5:21:31Great news. Thank you.

5:21:33Thank you. We'll now go to public comment.

5:21:41There's one speaker on this item, Dave Shugla.

5:21:43Thank you for the staff presentation. Congratulations on the award to support this item.

5:21:54And I sincerely hope that the two projects listed that are for very low income will be models and this process of getting funds for affordable housing, but then having a creep up closer and closer to market rate won't continue.

5:22:12Thank you.

5:22:15All right. Thank you.

5:22:16Members, please cast your vote.

5:22:17Motion is carried.

5:22:30Thank you.

5:22:31Twenty two.

5:22:32Thank you.

5:22:37Thank you.

5:22:38That concludes public comment on the item.

5:22:40All right.

5:22:41Thank you.

5:22:42Members, please cast your vote.

5:22:43Motion is carried.

5:22:44Thank you.

5:22:45Twenty three, please.

5:22:46Report from health and human services recommendation to adopt resolution to execute a contract in any necessary documents with clean harbors environmental services for providing annual aggregate contract amount not to exceed three million six hundred thousand citywide.

5:22:51Thank you.

5:22:53Public comment, please.

5:22:59There's one speaker on this item, Dave Shugla.

5:23:08Thank you.

5:23:09That concludes public comment on the item.

5:23:18All right.

5:23:21Thank you.

5:23:22Members, please cast your vote.

5:23:23Motion is carried.

5:23:31Thank you.

5:23:33Twenty three, please.

5:23:34Report from health and human services recommendation to execute an agreement and all necessary documents with the county of Los Angeles to accept and expend funding in an annual amount not to exceed four million three hundred ninety two thousand twenty dollars for interim housing grant supporting two zero seven West Anaheim year round shelter Atlantic Bridge community year round shelter winter shelter program and the inclement weather shelter emergency response program.

5:23:59All right. Great. So we certainly want to recognize this important funding from the county to help run and operate our shelters.

5:24:09We've expanded shelter capacity 80 some eighty four eighty six percent in the last few years.

5:24:14But that has to be paid for the operations and we can't do it alone.

5:24:19It does require participation from the county.

5:24:21So we we do recognize this grant.

5:24:23Is there a brief presentation here?

5:24:25If you'd like when we have a brief presentation ready.

5:24:29Great.

5:24:32Good evening, Mayor and City Council.

5:24:34Tonight's presentation is to provide an update on shifts within the homelessness funding and oversight at the county level and to get needed authorization to shift contracting that in the past was through the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, otherwise known as Lhasa to the county department of homeless services and housing.

5:24:54In twenty twenty five, the city submitted proposals to Lhasa through their request for proposals for interim housing programs and was awarded funding for four different projects, including the shelter operations at seven or two West Anaheim.

5:25:09A portion of beds at the Atlantic Bridge community, the winter shelter program and our inclement our inclement weather shelter response.

5:25:20These programs have a total annual budget of four million nine hundred and thirty two thousand dollars and twenty cents or twenty dollars.

5:25:30We're going to shift forward to slide six as we feel that it's important to give context as to what has led to the recommendations that we bring forward to you this evening.

5:25:47This transition from Lhasa to the county is coming after action from the county board of supervisors on April twenty twenty five to work towards this investing from Lhasa and creating a new county department in December of twenty twenty five.

5:26:01The county board of supervisors voted to establish a new county department of homeless services and housing to take over all county homeless response funding effective January 1st twenty twenty sixteen or twenty twenty six with a transition process that took through June 30th of this year.

5:26:22Within the same time, the city made a determination of ending its contractual partnerships with first to serve due to concerns and transitioned its contractual operations for the four shelters that first to serve was operating to pass with the transition from Lhasa to the county department of homeless services and housing.

5:26:49We have been informed of changes in their contracts, including that they will not allow subcontracts for measure a funds outside of the local solutions fund allocation.

5:27:00That means they required directly contracting with a non-profit provider for services at seven oh two and Atlantic Bridge community. They will also assume full contract responsibility and oversight for seven oh two and will maintain split responsibilities at ABC doing a direct contract for the best that they are funding.

5:27:25HSH has agreed for a transition process to allow the city to amend contracts and ensure processes in place to successfully make these transitions as well as giving us time to go through a competitive procurement based on that temporary contract to bring in path to ensure that we are not disrupting our shelters when we move those contracts.

5:27:51So that brings us to our recommendations before you this evening. The first being to execute agreements with the county to accept and expend funding in an annual amount not to exceed four million three hundred ninety two dollars or ninety two thousand and twenty dollars for the period of July 1st,

5:28:13twenty twenty six through June 30th of twenty twenty seven for the year round shelter at seven oh two and ABC the winter shelter program and IWS inclement weather shelter with an option to renew for one additional year period to execute.

5:28:32And secondly to execute agreements with the county for the use of facilities for the period of July 1st twenty twenty six through June 30th twenty twenty seven for year round shelters at seven oh two West Anaheim and ABC the winter shelter program and an option to renew for one additional year period.

5:28:55Third to authorize the county authority to competitive competitively compare here manage and administer funding for the year round shelter program located at seven oh two West Anaheim and eighteen twenty seven West Spring Street for the period of July 1st

5:29:16twenty twenty six through June 30th of twenty twenty seven for year round shelter at seven oh two and ABC with an option to renew for one additional one year period.

5:29:30And this will be done with input and consensus with city staff and fourth to execute a joint agreement with path and the county for year round shelter program for the period of July 1st twenty twenty second twenty twenty six through March 15th

5:29:48twenty twenty seven with an option to renew for one additional three month period and lastly to execute an agreement with path for use of the facilities located at seven oh two West Anaheim and eighteen twenty seven West Spring Street for the period of March

5:30:0516th twenty twenty six through March 15th twenty twenty seven with an option to renew for one additional three month period due to no longer having a contract directly with path that had a agreement for use of those locations.

5:30:22So we will now need another agreement mechanism to give them access to those sites and that concludes our report and recommendations and we are available to answer any questions. All right.

5:30:37Thank you. I think we handle public comment. Do we do public comment. Not for this item. There are two speakers Dave Shukla and feet make your way to the lectern.

5:30:45Thank you for the staff presentation. Obviously I support this item. I appreciate that with the county changes there is the option especially for seven to two and ABC to renew for one year.

5:31:03I would like to state for the record given one of my last chances to do so that I'm particularly concerned about the viability of our homeless shelters not this year but in the following year.

5:31:19We know we know it is predictable. It is near determinant that when the Olympics comes the homeless population is going to be shoved out of sight and we know from reams and reams of data that have been presented many times in this chamber that every time L.A. makes a push with its homeless population they end up straight down the blue line coming here.

5:31:47I appreciate all these efforts. I think this is a vital part of what the city council can and should be doing. And I'm part of the reason why I come to these meetings.

5:32:00Thank you. All right. Thank you. Next speaker please. You're in charge of 50 square miles of land 20 26 reports 25 hundred and eighty eight unsheltered homeless in the city in which I find this number understated.

5:32:22I want to remind you that every person on the streets is a citizen that you have failed every person on house poses a risk of being criminalized assaulted or sick every ordinance you write criminalizes and pushes families closer to poverty and ultimately homelessness.

5:32:39I've seen police move local unsheltered peoples items tents blankets clothes sweeping away their IDs items of anything of value even vendors struggling to make ends meet get their items swept away which forces them to fall deeper into poverty.

5:32:55Many have limited access to bathrooms showers and clean water. Now you want to find people that live in trailers 1.5 million college students are homeless in America.

5:33:08I believe you refer to the homeless as a blight on our city. Absolutely disgusting. You built an eight hundred thousand dollar wall around the library. Mind you that is the only place they could offer Internet access bathrooms and education resources.

5:33:27Why. Where do you think they're supposed to go. After listening to your eye opening presentation about housing development last week. I don't know that anyone will be able to afford an apartment in the next decade.

5:33:39Most of us are one incident away from being homeless. Most importantly I want this money to actually be used towards increasing their quality of life. Right now we have a permanent we have actually taken care of some of the mutual aid permanent housing needed for an 82 year old man who was taken by ice after he'd been detained in prison for several years for decades.

5:34:05He is just one week away and he faces homelessness. He's in a wheelchair after being released this elderly handicapped man was left with no money no family nearby and no resources and nowhere to go.

5:34:18Thanks to the compassion and tireless efforts of the volunteers. He has had temporary roof over his head in Orange County but despite our efforts he's about to become homeless.

5:34:29We have hustled to raise funds we've had bake sales we have done all we can to help these people and I especially in the hottest parts of the day that I've noticed I've seen people just passed out on the street.

5:34:46And that is your failure. And I wish that you guys would take this more seriously because yes the Olympics are coming and I don't want to know where you guys are going to hide them or if you're just going to lock them up into some prison camp.

5:35:00OK so please do better Long Beach. Thank you. All right. Thank you. All right. Well this is again this is great and we need to do more.

5:35:15We need to build more shelter figure out ways to finance more shelter very difficult to carry a situation the counties in but we should stay at the table continue to be engaged continue to engage regionally in La Casa and thank you Councilwoman for stepping up on a number of the committees there.

5:35:31So but this is good progress. Members please cast your vote. Motion is carried. All right. I think we're on 24 now. I'm sorry. Councilmember you're on. Thank you.

5:35:54OK I think we're on 24. Yes. Report from Long Beach Airport. Recommendation to adopt specifications and award contract to KDG construction consulting for providing construction management services for the taxiway F realignment and reconstruction project at the Long Beach Airport in a total contract amount not to exceed.

5:36:12Three million two hundred ninety four thousand five hundred twenty nine and execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract district five. Thank you.

5:36:21Public comment please. Dave Shukla big construction contract very little scrutiny late at night consistent pattern of the city council very rarely do we get to see you know the process by which contracts like these could be right sized made less onerous money could be saved.

5:37:01Money could be saved. There is a pretty famous article by Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee in Cal matters about how California is becoming a two tier economy one for folks of a certain class and one for everyone else breaks along pretty predictable race and educational lines.

5:37:31And it's funny you know it's funny seeing contracts being awarded to groups that you know don't have to really deliver they can always run over budget they can always ask for more.

5:37:49But when it comes to really small items the city council can can overanalyze to death. You know we get very penny wise. Thank you. All right. Thank you. All right members please cast your vote. Motion is carried.

5:38:16All right. On to new business item twenty six communication from Councilwoman Sorrow recommendation to increase appropriations by one thousand seven hundred fifty to provide contributions of two hundred fifty to Central Shaw five hundred a rotary international five hundred to peer education and five hundred to the children's clinic.

5:38:37All right. Thank you council members sorrows any public comment. There's no public comment on this item. All right members please cast your vote. Motion is carried. Thank you. Let's go to our closing public comment please.

5:38:55There are nine speakers signed up for second public comment. If you can please line up with the lectern when you hear your name called Skylar D. Carolyn Essex fee free Palestine Nick Liz Maria Azura and Ellie and Dave Shugla.

5:39:19Please come forward. You're first. So it's been a long night and I'm going to call the script. I don't know what y'all were expecting after you voted the way you did on public comment.

5:39:37The definition of insanity the quote goes like if you do the same thing and get the same response but you do it anyway. That's insanity. That's what happened early. People are pissed.

5:39:49Why do we do this. Like why do we come here. And it's not because we have a leisure limited leisure time or infinite flexible schedules like you said last week we do because we care about what's going on in the city what's going on in the world.

5:40:08And we're facing existential threats all over the place. Climate change artificial intelligence. Federal government actively hates us. Trump literally said a week ago that a small price pay for and take out Los Angeles or San Diego.

5:40:21That's us. Ice is escalated operations in California. Governments planning to conduct live streams live streamed executions. So things are really bad. And so that's why we get pissed when you restrict public comment kill local business.

5:40:39Make us paid for speed cameras that you're going to use a squeeze even more money. I started coming to City Council meetings not too long ago. It was because of Andrew.

5:40:51Like Palmer Lucky was just announced to be one third of Project Meridian which is a Department of War initiative to study the future of war. So the guy who is building the bombs is now going to be part of the government.

5:41:07And you're going to you're going to let him do it here in Long Beach. So yeah it's just like it feels like you keep punching down at us when instead like you could be helping us and just yeah do better.

5:41:27I don't know. Thank you. Next speaker is Carolyn Essex if you can please unmute yourself Carolyn Carolyn if you can please unmute yourself.

5:41:45Got it. Good evening everyone. Thank you for exercising your first amendment right and advocating Mayor Richardson and members of the City Council. First I want to thank the Palestinian community for the support and kindness they have shown me.

5:42:03I want you to know that I hear you and I understand the depth of your agreement. As a descendant of American freedmen my people have experienced centuries of enslavement racial terror the humanization and systemic oppression.

5:42:18The history of slavery and its aftermath in United States includes profound atrocities and generations of denied human and civil rights things that we are still suffering from and that are continuing today. Our histories are distinct but I recognize the suffering that comes

5:42:37when human beings are denied their dignity freedom and right to exist and peace. And yet here I am trying to be part of a solution participating in democracy and exercising my first amendment rights.

5:42:53Now let's talk about those rights. The freedom of speech and the right to petition our government for redress and grievances. Human rights are not selective civil rights are not conditional and constitutional freedoms belong to all of us.

5:43:14I believe that when government provides clear information meaningful opportunities for civic engagement and genuine consideration of residents genuine consideration genuine consideration of residents concerns.

5:43:29People are less likely to feel that protesting is their only way to be heard. These residents have come before you immediately expressing their grievances and asking for meaningful responses from what I've witnessed many feel dismissed unheard and let down by the very people elected to represent them.

5:43:53You may not agree with their positions but you still have a responsibility. All of us have a responsibility here tonight to be heard and to respect constitutional rights and respond to their concerns meaningful civic engagement should build trust and not leave residents feeling.

5:44:16You must fight for your attention and redress and I'll just say this. It saddens me that we have to protest for our rights. It saddens me that people have so much anger and let and being let down by by the government that they feel like they have to protest.

5:44:45I'm just wondering if we can all consciously think about how we can make this a better place. Thank you for your comments. Next speaker is fee and then free Palestine and Nick surveillance and awards world surrounded by ice agents and companies like Palantir harvesting our data along with rogue

5:45:09players. By hackers infiltrating various entities. These speed cameras are a bad idea especially now. I think this is a cash grab that is going to push your working class community closer to poverty. I'm also not to enthuse that it's yet another surveillance tool in the city's armory. We don't have clarity get to who has access and what it's exactly being recorded.

5:45:35This was about safety. You would have more police presence on the streets. A camera is not going to solve this. It's a band aid. We have three hundred and eighty three million dollars allocated for the police budget which has more than doubled in the last 20 years.

5:45:52Don't think we don't notice that your use of drones and helicopters more above our streets. The use of canine units to April apprehend people from local apartments. All these toys include the state of the art crime lab in which you are allocating another 300 K to analyze bullets.

5:46:10These are toys. We need police on the ground actually engaging with the community to protect and to serve everybody a person that is actually willing to lead the helping hand during a person's struggle versus being a badge of authority and appease the leads whims.

5:46:29By the way, way ice has been taking a lot of children the last few weeks. Several from elementary schools. They've been parked outside. I find it so hard to keep coming up here because I was not political at all before this.

5:46:47And I've been radicalized and the more that I hear you guys just not listen to us, the more that I'm going to just keep showing up to all the meetings to everything protesting whatever and discussing public comments wasting your time until you guys actually listen to us.

5:47:10We also do need to vote you guys out because clearly this is not working. We have tried so hard to have meetings with you. We've had, you know, conversations. We've had all of these moments that you guys could have done that dare to be great deal.

5:47:31The thing is, is I don't think you have our interests at heart. I'm wondering if there is an entity that we don't know about that is actually pulling the strings here. So please, Long Beach, do better. Thanks.

5:47:47The next speaker is free Palestine. And then Nick, Liz, Maria, Ellie, and Dave Shukla. If you heard your name, please line up at the lectern.

5:48:10Strengthen the Long Beach Values Act include a complete divestment from all surveillance cameras including LPR speed cameras.

5:48:24Strengthen Long Beach is public transit so that we're not dealing with fatalities from speeding cars. The people may take public transit in a way that makes sense for them.

5:48:39Strengthen to roll out of Long Beach. I appreciate that the city has taken steps to end its investments with companies who violate human rights, both here and around the globe.

5:48:56The city needs to do better and also end contracts with all companies that do business with Israel or with ICE. Get ICE out of Long Beach.

5:49:06Next speaker is Nick in Zoom. If you can please unmute yourself, Nick. As a firm success kid who did all the meeting for the first day of school, I am disappointed in what is available to the public in preparation for these council meetings.

5:49:29At my work, if I schedule a meeting, and I did not provide supporting documents and the history of any action item, I would have a conversation with my boss.

5:49:38This is because where I work, people value the process and the people who take part in it, and are committed to delivering the best results to our team and making sure that our time is productive and well used.

5:49:50For example, last week, pedal movement had an RFP proposal that was presented to the city council meeting. It gave the parties that might oppose it little opportunity to understand the details, and to provide a strong argument as a nonprofit that has served this community for over 10 years deserved.

5:50:06Just today, we had a presentation about unattached trailers and mobile billboards, but the presentation only examples was of two mobile homes of people who are down on their luck.

5:50:16Months ago, we approved a pool by the beach, and in the past weeks we have seen waves threaten to wipe away the peninsula and more.

5:50:24Where can I find the study that provides the production of climate change and the risk of structural damage over the lifetime of that absence?

5:50:31What is the projected tax revenue we are expected to see by the changes in Shoreline Village? How was it derived? What assumptions were made, and how much can we miss that target and still stay in the black of the ROI for that zone?

5:50:47Leaving these items out of our citizenry, it leaves us in a poor state to truly engage with the businesses of this city.

5:50:55It makes these meetings less attended, it takes longer, causes speeches to not be as succinct, and bring the unique intellects and insights of our amazing citizens to bear.

5:51:06We do not know what measure may affect or atrophy the muscles of our democracy that makes Long Beach so strong, or that we are inviting creepy tech bros with AI flock and space beach who will kill the vibe of our city.

5:51:23Here today, a key point of leadership is the effort and necessity to build contestants of those who you represent. By being open, educating and communicating your vision and encouraging dialogue, when you skip this and hide the agenda items like today in item number 25,

5:51:42the strength and trust that has made our city strong is eroded. A representative is only as strong as the faith and trust they placed in their voters.

5:51:51Decades ago, one could say this was too much of an administrative burden to have these meeting minutes available. Yet here today, the internet is a technology of the past.

5:52:01Things are only more complicated, and the times are only more severe. And you either need to meet this moments, or step aside for those who will be able to provide the information engagement we need to succeed. Thank you.

5:52:14Thank you for your comments. Next speaker is Liz. Please unmute yourself. Liz. Hello. Yes, we can hear you.

5:52:30Rex you keep saying these cameras are all about safety, but it's becoming clear the system isn't tailored for our community safety is tailored for city revenue and surveillance regard.

5:52:40Regardless, these cameras have been and can be used in ways that they shouldn't be. If you look back to December 21 2020 when LA times exposed Long Beach Police Department for sharing automatic license plate reader surveillance data directly with ice.

5:52:56Long Beach response, it was an error. Instead of waiting for accidents to happen who we should be putting prevention measures in place right now.

5:53:05You don't wait for a crisis to occur before taking action mailing a speeding ticket weeks after the fact doesn't stop a speeding car from hitting someone in real time.

5:53:14If someone is hurt or killed collecting fine money just put cash in the city account while families are still left broken. If you want real safety, build physical traffic infrastructure speed bumps race crosswalk in all the areas where you're putting these cameras.

5:53:30Many of you canvas this community for our votes and you promise to represent each district, but coming here, which I was there earlier but here I am now on zoom. Feels like the decisions are being already set before we even have a chance to speak.

5:53:45I grew up in Long Beach my entire life, and it's sad to see that these outside models are coming into our own city, seeing how things operate here has sparked a lot in me and others to go and dive deeper and to learn more and to show up here for these meetings.

5:54:02I hope moving forward that you guys can find a way to work together in our community, not against it, stop outsourcing our future, invest in physical safety protect our privacy, give Long Beach residents the resources we actually need to grow from within.

5:54:17Mayor Rex, you call this vibe city, but honestly the vibe is failing, because local neighborhoods are being neglected. I urge you guys all to do better. Thank you.

5:54:28Next speaker, Dave Shukla. There are a lot of things I wish I have the opportunity to speak on, but this may be the last public comment of the second public comment period for God knows how long.

5:55:07As an Indian American, I feel incredibly important and as someone who's part of the oldest organized fascism in human history to at least mention that what's happening in India, 130 million people struck off the voting rules.

5:55:24It's not only unconscionable, it's something that bears mentioning in our context, because how far are we from that?

5:55:33There's lots of things I wish I could say just about the state of politics in the state and this country that I feel would be important to note on the record, as I have previously, but we saw what happened earlier tonight here to the city.

5:55:59I wrote a letter, I don't know how many council members or mayor or staff who read it, but it really seems like the baby was thrown out with the bathwater, that it's a form of collective punishment and my mode of engagement specifically was targeted.

5:56:18This may be one of my last opportunities to respond to things that just happened in the meeting, and I think it's clear from my behavior that I don't agree with the way a lot of folks engage.

5:56:30It's not really my steeze, my cup of tea, but there was one statement mentioned that the city manager is the imp, I don't know if I forget what the language was used, but it was basically like the lap dog mayor.

5:56:47And I disagree with that. In fact, I think it's the other way around. Inasmuch as this is a joint council and city manager system, I think, Tom, I have to add to you, I think you've crude more power to yourself,

5:57:04and you run more of the city than the mayor does. I don't think what was said earlier was accurate at all.

5:57:12Now, I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if in the next week or two we'll even have midterm elections.

5:57:23I don't know if all of my quaint hopes for rationality to win out will matter. I don't know if there'll be a Reichstag event, but what happened here today really, really makes me wonder where the city's going.

5:57:44That concludes public comment. All right, now we'll go to closing announcements and adjournment. I'm going to go first. I want to take a moment to adjourn tonight's meeting in honor of John Dietz.

5:58:02John's dad Paul Dietz served two terms on the Long Beach City Council. Paul Dietz represented the third council district was part of a city group that brought the Queen Mary to its new home in Long Beach.

5:58:14John was born in Long Beach since he spent his youth in Naples. He moved to Los Cerritos with his wife Janet and lived there most of his adult life.

5:58:23After years of caring for Janet, as she fought cancer, she passed in 2009. His community involvement and support grew even more.

5:58:31He served on the Long Beach Police Commission until it was dissolved in 2010.

5:58:35He was also an avid, active supporter of the POA and the Canine program. He was appointed by Vice Mayor Jeff Kellogg to the newly formed Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association as a community liaison.

5:58:50He led the municipal bands past the bucket fundraising efforts at Los Cerritos Park every summer.

5:58:55Our thoughts are with John's family and all who knew and loved John during this difficult time. Thank you.

5:59:00We will now go to Councilmember Sorrow.

5:59:04Yes, I'd like to share that there's two events this Saturday.

5:59:08I would like to invite you to climb Central Long Beach Harvest Festival Saturday, October 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at MacArthur Park.

5:59:19And there's going to be an Art Community Art on the Block event hosted by United Cambodian Community.

5:59:28It's Saturday as well, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 1858 Atlantic Avenue. Hope to see you at one of those events. Thank you.

5:59:36Thank you, Councilmember Sorrow. Councilmember Kerr.

5:59:43Yes, thank you. This season there's a number of ways to connect with community in the 5th District.

5:59:49Beginning tomorrow, October 14th, Rancho Los Cerritos will begin displaying a community offrenda in the front of their visitor center.

5:59:55The offrenda will honor people connected to Rancho Los Cerritos and will provide visitors.

6:00:00This is a meeting of visitors and the community with the opportunity to learn more about the traditions and symbols of Dia de los Muertos.

6:00:07Rancho Los Cerritos is open Wednesday through Fridays and Sundays from 1-5 and Saturdays from 10-5 with free entry.

6:00:12I encourage you to stop by and check out the Ofrenda tomorrow through November 8th and check out the other exhibits and grounds.

6:00:18This Saturday, October 17th, you're invited to visit Willow Springs Park for the next Willow Springs Experience Music in the Park.

6:00:25It will be a double feature event where attendees can enjoy two different performing acts at 2pm and 3.20pm while enjoying the unique natural space.

6:00:34Also on the 17th, the hangar at LBX will have some family friendly Halloween events.

6:00:39There will be a bluey themed Halloween market from 12-5, a movie night from 6.30 to 9.30 with the outdoor showing of Hocus Pocus beginning at 7.45.

6:00:50Seasonal activities continue throughout the weekend and all are invited to visit Campfire Long Beach for the final weekend of their pumpkin patch.

6:00:56From 12-6pm, both Saturday and Sunday, entry is free and the event features a variety of family friendly activities.

6:01:03Lastly, in celebration of Halloween and October as Arts Month, I encourage you all to support local performing artists of Long Beach Shakespeare Company as they perform Frankenstein in their unique live radio show style format.

6:01:14Show times and tickets for this Friday, October 16th through Sunday, October 18th can be found at LBShakespeare.org. Have a great week.

6:01:24Thank you Councilmember Thrashen Took.

6:01:26Thank you. I do want to take a moment to acknowledge again Filipino American History Month.

6:01:31Filipino Americans have been a part of our history for more than 400 years and their contribution to our country and right here in Long Beach are woven into our health care, our schools, our small businesses and our neighborhoods.

6:01:43When we tell the full story of who has built our communities, everyone sees themselves in our history. Let's learn about it, celebrate it and honor it.

6:01:52October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thank you again to Dr. Schadarno for tonight's presentation. Early detection saves lives and screenings. Knowing your family history and having honest conversations with your doctor can make all the difference.

6:02:06It was great seeing so many neighbors come out last night for my district's annual Aquarium night. Events like this bring families together, give kids a chance to learn and explore.

6:02:17Thank you to everyone who joined us and who helped make the night possible.

6:02:21On Saturday, October 24th, please join us along with the North Village Neighborhood Association for a Halloween trunk retreat event.

6:02:30This will take place again on the 24th from 5 to 7 p.m. at 5730 Linden, also known as the South and Linden parking lot. Thank you so much. Good night.

6:02:41All right. And as we close, I want to acknowledge our residents in the peninsula who've had a very difficult week. And I want to empathize with those who are impacted by the tropical storm.

6:02:54I also want to thank the volunteers, the first responders, the lifeguards, the firefighters, the Marine Safety Bureau, the police officers, the inspectors, everyone who's had a pretty long past week working in an emergency mode to protect those areas while making sure that the rest of the city also had the resources that it needs while also continuing the work of managing our city.

6:03:20So we certainly acknowledge that. And thank you all. I also want to recognize, acknowledge the council members who stayed to the end of the meeting, including Councilmember Duggan.

6:03:29She was here the whole time. Councilmembers in Dayhouse, thank you, Councilmember Duggan, Councilmember Kerr, Councilmember Sorrow, Vice Mayor Yeronga, and Councilmember Thresh-Intook, these meetings are long.

6:03:42But the reality is most of the big work took place after nine o'clock. And so it really demonstrates a commitment. Unfortunately, nobody's watching. No one's screaming right now, but you just did incredible work for our city.

6:03:55And I think that should be acknowledged a little bit more publicly. I'll do a better job more publicly highlighting these things and rewarding the council members more publicly who are doing the actual work of governing well into the evening.

6:04:07So thank you so much. This meeting is now adjourned.