[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Hey. Hey. Hey. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] All right, welcome to Long Beach City Hall. We're going to go ahead and call the meeting to order. is September 9th. Uh, roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Zendeas, >> present. >> Councilwoman Allen, >> present. Council member Dugen, >> here. >> Councilman Supernova, >> here. >> Councilwoman Kerr, >> present. >> Councilwoman Sorrow, >> present. >> Vice Mayor Oranga, >> present. >> Councilwoman Thrash Entuk, >> here. >> Council member Rick Zod, >> here. >> Mayor Richardson, >> I am here. >> We have a quorum. >> All right. Thank you. I'm going to ask Council Member Supernaw to lead us in a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance. >> Okay. Thank you, Mayor. If the audience will please uh join us in a short moment of silence. Thank you. Uh, please rise if you're able, place your hand over your heart, face the flag, and join us in the pledge of allegiance. Ready, begin. >> All right. Thank you, Council Member Supernaw. Uh, welcome to the Long Beach City Council meeting. Uh, it is budget adoption night. I want to thank all of you for coming out and joining us. We have a big agenda tonight. Big agenda. Uh, the good news is there are no presentations, so we get to jump right into it tonight. >> That's right. Um, that's a good thing, right? Um, and uh, we we'll take consent calendar without item seven. Uh, we also going to announce we're not going to hear item 15 tonight. We're going to withdraw that for more discussion uh with the sister cities group and so we'll uh so that won't be heard tonight. So the big item dour is the budget. So let's start with uh consent calendar minus item seven. We need a motion and a second on consent please. And I see two members of the public signed up to speak on consent. Kathleen Adams and Dr. Drew Jones, please come forward. >> Hello. My name is Kathleen Adams. Thank you for listening to us today. Uh I strongly support the guaranteed basic income program and I greatly thank you very much for extending it. When I was um 7 years old, my parents split and we lived on zucchini like every summer and this is a mental health crisis to eat zucchini every summer. So please help these people and make sure they get the guaranteeing basic income. It will help their mental health and that ripples out to the rest of the community as well and it will help the children. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Droop. >> Good evening, council. I rise to uh offer my support um for the uh for this measure. Uh it's important that uh our budget reflect our values and in the city of Long Beach that no family goes without, no children go without. And so with that, I ask for your support to continue this basic income. >> All right. Thank you so much. All right. Members, please cast your vote on consent minus item 17. Minus item seven. >> Seven. >> Motion is carried. >> All right. Thank you. Let's hear item seven please. >> Report from economic development. Recommendation to execute all documents necessary to amend a contract with California State University, Long Beach Research Foundation for providing research and evaluation of the Long Beach pledge guaranteed income pilot program citywide. >> All right. So, uh let's just have a few words from staff. This is an extension of our agreement on um the research element of guaranteed income. Tom, if you just talk a little bit about it briefly. >> Yeah, sure. We do need to make a small change to the recommendation. I'll turn that over to Bill Martinez, our economic development director. >> Thank you, Tom. Uh Courtney Chatson um with our economic development opportunity will be giving an update. >> All right. Um good evening, mayor and city council. This is just to extend the contract with CSUB to align with their academic calendar and allow them to continue their research work on this project. We expect to have a preliminary report by the end of this fiscal year on the second cohort, but they're going to be continuing to combine the results from both cohorts that went through the program and give us a more robust report next year. >> All right. Thank you. Uh it's been moved and seconded. Um is there We already took public comment, correct? Okay. All right. Members, please cast your vote on item seven. >> Motion is carried. >> Great. Thank you. We'll now go to general public comment number one. Let's tee that up. All right. We see seven members of the public signed up to speak. When you hear your name, please come forward. First is Joseph Holgene, then Anthony Holmes, Deborah Anderson, uh Nicole Munier, um Karina Guerrero, Mia Tusen Guerrero, and Kathleen Adams. Please come forward. And the first is Joseph. Is Joseph here? All right, Joseph, you're up. >> Hi, my name is Joseph. I'm here to speak about the ongoing corruption and serious safety violations within the city refuge department. Issues that are being deliberately hidden from the public and even from fellow employees there are individually currently operating commercial vehicles despite having DUIs on their license. Even though in policy estates they're supposed to be terminated just like our fellow employee Billy Claxton. With that being said, many drivers are not provided log books and even driving past 11 hour mark, not doing their full reset and still driving the next following day. Supervisors refuse to hire more people. And with that being said, it's just an ongoing situation. Why am I bringing this up now? Management is knowingly sweeping these issues under the rug. They are failing failing to enforce established procedures and safety protocols allowing a culture of negligence and non-compliance and thrive in plain sight. What I really came here to talk about is how one could get promoted despite having a DUI on their license even though it's a serious offense and still tell a supervisor, that being Dawn, head of refugees, that it's okay to drive even though he has a temporary license. which that being said, a temporary license only being from going point A to point B, from home to work and not driving in a commercial vehicle. And with that being said, the city's being liable if he were to get in the accident now since he has restrictions on his license. With that being said, supervisors are now not caring about the the procedure and just care about maximizing quote unquote from what Bezos said. Um, pretty much it's just on and going uh corruption in inside the refuge department. Um, no coordination, no nothing. And it pretty much just goes even with the green waste program. It's kind of just um you can mix trash and organics. With that being said, it doesn't matter if it's an outlay. Who cares? It's just as long as um nobody gets caught with it. I guess I told this to supervisors that I'm not following procedures on accidents. They rather just say kick it under the rug. I've witnessed it multiple times. Accidents happening in the refuge truck as I'm a helper in the helper seat. And they just hit a wall. Supervisor said, "Don't worry, I'll handle it." Doesn't follow procedure. No PD, no nothing. It just goes on with being said. It's cool. Slap on the wrist. You're good. And with that, I still have act incidents that happened at work, still on my license, even though the union fought for that. And even though with that being said, I'm being directed to an assistant instead of being able to talk to uh Derek Law himself. Uh that's all. Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. Next is Anthony Holmes. >> Free Palestine. Free Palestine. free Palestine. So what this young man just said, Joseph, another prime example of power over policy. So we have the level four sex offender that you guys still working in the city, have working in the city. We have people with DUIs that work for the city, but you guys want to give me a unlawful reprimment for not attending a public works breakfast. Y'all got to make it make sense. Um, and I wanted to speak on the proposal that Josh Hickman and Eric Lopez done last last week about the merging of the refugees department. Is is the merging going to stop the corruption, the discrimination against black employees, the corruption again, everything that they keep and continue to cover up? That's what I want to know, Tom. Um, and how could you follow policies? How could you follow policies when it only benefits the supervisors and management? For example, what's his name? Josh Hickman. Before Josh Hickman was working in our department, his wife used to run out and tell him, "Did you give him money for um dumping them illegal items that was inside the trash can?" >> So, you can't you can't follow policies only when it benefits you. And I want to ask Josh Higman if he here tonight. I don't know if he's here. He's probably in the back of the chamber. Do your wife know you cover up stuff for Eric Lopez and the city attorney? I mean, I can go all day. I can go all day. I don't have nothing but time. Um, and for us to keep bringing these issues to you, Rex, you supposed to be flying the ship. You the captain. You got to step it up. It just pisses me off. Um, and Don Henderson, I hope she's here. We call her Candace Owens, by the way. That's who she acts like. Um, for her to do another black woman like that by the by the name Latoya Sullivan, a personnel officer is just disrespectful. But yet and still, she wants to use quotes for Maya Angelo of helping the people. Don't bring Maya Angelo name up. That's all I got to say. You guys have a nice day. Free Palestine. Black Long Beach. Stand up. Thank you. Next is Deborah Anderson. Deborah Anderson. >> Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Deborah Anderson and I am a small business owner. The name of my business is Artistic Celebration. Um, Artistic Celebration has two two separate um, Hi, Miss Mary. Artistic Celebration has two separate uh, divisions and one division is the division where we're providing the city with vending machines. and I thought it would be appropo to present it to the city because I am an educator at the city, a middle school educator and I my children were uh they were educated in Long Beach and um I wanted to give back to this city and so in my mind I feel like this is an opportunity to give back to the city and also it's a win-win opportunity that also the the um the people who work in the federal building will be able to have a vending machine instead of walking all the way to 7-Eleven. It's very convenient. I am um very professional. And when I say that the vending machines are quality, when I say that the the um everything that's presented in the vending machine is professional, you don't have to worry about the vending machine breaking down. You don't have to worry about stale um items in the vending machine. and you don't you won't have to walk a mile just to to have vending machine just to have those resources. So that's what I have something for every one of you. Um the guy promised that he will pass out this for you. I don't know where he is but I I have provided for you a little bit of background of who I am. The other side of the business is the it's a um it's called the pugs collection. It's a wardrobe collection that gives to the city. And when you scan the QR code, you'll see the mission in action. The shoes, the tote bag, the bucket hat, the shirts are all for the homeless people because I spend a lot of time downtown. So, all of this is for the city. Yes, I will benefit, but the city will also benefit. I'm really plugged in with the homeless of this city. Um, I don't have anything else to say unless you have some questions for me because this is a um a family-owned Christian business. Um, I will be coming more to the meetings, you know, and just being a better support, you know, and I apologize that I haven't been a better support because Long Beach is my home. It's my family's home. And um, that's pretty much pretty much all I have to say. I think the young man wanted said that he was going to provide each one of you. I don't know. >> Sure. If you hand it to the clerk, we'll get copies. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> We got it. Thank you very much. Nicole. Nicole Muner. Munier and after Nicole is Karina. >> Hi. Thank you for allowing me to speak. Um my name is Nicole Munet. I am the owner of Shore Dogs and we just opened our first brick and mortar downtown Long Beach on Atlantic. Um, what I want to know right now from you is what actions is being taken by the city to control the unhoused population and all the crime that they have been committing. Um, I have them trespassing on a daily. I'm calling 911 on a daily. The police response could be anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour. I called we called 911 four times this morning because there was a a woman blocking our front door entrance, banging on our windows. and when my employee calls, she gets no response from the police and my clients can't come in. They can't walk in and bring their dogs in. So, this is really wreaking not just a havoc on my business, but the whole downtown area. Um, I'm Long Beach born and raised. So, I've seen downtown come and go, and this has got to be the worst that I've ever witnessed when it comes to the unhoused population and the drug epidemic that's going on right now. We have so many uh you know, they're like walking zombies. They defecate on our property every day. They um just trash everything. Um so, I wanted to know what is being done and also about the police response time. Um, the only, you know, the answer we keep getting is we don't have enough police. We don't have enough police. Okay. If you don't have enough police, then what are you going to do? I have a suggestion. I don't know if you're going to like it, but you could always bring in the National Guard. I don't know. I'm trying to come up I'm just trying to come up with a solution. That's all. I'm just trying to come up with solutions here. >> You could boo it, but I'm talking about the safety of the citizens of the city. I'm not talking about anything else but our safety because I'm chasing after these people myself and I'm putting myself. >> All right, there's one more minute to go. >> Okay, so I'm I'm sitting here defending my property when a lady comes up and grabs a piece of my property and takes off with it and I'm having to chase her down two blocks down the street and then when the police do come, they say they can't do anything about it. So, this is where my frustration is coming from because ultimately we're going to have to leave downtown. We're not going to be able to thrive in this environment and neither are the other businesses around here and you know that businesses are leaving every single day here. So, that's my question to you is what actions are being taken to ensure our safety, the safety of the businesses and the safety of our residents here and thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you for the testimony. Next is Karina Guerrero. >> Hello, my name is Karina Guerrero. I'm here with the help of the Filipino migrant center to talk about my son Kaisen who has a mental condition and was arrest unlawfully arrested in District 1 on August 21st. The incident happened in the state funded facility where my son has been living to get support for his mental condition. He was accused of starting a fire and the police officer on the scene did not identify themselves by name. I off I informed the officer that my son has a mental illness and he is in that program. One of the officers said, "This is obviously not working for him." A staff member at the facility asked, "Why is he being arrested?" and offered to contact the nurse on site to administer the medication, but it's unclear if permission was granted by the police officer. I was treated poorly as a senior and did not feel safe. I had to decide to diffuse the situation or it could have escalated. If I was there, if I wasn't there, I truly believe my son would have been seriously injured or killed. The Long Beach Police Department did not follow city's protocol in health mental care. There are supposed to be supported by the mental evaluation team to respond to medical crisis like this one. This is not just about my son. This is a crisis in the community. There aren't enough resources and funding to handle these things. As a Signal Tribune article mentioned, there are only five people in the crisis response team in Long Beach to cover a half a million people. That's not enough. Police are are clearly not trained to handle these things, but yet they continue to get majority of the funding. I am extremely concerned that Kaisen has not received his daily medication while being incarcerated. What I what I am asking of the city one, can you help ensure my son gets his medication? As of yesterday, his public defender told me he has not and it's been three plus weeks. Two, I would like to have a meeting with Councilwoman Mary Sandeas herself and not your staff. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. We have two more speakers on the list. Mia Tusen and Kathleen. >> Hi, my name is Mia Taisen Guerrero. I am Kaisen Guerrero's daughter and I'm here to speak on like my perspective on how I've been dealing with this um arrest. So when my grandparents informed me that my father got arrested, they didn't know where he was. So I spent all morning like on inmate search and then I eventually located him at Long Beach Police Department and this is about two to three days after his arrest. I just wanted to let the department know that my dad is schizophrenic and he needs his medication or does he have his medication? Did you know if he grabbed it before he got arrested? XYZ. And I spoke to two representatives. one I was going in circles with, she's like, "There's a nurse here. He'll get checked up on and he'll get his medication." And I was like, "Okay, I'm asking if he got checked up on." And they kept replying, "He should." So, I hung up out of frustration. I spoke to another person. This time it was a guy. I was going in circles with him as well. And then I directly asked him, "Has my dad been checked up on? Can you inform me that information?" They said, "No, we don't know and we can't tell you." Um, so I just felt like really dismissed like my dad's mental illness. I feel like if he had like epilepsy or seizures or even diabetes, he would get the medical attention he needs, but he's not. He's just getting overlooked. Schizophrenia is the mental illness he has is progressive. So that means right now, while he's not medicated, it's getting worse. I feel like multiple layers and bodies of government have failed my father. I'm in my second week of college. I had my first test today and I'm just like dealing with this um because I'm here to speak for my dad who can't speak for himself. Mental illness is overlooked greatly by society and we're unwilling to support people who struggle with it. And I mean, I just feel really just that's all I really have to say. Like something needs to change. He needs some sort of support because he's still not medicated right now. >> Well, thanks for coming down. Mia, did you say that that that he's in custody in Long Beach? >> He was, >> but he's not not in Long Beach currently. >> No, they told me they were sending him to LA County if he acted up and then they sent him to LA County the next day. >> Okay. So, we'll just have staff just make sure um that we do whatever we can to make sure you know where where your father is. And thank you for coming down. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um next is Kathleen. >> Hello. Um thank you for listening today. Um, today I went to the first continuum of care meeting I've ever been to and I have to say I'm pretty excited about the huge possibility of LA County, Pasadena, Long Beach all working together and cross referencing resources on how to do things right. And I'm looking forward to good news over the coming years from the continuum of care group. I know it's just the beginning. I know things take a while. Um but as you can hear, mental health is a crisis in our um Long Beach. And so everything we can do to help do things responsibly now, it would be great. Uh this became a huge priority for me when I uh learned about measure A and uh this a lot of people went door knockocking to make sure it passed. So, we all care about seeing the results of our investment in time, sweat, and tears and um knocking on doors and also the time, sweat, and tears people are going to put into the continuum of care and helping our mentally ill and people who to prevent people from being unhoused and housed. Um, so I'm looking for a good plan to a calibrate us because we're like we need it now and also to uh get good data so the people who do want to help, we can respond. We can't do the right thing if we don't have good data. Um, such as how long are people on a list for housing? How long are people on a list for services? How long is it taking people to get their medication when they're detained? that that should not be happening. And um no knocking people off a list for for being, you know, disruptive because they don't have their medication or we we can't be pushing people back because they're having a mental health crisis. Um also, of course, we I we shouldn't be expecting our police officers to be doing everything and they're not trained to help with mental health people. So, please let's get the 24-hour tip line, 247 um I'm sorry, community of care go Long Beach line so whenever there is a health crisis, we can document it, create the track record to help gather the data to help us fund the right answer for the mental health and the community of care here in Long Beach. Um, so also including that, I know we're we have a lot to be excited about about this budget being passed and and hope for the future, but we also I'd like to see the dream budget, which is the one that didn't pass that we asked for versus the reality. And I'd love to see like the resources of if we're not spending money here, maybe that can move over there to help us address some of these mental health issues, including training volunteers, so we can be there to help when we know what to do in a in a situation. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Well, that concludes public comment. Uh we'll move on now to the budget hearing. I'll call up hearing item 14, please. report from financial management. Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and take the actions necessary to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget as listed in attachment A citywide. >> All right. So, we do this every year and it's spelled out in our charter that we have to have our budget adopted a couple weeks before it goes into effect October 1. So, uh tonight is our first step and then next week we'll go through the full adoption process. Um uh we are going to we have no presentations uh since you've heard all the departments. So we're going to start and bring public comment up first um before we get into the the recommendations. And so um let's see how many public comment we have. All right, there are 46 people signed up to speak. We're going to do 60 seconds each. Please line up. Um and uh to sign up, it would have been uh to sign up before the item. um at the clerk's office. And so I'm gonna call the first 20. When you hear your name, please come forward and then we'll we'll begin. Number one is Karen Rezi, Jessica Canana, Idel, Diana Norman, Lilia O, Ariana Sagon, Sharon Weissman, Cindy Sagon, um Leon and Paula Wood, Cynthia San, Violita Jo Leones, Andrew Manduano, Joel Gomez, Eli Gomez, Romeo Habbron, Jay Jimenez, Jazz Tibar, Jennifer Tfel and Amberdette. Those are the first 20. Did you see? I don't see Chris Coington here. >> Okay. For some reason, I'm hearing Chris Cington is actually number one. For some reason, I didn't have him on my list. Chris, you got to come all the way to the front, man. All right, Christopher, you're recognized. >> All right. Uh, thank you, uh, mayor and city council members. Uh, deep appreciations to each of you, uh, for participating in this process and engaging the community in the different ways that you've done so far. And also deep appreciation to city staff for the community hearings and the surveys that have gone out. Uh my name is Christopher Covington. I am the co-chair of the Advancing Peace Steering Committee. We are the violence prevention initiative for the city of Long Beach. Uh I'm here in partnership with the One Long Beach Collaborative. Uh earlier this budget process, we sent over a letter requesting $5 million for violence prevention. We want to appreciate um getting close to the five million. Uh approximately four Oh excuse me. Um approximately four and a half million dollars have been allocated to violence prevention and more. Um and so our ask today is to uh request the city manager identify additional funds for community activations. Uh that was one of the areas that um wasn't invested in, but today uh we are able to find a solution to partner with community development and the violence prevention and health department. Uh so thank you for your time and we hope that you can pass the budget. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Next is Karen Rezai. Everyone, we are here after hours of meetings. I want to first of all, Rex, recognize you. You made a promise to our older adults and you kept it. Thank you so much. We're looking forward. There going to be major changes for the way older adults are housed in our community. And this is all a lot of it's due to Rex Richardson. So, this is quite an accomplishment. This is like my eighth year of budgets. This was the best process ever. And Tom, I really appreciated your ability to listen at the community budget meetings. It made really, I think, a lot of difference in the direction that our community is going in. I'm very proud of what we all together accomplished this year in the budget process and I'm looking forward to next year's. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much. All right. Next, Jessica Kintana. >> Thank you. did what Karen said. Uh, good afternoon. Jessica Kintana, executive director of Centrocha, also longtime resident for over 61 years in this great city of Long Beach that I love. Um, here to speak um in support of the Mercados on behalf of our Latino advisory group. Uh, Mercados are important to communities for strengthening local economies, for um fostering social bonds, preserving culture, and increasing access to fresh foods. for centuries. Um they have served as central gathering spaces where commerce and community intersect. Um while I'm up here, I just want to make sure that I also advocate uh for our community violence intervention. As you know, our team has been working hard in partnership with our collaborative with the city. Um you see all of our youth here who work diligently in the west side area. Um they uplifted a lot of the summer uh programming there. Um, we do the safe passages at Cababrio High School funded by the Long Beach Unified School District and uh we have a lot of our our folks that have been just as impacted. So creating safe places for our community is so important. So again, thank you so much um for the opportunity to speak and just like Karen said, this has been the great budget process. Thank you so much. >> Thank you and we're glad the Marcato 500,000 for the Marcato is in the budget this year. Thank you so much. Next, it after is Diana. >> Okay. Good evening, council members. My name is Itel Perez and I am the business development navigator at Centrocha, a nonprofit organization that has served Long Beach for decades by supporting small business owners, entrepreneurs, and sidewalk vendors. I'm here today to voice our strong support for El Marcado, the Long Beach at Caesar Chaveis Park. Centrocha works closely with local vendors, many of whom are immigrants, women, and heads of household who face barriers to formalizing their business and accessing safe designated vending spaces. And Mercado would not only provide a safe and supportive environment for vendors to operate, but also offer a centralized space where education, technical assistance, and cultural celebration come together. It's a model of economic equity and community empowerment. We urge you to invest in this initiative. It will uplift working families, preserve cultural traditions, and build pathways to economic stability in Long Beach. Thank you for your time and leadership. >> Thank you so much. All right, next is Diana. Diana is Lilia. Latino, Latino. Thank you. We need temper interpretation. Dear MA Mayor Rex Richardson and council members, my name is Diana Norman. I am a community health worker at Centro Cha. I address you with respect and community commitment to request your support and allocation of funds for Centro Cha and the development of a project of great importance to our city in Mercad Latino. This space seeks to be more much more than a market. It will be a cultural and community gathering place where the richness of our Latin traditions will be celebrated through gastronomy, art, music, and local entrepreneurship. The mission of Centrocha will with its proven track record of community service guarantees the ability to lead and manage this project with responsibility, transparency, and a long-term vision. For all of the above reasons, we respectfully request that the city of Long Beach allocate financial resources to make Elmer Meerito Latino possible, a project that will bring economic development, social cohesion, and a greater tourism to our beloved city. We thank you in advance for your attention and commitment to our communities. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Ariana or Lilia, I'm sorry. Lilia and then Ariana, forgive me. And then Sharon, you have it right. >> Good evening. Uh my name is Lilia Okampo and I am a uh promoter de Salude with Centro Cha and a longtime uh district one resident. and I'm here to ask you to support the budget and uh our center um Latino cultural center which is a um place where our community feels uh we that's the purpose our community to feel safe and uh bel sense of belonging given to the uh hard times that we're passing being attack we are being attacked and um we are offering a place for the community to feel at home and to feel reaffirm on their culture. And uh we held workshops with the promas and um create uh workshop at the how to make capa and tie-dye shirts and many many others that are coming just to feel the community to feel safe and that belong. So, please support the budget and the other ask can the budget. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Next is Ariana and then Sharon. >> Good evening, honorable mayor and city council members. My name is Ariana Sagon. I am a resident of the 8th district and the community health justice manager at Centrocha. Um, and I'm here today to express strong strong support for the inclusion of the 500,000 um, in the budget this year for me de Long Beach. And we'll also uplift the 20 letters of support that you're receiving from our congressional elected officials, um, state senator, assembly members, city- elected representatives, community partners, and leaders. This is more than just a developmental project. And Mercado is a vision for inclusive economic growth rooted in the heart of our Latino community. It will be a vibrant hub for small business development, cultural spaces, all managed and represented from, you know, the Latino people. El Mercado and El Centro Cultural Latino will foster and create a safe space for resilient communities and um provide generational well-being for a Latino community, especially as we're being um attacked as we see. So, please invest in this future and Mercado de Long Beach is how we build equity, empower community, and honor the rich heritage of Latinos. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thanks so much, Sharon, and then Cindy. >> Thank you, mayor, and happy birthday, Councilwoman. Um, I'm here on behalf of the community to advocate for our libraries. I serve as the vice president of the Long Beach Public Library Foundation. We appreciate your support of our libraries and ask for your support of the current budget recommendations to post no loitering signs at the main library and to enforce it and assess the needs of our 10 oldest libraries toward the purpose of repairing, refurbishing and modernizing them. Uh we had asked for four hours of free validated parking at the main library. I understand that is not perhaps the desire of the council. is to do a pilot program and we would ask that you fund that pilot program so it doesn't come out of the libraryies budget uh to provide uh the three hours of parking for library patrons. The estimate is that the full cost of that could be 80 to $100,000 and we would ask that you would fund that so it does not come out of the library's budget and further drain their very small budget for materials and supplies and such things. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you so much. Next is Cindy and then Lyanna and Paula Wood. >> Good afternoon, honorable mayor and council. My name is Cindy Sagon and I am the CVI programs manager at Centrocha um district 8 resident and a member of the advancing peace steering committee. On behalf of the one Long Beach Collaborative, we are appreciative of the conversations and investments towards CBI this year. Recently, the data has shown a decrease in violence. However, the community and trauma in our communities is still ongoing. CVI is community-led, trauma-informed, and evidence-based. With the data being presented to you all right now, we can be intentional with community activation in our most impacted communities. The federal government has made their cuts that directly impact our most vulnerable communities. Today, Long Beach has the opportunity to become champions in CBI. Community safety is a collective responsibility. Please fully fund the remaining 1.54 million for CVI and prioritize 600,000 for community activations. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. So, I see two names but split in one minute. That's not fair. >> I know. >> So, I think we need to make sure they get two minutes for Leon and Paula Wood. It's two people. It's only It's only equitable right? >> Good evening, mayor and city and city council members. My name is Paula Wood and I'm here tonight to speak on behalf of the One Long Beach initiative as a part of that group and as well as the city uh violence prevention group. Um we're seeking additional support for 1.4 million of services. Um there's things that are still uh underserved. For instance, our um yearround activation, safe passages, and the healing response. and we'd like to see if additional funds can be added to support those programs as well. Um, this year the LP the uh Long Beach uh police department reported 237 shootings from last May to this May and this is nearly double what we've seen in the past and we all have seen an increase in violence particularly this summer. These programs save lives and prevent violence, support survivors and help th youth thrive. We work with the youth program and it's very important that we be able to let our know our youth know and their families know that they have a safe place to live. Long Beach is um a home a safe home for many, but it's also a very uh dangerous place where some people don't feel safe to walk at night during the day. So, we ask that you take this into consideration. We appreciate the support we received. I ditto all of those that spoke about the uh process. It has been wonderful this year. I went to some of the community meetings and the uh city city manager did a great job of explaining and things and and I feel that um people understand better and we know you have a hard decision to make. So we just hope that we can ask you to consider violence prevention in your uh decision making. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. All right. Next is Cynthia. Well, I I just want to say that what we have now is the beginning of something I think is going to be fantastic. Through the leadership of Senator Chaw and what's happening in the community, communities are coming together. When they come together and start talking and conversing, violence is reduced. We're beginning to act together, work together, and be and if we continue to get funded so we can be together and really plan the programs in unity, we will stop violence. people will come together and we'll have once again a loving community instead of a community that people just stand away from each other. I think we're on the right track right now. Absolutely. Thank you very much. >> I believe in that. Thank you. >> All right. Next is Cynthia and then Violeta and then Andrew. >> Good evening Mayor, city council members and elected official. My name is Satia Sam from Pacific Asian Counseling Services and chair of Cambodia Town. I'm here to support the language justice coalition uh $300,000 budget request. This funds cover three essentials. Full-time Tagalog Filipino language specialist enhanced office equity language services oversight community-based multilingual outreach. In my work with Cambodian and Filipino communities, I see the impact of language barrier. Long Beach diversity is our strength, but only when all residents can participate equally regardless of language. Language barrier shouldn't be prevent anyone from accessing city services or engaging in democracy. I encourage you to support this investment in true community inclusion. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Next is Violeta, then Andrew, then Joel. Good afternoon, honorable mayor and council members. Maboohai. My name is Violet Talon. I'm an outreach worker with the Pacific Asian Counseling Services and a proud resident of Long Beach for 22 23 years under District 8 to my district uh council district. Dr. Tonua, happy birthday Malagaya Arawan. I stand before you today carrying the voices of the Filipino families who cannot be here because they fear not being understood. As a community worker, every day in a grassroot level, I help our cababayans, our Filipino uh uh fellow Filipinos navigate health care, housing, and basic services. But more often, I am simply translating, bridging the gap between survival and silence. Long Beach is home to nearly 21,000 Filipinos, the largest Asian group in the city. We are not invisible, but we are unheard. Our elders, our workers, our families deserve to be seen, heard, and respected in their own language. Council members and mayor, may I ask you to fill our Filipino community? I hope you would reconsider to our approval of the language access budget so that every Filipino in Long Beach knows your time is belong our voice matters and their language is welcome po. >> All right. Thank you, Andrew. >> Hello, folks. Uh Andrew Manduhano, project director with uh Books and Buckets. I'm actually going to speak on behalf of two of our youth leaders. Uh so, hello. My name is Andrew Himenez and I live in city council district 1 represented by councilwoman Mary Zendas. There are a lot of issues that I see around in my area that include gun violence, gang affiliation, and most importantly the renters and immigrants that get harassed for no reason. These are all important to me because I've seen the gang violence and the problems it causes, especially to the younger generation growing up. And when it comes to renters and immigrants, um, they're harassed day after day. They do no harm and help us in many ways that we all benefit from in our daily lives. Uh, Second Youth. Hello, my name is Noah Gara. My representative is Cindy Allen. Some problems I see in our neighborhood include harassment, fights, physical, domestic, and verbal abuse are commonly seen. What do these all have in common? Violence. Violence has always been a big problem in our community, especially now where most uh the most discriminated people are immigrants. People who are just trying to live a better life and for some reason are getting the most violence. I can relate to this topic because my family are um members are immigrants and are more scared than ever. uh both youth um request that you all increase violence prevention funding to 5 million 2.2 million for the timecluded and 2 million for eviction defense and supporting these individuals who are protecting renters, immigrants and youth on our streets. >> Thank you. >> All right, next is Joel. After Joel is Eli. >> Good evening, Mayor Rex and council members. My name is Joel Gomez, the youth ambassador for Central Cha. I'm reaching out with an urgent plea. Please fully fund the 600,000 for year-round community activations in the FY 2026 budget. These aren't just events on a calendar. They're vital lifelines for our community. I've seen at Kid Park how resource fairs, youth gatherings, and safe spaces bring people together, foster trust, and turn tension into leadership understanding. With 23 uh 220 237 shootings in Long Beach this past year, nearly double the usual, we desperately need ways to connect and prevent violence before it happens. Year-round activations give young people like me hope. They offer us places to belong, mentors to guide us, and positive activities that keep us away from trouble. These programs are more than just fun. They're a lifeline for safety, healing, and building a stronger community. Please don't let this opportunity slip away. Funding these activations is an urgent step towards a safer, more connected Long Beach. I implore you to pri prioritize this in the upcoming budget and show us that our safety and wellbeing matter every single day. Thank you. Thank you. All right, Eli, and then Romeo. Okay. >> Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Ellie Gomez Press. I am a youth ambassador for Central Chan, a sophomore at Jordan High School. I am here to ask you to fully fund the remaining 1.54 million needed for the violence prevention and youth development in the FY2026 budget. I am very appreciative that the mayor proposed budget includes investment in the areas. That is a strong start, but we know that there are several essential programs remaining unfunded, including year-round activation, safe passages, and many healing responses. From last May to this May, Long Beach experienced 20 236 shootings, almost double from recent years. Behind each of these numbers is a family and affected neighborhood and a future at risk. I have gotten seen that being there for your community and making them feel seen not only prevents violence, but a sense of unity. And Long Beach stands for making a difference in the community and making a better Long Beach. And this can be an investment not only that supports the mission but brings forth safety, equity and hope for many future. Thank you for your leadership and time. >> All right. Thank you Romeo and then Jay Jimenez. >> Hello Romeo Hebrron with the Filipino Migrant Center. Um we are here again to um express our support for 2.2 2 million for the Long Beach Justice Fund as well as supporting the recommendation from the budget oversight committee for um 130k and then also 150k for uh business certifications through the justice fund. We also support uh one and a half million to sustain the tenant right to council program and then as well as um future affordable housing um efforts through the community land trust. And then for the language justice coalition, we also support as the largest Asian um subgroup in the city. For Filipinos, we also support um funding um and the language justice coalition's asks for a full-time um Tagalog interpreter and translator with the city. And then lastly, we will continue to support and stand with um the Guerrero family who spoke earlier um so we can, you know, continue to support this and also work on addressing and how the city can address um the mental health issues in our community. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. All right, Jay Jimenez and then Jazz Tabar. >> Hi, I'm here with FMC and uh as a member of District 1 uh supporting the 2.2 million for the Long Beach Justice Fund as well as a recommendation from the B budget oversight committee for 130 uh K and then uh 150K for business certifications. also support 1.5 million to sustain the tenant right to council program and then uh for the language justice efforts supporting the full-time Tagalog language specialists like we said and the multilingual outreach throw trusted community organizations there is also just a need for continuing to show outward support for the Filipino community and workers in the city especially when it comes to distribution of needs and accessibility for the community as someone who supports with direct services it needs to be simple it needs to be swift and the process and People involved must treat the community with care and thoughtfulness. Please don't stop at supporting those who are available to attend these meetings. Continue to make room for hearing the people's demands outside of city hall throughout the year to see how these decisions are affecting your constituents. Thank you so much. >> All right. Thank you, Jazz. And then Jennifer. >> My name is Jazz Sabar, a resident of District 1, volunteer with Filipino Migrant Center and member of Anakbayan Long Beach. I'm here once again because I'm continuing to hear about the obstacles of our migrant communities and undocumented youth who call Long Beach their home but have to navigate challenges that hinder them from getting concrete support in the city and protecting their rights and welfare. I hope that through the justice fund, ample funding um and support will ensure resources can be swiftly accessible to community members who are constantly navigating these difficulties and will be more vulnerable due to the Supreme Court ruling allowing for racist tactics that will further militarize and displace our communities. So again, I call for 2.2 2 million for the Long Beach Justice Fund. Um 150,000 for business certifications, 1.5 million to sustain the tenant rights to council program. Um including the future affordable housing efforts and the community land trust, and 150,000 for full-time Tagalog language specialists, 50K for multilingual outreach through trusted community organizations and express my solidarity with the Guero family to ensure ample mental health services and accountability for the treatment of their family. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Jennifer. >> Good evening, honorable mayor and council members. I'm clergy in community at First Congregational Church of Long Beach located in District 1. I'm here to support the allocation of $400,000 for the Long Beach Community Land Trust and a structural $2.2 million for the Long Beach Justice Fund. And I would like to thank the mayor and council member Thrashenuk for the tenant right to council program of $1.5 million and $500,000 for rental assistance. As I shared last week uh at the council meeting and still holds true, my faith instructs me to care for the vulnerable in my community. I believe that housing is a human right and that my neighbors have the right to breathe easy on the way to work, school, and in their daily life. The justice fund will create a way for loved ones and community members to advocate for those who are victims of the prevalent ICE raids in the community. The right to council and land trust will provide ways to keep people in their homes and root out one unfortunate cause of homelessness. I continue to urge you to be a model for the rest of LA County and the nation. Thank you so much for your time. >> All right. Well, Ann, before you come up, I'm going to call the next next 20 or so speakers. Uh Renee H, Brandy Davidson, Zyra, Maria Dolores Anguano, Eric Garcia, Celeste Wilson, Jennifer C. Jill Collins, Sac, uh Veronica Garcia Dvalos, Carlos V, Cha Ham Rose, Mr. Whitehead, Noah Chelsea T, uh, Elizabeth Sigura, John Roando, Jennifer Macau, Jile Jacile Bell, uh, and Jacqueline Perez. All right, Ann, you have the floor. Excuse me for speaking to the choir, preaching to the choir, but um after working for 25 years teaching American history and American government, I was sickened yesterday to watch the highest court in our land ignore the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, which my fifth graders know, and say it's reasonable to search and seize people on the basis of their race, their job, or their affiliations. What do we do in the face of this world turned upside down? What can Long Beach do? Fortunately, we have a city council and we have a staff that looks at the ways that we can protect our Long Beach residents. And there are two ways that people are being unreasonably searched and seized. That is in their homes by eviction and out on the streets at the car wash. So I urge you to look at the sixth amendment against for due process and right to counsel and back 2.2 for the justice fund and 1.5 thank you tunoa for the um right to counsel. Thank you very much. >> Thank you Renee. >> What up? My name is Renee. I'm a constituent of district 6 and a member of the Democratic Socialist of America here in Long Beach. The limited investment of the justice fund, eviction program funds, and the community land trust funds are a step in the right direction, but they are still inadequate to address the needs of your constituents. Affordability and safety are the top priorities of most residents, and meeting these communitydriven demands will help keep our city safe rather than the obscene investment in policing that mimics how the Trump administration deals with problems through intimidation, incarceration, and violence. The federal government ex exacerbating many problems locally and this struggle will long outlive this term. You have the ability to launch services and structural changes that go beyond maintaining the status quo where working people are struggling to survive. This is what the community is begging for only to get half concessions. We demand you represent every Long Beach resident regardless of wealth status or citizenship and defend our right to a dignified life. We are united in this and we need you to be united with us. >> Thank you. Next is Brandy Denzyra. >> Good evening, council. My name is Brandy Davidson and I'm a community organizer for Libre in partnership with BLM. The right to council program, as you all know, has been effective in ensuring renters have access to free legal representation that keeps them housed, negotiates settlements so they don't end up displaced, and provides legal counsel to renters that have housing questions. I want to say thank you to Mayor Richardson and Councilwoman Tonuo for your leadership and recommendation of $1.5 million for the right to council program and $500,000 for settlement funds um and assistance to the city. Settlement funds can cover back rent fees or negotiated amounts that help tenants stay housed. This prevents tenants from experiencing evictions or housing instability. Finally, deportation and eviction are both forms of force removal that destabilizes our communities. And I want to voice support for $2.2 $2 million for the Long Beach Justice Fund. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Zyra and then Maria. Good afternoon, honorable mayors, honorable members of the city council of Long Beach. My name is Sida and I'm an immigrant uh me and member of this community. I've been living in Long Beach for the last 25 years, city that I consider home. Throughout this time that I've I've never had an issue with the law. I respect the norms, support my community, and have dedicated my life to work for the well-being of my family. I'm a mother and take care of my children who are US citizens. One of them who has a medical diagnosis that demands extra attention and special care. Even though I don't possess a work permit, every day I fight with dignity to bring forth my family. But the current situation is not easy. My children live with anxiety, depression, and constant fear that one day I may not return home. And like my case, there are many families alike in Long Beach. Hardworking families, respectful that contribute and love the city and deserve to live without fear. Therefore, today I ask you to with humility and urgency that you support the justice fund with allocating $2.2 million. We ask that you approve the recommendation of the subcommittee for uh 130k and 150,000 for the business certification program. >> Thank you very Thank you very much. All right, Maria and then Eric. Maria [Music] [Music] Good afternoon, Mayor Richardson and city council members. Today I'd like to speak to you as a fine arts artistician and I'd like to touch the fibers of your soul as a writer, composer, and poet. [Music] I'm a member of residents of Long Beach for the last 25 years, which makes me love our beloved Long Beach. The recent immigration raids have left pain, separation, and sadness. And I know that like you, you are also parents and grandparents. >> Ideally, it would be great that families should live free of threats and without fear of being deported. I've seen the fear in the children knowing that one of their parents could be deported. I'd like to share a a short anecdote. A couple of days ago, I was walking on Chestnut and Third Street. I saw a group of kids along with teachers who were about to cross the street when all of a sudden, one of the kids yelled, "Let's run. The Border Patrol is coming. I felt a lot of sadness knowing that our kids are now traumatized due to the present political uh climate. >> Times concluded. >> Gracias. >> All right, Eric and then Celeste. >> What's up, y'all? Eric Garcia. I'm the organizing and program director with Orale. Uh we thank the budget oversight committee for their recommendation of 130k additional toward the justice fund and we support the 150 for the business certification program to go to the justice fund. And while we're grateful y'all recognize the need, we continue to support 2.2 million in structural funding for the justice fund. Only 1 million of what's proposed is new money. When we brought up uh rollover funds last week, we did so to point to some of that money is already accounted for through contracts for this year. Our aim was to highlight that we're asking for 2.2 in new funding, not including not roll over funds or not don't roll them over over mayor. Uh I'm also uh the Supreme Court rule defense uh can racially profile people and arrest them without reasonable suspicion which demonstrates this problem isn't going anywhere and is in fact ramping up. We need 2.2 to be structural. I'm also here to thank you for allocating 1.5 million toward eviction defense, 500k for the settlement funds, and I ask that you allocate 200 toward the, uh, community land trust. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Um, Celeste. >> All right. Good evening, uh, honorable mayor and city council members. I'm actually here on two different organizations tonight. So, first, on behalf of the Long Beach Chamber, um, I'm just here to echo and reiterate our support for the mayor's back to business activation plan. um in this fiscal year budget u you know those funds are absolutely necessary as we prepare for the Olympics and you know host millions of tourists. Um on the other side I am a new member a new board member for the Wrigley Association which is one of the oldest historic neighborhood uh organizations here in Long Beach. Um and we are respectfully requesting that the micro grants be reinstated in this year's budget. They're absolutely vital for our neighborhoods to be able to have access to funds and uh do things that they might not be able to do without other city resources. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jennifer. And after Jennifer is Jill. So I have Jennifer Jill Vinc. >> Hello mayor and council members. I have lived in District 9 since 2009 and representing Kigros in action. Our Southeast Asian community fled war, dictatorship, and genocides to rebuild their lives alongside immigrant communities, creating a thriving Long Beach. The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that it's okay to racially profile people, detain them, and deport them to countries they never been to, like Sudan. Many folks are contacting us looking for Kamaya language access to support employees that have been kidnapped by ICE while on the job. This is a terror on our communities, and we have to use all the tools we can to stand up against this fascist regime. Please support the 2.2 2 million for the Long Beach Justice Fund so we could support our neighbors and families being detained. Please also support the budget oversight committee recommendation of 130k and 150k for a business certification. Fight for the dignity of all our community members and thank you. >> All right, thank you Jill and then Sombo then Veronica. >> Hi, I'm Jill with Libre. Um, I just want to say thank you, Mayor Rex Richardson and the board members um, for supporting Right to Council. Libre has helped 4,500 renters since its inception. I'm happy to be able to continue to serve the renters in the community, providing information, resources, and support. And I just want to say thank you all so much. >> Thank you. All right, and then Veronica. >> All right. Hello, city council members and mayor Rex Reserson. My name is Sambosat. I'm a resident of district 2. I'm also a member of the language justice coalition representing educated mentors with meaningful messages, a youth program at St. Mary's Medical Center. I'm here to support the language justice budget demands of $3,000,000. I won't repeat what my fellow colonial members shared with you because I know we will work together to make this happen with your support. Over 10 years ago with the Cambodian community, because I'm Cambodian America, we came here to advocate for these services and were able to get the win. And now we want our fellow Filipinos to have the same opportunities. Thank you. >> Thank you, uh, Veronica Narlos. >> Good evening, mayor and council members, and happy birthday. My name is Veronica Garcia Davalos. I am the CEO of the Long Beach Public Library Foundation and a District 5 resident. I may not have 25 supporters behind me, but represent tens of thousands of supporters who are library patrons and I support the mayor's budget and the budget oversight committee's um budget recommendation and I thank you, but I do have a few respectfully a few um requests. Um when measure A was on the ballot, voters were told that we must maintain and modernize our libraries. And this was the um the flyer that went out. Um well, nine of our 12 branches have not been remodeled since 1950s,60s, and 70. So we ask you to ensure that the five-year infrastructure plan to assess our libraries start next year, if not sooner. And we'd also like to dedicate Measure A funds with increases over time to repair and modernize them. That language is missing in this budget. >> Your time's concluded. >> Um instead of subsidizing parking, we'd like to fund the pilot. We'd like you to fund the pilot uh for Billy Jeene King Library. >> Ma'am, your time's concluded. >> Thank you. Thank you. We'll make some time. We'll make some time to talk. I think um we'll make some time to talk. I think the comments on on measure A. There's two measure A's now. There's countywide measure A on housing and homelessness. Then there's Long Beach Measure A. And I think we got to be clear on what each of those does, but I'm happy to talk with you about our local Measure A. All right, Carlos. And then Cha. >> Cool. Hello. uh Carlos, communications manager with ORLE and a District 8 resident. Uh I'm here to echo the demands for 2.2 million for the Long Beach Justice Fund. Uh 2 million for eviction defense and $400,000 for the Community Land Trust. Uh with this, I'm also asking that we support the BOC's recommendation of moving $130,000 to the Long Beach Justice Fund and the suggestion for moving 150K to the business from the business certification program to the Long Beach Justice Fund. Uh legal support is expensive, prohibitively so, and our communities are being attacked and will continue to be after the Supreme Court decision we learned about yesterday. They shouldn't have to worry about paying for expensive legal services when they're already worried about navigating the violence that's being inflicted on them by immigration enforcement every day. Help protect your people by supporting these asks. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Next is Chana and then Mr. Whitehead. Hi, I'm Hana Ham Ros and uh first I wanted to thank you uh Mayor Richardson and also uh Councilwoman Thresh and Tuck. And by the way, happy birthday. It's also my third child's birthday today. It's a wonderful day. Um I wanted to thank you guys for your leadership and recommendation on the 1.5 million for the um for the right to counsel program and for the 500,000 for the settlement assistance in the budget. The support is vital from to prevent removing people from their homes and it's so much more um viable to keep people in their homes to spend money to do that rather than to have to try and get people back into their homes. Um the renters uh we urge the council to please support the recommendation. Um and I'd like to voice my support for the budget for ask the community to include 2.2 2 million for the Long Beach Justice Fund and support the recommendations being forwarded today. Uh support for permanently affordable housing through the Long Beach Community Land Trust. >> Ma'am, your time's concluded. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Whitehead. And then Noah. >> Hello. I'm Mr. Whitehead. Uh my property is in district 8 and I'm here because I'm concerned about whether or not a local monopoly is complying with penal code 396. On uh tonight's measure or agenda, there's a water and sewage increase of possibly 12%. I attended the Prop 218 meeting and requested information indicating that their incenses have increased sufficiently to warrant a raise a price increase that would put them into the realm of price gouging. And so far, I've yet to receive that information. And it looks like they've also possibly are price gouging us for trash and gas. >> Thank you. Next is Noah and then Chelsea. Hi, my name is Noah. I'm an organizer with Californians for Justice and I live in District 1 and I have lived in district 8 before. I only ever come to speak to the council when requesting action that shows that you care about your residents. The last time I spoke here was for the invest in youth campaign. Mr. Rex Richardson, you were our champion for the invested news youth campaign when we were demanding funds for young people. That work has not stopped. Our young people need their parents. They need safety. You cannot promise their safety. Limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement is not enough. Families deserve a fighting chance. They deserve a fair shot at justice. Immigrant communities are being broken and it is affecting our young people. This has been a problem since I was a minor. I'm 26 now. I grew up being prepared to raise my little brother in the case that my parents got deported. There was no backup option or hope for a lawyer. I've been blessed to have made it this far with my parents, but now I'm 26 and the students I work with are dealing with the same issues and are here to speak. I hope you truly hear them and not just listen. Our students deserve to have stable housing. Families deserve to be together and students need the ability to stay. They need stability to be able to fully focus on their education. Please allocate the 2.2 million funds in the structural funding of the Long Beach just fun and 2.4 of the housing and the 4,000 of the community land trust. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Chelsea and then Elizabeth. >> Good evening council. My name is Chelsea Zenoon and I am a resident of District 7 and a part of Californians for Justice. I am standing here before you to ask you to fund the 2.2 million for the justice fund that would go far and help families being tormented by ICE. I myself am a proud daughter of immigrant parents and instead of my parents having to worry about my safety, I worry about theirs. I worry about my parents coming home. I worry about my father's car being in the driveway. I feel my heart drop when I don't see my mother in the living room. I shouldn't have to worry about graduating without my parents. And sadly, this is a common fear within the community. As we know, the Supreme Court just overruled lower court decision that will now allow ICE to racially profile and detain people who look Latino and or speak Spanish. This alone goes against our Fourth Amendment rights, which protects people from unreasonable searches from the government without a prior um search warrant. As we know, Long Beach's population is 43 to 44% um Latino population. >> Your time's concluded. >> Can you imagine how this would Can you imagine what this fear would do to our community? How much more fear they would face? So, council, I stand before you and ask for these 22 million that would help the community and show them that you stand with them. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, Elizabeth. And then John. >> Hello, my name is Elizabeth Seura. I'm a student at Jordan High School, a youth organizer with California's for Justice, and I am resident of District 8. I'm here today to speak about the trust the Justice Fund. I'm sure many of you have heard about the incident that occurred on Labor Day. They detained two workers from the Excellent Car Wash and Auto Detail Shop located just north of Willow Street. One of the men detained was the manager. However, he is much more than just a hardworking man driving a parade for his family. He is a husband, a friend, and a father. He is someone who's been in my life since as long as I can remember. He is my best friend's dad. No child should ever have to worry about whether or not their dad will make it home from work today. Unfortunately, so that day, her dad didn't make it home. He was kidnapped, thrown to a ground with no way to fight for his rights. So, here I stand fighting for not only his rights, but for everyone else who is also being affected. We must come together in order to make a difference. This is why we are asking for the 2.2 2 million for the justice fund, the 2 million for eviction defense, and 400,000 for the community land trust. Thank you. >> J H J Ho N John. Okay. John, then Jennifer, then Jil. >> All right. Hello, council members and uh Mayor Richard uh Rex Richardson. My name is John Rodondo. I'm the chairperson of Anagbai in Long Beach, a grassroots organ organization best based in Westside Long Beach that fights for the rights and welfares of Filipinos everywhere. And I'm speaking here to you today to urge you all to allocate $2.2 million in new structural funding through the Long Beach Justice Fund to meet critical needs of immigrants living in Long Beach and to continue to grow the expansion of the fund. And a little bit about me, my mom here to the US in 1992 and it took her over 25 years to get her citizenship. And at any point in time, you know, ICE could have come and taken her and split my family apart, especially with other family members of mine who also like, you know, don't have citizenship. And thankfully, uh, the federal immigration landscape was not so hostile during that time. But obviously, since the beginning of year, that is no longer the case. And in, uh, Long Beach, there are over 30,000 undocumented residents and how can these residents truly contribute to their communities if they are not if they don't feel supported or safe within their own homes? And the question I want to ask you is, how can we say that we are working towards and fighting for a better and safer Long Beach if we are not genuinely caring for all the for all of our community members, especially those who are struggling and are in need. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Next is Jennifer and then Jile. >> Hello, my name is Jennifer Macau. I'm here to speak on requesting better fit testing for our community. Long Beach has seen too many lives lost to fentanyl. Families here are grieving and we can't afford more preventable deaths. Harm reduction is not about encouraging drug use. It's about saving lives. Just like seat belts and Narcan, fit all test tools give people a chance to stay alive long enough to make better decisions. These tools are simple and effective. They should be normalized, not stigmatized. Every life we save is another son, daughter, or neighbor who gets another tomorrow. Let's act with compassion and urgency. Long Beach deserves real solutions now. Thank you. All right. Thank you. All right, Jacia, before you begin, I'm going to call the next few names. You have Jacqueline Perez, Melvin Harris, Cass, Kimberly Lim, Lily Pedra, Andre Donado, and Nazir. Nazir, you know who you are. Um, okay, Jacle, you have the floor. >> I'm Jacqueline. I don't >> Okay, there's Okay. Well, Jac is not Is not here? All right, Jacqueline, you have the floor. >> Thank you. >> Hello. My name is Jacqueline Perez Valencia. I'm here on behalf. I'm the economic justice manager at Orale. Um, I'm here in support of the demands of the Long Beach Justice Fund, especially the 150 for business certification to go towards LBJF instead of having a new RFP process for it. I'm also here to support 2 million for eviction defense and 400K for community land trusts. We're facing horrifying times where people of color are in danger of being kidnapped. This is the time to stand together as a community and support one another one another. Excuse me. We need your commitment to stand with immigrants, to stand with Long Beach. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Next is Melvin. >> Good evening. My name is Melvin Harris and I'm here with the nonprofit Love Beyond Limits. On behalf of our youth and families, we want to thank the mayor and the city council for your time and for considering the importance of prioritizing violence prevention in this year's budget. We are grateful for your continued investment in the future of young people like us. And your support makes it possible for us to learn, grow, and become leaders in our community. Please prioritize 600,000 to year round activations to protect and uplift the communities that need it most. We also encourage the city to explore sustainable funding sources such as tax on unhealthy foods and soda to protect and structurally fund this work in the future. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Cass Van Kimberly. >> Hello, I'm Cass, a four-year renter in District 2. What does it mean to be a sanctuary city? It should include denying cooperation with ICE rather than inaction and actively reducing the fear of our undocumented neighbors from deportation and separation from their families. While the robust funding from last year is an important step for this year and moving forward, only a portion of the Justice Fund comes from structural funding. Even though the Justice Fund has been funded more each year since its inception, the balance of funds has all come from one-time allocations. Neither contractors nor the community can count on the justice fund continuing beyond the most modest of services each year. Um, additionally, Long Beach still has no full scope immigration legal service provider based in the city, which makes us an outlier for a city of our size. Oakland, for example, has over a dozen. As a result, legal service providers tasked with serving our community lack important context for their clients lives, as well as the deep connections within the community and other social services providers in Long Beach. Please allocate 2.2 2 million in new structural funding to meet the critical needs of immigrants living in our city and free Palestine. >> Thank you, Kimberly. And then Lily. >> Hello, my name is Kimberly Lim, community organizer with Long Beach Ford. Too many of our immigrant, refugee, and working-class neighbors struggle to access housing, health care, or even understand city decisions because resources aren't always available in their language. That's not equity. That's exclusion. This is why I'm here to support the language justice coalition's request of 300,000 to strengthen language access in the city. This includes full-time Tagalog language specialists, funding from multilingual outreach through trusted community organizations and more res more resources for the office of equity to effectively implement and monitor languages. To meet that need, we encourage the city to reassess with departments and increase the percentage contribution each department makes towards language access services so that their essential work work is sustained. The city's investments in housing programs, healthcare, and immigration programs such as right to counsel, justice fund are so vital to the most vulnerable communities, but without true language access, those resources are locked away from the very communities they're meant to serve. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Lily and then Andre. Good afternoon. My name is Lily Pedra. I'm a resident of Council District 1 and outreach manager with Libre. I want to echo gratitude for Mayor Richardson, Councilwoman Tonuas, and the budget oversight committee support for our ask of 1.5 million to continue the right to counsel program and the 500,000 for settlement assistance. The success stories of the right to council program continually roll in and we'll make sure to keep sharing them with you and inviting um tenants themselves to come share them so you can hear them firsthand. Um, I want to just share that just this week our team helped a resident stay housed um by helping her review her documents, just noting that her eviction notice was actually um not valid and just helping her write a letter to her landlord to ask for more time. Um, so we're excited to continue this program and thank you again for your support. >> Thank you, Andre. Good evening, Mayor Councilwoman Tuna. Happy birthday. On behalf of Libé, I wish to thank you. Um, I want to thank you, Major Richardson, and the budget oversight committee for your support of 1.5 million to the right to council and 500,000 for sale funds for a total out of 2 million as well for your continuing support to the community land trust. Following the passage of Measure A, this investment reflects your dedication to Long Beach borders in prioritizing homelessness prevention and advancing housing affordability for the long term. We also urge you to support 2.2 million in structural funds for the justice fund, renters rights as immigrant rights and through our budget, our future coalition. We stand in solidarity to ensure equity and justice for all residents. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. All right, Mir. Good good evening everybody and happy birthday councilwoman. Um I'm Nazerbunis with the Long Beach Community Land Trust. I want to first thank the budget oversight committee um members council and mayor and staff for all the work that went into creating the budget. Um today I'd also like to thank you all for allocating $200,000 in county measure A funds in support of the community land trust technical assistance work. We appreciate the city's shared commitment to creating permanently affordable housing for families across Long Beach. County Measure A has made a commitment to supporting innovative affordable housing models such as community land trusts. And this has resulted in a commitment from Lacassa, the agency that administers the Measure A funds to $15 million of acquisition funding for community land trusts. And so we appreciate the support of these technical assistance funds, which will further support us in accessing um even more of those $50 million and securing them those county resources for Long Beach residents. So, thank you for your continued support for the community trust work. This community different model of affordable housing ensures long-term housing stability and stewardship, empowers families, and preserves neighborhood affordability for future generations. And finally, I'd like to express support for the right to council and Long Beach Justice Fund programs and their requests today. Thank you so much. >> All right. Thank you. Okay. Well, that concludes public comment. Now, I'll take you back behind the rail. So, uh, first of all, thanks everyone, not just for coming out, um, and speaking to us today, but your engagement since January when our budget process really began. You've been engaged at every single step from the community meetings in at the beginning of the year that helped shape the city manager's recommendations, uh, the engagement directly with our office and your engagement at city council that, uh, helped shape the mayor's recommendations. And since the hearings have begun here at city council, uh your consistent engagement, uh your organization, uh that have shaped some of the budget oversight recommendations that uh were adopted earlier by the budget oversight committee. Um some of those recommendations you had in January have changed because frankly it's the world has changed since January. There's been a lot that has taken place that some of us didn't anticipate and even and I'll speak personally even some of the institutions that we've always been able to count on institutions that we've watched and and supported as it's become more and more progressive with Thood Marshall and Katana Bound Jackson and and all of these um uh steps it seems like in recent years have turned around and taken us back generations. I I'll tell you I was personally I was shocked by the decision um the other day I I I was shocked because it was so normal that people expected that the Supreme Court which was supposed to be a check it's designed to be a check and balance on the executive office and what it turned into was a rubber stamp and all the organizations take place when I see folks like you know our key the city holder Dr. Leon Wood and Paula Wood and I think of my grandmother who, you know, protested when George Wallace said black students couldn't attend the University of Alabama. And, you know, the the the history that we fought against in one decision just walked us back and said that is it's not only legal, it's acceptable uh to profile and go after people at their workplace or just going to the grocery store just conducting their lives based on their race, their language, or their work. And that's completely unacceptable. Um, but I can tell you as mayor what we're going to do in Long Beach. Uh, in Long Beach, uh, we believe, uh, in our values that no matter how you pray, who you love, where you come from, language you speak, you're a member of our community, and we're going to uphold our values for you. That means we're going to make sure we continue to support uh, legal support uh, for uh, our communities that need to that may have to go through additional legal steps to to make sure they're they stay with their families. We didn't know that that there'd be such emphasis on protecting our businesses at the beginning of the year, but we know that there's been enhanced raids on car washes. We don't have any Home Depots. You can thank uh Signal Hill for that uh for taking all our big boxes. But um nonetheless, the workplaces, the restaurants, the the car washes, we're going to have to do some significant work in making sure that they understand their rights, that they have the resources to put up signage to make to harden and protect their workplaces. That's work that has to happen now that we didn't know had to happen back in January. We also know that there's going to be a whole lot more people vulnerable and susceptible to eviction now because um people may have to make a hard choice whether to go to work and risk being separated from their families. And so we know we're going to have to have more resources to protect people from eviction. We know that there's going to have to be more settlement assistance, uh rental assistance, emergency rental assistance because we can't anticipate what the next emergency may be. We know that there are people that we supported during the pandemic with emergency housing vouchers, you know, 500 almost 600 families, which now based on the most recent federal budget, that's uncertain for them whether they're going to be able to count on that voucher to stay in their home. That was something we we didn't we didn't know in January when we began this process. So, this has evolved and I know that at different points has gotten testy, but that's this is the process. At least we're engaging in this process and we're making sure we're thinking and being as nimble. When I introduced our budget, I didn't know that they were cutting um cutting uh STI funding in our health department. When I introduced my budget, right, that they're that our already um stretched in health department was going to be even more stretched in. I say that to say we're not we're not backing down on eviction uh protection. Um you know, we we put forward one and a half million. We're very proud of some of the budget oversight uh recommendations to take it even further and add settlement assistance to bring it to a higher number. And they're going to they're going to talk a little bit about that when we get to that. Um on on the justice fund, I think justice justice is expanded and $150,000 honestly it we're probably going to need more, but $150,000 to help prepare our businesses. Um that is justice. that that is us investing in legal defense of our businesses because the original definition of justice has changed. Um it's not just pro protecting people from deportation. Uh it's now also protecting workplaces and that's going to cost resources. Uh we know that there's emergency cash assistance, flexible cash assistance dedicated to our immigrant communities. We've never done that before. That's the first time and we're the very first city in LA County to do so and dedicate half a million dollars in emergency cash assistance to our immigrant communities. No city has done that. And we also today with this budget are establishing a new $2.5 million fund for flexible cash assistance and including a new definition. not just our seniors, not just our transitional youth, but also individuals who were not as susceptible before, but because of this administration, they are more susceptible to homelessness. And they're $2.5 million fund here. So, there's a lot here in these recommendations. I'll tell you, we wish we wish we could we could, you know, wave a magic wand and fund everybody's requests and we know there's a lot of need, but I'm really proud of what you have done and what this city council has done. And I want to uh lift up and recognize uh Councilwoman um uh Joanie Ricks OD at the budget oversight committee who's run done an incredible job processing all of this to bring us to a place bring us to a place that we can we can pass a just budget a budget that other cities will model themselves after a budget we will have to make changes as things change throughout the year and we know there are you know strange headwinds ahead but I'm proud of the work that has been done here in the city of Long Beach makes me proud to be mayor serve this city. So, that said, we're going to begin the budget adoption process. Uh there are a number of votes. I'm going to ask um maybe our city manager walk us through how many votes we have today and we're going to go through all of them. The council comments typically happen when we get to BOC recommendations. So, council member comments are going to help hold till we get to that motion. So, um we'll go to the clerk actually. Um so, we'll go to the clerk. Let's tee up the very first uh motion for adoption. The first motion is to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the hearing, and we have a motion by Joanie Rickod, second by Cindy Allen. >> All right, members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> Thank you. Next motion, please. The second motion is or 14.1 is recommendation to adopt mayor's proposed budget recommendations as amended to the proposed fiscal year 26 budget a-1. >> You want to switch to me? It's I think it's fine. >> Okay. >> Oh. Uh yeah, you can switch it to me. But I I believe um our our budget manager was going to read the um >> you need to read read these. >> Okay, let's read them into the record. >> There's 45, so we'll get started. Um motion to support Mayor Richardson's proposed budget recommendations as follows. A1 motion to reallocate general fund group funds in the amount of 900,000 for one-time small business rebound initiatives in the economic development and opportunity department to now be funded with the successor agency proceeds within its citywide reserve allocation and reallocate 100,000 of one-time community crisis response funds in the health and human services department to be funded by county measure A. This reallocation will fund the following initiatives. A2 motion to add onetime funds of 50,000 in the general fund group in the police department to implement recommendations by the Long Beach Police Department regarding personal security measures such as security cameras and raised fences for citywide and council district level elected officials in light of increasing rates of violence and threats targeting public officials across the country. A3 motion to add onetime funds of 90,000 in the general fund group in the parks, recreation, and marine department to support Hoops After Dark, a skills camp that brings support of a wide range of stakeholders from individual youth participants in high crime areas to their families, local businesses, and the broader Long Beach community, and offers a combination of sports mentorship educational workshops, and community engagement activities. A4 motion to add onetime funds of 175,000 in the general fund group in the health and human services department to continue the office of youth development youth development coordinator position. A5 motion to add onetime funds of 60,000 in the general fund group in the health and human services department to support youth outreach and administration to manage the youth participatory budgeting program. Uh an additional onetime funds of 50,000 offset by the reserve allocations as the part of the successor agency sale proceeds is recommended for the program for a total of 110,000. A6 motion to add onetime funds of 25,000 in the general fund group in the health and human services department for the Long Beach Area Veterans Collaborative to support volunteer coordination, veteran community outreach and engagement, and the development of a digital resource hub for Long Beach veterans. A7 motion to add onetime funds in the amount of 600,000 in the general fund group in the city manager's office along with the current budget allocation to bring the total funding for the Long Beach Justice Fund to 1.85 million, ensuring our residents have access to legal representation and resources necessary to safeguard their constitutional rights, uphold due process protections, and preserve family unity. A8 motion tip approve the use of 8.7 million in successor agency proceeds from the sale former redevelopment agency properties in the general fund group as identified in the city manager's proposed fiscal year 26 budget message with the reallocations identified below in the mayor's investment and policy recommendations. A9 motion to add onetime funds of 285,000 in the general fund group in the health and human services department offset by a reduction of 285,000 in the Grow Long Beach loans allocation as a part of the successor agency sale proceeds to continue the safe passages program which empowers local residents to serve as safety guides to observe and report dangerous or hazardous situations and ensure the safety of youth walking to and from school. A10 motion to add onetime funds of 100,000 in the general fund group in the parks, recreation, and marine department, offset by a reduction of 100,000 in the Grow Long Beach loans allocation as a part of the successor agency sale proceeds to continue strategic policies, partnerships, programmatic interventions year round to reduce gun violence and improve community safety in alignment with the strong beach initiative. A1 motion to add onetime funds of 50,000 in the general fund group in the city manager department offset by a reduction of 50,000 in the Grow Long Beach loans allocation as a part of the successor agency sale proceeds to fund summer block parties and neighborhood activations. I priority of both neighborhood association leaders and violence prevention leaders. A12 motion to add onetime funds of 175,000 in the general fund group in the health and human services department offset by a reduction of 175,000 in the Grow Long Beach loans allocations as a part of the successor agency sale proceeds to bring the total youth total funding for youth power participatory budgeting to 500,000 to support direct investments in the program serving Long Beach youth. A13 motion to add onetime funds of 50,000 in the general fund group in the health and human services department offset by the reserve allocations as a part of the successor agency sale proceeds to support youth outreach and administration to manage the youth participatory budgeting program. An additional one-time funds of 60,000 in the general fund group is recommended for the program for a total of 110,000. A14 motion to add onetime funds of 50,000 in the general fund group in the economic development and opportunity department offset by a reduction of 50,000 in the corridor improvements allocation as a part of the successor agency sale proceeds to support a Cambodian economic impact study that will collect current economic data, community surveys, case study interviews, and focus group discussions that will be summarized into a Cambodian economic impact report. A15 motion to add onetime funds of 125,000 in the general fund group in the economic development and opportunity department offset by a reduction of 75,000 in the market study implementation and 50,000 in the Walk of Fame allocations as a part of the successor agency sale proceeds to support know your rights trainings to educate local businesses on what to do if law enforcement activities take place at or near their business operations and how to verify the existence of a legitimate court order or judicial warrant. A16 motion to add onetime funds of 25,000 in the general fund group in the economic development and opportunity department offset by a reduction of 25,000 in the EFD planning allocation as a part of the successor agency sale proceeds to fund the production of toolkits, posters, flyers, wallet cards, and other know your rights materials in various languages to be distributed to staff and customers at local establishments. and to fund Safe Place certified business decals that successfully trained businesses can display on their storefronts to highlight this designation and signal that the business is informed of their rights and affirm that the business is welcoming of immigrant communities. A17 motion to add onetime funds of 50,000 in the general fund group in the economic development and opportunity department offset by reduction of 50,000 in the advertising district allocation as a part of the successor agency sale proceeds to study innovative transit opportunities to provide more accessible and sustainable mobility options as Long Beach prepares to serve as a major venue city for the 2028 Olympic and Parolympic games. Mayor's investment recommendations funded using other funding and s sources include A18 motion to add one-time funds of 50,000 in the special advertising and promotions fund group in the city manager department to support additional citywide youth visual arts contests matching grants for arts marketing projects, sustainability initiatives, expanded equity programming in underserved communities, and arts education in partnership with the Arts Council for Long Beach. A19 motion to add onetime funds of 50,000 in the special advertising and promotions fund group in the city manager department to support partnership shship efforts between Rancho Los Alamidos and Rancho Los Cerritos in collaboration with the historical society of Long Beach to plan for exhibits, celebrations or other activities recognizing the 250-year anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. A20 motion to recommend the city manager work to make the one-time funding of 50,000 in the special advertising and promotions fund group in the city manager's office for the annual Long Beach Pride parade structural to provide greater stability and consistency for one of the city's signature gatherings that celebrates the visibility rights and contributions of the LGBTQ plus community. A21 motion to request that the Port of Long Beach contribute 10,000 from the Harbor Fund Group to support a public engagement initiative in partnership with Sister Cities of Long Beach to create a lasting tribute to the city's international connections in a highly accessible civic space such as Long Beach City Hall that celebrates Long Beach's role as an international city and raises public awareness of our global partnerships. A22 motion to request that the Port of Long Beach contribute 200,000 from the Harbor Fund Group each year over the next three years to support World Trade Center activities such as coordinating global trade missions and arranging business development meetings with international investors and business leaders to promote investment opportunities in Long Beach in alignment with this effort. A23 motion to request that the airport department contribute 100,000 from the airport fund group for each year over the next two years to support World Trade Center activities such as coordinating global trade missions and arranging business development meetings with international investors and business leaders to promote investment opportunities in Long Beach in alignment with this effort. A24 motion to request that the Port of Long Beach contribute 500,000 from the Harbor Fund Group to establish a temporary tariff emergency relief fund program to be designed and administered by the economic development department which will provide one-time financial assistance grants to local Long Beach based businesses and companies that have faced substantial income loss, disruptions to critical business operations or supplies, workforce impacts, or other economic hardships as a result of the volatile federal trade tariff policies. that have interrupted supply chains, increased costs for raw materials, and raised prices on consumers. A25 motion to request that the Port of Long Beach contribute 100,000 from the Harbor Fund Group to support the planning and hosting of the United States Conference of Mayor's annual meeting taking place at the Long Beach Convention Center in 2026, which will bring more than 400 mayors, Investors, and Developers from across the country to Long Beach. Mayor's policy recommendations include the following items. A26, motion to fund the mayor's recommendations for county measure A items and have staff returned for appropriation as part of approval of funding agreements with the county of Los Angeles. A27 motion to request the city manager to work with the Long Beach Fire Department to install a temporary restroom and shower trailer accommodation at the Captain David Rosa Regional Training Center as an in immediate interim solution to ensure that women recruits and cadre members have safe sanitary and private facilities while permanent infrastructure for these critical accommodations is being planned and constructed. This was a key recommendation outlined by the Commission for Women and Girls for fostering a more diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the community it serves. A28 motion to request the city manager to work with the Long Beach Police Department to explore the feasibility of broadening the department's community policing and engagement capacity to support the increasing number of special events with large crowds leading up to the 2028 Olympic and Parolympic Games. A29 motion to request that the Long Beach Utilities Department work with the technology and innovation department to explore the feasibility of leveraging new AI technology solutions to monitor underground water infrastructure and better predict leaks and water main failures before they occur. A30 motion to request the city manager to work with the public works department to enact some of the key recommendations outlined in the city auditor's street projects and pavement management performance audit including establishing communications plans to increase transparency and enhance public trust and improving project cost estimates to maximize the impact of public funds for street projects. 831 motion to request the city manager to work with the public works department to begin developing the next five-year capital improvement plan for the city of Long Beach to plan for future infrastructure projects and investments following the conclusion of the existing Elevate 28 infrastructure investment plan in fiscal year 27 with a deep focus on street improvement projects to elevate the city's overall pavement condition index. 832 motion to request city council to approve a one-time exception to the existing policy for the disposition of proceeds from the sale of former redevelopment agency properties to allow the citywide use of the successor agency sale proceeds to preserve and continue the violence prevention, youth engagement, and economic opportunity initiatives outlined in the mayor's recommendations. 833. Motion to request the city manager work with the economic development department work in partnership with local business associations and community- based organizations to establish a new safe place business certification program and promote know your rights trainings and information materials. 834 motion to request the city manager to work with city departments, the harbor and utilities departments, and citywide elected offices on developing a plan for a new legal reserve that provides the city attorney's office with the resources needed to defend against legal challenges from the federal administration and engage in proactive litigation to protect Long Beach residents as well as critical grant funding for city services and infrastructure. 835 motion to request the city manager to implement clear warrant review procedures across all non-public areas within city-owned buildings and properties intended for employee use and business operations in order to affirm the existence of a legitimate law enforcement warrant and limit entry to all non-public areas when no warrant is produced as permitted under state and federal law. A36 motion to request the city manager to introduce visible signage on doors and entryways clearly demarcating all non-public areas where entry by law enforcement agents is restricted and requires the production of a warrant or judicial order. 837. Motion to request the city manager to work to ensure all city staff, including frontline staff and lobbies and reception areas are trained and have work site specific reporting and response protocols in place so that every city works site can verify the existence of a valid warrant or judicial order. A38 motion to request the city manager to work with every city department and request each to submit preparedness plans to the city manager reflecting the enactment of these trainings and response protocols to ensure all departments know how to abide by the Long Beach Values Act and respond to law enforcement activities on city properties or facilities. A39 motion to request the city manager to clarify and extend the applicability of the city's existing disciplinary policies and procedures to confirmed violations of the Long Beach Values Act by city employees, including pathways to enforce standard disciplinary consequences such as warnings, suspensions, demotions, or dismissals in order to meaningly meaningfully defer potential violations of the values act and ensure full compliance with the policy. A40 motion to request the city manager to work with the office of equity to develop a formal and centralized resident complaint portal as a new public accountability mechanism where residents can submit an official complaint with evidence if a city employee has invi has violated the values act to initiate the appropriate investigations and disciplinary measures. A41 motion to request the city manager to work with all city department heads and general managers to assi assign at least one immigrant affairs leaison within each department whose focus will be to help report any law enforcement activity by any external agency on city properties or facilities under the department's purview. Support department leadership in disseminating educational or training materials including updated city policies and protocols under the Long Beach Values Act. recommend services or programs within the department that can be leveraged to support families impacted by federal immigration enforcement actions and support department leadership in identifying and evaluating barriers that immigrant community members may face and accessing department services so that they can be adequately addressed. A42 motion to request that the city attorney draft language to integrate into standard contractual language for relevant city contracts and vendor agreements that requests external vendors to observe the Long Beach values act and advises vendors that any documented business practices determined by the city to violate or be in in substantial conflict with the values act may result in disqualification from f future city contract opportunities. These additional safeguards will reinforce compliance with the Long Beach Values Act among the city's contracted vendors and affirm the data privacy interests of Long Beach's immigrant communities and all residents alike. A43 motion to request that the city attorney's office request public records from other jurisdictions regarding the dates and locations of all enforcement activities in Long Beach, including the identities of individuals and reasons they were arrested or detained and associated costs of the enforcement activity. A44 mo motion to request that the city attorney pursue any appropriate cost recovery measures including formal reimbursement petitions, administrative claims, and any other legal remedies available to the city where there exists a legal remedy for any property damages, vandalism, interruptions to city programs or services, loss revenues to the city, or other harms reasonably related to an external agency's law enforcement activities or presence on or near city-owned properties. and A45 motion to request the city manager to work with the economic development department to pursue a partnership with project equity to provide technical support for succession planning, employee stock ownership, worker cooperatives, employee ownership trusts and catalyst funds and other innovative strategies to keep legacy businesses running after original owners plan to exit the business. >> All right, good job, Rebecca. You got through it. Maybe you should alternate a little bit. Nah, you're in the zone. Keep going. Just keep going. All right. Um, members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> Thank you. Next motion, please. >> All right. Just to help explain what's going on as we go into the next part of it. So, um, there really are three major parts of the budget. There's the proposed budget that everyone has seen in in writing. Then the mayor puts on the recommendations. We just went through all the mayor's items and so he takes input from everyone and uh at his stage and then we get to the BOC recommendations. So now you're going to hear uh additional um changes either to the manager's budget or mayor recommendations and this is kind of the final part um that uh listens to all the rest of the community input and the council input uh that's been having and then the council will deliberate on on the entire budget uh once they hear the budget recommendations. So, we'll go um uh council member, do you want to give your comments and then Rebecca read everything? >> Yeah, cuz my my comments are going to be pretty brief. >> All right, Chair Rickod. >> Thank you, mayor. Um and thank you everyone for being here. Um I think it's really a reflection of our city to see so many of you so engaged um in our budget process. So, thank you so much for being here. Um as I mentioned earlier at BOC, um I just wanted to acknowledge that, you know, over the course of this budget cycle, the city of Long Beach has engaged in two distinct phases of outreach. From the early community engagement meetings in January and February to the most recent community budget meetings uh in August, residents across the city have shared their input on how taxpayer dollars should be spent. I want to thank every resident uh who participated in meetings and through the digital comment card to make your priorities known. Um, I think we all know that despite the real challenges that we continue to face, this budget, I believe, remains a true reflection of both the city council's top priorities and the priorities voiced by our community members, focusing on keeping neighborhoods safe and clean, expanding housing opportunities, caring for those experiencing homelessness, supporting our young people, and investing in a healthier and more sustainable communities. Um, I want to acknowledge and thank uh the dedicated city staff who have worked tirelessly through this process and supported the work of the budget oversight committee. Again, I want to thank the city clerk's office, our financial management department, the city attorney's office, the city manager's office, um, as well as my committee colleagues for their thoughtful and engaging comments. Um, and with that, I would like to present the approved budget oversight committee recommend recommendations to you all. Please bear with us and with our budget staff as these are just as long as the mayor's recommendations. And that being said I'm >> longer longer. Well, you know, arguably also more impactful. So, you know, I will leave. >> I'm gonna let that ride because I appoint the budget chair. I'm going let that ride. >> All right. Uh but thank you very much. Let's now go ahead and proceed with uh the recommendations. Thank you. >> Okay. We have another 45 um motion to support the budget oversight committee's proposed budget recommendations and changes to the mayor's budget recommendations and appropriate the following one-time enhancements or provide policy direction. B1 motion to request the city manager to immediately identify solutions as the top priority to further enhance paramedic rescue response capabilities in addition to the structural funding identified for peak load rescue 2 on a 12-hour 7-day a week schedule proposed in the city manager's budget and for those enhancements to begin in the fiscal year 26 budget year and return to city council with the funding sources and implementation plan. B2 motion request uh the city manager to work with the health and human services department to identify one-time funds of 318187,000 within the health fund group for two positions one public health nurse 2 and one health educator 2 in the black infant health program to provide bridge funding until July 1, 2026 at which point the city anticipates receiving grant funds that will fully cover the staff. B3 motion to request the city manager to reserve unspent funds for the Dia de los Mertos parade which will not be held in fiscal year 26 and carry funds over into fiscal year 27 to be utilized for the fiscal year 27 DA de los Muertos event which will provide which will bring the total funding available in fiscal year 27 to 100,000 B4 motion to keep the current cultivation cannabis tax rate at 1309 through October 1st 2026 the cultivation tax rate is subject to an automatic increase on October 1, 2025 per the consumer price index calculator without city council direction. B5, motion to request a one-time revision to the current council district priority funding fiscal policy relating to special events and filming fundraising efforts for fiscal year 26. Council offices shall be responsible for completing the special events council event form, including obtaining the required signature. On this form, the council office must provide special events and filming with the event budget and the anticipated amount to be raised through the sponsorships to be able to proceed, but a specific council letter or approved project list fund transfer committing district committing district priority funds shall no longer be required prior to event arrangements. However, if the sponsorship goal is not met, the council office will be responsible for covering the remaining balance either from future divide by nine operating budget or any other solution. B6 motion to request the city manager to reserve savings identified in the Tidland's operating fund group in the parks, recreation, and marine department estimated in the amount of 185,000 by fiscal year 25 year end and carried forward to fiscal year 26 to support 10 municipal band events in the Tidlands area, fully funding the municipal band for fiscal year 26 along with already received sponsorships with a commitment to dedicated fundraising efforts from council members and municipal band supporters to support funding gaps for all foreseeable future seasons beyond. on fiscal year 26 and align future events to account for funds secured which may be at a reduced level if fundraising is not successful. B7 motion to revise the previously approved Marina Vista Park pickle ball design and permitting funding of 100,000 from the Tidlands Operating Fund Group to allow the funds to create one dedicated pickle ball court and one dual stripe tennis pickleball court in Marina Vista Park with the remaining amount to continue to be available for design and permitting for additional new facilities. B8 motion to request the city manager to work with the health health and human services department to prioritize $70,000 funding if available from the opioid settlement proceeds to distribute fentanyl detection kits as detailed in the May 21st, 2025 memo to the city council and return to city council to appropriate funds identified if necessary. B9 motion to request the city manager to work with the economic development and opportunity department to prioritize bid funding support available through the former redevelopment agency sale proceeds plan to install yearround cameras and lighting to improve public safety in the Zaphiria business association bid if in alignment with overall fiscal priorities of the bid's use of funds. B10. Motion to request the city manager to work with the economic development and opportunity department to prioritize bid funding support available through the former redevelopment agency sale proceeds plan to enhance Fourth Street Farmers Market programming and outreach if in alignment with overall fiscal priorities of the Fourth Street Business Improvement Association use of funds. B11 motion to add onetime funds of 50,000 in the capital projects fund group in the parks recreation and marine department offset by unallocated park impact fees to further explore the skate park feasibility study to evaluate site conditions environmental and community impacts design options and cost estimates. B12 motion to add onetime funds of 25,000 in the capital projects fund group in the parks, recreation, and marine department offset by unallocated park impact fees for focused revisioning and community engagement over the long-term restoration and public access enhancements at Willow Springs Park, which will further open space restoration, public access improvements, and long-term ecological investment at Willow Springs Park. B13 motion to request the city manager to work with the Long Beach Airport Department to continue the subsidized aviation fuel for the environment program. City council authorized 60,000 for the supplemental type certificate reimbursement program and 200,000 for the unled AGAS subsidy program. To date, the programs have obligated over 5,000 in STC reimbursements and over 25,000 in subsidies. Both programs sunset at the end of this year and city council action is needed to extend them. B14 motion to reallocate the 47,500 from the Grow Long Beach Loans Program line item for Central Long Beach and 25,000 from Cambodian Economic Impact Study in the former redevelopment agency sale proceeds plan to fund the feasibility and/or implementation of the micro entrepreneur and vending economic opportunity program as outlined in the February 26, 2025 memo responding to city council direction on this item. B15, motion to add activations to the description for the central area in the former redevelopment agency sale proceeds plan for corridor improvements. B16, motion to recommend that the business support office program funding in the former redevelopment agency sale proceeds plan focus its efforts on expanding economic opportunities for micro entrepreneurs, including sidewalk funding, expanding programs and resources that would further assist micro entrepreneurs as discussed in the February 26, 2025 memo. B7 motion to reallocate 50,000 within the former redevelopment agency sale proceeds plan from the advertising district's program line item to conduct a highle feasibility study of the costs of refurbishing and upgrading the historical district of Wilmore city lamp post lighting B18 motion to reallocate 200,000 within the former redevelopment agency sale proceeds plan towards piloting a temporary deployment of private security services within the designating dining and entertainment zone specifically 100,000 from the downtown activation events program line item and 100,000 from the downtown advertising district's program line item. B19 motion to reallocate 47,000 within the former redevelopment agency sale proceeds plan from the Grow Long Beach loans program line item for assessment funding to begin design and interim improvements for the Prominade Square Park fountain. B20 motion to support the use of movies in the park in the downtown area as a priority for the downtown activations and events made available through the former redevelopment agency sale proceeds plan. B21 motion to reallocate 50,000 within the former redevelopment agency sale proceeds plan from the market study implementation program line for street safety improvements on Santa Fe Avenue and connecting streets near 23rd Street in Santa Fe, including but not limited to crosswalk repainting, permanent speed feedback signage, improved lighting, and other traffic calming measures recommended by the city traffic engineer. B22 motion to structurally add an assistant administrative analyst position to improve the timeliness of the administration and expenditure of the justice fund dollars in the city manager's office using the structural dollars currently set aside for the justice fund as the structural offset in order to not affect the current recommended amount for the justice fund efforts in the proposed budget. add 130,000 in onetime funds in the general fund group in the city manager department for the justice fund offset by onetime reduction in the amount of 130,000 in the general fund group in the park recreation and marine department to recognize savings due to timing of animal care staffing implementation as a result of delayed legal proceedings in the SPCAL lease termination in the proposed fiscar 26 budget. This additional 130,000 brings the total investment noted in the fiscal year 26 mayor's budget recommendations to 2.63 million towards supporting the needs of Long Beach's diverse immigrant communities. B23 motion to request the city manager prioritize available operating funding in fiscal year 26 to procure new signage of the Billy Jean King Main Library to inform the public of trespassing ordinances and return to the city council if existing operating budget cannot complete the project. B24 motion to request a city manager to enhance communication and promotion of existing services to provide subsidized parking for Billy Jean King Main Library patrons which currently is more than 80% subsidy for the first three hours. B25 motion to request the city manager to work with the public works department to create an infrastructure investment plan that assesses all Long Beach public libraries that can inform the upcoming update to the 5-year infrastructure plan. B26 motion to add onetime funds in the amount of 160,000 to support the safe passage program in the general fund group in the health and human services department offset by a onetime reduction in the amount of 160,000 in the general fund group in the park recreation and marine department to recognize savings due to timing of animal care staffing implementation as a result of delayed legal proceedings in the SPCAL lease termination in the proposed fiscal year 26 budget B27 motion to reallocate onetime funding of 25,000 for the Long Beach Area Veterans Commission in the mayor's fiscal year 26 budget recommendations to support the veterans banner program in the general fund group in the health and human services department as requested by the veterans commission. B28 motion to add onetime funding of 103,000 uh dollars for the microrant program in the general fund group in the community development department offset by reallocating 103,000 from the 133,000 from the mayor's fiscal year 26 summer block parties and neighborhood activities. uh 20,000 of that is from the Grow Long Beach loans allocation as a part of the successor agency sale proceeds and 83,000 is of fiscal year 25 anticipated carryover leaving 30,000 for the summer block parties and neighborhood activations. Further request the community development department to partner with the department of health and human services to expand program eligibility to include violence prevention organizations in addition to neighborhood associations so that the program better supports a broader range of community safety and activation efforts. B29 motion to request the city manager to work with the parks, recreation, and marine department to prioritize available operating or capital dollars in the fiscal year 26 funding to repair the HVAC system at the nature center and return to the city council if additional funds are needed. B30 motion to establish requirements surrounding the $200,000 allocated towards community land trust as a part of the mayor's fiscal year 26 budget recommendations as a result of recognizing the the importance of new ways to deliver affordable housing and the work of the land trust to date while also protecting city resources and assuring accountability. The dispersement of the 200,000 is contingent on substantial progress toward acquiring real property for the land to administer. And this progress could include the acquisition, acceptance, bid, offer, RFP response towards property acquisition and/or evidence of matching funds raised as the land demonstrates grants, donations, or other funding from sources other than the city. B31 motion to reallocate up to 300,000 from the county measure A category of flexible homelessness prevention and rental assistance in the mayor's fiscal year 26 budget recommendations to the tenant right to council program to account for the potential reduced carryover amount now projected to range between 0 to 150,000 instead of 440,000 as previously estimated for the tenant right to council to ensure $1,500,000 is available for the tenant right to counsel program the full reallocation will be based on a final accounting of actual carryover from LA County for the tenant right to council program B32. Motion to request the city manager expressly allow a minimum of 250 and up to 500,000 in settlement assistance funding as an allowable use under the county measure a category of homelessness prevention and rental assistance in the mayor's fiscal year 26 budget recommendations. Additionally provide the BOC a report in January 2026 regarding the status of these programs. B33 motion to direct the city manager to evaluate and complete a cost analysis of the hoops after dark program within the parks, recreation, and marine department beginning in fiscal year 26 as is as is as it is funded as a part of the mayor's recommendations on a onetime basis to explore looking to host the program in-house in fiscal year 27 and beyond. B34 Motion to request the Port of Long Beach to contribute on one-time funding of 50,000 from the Harbor Fund Group to match the fiscal year 26 budgets on one-time funding of 50,000 in the special advertising and promotion fund group, providing a total of 100,000 to fund the Long Beach Pride parade. Of this amount, the city's $50,000 allocation was recommended to be made structural as a part of the fiscal year 26 mayor's recommendations. B35 motion to request the city manager to work with staff to include West Long Beach as a part of the proposed fiscal year 26 budget one-time assembly bill 32 funding of $100,000 to support urban forestry tree plantings and priority areas of extreme heat areas and to prioritize Bixie Bixby Nolles California Heights Lakewood Village South of continent to be included in pre-existing unspent funds already allocated to tree planting B36 motion to request 50,000 from the for former redevelopment ment agency sale proceeds plan for the public realm program line item to support a match for other funding sources to improve the public realm in Gumbinder Park and allow the park to be secured at night. B37 motion to reallocate onetime funding of 200,000 currently appropriated in the Tidlands operating fund group in the public works department for homelessness response to the city auditors department to complete an audit of the Tidlands fund. B38 motion to request the city manager to prioritize strengthening the city's general fund group operating reserves and contingency funds to protect core public services and fiscal resilience in the face of potential federal funding reductions and other potential pressures on the city's budget. B39 motion to adopt the updated RDA table reflective of both the mayor's recommendations and BOC recommendations for a total of 8.7 million in the general fund group across various departments in attachment number one B40 motion to establish a May 15th deadline for BOC members to submit recommendations regarding BOC agenda topics with the exception of urgent unforeseen matters that may arise and need to be added to the agenda at a later time. B41, motion to require community budget meeting feedback results be provided to the BOC and city council no later than two weeks before the proposed budget adoption date. B42 motion for city manager to return with three alternative residential street allocation formulas separate from the current and previously used models as laid out in the quantitative analysis provided by public works with the goal of providing a more equitable distribution of baseline street investment citywide while targeting documented pavement deficiencies and higher density areas and traffic volume. B43 motion for community budget survey responses to be disagregated by council district in reports. B44, motion to set the deadline for city council budget requests as the second to last BOC meeting, ensuring adequate time to develop final recommendations for city council. And B45 acknowledge that requests for funding from council districts of various programs have been received received and reviewed. At this time, due to the absence of identified funding solutions, these requests cannot be recommended to be incorporated into the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. The programs listed below remain on file for future consideration, pending availability of resources or alternative funding mechanisms. This motion serves to recognize the value of these initiatives while maintaining fiscal responsibility and transparency in the budgeting process. One, Carol Park repurpose concrete streets to preserve original character. Two, programming at Bixby activate parks through expanded programming. Three, Cambodian senior meal program. Four, feasibility of concrete neighborhood street repairs in Cal Heights Historic District. Five, Wrigley neighborhood banner signage along Pacific Avenue and Willow Street. Six, expansion of the municipal ban in the downtown dining and entertainment zone. As this program is currently not able to sustain funding for its current structure, it is not recommended to expand until the program addresses its budget shortfall first. Seven, care LBC cleanup efforts along Pacific Avenue and in the Westside Industrial Area. The fiscal year 26 budget includes a new contractual services effort to address this need through a competitive process. Eight, maintain funding for Westside Promise Coordinator position. The fiscal year 26 budget includes upgrading a vacant neighborhood services specialist 3 to an administrative analyst 2 in the housing and neighborhood services bureau to coordinate the Westside Promise program. And nine, funding to support Rancho Los Cerritos and Ranchel Los Alamos. As a part of the mayor's recommendations, 50,000 one-time was added to support partnership efforts. And that's it. >> All right. Uh, council member, anything to add after that? >> No. Again, um, thank you to my my my committee colleagues. Uh, we're really proud to present these recommendations uh, for your consideration here at council. And like I said, our whole goal is to make sure that, uh, my council colleagues as well as the community know that their voices were clearly heard. Um, we heard all of your comments. We heard all the public comment. Um, we received all the emails and we really did our very best um to to present to you a set of recommendations that had a lens of equity um that really saw what the needs of the community were um and something that we feel like we can be proud of. >> Well, Councilwoman, uh you did a a good job. I appreciate you even acknowledged what you couldn't get to uh so people felt heard. So, I want to applaud you and uh Vice Mayor Yuranga and Council Member Allen, the members of the budget oversight committee. Good work. I support all of your recommendations. Next is Vice Mayor Yuranga. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh before I continue, I want to thank you for the comments you made when we opened up this item regarding the Supreme Court and what's happening nationally. It's very important that we uh reemphasize the fact that we are a uh city council that is sensitive to the community and we pay attention. Uh I also want to note that the budget committee has mentioned by council member my chair uh Joanie uh Rick Zonyi that we did listen no idea was a bad idea if we couldn't fund it this year we put it on a on a tickler list if you will on tickler that we will be looking at those in the future for future funding. So, still alive. Everybody didn't get what they wanted, but it's still alive and still there for future consideration. And I want to thank my colleagues uh Hicko, Rexon, and Allen for working with me, working with the commission, working with the council, working with budget staff. I think we always did a a stellar job in working together. that this is what we can do when we work together in cooperation to get a balanced the key word capital P capital B capital A bolded underlined italics balance budget which I think is more the most important thing and with no no budget cuts and no layoffs that is phenomenal that we were able to do that I can't speak for the future future, but I hope that we can keep this team together and uh working towards the future again. Thank you very much. >> And um >> thank you, Council Member Dougen. Oh, yes. Oh, okay. Great. Council member Allen. >> Um thank you, Mayor. I first of all want to thank you, Mayor, for your um for your budget uh recommendations. um they were very thoughtful and I'm I'm really appreciative of that. I also um I have to also recognize my BOC colleagues. You know um because of Brown Act um I feel like the chair has so much more on her shoulders that she had to bear and I tell you when um we've had some marathon um council meetings lately and you know we're starting at one um and so I just really commend you Vice Mayor Uranga and and uh Chair Rick Sod for for your work through this process. Um I'm really um proud of you and the um recommendations that you um that are putting forward and um despite the really challenging year that we've had um I think uh everyone did a really good job at balancing the needs um of the communities. I also really uh appreciate um the financial the financial management committee um because you guys surely worked really hard over uh the last couple months. So kudos to you. I'm truly grateful um for all of your hard work um that you put into uh this process. Um and I'm proud um to support the adoption um of these recommendations. Um, I do want to highlight the additional funding um that we were able to allocate to rescue too because uh back in March I brought this to council and we heard from so many of our firefighters that's that stood in line here and I can tell you we all were aligned. It seemed like we all relied in council um for the need um for for rescue too and expanding that ambulance coverage um in downtown and the central uh Long Beach. Um that was a much needed investment in in public safety. You know, uh this was going to help our residents um get um the emergency services they need when every single second counts. Um, so I know our BOC uh recommendations call for immediately identifying enhancement options and I think uh the type of enhancement we're going to need is full-time funding. So, um I I uh I think I speak for a lot of us when I say our residents and our firefighters uh deserve nothing less. So, with that, I just can't thank you enough. Um, and I have to say for all of you that came out, um, like Vice May Urena just said, you were heard. Um, you, um, so many of you, your your advocacy both at the BOC and here, um, at a council were very much appreciated and, um, you can see by where we landed that that you were heard. So, thank you so much for coming out and and, um, taking the time to advocate for things that are so important to our community. Thank you, mayor. Thank you so much. All right. Next is Council Member Dugen. >> All right. Thank you, Mayor. That is a lot of recommendations by both of you and really well thought out. That takes time. But I I want to start off by thanking Council Member Dr. Joanie Rickod. as the oversight as the BOC chair, I know how much work goes into that for you and you do a stellar job at um looking at the details, digging in and that all makes a difference. So, thank you to you and your committee. Um, I also just want to point out and thank city manager for their work, the budget office and our city departments for putting together a budget that balances a lot of competing priorities. There is a lot to be excited about in this budget. And specifically for district three, I'd like to point out some really good things that are moving forward. the green belts, our seaw walls. We fully funded the MUN band. I'm really happy to see some of the work that's going on in the Zaparia bid with funding cameras. Um, and our Tidland's audit is being funded. I had brought that up uh a year ago and it is funded. I know it was disconcerting to some people when this first came about, but we know this is going to be a benefit to the city to look at that Tidland's audit. Um, and finally, we're also using some money to resurface Marina Vista Park to create dedicated pickle ball courts. And pickle ball is popular. We all need our mental health breaks. And this adds to um this adds to some of our outdoor activities. And I understand this year's budget is impacted. I I didn't have many asks, but I do have one ask in the budget process. Can we bring back recommendation recommendation uh B42 on the BOC recommendations? Um I'd like to bring it back to council for full discussion instead of approving it through the budget process. There was a lot of discussion, community input, and compromise that went into our current allocation of street dollars. And I think that changing the way we allocate money for street repairs deserves its own discussion. Uh we don't have a lot of street repair dollars to be from my res residents. You'll see metaphorical uh torches and pitchforks if we take away money from um repaving streets. So for an informed discussion, I'd like to understand the current problem with the way we divide street dollar street repair dollars and what we are trying to fix with these three options that staff is bringing back. We have over a billion dollars in street repair backlog. So every neighborhood is feeling like they aren't getting their fair share of road improvements. I'd also like to better understand if we can get this back to council, what a more equitable distribution of baseline street investments means and what metrics can be used to achieve it. I know that targeting streets that need repair is the right thing, but I don't know if higher density areas with high traffic volume means a more equitable distribution. So, I' I'd really like to have further discussion with more input. Um, I know I have a lot of dense neighborhoods in my district with a lot of coastal traffic uh in Belmont Shore and Naples that could benefit and areas like the traffic circle. But I think we should be systematic about about this because it's a top issue for so many residents and there hasn't been an identified problem with our system except that people want more of their streets repaved. So, thank you very much. Can I can I respond to that? So, just just to clarify, the the current recommendation does not change anything about our current allocation related to how we fund our streets. What it's asking for is for city staff to return back with some um with some um alternatives on how we might potentially achieve what I consider to be or I'm thinking is an equitable distribution that may result in us making not making any changes at all. I was like but the intention is for staff to for us to direct staff to go back look at this and then come back to city council um and then for us to have an open discussion around it. So know that the the recommendation I'm making in the BOC does not change anything about our current allocation and does exactly what you are asking for council member Dougen is for us to have the conversation. >> Thank you very much. >> Good. Thank you. Next, Council Member Thrash and Tuk. >> All right. Um thank you very much. Um so I too want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our city staff, uh the city manager and the team and the financial management team and all of Oh, yeah. All right. Well, thank you so much. >> Oh, now they're both on. Thank you so much. So, all right. Here we go. Um, so I want to thank all of the uh city uh departments. I was leading off with the financial management team and certainly all of our department heads for their thoughtful presentation of their budgets. Um, and they were able to come forth. Mayor, I want to thank you for kicking off our budget season uh for your uh budget that you put forth and to our BOC committee, including our chair, uh Vice Mayor Uranga, as well as Councilwoman Allen, uh for your leadership in all of the many um activities that took place to ensure um that you kept the community in mind as well as our city priorities and the activities that we need to do going forward. Uh, I do want to take the time to really thank our budget chair, uh, Councilwoman Rick OD for her highly impactful, uh, leadership on this committee. Um, the diligent work of the entire committee and thoughtfulness of your recommendations is reflected uh, in what we've seen here. And this being my very first time uh going through this budget process, I want to thank all the city staff as well as uh the budget oversight committee, including its chair, for your one-on-one support um and getting through this cycle. I want you to know that your efforts are highly appreciated and deeply valued. And I believe that that is evidenced by all of the many individuals who have come out uh to support the budget process over an extended period of time and who I believe see their priorities reflected in this budget based on the applause and the attention um here this evening. Uh I just want to make a couple comments in terms of the opportunity to be able to lift up a few items that um are really important to my office. Um, I really appreciate the ability to continue to allocate resources to support the bridge um, financing needs of the Black Infant Health Program. Um, I want to thank uh, the leaders here as well for their support of the right to council uh, funding that was received. And I want to acknowledge that while we were able to get some resources, um I do look forward to additional conversations about how we continue to expand resources for innovative housing solutions specifically around the community land trust. Um and with that, uh the chair of the um budget oversight committee, I just say congratulations. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Council Member Carr. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I want to thank start by thanking all of you who have engaged with us over the course of the last nine months that I know when we talk about budget in January it seems so early and we're like it seems really early. Um but you've continued to be involved with us in the process uh by your presence here at community meetings by your emails filling out surveys. So for everyone who participated in the process um thank you for doing so. It really matters and I hope you see your voice reflected um maybe not exactly the way you had hoped but at least see somewhere where your voice was reflected in the work that came out and I want to thank the budget team and the and the city team uh for the work they did to facilitate that engagement. Um we know that community engagement doesn't happen um naturally sometimes for some people that it really takes a thoughtful process to engage people. Uh so I thank you for refining that each and every year so that we reach the most number of people possible. Um and to the team and financial management, thank you and kudos and I hope you have some hot tea over there for all of your talking that you're doing. Uh I want to thank the budget oversight committee and my colleagues for their careful and thoughtful considerations of the various requests and suggestions from myself and colleagues, city departments and our community. We know it's a complicated balancing act to keep it functional and fair and fiscally responsible um and to reflect our values as a city. And we know that always our needs outweigh our resources. And so we I appreciate the collaboration and compromise uh that was brought to the table. Um I want to thank you for supporting uh four of my five recommendations that align with our city goals of improving health, safety, and quality of life, including further investments into Willowis Springs Park. um feasibility of a skate park for at H Heartwell Park, which is really important to our youth. Uh I'm also grateful for the continued u continuation of the unlimited aviation fuel subsidy program. Um it's unlike anything across the country. We were the first city to do it and we know that it's um hugely important that we are making local strides as we continue to push our federal partners to move faster. Uh which goes handinhand with the additional dollars for uh urban forestry. We know that certain communities are disproportionately impacted by leaded fuel and general aviation. Um, and working on our urban forestry can help mitigate some of those impacts. So, I thank you for um, seeing the health needs involved for folks in that area. Um, and we know that supporting our residents is is critical while we advocate for as fast as possible for a trans transition at the federal level to unlit general aviation fuel. Um, and I want to thank you for acknowledging um the things we couldn't get to. And so we know uh Kell Heights historic district, their concrete streets are important to them. And so we've had conversations. So acknowledging that there's work to do is really important. And I look forward to working with the community um and our new public works director when that person takes that role to really have a thoughtful conversation about what that could look like of shared responsibility um in that. So, I only had a couple of questions. Um, thank you, Council Member Dugen, for clarifying uh item B42. Um, looking for alternative residential street allocation formulas. This is something that's really critical to our district as the district that has the most number of streets and the most number of streets in poor and very poor condition. Um, it's a critical conversation that I think needs to be really thoughtfully engaged in. So, thank you for the clarification, Councilwoman Dougen. Um, I did have a question. Um, we know that we switch up the budgets when um, we don't anticipate dollars being used for one thing this year, but maybe in the future. We know really important changes were made and and necessary additions uh, to our justice work. Um, and it is noted that that's coming from because of delayed litigation with SPCAL. So, just on behalf of we know the needs of SPCLA and our animal care services are going to come into effect at some point. Can we talk about what those um, Mr. city manager. Um when those dollars are there, how can we make sure that we're attending to those critical needs that we had already identified previously? >> Absolutely. So um one of the things that we did in this budget is uh because of some of our litigation right now that is expected um with SPCLA that's been public uh about that and where we are uh is if and when that is successful um the city will need to turn um to basically expand its operations and be able to take care of the animals that are there. And so we had set aside in the city manager's proposed budget uh some some structural dollars to be able to meet that obligation. Uh but we are in a court proceeding. It is going to take some time. It will take at least 6 months. It could take longer than that um to be able to get in front of a you know resolution or in front of a judge on this. So uh the motions that are in front of you today aren't impacting animal health. They aren't taking from any existing animal operations. Uh but they're recognizing that, you know, for every month that goes by that we're not um you know, engaging in that in that work, there are some onetime dollars available. >> Great. Thank you. >> That's all I have, >> Council Member Sorrow. >> Thank you, uh Mayor. Uh so obviously want to also add my gratitude to our amazing staff who um hears all of the public comments. um council member and other department staff, they have to really take all of this feedback to make sure they they report back. And so I want to congratulate Rebecca. This is her first budget. I think that she's second. Is it second? Oh, sorry. I thought it was Sorry. I thought it was the first one. I you know, it it comes together. But um congratulations to the team and you know, the staff and also want to give my kudos to uh Councilwoman Dr. Rick's OD here uh for her leadership on the BOC as well as Vice Mayor Yuranga and um Councilwoman Allen. It it's it's really a committee I call the fast and furious. It starts out really slow and it goes really fast, right? And I think you all are part of the ride. I really appreciate all of you uh all the residents um organizer advocates for being here to voice the needs of the constituent and residents that as well as um variety of people that you work with on a day-to-day basis, your families and your friends as well. And that is really important because I think that you know many years ago there wasn't this much engagement and I really appreciate the process to continually make sure that all of you are being heard as well as us as well as council members to be able to have a process to put forward a feedback so that we're um you know given several opportunities to make sure that um priorities and needs are being included in the the budget and it's reflective of that. Um, you know, I wanted to just raise that, you know, it's great that the mayor has kicked off the budget with his priorities and setting um, you know, what's important as well as city managers. So then we're able to continue to add to that and help shape it through this process. And I think that it's a challenging time as um, we heard on the dis today. Um there's a lot of need and the need girls and it's great um and that we you know I want to make sure you all know that we hear your you know we read your letters your emails um and it's just a process that we um all go through to figuring out what's going to make the most sense and sometimes it's not even more dollars. It's actually about how do we be more efficient uh with the dollars we have and and the structure and the process and the operation. And so I think that we've had a lot of great conversations. We had many late night meetings. And I think it also demonstrates how serious we are um to be able to you know ask these question and really go through all of these detailed process because it shows that we really we don't take this lightly at all. we know they're valuable tax dollar funds that uh needs to serve our community and the city that we all love. So, just again um wanted to lift up a few things that a priority um that um for district 6 uh or central in in general um on an item that you know we have been talking through the process of how to make vending sidewalk vending legal, right? we've talked about, but we know that most of the people who are vending are immigrants and at this time more than ever, it's it's been a challenge to figure out, well, what's going to how do we do things that are because of out of safety? Um, and that's why I'm proud that we're going to be uh for the item on B14 in developing, it's not a fancy name, but it's straightforward. It's a micro entrepreneur and vending economic opportunity program. an item was put forward to do a plan and we have this plan because in the end of the day we know in central Long Beach people are going to keep vending. This is one of the very few means for immigrants, people who have little to no capital are able to continue to survive. If you know just driving through my district and in central people pop up in vacant lots anyway. They're vending. They're doing business. But I think that we need to say, hey, let's let's figure out a process to support all of the micro entrepreneurs doing business in a way where we can prepare for the opportunity that comes obviously the Olympics but beyond as well because that's um you know I think a need that's not I think been uh invested in and I think that that's important we start somewhere on that. So obviously very grateful for our investment and all of the things that we have prioritized in this um you know budget this year and want to just thank everyone again for all of the work and congratulations. >> All right. Thank you council members and thank you so much. Uh first uh city manager Tom staff for all your hard work, mayor for your budget recommendations, and of course the BOC committee for your incredible and very hard work that goes into uh putting our budget process together, especially during a year that is without a doubt one of the hardest fiscal years that we've faced yet. Um the proposed budget has taken so much into consideration and has presented a balanced budget. Um, but I do want to say that my biggest biggest thanks goes to our community members, our organizations that have done an incredible job of providing safe spaces for our community to learn about the impact of our budget on all of our residents lives. and also that have been able to teach them the importance of being engaged with the budget and coming to city council meeting and seeing the importance and really seeing firsthand the true impact that the um comments and the engagement from the community has on the direction of our entire city budget. So, thank you again to all our community organizations for providing that that space, that education. So, yes. Yes. Give yourselves a hand. You guys deserve that. Yes, absolutely. Um, proposing and approving a budget allows us to plan and invest in the type of city we want for Long Beach families. As has seen and it has been said, our budget reflects our values. what we stand for and how we choose to move forward. I want to take a moment to commend our city's leadership in listening to our communities community needs and especially in standing up for immigrant rights and for choosing to move forward in solidarity with our most targeted communities. Especially today, I see a lot of much needed investment also going into the downtown area. And as the representative of the downtown area, I want to say thank you. And I also want to remind everyone that the downtown is a reflection of all our city. And I want all of us to take ownership of the downtown because really the downtown belongs to the entire city. So, thank you for all of the investments um that are going on there. Um I also want to um thank you for just the investment into the justice fund. That's been a passion of mine for many, many years. And I strongly and firmly support the allocation of the dollars that have been given to the justice fund, the rapid response team, and also um to establish safe spaces safe space business certification program for all of our businesses. We stand strong here in Long Beach and we stand together. Thank you so much, Chair Joanie Ricks ODI and my colleagues, Council Member Allen and Vice Mayor Uranga for your leadership on the budget oversight committee because I know that that is not an easy task and yet you have proposed such a wellbalanced uh budget. Uh the BOC is an additional tool for us as a city to allocate more uh time for the community engagement and for discussion and further analysis of the proposed budget. I submitted several recommendations to the BOC uh committee to prioritize downtown and library investments. I am pleased to see that those have been taken into consideration and creatively implemented. Regarding the downtown investments, I did make one change to my memo and I wanted to confirm after working with our development partners on the armory. We have a plug of 75,000 um dollars to help go with towards an iron fence for Gunbinder Park. one of the four priority focused areas for the city's homelessness efforts. I would like to um ask if if staff could include funding for for this from the wayfinding and public realm line item from the successor agency properties proceeding specific to the downtown area. >> Yes. So that is um one of the items that is in the BOC recommendation. So, um there has been uh uh taking from the public realm account that wayfinding public realm about $50,000. So, we understand between the armory investing some divide by nine that you'd be putting up and 50,000 there that'll get us uh you know what we believe is very close to the estimate to move forward with that project. >> Thank you, John. >> All right. Well, all right. Well, I want to thank the council members for their comments. Uh that was our final comment. Members, please cast your vote to adopt the BC recommendations. Okay, >> motion is carried. >> All right, thank you. We are not done yet. >> A whole lot more voting to do. Next motion please. >> Recommendation to adopt the expenditures and revenues as identified in the proposed FY26 budget as amended. >> All right, it's been moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. Motion is carried. >> Next motion, please. >> Recommendation to adopt a resolution amending the master fees and charges schedule for specified city services for citywide fees and charges for the city of Long Beach. >> Moved and seconded. Uh members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> Next motion. Recommendation to approve the fiscal year 26 one-year capital improvement program. >> Moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> Next motion. >> Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the departmental organization ordinance read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the city council for final reading. >> Moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> Next. Is that it? >> No, there's a handful more. Yep. Recommendation to adopt the amended salary resolution for fiscal year 26. >> Moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> Next motion, please. >> Recommendation to adopt resolution approving the fiscal year 26 budget for the Long Beach Harbor Department as adopted by the board of harbor commissioners on June 23rd, 2025. >> Moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. Motion is carried. >> Next motion, please. >> Recommendation to adopt a resolution approving resolutions of the Long Beach Public Utilities Commissioners fixing rates and charges for water and sewer to all customers and a resolution correcting Scrier's errors in fixing rates and charges for water and sewer services to all customers. >> Uh moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. Next motion, please. >> Recommendation to adopt a resolution approving the fiscal year 26 budget of the Long Beach Public Utilities Department as adopted by the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners on June 17th 2025. >> Thank you. Moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> Next motion, please. Recommendation to adopt a motion approving the fiscal year 26 budget for the Long Beach Community Investment Company in the amount of 6,19,655. >> Thank you. Moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> Next motion, please. >> Recommendation to adopt a motion approving the estimated transfer of 25,34,986 from the Harbor Fund Group to the Tidlands Operation Fund. Titleless transfer. Thanks to the port. Keep going. Uh members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> Next motion, please. >> Recommendation to adopt a resolution establishing the GAN appropriation limit for fiscal year 26. >> Moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> Okay. These next two, are these the ones we have to go back and calculate? So, we don't do these next, right? These final two Rebecca. >> Yeah, because there were no changes, I think we can move forward and we'll just file and report everything. >> Fantastic. That's the first time that has ever happened in the 16 budgets I've worked on. >> All right. >> Fantastic. We are about to adopt this thing now. Mo uh moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. >> Oh, call it. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Recommendation to declare an emergency to exist for the appropriations ordinance for fiscal year 26 creating and establishing the fund group of the municipal government and appropriating money to and authorizing expenditures from said funds for said fiscal year. >> Moved and seconded. Members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> All right. And our final vote. >> And this item requires two votes. Recommendation to declare the appropriations ordinance for fiscal year 26 creating and establishing the fund groups of the municipal government and appropriating money to and authorizing expenditures from said funds and for said fiscal year as an emergency ordinance read and adopted as read and laid over the next regular meeting of the city council for final reading. >> Members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> And there's a second one. Right. Correct. >> Okay, we need a motion and a second. Okay, members, please cast your vote. >> Councilwoman Kerr, >> sorry. >> Motion is carried. We are done. >> All right. And that's a budget. All right. Well, we well, thank you all for your participation. Um, uh, that's our budget process for the year. Next year, next week, we'll do one more ordinance reading, but but that's it. So, it goes into effect October 1, and we have a lot of work to do, but thank you for your participation. Good work, everyone. >> All right, we're going to power through uh these last four or five items. I'm sorry. >> The ma'am, the meeting's not over. Let's go. >> So, Tu and him share a birthday. How cute is that? All right. Item 16, please. >> Report from economic development. Recommendation to adopt specifications and award contracts to Continental Acquisition Services, Epic Land Solutions, Inner West Consulting Group, and Overland Pacific and Cutler for as needed real property acquisition, relocation, and related services in a total aggregate amount not to exceed 3 million citywide. >> Thank you. Is there public comment? Members, please cast your vote. Motion is carried. >> All right. 17, please. >> Report from economic development. Recommendation to adopt specifications and award contracts to various contractors for as needed real estate economic analysis professional services in a total aggregate amount not to exceed 1,500,000 citywide. >> And is there public comment? Members, please cast your vote. Motion is carried. >> 18 >> report from economic development recommendation to execute an agreement and all necessary documents with the state of California employment development department to accept and expend program year 2025 2026 workforce innovation and opportunity act grant funding in an amount up to 5,735,200 to implement workforce training programs and strategies citywide. >> Is there any public comment? No, >> please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. >> 19. >> Report from Parks, Recreation, and Marine. recommendation to execute agreements and all necessary documents with the Long Beach Unified School District for the operation of the afterchool education and safety program at Burbank, Edison, Garfield Grant Herrera King and Lafayette elementary school sites in an amount not to exceed 1,288,355 and authorize a 15% inind match of 193,254 districts 1, 2,7, and nine. >> We are back to schools. Is there any public comment? No >> members, please cast your vote. >> Council Rashenuk. Motion is carried. >> Uh, next motion. Next item. 20. >> Report from Parks, Recreation, and Marine. recommendation to execute agreements and all necessary documents with the Long Beach Unified School District for the operation of the expanded learning opportunities program at Burbank, Edison, Garfield, Grant, Herrera King, and Lafayette Elementary School sites in an amount not to exceed 2,466,470 districts 1, 2,7, and 9. >> All right, good stuff. Back to school. Uh, motion's moved and second. Any public comment? >> No. >> Members, please cast your vote. >> Motion is carried. 21 >> report from Parks, Recreation, and Marine and Public Works. Recommendation to accept and expend grant funding from the California Department of Parks and Recreation for capital improvements at Hudson Park and enter into any agreements and amendments related there to in an amount not to exceed two 2 million. District 7. >> All right. Congrats, District 7. It's been moved and seconded. Any public comment? >> No. >> Members, please cast a vote. >> More money for Hudson. Motion is carried. >> Great. We'll now go to general public comment number two. Let's see. I see three people signed up to speak. Is Lordis Dixon here? Is Deborah Betants here? Is Carsey Mendoza here? All right. Seeing none, we'll now go to closing uh comments and adjournment. I'm going to go to Vice Mayor Yuranga. >> Thank you, Mayor, and congratulations on another successful budget. Uh tonight I want to end tonight's meeting with a uh memorial to a former colleague of mine employee Deborah Mcccluster. Debbie as everybody would call her worked for me in the recruitment division from 197 from 1992 to 2000. She was lively, very cenial, very personable and uh it was very sad to hear that she passed away last week. She was a 35 year plus employee of the city. So she was a family member. She was born on January 30th, 1962. at fast this past uh August 20th. Her memorial services will be held on September 21st at Forest Pond in Cypress. And uh I just want to wish her good speed Godspeed. I want to invite the public to the grand opening of the Silverado Fork Playground on Friday, September 12th. beginning at 12:00 p.m. and also to the Westside Fest this Saturday, September 13th at Abro Park from 12 to 5. Please come out and enjoy free music giveaways and community services. Hope to see you there. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Kerr. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, there are tons of ways to get out and connect with CD your CD5 community this weekend. You can stop start off your weekend supporting local vendors at Long Beach Exchange with one or both of their pop-up markets. So, Friday night, they have their Friday night market from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. And then Saturday the 13th, they have their pup parade from 3 to 8. Additionally, Saturday afternoon, you can support local shops and businesses at the monthly Park View Village second Saturday's block party from 11 to 3. After that, you can cruise over to Ranchelo Certos for their 9inth annual craft beer LBFest, uh, taking place from 1 to 5:00 pm to learn about the local craft beer scene while touring the beautiful historic Rancho grounds. For more information and tickets, you can get them at craftbeerlbfest.com. I know uh, one of our deputy mayors has participated in the craftbeerfest as a participant. I don't know if Mr. Lock is doing that again this year, but maybe he is. Go check it out. Um, and you can finish the night at the Expo Arts Center in Jazz for at Jazz in the Candlelight from 6:00 to 7:00 PM featuring uh, Grammy Grammy nominated music musician Billy Mohler. Lastly, you can finish the weekend strong at Ambitious ALS as they collaborate with Kubo Long Beach and Bellcanto Books for a boozy book fair. So for all of you adult books fair fans, go to Ambitious ALS Sunday, September 14th from 12:00 to 4. Enjoy a beer and buying some books. Have a good weekend. All right. Thank you, Council Member Zindas. >> I'd like to invite everyone to our fifth annual skate jam turnup and shoe giveaway with Dreams into Golds. Um, partnering up with my office this Saturday, September, I'm sorry, next Saturday, September 20th, starting at 10:00 a.m. at Lincoln Park. Also, um, my annual council district 1 port tour will be on Thursday, September 25th. RSVPs are required, so please reach out to my office if you would like to join us. Craftman's Village Historic District Neighborhood Cleanup will be on Saturday, September 13th at 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at 1245 East 9th Street. Lastly, um I want to invite you to celebrate Latino Restaurant Week in the city of Long Beach happening from September 22nd through September 28th. You want to make sure that you get to uh taste all the extraordinary Latino specials that will be had at all of the participating Latino restaurants in the Long Beach um in the city of Long Beach. Thank you. See you all in the community. >> Thank you, Council Member Rickody. >> I was going to say to council member Kerr, I'm particularly interested in that boozy book fair. We'll have to talk about that later. Um sounds fun. Um, thank you to everyone who participated in the fiscal year 20 2026 budget process. Um, from attending budget oversight committee meetings and delivering public comment. Your voices have been central to every step of the way. Um, I have three announcements. So, first is I would like to invite everybody out to our Port of Long Beach Greenport Tour um on Thursday, September 11th. So, this Thursday from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The event will feature an informative boat tour highlighting the Port of Long Beach's innovative green initiatives and sustainability efforts. The tour will depart from the Harbor Breezes Cruises dock number two at 100 Aquarium Way. Additionally, I'd like to invite everybody out to attend the DeForest Park Neighborhood Association Teen Summit on Saturday, September 13th from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event will provide high school students with valuable resources, information, and inspiration to pursue higher education and prepare for the workforce. The teen summit will be held will take place at the Michelle Obama Library at 5870 Atlantic Avenue. Uh, and lastly, I invite everybody out to attend the Council District 9 Lead Uptown Academy. Lead stands for learn, empower, advocate, and develop. This will be held on Saturday, October 4th from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is designed to empower community members by offering resources, insights, and tools to become effective advocates for their neighborhoods. The event will be held at Hton Park located at 6301 Myrtle Avenue. For more information on any of these events, please contact our office at 562-570-6137 or district 9 long beach.gov. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Thrash and Tuk. >> Thank you so much, Mayor. I'm so excited to announce that this past weekend we welcomed a new business to the ETH district. Headliners Times Pretty Please. It's a barber shop and salon studio. Their grand opening was a wonderful celebration. I appreciated the invitation to join them. I encourage everyone to stop by, tour the space, and experience a welcoming and relaxing environment. Look it up. Headliners times pretty please. Now, looking ahead this weekend, this Saturday, September 13th, the birthday celebrations will continue, but I'll be in service to community. It's shaping up to be a busy and fun day. Things kick off at the Ridgewood Triangles Neighborhood Association cleanup at 8:30 a.m. at 4555 Orange Avenue. Later that morning, we'll be stopping by the North Village Association where they'll be holding their regular neighborhood meeting at Black Green Coffee in the ETH district. Both events are wonderful opportunities to connect with neighbors and strengthen community. Following that, LBUSD will be hosting the Center of Black Excellence, and it will have its welcome back festival at Lindberg Middle School. That'll be from 10:00 a.m. to 3 PM. This event will feature activities, food, entertainment, and resources for families, all in celebration of the new school year. This is a brand new space and a great way for the community to learn what the center has to offer. There's more. I hope you'll join me at the Pulse of the People, one of North Long Beach's signature events. It'll run from 11:00 a.m. to 400 pm at the North Point and Seapport villages and promises a wonderful mix of live music, dynamic performances competitions and community connection. Um, and to wrap up the day, I look forward to co-hosting Busfest Long Beach 2025. This is a free familyfriendly community celebration that'll be celebrating public transit. Again, it'll be happening, all of this is Saturday, September 13th from 2:00 p. p.m. to 5:00 pm at Granada Beach near um uh not too far from here. Uh all attendees will have a chance to visit information booths, look at bus equipment, enjoy giveaways, and utilize the provided bike valet and fix it station. I look forward to seeing you out in the community this weekend. >> All right. What's it called again? The festival. >> Busfest Long Beach 2025. >> Got it. All right. hadn't heard of that before. Uh, Council Member Sorrow, >> thank you. So, kicking off uh, let Hispanic or Latino Heritage Month, Latinos in Action is hosting celebration of Hispanic Heritage and a resource fair at Peace Park this Saturday, September 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Peace Park. If you didn't know where it is, it's 1411 Atlantic Avenue. Um, so we'll see you there on Saturday celebrating Hispanic Latino Heritage Month. >> All right. Uh, next, Council Member Allen. >> Yes. I I'd like to invite um the city out to their local restaurant, pub, bar, wherever you like to watch football. Monday night football and uh the Raiders plan on uh beating the Chargers. Go Raiders. All right, it's that time of the year again and then we're going to go to Council Member Supernaw to close us out. >> Let me try that again. Thank you, Mayor Richardson. Um, I'd like to close tonight's meeting in memory of our former city attorney, Robert Bob Shannon. Bob devoted nearly four decades to serving Long Beach, guiding the city with steady leadership as both assistant city attorney and later as our elected city attorney from 1998 to 2013. Uh after his retirement, he continued to step up when called upon, contributing to his experience and judgment on the water commission and later helping to establish uh the utilities commission. I'd also like to add that he was a meals on wheels volunteer and since uh 2022 a fourth district resident. He was admired for his sharp intellect, strong principles, and unwavering dedication to good governance. Bob's legacy of service and commitment to Long Beach will endure. He will be greatly missed. Thank you. >> All right. Well, that uh concludes our council count comments and announcements. Thanks so much for joining us. This meeting is now adjourned. >> At 8:15, >> back to early council meetings again. >> Are we going to sing? Wait, are we going to sing council woman? >> Are we going to sing council member Threshuk happy birthday? >> We're not going to sing it. Happy birthday, we are going to sing to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear council woman in Tanua. >> Happy birthday to you. >> Ditto. >> Thank you all. Thank you. >> All right. Since you're celebrating >> Yeah, I think I saw your questions, but now you know that it's usually just a real comment. But I think they were good. I mean, we can save it for next year. Yeah, I think Oh, I was going to keep [Music] studying. So,