Recommendation to receive and file communication from the Fire Chief to Marine Safety Division staff regarding staffing of the City’s four rescue boats.  (Citywide)
Item 14. Report from the City Manager Recommendation to receive and file communication from the Fire Chief to Marine Safety Division Staff regarding staffing of the city's four rescue boats. City West. Mr. Mayor. Council members during the public comment period of the last council meeting also this evening and also in closed session or prior to close session, a number of our Long Beach lifeguards spoke out about issues surrounding the staffing of the city's four rescue boats in the Marine Safety Division. The mayor and city council requested both a closed session and open session item B scheduled for tonight. As you know, we already had the closed session and the city attorney reported that out. This obviously is open session. The closed session was held earlier this afternoon. And as you heard from the city attorney, the council has instructed us to go back and meet with the Lifeguard Association to discuss the staffing plan and training that the fire chief is planning to move forward with, which will be completed no later than October 15th, at which time the fire captain will be placed on the shoreline . Vessel will vacate the vessel. With that, we'd be available to answer questions. But again, we're being directed to go back to the table, to work with our lifeguard department, to create this training program and be concluded with the entire training program and conclusion of the fire captain on the shoreline vessel on or before October 15th. Would you like a motion, Mr. Mayor? I would love to. Move to the receiver file, so. I'm moving. Second, any member of the Public Trust Council on item 14. Larry, could you clear? Cassie address. John Could you pull up, put on the screen the transparency? As I mentioned last week or the last time you met, my views relative to the lifeguards are based upon interfacing with them since 1982. When it comes down to the details, with all due respect to the fire department. When in doubt, I would stand behind the judgment. But a lifeguard as there is to that which is on the 14th floor. Of the city hall. That was not always the case in terms of the city hall management. It was generally in sync with the management of the lifeguards. What you see there is an interesting photo that is from the one of the members of the Swift Water Rescue Scheme. I would rather rely on their skill and judgment and their counterparts. As I say, then, these people in this building and in emergency. Be it on water or be it on be it on land? Yes. There's an interesting back story which is on the backside of this, which will come into play in about 6 to 8, less than six, eight months and so forth. This was just a very little side note here. This was the first branding or marketing of the effort of the two nearly two and a half decade effort, which will culminate hopefully within six months of securing the next Olympic bid, if the IOC if the USOC decides to bid. But again, the message is I would rather rely on the talent and the skills of somebody able to accomplish that. Then those on the 14th floor of this city. Thank you. Thank you. Next, please. Automated Council members public. My name is Erin Fletcher. I'm a board member for the Long Beach Lifeguard Association. First, thank you guys very much for all your energy for these last several months, both in listening and meeting with us and responding, and for your energy behind closed doors to get a firm deadline of October 15th on this plan. We look forward to working through the meeting confer process. One of the questions I have is, are we gonna go through the entire meet and confer process prior to. The implementation of. Putting the captain on the rescue boat? Or is that going to be is that going to be done. Prior to the completion of our meeting confer process? And what we don't understand why the captain is still going out there and we don't agree that he has to be placed out there, especially considering budget cuts when we talk about the R&D program and also about budget and now we call back to the lifeboats and we're talking about increasing the amount we're spending. It just begs some questions from us. And with that, just again, thank you for your time. Thank you for your energy. We still have concerns and. Thank you, Mr.. Actually. You have to identify yourself again. Okay. My name's John Rancic. I wear a lot of hats. I'm the current Commodore of the Association of San Pedro Bay Clubs. Which in Long. Beach encompasses SEAL Beach Yacht Club, Little Ships, Fleet Yacht Club, Navy Yacht Club of Long Beach. Long Beach Club. Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and the Marina Yacht Club. And I went at our last meeting. I was directed to express to the City Council the fact that we really felt the need for the lifeguards to be on the boats, even in the firefighting capacities, primarily because when we're out there on the water, especially when we're racing or. Especially during. Peak times like 4th of July. I want the lifeguards out there who have our license. By the Coast Guard that have the experience. In the rescue. Operations and not necessarily. The firefighters. Who, you know, their job is to fight fires. So I commend the. Council in their efforts. To keep the lifeguards on the boat. And I want. To express the appreciation of the Association of San Pedro, the Yacht Club. Thank you. Thank you. Any further comment? Okay. Was there emotion? I forgot. I'm sorry. Yes. Emotion in second. All right. Members, any questions? Members, cast your vote for an item 14. The receiving firelight, but. Councilman. What? Motion carries. Thank you. Item 15 Clinical Reid.