Recommendation to approve the use of the Sixth Council District's one-time infrastructure funds transferred from the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW) into the Economic and Property Development (EP) in the amount of $80,000 to support the preservation of a historical and cultural asset at the top of the building located at 1030 Pacific Coast Highway; Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute the necessary documents with World Famous VIP Records LLC, a private organization located in the City of Long Beach, in an amount of $80,000 to be used for the removal, restoration, historical landmark designation, and temporary storage of the iconic World Famous VIP Records sign, until a permanent location can be determined within the City of Long Beach; and Increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Economic and Property Development Department (EP) budget by $80,000.
The motion passes. Thank you. Item 22, please. Communication from Councilman de Andrews and Mayor Garcia. Recommendation to approve the use of the sixth District. One time infrastructure funds in the amount of 80,000 to support the preservation of the iconic world famous VIP record sign at the top of the building located at 1030 Pacific Coast Highway. Thank you. Councilman Andrews couldn't be here tonight, so he's asked that we move this item forward. And I know he's asked Mr. Kyser to do a short staff report for the council, and then we'll go back to the city council. Mr. Keisler. All right. All right, mayor, honorable mayor and members of the city council. Tonight I'm presenting a quick overview of world famous. VIP records. Sign Restoration. World famous. VIP. Is a longtime, locally owned small business. And a member of the Sussex District community. Over the past 38 years, VIP records. Has served as. Both a record shop and recording studio for talented young musicians. And many notable musicians got their start there, including. Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Warren. G and others. The record store. And. Its iconic world famous. VIP sign is. An international tourist draw and an. Icon for the music. Industry as. Well as locally. It's located in can see in central Long Beach on Pacific Coast Highway near MLK. There's the picture on the right shows you. How close it is also to poly high school in in central Long Beach in the sixth district. So what we're proposing is that the city is going to support. Providing $50,000 to VIP's LLC to restore the world famous VIP record signed. This will include $30,000. For fundraising. Restoration costs directly related to the the requirements. To bring it back. Into its its condition and absorb the cost for the removal storage of the sign and assist with temporary storage. Until a permanent home within the city. Boundaries is established. World famous VIP records will retain complete ownership of the sign throughout the process, all intellectual property associated with the sign and has agreed to. Work toward restoring the sign within 24 months upon the execution of the. Agreement and any fundraising associated with restoring the sign over and above the amount that the city can provide. World famous VIP and Kelvin Anderson, the owner of the. Sign, have agreed to move forward with making this sign a historical landmark and maintain that the sign will. Stay in the city boundaries. Where it where all. This historic activity began. And ultimately our next steps are to move forward with executing an agreement. For both parties removal and restoration of the. Iconic sign temporary storage, and then identifying a permanent location and reinstalling it. So with that, I will end my staff report and be happy to answer any questions. Thank you. There's a motion and a second to make a public comment, and I'll go to you first. Okay. Is there a public comment on the motion before we go to the council? Please come forward. Go ahead. By. My name is Ramon. I'm in the fifth district. This is a this is an interesting sign. I like it. But I don't feel that this is an appropriate use of of funds for using taxpayer money. I know that we have already some office holding accounts that seems more appropriate, more of a freedom of speech thing, I think. However, I also notice that. I think the. Costs are significant to our city. I'm certainly willing to to undercut the price that this guy has done. I don't know how he's getting the contract. I'm certainly willing to do everything that this guy is going to do for $5,000 or less. So I don't know how are you going to beat this thing out, but I'd like to be part of that. And if it's necessary. I will certainly look for that. I'd like to work with my councilwoman or District six, and when those bids go out, I'd like to be part of that. Thank you. Thank you. Are there public comment? Please come forward. Good afternoon. My name is Michael Baker. I'm a business owner here in Long Beach. I own a barbershop next to the AP records. I am a native here in Long Beach, and I can remember when we used to buy vinyl records and VIP records. Where we used to see. Different entertainers like jazz entertainers, country western entertainer. It was just a place where people could go buy music during the old days. We had a lot of record store here in L.A. County. And to have a VIP record here at Long Beach, where we were able to see different artists be able to buy vinyls every week, be able to buy tapes, CDs. Some of you guys probably don't know vinyl CDs, but we used to have those back in the days. And VIP records were always there to supply us. And if we didn't have the music there, they always was able to supply us with it. Whenever you think of Long Beach. Throughout the world, people know VIP records, people, travelers from all over the world just to look at VIP records, not only just for the different artists who came to be BRP records, but it's just like when you think of Long Beach, you think of VIP records and the guy earlier said it all. I'm just trying to piggyback a little bit of history on it. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Speaker, please. Hello again, Cami Johnson from KABC on Bay City College. And I'm here to actually I'm is a fortunate day that we've come here because we've come here to celebrate diversity in our community and representation of different racial groups and different groups of cultural standing. Because today, you know, we're marking the day that we are standing on a culture icon and this is a worldwide cultural icon. And no disrespect to the AAPI community or the Latin American community or any other community, but they are highly, highly represented through a mola, through the Pacific Islander Museum. And this is just the first step beyond just a record store, but as actually a cultural significance to the African-American community. This is history we're making today. And so I'm just here to let you know that this is more than just a record store. This is more than just buying vinyl. This is more than just the history. This is more than anything you can possibly imagine. This is a worldwide phenomenon. We're sitting in our own community and there are people from all over the world, Germany, Japan, that I've seen specifically just coming to my website to just find out more about what's going on with VIP and Long Beach. When people come to California, they come to Long Beach, they say, okay, Queen Mary. But second to that is VIP records. And so therefore, I just want to let you know that this vote is important to our African-American community and all people of color in our community that need to be represented in such a phenomenal way. Thank you very much. Thanks so much. Next speaker, please. Hello, everyone. Mayor Garcia, the council members, I am indeed honored to be here today. First of all, I'd like to thank the mayor for embracing me and sitting down with me to discuss a lot of possibilities. Like to also thank in his absence the Andrew's and the mayor for getting us to this point that we are today . Special thanks. Go out to John Keisler, John Edmond and John's assistant, Isabella, who have been working above and beyond to support VIP in this movement. It's a may the mayor year a little over a year ago. I have packed it in. I felt like that I did all I could do in Long Beach. I just kind of felt kind of disconnected on love and what a different year and a few months make. Because today I feel optimistic. I feel included. I have a new relationship now with the city that I haven't had for many years. And, you know, it's just a great feeling and a great possibility for the future. I look back over the 38 years I've been a businessman in this city, you know, the love, the respect that I have been shown over the years of being here, the love that I have for this city and shown to this community. You know, I think back over the times, you know, when gang violence and stuff with at an all time high in the early nineties and I just felt that I had to do something to help the kids in the community. And that's what led me to open a record in a small recording studio in the back of my store. And as you are, many, you know, is that that is the launch pad for artists like Warren Snoop Ricky Harris, rest in peace and and others. And, you know, I got a chance to, uh, you know, save lives. I wish I was able to say even more. But, you know, with where we are today and moving forward, I feel that my work is not done in Long Beach. And I feel that there's a lot more that can be done to create opportunities for youth moving forward and in this community. And I just thank you for this opportunity and thank you for connecting with me. Youth. Many years ago, I had a great relationship with this city. I was looking through some of my accommodations, both city, state and government that I received in the years past. And it's a I feel today that I can have that new relationship in a new beginning. And I thank you all for this time. Thank you so much. Next speaker, please. Good afternoon, Mayor Garcia and Councilmember City Attorney. I want to thank you, Mayor, honestly, for your amazing leadership and guidance. And Councilman Diaz and John Edmunds and Keisler, we're not taking steps today to restore a sign. We're taking the first step to preserve legacy. It's Long Beach legacy. It's Calvin Anderson's legacy, but it's also the legacy of black music. There was a time when slaves were banned from playing loud instruments or dancing. There was a time when greats like Sammy Davis Jr performed for thousands but could not use the same restroom. And today, we're taking the steps to make a sign that represents hope. Because the truth is, that sign built its name and its brand in a toughest area of Long Beach where we had the highest crime and unemployment. There was a beacon of hope outside of Hollywood or New York that you could just walk down the street and pick up the mic for the first time, or maybe play an instrument for the first time. And although we didn't think that that was or he didn't think that was going to save every life and everyone was going to be a rapper or a singer, it. Gave a platform. And what our hope is today is that this is not a District six project. This is stemming because of the faith of District six. But it's a citywide project. And we hope that we can work with all of the council members to really help restore this legacy, preserve it, and provide opportunities in different districts to further the education so that young people can touch and see the stars they dream of, and they're not so far away. And so we take the city's faith in us very seriously. We have mobilized the best of historic landmark experts, preservation experts, so that we can ensure that the sign is restored and that the integrity is held in place . And together we will work with the city, follow the city's lead, and at times are going to have to follow our lead. And together I think we're going to really create something amazing for Long Beach. So thank you. And we hope that you will support us today. And just one more thing. I thought I would use this moment to market our new line of clothing in honor of Mr. Richardson's new baby. So this will be the smallest VIP clothing line ever. Mr. RICHARDSON So we just wanted to thank you guys. Sorry for the PR plug. Thank you. Thank you so much. And I think this is our final comment, Mr. Good here, and then we'll go back to the Council for discussion. Very good here. This city is fortunate to have no shortage of members of the African-American community there. It's a city can take, proud of and do outstanding jobs and have a wide range of a wide spectrum of. Events and undertakings in this city. Unfortunately, I think. The stigma associated with this for the individual that one police in the article that you've seen a few times. Refer to as Long Beach is number one thug. The degenerate snoop dog overshadows that. So I think the best place to hang that, quite frankly. That sign and keep it. Is in the top floor of. The Long Beach City Jail, period. Well, given the amount of blood that Snoop Dogg was responsible for spilling on the sidewalks, in the. Streets of. This city and his treatment of women. Thank you. Okay. Coming back to the city council, Vice Mayor Richardson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So I've had an opportunity to speak with Councilman Andrews and his team. And so I want to applaud the mayor, the council member, the community for coming back in fairly prompt, short period of time with a plan to restore this. There's no question to me or to to others on the city council that this is not, you know, that this isn't anything else but a symbol and an emblem of our own cultural tapestry and our history. And it says that, you know, we as a city take seriously art and culture and historic preservation of all of our all of our our communities here in Long Beach. And they all have specific value. And there's no question how much value has been brought to Long Beach by the activity that took place have taken place historically within the VIP record. So I'm I'm happy to make this this motion. And I encourage the city council to support the most of this action tonight on behalf of Councilman Andrews. Thank you. Councilwoman Price for the second. Thank you. I'm happy to support this item as well. I will say as a point of clarification, because we did receive some emails today that this is a project that's being led by Councilman Andrews. It's a it's a project that he has worked in collaboration with the mayor and others in our community to bring forth and to fund. He is using his discretionary money to do it. And I think when we think about projects that enhance a community, sometimes there are projects that aren't quantifiable but mean a great deal to the people and the community where the improvement is being made. And so I wholeheartedly support his his decision to to support the community and anything that he wants to do in regards to this this particular request, I wholeheartedly support and I think thank his team for working with the community on it. Thanks. Thank you. Councilmember Pierce. Yeah. I want to thank everybody that's worked really hard to educate the council and staff about the importance of the sign. But I really want to say that in the last couple of years, Vice Mayor and myself have really, along with everyone on this council, talked about equity and preserving the sign. While it's something that Councilmember Andrews has decided to do out of his direct funds, I think that preserving the history of the artist that performed there, that sold their albums there and the people that go into VIP records is so important to Long Beach. I'm from Texas, from Houston, Texas, and VIP records was something I grew up with. And so being able to move here and to see that we are a city that's going to preserve that history, not knowing what that next step is is really important to me. And so I wholeheartedly support this. And I want to applaud you guys for making sure that we've found a way to preserve the history and to be able to tell the stories of that struggle and how we come out of that and make our lives what we need them to be. So thank you. Thank you, Councilman Austin. Thank you. And also like to just, Lynn, my support and say that I will enthusiastically support this this item. I want to congratulate Mayor Garcia and of course, sixth District Council member Diane Andrews for for reaching a resolution that I think is going to be one that the community will appreciate that that hip hop, hip hop artist and enthusiasts throughout the country will appreciate it is a a symbol, an iconic landmark for for our city. Any time that somebody visits from out of town, it's a it's a destination point for me to show off our city. Much like in Hollywood, there's Capitol Records and the Hollywood Sign VIP records. That symbol in the Central District or central area of our community is is is a symbol of of of something that many of us grew up on. I know it's important to my generation. And so I'm happy. And I was rooting on us to get to a solution, a resolution here. This is one of those issues where, you know, you take the lead of the the councilmember in that district. And I'm proud of the that the Andrews was able to make this happen. So I'm happy to support. And congratulations, Mr. Anderson. Thank you. And before we get to a vote, I just want to just first that Mr. Anderson, thank you for being a small business owner in Long Beach for almost 40 years. And I think that is. You know, over over those over those many decades, you provided a lot of jobs. You provided a lot of opportunity for youth. You opened your store when there was a lot of gang violence and challenges within the central Long Beach and across the city. And so I just want to just take us for a moment beyond just voting for this project. I just wanted to honor you as well for your incredible commitment to the community and to Long Beach, because I think that it's hard to be a small business owner, you know that. But to do it and to open a business and to remain committed to the legacy of a VIP and to the location and your your effort in this process is really commendable. So I just want to start by by thanking you for for that. I just also want to add that talked to a few folks as well. The truth is that VIP records is is the most famous hip hop records brand in the country, if not the world. And so when people think about famous record stores across the country and famous places that sold music and music developed within within the hip hop community and that type of music, VIP records is incredibly well known across the world. And in fact, I can't you know, oftentimes folks will will tag you or send you photos of places they are in Long Beach. And I constantly get pictures of people that take photos over by the VIP sign. I'm on PCH. And so I think that this is about certainly preserving their VIP legacy, but it's also about the history of Long Beach. And I think we have to honor all of our history and our history in the city has there's a lot of great things about our history, whether it's the Navy, whether it's the arrival of the Queen Mary. Whether it's the development of hip hop music and West Coast rap that developed in Long Beach, whether it's a variety of other parts of our history, they're all a part of our city. And so and whenever we can preserve our history and this is part of our history, I think is really important regardless of the type of music or the location or all of that. And so I'm really happy that we're at this place today. And the last thing I'll say is, not only is VIP records an important part of the history of Long Beach and the development of music, it's also an important part of black history. And I think that it's important to recognize that within our African-American community in the city and the development of that community within Long Beach, this is also an important part of that history within the community. And I've heard that consistently from numerous members of our African-American community within the city of Long Beach. And so for all for those reasons and others, I want to thank Councilman Andrews for taking the lead on this issue. He wanted to be here, couldn't. But I told him that I would kind of speak in his stead. I know I speak for both of us when I when I when I give these remarks. And I want to thank the council for supporting this and look forward to a strong partnership in the future. So contemplate, please cast your votes. Motion carries. Great. Congratulations. Okay. We are. And just to make it just also sure announce it. We're going to be doing the we have a hearing and then after the hearing, we're going to be moving up item 19 to the front of the agenda. And then we'll go will be we'll be going on to the rest of the agenda as well. And we also have we also have public comment, which we'll do right after the hearing. Okay. And so with that, we'll begin the hearing and turn it over to the clerk to begin that pass.