Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents, and any needed subsequent amendments, with the Department of Defense through the Office of Economic Adjustment, to accept funds totaling $1,342,406 funded by the Community Economic Adjustment Assistance for Reductions in Defense Industry Employment, to continue implementation of a project that addresses the economic and workforce impact of the C-17 plant closure; execute an agreement, and any needed subsequent amendments, with project partners in the amount totaling $1,125,000, for the period of January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017; and Increase appropriations in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Economic and Property Development Department (EP) by $1,342,406, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
Motion carries. Next we have item 20. Report from Economic and Property Development Recommendation to execute all documents with the Department of Defense through the Office of Economic Adjustment to accept funds totaling 1,342,406. To continue implementation of a project that addresses the economic and workforce impact of the C17 plant closure citywide. Thank you, Mr. City Manager. Yes, we have Nick Schulz, the director of our Workforce Investment Board, who has worked to get this grant from the Department of Defense. Nick, so good evening, Mr. Vice Mayor and honorable members of Council. This is actually a phase two of our economic adjustment project here in the city of Long Beach. As you may well may well be aware, our first. Project was for a total of about. 4 million, just under $4 million. And that project, integrated direct services to dislocated workers created a master plan for our C-17 plant and surrounding parcels to ensure future users would maximize economic benefit of the facility. Work product from phase one included again a master plan. Document to help guide decision making concerning site use. Once Boeing Corporation has ultimately vacated the site, it created an. Online skills transfer platform. To help impacted workers prepare for. New employment and opportunities that looked at special. Zoning and planning activities. Prepare to prepare the site. For future use and it created an economic and labor market study to analyze and help identify impacted firms and help them transition successfully from suppliers of Boeing into other available markets. Phase two of the project will bring the city just over $1.5. Million and will build on the efforts. Of our Phase one approach. And the major phases to be included of this Phase two project. Include expanding the economic analysis to better understand the. Impacts of the C-17 to the closure to the city a. Few years out, the ultimate economic well-being and condition of the workers who have been impacted and continuing efforts to support and transition the supply chain away from aerospace and defense opportunities into other market opportunities. As well as completion. Of planning and site analysis to guide any future development on the site. I can speak further about any of those elements if you have any questions. I think we're okay, but good job tonight. Is any public comment on this item? In the supporting material for the agenda. It says earlier this year, OCA, which is the federal government, notified Pacific Gateway that the city would receive additional funding of one and a half million dollars plus to continue and expand the project for this new round of grant funds. Pacific Gateway will work with various businesses to assess their economic competitiveness, conduct, asset mapping, and support the city's modified planning and zoning documents. I don't think I heard that in that description. So the federal government notified a local business that the federal government is sending money to the city of Long Beach to give to local business so they can contract with two additional businesses to support planning and zoning changes now being considered. Why is the federal government providing money to higher businesses? To be a proponent of pending laws which should be supported locally. Why is the federal government including intruding through three businesses in a matter that needs to be supported or opposed by the citizens of this city and our city council? I strongly oppose acceptance of these funds. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony and seeing the federal public comment. Members, please cast your vote.