Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any subsequent amendments, with the Long Beach Public Transportation Company, to provide law enforcement and security services, in an estimated annual amount of $2,429,477, for a one-year period, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods; and Increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Police Department (PD) by $222,244, offset by reimbursement revenue. (Citywide)
Motion carries. Thank you. Next item, please. Report from police. Recommendation to execute an agreement with the Long Beach Public Transportation Company to provide law enforcement and security services and an estimated annual amount not to exceed 2,429,477 citywide. Thank you. I have a couple questions and comments. Councilman Price, did you have anything? First. Okay, Councilman Austin. Okay. Just also just I first officer, I know just a chief in the team. I know the transition to taking over all of the Metro stops on that transit side. You guys have just done amazing. And I just think it's it's needed I needed to repeat that this the response we're getting from riders and from the community. You guys are doing a great job. I know it's it's a new job. It's the first time we've done this work, but it's excellent. I wanted to just transition that to the Long Beach Transit conversation. I know obviously that LAPD, for example, does some transit work. The sheriffs obviously do do a lot of the metro bus stops as well as transit on the Long Beach transit contract. But the the patrol is for both kind of bus stops as well as inside the busses, is that right? Mayor, members of the city council? That's correct. The current contract covers Long Beach transit busses and the stops throughout their contract, which is beyond the city of Long Beach as well. And there is there are all transit stops within the city of Long Beach patrolled solely by Long Beach PD. I think that's correct. Right? Yes. Although Long Beach Transit bus stops are. That's correct. And this contract does just cover the non Lombard Transit bus stops. I'm just assuming it's all bus stops, whether they're Long Beach Transit and or operated by the city of Long Beach because Long Beach the city of Long Beach operates about half the stops and then lobby transit does the other half. Is it is this inclusive of just theirs or does this also include the cities or is that just fall under normal kind of city process? Sorry about that. That would fall under the normal city process. So in in essence, Long Beach PD covers all the bus stops in the city of Long Beach. Okay. So we cover we, but the 2.5 million that we're getting from transit is only to cover their bus stops. I'm assuming not the bus stops you guys regularly patrol as part of. I mean, I get it. No, it's not. You have a map. You know, you guys, you're saying, oh, this is a Long Beach Transit one. This is a Long Beach one. But it essentially allows you to fill in the gap and cover all the bus stops. Correct. I'd have to double check that mayor. I don't know exactly. I'm trying to think right now how many bus stops we have in the city of Long Beach that are not Long Beach Transit. I know there's some out there by Cal. State, Long Beach. There's about 200 to be 195. Yeah, I'd have to double check that. But if something happens at any bus stop in the city, Long Beach PD is going to be the first responders to there. And then beyond that, we can figure out who or what jurisdiction covers it. Okay. Thank you. And I just bring this up because I've become a little bit obsessed with our our bus stops lately, as you know, as Tom is laughing because I, I am pretty, pretty consistent about this. I just want to make sure that we have our our guys are doing such a great job. But I just want to make sure that we have the resources to adequately patrol the city's bus stops. Bus stops have become transient campgrounds. In some cases, they have become. I've seen seniors being forced off bus stops. I have seen folks not in a safe environment, able to take the bus. And we don't have the resources to ensure, obviously, that all that all these bus stops are are taken care of appropriately. But I don't know that the when was the last time that we increased this number? It was it was recent or not. But I would just hope I. I'm concerned that this is not enough. From our transit agency to provide adequate resources to patrol all the bus stops. And all the work that you guys are doing is, in my opinion, a bus stop. Safety has become a much larger issue in the last couple of years. And so I wonder if you have any thoughts on that. It's something we're. Going to have to take a very hard look at. I agree with your earlier statements. The men and women of our department are doing an extraordinary job with the workload. And. Expectations that are driving us. But as we look forward to serving our our customers here at Long Beach Transit, we'll continue to look at this as a challenge. And if it is something that is exceeding our resources, we will not be shy about going back to the table and asking for additional resources to cover this, if it is, in fact, a challenge for us. And it sounds like, from what you're describing, it may be. I appreciate that. And I support this tonight. I just wanted to make sure that, you know, that I support us, ensuring that we have enough resources to do this job appropriately as well. So thank you for that. Any public comment on this? Very good you. With all due respect to the good chief, the very concept of that you entered into. It was an absolute disaster, period. And I speak as one who has more experience on the blue line than any single person here in this room. Period. Transit policing is a specialized detail. Period. No ifs. No answer. No buts. Period. The crime rate here and the incidents on the tracks, on the trains. Have. There's been a steady increase. They may not be reported to the police because the police don't get there in time to stop the problem, period. This is you're you're an absolute denial. And in time, I think the MTA board will be enlightened enough to reverse the disastrous steps you took period to try to enhance your political career by extending that. It's an absolute disaster. Thank you. And you know the public comment. Catherine Ashton, did you have comment? Yes. Chief, and I want to thank you for that. I think this this discussion is worthwhile. I just have a couple of quick questions regarding the staffing dedicated to Long Beach Transit. Is there a specific number of officers or detail that is specific to this? Or is it just kind of. Well, we do in the normal course of business. Yes, sir. We have eight total sworn officers that are attached to this contract. That is their sole task that they do. Great. Great. That's all we need to know. Thank you. Thank you. Members, please cast your vote.