Recommendation to request City Manager to direct the Department of Public Works to conduct a street tree canopy assessment, prioritization and financing study to inform the development of a street tree Iifecycle management plan.
Motion carries. We did 22, so we're on 23. Communication from Councilwoman Mongeau, Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilmember Odinga and Councilmember Richardson. Recommendation to request the city manager to direct the Department of Public Works to conduct a street tree canopy assessment prioritization and Financing Study to inform the development of a street street tree lifecycle management plan. Councilman Mongo. Yes, I appreciate my colleagues and I coming together on what we think is a very important matter in Long Beach. If you read the report related to the audit of the Parks and Rec Department, one of the great challenges that we are enduring here in Southern California is that as we have had to reduce our water utilization , we have also reduced the hydration for our trees. In addition to that, a tree canopy assessment done many years ago by students showed that tree canopies provide great health to a community. They provide shade. It actually increases property values when trees are appropriate for a neighborhood. And so I think that this the work of our stoves combined to bring together a bunch of facts related to Long Beach trees. The canopy and a tree management system is really necessary. As our trees get older. They have a life cycle just like people do, just like pets do. And we need to be aware of our trees and their health. And so I think that this is an amazing step forward in a city that really wants to preserve the health and safety of communities. And so I think that the staff of all of our offices have worked so well together in getting something together, and I look forward to having this come back from public works. I really appreciate. It. Thank you. Councilman Gonzalez. I just want to thank Councilwoman Mango. You know, I think we should definitely assess our park infrastructure, especially our trees, because there is a lot of work to be done there. And a lot of the quality of life and well-being of our residents relies on the cutting back of trees and making sure that the trees that are dead are taken out and our making our parks and our walkways look better and nicer. So thank you for bringing this forward. I know it was addressed in our In the Park audit, and I think we have a lot of work to do in this in this regard. Thank you. And I should probably clarify, because the park audit already identified the 30%. This is really going to focus on our street trees. And I think that our public works department is going to be the lead, and I think we're all on the same page with that. So we look forward to it coming back. Thank you. Yes, correct. Sorry. Any public comment? Larry, could you clear? Because I'm not an arborist, but I have an appreciation for trees. And the article in the press telegram today or earlier this week relative to the trees along the bluff, I bring it I suggest brings it into sharp focus of what we need to do. And on that top related topic, it pointed out that there are those engaging in the yoga exercise and along the bluff were quite taken back by the fact that they were taking the shade was away. And let me say that they no longer had the shade. Let me suggest that when the Parks Department or whoever gives out permits for that. That those type of locations are certainly inappropriate for that to start with because it ruins the grass in those in those numbers, period. More importantly, there should be no exercising along a route where one has to inhale the fumes from passing busses and trucks and automobiles. And I don't care if it's the yoga on that side of the street or the workout stations, which is certainly fine, but you should place that those should be placed in an area that doesn't injure somebody's lungs, i.e. by sucking in the exhaust that comes by. But I appreciate the need. I appreciate the the study relative to the protecting the trees and so forth. Thank you. Seeing no other public comment. Members, please go ahead and cast your votes. Motion carries. Thank you. Now we'll go on to new business. I'm going to begin I'd like to begin by adjourning in the memory of Richard Garnett, known to his friends and family and so many of Long Beach as Dick. Dick Cornett, as we know, was a longtime husband of Betty Garnett, who represented Long Beach in the legislature in Sacramento