Recommendation to approve the Relocation Plan for 6841-6845 Atlantic Avenue (Assessor Parcel Numbers 7116-019-029 and -036). (District 9)
Council member Oranga. Bush and Kerry. You think the agenda is complete? We're going back to the last two items. It'll be 19 and 24. So we're going to go to 19/1, then 24. The new business. And I believe we've heard all other items say correct. Yeah. 19 and 24. So I a number 19. Item 19 is a report from Economic Development recommendation to approve the relocation plan for 684136845 Atlantic Avenue District nine. Okay. Thank you. Mr. Richards, do you want a staff report concerning no compensation? No. Okay. So most definitely do have. We do have some public comment on item 19. So. Marsha Durbin. Harold Durbin. Freddy McGowan. Art Figueroa, Darren Erin. Tina Soso if you could all please come up. Those first six speakers. And we have over ten speakers, so it'll go down to 130. I was like, We're going to use that report. Okay, well, I guess we're going to self-report. So if I can just have you guys take a seat, please. We're going to we are going to do a staff report first. Apologize for that. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. John Geisler, our economic development director, has a staff report that we can prepare. Provide honorable mayor and members of the city council. Thank you so much. So this report actually pertains to what we call Atlantic Farms or 6841 through 68, 45 Atlantic Avenue. We recently purchased this property as part of a project to eventually build our homeless shelter. And I'm going to ask Mary Torres, our property services officer, to give you a breakdown of what the relocation requirements are for existing tenants in what we have for you to approve tonight. Thank you, Mayor. Members of the city council. The item before you, like John said, was is the adoption of a relocation plan. The city did acquire the property this past July. There are current. The current tenants occupying the site are Eddy's Liquor One Residential Tenant College of Instrument Technology. KBIA 6845. And there are nine individuals who park their semi-trucks occasionally. Of those tenants, Eddie's liquor and residential tenant. The residential tenant will be vacating January 5th of 2020. KB 86845 is not being able is not being required to relocate at this time. Of the nine individuals who park at the site, only one has come forward to submit a claim for relocation benefits. And the city is currently working with the College of Instrument Technology in the Water Department on a relocation site. Under California law. Prior to any displacement of tenants, a relocation plan must be prepared and submitted for approval by the local legislative body. The relocation plan outlines the needs and characteristics of the displaced population, the available relocation resources and the city's program to provide assistance to each affected displaced party as well as the benefits available to them . The relocation plan must be available for public review and comment for at least 30 days prior to consideration by the City Council for approval. On October 3rd, 2019, a notification letter was sent to all onsite occupants, indicating the relocation plan was available for public review. Comments were received during the three day review period, which ended November 31, 2019, and are included within the relocation plan for consideration and adoption. The recommendation before you is to adopt the relocation plan. This concludes my staff report. I'm available to answer any questions as well as the cities relocation consultant Overland Pacific and Color. Thank you. Is that it? That's fine. Could we have those speakers back up to the guys just place? Marcus Harrell. But he. You have a 90 seconds. You. How? How long? 90 seconds. They cut it in half because we. Have over ten speakers. Good evening. I'm sorry Mr. Mayor is not here, but Mr. Vice Mayor, city council members. My name is Marsha Durbin, and I serve in the city of Long Beach as the director of the College of Instrument Technology, also known as City. We are one of the affected displaced businesses business owners at 6841 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, where a small family run business. And we have been very successfully training Long Beach unemployed veterans and homeless residents for more than 30 years. We worked for the Long Beach Pacific Gateway and other workforce investment agencies to train and place participants in a heavy equipment truck driver or crane operator career. We have a success rate of 96% employment and a good jobs that pay them good enough that they can buy their own homes, cars and etc.. Many graduates come back and tell us how they were able to buy a house or a car for the first time in their lives. Many were homeless. Most were collecting unemployment. And I see my time's almost over. We need what we need from you. We need more money for relocation. And we need a place to go. We have to get approval from the Bureau of Postsecondary Education for the new location. We don't have a location confirmed yet, and we need that desperately. We need your help. Thank you very much. Thank you. Yes. Harold, please. Yeah. We started at the College of Instrument Technology and a joint venture with Long Beach City College 35 years ago. And unfortunately, I made a big mistake. I left Long Beach City College after two years because their emphasis of what their thought education should be and mine was different. We started the joint venture to have people trained, so when we hired them, they could actually go to work. We wanted the only thing that we'd have to tell them was where to punch your timecard and where the bathrooms were. We wanted them trained to that level so they were productive. Day one For the last seven years, we've had over 93% people actually going to work and. The last three years is 96%. And that's not internships, apprenticeships or enterprise zones. Those are not real jobs. They don't have to keep them after they get that federal or state funding. 80% of our graduates make 80 to 120000 after 20 weeks of training. When we were in Long Beach City College, they wanted a lesson plan for every day that put everybody in the same package. We left there because that is not productive. If you're a businessman, you would never do it that way. You learn every person to go at their own speed and their success rate. Our results proved that I was right. Thank you very much. Then the next speaker. Very honorable counselor. My name is Freddy McGowan. I am a 2016 city veteran graduate. I'm one of the success stories. I served with the United States Marine Corps for nearly 21 years. I served around the globe as a staff NCO upon graduation. Prior to retiring, I didn't have a place to go. I was at the unemployment office and with my and I saw the city flier with my 80% disabilities, I didn't have the skills or the knowledge of where to go, where to be hirable. The so once I enrolled at City, City gave me the skills that I needed to succeed and society along with other fellow veterans that were homeless. And I am testifying on their behalf that they're not here because they're successful. Men and women out there serving again in this country are successful civilians. Thank you to city. I respectfully ask a long, long beach Long Beach City Council that enough relocation allocations be distributed so the city can remain successful in relocating. Also, US veterans are helping us all out. Thank you so. Much. Thank you. Thank you very much, sir. Next speaker, I think we are. All right, guys. So I didn't go. Uh, thanks very much. Look. I think we have to figure out where. I work for college measurement technology. Oh, sorry. You guys have cerebral palsy. Excuse me, sir. Um, so Seattle has helped. Me painting with women. But that's not where it's gonna stay and help all kinds of people. From all facets of lives. From Long Beach City to the surrounding cities. They've helped. Tons of communities get jobs in the crane industry, heavy equipment industry. And if that's not for available for the people, it's just a humongous disservice. Not only. Sorry, guys. Not only for them, but for my colleagues that are all sitting around me right now. Citi's relocation is one of the best things you could put money towards. City has done great things for the community that have potential impact for generations. Thanks. Thank you very much, Darren and Tina. How are you doing? My name is Dan Roy Aaron, and I'm a graduate and I'm also a truck driving instructor for the school. After completing the program in 2015 at Harmony. As an instructor, I appreciate you. The city of Long Beach would help see it and finding a new location so that we can continue to serve our community. The majority of the people that I train are people from the military, people who have been incarcerated for many years, people who have people that have many problems finding employment and people that come to the school that are homeless. I was one of these people because the city hired me. Now I can also give back to our community and you know, thank you for your time. Thank you very much. In a place. Hi, my name is Tina Swasey. So I am my Cathy Workforce graduate. I worked for. A major alarm. Security company for 26 years and then administration. And then I was laid off knowing that I was how do I knowing that I needed to be retrained. And then another field I found information on Katie and I started the trucking program. I graduated and Katie. Offered me a position to train other students in trucking. So I've been working there for ten years. I'm an instructor. I prep the students for DMV on their brakes and future to get there as CDL. I am 59. Years old and the city has no place to be relocated. It will jeopardize my job as well as my coworkers. I respectfully ask the Long Beach community to ensure. That city receives sufficient. Funds for a relocation. Thank you. Thank you to the next speaker, Matt and Senior Principal Jacob. Hello. My name is Francine. I've been. Jabbed about Brexit. Since 2015. I started CRT when I was about 20 with little experience in the work. Field and. Said he gave me that chance to grow as an. Employee and most importantly. Help people find employment. It's been a privilege to have the experience. Experience over 90% plays a role in each of their programs. I really do hope that the City. Of Long Beach is able to find a relocation facility, not just for my job for for other students that are unemployed and the veterans returning home. Thank you. Thank you very much. Jacob here. Jacob. Jason. Oh, I said Jason. Excuse me. Yes. My name is Jason. I reside in the ninth district as as I have for nearly ten years now. I am a c i t graduate who graduated from the who was trained and certified at the location at 6041 Atlantic. They are what we call the Atlantic Yard. I had gone to school in Long Beach City College and graduated from there with the horticulture degree. I had had some problems in finding a steady job and so I decided to go to city. I was trained and certified there and the training that they provide is top notch when we go as to get our class a driver's license at the DMV, I was shocked at how many of the other trade schools had their students turning around and walking that walk of shame away from the DMV without even getting to go on the road. But City provides their students with the skills that they need to make sure that they are going to pass. And that is why their completion rate and job placement rate is astronomical. I mean, if you look at our community colleges, the graduation rate is barely 13, 18%, yet they are providing jobs, high quality paying jobs, which now actually work at Long Beach City College and have been employed there. And so I ask if you do go through it, I strongly oppose it. But if you do go through, please postpone it to allocate them proper funding. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Next up is artist tutorial and an after party is Harry Durban and then Elizabeth Dawson. And then how to protect those folks in the lineup, please. Next up, artist guitarist Harry Durbin, Elizabeth Dawson and Howard Pratt. The police line up at the podium in that order right now. That would be great. Go ahead. Good evening. My name is art historian. I'm the assistant director at the College of Instrument Technology. I work directly with programs such as Pacific Gateway to receive referrals. And provide intake into our programs. I'm also the liaison with the California State Bureau of Postsecondary Private Postsecondary Education. In the event of relocation, I will ensure that we are compliant with BP during this critical move in transition. I'm also the liaison with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA. We started discussions with the VA already regarding our move, but we can't move forward with any type of review or. Approval. Until we have confirmed training site and also they require BPP approval first. So as you can see, the 90 day notification is very stressful at this point because we don't have a secured site. So we ask you to consider that when you do give notification, having sufficient relocation, time and support will enable us to hopefully make it through the period we want to be in. Compliance and to work with the city and with the city of Long Beach is help. We hope to secure a site immediately, make this transition smoothly so it does not affect our students and we can uphold our mission, which, as you've heard, is helping our veterans are unemployed or homeless or underemployed reenter the workforce with meaningful careers. I respectfully asked the Long Beach City Council to consider the timeframe and to receive sufficient relocation allocations. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Elizabeth Thorsen. I'm sorry. Eric Durbin, the mayor was with Belgium. Hello. Harry Durbin. I want to thank Mary Tours and Mr. Kaiser for working with us so closely as they have been to help us to find a new location. And since they've been working as closely as they have, we have found some spots that may work out, but nothing that's concrete. And that's what our major issue is, is that we need to be able to let the BPP know which you guys are familiar with. We have to let VA Veteran Affairs know where we're going to move to and they have to approve the site before we can do it. We can't just sit and say, Hey, we're going to move there tomorrow and go there. So it's like she said, a stressful. Process that we're very worried about because we want to be able to keep. And to continue providing the high level of service that we've been doing for so many years, thanks to my family and and the efforts that my dad saw way back when of a person needed to be able to be trained and then go directly to work in a short amount of time. Our course has run from 5000 to $30000 that it cost for people that come. It takes anywhere from eight weeks to 20 weeks and they go to work. I mean, they literally get jobs. I had a guy that took my eight week course level one, but we got his class license and his heavy equipment certification. He went day one and started off with the union, starting off at $52 an hour. So it works. It works over and over again. That's my slogan that I tell guys. It's not about what you want to do. It's about what you want to do on the weekend. And so you can make enough money to do what you want in your spare time. Thank you very. Much. Thank you so much. Elizabeth Dawson, please. And then Howard Pratt. Good evening. Mayor Garcia and City Council. The College of Internet Technology is a school that has been located at 6841 Atlantic Avenue. They have been paying the rent. They have been training folks that are underserved from the city of Long Beach. They have a longstanding contract with Pacific Gateway training. Long Beach residents. And they do it successfully. Our issue is the relocation plan that you all will be approving does not have sufficient funding allocated for the College of Instrument Technology to relocate $20,000. If you take a look at the items for the budget that were put there, an estimate of $150,000. This is a unique program. They have equipment that is more than 20 tons. It cannot just be stuck on the road and transported to that Long Beach water site. It cost an upwards of $20,000 to move all their equipment. We are asking the council and the mayor that we can work closely with Mr. Keisler and. In order for the proper relocation of the College of Consumer Technology. Thank you so much to you, Mr. Pratt. So Pratt here may know that we will close public comment and then go to Councilmember Richardson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, first of all, thank everybody for coming coming down and making your case. That's what city council and democratic process is for. You know, I was just at the site just this morning, and I'll probably go over there and, you know, look at different things, you know, probably once every few weeks just to take a look. And, you know, I have a few questions for staff based on, you know, what the issues that you've raised. So. Mr.. MODICA So tell me about, you know, what the process was to determine what the amount of relocation is that these the tenants of the site receive. Councilmember. Absolutely. So I'm going to actually have Mary talk a little bit about the process specifically for Katie that we're engaged in. And we also have our our consultant, OPC, Overland Pacific Cutler here to answer some technical questions if we need that. So I'll start with Mary. Thank you. The the relocation estimates that are included in the relocation plan are based on a general assessment of the current condition. Once a suitable replacement site is located, then OPC works with the tenant to actually identify the costs that need to be taken into account for relocation to a specific site. So the relocation plan, again, is just a general assessment based on sort of an ideal relocation site. But once if I shouldn't say if, but if we can come to an agreement with the water department and get them onto that site, then OPC will work and identify the benefits and the costs that are associated with their moving expenses and then that will be incorporated into their their benefits. Within this plan is the plan to help assist identifying a site and then identifying the relocation support to make sure that that transition happened, correct? Yes. Okay. I'd like to keep an eye on this. I like to keep an eye on this. I'd like to make sure that Mr. Geisler, we we communicate. We do a better job communicating the expectations with with the tenant so that we understand it. And just to you so first of all, you know, my family's been in the trucking business a long time. I know the way that trucking can transform lives. I know that, you know, there are you know, within the industry, it's very forgiving. You can have not the best record and go get a class A driver license and all that matters is a driving record after that. Right. And so, you know, I have folks in my in my you know, in my family involved in the business. I've been involved in the business, Reefers, Drive-In, you know, Sandbox, you name it. I pretty much know about the industry, so I get it. I understand if there's something we can do to help with this transition, and I understand that this is a bit uncomfortable. This is sort of a bigger picture issue that we have to address. And I know that this is difficult for a lot of people. So we want to make sure that we're fair about this process and that we're communicating and being clear about expectations. If there's something we can do, in my understanding, coming into tonight, that that there's potentially a site, there's anything we can do to make that happen. You have my support there. Thank you. I think there's a motion in a second member. Please go out and cast your votes. Bush and Kerry.