Recommendation to approve the City of Long Beach Digital Inclusion Initiative’s Digital Inclusion Roadmap to ensure that everyone in Long Beach has equitable access and use of computer literacy training, the Internet, technology devices, and other digital inclusion resources.  (Citywide)
Motion carries. Thank you. The last item is 35. Report from Technology and Innovation Economic Development Recommendation to approve the Digital Inclusion Roadmap to ensure that everyone in Long Beach has equitable access and use of computer literacy training. The Internet technology devices and other digital inclusion resources. Citywide. I have a motion in a second, but there is a staff for Mr. Mayor. So, Mr. Modica. Mr. Mayor, I need to recuse myself on this one. Vice Mayor Richardson. Thank you. Given the fact that I work in the technology and telecommunications industry an abundance of caution, I am stepping outside and recuse myself on this item. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and members of the council. This was a big policy initiative by the council in 2018, is to create funding, find a way to do a digital road map. We went through a process and found some additional funding. It's been a big outreach effort with our community and there's been a lot that the council can be proud of for digital inclusion, especially with the CARES Act. So I want to give a report today on what we've been doing for the road map development, which really helped inform how we spend a lot of those digital divide dollars that came through the CARES Act and is going to be furthered under the Recovery Act. So Lee Eriksen. Good evening, Mayor, and members of the City Council. The Technology and Innovation and Economic Development Departments are pleased to provide an overview of the proposed Digital Inclusion Roadmap, peer review and discussion. The Digital Inclusion Initiative strives to ensure we achieve our vision that every individual on Long Beach, regardless of background, neighborhood or identity, has high quality, accessible technology, resources and services to be civically engaged and social and economic empowered. This vision was co-created by stakeholders and community members as part of the Digital Inclusion Roadmap Development. The city's digital inclusion initiative has three focus areas that collectively work to achieve the vision. We believe that digital inclusion is only met when all three areas are met. Capacity includes free, multilingual computer literacy, training and technical support. Connectivity includes low cost and free, high speed quality. In-Home Internet services and technology support. And technology includes low cost and free quality, internet enabled technology devices and technology support. We didn't wait for the digital inclusion roadmap to be finished before starting our digital inclusion work. And already the City of Long Beach has received ample recognition for advancing digital inclusion efforts in 2020. Economic and Digital Inclusion Program Manager Rebecca Comber received the Charles Burton Digital Equity Champion Award presented by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. This National Award recognizes outstanding leadership and dedication in advancing digital equity. You also see the city receive recognition as a 2020 digital inclusion trailblazer three times in a row, and also a California social and public information official Caprio Award for our social media engagement campaign, which was done in all four of the city's languages. I'm now going to turn it over to Rebecca to cover the roadmap development process and the proposed digital inclusion goals and Community Priorities Strategies. Thank you very much, Leah. Good evening, honorable mayor and members of the city council. As Leah mentioned, my name is Rebecca Coloma and I'm the city's economic and digital inclusion program manager. I'm super excited to share with you all about our great work about developing our digital inclusion roadmap, which uplifts collective impact and an equity lens as part of our way to advance digital inclusion for all in Long Beach. On January 23rd, 2018, the City Council approved the city manager to work with several city departments on a digital inclusion master plan to support this effort. Back in March of 2019, the City Council saw further approved one time funding of 40 K to the Technology Innovation Department to support the development of the road map. And as I mentioned, the essence of this process does include collective impact and also an equity lens. So through collective impact, we were able to work closely with the community and cross-sector partners in a structured format to be able to solve a digital divide and ultimately advance equity and inclusion. And through that, we focused on performance management, developing a common agenda, making sure we had a joint plan of action, and fostering open communication with all of our stakeholders who were involved in addition and equity lens was also imperative. Through an equity lens, we were able to segregate data, address systemic and institutional barriers, and ensuring that we were uplifting the lived experience of community members that are most affected by the digital divide. As part of our digital inclusion road map development process, it was very imperative for us to ensure that we were engaging both stakeholders and also the community through stakeholder and community engagement. As part of our stakeholder engagement process, we hired a consultant called McCormack, and we were able to convene a 50 person multidisciplinary Digital Inclusion Stakeholder Committee, which officially kicked off back in August of 2019 through October 2020. And this committee provides strategic guidance, vision and oversight over the development of this process. And the committee also reflected the entire spectrum of digital inclusion. And also as part of that, it was also crucial that we also engage with community members as part of this process. We hired Pueblo Planning, who is a social justice and justice urban planning consultant to help us out with the community engagement activities. It was very imperative that we partnered with local trusted community partners, and these partners included Central Cha, Long Beach, Forward, the United Cambodian community and the YMCA of Greater Long Beach. I do want to talk a little bit more about our community engagement process, which was very unique. First and foremost, we intentionally uplifted the community members as experts as part of this process through power sharing and intentionally acknowledge that historically and currently marginalized communities are typically left out of government decision making processes. And Pueblo Planning had a great way for us to also engage with the community, and that was also through art and storytelling, where they were able to use that process to uplift their lived experiences, knowledge and vision for what digital inclusion should look like here in the city of Long Beach. We had a variety of different ways to engage with community. Over the past year, this included community pop ups, workshops, interviews, and also a survey. And through that, we were so excited. And during a pandemic, we engaged with more than 170 community members in a process that was both meaningful and inclusive. During our community engagement process, it was very important for us to understand what some of the key challenges and barriers were for being able to access and utilize the internet and computers. Some of these key challenges and barriers included high costs with Internet services, poor quality broadband literacy and English literacy barriers, lack of access to electricity to name a few. And as part of this process, I wanted to share a testimonial from Angela, who resides in central Long Beach, and she was able to share some of her challenges with accessing and utilizing the Internet and computers. And this is a direct quote from Angela For one of my classes, the computer wouldn't work because the Internet wasn't working. So I had to email my teachers through my phone because I have mobile data to tell them I was not able to complete the assignment. I told him that if I would give him more time, if I could do it, I would have more time. And I had to drive my car to my grandmother's house because my grandmother also had Internet access to complete the assignment. So here is a perfect example of a Long Beach community member from their own words that shared what challenges that they were experiencing with having poor internet and computer access. As part of our process, it was very important for us to also uplift strategies, goals and objectives that would advance digital inclusion here in Long Beach. For the purpose of this presentation, we will be highlighting some of the key top strategies that were referenced as part of this development process for capacity. The top community strategies included providing one on one tutoring, where community members can learn how to use the internet and computers. In addition, providing classes where community members can also learn how to speak, read and write in English. In addition, establishing a hotline where community members can call to resolve any issues that they're having with Internet service providers. And connectivity. The top community strategies included providing free and low cost quality, high speed Internet services for community members at home, and also being able to administer free quality wi fi provided at public parks and also at public libraries. And last but not least for technology, the top strategies included providing free and low cost quality desktops, computers and tablets for community members, and also providing technical support where they can receive information on how to address computer issues and also any other technology related issues. In regards to next steps, we heard a lot of great expertize wisdom and lived experiences on how to address the digital divide in Long Beach. Once this item has been approved by City Council, city staff will officially kick off an equity focus implementation process. And this process would both involve us convening with the community and cross-sector partners. And we will establish an implementation committee where we will have the opportunity to identify funding personnel, data collection and reporting structures to implement this process . As part of our conclusion, I would like to take the time to thank the mayor, city council, city manager, city staff, community partners, and most importantly, the community for all of their inspiration and collaboration, time and commitment with developing this digital inclusion road map process. That concludes our report. And Lee and I are more than happy to answer any questions that you may have. Well, thank you. That was a really excellent report and a really great presentation. I also just want to just note. I want to thank a staff you all did a fantastic job in the presentation was really great. So, so, so, so good work. I also just want to note that State Senator Gonzalez was a real champion on this issue and really brought this issue forward to the council on multiple occasions and continues to do that work at the state level. But we want to make sure that we obviously think and recognize her for bringing this to the council as a as one of her kind of top type issues and priorities. There is a motion and a second, I think Councilman Mango, who made the motion, had to had to leave. So maybe someone else can make the motion. And I think she's got to be here for it to make the motion. So let me do this. Ottomans and in. Europe. Thank you. Thank you very much. We are. And thank you for recognizing all the hard work that now Senator Lena Gonzalez has put into into the digital divide items that we have before us here today. Great job on the staff. Thank you, Ms.. ERICKSEN. And thank you, Rebecca, for a great presentation. As you know, COVID COVID 19 highlighted and brought to light many of the already existing impact and inequities in our city. And among those was the digital divide that posed an additional barrier to many of our students, parents who had to condition from going, you know , in school to online schooling. We also saw that many of our neighborhood associations found it difficult to transition to virtual meetings, especially because many people lacked access to Internet electronic devices or or they just did not know how to navigate the Internet. In addition, I am particularly glad to know that much of our community outreach, many of our computer literacy programs, among other resources, will continue to be offered in multiple languages. I am very, very supportive of this item and our city's effort to close the digital divide so that we can all move forward together. Thank you. Thank you very much for all your hard work on this. Thank you. Catherine. Ringo. Thank you. This is a very encouraging item that's coming forward, but it's always how do we pay for it? That's that's the challenge. And I'm hoping that nationally I know that there was a discussion about making Internet accessible for everybody and a national basis. And I know that there were a few bills being considered in the state of California to do the same thing. But nothing has happened. In your report. In flipping through it, I see there's other testimonials as well, and one where it says Each month I pay $35 for Internet and my daughter understands that it is the cheapest . It does not meet the needs of my child's education, however, because it has been very slow and because it's very cheap. That's just. Part of a quote. And then the other one, he's the one who hits me hardest is the rent is not affordable anymore. We are living in a time where food and rent is very high. We pay for rent and food. So do we want a luxury? Laptops are not a luxury. They are a necessity for daily life. I would like to see help for kids to get laptops to get accessible quality internet at a good price. So I'm hoping that during this period of of bringing this forward that we are talking to our partners. Well, Verizon and and Spectrum and any other service provider here in Long Beach to provide affordable Internet. And I brought this before I went, senator, senator and then Leader Gonzalez, which was a councilmember here. I joined her in the whole discussion about the digital divide, especially when it comes to West Palm Beach and the first District as well, because we both are adjacent districts and we we suffered the same consequences of not having good Internet access or at least one at an affordable price. So I'm hoping that when we move forward with this and we are looking for the funding that we can work with our partners to to make it accessible, first of all, and to make it affordable, of course. So I support the title for today, but we need to get cracking on getting the funding so we can make this a reality for all citizens and all residents in Long Beach. Thank you. Thank you, Vice Mayor Richardson. The town. Councilman Taro. Thank you, Mayor. First, I want to thank Lee and Rebecca for the awesome presentation, and I want to thank the technology and innovation staff as well for their hard work. You know, during the pandemic, it really lifted the high need that really demonstrated how much of a divide there is digitally. And, you know, I just really appreciate the team because, you know, during the time when, you know, obviously went virtual, there was just a high need for access to Internet as well as computer. And really the team stepped up and really fill in that need. I saw them everywhere possible with food drives and all of these spaces. So I really want to acknowledge that and appreciate that. And I really like the the community engagement approach you took and how inclusive and accessible it was in the way that it was approach. And it really shows in the report and I really look forward in the next steps and how you're really bringing equity to the forefront in how we implement it and appreciate the way that you'll continue to work with in partnership with the community organizations as well as active residents. So thank you so much. Councilmember Councilmember, your rank I think you spoke already to the to the second rate. Why did you pick up again? Okay, Councilman. Councilwoman Allen. Thank you, Mayor. And I also want to recognize Director Erickson and the T.I. I staff for their hard work on this road map. I also want to appreciate I want to say thank you to Senator Gonzalez for all of her hard work on this item. I know this was a major undertaking and I was just so impressed when by the presentation, especially hearing all the goals and community strategies. I also just really respect the community engagement and outreach that was achieved during this process. I feel like that you really took the time to understand the barriers in accessing the Internet and computers. So just great work on this. Councilman Austin. Thanks. I want to say most of my questions have been answered already. I wanted to just compliment the staff on a great report and presentation. I. I did have a question related to. It seems like. We've experienced a lot and learned a lot in the last year. We had to work through some some some unexpected challenges in terms of connectivity issues that were experienced. I would say prior to. 2020 or even as this process was going on, had there been any any significant improvements from Internet service providers in terms of expanding capacity and and and connectivity for for residents? I thank you for that question, Councilman Austin. I did want to mention that the Internet service providers were at the table throughout this whole process. So Frontier Spectrum, Verizon and they have been offering low cost programs and most of them are participating also in the emergency broadband benefit. And I know that they've also been making investments in in the connectivity in the cities in this inner city. So a lot of investment, small cell deployments, etc.. I'm increasing fiber capacity. So there's been a lot of investment in the city over the last couple of years. And one of the items that you approved earlier, 34, is continuing the city's work with digital, with building a fiber network, the citywide fiber network, to provide access within any within two miles of any point of the city's fiber. And so that's also going to be able to be moving forward with the the approval of that item to to use the broadband group to help us design and engineer the city's fiber network. Okay. So this is probably a deeper conversation, but I would really love to understand how that that infrastructure actually looks. Um, from ISP. Um, you know, because we know that there's not a lot of competition either. You live on this side of town. This is who you have. You live on this side of town, this is who you have. And sometimes there's also disparities in terms of quality. Right. And and I think we need to dig a little deeper there as well, because we understand that there's a digital divide. But then also there's a digital divide with, like I said, quality and individuals who are required to work from home or get to be productive in their daily lives. I've heard from a number of individuals who reached out to me and said, Hey, can you do something about this? Because my Internet goes out at a certain time every day, right? And I'm down for an hour or two. So, so, so I think this is a great, great jump starting point for us and I appreciate that work. But I do think that we still have a lot to do. This is a much broader issue. Thank you, Councilmember Supernanny. Thank you. Thanks for the presentation. And I make this same comment. Every time this topic comes up. And by the presentation, I can tell you doing it. That we continued to collaborate with the public school system and almost it sounds like there was a bit of a gap analysis where you saw what the school district was providing and then we could fill those gaps. So really great to hear that. But, you know, my. My point has always been. If the school district is is supplying every student with a Chromebook and a hotspot, then that's a starting point that we can work from. So thank you again for the report. Thank you. And let me make got a public comment, then I have a closing comment. We have Jacob O'Donnell. Jay Cutler. Great. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Garcia and members of the city council. My name is Jacob O'Donnell calling on behalf of Senator Lena Gonzalez to express support for item 35. As the former first District Council member, Senator Gonzalez launched the Digital Inclusion Road Map Initiative to ensure every Long Beach resident, regardless of zip code or income level , has Internet access and that providers are serving and investing in our communities that deserve it the most. Now in the state legislature, Senator Gonzalez continues to advance policy in this space with the introduction of Senate Bill for the Broadband for All Act, which will ensure funding for high speed fiber infrastructure projects in underserved urban and rural communities throughout the state of California. We want to thank city staff for all of their hard work and dedication on this initiative and all of the community partners who have put so much hard work on and collaboration into this effort. And we're excited to see the next steps. On advancing digital equity and inclusion in the city of Long Beach. Thank you for your time. Thank you. That concludes public comment for this item. Thank you. I just wanted to add also that I did want to thank the Technology and Innovation Commission just because I know that they worked on this issue pretty thoroughly. And it's a really great folks on that commission. And I just know that their work is reflected in this in this roadmap and this report. And then this is maybe a broader question for Mr. Modica, or we can you know, we can maybe bring Mr. Lee, Kevin Lien. But I think this report is so good and it's you guys did such a great job. I just don't want it to just live as a report. So I just hope that you're thinking about how it can live, as, you know, not just online, but how do we create infographics and a story and materials so that we're out telling the story online? This is the type of report and I could see this about other reports as well, that we should be digesting it down to smaller images and infographics and one pagers that we're able to post on social media so that those can share within the community about what we're doing. So I just want to make sure that we are thinking about that for this report and for others, of course. But I just always, whenever I see such a well done, broad report, I just don't want I don't want us to be the only people that that see it. So if we can just work on it, that would be that would be great. Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to add, you know, the $40,000 that we reported earlier, that was from at the time Councilwoman Gonzalez's account and the Technology and Innovation Commission was an active participate through this whole process, including studying the digital inclusion divide at your request, actually back in 2018. So and we definitely are going to be moving in towards implementation. And as part of that, we are going to continue our equitable work and equitable approach to outreach and inclusion and have also a state of of digital inclusion every year as part of the approach. And I just really wanted to also just really give a lot of credit to Rebecca. The work that she's done is it's just been really amazing with this whole process. And she's being actually asked to speak at national, state and regional conferences and cities and groups, and we're even L.A. County's asking us, Hey, what are you doing down there? So this this work is really getting a lot of attention. And and she totally deserves the work she got from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. And Rebecca, the presentation was phenomenal. So thank you. And let's continue this this amazing work. Thank you, Leah. Such impressive staff and commissioner work here. Just thank you all very much. Members, please cast your votes. American. Do you have to vote? Motion carries. Thank you. Now it's new business, so I want to make sure that we still have quorum here. Okay, good. So if you have new business or an announcement, now would be the time count from your income.