Recommendation to receive and file a report on the development of an Economic Recovery Strategy and provide input and policy direction to staff on economic recovery priorities to address the economic impacts of COVID-19, with an emphasis on equity, to promote the recovery of businesses and jobs across all sectors of the Long Beach economy following the COVID-19 emergency.  (Citywide)
Thank you. We have two other items that are related to economic recovery. I want to get to those. I do have an item with Ford City Auditor Laura Dow, which we'll do right after those two items. So let's let's try to get to 33 and 26 as expeditiously as possible. Item 33. Item 33 is a report from economic development. Recommendation to receive and file a report on the development of an economic recovery trajectory citywide. Okay. Mr. Motueka? Yes. Jenkins, there has a brief report from the Economic Development Finance Committee. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, and members of the city council. As as we covered last week, the Economic Development and Finance Committee met on December 1st to discuss a few of these important items related to the economic recovery and recommended this item in particular to the Council for further consideration. Just as quick background, the Council has passed a number of of historic economic relief packages related to the hardships of COVID 19. Back in March, as you'll recall, when the emergency was declared, the council directed the city manager and attorney and came back with a package of 24 individual recommendations covering worker protections, tenant protections, regulatory reforms, some of which we've talked about tonight in the transition phase, which really kicked in in August of this year. We saw the council also take some some historic action on appropriating CARES Act grant funds, millions of dollars related to economic support programs to help our businesses as they were fighting off the continued push and pull of COVID 19 and restrictions that the virus has caused to businesses. But now, as we are starting to enter a new phase of this economic crisis, we really feel that an economic recovery strategy is needed. And the Economic Development and Finance Committee covered a number of different items that they wanted to be included to to create an inclusive economic recovery . This slide, actually, which was highlighted earlier tonight, is from our economic forum where Cal State Long Beach has been unpacking our economic data to see how COVID 19 has impacted different workforce. You can see, of course, that the economic recovery has been uneven. They call it a k-shaped recovery because those on the lower income legs of the K are actually not experiencing any changes, whereas those in the higher earning areas have experienced greater recovery at a quicker rate. And so the committee was recommending to the council that we develop a comprehensive economic strategy that really is based on on economic data and conducting economic equity studies, identifying key measures, and having shovel ready projects available for for when funding becomes available. Number two is to really work with our community partners, our community based organizations, nonprofit economic development corporations to solicit input and conduct a robust community outreach program to help develop these recommendations. Additionally, the committee wants the Council to consider adding goals from the framework for racial reconciliation to promote a more racially inclusive and equitable economic recovery strategy. And number four, to identify and implement a legislative agenda, to advocate to the state and federal government, advocate for funding so that once this recovery strategy is developed, we have the funds to implement. And finally, in terms of timing, to have this back to council before April 1st, because as we see the strategies to to prevent COVID 19 vaccination and other things arrive, the hope is, is that the health orders can be lifted and people can get back to business. But in terms of the studies, I just want to finish on. We covered at the committee the research that is already underway, which will become the foundation of baseline economic, social and demographic information. There are actually five economic equity studies that are underway now funded by the City Council, this appropriation of Cares Act money, and that includes the trends, analysis and impact analysis on on high need populations and ethnographic impacts, study on individuals and how they've survived COVID 19, financially and otherwise. To refresh our small business survey and ultimately to conduct a restaurant retention study, we'll be partnering with community based organizations, providing incentives to participants. And ultimately, we will bring the results of these studies back in late January and early February as we work with the council and the community to build this economic recovery strategy. So just a couple of next steps. I covered some of the the Economic Development and Finance Committee meeting. This city council kick off the studies that are underway, of course, the community outreach legislative strategy and hopefully have a final report back to the city council in March or sometime prior to April 1st. We'll also need a plan for marketing and promotion, business and implementation, planning and of course, funding. So with that, I'll conclude my report and turn it back over to the Council. Thank you. I have a motion by Councilwoman Mango and a second by Councilmember Richardson. Councilman Mango. Thank you. I had a couple questions for Mr. Keisler. At the meeting, we discussed a memo which I see came out today at 415. So I did a little bit of studying of that in between the swearing in and the first council meeting. And I had some questions on that. And then I wanted to also follow up on specifically the request I made related to the remaining funds for small businesses that would be available to launch the support of reimbursement related to outdoor extensions that small businesses made to continue to conduct business outdoors. And if you would be open to adding a component that if over the next several weeks, if there are additional. Requirements levied upon these businesses that have outdoor spaces based on becoming compliant that those too could be eligible expenses. And when the world watch. I know we were hoping that it would launch this week or able to make that happen. That's certainly a council member. That was part of the discussion last Tuesday night. We heard loud and clear from the city council that we needed to take a look at what CARES ACT funding we had possibly available to put together to address the restaurants and the particularly those that that have invested a lot of money to deal with COVID related costs and outdoor business activities. So we have put together a recommendation for the city council and the city manager is has been working with us to get that ready to go this week. We believe we will have a program ready to launch by the end of this week. It will allow for grants up to $10,000, depending on the costs that these individual businesses have incurred specifically related to outdoor business activities. So that would be food services and otherwise we will have that information available in, of course, a website, a press release and written communication to council within a matter of days. And we hope that we can start accepting applications by the end of this week. Thank you. And I know I specifically discussed a very simple and easy process for these businesses to make sure that those funds are put out quickly. What does that look like? Yeah, that actually has been a conversation the first two days of this week between our different staff and departments about how we can make that as simple but also as accountable and provide the documentation in the event that we have a follow up audit. And so we do a we're keeping this this initial interest form simple. You also have to have an existing approved permit for outdoor dining or food services. So that already provides some really important information from those businesses that have provided that for the permitting process. And then finally, we want to keep the documentation process very simple in terms of demonstrating which costs have have occurred for eligible expenses. So we've taken that to heart and we think we've designed something that will be very, very streamlined. And you mentioned outdoor dining, but any business that's pulled an outdoor permit to conduct business outdoors because of COVID would be eligible. Yeah. So we have to do primary business permits for, for these outdoor activities. We have the parklets in the right of way and then we have these, these occasional event or, or apps that have been issued. So this would be either public or private property. And ultimately we're focusing primarily on food services, and that would include restaurants and bars and other businesses that have received permits for that purpose. Our goal, of course, is to target those first, because that was the direction that we received. Thank you. My next question is regarding the CARES Act update memo that was released. I think my question is for Mr. Parkin. Mr. Parkin, the city council approves a budget every year before the October 1st deadline, and during that approval process, the Council approved specificity of okay, this department is receiving. This much revenue in measure a this much revenue in general fund this much these projects are specifically designated to measure A or measure C funds and so on and so forth. But when I look at the CARES Act update pages 11 and 12, I notice that some of the programs are concluding after the deadline. And so it would be my understanding that we then as a city chose to utilize Care Act funds for eligible expenses, and then we would be freeing up general fund money to then fund these programs that were originally funded with CARES Act funding into the New Year. Would that need an approval of the City Council in a similar way when we would move funding of a particular kind of revenue, funding a project that was approved by the council and then change that. Councilmember I'm going to defer to John Grosso on the finance director. I think he's been looking at how they can utilize these Care Act funds in the most efficient manner in order to continue some of the projects that we know are going to be necessary beyond the end of December. And then thank you for that. And Mr. GROSS, you know, I'm a big fan of yours, and I know that there are a lot of. Movement needs of money to make things available with the intention of the original plan. I just from a transparency point of view, have felt that every year when you bring forward these budget adjustments, even though they don't get a lot of scrutiny from the community because they are pretty complex, I do appreciate reading them and I think they are important for the transparency of the finances of the city. And do you believe that those are required and will that be coming forward in a future budget adjustment for a retroactive approval, or do you believe that's not necessary? I believe Mr. GROSS is on the line. Mr. GROSS either. We may have missed him. We will try to get him back on the line to be able to answer that question. So in summary, the way that we have outlined our CARES Act and we have put that in the memo today and we also put it in the requirement and when we came to council in July is we have some reporting mechanisms for the federal government to be able to meet all of the CARES Act deadline. So it's a process that was reviewed with, you know, and checked on other jurisdictions and what they were doing. And it's called administrative convenience. And it basically does a reporting mechanism to the state on how we're going to be spending our funds. And then we wanted to make sure that we are delivering what we brought to the council to be to be implemented, which is the full plan that was implemented in in July. So that's essentially what we're doing. It is using the funding source. Nothing is not a net impact. It's still the exact same funding source and that is just the way for us to deliver the CARES Act program. But I can tell you that. So there are a. Thank you. Thank you. Council member or Vice Mayor Richardson? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And at the end of this, I'll talk a little bit about procedure, but I want to I want to thank staff for this. This presentation. I think the intent here is to really be very high level about where we are in this moment. So you have it's a great opportunity to use a fresh palette, new counsel, new presidential administration, vaccine conversations are happening. Now is a time where the stars are aligning to really focus all the work that we already have to do around one strategy to best position our city for recovery. We know that the recovery would need to be balanced and inclusive. That means, you know, we look at economics and how economics impacts everyone, but also we look at the social aspects of recovery and the health aspects of recovery, how to make sure that over the next few months, the administer the vaccine is administered in a way that that is equitable. How do we make sure that, you know, we're concerned about the public health of our art? We maintain our concern, but also really are strategic about the things that are going to be important to the recovery, like the reopening process. We've been through that process before. We know what we learn from that process. That's going to have to be factored into this, how we how we strategically figure out reopening. We also know some industries are going to going to be different. They're going to change and never be the same. So now's the time to really think strategically about how we build back in a way that's strategic and investing. And in industries, for example, we know that there's equality mandates coming down from the state in terms of, you know, meeting the sort of automotive, the electric car sort of mandates. And that's going to create demand to produce new technology and new vehicles. Where we have the history here in Long Beach, we have the ABC. The only Toyota body, Toyota manufacturer on the West Coast is in North Palm Beach. We know we have the history of Boeing. We have, you know, in our aviation sector, there's been some construction and capacity to think about manufacturing. Well, how do we factor that in? We know there's going to be a federal package, multiple federal package, as well as a broader transportation moving forward act. What are shovel ready projects that we can start putting forward right now and maximizing the impact? We know that we have more capacity now than we have before. We have both lobbies Economic Partnership, Lumbee Center for Economic Inclusion, a lot of capacity around racial equity, community groups that are doing doing this work on the ground today that are would be ready in the new year to begin to have a discussion about whether whether an inclusive recovery recovery would look like. We also know that in the new year, we beginning to implement some of the work that took place over the summer around selecting a reconciliation initiative. That should dovetail into the idea here is this is an opportunity really to send a very clear message to staff that as we go into the new year, our economic recovery is our top priority. And, you know, the region is focused on recovery, the federal government is focused on recovery. And we should have a plan that really aligns with the region's plan and aligns with our federal plan on recovery. This should be delivered to our city council and by April 1st. So we're ready to go. And we should be working in partnership with Long Beach, with Long Beach, City State, as well as our partners. I want to thank the LBA, the nonprofit partnership in Long Beach Economic Partnership for submitting letters and committing to work with the city. Also want to thank the Economic Development Commission also for stepping up and talking with us about making sure that the update to the blueprint really is coordinated with this to where, you know, our top priorities are economic and social recovery, but it informs the long term and sort of where we go as a city. The last thing is a share of economic development. I know the council committee is going to change. This will be my last motion coming out of the eye of the committee. I'd like to. Councilman, Vice Chairman, go. I want to make sure that I know you cued up and I want to make sure that I'm able to make this motion. You're okay with that? Sure. Councilmember Richardson. Thank you. So those are those are my comments. I want you know, I want to I think, again, this is a great opportunity for us as a city to to focus on our comprehensive recovery. This is what people expect from us. And the timing is right. And I think we really can position our city for a robust recovery. Thank you. Thank you. So I have a motion by Vice Premier concerning the second by Councilman Mongo customary ringa. Thank you, Mary. And I think it's very important that we support this report in regard to our recovery. And that's and that's what it's all about. We want to get people back to work. We want to get businesses open again. But we want to do it in a manner that is going to address the issues of. That I brought forward with the pandemic, and we want to do it safe. So I want to point that we see all of this report making. Count Women's and Day has. Actually, it's. They're having trouble meeting here. And first of all, I want to give a big thanks to our economic and economic development team and to our economic development committee for bringing this forward. I think that this is this is something that is very needed. And this has been an incredibly difficult few months for city staff and for the economic development department, especially, has stepped up this whole year, not just on this item, but this whole year in a huge way to help our local and small businesses throughout this these incredible challenges. As we heard in our study session last week and has and has been reflected by our continued spike in COVID 19 infections, protecting the health and safety of our residents must continue to be a top priority. And just as low income neighborhoods and zip codes representing communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID 19 are nonwhite . Business owners in the city have also been hit especially hard by this crisis. Just yesterday I had a conversation with John about the work that's been happening to connect the the black and Latino owned businesses with resources. And it's important to me that it's important to me that we continue and that we expand these efforts as additional federal aid is received and we begin to move forward towards our recovery. We can't just talk about equity. It has to be something that we devote the time and money to support. One of the primary messages I like staff to receive from this discussion is that we must continue to determine what are not white owned businesses need to survive and then do all that we can to get them the resources that they that they have. Of course, everyone needs help during this big economic crisis, but there's certain things that these communities are lacking. And so we need to really look at it in through the equity lens. The Latino community is especially important to me. And I hear and I hear and see the way that our business is and struggled disproportionately to others. What we cannot afford to see as a city is for this pandemic to permanently close all small businesses that are so important to our community while others survive that that any of the businesses are forced to close is a tragedy no matter what it is, because people have poured their hearts and not only their hearts, but their life savings into their businesses. But it will be so, so devastating for the overwhelming burden of the hardship to continue falling on our entrepreneurs of color. I know that these are sentiments that are shared by our staff, and I look forward to continuing to hear about the efforts around economic equity moving forward towards an economic recovery. And we we must we must make a plan today so that when we do get funding for this, we know exactly when and where it's going to . So with that, I thank you for all the work that you've been doing. And I think, you know that the work is is also coming. The harder work is coming. So I look forward to supporting this item. Thank you. Thank you all for working on this item. Thank you. I believe that the mayor stepped away so I don't have the phone. So guess what? We're just going to have to queue up. If you have any other comments, speak up and we're going to recognize you by voice until we until the mayor gets back there. Any other comments on this item? Yes. This is Councilwoman Zoro. Oh, you are recognized. Okay. Can I make my comment now? Sure. Okay. And I, too, want to thank the Economic Development Team and committee for your hard work in getting us to this point. For myself as an incoming new council member. So that so we're able to continue to put people first. Economic recovery is a very top priority for me, and it's something that I've mentioned time and time again that is important to my district, that we ensure that it's inclusive and it's just an equitable. You know, the people and the small immigrant and people of color owned business in my district have really suffered prior to the pandemic and ensuring that they're able to grow and thrive. And the pandemic has exacerbated their situation. And so for that reason, you know, many other businesses in different parts of the city were able to set up Parklets for their restaurant and, you know, use technology to shift their business and to somewhat survive it. And I know that everybody has had challenges in this pandemic, but I do want to make sure to recognize that it's been so much harder for the businesses in my district to adjust and even to survive and recover. And so I just want to make sure that staff know it's a top priority for me and that it's very important that I heard the goals and objective from the framework for racial reconciliation that's going to be incorporated. So I just wanted to share that and thank you so much again and then I. Certainly thank you. And is there any are there any further council comments? Okay. Hearing. Let's go to public comments and make public public comment on the item. Yes. Our first speaker is Tiffany, D.V.. Thank you. Recognize? Good evening. 15 David address on file. I just want to thank. The development services and all other departments that have been involved. In this work. Leading up and ahead as we tackle. Well, it's. Definitely one. Of the largest challenges I think we've all collectively faced. That being said, I wanted to. Share this quote from John Hanmer. Economic recovery from disaster is about the resilience of local economies, but it is. Also about the. Scale in space and time, the magnitude and distribution of the losses and benefits flowing from the disaster. The impacts on assets and on flows of goods and services, adoption of new technologies, marketing of recovery and ships and local power is the aim of economic recovery simply to restore the pre-disaster state? Or should disasters be embraced as opportunities. To make local. Economies more resilient? There are many that are facing a myriad of different challenges, whether that's economic, social, mental. This will take some time. I believe. And prior comments, I. Did suggest possibly. Looking at the creation. Of appointing a local disaster recovery manager, someone to liaise on with state, federal and other regional. Basically actors that we would need to tackle this behemoth together with. There is. I know there has been also quite a bit of. Discussion in terms of what do we expect the federal government to deliver? How quickly is it going to get to the people? How can we. Make sure. That everyone. Who has need. At this time is met and addressed? I think eventually you're hearing our. Grocery store workers and the. Really the despair. I mean, one of the callers is in complete tears. Every day that we are living through this together. Is one in which we're still not able to completely assess the community needs and concerns. And so I thank you because this will take. Exceptional leadership. This will take. Equity. This will take. Thinking about things in. Ways we have not done before. Because we cannot go back. Businesses may open, but those who have been. Harmed and felt the harm throughout this time. They're going to need more. And I look forward to the continued leadership and those taking those difficult stances to speak up for those that don't get a chance to call their. And those we. Know that are hurting. Thank you. Thank you. Your next speaker is Dave Shukla. Was. Hello. The issue, quote unquote, I like to think, starts with a presentation. And for much of the work over this past month on trying to figure out how to chart our economic recovery. And I on the data work for some of these economic studies. A couple of points. These studies should, of course, include an equity lens. This be a concerted effort at data collection for indicators coming out of the framework for reconciliation process, along with some of the recommendations that the community is making on them. We also need to identify strategic opportunities for attracting new industry, specifically manufacturing jobs, high quality jobs and career ladder ladder that'll help move families in place. The economic recovery strategy has to also confront the reality of the carbon intensity of many of our. Highest performing industry sectors. Intel. Aviation. Shipping. Tourism. The rental market. And also, how structurally reliant are municipal budgets on heavily polluting industries? A new economic recovery strategy or update to the economic blueprint coming out of this COVID 19 pandemic would be complete without recognizing already existing, effective public health interventions. For until we have widespread distribution adoption of the vaccine probably through the end of 2020. One of the existing things that we've known have worked in other countries as well as in the state of California, for limiting the kind of chain of transmission of this virus or things that wouldn't have continued to do. And hopefully the strategy will incorporate some of the key kind of aspects of the two quick requests. Specific to priority number five of the report dated on the third day, the initial report to be presented early next month along with the final report presented in April. I should include I would like to request that they include the possibility of creating a community choice aggregation program, specifically to Joint Powers Authority led by the city for the Greater Long Beach area as. The Southern California Association of Government recently voted in May. This is a priority for governments in the region to explore for equipment. And then the second request would be that only fines for clean energy be included in the process for developing some of these relevant economic indicators and also help in the drafting of the economic blueprint, specifically from science based, equity focused climate stabilization. Thank you. Your next speaker is Karen Jimenez. Karen Jimenez. Hi. Yes, hi. Good evening, Mayor and city council members. My name is Karen Jimenez, and I'm the director of small business support for Ronnie's house. For the past few months, we've been supporting our barbershops and her salons for the COVID 19 shutdowns. And what we've seen is just really heartbreaking. I support a recovery package for all businesses and as the city council and staff to work together to ensure our beauty industry. Which is the heart of many of our communities. We. We urge you to. To create a recovery package so that they don't shut down. In addition, many of our barbershops and hair salons on a month to month lease, which means that when they when the protections are lifted, they will be easily evicted. Moreover, many undocumented owners are four and five months behind, and they're facing harassment. And during this uncertain time, because they are not able to tap into any funding, including they weren't able to fund into any funding, including the latest small business grant. I originally asked the City Council and the Mayor to ensure that a recovery package is created for the beauty industry. And then you take into consideration the undocumented community. When creating this package. Thank you for your time and consideration. Think your next speaker is Manny Navarro. Annie Navarro. Yes. How are you? Good evening. Good evening, Mayor and City Council. How are you today? My name is Manuel Navarro. I am the owner of Manny's Barber Shop in the ninth district. I've been a business owner for about 15 years in Long Beach. I am in support of the economic recovery package and I appreciate City Council for taking steps towards the recovery. Towards recovery. However, I ask that you packages created for our industry to help us navigate through Covi 19. It's been a very, very tough year for us barbers and the industry. I ensure we keep our businesses open. Hopefully, you know, we want to continue giving the best service outside community. We have been closed for about seven, seven months this year. I just want you to imagine the position we are in, you know, trying to pay the rent or mortgage and keep our families afloat. It's been very, very tough. You know, without generating any type of revenue. Many of our shops are behind on rent and some have closed. It's very sad to see that, you know, we can do better. The city, I believe I think we're we can do better and just for our beauty and barber industry and our city council and do this just that, you know, do more and do better so that to do better. And so, you know, our business can make it through this very, very difficult time. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Have a blessed night. God bless. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Sharon Sinegal. Good evening. City Council Mayor Robert Garcia. Vice Mayor Rex Richardson. Congratulations to council members Sally Sara and Cindy Allen. My name is Sharon Cynical, and I'm the executive director of Rodney's house and the co-founder of the Long Beach Beauty and Barber Association. We cannot possibly talk about racial reconciliation without addressing the needs of our beauty and barber industry that employs many of our minority communities as well as women. We are here on behalf of the members to request a recovery package of $5 million to the industry, including our documented businesses, legal support for our shops that are facing eviction and harassment, and funding for small nonprofits that are currently on the ground supporting the beauty industry and other small businesses. We have been asking support from the city to support our small businesses as a nonprofit for many months. But the funding has been moved to larger organizations for business support who are usually not on the ground with our small businesses, but rather at the table with the city. And that concerns me. As for the CARES Act, funding the application process was very disappointing. Many of our small businesses did not know about the available funding and we were with our small businesses up until the last minute on December 11th, making sure they get their applications in. I urge City Council to support our beauty industry that is the heart and soul of our communities. And that has been a part of the civil rights movement and the disbursement of education on health, finance and politics. Thank you so much for your consideration and for your work towards racial reconciliation. Thank you. That concludes public comment for this item. Thank you. Let's go ahead and have our roll call vote. Councilwoman Sun. Has. I'm Councilwoman Ellen. I am Councilwoman Price. I am councilman owner. All right. Councilwoman Mango. Councilwoman Sarah. I as a member of Ranga. I can in Austin. Hi. Vice Mayor Richardson. All right. Motion. Kay. Before I go to the next item, which is going to be for us item 34, and we'll jump back. Mr. City Attorney General, make an announcement about closed session also. Yes. Thank you, Mayor. This evening, in closed session by a vote of 9 to 0, the city council authorized the city attorney to join in amicus participation in the case of RV versus motion. Thank you. Thank you. Let's take item 34. Item 34.