TED-X Long Beach

Last night the Council approved my agenda item calling for the City of Long Beach to obtain a license (free of charge) for a Long Beach TED-X conference.

For the past two years, the Long Beach Convention Center has been the venue for TED.

According to its website: "TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.

"Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with the annual TED Conference in Long Beach, California, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK, TED includes the award winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Program, the new TEDx community program, this year's TEDlndia Conference and the annual TED Prize.

"TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, 'ideas worth spreading.' The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

"At TEDx events, unique talks given by live speakers combine with TEDTalks videos to spark deep conversation and connections. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis."

A TEDx event is being planned and hosted by numerous cities (such as Manhattan Beach, Monterey, Boston, San Francisco and New York) as a way on a local level to:
1. Educate and inspire
2. Bring together innovators and explorers
3. Encourage the responsible use of resources and talents
4. Foster an environment of sharing and embracing passions.

A TEDxLong Beach would give the residents of the City of Long Beach the opportunity to experience and to participate in this innovative way to build a stronger and better community.

FAQ:

• The annual TED conference in Long Beach charges $6,000 a person to attend and limits who can attend.
• There is no charge for a community to receive a license from TED to organize a TEDx event.
• More and more cities across the U.S. and around the world are holding TEDx events in their communities.
• TEDx events are usually free of charge to attendees.
• TED provides a step by step video and website outlining how to organize and conduct a TEDx event in our community at http://www.ted.com/pages/view?id=343
• In every community that hosts a TEDx, the event is "sold out" within days of announcement and sparks on-going community discussions beyond the event.

Business license tax exemptions for artists

I raised some questions last night at council as to why we would waive business licenses for artists while so many small businesses are struggling in the city.

• The home business license is $198 a year.
• We don't have a definition of "artist."
• We don't know how many home businesses or artist businesses this waiver would cover.
• We still would need businesses to register with the city so that we don't have a proliferation of businesses operating without licenses.

I have a home business license because I am a writer and when I sell my books I have to be licensed as a business and I have to pay sales tax. The 5th Council district has a large number of home based businesses --because quite frankly it is the small business that is creating employment right now.

The arts are important to a community. But so is business and I don't want the city encouraging one type of business over another. Either give all small businesses a break on business licenses for a year or don't single out one type of business.

Agenda Item on City Manager Precludes Doing Anything More than an Evaluation: Brown Act Requires Public Disclosure of Votes Taken in Closed Session

It's unfortunate that as the press runs stories about the Council going into closed session next Tuesday to evaluate the City Manager (which is required in his contract), the press fails to remind readers the basics of the Brown Act which requires that items to be taken action on need to be specifically stated and that pursuant to the Brown Act any vote taken in closed session must be announced by the City Attorney when the Council returns to open session.

Why are employee evaluations allowed to be conducted in closed session? The court has stated:

[T]he underlying purposes of the 'personnel exception' are to protect the
employee from public embarrassment and to permit free and candid
discussions of personnel matters by a local governmental body."

If the Council agenda sent to the public states: "Pursuant to Section 54957 of the California Government Code regarding Public Employee Evaluation: City Manager" then all the City Council can do is an evaluation. To go beyond an evaluation the agenda item would have to state: "Public employee discipline/dismissal/release."

Evaluation of City Manager Should Be Done Properly

The local press is running articles on the upcoming evaluation of the City Manager, Pat West and the revelation that the President of the Long Beach Police Officers Association thinks the City Manager should be fired and that the Long Beach Firefighters Association thinks he shouldn't be fired.

Residents, employees and their representatives are certainly entitled to their opinions. But under the City Charter of Long Beach, the decision to hire and fire the City Manager is vested solely in the City Council.

It is also the responsibility of the City Council to evaluate the City Manager on a regular basis so both he and the council can measure if the City Manager is doing the job he was hired to do. The International City Management Association (ICMA) has identified the three major roles of a City Manager as managerial (supervising City activities and employees), policy making (making policy decisions and policy recommendations to City Council) and political (advocating and winning support for various policies, coalition building, and public relations—but not supporting candidates or parties).

The Long Beach City Charter outlines the powers of the City Manager and gives him wide discretion on how he focuses his efforts. So unless the City Council has established specific goals and objectives it is impossible to measure performance objectively.

I spent several years teaching students at CSULB Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration on how to become city managers -- so I am more than familiar with the process by which city managers should be evaluated as recommended by the ICMA:

• The evaluation process will be enhanced if both the entire Council and the Manager are involved from the start in developing the criteria and agreeing on them.
• It is essential that the City Council clearly define goals and objectives for the City Manager.
• The City Council, the City Manager and department heads should provide evaluations.
  
• Before the Council makes a final decision about any action as a result of the evaluation, or make any final statement as a Council about the Manager’s performance, it is important to discuss the results of the evaluation with the Manager first.
• A Council that is serious about evaluation should understand that its performance often affects the Manager’s performance.
  
• The Council should ask the Manager about how the Council’s performance has enhanced or hindered the Manager's performance.

There are some serious problems with the City Council going forward on an evaluation of the City Manager: while we have evaluated City Manager West before, we have not clearly defined goals and objectives we want him to accomplish, nor have we ever asked for feedback from his department heads, nor have we asked him about how our performance has enhanced or hindered his performance.

The Council can fix the evaluation process by setting goals and objectives, getting feedback from department heads and analyzing whether or not it is the council's responsibility if the City Manager has failed or succeeded.

No. I won't discuss the City Manager's evaluation in the press.

A reporter from the Press Telegram left me a voice mail yesterday asking me to comment on a rumor that several councilmembers were planning on voting to fire City Manager Pat West next week when we review his annual evaluation.

I didn't return the call because I don't think it is appropriate for employers (the City Council) to discuss a personnel matter with the press. Since I have not read the evaluations from other Councilmembers, I have no idea what they feel about extending the City Manager's contract. I'll find out in closed session and if the Council takes any action, it will be announced to the public by the City Attorney.

LBPD Arrest Suspect in Slaying -- Victim Dumped in 5th District

The Long Beach Police Department have arrested a 17 year suspect in the slaying of a male whose body was found near Vuelta Grande and Los Arcos.

It has not been disclosed how the body of the victim (not from Long Beach) wound up in East Long Beach.

The fast arrest is one more reminder of why it was important to restore funding for detectives.

Cell Phone Tower at Studebaker and Wardlow

A meeting of neighbors adjacent to the church site at Studebaker and Wardlow where a cell phone tower was proposed to be cited, was well attended for a Saturday morning -- @ 45 people.

Residents are concerned about the potential emissions from cell phone towers and the fact that they are concerned that it might lower property values because there are many people who do not want to live near these towers. Several families spoke about their children already having health problems and they did not want to bring in something that there is debate about whether or not it is safe. A firefighter spoke on how he had measured the emissions on these types of towers and that there were several schools within 1500 feet (which is the recommended distance from a cell tower and a school).

The representative of the company which installs the towers was very informative but the consensus of those in attendance was that the neighborhood doesn't want it adjacent to their homes.

The cell tower is being proposed to expand coverage for T-Mobile. Other carriers could pay to attach their equipment. The church would be paid @$1,000 a month for the cell tower to use space on its property.

Several cities are placing a moratorium on placing cell towers because of the growing concerns of residents about the potential impact.

Update of AYSO proposal to put lights on soccer field

I have been walking the area directly across from where AYSO is proposing installing field lights so their team members can practice after dark.

Several neighbors are circulating a flyer alerting neighbors about the proposal which has generated many, many emails to me in opposition. I also have been circulating a smaller flyer about the AYSO proposal asking that residents contact me with their opinion.

I want to clarify this proposal again: (also see right hand column for AYSO slides)

1. This is AYSO's proposal and not the City's. The City doesn't have money to install lights on any field.
2. AYSO claims that the lights are needed so their team members (up to age 19) can practice after dark.
3. They propose to place them at Willow and Studebaker where they practice and play currently.
   
4. AYSO is proposing to pay for the lights if the city waives field fees and electricity charges.
5. A city staff report on the impact of these lights and costs to the city has not been completed.
6. Residents who have contacted me in favor of the lights cite that the lights will enable their children to have more soccer practices after school. (Conversely, several soccer parents are opposed to the lights because they don't want their children practicing until 9 or 9:45 pm.)
   
7. Residents who have contacted me in opposition to the lights cite that the lights will change the character of the park and will bring increased traffic and noise to the neighborhood after dark and will negatively impact the birds and wildlife. (Conversely, some residents feel that the use of the park at night by young people is a good thing if it keeps them busy.)
8. I am concerned that without a recreation "master plan" in place we will be spot developing parks all over the city.
   
9. Because of the increasing impact of team sports at local parks and the neighborhoods that surround them, I have asked city staff to find park space away from the neighborhoods where soccer fields and lights could be placed.

Some have suggested doing what other cities such as Riverside have done: have portable lights on the field one night a week to enable a night practice or game. The lights can be rented and it prevents the park from being turned into a full week of night activities.

Other point out that the wattage and intensity of lights used strictly for practice and not games is much lower and less invasive.

Other suggestions: use Milikan High School (am looking into that); Vets Stadium (also inquiring)....

Note: No decision on the lights will be made unless and until there is a full public hearing at which all concerned parties on both sides will be invited to attend.

Meeting today on cell tower placement

Despite my stated concerns against placing a cell tower on a church lot in the 5th District at Wardlow and Studebaker, the cell phone company thinks it can convince the neighborhood.

I don't think so. I was at a Neighborhood Watch in that neighborhood on Thrs. night and no one there wanted the cell tower.

Today is also the 90th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters. They are celebrating at Los Altos Library at 10 am.

Voted Against Gas Rate Increase

Yep. Last night voted against a 2.9% increase in natural gas rates for residents. Was the only one to do so. With residents hurting from this economy, it makes no sense to increase rates just because SoCal Gas did so.

The City charter clearly spells out that the City utility has to have comparable rates with surrounding utilities -- the intent was to make sure residents don't pay more than other customers of gas utilities. So increasing our rates because SoCal Gas did isn't logical.

Especially, when on the same council agenda the council voted to give back 50% of sales tax to a local toyota dealer because of the harsh economic realities that car dealers are hurting for business.

Our residents are hurting too, specifically our seniors who are on fixed incomes. A 2.9% increase wasn't warranted.

Virginia and Snow and 39 Years Ago and the CIA

The Answer: Virginia, snow, 39 years ago and the CIA.
The Question: Where was I in Feb 1971?

I watched the weather channel and saw the snow come down in the east coast -- especially on the Washington, DC area. It brought back memories of 39 years ago this week when I left California to take a job with the Central Intelligence Agency in McLean, VA. Not knowing anything but a little fog and temperatures not below 50, I foolishly packed my bags with polyester pant suits and promptly froze when I landed at Dulles Airport.

It took two months to get my first pay check from the CIA -- because I had to undergo an intense security clearance -- so I had to wait to get warmer clothes and by then the snow turned to icy rain.

I was just 21 and it was quite an adventure. I wound up working in the North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Cambodian section proofreading intelligence reports sent from those countries on the war we were waging. I lived in a duplex with 4 other people for $50 a month who also worked at the CIA. We were all clerk typists and I was the only one from California. The other applicants from California were promptly dismissed when it came out that they used drugs.
That duplex was a pit. The owner's idea of cleaning it was to put new varnish on the furniture which captured a couple of cockroaches in the process.

After several months of going to work at 5:30 in the morning so I could catch the appropriate public buses, I saved some money and bought an MG midget. That was great fun to drive -- especially on the New Jersey Toll Pike on my way to the Army Navy game in Philadelphia. All that on $3900 a year.

I left the CIA and came back to the warm weather of California to finish college. Went off to Peru to do research and write a paper. Graduated in 9 months with honors and promptly drove back in the summer in my VW to DC and stayed back there through rain, snow, humidity and low wages as I completed my graduate degree and worked in the US Congress for several years.

The City Manager of Long Beach recruited me to come back to Long Beach in 1977 to become the City's first Public information officer and the rest they say is history.

I don't miss the snow or the humidity. Sure do miss my MG Midget and the view of the US Capitol lit at night.

Parks, Recreation and Marine Commission Meeting Agenda -- No Action on Soccer Lights

Although it was originally on the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Marine Commission that it would reconsider the proposal for installing lights on the field adjacent to Willow and Studebaker, the item was withdrawn so that the City can properly notice all parties of the meeting.

That being said, I received over 200 emails over the past few weeks on the proposal -- divided among the following lines: people who live near by don't want the lights; parents of soccer team players want them.

The process needs fixing so that all parties can participate in this decision.

Lake Clean Up Done...More to Come

Thanks to the 39 people (adults and students) who came out today to help clean up the area in El Dorado Park near the back lakes. On top of being a successful event, we were treated to the sights of goregous birds on and near the lakes.

Our next "clean up" will be after Easter and will focus on painting and cleaning the benches, tables and the awful restroom in the back area. All are welcome to help.

My voting record.

The Press Telegram just ran a story on the voting records of the incumbent and candidates running in the 9th District. To save them the effort, here's my voting record from the records of the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters since 1992 (I was registered since 1971 --back in the days you had to be 21 to vote; but the records only show from 1992 onward. And I also voted in April 1992 --that's when I was elected to the Long Beach Community College Board of Trustees):

Polls	05/19/2009
Polls	11/04/2008
Polls	06/03/2008
Polls	02/05/2008
Requested Democrat Ballot	02/05/2008
Polls	05/01/2007
Polls	11/07/2006
Polls	06/06/2006
Polls	06/06/2006
Requested Democrat Ballot	06/06/2006
Polls	04/11/2006
Polls	11/08/2005
Absentee	11/02/2004
Polls	03/02/2004
Polls	10/07/2003
Polls	11/05/2002
Polls	06/04/2002
Polls	04/09/2002
Polls	03/05/2002
Polls	11/07/2000
Polls	03/07/2000
Polls	03/30/1999
Polls	11/03/1998
Polls	06/02/1998
Polls	04/14/1998
Polls	11/05/1996
Polls	03/26/1996
Polls	11/08/1994
Polls	06/07/1994
Polls	04/12/1994
Polls	11/02/1993
Polls	11/03/1992
Polls	06/05/1992

In the pocket of the people.

The fun phrases being thrown around: "union lackey, in the pocket of the unions, union slave..." That's how some people are describing the Mayor and City Council.

I understand that these same people don't like the Mayor and Council's support of collective bargaining or the pension levels that the city is currently obligated to pay (and which need to be addressed by both state and local levels). But name calling doesn't elevate the discussion.

Now the latest I have heard is that the only reason I support using Schroeder Army Hall for a police substation is because the police union wants it.(They omitted the 7 other council members who voted for it as well.)

Really? My understanding is that when this issue was first raised, the Councilman from the 4th District stated that the POA didn't want the east station to move out of the 4th Council district and that they wanted a substation in the 4th and not in the 5th (which is just actually blocks away).

At no time have I ever talked with the police union about Schroeder Hall. Ever.

The proposal to use that surplus army property as a police substation was made by a citizen's committee which approved the city's application for that use. (The committee approved that use instead of the other applications which also included transitional housing units.)

That property -- which is in great condition -- will save the City of Long Beach millions of dollars because of the value of the land and the fact that the buildings do not need to be demolished. The current police substation next to Krispy Kreme is bursting at the seams and is costing the city thousands in rent.

And yes, the 800 pound gorilla is still in the room -- accepting the property from the army requires that the city accommodate the homeless -- which the city is still working on in order to minimize impacts on the surrounding community.

I don't know if people notice my votes on the council. But I am in no one's pocket except the people who elected me.

State of the 5th -- 2010

I presented my 4th annual State of the 5th to a full house at the LB Water Treatment Plant on Spring and Redondo which is posted for your reading to the right of the blog.

Folks got a chance to meet and to hear our new Police Chief Jim McDonnell. The City Manager, Pat West and Eastside Commander Cynthia Renaud also spoke.

Crime is down and low in the 5th. Code Enforcement is up and active as more and more constituents call to have problems taken care of in their neighborhoods.

Fire Services continue to be mostly for medical transport and rescue.

Bach and El Dorado continue to be the most used branches in our library system.

Streets, sidewalks and trees can't be fixed fast enough but we are making good progress in consolidating the areas and getting more done with the monies we have. This year the 5th will received over $600,000 (instead of the usual $300,000) for sidewalk repairs.

I talked about how the biggest challenge to the City is pension reform and creating non-governmental, diverse jobs if we are to get our tax base healthy again.

We had a brief update on our improvements to the Airport and what is going on over on the Douglas Park project.

Oh to be a developer in Long Beach.

Last night's council discussion on why the city had to give a piece of land on Terminal Island for $400,000 less than the city appraisal and on top of it to credit any improvements against the rent so that the lessee will not pay rent for 8-10 years is exactly why taxpayers are fed up.

On one hand the council raises fees for its services -- including charging residents $1200 for a traffic study to document that the traffic the city brought to their neighborhood because of sports teams in the parks is causing a parking problem -- and then says because the city is cash strapped can't possibly waive them. But when it comes to developers. Lordy, lordy does it ever bend over backwards to waive, reduce and say goodbye to revenue when it comes to developers.

"We couldn't possibly clean up the mess on the property so we'll let the lessee do it and that's why we won't charge rent." Hello. We are a city, a governmental agency giving away assets.

What was amazing to listen to and watch was the councilmember of the 3rd district rally to support the councilwoman of the 7th district on this deal. That is what I call effective lobbying.

Lobbyists Will Register. All Gifts are Prohibited. More Changes to Come.

The City Council on a 9-0 vote passed the city's first ordinance to register lobbyists. What a difference year and several months makes. Why it was just November 2008 when the existing council (sans Garcia) voted 7-1 (the one being me) AGAINST virtually the same ordinance.

Well, let's not complain. We need to move forward. So the vote yesterday now means Long Beach joined the big boys (those other cities who already register lobbyists).

A very significant change is the "no gifts" provision by any elected or city official (key staff). I have used this rule since my election in 2006 and have pushed for its adoption for a long time.

Have also pushed for disclosure of meetings and discussions out of the public view --ex parte. My colleagues are still reluctant on that one but I will still push.

I am also bringing forward an ordinance to increase the time between leaving elected office or a high level city job and returning as a lobbyist. The revolving door is wrong and needs to be stopped.

The problem is not Murchison. It's always the council's fault.

Today's Press Telegram spends considerable ink profiling local lobbyist, Mike Murchison, and painting him as someone who lives to influence the Mayor, City Council and city staff.

They are correct. Murchison does specialize in influence. That is his job. That's what makes him effective to his clients who are attempting to do business in Long Beach. So does that make him "the bad guy?" Nope. He is effective (on most council people and seemingly the Mayor and his staff) at doing his job. He gets his clients through to the winning line.

(I have to add here that I am amazed why anyone hires a lobbyist to do business in Long Beach...a point I bring up whenever a lobbyist brings in a client to my office. I tell the client -- "you don't need to pay someone to get an appointment with my office. You just need to pick up the phone and call me. I will talk to anyone who requests a meeting. That's my job.")

If Murchison is effective at influencing decision makers it is the decision makers who need to be held accountable. And the council to date has refused to be accountable on the issue of lobbyists. Not one council member sitting on the current council, except me, voted for a lobbyist ordinance in 2008 and voted to prohibit all gifts from lobbyists. Therein lies the fault.

Last time as the council took up the lobbyist ordinance, several council members waxed sadly about how accepting gifts from lobbyists was how you did business and that to refuse the gifts was insulting.

With poetry like that, how did we ever expect city staff to refuse hotels and trips or offers for tickets to hockey games or baseball games? When your boss says its okay to accept gifts from influence peddlers, then it's hard to turn them down when they are offered to you.

From the time I ran for council (you can check out that website to verify) I called for disclosure by electeds before they vote on whether or not they have received anything from anyone connected to the issue. The response I have received to that -- "people can look up campaign reports." Really. How about the electeds taking responsibility for disclosure? I have also called for disclosure of ex parte discussions so that the public gets the benefit of knowing what was discussed on city business behind closed doors.

So this Tuesday, thanks to Councilman Robert Garcia who joined me in calling for a lobbyist ordinance, we will have yet another vote and I will again make a call for no gifts of any amount from lobbyists or anyone doing business before the City Council. I will also support disclosure of ex parte discussions.

Let's stop demonizing those who have taken advantage of a broken system and fix the system.

Meet Our New Police Chief Jim McDonnell

I met with newly selected Chief of Police for Long Beach, Jim McDonnell two hours after the announcement of his selection. He and City Manager Pat West came to my neighborhood office and we discussed what I hope will be the Chief's priorities: honesty with the City Council about policing levels; developing a first class police academy that can become a regional center and training facility for other police agencies which will enhance the image of the Long Beach Police Department and produce revenue; upgrading our technology capabilities and continuing the high level of service currently provided by our police. I also stressed that the City needs pro-active management so that we never again have a "lobstergate" or "donning and duffing" law suit. When a problem is raised it needs to be dealt with appropriately and not ignored until it becomes an expensive lawsuit.

The Chief agreed to speak at the upcoming State of the 5th District to be held Feb 11 at 7 pm at the LB Water Treatment Plant at Spring and Redondo.

Posted below is the Chief's photo and background provided by the Los Angeles Police Department where he served as the Number 2.
First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell was appointed Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in October 2002 and serves as the second in command to Chief William J. Bratton. The LAPD is the third largest police department in the United States, with almost 10,000 sworn officers and 3,200 civilian employees and an annual budget of over one billion dollars.

After undertaking a major re-engineering and reform effort, the LAPD is now focused on initiatives aimed at using real-time information to further reduce crime, target gang violence, and address the threat presented by terrorism. In the past seven years, crime in Los Angeles is at historically low levels, with Part I crimes down 33.2% and homicides down 41.2%.

Chief McDonnell has served as Chief of Staff for the last five years, after having had citywide command of the Operations and Human Resources functions for the LAPD. He has served with the LAPD for 28 years and has held a wide variety of positions throughout the department. He has received numerous community and department awards, including the LAPD’s highest award for bravery, the Medal of Valor.

Chief McDonnell serves on numerous Boards of Directors that focus on furthering the interests of local youth, leadership and in the policing profession on both a local and statewide level. He is an active member of several more organizations, such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police; California Peace Officers’ Association; California Police Chiefs’ Association; Peace Officer's Association of Los Angeles County, and the Southern California Leadership Network.

Chief McDonnell holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He is also a graduate of the FBI’s prestigious National Executive Institute, the Senior Management Institute for Police and has completed Executive Education programs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

He regularly lectures at a number of Department schools and has trained criminal justice professionals on a variety of topics, such as leadership, ethics, community policing, handling line of duty deaths, and the recruitment and retention of valuable employees. Chief McDonnell is recognized as an expert on policing issues and has lectured on these topics around the world. He currently teaches public policy issues at the University of California, Los Angeles.

First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell has a great appreciation for the cultural diversity of the City of Los Angeles and values the contributions that all the various cultures make to the City. Chief McDonnell also clearly understands the value of diversity within the ranks of the LAPD and has worked closely with all communities in Los Angeles to understand their specific needs and concerns and to strengthen the relationship between the LAPD and all of the communities that are served.