Things Candidates Did not Tell the Voters

Several of my colleagues who also faced re-election in April are supporting a proposal to reduce the number of council meetings to two a month.Funny, they didn't bother to campaign on this issue. They didn't bother to tell voters: re-elect me and I will vote to cut the number of times I have to report to work for you.

The argument that it will save $3500 a month is ridiculous. If that is so, then reduce the Mayor and Council's office budgets to pay for the public meetings. Have each council person chip in $375 to hold the meeting.

The argument that it will allow council people to hold community meetings on Tuesday with their constituents is also nonsense. Hold your community meetings 6 other days in the week if you aren't having enough meeting with your constituents. A public council meeting is the only time the public can watch and participate as we openly deliberate on issues. But maybe that is why my colleagues want to limit those opportunities -- less public discussion, less pesky constituents seeing what is being done.

Okay. So you want to cut the number of times you need to show up for city council meetings to twice a month? Then I urge you to support my charter amendment which would cut our salary 50%. (That's because our salaries were set by charter in 1988 when council met 4 times a month. In 2004, the council cut out a meeting and now some want to cut out yet another meeting.)

Put it on the ballot in November and let the people tell us what they really think of a council that doesn't want to do the job they were elected to do.

Retrofitting Suburbia

Every time I have attended a conference on municipal issues, I learn lots. I am in Rancho Bernardo at the Independent Cities Conference and today heard a very informative report on how some communities are moving to Smart Code. Basically, Smart Code is

an integrated land development ordinance. It folds zoning, subdivision regulations, urban design, public works standards and basic architectural controls into one compact document. It is also a unified ordinance, spanning scales from the region to the community to the building.

This is exactly what Long Beach needs. We need a sense of what we want Long Beach to look like instead of allowing continual development that has resulted in Long Beach looking like a patchwork. Development in Long Beach is a crapshoot for both the residents and the developer. Residents don't really know what a development is going to look like or if it will fit into an area. Developers don't know exactly what city planners are going to allow them to do and not do. Smart Code takes all that away because both parties know exactly what is desired in a development.

Additionally, Smart Code takes into account the need to address climate change and public health issues such as the growing obesity rate among young people who do not walk their neighborhoods.

Here is a link you might want to check out on this growing concept: http://www.smartcodecentral.org/index.html

Charter Agenda Items -- Reducing Mayor and Council Salaries and Moving Elections to November

I am proposing two charter amendments that will address problems that have been raised recently:

• Proposal to reduce the number of City Council meetings to only two times a month. 
• Reduced voter turn-out for city council elections.

Three council members want to reduce the number of council meetings to just two a month. When the council and mayor's salaries were set in 1988, they were set based upon 4 council meetings a month. Sometime around 2004, the Council reduced the meetings to 3 and now they want to reduce it to two.  So, I am proposing that the voters get to vote on reducing the salaries of the mayor and city council commensurate to the 50 percent reduction in public meetings. (Please. I don't buy it that two meetings a month will allow council members to have more community meetings. I have community meetings frequently on other days/nights than Tuesday. Two meetings a month will mean more decisions get made behind the scenes and public involvement will be squashed because after all "we have a very full agenda with only meeting two times a month...so hurry along." The people of our city are struggling financially and what is being proposed is an insult to every resident who would gladly change places with 9 city council members and work full time.)

Voter turnout in April primaries in Long Beach is dismal. The elections are costly because the city conducts them. Study after study shows that timing of an election is everything for turnout and it reduces costs to cities, which is why 40% of cities have moved their elections to be concurrent with statewide elections.

Turnout

I am proposing to move our elections to a November winner-take all. This would increase voter turnout because voters already vote in state and federal elections. It would also reduce costs for the City which can consolidate the election with the county. And, it would reduce campaign spending. A candidate would only have to raise and spend for one election.

We need to remember that Long Beach once elected council members by having candidates run from an area in a primary and then the top two had to be run for city wide vote. We don't do that any longer.

Let me know how you feel about these issues.

Pretty Quiet 4th

It was fairly quiet this 4th of July and there didn't seem to be as many people in the parks as were last year.

Even though fireworks are illegal, there were pockets of streets with sparklers and small fireworks going off. The police had their hands full with responding to these.

I want to thank the LB Police Department and the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department who met earlier to discuss the park permit process.

Taxing an Illegal Drug Is Hypocritical

There is a proposal for this coming City Council meeting to tax the sale of marijuana at medical marijuana clinics.

Please follow along on how hypocritical this is:

First dismiss the fact that some "other cities do it." Some other cities do a lot of things that we don't do -- which is why we answer when kids plea -- everybody does it -- "we're not everybody."

Ok so here's the deal. It is illegal to sell and transport and possess marijuana. But because in California we recognize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, non profit collectives are allowed to grow and distribute (not sell) marijuana for medical purposes.

A. How can a city tax an illegal transaction? If it is illegal to sell marijuana and only non profits -- which are exempt from taxes -- can distribute medical marijuana, how is it again that we would taxing this?

B. Here's the part that really gets me. If marijuana distributed at a collective is considered "medicine" how could we tax it? California does not tax pharmaceuticals -- so how then is it okay to tax this medicine?

Either marijuana is an illegal drug and last time I checked we don't tax drug dealers -- or it is medicine -- and we don't tax medicine. Which is it? Because if it isn't medicine, then folks we have no business allowing it to be dispensed in Long Beach. And if it is medicine, why don't we tax all medicine sold in the City?

ESPN to Feature LB's Own Bille Jean King on July 3rd.

 (Note -- I was fortunate to attend the taping of this show. Long Beach should be very proud of Billie Jean King -- pay particular attention to how King points out several times that if it had not been for Long Beach free tennis program -- she would not have been able to learn how to play!!)

ESPN to Air ‘Homecoming with Rick Reilly’”
Featuring Tennis Legend Billie Jean King On July 3

Tennis legend Billie Jean King, who grew up learning how to play tennis in Long Beach, will be featured on ESPN’s “Homecoming with Rick Reilly” on Saturday, July 3, at 4 pm on Long Beach Charter Communications Channel 35. The program will repeat on Friday, July 9, at 4:00 pm on ESPN2, Channel 36.

The “Homecoming” series challenges the old adage “You can't go home again.”

On April 14, Long Beach welcomed tennis legend Billie Jean King back to her hometown for the taping of ESPN’s  "Homecoming with Rick Reilly” at the Billie Jean Moffitt King Tennis Center in Recreation Park. Filming also took place at Houghton Park where Ms. King took her first tennis lesson with instructor Clyde Walker. She practiced regularly at the courts now named in her honor, and her brother Randy Moffit played next door at Joe Rodgers Field.

In the program, Ms. King describes how Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine programs contributed to her success and provided her with opportunities that weren’t available in other communities.

Ms. King’s career highlights include 20 Wimbledon titles – six singles, ten doubles and four mixed. She won 12 Grand Slam  singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.

For more information about the program, visit www.espn.com/homecoming 

How Often Should City Council Meet?

Heard it through the grapevine...that wonderful conduit of ideas circulating atop City Hall. Someone thinks it is a good idea that after the new council comes in that we start only meeting two times a month, instead of the three times a month we now meet.

Can't figure out the logic in that idea. We are the 6th largest city in California and have tremendous issues facing the city. Reducing the number of times we meet would obviously lessen the Council's authority because more and more decisions would be driven by staff that works full time. We actually need a full time city council.

Don't know what is behind the idea. Although there are some in California that would like to do away with government or limit it so much that it is ineffective -- which then leaves contracts and decisions to the impact of lobbyists. Bet someone will float an argument that it would save the city money. Don't think so. Every staff person there at council is on salary and does not get paid overtime.

Oh, this is an interesting idea just days after Maywood announced it would close all departments and contract out their city to Bell Gardens.

City Manager's Weekly Newsletter

Friday Newsletter 06-25-2010

World War II Icon Dies

From the New York Times today:

A nurse famously photographed being kissed by an American sailor in New York's Times Square in 1945 to celebrate the end of World War Two has died at the age of 91, her family said on Tuesday.

The V-J Day picture of the white-clad Edith Shain by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured an epic moment in U.S. history and became an iconic image marking the end of the war after being published in Life magazine.

The identity of the nurse in the photograph was not known until the late 1970s when Shain wrote to the photographer saying that she was the woman in the picture taken on Aug. 14 at a time when she had been working at Doctor's Hospital in New York City.

I met Edith two years ago at an event on the Queen Mary which was commemorating the end of WWII. She was tiny and funny. We hit it off because she had been a nurse, but she also went on to teach kindergarten.

I had been invited because of my book "Rosie the Riveter in Long Beach" and we talked about what was going on when the war ended. She said -- "everyone who lived then can tell you exactly where they were when we got the news the war was finally over."

Breakwater Study -- Not Yet Funded

I have missed very few council meetings in the 4 years I have been in office. Last night was one of those times. I had to attend to a family matter that came up at the last minute during the Budget Meeting.

That being said, I was concerned to read the headlines this morning -- it gives the impression that the Council funded the local sponsor portion of the breakwater study -- it didn't. It voted 8-0 to fund $2.5 Million out of Tidelands and close to $900,000 in in-kind services -- that leaves almost $2 million that has to be found before the Army Corps of Engineers proceeds. (This reminds me of the "wetlands" issue -- We did it! We saved the wetlands -- except we haven't found a source of money to fix the wetlands, nor a non profit organization that wants to step up and buy the property we just obtained.)

There isn't any doubt that the water quality and the lack of any real tidal action needs to be addressed in the San Pedro Bay. And maybe there is cause to celebrate that a move in that direction is happening. But in the words of another Jerry -- Jerry McGuire -- "Show me the money."

Army Corps of Engineers Releases Its Study -- It will look at water quality and waves

Just hot off my email desk, I received the following email from our Government Relations Director regarding the Army Corps of Engineers study that indicates they will include water quality and waves in the study but did note that: Additionally, the Study lists the various constraints on the project such as the Port of Long Beach berths, Navy anchorage, Long Beach peninsula, THUMS islands, marinas and docks, and navigational safety, and states that these areas must not be adversely affected.

We need to improve the water quality and circulation of the waters behind the breakwater. I am still concerned about where we get the monies to pay for the study -- I don't think Tidelands is the answer at this point. I will read the entire report and listen to the presentation tomorrow before I make my final decision about my vote.

The Army Corps of Engineers has released the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Study (Long Beach Breakwater Study) and it is now available for your review here. The report can also be accessed through the links below on the City's web page. The City Council is scheduled to hear a presentation on the Reconnaissance Study on June 22, 2010 and decide if the City of Long Beach will become the local sponsor for this project. This is a public meeting and we encourage you all to attend and share your input.


Summary of the Report The study concludes that there is federal interest in proceeding to a Feasibility Study. In the Feasibility Study, the Army Corps would evaluate opportunities for ecosystem restoration, water quality improvements and recreation improvements in the East San Pedro Bay in Long Beach. The Reconnaissance Study identifies potential alternatives such as reconfiguring the Long Beach Breakwater, changes in alignment of the LA River, creation of rocky reef habitat and kelp features, and measures to address pollutants in the LA River. The specific alternatives would be further developed in the Feasibility Study through a community outreach process.
The Reconnaissance Study concludes that restoration of reef and kelp habitat within San Pedro Bay can be enhanced by improving the water quality, clarity, and circulation. It also concludes that the project could result in improved conditions for recreational swimming and surfing. Additionally, the Study lists the various constraints on the project such as the Port of Long Beach berths, Navy anchorage, Long Beach peninsula, THUMS islands, marinas and docks, and navigational safety, and states that these areas must not be adversely affected.
The Feasibility Study will take a minimum of 4 years to complete and will cost $8,337,400. In the Feasibility Study the Army Corps will conduct an extensive analysis including wave modeling, water quality modeling, economic analysis, environmental analysis, engineering and design analysis, geotechnical studies, review of tidal elevations, sediment transport, and analysis of other areas.


Links
Army Corps' Final Reconnaissance Study: http://admin.longbeach.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=27756
City's Breakwater Website: http://www.longbeach.gov/citymanager/ga/breakwater/default.asp
Army Corps Study Website: http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1462&Itemid=31
City Staff report for June 22nd City Council Item: http://longbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=943361&GUID=2A2973F4-4DDA-4612-A4CE-0FCA037AB258

Survey Results Starting to Come in -- 64% Opposed

I am receiving results from the survey I posted regarding the City Council voting to approve expending $4million in Tidelands funds for a study to be conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers on the issues surrounding the breakwater.

As of 3:00pm on Monday, the day before the vote, the City Council still does not have the final report and approval from the US Army Corps to go forward on the study.

That being said, @ 64% of those responding to the survey are opposed to the City Council voting to spend $4 million in Tidelands monies on the study. I will post all of the results Tuesday morning.

P.S. A few respondents asked why the City just doesn't reconfigure the breakwater without further study? That's because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns the breakwater on behalf of the federal government. And unless the Army Corps finds a federal interest in reconfiguring the breakwater, local government can't do anything.

Should Long Beach spend Tidelands monies to study the breakwater?

I have posted a survey on my blog which asks readers to respond regarding whether or not the City of Long Beach should expend $4 million in Tidelands monies for a feasibility study of the waters within the breakwater off downtown Long Beach.

Please take a moment to click here and give me your thoughts on this important issue.

P.S. Sending me email threats that I will be ousted if I vote against funding the study are really inappropriate on many levels.

I am in favor of improving the water quality of the ocean within the breakwater; I would like to see wave action increased in these waters; I think the City should only be expending Tidelands monies to fix not study at this point in our economy; I am concerned that the monies will be expended on a study that will not result in improved water quality or wave action --because the US Army Corps has indicated it is not including these items nor economic analysis of the impact of making these changes in the study. Additionally, the City of Long Beach hasn't even seen the US Army Corps official response on this issue and the City Council needs to read the fine print before we jump in.

LA Moves to Deal with Marijuana Home Delivery

Long Beach just recently passed an ordinance to regulate medical marijuana collectives throughout the city. Los Angeles passed their ordinance first and it seems those in the marijuana business have found a way around the LA ordinance. Read below.

Click here:

Marijuana delivery services evade bans on dispensaries, spreading across California

Click here:

LA Councilman Targets Pot Delivery System

Cell phone towers in Long Beach

I have posted the map I requested from City staff showing where cell phone towers have been placed in Long Beach.

As you might recall, the City Council placed a 120-day moratorium on the installation of any new cell tower until we could update our ordinance which regulates placement and also take a look at where these are going. That is important since we get requests for placements on a piece meal basis and haven't really looked at if they are impacting one particular area over another.

I am strongly opposed to placing these towers in residential areas or institutional areas (churchs, etc) which are adjacent to residential areas.

We need to make certain this patch work placement is corrected.

And to the people who emailed me -- "Yes, I do have a cell phone and a Blackberry and rely upon both very much. But we need to make sure we balance technology with the quality of life issues in our neighborhoods."

Read the Fine Print Before We Spend the Money

Priceless. Need to do it now. It will bring great changes to Long Beach. You are either for the environment or you are against it.

Gosh, we're about to hear this litany on Tuesday as the Council Chambers are packed to persuade Council to find many millions to have the Army Corps of Engineers do a feasibility study on the breakwater. Funny thing. The Army Corps of Engineers is not willing to include in its study the very thing the City was interested in finding out about: "economic analysis and wave monitoring and water quality." (read the fine print in the management memo posted to the right)

So on top of the possibility that the study won't even look at wave monitoring (i.e. bringing back the waves) or water quality or an economic analysis about the impact of reconfiguration, we don't have the money to spend on a study. According to City Management unless the Port forks over the money for the study (or more precisely the City takes the Tidelands transfer) or the City takes excess oil profits for a one time expense it cannot be done. But folks, this is just the study. If any reconfiguration is proposed as a result of the study, the City has to come up with 35% of the costs.

Last week I voted to approve use of Tidelands funds to repair seawalls that are crumbling in Naples. I did so because if those seawalls fail, the properties could be flooded which would seriously damage the property value and the assessed values from which the city derives property taxes. I believe that is a prudent investment to protect the city from liability claims.

I am no longer convinced that spending money on a study (that now does not include water quality, economic analysis and wave monitoring) is prudent.

There are over $360 million dollars in projects that need funding through the Tidelands funds. Repairing infrastructure and preventing flooding should be top priorities.

I think the City Council should put the issue on the November ballot: should the City of Long Beach expend Tidelands funds in the amount of $4 million for a feasibility study to be conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding the breakwater.

Council agenda item dealt with improving permits for park use -- not creating new permits

In response to my constituents concerns about the process used to make certain groups wanting to use Long Beach parks and facilities have obtained a permit from the City's Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, I put an item on the agenda last Tuesday to help "beef" up the process and to recoup some fees for policing and cleaning up after these groups use the parks.

Apparently some in the news media and the public didn't know that permits have been a requirement for many, years..and view the council agenda item as adding new laws.

(Please spare me the grandstanding on the right to assembly -- this isn't about restricting assembly -- just letting the police and parks know what is going on especially since they have to do the clean up when things go wrong with group activities.)

Permits have been used for many years in order to control crowding and at one time were used to alert Park Rangers so they could police the parks.

Since we don't have Park Rangers any more, the LB Police need to be brought into the process and be made aware that large groups will be at the park at a certain time.

The other problem is that while every resident of Long Beach receives a bulletin from the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department that includes a notice about the need to obtain a permit, many people from out of area do not receive this information. So I suggested that we post signs -- not all over the parks -- but perhaps below the signage for Park Watch which is all over the parks.

I also suggested we look at some type of fee increase or security deposit because it is costing the city a fortune to continually clean up after these groups...and if the police are called because of noise or other problems (i.e. shootings) then the group should have to forfeit the deposit.

Hey, if y'all have a good idea on how we can make certain we know what is going on in our parks and that we recoup the costs for clean up and policing these parks, then send them in to me at: district5@longbeach.gov.

Federal Loans Available for 1st Time Homebuyers in Long Beach -- Workshop June 19

The City of Long Beach is launching an innovative homebuyer financial assistance program.  The Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program will provide up to $200,000 in silent second mortgage loans to assist qualified first-time homebuyers in purchasing a home.  Participants may also qualify for up to $40,000 in grant funding to fix code-related violations, make energy-efficiency improvements and assist with closing costs.

"This is an incredible opportunity for first-time homebuyers to realize the dream of homeownership," said Dale Hutchinson, Housing Operations Officer for the City of Long Beach. "Participants in the Program not only get financial assistance, but also help with navigating the home buying process, finding reputable lenders and realtors, and locating homes for their families."

To introduce the NSP2 Program, the City of Long Beach is hosting a special kick-off event on Saturday June 19, 2010, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The event will take place at The Grand Long Beach Event Center, 4101 E. Willow St., in Long Beach, and is open to all members of the community. Free onsite parking is available.


“This event is a great way to learn about the NSP2 Program first-hand, thus, attendance to the kick-off event is a requirement to be able to participate in the First-time Homebuyer Assistance Program,” said Hutchinson. “Attendees can find out information about the Program requirements and the homebuying process. They can ask questions and get answers on the spot. If you're looking for a home, this event is the best place to start.”


Residents interested in attending the NSP2 kick-off event are asked to RSVP at 562.570.6949.

Event Information:

NSP2 First-Time Homebuyers Assistance Program Kick-Off Event

June 19, 2010

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Grand Long Beach Event Center

4104 E. Willow St.

Long Beach, CA

Free Parking Available

RSVP at 562.570.6949 

Long Beach Magazine Features Schipske's Latest Book on Long Beach History

The June edition of Long Beach Magazine (on the shelves at Barnes and Nobles and Borders Bookstores) includes a very nice review of my latest book on the history of Long Beach: Early Aviation in Long Beach.

While I was researching my first book: Rosie the Riveter in Long Beach, I came across the wonderful aviation history of Long Beach.

Long Beach made aviation history a number of times including in 1911, when Cal Rodgers landed in the water off Pine Avenue Pier and completed the first transcontinental flight. His plane and the mail bag he carried are in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Because of the municipal airport being established in 1923, Army and Navy fliers frequented our area for many years prior to bases being established here. Thanks to pioneer aviators like Earl Daugherty, Frank Champion and John Montijo, Long Beach was well-known as a center of aviation.

Amelia Earhart came to Long Beach to watch an air circus and then received her first flight from Frank Hawks, a Poly High School graduate and military pilot. Earhart learned how to fly solo and perform aerobatics from Montijo -- who served as one of the first Aviation Commissioners for the City.Other aviators such as Charles Lindbergh and Douglas Corrigan also frequented Long Beach. And our own first woman flier, Gladys O'Donnell beat Ameila Earhart in the Women's Air Derby.

A number of groups have asked me to talk about this book and the Rosie the Riveter book. I have made a video presentation on both which I narrate during my presentation. Please contact my office at: 570 6932 if you would like me to talk to your organization about Long Beach history.

Important Information -- June 11

I am posting a number of documents that readers will find of interest:

• City Manager's newsletter - June 11
• Updates on airport imrovements
• Boundary adjustments planned between Los Alamitos-Long Beach- Seal Beach
• Adopted revenue sources for 2010

Just look to the right column and the documents are available for reading or downloading.