Response from City Manager on 72 properties claimed as suitable for MHA

Below is the memo just released by the City Manager in response to Neighborhoods First stating that an alternate site for the MHA project was available on Santa Fe Avenue in West Long Beach. As you will note below the site is not available for such use. Also attached is the City Manager's response to 70 other properties which were claimed to be sites for MHA. None of them were. Finally, MHA has retained the services of a reputable commercial real estate broker to try and find an alternate site. To date, no sites have become available.



MHA- Alt Site Memo

Getting the public involved in how the city spends money

I discussed at length during yesterday's City Council's study session on the growing deficit that we need to engage the public in the solutions to this problem. Despite the feeling by some that the council and mayor "know best" about what to do -- it ain't so. We need the public as a partner in deciding on what services, staff, etc., which be cut and which will be retained.

In a partnership, both sides need information to make decisions. So I am proposed that the city utilize software that illustrates our budget and then allows citizens to decide what should be cut and what should be retained by giving the full information on the impact of the decisions.

Last year, frustrated with the lack of public engagement and disclosure of information, I contacted
 the California Budget Challenge which has developed software that cities can use to fully engage their residents. Below is my email and the response I received from the non-profit. I am sharing this with the City Manager and my council colleagues and hope we get this up and running as soon as possible. I am also looking into software: uservoice.com and peakdemocracy.com that will allow on line comments from citizens (just as if they attended a council meeting) on the budget and any other issue the city considers.

Hi Gerrie,
Next 10 is a 501C3 nonprofit organization. We created the online California Budget Challenge in 2005 and shortly after creating the tool we had requests from different groups to license it, so we developed a deployable version of our California Budget Challenge that municipalities can license for their own use. The one-time license fee is $15k. The software has been used to create the following versions of the Challenge:

Los Angeles: http://labudgetchallenge.lacity.org/budgetchallenge/sim/budget_master.html

Oakland: http://www.oaklandbudgetchallenge.com/

Philadelphia: http://economyleague.org/budget_challenge/sim/budget_master.html

Federal: http://www.federalbudgetchallenge.org/budget_challenge/sim/budget_master.html

California: http://www.nextten.org/budgettool/site/thesim/flashcheck.html



We have received quite a bit of press over the years highlighting the California Budget Challenge. Here are a few of the more recent clippings:

TV: http://www.kcra.com/video/22948316/index.html

TV: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/business&id=6799808

PRINT: http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_14846764?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1

RADIO: http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/24920/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/24920/613/richmedia/LL_Budget_Challenge_on_Next_10.mp3?CCOMRRMID=27089839&CPROG=RICHMEDIA&a



Here is the San Francisco Chronicle article that was published when we first launched the online tool:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/25/BAGOBCEEMJ1.DTL&type=printable



Please let me know if you have any questions or if there is any additional information I can send you about the Challenge. We are really happy with how this has been used across California and it would be great to work with you to create the Long Beach Budget Challenge!



Many thanks,

Sarah

Job Training Available

Job Training

1937 Betty Boop Cartoon -- the Candid Candidate (see part about redevelopment)

This is a hysterical cartoon and so timely as California grapples with redevelopment.

The passing of a stateman: Congressman Steven Horn

Long Beach has lost a statesman, a gentleman and a scholar with the passing of Congressman Steven Horn. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family.

Even though we were political opponents, I do appreciate his service to his Congressional district and to our nation.

On a personal note, I want to again acknowledge his professionalism and courtesy during the campaign we ran against each other in 2000. Our debates were civil and informative. Our campaign mailers were the same. He treated me with respect and so did his staff. Something you rarely see in these days of political rancor.

He was a moderate Republican but most importantly someone who truly understood the inter-workings of government, which allowed him to provide excellent service to his constituents.

Thank you, Congressman Steve Horn.

Redistricting Is Coming

Because of the census, the City is required to redraw its boundaries. The following is the presentation we received last night that starts the process. Please know that I will host several community meetings to discuss this issue. The law requires that each council district boundary be drawn to include the same amount of people in each district. Right now the 5th District needs 5,500 more residents.

Redistricting Process

Councilwoman Schipske Gets Council to Approve Paying Their Pension Costs

I want to thank my council colleagues who voted last night to support my motion on the floor that requires the Mayor and City Council to pay its full "employee share" of the pension costs. Up until recently, the City picked up the 8% of salary that was required for the employee portion as well as the employer portion.

I also asked that the other electeds -- City Attorney, City Prosecutor, and City Auditor -- pay their full share as well, but several council persons were reluctant to impose that on them without them in the council chambers (?) I find that interesting because we don't require the unions to be in the room. Oh well.

Hopefully, the other electeds who earn much more than the City Council does ($30,000 annually) will accept our invitation and pay up. Afterall, if we know all city employees must do this, then let's be leaders.

Yes, Councilmembers and other electeds should pay full share of pension

While this is the first year that any elected in Long Beach has paid toward the pension system, a reporter just asked if I thought we should pay the entire "employee share" instead of 1.8% that is being deducted.

"Of course we should," is my reply. And while we are at it, so should the City Attorney, City Prosecutor and City Auditor and the Mayor.

If this is the direction we are asking the employees to go, then we should be leading the march.

Transparency in Collective Bargaining

Readers: as you know I have proposed a charter amendment to require the City Council to let the public know in advance of the when bargaining with employee groups is taking place and to provide a copy of the proposed agreements before the City Council takes a vote on them.

Because we do not have that requirement right now, I am going ahead and posting the proposed agreements with several of our bargaining groups: Confidential and Management; and City Attorneys and Prosecutors. These contracts will be on the Council agenda for a vote by the full City Council.
Confidential and Management Employees
City Attorneys and Prosecutors Contracts

Government Documents Hot Off the Press

Check these latest government documents on issues impacting Long Beach and the 5th Council District:


What Long Beach did in 2010

Streets Repaired in 5th District

What Gov Brown's Budget Will Do to Long Beach

Environmental Report on Boeing

Community Briefing on Proposed Eastside Police Station at Schroeder Army Reserve Center

Come and hear the latest update on the proposed transfer of the Schroeder Army Reserve Center to the City of Long Beach for use as an Eastside Police Station. The site is located at the corner of Grand Avenue and Willow Street.

 

Wednesday

 February 16, 2011

6:30 pm

LB Water Treatment Plant

2950 Redondo Avenue (off Spring)

Speakers:

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske

Chief of Police, Jim McDonnell

City Manager, Pat West

For more information:

Office of Councilwoman Schipske

562 570-6932

Schipske Launches Her Campaign

I am launching a campaign to request the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to correct their newly opened exhibit: Pioneers of Flight.

While in Washington, D.C. I just was given a tour of the exhibit which showcases the First Transcontinental Flight of Cal Rodgers. It is a wonderful display that also includes facts about the Douglas World Cruiser and Amelia Earhart. Unfortunately, it slights Long Beach on several levels.

First of all, the flight of the Vin Fiz -- the name Cal Rodgers had painted on his Wright EX plane as an advertisement for his sponsor -- a grape drink sold by Armour -- went from Sheepshead Bay, New York to Long Beach, California. The exhibit acknowledges the importance of the flight but only includes verbiage on the Sheepshead Bay to Pasadena leg of the trip -- then shows a photo of Cal Rodgers landing the "waters of the Pacific Ocean." Those waters were located off the Pine Avenue Pier in Long Beach. More than 50,000 people gathered along the beach to watch Rodgers fly in because of the historic significance.

Rodgers was going to end his flight in Pasadena but because of the bright idea of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce they offered Rodgers $1000 to finish the transcontinental flight in Long Beach so that he could claim a "coast to coast" flight.

Millions of visitors will see the exhibit at the Smithsonian and it is important the fact that Long Beach, California was the final stop on this important flight be corrected -- especially since the 100th Anniversary will be held on December 10, 2011 right here in Long Beach.

Also it was disappointing not to find any mention in the Amelia Earhart area of the fact that she first came to Long Beach to see an Air Circus and received her first flight the next day from Poly High school graduate and pilot, Frank Hawks. The exhibit also fails to discuss the fact that Earhart flew in many Long Beach Air Circuses after Long Beach pilot John Montijo taught her aerobatic and how to solo fly.

Long Beach was the hub of aviation in the 1920 - 1940's and it is important that we not be left out of the history books or the historical museums.

So I have launched a campaign to request the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to add these facts.

California Medical Board Grapples with Budget Problems

Readers -- as you may recall, I was appointed by the Senate Rules Committee to the California Medical Board which licenses and disciplines physicians in the state. We also oversee Physician Assistants, Licensed Midwives, and Optical Dispensers.

We meet quarterly and for the past two days we have been in Burlingame near San Francisco. We work two full days because we are a regulatory board so I never get to see much of the city in which we meet.

The board is grappling with a state budget that continues to freeze hiring and fail to fund needed programs. The problem is that we derive our budget from the license fees paid by physicians -- not tax revenue. So for the life of me I cannot understand why our employees who are charged with keeping the public safe from bad doctors are put on furloughs or not given the funds needed to continue necessary safety programs such as Operation Safe Medicine. We have vacancies that need to be filled so the department can do its job. Life doesn't stop just because of a hiring freeze. Consumers expect when they file a complaint against a physician that the California Medical Board has the staff and resources to handle the complaint in a timely manner.

This does not make sense. Hopefully the new governor (who was the Attorney General and the prosecutor for the cases the Medical Board took to him) understands that regulatory agencies need access to the funds that have been paid by licensees so we can do our job.

Latest Crime Stats in Long Beach

Crime 001

Residents Don't Favor Ban on Plastic Bags

I wasn't polling when I sent out emails to residents inviting them to attend a Town Hall I am hosting on Sat Jan 29th at 10 am at the LB Water Treatment Plant (Spring and Redondo), but lordy, lordy have I received a full email inbox from residents (with a few exceptions) who are very angry that the City would be proposing a ban on plastic bags at grocery stores and that the City would allow the stores to charge 10 cents for a paper bag.

In essence, most are saying promote a recycling plan and don't force something on people unless the entire state is doing it. Otherwise they will go elsewhere to shop.

For my district -- the 5th -- this is a significant response. We are fortunate to have the most grocery stores in a council district than in other districts so this will really impact this area more than other parts of the city. We are about to lose Boeing. We don't need to lose a grocery store or two because people shop in Lakewood or Cerritos or they go to a Target or Walmart that sells groceries but aren't grocery stores.

The Town Hall will be very interesting this Saturday. I ask that everyone who attends be civil and courteous to both sides of the issue. We can disagree civily.

                                         

Should Long Beach Ban Plastic Bags at Grocery Stores?

Come and listen to both sides on this issue.
Plastic Bag Panel Discussion Flier

156 Area Schools to Receive Solar Car Kits From Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske

The early bird may catch the worm, but it will be  middle school and high school students from Long Beach schools who will be getting a solar car kit when they attend an orientation this Saturday morning on how to build a solar car sponsored by my office.

156 school teams have signed up to participate in the 2nd Annual Solar Grand Prix and as part of the event they must attend a mandatory orientation in order to find out the rules of the Solar Grand Prix and to receive a solar car kit which they will use to build their cars.

I started this event last year and we received 50 applications from student teams. This year the response tripled because students and teachers found the experience last year to be so exciting and word got out that this event provides an opportunity to learn the basics of this alternate form of energy. Also, the races are fun and the students enjoy being creative in their designs.

Students will receive a solar car kit at the end of the orientation and will have until race day -- Saturday, April 9th -- to build their car. Cars will be judged on creativity and design and will be entered into a series of races on tracks constructed by the local Carpenter's union. The event has expanded so much that it will be moved from Good Neighbor Park to the large area behind the Parks and Recreation Administration Building where soccer is played.

The Solar Grand Prix will also feature solar energy and electric vehicle displays. The event is open to the public.

Several of the winning teams from last year's Solar Grand Prix will be on hand during the orientation to share their experiences with the teams entering the races this year.

The Solar Grand Prix orientation will be held at 8 am this Saturday, January 22 at the LB Water Treatment Plant, on Redondo off Spring. Teams must be pre-registered to attend the orientation and to receive the solar car kit. Kits were donated by a number of sponsors.

Adults wishing to volunteer to help with judging the cars and monitoring the races on April 9th are welcome to contact my office at: 562 570-6932.

Status Report on $600,000 Loan to Worthington Ford

I requested an update from City Management concerning the $600,000 loan that was given to Worthington Ford last year. The following is the response:

worthington ford

Check out the improvements on the Queen Mary

City Council was given a presentation last week that I am sharing with you that shows the numerous improvements made by the current operator of the Queen Mary. You really need to go and see them for yourselves. They are impressive.

queen mary

Why you got a calendar from LB Gas and Oil Department

Councilwoman Schipske forwarded your email to me for a response regarding the 2011 Long Beach Gas and Oil (LBGO) calendar. I can understand why a member of the public might consider the calendar frivolous but I can assure you that there are valid reasons why the calendar is produced and sent.


The calendar fulfills a 2005 requirement from the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT), which regulates the natural gas industry, to increase consumer knowledge on how to safely use natural gas. Therefore, each of the past 5 years, LBGO has mailed out the calendar to all residents and businesses in Long Beach. Hopefully, you noticed on the inside of your calendar extensive information regarding natural gas safety precautions, carbon monoxide, Dig Alert phone numbers, etc. This focus on safety is especially relevant this year as in September 2010, there was a major explosion on a natural gas pipeline in Northern California that killed eight people and destroyed 37 homes.

Some common questions asked are 1) why is taxpayers money used for this purpose?, 2) why not just include the safety information in a gas bill stuffer?, and 3) isn't producing the calendar very expensive?

1) NO taxpayer money is used to pay for the calendar. LBGO only utilizes its gas utility revenues for funding the cost of the calendar.

2) While natural gas safety information in the past had been provided via a utility bill stuffer, DOT has determined that that practice was insufficient because:

§ Few people take the time to read the stuffers

§ Few people retain the stuffers for future reference

§ Many natural gas users, such as apartment tenants, do not receive the utility bill


As a result, the industry has largely gone to utilizing calendars as a cost-effective means to convey important safety information, as people keep the calendars handy year-round.
3) All efforts are made to minimize the cost of producing the calendar. The beautiful Long Beach photos were provided free of charge from an amateur Long Beach photographer and the Long Beach Business Journal. All the design work was done internally by my Executive Assistant; therefore, no additional expense was incurred. The printing of the calendar was done by a Long Beach-based company at a cost of 29 cents per calendar. The cost for mailing the calendar using the least expensive option (bulk mail) is 18 cents per calendar. Therefore, the entire cost for each calendar is only 47 cents per calendar. If LBGO opted to purchase calendars from the American Public Gas Association, each calendar would have cost LBGO approximately $1.89, a significant price increase per calendar.

I can also understand you questioning as to why both LBGO and the Port of Long Beach sending out calendars this year. As I hopefully explained above why LBGO feels it necessary to utilize a calendar to convey its required safety message and, therefore, it was felt that LBGO needed to continue its practice of mailing out its calendar. Attempts were made to persuade the Port of Long Beach to utilize some other marketing means to celebrate its 100th anniversary. However, these attempts were obviously unsuccessful.
If you would like to discuss further, please feel free to call me at 562-570-2001.



Sincerely,



Chris Garner

Director - Long Beach Gas and Oil