Items for 2010 ballot

When I return to Long Beach (from far away San Diego), I will put the finishing touches on two agenda items that I would like see placed before the voters in 2010:

1. Changing our city elections from the April and June cycle to a June and November cycle. Voters are expressing fatigue at the frequency of elections. Long Beach holds elections every two years at April and June and the State holds elections every two years at June and November. What's wrong with this picture? It is costly for the City. Voters are tired of multiple elections. Voter turnout in April is low and favors incumbents. Making this change would certainly address these problems.

2. Increasing the per barrel tax on crude oil to 60 cents a barrel and to use the proceeds to get more police and fire on the streets. This increase to 60 cents a barrel would bring Long Beach in line with the City of Signal Hill which has been assessing 60 cents a barrel for several years. Additionally, Signal Hill uses a more appropriate inflation factor for crude oil -- the PPI -- or Petroleum Price Index. Long Beach uses the CPI -- Consumer Price Index -- which does not reflect the increases in crude oil. So we need to change the inflator.

As you might remember, I am also trying to get a charter amendment before the voters next April that would open up the bargaining process between the city and employee unions by requiring the sunshining of the proposals so the public can provide input and see what is being done.

Liberty Station -- San Diego does it right!

The California Medical Board is meeting here in San Diego. (Next year the Board which regulates physicians will meet in Long Beach for the first time!!)

The meeting is at Liberty Station -- San Diego's newest destination featuring a mix of arts and culture, sports, education, retail, restaurants, business and residential. It is referred to as a "Urban Village."

The hotel is located along the water front in the heart of Liberty Station. The village was created from the re-development of the historic Naval Training Center. It provides a gathering place for families, artisans, businesses and community cultural groups. The park features 2 balls fields, two large picnic area, a sports plaza, 4 half court basketball courts, a historical area at Preble field, a natural habitat zone, a multipurpose field, a nine acre esplanade for bicycling and walking and 3 restroom facilities. All brand new!

Visitors can enjoy the USS Recruit which is a full size ship built directly into the ground. It was built in 1949 specifically to train navy recruits with live simulation. There is a 9 hole golf course. The 125 acre waterfront provides water sports and biking paths. (LB Naval Stations de ja vu???)

It is quite impressive.

Just sent my thoughts on a marijuana ordinance to City Attorney

I am down in San Diego attending a quarterly meeting of the California Medical Board on which I serve. Taking a break and just sent a list of items I would like included in any ordinance regulating marijuana collectives/cooperatives. Because Long Beach -- and most other cities in California never regulated these businesses, they are taking advantage of a loop-hole in the law.

I would prefer that we don't have any in Long Beach (yes, as a health care professional I know people swear by the wonders of marijuana).

This is an illegal substance that is totally unregulated in terms of its quality. We don't even know what has been sprayed on the product. We don't know the strength of the product is. For god sakes, we don't let people sell hot dogs at a baseball game unless they follow Health Department regulations.

My constituents are angry as they watch one after another of these facilities open on the eastside. They find it incredible that the city gets no notice when these shops open or that we don't regulate them at all.

So while I'd rather Long Beach didn't have them at all -- I don't know that we have the votes on the Council to make that happen. So I am submitting a number of items that should provide public protection:


Marijuana Collectives/cooperatives ordinance provisions (among others being suggested by City Attorney and City Prosecutor, I would add:)

1. City council shall authorize no more than 3 collectives/cooperatives – no closer than 5 miles from each other.
2. 65% or more of residents within 2,000 feet of proposed facilities must approve the facility being located there.
3. Must not be located less than 1,000 feet from residential zone; pre-school, child care facility, k-12 school; public library; park or playground where children are present
4. Police dept shall conduct criminal background checks on owner and all employees.
5. Employees must be 21 years of age or older.
6. Physicians may not be employed and/or compensated by collective/cooperative. On site medical exams to qualify a person for referral for medical marijuana shall not be permitted.
7. Allowable square footage of facility shall be established by City Council.
8. Registered members must show state issued cards
9. The number of registered members must be reported semi-annually to Police Dept.
10. Security shall be provided constituent with a plan approved by Police Dept. Guards may carry guns.
11. Facility must be fully compliant with requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act – including door widths, counter heights, parking lots, signage for blind, etc.
12. Edible products are subject to Health Department regulations.
13. There shall be no sales of delivery devices – pipes, papers, etc.
14. Trash disposed of by facility shall be considered medical waste and disposed of accordingly after permits are obtained. The discovery of cannabis or any product or delivery device containing any cannabis in the regular trash by the Police shall result in closure of the facility.
15. Cultivation is restricted to industrial zones. Site must have proper permits for disposal of water and any run off from the cultivation. Health Dept shall inspect and provide permits regarding ventilation, water, etc.
16. The number of plants cultivated shall be reported semi-annually to the Police Dept.
17. Daily transactions of cannabis by collective shall not exceed 1 oz. Reports of all transactions shall be made to the Police Dept on semi-annual basis.
18. Signage at collectives: there shall be external and internal signage in not less than 14 point type with following: Notice: The California Compassionate Use Act and the Medical Marijuana Program Act requires that only registered members of this collective/cooperative shall obtain cannabis for medical purposes. Registered members must have a verified physician referral and a state issued card. No cannabis may be used or consumed on premises or within 2,000 feet of any residence, child care, school, library, playground or park.
20. The name of the business shall only state that it is a medical marijuana collective or cooperative. No artwork or photographs will be displayed.
21. These facilities are not medical clinics and therefore no patient-doctor relationship exists.
22. Because these facilities are operated by non-profit organizations they cannot be taxed.
23. Transportation of cannabis, cannabis products and/or cannabis delivery products (papers, pipes, etc) by a collective/cooperative to a registered member’s residence is illegal.

Got Pot? Long Beach Does.

I am receiving emails from constituents who are concerned they are noticing more and more medical marijuana collectives popping up like weeds...excuse the puns...in eastside Long Beach.

Unfortunately, the City of Long Beach never did anything to stop them from opening. Now that there are so many of them...and growing...the City Council Committee on Economic Development and Finance is grappling with what to do...what to do.

The Brown Act prevents a city council member who is not a member of a committee from testifying at the committee meeting. I am not a member of this Council Committee, so I will not be able to make comments there. However...

So I encourage anyone interested in this issue to attend the Monday, October 26 meeting at City Hall Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 5:30 pm and let the three member committee know what you think. This committee will make recommendations to the full City Council.

I am posting a copy of the California Attorney General's Guidelines on Medical Marijuana that outlines what we can and cannot do.

Principal for a Day at Emerson Parkside Academy Charter School

Just thought you'd like to know that I had the privilege to serve as a Principal for a Day (again), this time at Emerson Parkside Academy Charter School at Josie and Willow in the 5th District.

Emerson Parkside Academy Charter School is one of 63 elementary schools in Long Beach Unified. It is a charter school that serves 628 students in grades K-5.

What a great school. Dedicated principal (for real) Mark Andreatta who loves the students and took me to every class on the campus. The teachers are fantastic and everyone of them had the kids totally engaged in learning.

It was a treat to meet everyone and to talk with the 3rd graders who met in the auditorium to ask questions of both principals for a day. I have to admit I was outclassed by Sgt. Scott Minkus who came in full police uniform. So thank you for the experience.

Three of my staff also served at other schools: Patrick Henry Elementary, Cubberly Elementary and Helen Keller Elementary.

We had a scare..

The newest member of my extended family, Layne Mancini, had to be hospitalized shortly after her birth.

Haven't prayed in a while, but I did this time.

Fortunately, all is well and baby is home.

Press Telegram Does Excellent Analysis of Benefits of Tesla Motors vs. LB Studios

Click here to read a great article in Press Telegram today about Tesla Motors vs. LB Studios coming to the Boeing property.

My biggest concern at this point is that neither a movie studio nor Tesla Motors will locate in Long Beach.

The Mayor of Downey called me and told me the very same story of why Downey would prefer Tesla Motors over the movie studios that are there. Bottom line: Tesla can create jobs in a very short period of time. He's pretty confident that Downey will get Tesla. Afterall, he and his City Council assembled a "red team" and aggressively marketed Tesla Motors. (Sadly, I couldn't get the City Council, Mayor nor the Chamber of Commerce to assemble a "red team" on this one.)

So when the dust settles and Tesla and LB Studios become (or don't become a reality for Long Beach) I do hope the Press Telegram will do an in-depth analysis of what went wrong so it doesn't happen again.

Making it on the top ten list.

Was stunned that I was included in the list of the top 10 most powerful people in Long Beach compiled by LBPOST.com.

Really.

There are a lot of people in this town, some known, some unknown who are very powerful both in a good way and in a bad way. Power has many meanings.

I have received some very nice calls and emails (some from my council colleagues and one from someone who is also on the list) about being on the list.

I do appreciate the mention but I also realize I wouldn't be on that list without the help and support of a lot of people (staff, family, friends, constituents). I'd list them all but there are way more than 10.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Scheduled for LB Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center

The City of Long Beach will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center, on Monday, October 26, at 10 am at the park site at Conant Street and Clark Avenue (adjacent to Fire Station 19). The ceremony will celebrate the development of the park and interpretive center dedicated to the women who worked at the Douglas Aircraft plant during World War II. Named by the City Council in 2006, the park is near the original site of where thousands of women assembled bombers and cargo planes during the early 1940s.

"The park and interpretive center will provide the community a living memorial to a significant part of Long Beach's history," said Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, whose district includes the park. "We are excited about bringing this era to life and providing a focal point for visitors to learn about the history of our city."

Drew Satariano, President of the Parks and Recreation Commission added, “The Parks and Recreation Commission is honored to be a part of developing this gateway into Long Beach's past through this wonderful project.”

The park will be designed in two phases. The first phase includes a walking path with interpretive signs and a guided tour by cell phone that takes visitors to the 1940s when Long Beach helped with the war effort. A memorial featuring reproductions of scenes from the National World War II Memorial and a Victory Rose Garden are tucked in a grove of trees. It will provide a tranquil spot where visitors can reflect upon the sacrifice of those women and men who served in the military and civilian organizations. A compass rose, long used by aviators to navigate their way, will be featured and will be a replica of the one that was in the main lobby of the Administration Building of the Roosevelt Naval Station in Long Beach. A walk through of a life-size sculpture of two women riveters takes visitors to the interpretive center located in the Long Beach City College Foundation building behind the park. The interpretive center will feature memorabilia and displays provided by The Boeing Company, successor to McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

The second phase includes an additional walking path that is comprised of memorial pavers donated by those wishing to honor a loved one: a "Rosie," a member of the Women's Air Service Pilots (WASP) or any branch of the US military. A concrete sculpture outlines a B-17 bomber to provide an amphitheater and garden for public events. Historic benches, lighting and banners will complete the park.

The park design was led by NUVIS Landscape Architecture and Planning with input from the Rosie the Riveter Taskforce and The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation, a non profit organization formed to support the park and interpretive center.

Funding for the first phase was made possible through a grant given to the City of Long Beach by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe specifically for the park and donations raised by The Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation.

For more information about the Rosie the Riveter Groundbreaking event, please call Josh Butler, Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, at 562.570.6932.

Welcome to the World Layne Mancini!

Wow. Now I remember why I loved working in the Newborn Nursery and the NICU. Newborns are wonderful and it is amazing to watch them transition in a matter of seconds from being in utero to being in the world.

I was blessed to be at the birthcenter at Memorial Medical Center yesterday and today to greet the newest member into my extended family. Layne Mancini came in yelling and ready to cuddle with her moms, grandmas, aunts, uncles, grandpas, and greatgrandparents --all visiting, waiting, hoping. Then she came into the world and it obviously won't be the same for all of us.

Quite honestly there is nothing more special than a new baby at Christmas time...can't wait. It's been a while (my kids are in their 20's) since we've had a baby around.

News from City Hall

El Dorado Nature Center Stream Restoration:

Created in 1969, the El Dorado Nature Center is a 102-acre public environmental, education and recreation center. It contains two lakes, connected by a half-mile stream. During the 40 years that the Nature Center has been in existence, vegetation has grown to shade and clog the stream. Stream banks have eroded and silt and debris have accumulated on the stream bottom. The resulting wider and shallower stream does not provide healthy aquatic or riparian habitat and is eroding into the walking trail.

The City Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine has been working with stream restoration experts on a plan to transform the stream into a thriving ecosystem closely modeled on natural streams.

The Nature Center stream restoration is being funded by grants under the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, and Coastal Protection Bond Acts of 2000 and 2002, and mitigation paid by Mc Donnell Douglas for violations under the Clean Water Act. Construction is expected to take approximately four to six months, during which time the walking trails adjacent to the stream will be closed.

Busiest Intersections in Long Beach:

The City Traffic Engineer, David Roseman, has listed the following information on the busiest streets in Long Beach:

1. 7th Street
2. Ocean Boulevard
3. Lakewood Boulevard
4. PCH
5. Cherry Avenue
6. Carson Street
7. Anaheim Street
8. Willow Street
9. Del Amo Boulevard
10. Spring Street

Top accident prone intersections:

1. Traffic circle
2. PCH and Cherry
3. LB Boulevard and Wardlow
4. 7th Street and Martin Luther King Avenue
5. Pramount and South Street
6. Los Coyotes Diag and Bellflower Blvd.
7. PCH and LB Blvd
8. 7th Street and Redondo Ave
9. Alamitos Avenue and Anaheim St.
10. Atlantic Ave and Artesia Blvd.

Number of Construction Permits in District 5:

The Development Services Department (aka Planning) reports that 175 construction permits were taken out in the 5th Council District this past August and 755 inspections were completed by Development Services of properties/businesses.

60-foot high wireless pole not appropriate for neighborhood

I have just received notice that T-Mobile wants to construct a 60-foot-high wirless telecommunications monopole disguised as a pine tree located at 3401 N. Studebaker .
It was scheduled for the Planning Commission and then the City Council.

I have told Planning staff I am opposed to the placement of such a high pole in essentially a residential area. I understand the item will not be taken up at the October 15th Planning Commission meeting because T-Mobile wants a chance to meet with the community.

As soon as I learn of a date for such a meeting, I will let residents of that area know so they attend and make their views heard.

Charter Amendment Could Open Up Bargaining Process

I am placing an item on the Council agenda (Public Pay Bargaining Sunshine Requirements) that requests my colleagues to refer to the Charter Amendment Committee (which is the full city council) a proposal that would go before the voters next April to open up the process utilized by the Council in negotiating wages, benefits and working conditions with our public employees.

The public is clamoring for transparency and input --not only of what the City negotiates but how much it costs the city for the agreements over the life of the agreements.

Collective bargaining is regulated by state law -- the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act which is found in the Government Code. Enforcement of this law is done by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), the same agency which regulates labor laws for teachers, faculty members and employees of public universities and schools.

Currently, state law requires that the collective bargaining process for employees in higher education and employees in school districts provide for the "sun shining" of initial proposals for negotiations, including re-openers as well as proposals that arise later in the course of bargaining. The laws also require a delay after the proposals are presented at a public meeting to allow the public to become informed and provide input regarding the proposals. Additionally, in the case of schools districts, the Superintendent must disclose the costs of the contract and certify that the costs of the contract can be met by the school district during the term of the agreement.

Opening up the process to the public is needed. There isn't any reason that our City Council cannot do the same as is required by the Long Beach Unified School District.

Read below and see what the school district must do: (you'll see why we need to do the same)

Government Code Section 3547 provides:
(a) All initial proposals of exclusive representatives and of public school employers, which relate to matters within the scope of representation, shall be presented at a public meeting of the public school employer and thereafter shall be public records.
(b) Meeting and negotiating shall not take place on any proposal until a reasonable time has elapsed after the submission of the proposal to enable the public to become informed and the public has the opportunity to express itself regarding the proposal at a meeting of the public school employer.
(c) After the public has had the opportunity to express itself, the public school employer shall, at a meeting which is open to the public, adopt its initial proposal.
(d) New subjects of meeting and negotiating arising after the presentation of initial proposals shall be made public within 24 hours. If a vote is taken on such subject by the public school employer, the vote thereon by each member voting shall also be made public within 24 hours.
(e) The board may adopt regulations for the purpose of implementing this section, which are consistent with the intent of the section; namely that the public be informed of the issues that are being negotiated upon and have full opportunity to express their views on the issues to the public school employer, and to know of the positions of their elected representatives.

Government Code Section 3547.5 provides:
(a) Before a public school employer enters into a written agreement with an exclusive representative covering matters within the scope of representation, the major provisions of the agreement, including, but not limited to, the costs that would be incurred by the public school employer under the agreement for the current and subsequent fiscal years, shall be disclosed at a public meeting of the public school employer in a format established for this purpose by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(b) The superintendent of the school district and chief business official shall certify in writing that the costs incurred by the school district under the agreement can be met by the district during the term of the agreement. This certification shall be prepared in a format similar to that of the reports required pursuant to Sections 42130 and 42131 of the Education Code and shall itemize any budget revision necessary to meet the costs of the agreement in each year of its term.

Nothing in the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act which governs labor relations of municipalities prohibits the City from adopting the same requirements for public disclosure and input.

In fact, the California Supreme Court commented on the school district approach favorably: "Thus, although the public is excluded from actual negotiating sessions . . . its opportunity to be fully informed and to express its views is preserved." San Mateo City School District v. PERB, 33 Cal.3d 850, 864 (1983).

I hope my colleagues and the voters agree to open this up.

Long Beach Studios

If the news is correct, it appears that Long Beach Studios -- a new movie company -- will locate on the Boeing property in the 5th Council District.

Let's cross our fingers because this is about the 7th time I have been told the deal was on --only for it to be off again.

But this is exciting news if it is for real. Finally, the empty Boeing 717 property will be occupied and hopefully LB Studios will bring much needed jobs to Long Beach.

I am still hopeful something can be worked out to bring TESLA Motors to Long Beach as well --maybe to the Douglas Park property that sits vacant but has all the environmental clearances needed to go full steam.

Bottom line --"Long Beach is good enough, and smart enough, and doggone it people like us!! (To use the words of movie star and now US Senator Al Franken.)

Long Beach Airport Capital Improvement Plan

For all you readers interested in what the City is planning on doing to improve the parking and terminal at the Long Beach Airport, I have posted to the right of this article, the presentation given to the City Council last Tuesday from the Airport Director, Mario Rodriguez, on what is planned for the parking and terminal improvements.

It has been a slow process because of the two law suits filed against the City -- one by the Long Beach Unified School District and the other by the PTA. Both law suits were unsuccessful.

So now the City can proceed with improving airport parking and the terminal. Funds will come from airport passenger fees -- no general funds will be used.

Long Beach Airport Quiet Home Program

Last Tuesday, the Council received a final briefing on the Airport's Quiet Home Program.

Look to your right on the blog and you can read the powerpoint presentation that we reviewed on this program.

Funds for making homes and schools quieter in the higher CNEL paths are obtained from airport passenger fees -- not the City general funds.

If you need more information, please contact my council office at: 562 570-6932 or contact the Airport staff person coordinating the effort: sharon.diggs-jackson@longbeach.gov.

Long Beach Chamber Sends Positive Appeal to Tesla Motors

Thanks so much to all the readers who contacted the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, urging them to help recruit Tesla Motors to Long Beach.

You can read the very positive message, sent today by the Chamber's Executive Director, Randy Gordon, to the right of this posting. Just click on the document and it will enlarge to full screen.

I sent my thanks to Mr. Gordon and the Chamber. This was the positive boost we've needed to encourage Tesla to come to Long Beach.

Video not working

Oh, well the best laid plans...the video put up pointing out Long Beach can offer tax credits and Downey cannot in the battle to woo Tesla, crashed and is down...but Tesla got the point.

One more push to get Tesla to come to Long Beach

Haven't heard officially what decision Tesla Motors has made about where it will locate its plant that will produce the Model S and create 1,200 jobs. Also have not heard a peep out of our city officials about what is being done to recruit this job maker.

So I am doing one more push of letter writing and a 30 second video on You Tube showing why Long Beach should be selected over Downey. The mayor of Downey was a nice guy to take a gift basket to Tesla, but Long Beach has a great site at the Boeing property and we can give a tax credit in the enterprise zone for every job created...better than a gift basket wouldn't you say.

Residents Deserve An "Autopsy" To Find Out The "Cause of Death of Tesla Deal"

November 23, 2009-- Gerrie Schipske, councilwoman for Long Beach’s fifth district, has been outspoken in her desire to keep alive the possibility of Tesla Motors locating its plant in Long Beach.

She personally contacted Elon Musk, President of Tesla to ask him what the City of Long Beach was doing to encourage his company to locate there. She also mounted a letter writing campaign called "Long Beach -- We Can Do Better Than Downey."

She used her blog to prod Long Beach officials to actively market the City to get Tesla here. So today upon learning that Tesla has signed a letter of intent with Downey to locate a plant which will manufacture 20,000 electric vehicles and produce 1,000 jobs she issued the following statement:

"The taxpayers of Long Beach deserve a full explanation about who or what killed the deal to bring Tesla to Long Beach. How did we lose this revenue producing opportunity to Downey? Long Beach has so much more to offer to a business than most southern California locations -- we have manufacturing space at the Boeing site, nearness to freeways, an airport, a port, railroad, convention center, training programs at our local community college and most importantly a workforce ready and willing to work. We also have an enterprise zone that provides tax credits for employers. And just recently the City announced it won the 'Most Business Friendly City Award' in Los Angeles County.

So what went wrong?

Anyone who has worked in corporate America knows how important it is to develop positive relationships in order to do business, which is exactly what the City of Downey did and the City of Long Beach did not do.

Unlike the City of Downey, which marshaled its Mayor and Council to actively court Tesla through calls, letters, ads and personal outreach, Long Beach apparently treated Tesla as a 'second-class citizen' according to comments made to me and to the press by Tesla President, Elon Musk. (It would be interesting to examine how much time and effort was really expended by Long Beach officials and staff in recruiting Tesla.)

I would like to congratulate the City of Downey for getting Tesla, and thank them for helping to keep these important types of jobs in the region."