Patrick O'Donnell Takes Credit for Potential Dog Park -- Despite He Had Nothing to Do With It

This is so sad. As I blogged yesterday, I have been working for many months on finding a location for an eastside dog park...and I did -- after working  with the volunteers trying to get a dog park and city park staff I finally convinced city staff they could spare some of their maintenance area near the Animal Care Services for a dog park.

I then asked the head of the Friends of El Dorado Dog Park to go and look at the area and to talk with Madeline Bernstein of the ASPCA and talk with her about a potential park adjacent that could also be used as a training site. The meeting took place and it was positive and I convinced City staff that would be the best spot. They agreed.

So today I read in local media outlets that Councilman Patrick O'Donnell  is announcing the dog park at that spot and is holding a rally to support it.

My staff and city staff reached out to Councilmember O'Donnell and suggested we join forces on this project but the overtures were rebuffed.

 Sad. Because we often talk of Long Beach being "one city" and that it doesn't matter what district a park is located. I guess that comment was meant for only certain councilmembers.

Anyway, let's move forward and get this dog park opened!

El Dorado Dog Park Getting Nearer

For many, many months I have been working with residents -- specifically the dedicated folks of the Friends of the El dorado park dog park -- to find a suitable location for a dog park over here in the eastside.

I personally walked and mapped out several areas of available land. My goal was not to use dedicated park area for a dog park but to find land -- large enough for small and large dogs -- that would not take up regional park.

I found it several months ago and set about trying to convince city staff that the property should be used for this purpose. I also suggested that the members of the Friends of the El Dorado Dog Park pay a visit to the site and then talk with the staff at the Animal Care Services shelter which is adjacent to the property. And they did...and they love it.

So here's where the proposed dog park will be if approved by the Parks, Recreation and Marine Commission
-- click this map link to see the parcel which is now used as storage for the maintenance crew of the park. They actually have three parcels (I found them on satellite several months ago) and can consolidate into two leaving this parcel for a dog park.

Of course we will continue having community meetings at which the public can come and let us know if we are on the right track. The plan is for the city to provide the land and the non profit Friends of El Dorado Dog Park to raise funds for its construction and maintenance. Who knows, with Pet Smart just a stone's throw away in the Town Center, maybe they will respond to my request that they become a key sponsor for this dog park!!

Join Me for a Jobs Rally this Thursday

2nd and PCH Plan -- Some Are Complaining of Bait and Switch

There is a meeting of the Planning Commission this Wednesday to review the City staff recommendation about the proposed project at 2nd and PCH -- you know, the one that promises to obliterate the blight at the southeast entrance to the City.

Before I go further, you have to ask yourself...self, why has the city not done code enforcement over there to make the owner clean up the property and stop using it as a parking lot for buses, limos and double deckers? Or has that been the plan all along...make it look so bad that the city would say yes to the first plan to come along to change it...

Anyway, I attended a town hall this evening sponsored by the Los Cerritos Wetlands Trust and listened to a full house ask numerous questions of the guest speaker. Among the many concerns expressed about the project and the city staff recommendation is the fact that city staff has now recommended amendment to SEADIP Local Coastal Plan that will not only allow changes in development restrictions for 2nd and PCH but be used as the template for additional development in SEADIP. Whoah....wait a minute buddy. We have gone from a specific project to an entire development area?

Little problem folks that may land the City back in court like we were taken on the ill planned Home Depot project adjacent to the wetlands...the EIR only addresses the impact of the specific project not changes to an entire zoning area.

The rules are clear and have been since the residents of the area and developers came together in the 1970s and established SEADIP – not high rises (buildings above 35 feet) and traffic and other impacts have to be mitigated. The proposed project breaks all the rules – so that is why some want to change the rules.

I am linking in this article Los Cerritos Wetlands Trust documents; articles on SEADIP; and the topic of the hour – the City staff report.
http://longbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=987797&GUID=2863C647-F6CE-4DD5-8784-795FA85244CC

Traffic Impact

Alternates for site

SEADIP and Traffic

Seadip complaints

Seadip -- Dilemma for the City

Press Telegram editorial praising SEADIP


Stay tuned. It is far from over.

We Restored Some Funds to Libraries -- But Fell Short of Funding Other Services

There really isn't any excuse for rude behavior at a city council meeting but it has become routine...especially when some of us present an idea that others do not like.

Sad commentary during a time when we have such serious problems to fix.

But we were able to come together to restore some funds for our libraries so they are no reduced to "reading rooms." We didn't do so well on restoring other important services.

And we still haven't addressed the problem that a city with 5,000 employees still uses a manual system to track its workforce and 12 full time clerks to process time sheets.

Unbelievable that we would not get into the 21st century and use an automated time keeping system that allows management to know who is working and who isn't.

I will keep you up to date about our budget situation.

Hey Long Beach -- Does Your Water Taste a Little Musty -- It's Okay

After numerous requests from residents about a musty taste in their water, I asked the Water Department what was going on. Here's the response:


MWDPressReleaseTasteandOdor

Shaping Up the 5th Walks Lakewood Village

What a great group of residents from the Lakewood Village area! They met with me and my staff at 8 am last Saturday and with pens and cards in hand took off and walked the area in search of what needs to be fixed.

Curbs and streets top the list of the 224 cards turned in. Complaints about the patch work quilt taking place with oil and gas line repairs were frequent. Traffic from Long Beach City College remains an on going problem even with the new parking structure across the way.

Kudos to Gary Field who helped organize the event and for his diligence in taking down items that need repair prior to the walk.

Stayed tuned for our next Shaping Up the 5th...

Check out the latest activities and documents you should know about..

Click here and Check out the latest activities and documents you should know about...

First proposal for new courthouse included tunnel between LBPD and courthouse

Developing story...in my quest to find out why anyone would design a courthouse, win the bid but not include an important element in the design -- an underground tunnel between the Long Beach Police Department and the courthouse which would be used to safely transport prisoners -- I have discovered that it was included in at least one of the proposals submitted in the process. (I am searching to see if other proposals that were rejected also included this element.)


This is a significant finding. Why would the winning proposal not include this element? By not including it --was the winning bid lower than the other proposals -- now only to have it added after the fact?
Who was on the committee that selected the final design -- anyone from the City of Long Beach?


 And why oh why would the city wait until the foundation has been dug (and scheduled to be poured very shortly) to decide that a tunnel was really, really necessary for this project? IF the city knew it was needed, why wasn't more said publicly -- like at the ground breaking ceremony?


Being so late in the process is certainly going to add costs to digging, connecting and constructing an underground tunnel...don't ya think?


So what's the problem? At least $5 million dollars --which now some of the council members want to spend with oil revenues to build this tunnel -- the same who twice rejected using oil revenues to keep our libraries fully functioning, patrol officers on the streets and our fire stations open.


And not one is asking what happened and why should the city of Long Beach have to pay for this mistake.


Well, I am asking and so should the residents of Long Beach.

Proud Parents of Council Proposals to Save Public Safety and Libraries...

My mother always told me...better late than never.

So with pride I announce that 4 other council members have adopted many of the proposals put forward by Councilmembers Gabelich, Neal and me to utilize oil revenues to restore public safety cuts and keep our libraries from becoming reading rooms. See following link http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_18982258 (Remember, we brought it forward two times...but these same 4 and two others rejected it...alas...)

Glad to read they have seen the light.

This latest move smells a little like what is happening in Washington, DC..where one side won't support the other. Except, I know that Councilmembers Gabelich, Neal and I aren't interested in who gets the credit for maintaining public safety and our quality of life. We are more interested in seeing that it happens. That's what good parents do.

Good Conference. How Code Enforcement Works. Looking Forward to Good Neighbor Festival Tomorrow.

I am not leaving my heart in San Francisco but I do like coming here to visit and for conferences. I guess I was the only City Councilmember from Long Beach to attend the League of California Cities Conference this week. City Attorney Bob Shannon and Director of Government Relations, Tom Modica were also here.

The sessions most attended related to economic development, surviving the changes in redevelopment and pension reform.

While here I took several calls from my office staff concerning complaints by residents who had received notices of code problems following the recent Shaping Up the 5th District walks in several parts of the district. The code enforcement problems were noted on report sheets completed by walkers who lived in each neighborhood. The problems were referred to code enforcement and if the complaint was valid, the residents were given notices to fix the problems. Well, apparently that process doesn't sit well with some residents who basically believe it isn't the city or other resident's business if their lawn is overgrown on to the sidewalk or their tree needs trimming because it is hanging over where people walk, or other issues. They are angry and are now threatening to sue everyone in the world, including the city. One resident called to alert me to the fact that because a neighbor was told to trim his tree, neighbors are building block fences between each other...interesting, but they will have to go through building inspection which should really make them unhappy. Hey folks. We are trying to make sure our neighbors continue to be quality neighborhoods --that's why your neighbors took the time to walk the area and help identify things that need to be fixed.

Which is an interesting transition into the Good Neighbor Festival and Picnic which is tomorrow beginning at 10 am. The public is invited. At last count, we have 45 neighborhood organizations and city services coming out for the festival. There will be games, free food and of course, the Elm Street Band. And we will be giving out our annual Good Neighbor Awards.

Well, I write this in the San Francisco Airport waiting for my Jet Blue flight back to Long Beach.

Why I Am Not at City Council Right Now

Over a month ago, I registered for the annual League of California Cities in San Francisco, thinking that I could get a lower airfare and that the city budget would have been passed on September 13. Unfortunately, after the fact I learned that the newly negotiation contract with the Long Beach Police Officers Association would be on the agenda today. So I write this listening to the Council meeting in San Francisco. (By the way, my staff and the City Clerk worked very hard to try to arrange for me to participate via conference call - however, the hotel would not allow the public posting of the announcement required -- including my room number -- so I couldn't call in.)

I want to go on record that I support the contract. The LBPOA was entitled to a raise but the members stepped up and agreed to use 95% of their raise to pay the employees contribution portion of the pension and to agree that new hires in the PD would be placed on a lower retirement formula.

This is good for the city and the first step in getting full participation of our employee groups in paying their full share of their pension costs.

Remember, the LBPOA could have legally insisted on the terms and conditions of their current contract and they would wait until 2013 when the contract expires. They didn't. Their leadership and their membership understands that the City needs to make pension reform.

I look forward to moving forward on the proposals being offered by the Firefighters Association and the other bargaining units. Long Beach is fortunate to have excellent employee partners who want to work with the City to make the reforms needed. These reforms may not come as quickly as some in the public want -- but they are coming. And that's a very good thing for the city.

Join Us for 5th Annual Good Neighbor Festival and Picnic

Post Office to Close Processing Facility in Long Beach

I was contacted by a US Postal Service worker and I just saw the story on line in Rough and Tumble. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=97585
Long Beach postal processing facility at Redondo Avenue is slated for closure.

Please take a moment and email Senators Boxer and Feinstein and ask their assistance in keeping the facility open and the jobs kept in Long Beach.

Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Dianne Feinstein

White House Sends Update on President's Jobs Act

Good afternoon, Last night President Obama walked Congress and the nation through the American Jobs Act, his plan to create jobs in America now. It's up to Congress to act on this set of bipartisan ideas that put people back to work and put more money into the pockets of working Americans. You can watch a special enhanced version of the speech, featuring charts and other relevant information here: Here are a few important points about how the American Jobs Act works, and why Congress should act quickly: First, it provides a tax cut for small businesses, not big corporations, to help them hire and expand now and provides an additional tax cut to any business that increases wages. Second, it puts people back to work, including teachers, first responders and veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, and construction workers repairing crumbling bridges, roads and more than 35,000 public schools, with projects chosen by need and impact, not earmarks and politics. Third, it helps out-of-work Americans by extending unemployment benefits to help them support their families while looking for work and reforming the system with training programs that build real skills, connect to real jobs and help the long-term unemployed. Fourth, it puts more money in the pockets of working and middle class Americans by cutting in half the payroll tax that comes out of every worker's paycheck, saving families an average of $1,500 a year. And it removes the barriers that exist in the current federal refinancing program (HARP) to help more Americans refinance their mortgages at historically low rates, save money and stay in their homes. The American Jobs Act is based on ideas supported by both Democrats and Republicans, and is fully paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes and by asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. It would have an immediate impact on job and economic growth, but Congress has to act now. You can learn more about the American Jobs Act on Whitehouse.gov. Over the next few days there are a number of ways for you to ask questions and engage with Administration officials about the American Jobs Act including Open for Questions live panels and Twitter Office Hours. In fact, next week, I’ll be participating in my very first White House Office Hours on Twitter, so be sure to tune in and send me your questions using the hashtag #WHChat. Here’s a list of the full lineup of events so far: Today at 4:30 p.m. EDT: Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council will be answering your questions on Twitter during White House Office Hours using the hashtag #WHChat. Monday September 12 at 4:30 p.m. EDT: White House Office Hours on Twitter with Stephanie Cutter, Assistant to the President and Deputy Senior Advisor. Tuesday, September 13 at 5:30 p.m. EDT: I’ll be answering your questions on Twitter during White House Office Hours using the hashtag #WHChat. Wednesday, September 14th at 4:00 p.m. EDT: White House Office Hours with Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic council. Sincerely, David Plouffe Senior Advisor to the President P.S. After last night’s address, a few White House policy experts answered questions about the speech. Check out the video of the event: WhiteHouse.gov/JobsSpeechOFQ

City Council Cuts Fire, Police, Libraries After Public Leaves

For Immediate Release
Contact: Tiffany Andrews, Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske
562 570-6932

City Council Passes Budget in the Late Night Hours
– Cuts Fire and Police Staffing

Moments after six members of the Long Beach City Council voted in the middle of the night to make Long Beach the only major metropolitan city to staff its fire engines with 3-man crews, Council members Rae Gabelich, Steven Neal and Gerrie Schipske issued the following joint statement:

“In a shameless display of disrespect to the residents of the city, 6 members of the council orchestrated a vote on the budget in the late hours of the night after the public had left the council chambers. By waiting until the public left, they violated every principle of transparency and openness and proceeded to seriously cut essential public safety and quality of life services with few public in attendance.

“As a result of that vote, one-half of the City’s fire engines will only have 3 fire fighters, instead of the standard 4 that every other major metropolitan city provides. Other reductions in fire services will also take place at Stations 14, 18 and 19. This means that the City of Long Beach will have the lowest number of on duty firefighters in the last 40 years.

 “At least twenty one police officers were also eliminated with this late night action – including patrol officers, gang enforcement, Homeland Security detail, and violent crime detectives. All at a time when the state is getting ready to release prisoners back into the community.

“Six on the council ignored the concerns of both the Police and Fire Chiefs who expressed reservations about the cuts proposed by Mayor Bob Foster and City Manager Pat West.

“Despite more than 28 residents giving testimony earlier in the evening against making cuts to public safety and quality of life services, the majority on the council waited for the public to leave before they jammed through a budget that seriously cuts these critical services.

“What we saw tonight was a blatant disregard for the will of the people and a lack of  transparency in the budget process, This is a sad night for the City of Long Beach.”

#30

Long Beach to Join Special Needs Awareness Program -- First Responders Will Get Important Information to Aid Residents with Disabilities

Thanks to my colleagues for supporting an item I sponsored with Councilwoman Rae Gabelich that approves Long Beach Fire and Police departments participating in the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management Special Needs Disaster Registry.

The SNAP program is voluntary and allows persons with special needs and/or disabilities who may need  specific  disability related  assistance and/or accommodations in the event of a major disaster. Special accommodations and assistance needs may include communicating through alternative means, requring specialized paratransit services, life sustaining medications or equipment, etc.

Enrollment in the Special Needs Registry is completely voluntary. The information provided could help to save lives. Information submitted to this registry is confidential and will only be used by first responders.

Long Beach residents wishing to sign up for the program should click here or to to the Los Angeles County -- http://www.snap.lacounty.gov/

Imitation is certainly the sincerest form of flattery...especially by council colleagues

I am so flattered to see on today's city council agenda an item (added last minute) by three of my council colleagues proposing (as I did in April of this year) that the city pursue asking the Feds for a waiver in the ceiling of local hires on transportation projects.

See folks, the council already approved directing the City Manager to find out what the city could do to get a waiver on the cap of local hires allowed -- it was a 9-0 vote on April 8, 2011...just a mere 5 months ago.
But nothing happened.

Then last week the LA Times broke the story that the LA Mayor was taking this concept directly to Washington, DC so that LA could get a waiver of the ceiling of local hires on transporation projects -- using perhaps the only allowable way to get a waiver -- by utilizing an innovative contracting procedure.

So thanks, colleagues for agreeing with me, my blog and the Mayor of Los Angeles -- that there is a way to ask the feds for a waiver on the amount of local hires for a transportation project.

Let's hope on the vote today that everyone agrees -- this time we really mean it! (And thanks for the compliment.)

Budget War on Libraries Is So Wrong -- Especially in the 5th District

The City Council asked for a report on usage of library branches over the past several years.

We did so because of the proposal to make three branch libraries -- "reading rooms" and cut their services.

First of all, no one in libraries any where in the US has branches that are "reading rooms" only -- ah Long Beach leads the way.

Anyway, the report came back and just as I suspected it shows that Bach is one of the busiest branches in the City -- yet one of the three slated for serious cuts.

Click here and look at attachment A under total circulation -- which means number of books, tapes, cds, etc. checked out. If you look at Bach you will see 106,544 while the other two branches slated for reductions: Brewitt and Alamitos have 1/2 half the circulation...

There is absolutely no logic to go after a library branch that is one of the busiest in the City...

Click here for emails and phone numbers of the Mayor, City Manager and City Council. Call and email and tell them "NO" -- leave Bach Library alone!!

Important FY 2012 Budget Documents -- How the City Spent Oil Revenues

In response to our questions during the budget hearing on oil revenues, City Manager responded to part of the question -- we asked for an accounting of the past 10 years  -- he only answered for 2006 to 2011.


If you click on this link you can read the answer in Attachment B of the memo.

Please note that with a few small exceptions, the oil revenues have been used just as Councilmembers Gabelich, Neal and I are proposing: to smooth out the deficit -- fund important city services.

That's why our "Public Safety and Quality of Life Protection Plan" is the responsible plan.
 We continue to use the additional revenue to smooth out the deficit and fund important police, fire and recreational services instead of spending on a "wish list" of projects. Click here to read the wish list being circulated at City Hall for spending oil revenues.

Here's why the Gabelich, Neal, Schipske "Public Safety and Quality of Life Protection Plan" is the MOST RESPONSIBLE -- we are proposing an incremental approach to using the revenue -- not spend it on one time projects.

It would be like if you and I received a raise -- would it be wiser to use it to go out and buy a new, bigger and better wide screen television or to use the monthly increase to pay for on going expenses?

If the oil revenue and other revenues for the city lessen next year, then we can adjust our spending immediately and make cuts as we go along. If we spend that revenue on one time projects -- it is spent and we cannot recover it. Now that would be irresponsible.

Come to the City Council chambers this Tuesday at 3 pm and tell the City Council in person what you think about the budget and whether or not you think the City should spend all at once now or do so on a month by month basis as being suggested by Councilmembers Gabelich, Neal and Schipske.