Speaker 0: Hey, thank you. We are now moving on to item number. Let's see which ones next year we do. I am 21. Thank you.
Speaker 1: Report from Public Works. Recommendation to approve intermittent closure of certain neighborhood streets to vehicular traffic for increased outdoor activities citywide.
Speaker 0: Thank you. I'm going to go ahead and first get the report from Public Works and then I have some comments. And I know we have some council members that are queued up as well. So Mr. Modica.
Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Members of the council, we will have a report from Craig Beck, our director of Public Works.
Speaker 6: Thank you. Good evening, Mayor. Members of the council, we have an opportunity tonight to review a new program. It's really put in place to help support the safer at home order by providing additional activity areas within the public right of way. So the program that we're calling Long Beach Open Streets is really kind of twofold focus. One is to work within our neighborhood, our residential neighborhoods, to allow us to close some streets that will promote activity within that neighborhood. Essentially, when we talk about these type of street closures, it would be closed to through traffic and available only to local traffic. So the residents that live within that street segment, we wouldn't allow any permanent structures to be placed to ensure that there was safe access for our emergency vehicles. But really, it would become a safer activity zone for the residents living there. The other program that we're supporting is really in our business communities and we want to ensure that all of our businesses have the greatest opportunity for success as they reopen after the impacts of the of the COVID virus and the closures to in-store dining . So by adding both PARKLETS and some street closures, we've been able to maximize areas for residents to come and enjoy those businesses at safe physical distancing. So attached to this item tonight are a number of street segment locations that focus on our neighborhood street closure program. What is an included tonight and I wanted to share with everybody is that there is also a lot of work happening to create parklets within the right of way in support of these businesses. So we started in the initial pilot rolling out three of those locations. There's a number of locations that will be added this week, and we continue to work with the bids and different businesses to expand this effort. In all, our hope is that this temporary program will help provide areas for physical distancing, which will assist the city as we move forward, adhering to our current safer at home order and as that order gets changed in a few. That concludes the staff report, and I'm available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Beck. Appreciate that. Good report. I just want to add a few things, and I, I think I have almost entire council queued up. So I'm going to go down that list in just a minute. I want to thank you all for working so, so quickly. And I know the team is. There's a lot going on in public works right now, and it's great to see so many streets that can really begin to create opportunities for residents. But also the Parklet program. I know we have already a few and I think there's a significant amount on this list, which I really appreciate and other than a lot of hard work that's gone into it. Just a couple. I already see someone queued up to make it to make a motion, but I just have a couple also questions and or additions to this. What I'd like to see, Mr. Beck first is actually, why don't I do this so the council can bring some of these items up anyway. So let me let me let them do that and then I'll fill in at the end if there's any additional comment. So I believe, Councilmember Pierce, you have a you have a motion to the motion. I'm sorry. A motion on this item. I believe you're the first one here. And there's a second by councilmember and there's a second by Councilmember Richardson. So why don't I let you go first, Councilmember Pierce?
Speaker 2: I appreciate it, Mayor. I want to thank the staff for working on this. I know that we did a lot of work not only in your department, but also with the city attorney's department. And my district is one of the densest districts that really has the bikeable streets, a lot of that and also several business corridors. And so I want to ask for the public a couple of questions. When we first started talking about closing down the streets, I think there was a lot of media excitement around it. I also think a lot of us saw photos of business corridors that were shut down in other cities and corridors like Fourth Street or Pine or streets that people immediately thought of as being streets that could be closed down. I love the Parkland ideas and I like the proposals that I've seen. I support them. But if you could share with the public why it is that we're not recommending closing down, say, fourth Street fully. If you could just share that fact.
Speaker 6: Certainly. Councilmember Pearce, I think what we're here tonight to talk about is our neighborhood closures and in why what we're characterizing as a neighborhood street is a low volume street. Many of the streets that go through our business corridors are what would be characterizes in arterial street or would have a significant traffic load on that street. Those streets we want to handle in a different manner. We want to look at that as we would any special event for a street closure. And for example, if Fourth Street was selected or if Fine Avenue was selected, we would go through the special event process. We would meet with the stakeholders. We would talk about how that activation was going to occur, the frequency of closures, what the traffic impacts would be to the adjacent streets. So it's a different way of handling those particular arterial closures. Right now, we do believe that we can move forward with this temporary Open Streets program in our low volume or neighborhood characterized streets to provide this open space. I hope that addresses your question.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it does. And one more. I know that what's in front of us is the neighborhood low volume, but I'd like to ask one more question. If a street like Fourth Street wanted to close it down and we know that some people want this, some people don't. I'm again asking questions for clarity sake. If it was a special events process, right. So say Fourth Street wanted to do it every Saturday. Would it be expected and stop assuming that that that bid would then be responsible for all the special event permits and all the costs that come with that? Or is there a program that the city might be exploring that would waive some of those fees or make it more cost effective than having police and fire and everybody else?
Speaker 6: Councilmember. It really depends on the type of activity that would occur within the closed street under the special event permit program. We are working to expedite that process. Since you're talking specifically about Fourth Street, I do want to share that the team is working closely with the Fourth Street bid and businesses there, and we've actually been able to develop an approach that would allow the Street to continue to support through traffic, but also achieve some of the open space goals of providing both flex space and dining space along Fourth Street. So we're excited about excited about this alternative approach and look forward to bringing that forward with council support this evening.
Speaker 2: That's wonderful and I fully support the approach tonight. I have had lots of conversations with neighbors that live on the streets that we've proposed. People are very, very excited about it. I think they're also excited about seeing how some of the streets connect. So I like what you guys have done in Alameda speech and really support this and really excited to be able to think of this as two different options for how we support people socially distancing, but also support people being active on their bikes or walking. And so I just want to thank you guys so much for the efforts and look forward to seeing it and fruition. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Richardson. Councilman Richardson. Let me move on to the next person. Go ahead.
Speaker 3: Okay. Yeah, this system is muting me. I would just ask that the clerk stop automatically mutiny. You did? I am. You did a moment before I was called on so quickly, I just wanted to say thanks to Craig. We've done some, some pretty cool things in terms of re-imagining how we use our streets for parklets. We really were trailblazers, blazers there and then beach streets and then, you know, open city events we've done around activate uptown and closed down Artesia Boulevard. So I'm really I'm really supportive of this program, particularly in areas that that haven't had a lot of open space. This is a way to expand some of those opportunities. I want to just take a moment and say, I know that we have these two streets with less listed in the ninth District. But with Craig, I want to add two streets into the mix, that Linden Avenue between South Street and Harding Street, Myrtle Avenue between South Street and 72nd. That would be in addition to the Harding Street closure. That's right. By the Highland Park Street skate park that I'm really excited about, as well as a baseball that runs right by Ramona Park. So those are all really, really exciting opportunities to see what can be done in terms of reimagining how we use our streets. Thanks a lot for those two in the mix. Thanks.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman Price.
Speaker 2: Mr. Mayor, I want to thank Public Works as well, as well as our mayor for introducing this concept to us. And I know that the Third District has a few parklet concepts already at play and some in the works, including items presented in tonight's agenda item. The question I have for Mr. Beck is, are we still operating under the premise that this will be a temporary repurposing of the streets?
Speaker 6: Councilmember Price Yes. I should have mentioned that in my presentation. But right now our plan is that this would be in place through October. And the idea with October is that it would align with the change of Daylight Savings Time. So when we go back to Standard Pacific Time, we would end the temporary street closure program. I do want to add and point out that part of the action this evening is to provide the city traffic engineer with the ability to make adjustments as necessary. We know all the different street segments have a little bit of some unique characteristics. And one size isn't going to fit all across the entire city. So providing that flexibility to make adjustments as we move forward, as issues come up or elements change is part of our request this evening.
Speaker 2: That's very helpful. And I know that we had received that information and staff briefings, but I wanted to make sure that the public knew about that as well. Having said that, and you spoke to it perfectly, because we have different characteristics and traffic volumes and traffic patterns in different parts of the city in the Belmont Shore Business Corridor. We I am not supportive of any street closures beyond what's been proposed, but I do appreciate that our traffic engineer is really working with us to identify additional areas where this concept can be implemented in some form. So while we might not do full street closures, we do appreciate the opportunity to incorporate the Open Streets concept into our existing infrastructure. So I want to thank you for your flexibility and for allowing us to find what works in our districts based on the input that we receive from our businesses and in my case, residences that directly abuts the businesses. So thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you, councilwoman. Next up is council member or Durango?
Speaker 3: That name again.
Speaker 0: Your anger.
Speaker 2: Okay.
Speaker 3: It came out a little weird. Thank you. Mayor of this is a wonderful concept. I think it's going to be very helpful for businesses to get back on track, as well as being creative and innovative and trying to get businesses back up and going in Long Beach. In regards to those areas as defined in District seven, I'm in agreement with what's being presented there. However, I would like to amend one and add two more if I can. The Street Sign on 37th currently states at 37 Street, west of Atlantic Avenue to the alley. I'd like to expand that to 37th Street from Cherry Avenue to just west of Atlantic on the alley. So if we can do that. I also want to add Hill Street in West Long Beach from Santa Fe to Webster. That is a red light between Oak Park over Hudson. Hudson Park. And we just added a new walking path there. So it's an opportunity to connect that with with that street action as well. And also one more thing is that the expansion of the parklet that's right there on Willow between Daisy and Magnolia, I don't have the addresses in front of me at this point, but I think that Mr. Mr. Beck has those addresses of federal employee where he knows exactly what I'm talking about. So those would be my my amendments to the current plan. And again, I want to thank public works for this unique idea and you, Mayor, for pushing this forward as well.
Speaker 0: I thank you, Councilmember. Councilman Austin. Councilman Austin.
Speaker 3: Yes. Thank you very much. I very much appreciate this concept. The office has worked pretty fast to put this together. And this was, I think, just introduced maybe two or three weeks ago. Also to have this these options in front of us are very much appreciated. In my district. We want to continue to. Build a great, livable community where residents can have walkable, bikeable access to businesses along our our corridors. And so what you see in front of you are streets that are the run along Atlantic Avenue in that area, support the businesses there. And then also in the Virginia Village area. And then there's one residential street that I'd like to also amend and actually remove after hearing from a number of residents who are concerned about this specific avenue from this road to country club drive. We want to remove that from the list, understanding that that street is already part of our bike boulevard. We already have, you know, active transportation infrastructure laid down there. So it's a it's already a bikeable pedestrian area. So that said, we're going to we ask that I'm supporting the four streets that you see Khadijah Clayborn, Plymouth Street and Platt Street for right now. Just wanted to know from our public works director what sort of flexibility we have beyond tonight with these what these plans should we hear from residents or other business groups with ideas throughout our districts? Is that is there any options in front of us?
Speaker 6: Councilmember Austin. I think right now what I'm hearing is that we have the list that was proposed and worked through some of the offices. And tonight we're making some adjustments to that list. A part of the action would allow the city traffic engineer to make segment adjustments. So if something needed to be extended a half block or one way or another, it's that's part of the action or if we needed to change the hours. But as far as adding new street segments, that's not currently part of what's on the table right now, that those new street segments would then have to come back to council.
Speaker 3: Okay. And then also in the staff report, it says that these segments will be closed from 9 to 5 p.m.. Can you explain what the reasoning behind that is? Why the time and why 5 p.m. and not 9 p.m.?
Speaker 6: Certainly. So again, not trying to say one size fits all, but we were we wanted to give at least a guideline. So currently the city does closed Bayshore Avenue in the third district in the summertime, certain times of the year from 9 to 5. And so we just echoed that same time frame for the proposed street closures in other areas of town. With with adoption tonight, the city traffic engineer can make adjustments if certain neighborhoods want to go longer or start later. Those are things that we can accommodate. But that was just the guidance that was provided.
Speaker 3: Well, I think it would be really more operational if we gave our business districts a little bit of a little bit more latitude on that. And so, however, that can be incorporated in this motion to approve this this document tonight. I'd like that to happen. I'd like to have or specify that our business districts at least have a voice in this process, but also can work with the the local businesses to determine at the time that that that works best for them because 9 a.m. might not fit. Like you said, one size may not fit all. Maybe a lunch time or 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. might make work in some areas. And so I'd like for us to have that flexibility to be able to do that.
Speaker 6: Certainly understand. We'll work with your office and Bixby Knolls Business Association to address those questions.
Speaker 3: All right. Thank you so much. That's all that I have. I look forward to approving what the recommended changes.
Speaker 0: Thank you all. Vice Mayor Andrews.
Speaker 3: Yes, thank you very much. I want to thank credit unions team for putting this together. You know, I think the problem is adamant too closely to allow the outdoor activities, you know, such as walking, cycling and skating. But the myth that inception that this idea was to promote outdoor dining and I was under that impression as well . But you know what? Recommending for the six six District six closure when that what I expect I'm looking forward to doing it for our on time. You know and you know, since, you know, since everyone is adding strength, I would really like to add on Willow from Magnolia to Pacific. And if we can't and if we can't, then I'd like to discuss this at some other time later. So those are some of the things, Greg, I would like to see if possible.
Speaker 0: Thank you, vice mayor. Next up is Councilman Supernova.
Speaker 5: Mayor, can we just have Craig Beck respond to that quickly, please?
Speaker 0: To wit, to vice mayors request.
Speaker 5: Yes.
Speaker 0: That's about right.
Speaker 6: So just Vice Vice Mayor Andrews, I just wanted to clarify, if you the request is to close, Willow, that we would want to work with your office. That would have to go through a special event permit because it is an arterial street. Tonight, we're focused on the low volume streets. So happy to work with your office and have that conversation. But I just want to differentiate between the item tonight and how we would process arterial streets.
Speaker 0: And Mr. Beck, I'm going to have some come at the end about some arterial streets and how we move forward on that. So that will hopefully cover vice mayor and his request. I think he actually said Pine not well or I could have misunderstood.
Speaker 3: Yeah. When we look up, I might add, to what happened at Magnolia to Pacific Avenue.
Speaker 0: Yup. So the Wrigley. The Wrigley. The Wrigley Village.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 0: Yeah. Yeah. I'll come in and out at the end. Vice Mayor.
Speaker 3: If I'm a.
Speaker 0: Customer or not.
Speaker 3: Thank you. I have some comments related to the group. We live on the beach. They posted some lengthy comments and comments for reference. So pages 81 through 83 and they're submitted by Scott Jones and Richie Brand. We loved Long Beach prior to getting to that. I just want to mention one st and for Craig back, I think we put this in an email, but 23rd Street between Lakewood Boulevard and Clark, that would be subject to approval from the Long Beach Fire Department. They use that street for access to Lakewood Boulevard from both the training center and station 17. So to the We Love Berkeley comment. They actually develop their own initiative. I called Play Streets 18 months ago and it's very similar to Open Streets. And when they saw open streets, they saw all the parallels and wanted to bring their thoughts to the table or wanted to offer help. I think they've done events in six different council districts over the last 18 months. So when they saw this, we were trying to set up that meeting between public works and we love language and it just didn't happen. This council item came up very quickly, so they were a little disappointed they didn't get a chance to weigh in. So maybe I should make this in terms of a friendly amendment. And if the director of public works sees this as workable, that we just ensure that we live, have language, has a seat at the table to provide input, and they can be a part of this moving forward and throughout the process because I think they could do a lot to get the communities involved with the program and really that's it. So I think if the it how how would you like to handle this in terms of a friendly amendment that that we have language that representatives can be involved in and whatever is ideas upfront and organizing this throughout the process.
Speaker 0: Think you can our superman. We can we can have staff reach out to we live Long Beach to initiate that conversation. So thank you for that. Councilman in the house.
Speaker 2: Mayor. First of all, I wanted to thank Craig for and all the rest of the city staff that worked so hard on this, putting together this program. I think it's a great idea, specially for our neighborhoods who are in you know, in my district, most of the neighborhoods are dense with a lot of apartments. And so this is just super exciting to provide a space for children and youth, to be able to come out and enjoy the day and just really enjoy being in their neighborhood. So I thank you for that. I've seen programs like this work in other cities, so I'm really looking forward to seeing this work in our cities . So thank you again for this and I'm excited for my residents that will be able to enjoy this.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Mongo.
Speaker 2: Thank you. Can you hear me, Mayor?
Speaker 0: Yes.
Speaker 2: Wonderful. So I have some concerns about this. I also spoke with Long Beach board member today, and I hope that it was just a coincidence that and they were very coy and not naming names, but they said that they'd given their presentation to a councilmember. It wasn't me and that they'd been working on this with the city for a long time. They even said that they met with public works and when I read the proposal, I have some serious concerns because the proposal says Monday through Sunday 9 to 5, which is pretty much any and all days of the week and. It doesn't say anything about frequency or times or any of those things. So on residential corridors, this can be great, but it really needs the input of the neighbors on those streets and it really needs the input of the communities that will participate and support it. So since this item was introduced by Public Works and Daryl already kind of commented that they've provided some input, maybe public works can comment on if Play Streets had any. Give into your ideas of where this came from. And potentially, if we could lean on both them and I would say these streets are successful a lot of times because of special events. Portia De and her team do an exceptional job with community outreach. And what I feel was kind of rushed in this case, and I recognize that part of it was that the reopening schedule kind of caught up to us a little faster than we had anticipated. Is the community outreach part of the council agenda item kind of just through the responsibility of community outreach on a program where we had no information about the real vision? I hadn't seen the We Live Long Week presentation. All I had seen was the presentation from public works at council, which really focused on commercial corridors and then kind of said, okay, council offices. We picked these streets. But the reason those streets were packed in the stuffing with public works was really based on city traffic and through streets. But really, what really makes the place streets are open streets or whatever you want to call it, idea. Valuable is the people that live on those streets. They have families who will support the set up of the barriers. Share the info with neighbors. So at the time, there are many streets in our district already throughout COVID who have kind of had a soft a soft closure of their streets on certain days for kids to caravan around as kind of an agreement by neighbors to kind of give that opportunity. And and for us to know and partner with those individuals the same kind of individuals who already host neighborhood events of ice cream socials and pancake breakfast and all the things that are encouraged through the spirit of organizations like Neighborhood Associations and their host organization, Partners of Parks. And we live Long Beach. That's what makes it very successful. So I would say there are additional streets I would identify that could be very helpful. What are the neighbors on those streets didn't want to be included because of the vagueness of the agenda item. There are streets like the one I live on that said, Hey, we want to do this on Friday evenings only, and I don't know that the item and agenda would be able to give that level of specificity. So I would love to see that at a one month point, we kind of check back in the list of who's doing what and why and where or what with each council office and potentially bring back an agenda item that could add additional streets. I think other concerns from neighbors, I specifically heard from a neighbor today who said, you know, I live in zipcode, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And we have a very, very low case of coronavirus. If you publicize that, our street is going to be closed. Our concern is that if not enough streets are closed throughout the zip code that so many people will come to our area, that the social, the physical distancing ability will be diminished and therefore the risks would be increased. So these are all things that I think are really important for us to discuss at the council. So my recommendation, well, I'm okay with leaving in the streets that are there. I am not okay with us moving forward on actually choosing and closing the streets until I've had the opportunity to have a community meeting with the neighbors on each of those streets. So and then I would love to kind of modify Councilman Supernova's request for input from we live Long Beach to State. If we live Long Beach could do a call to action to their neighborhood leaders that were already interested in doing these kind of things and then provide the city a list of who those might be and their selected times. For instance, if it's Karen Street and they want to do things to do a Sunday roll where every Sunday from 4 to 6, all the neighbors would try to walk the whole neighborhood together. If they want to do a sun roll on Karen Street or whatever other street that it really comes from the community because that's where the value is. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Mongo. I think we've gone through the council already. I have some comments here at the end for also just just to add, so we think we have the listening public, which she's done a great job. I obviously know that you've been under a lot of pressure to get this done expeditiously just because of the nature of the COVID 19 crisis. And so right now, you're balancing a lot of a lot of requests. And you been working with the council offices. I appreciate that. I want to just also make a couple more broader comments before we vote on this list. And I have a couple of additions that I've chatted with council members on is we are. My first question, Mr. Beck, is I know you also have a lot of Parklet requests. Those are being processed as we as we as we speak. Is that correct? I want to make sure those are also being processed and we're moving forward with those and coordinating those with the business districts or the neighborhoods.
Speaker 6: Yes, that is correct. And there's a number of different locations that we've been in contact with, both the businesses and the bids as we're ready to move forward. I think I mentioned in my opening comments that we should see another 6 to 10 get implemented later this week. Signs will be going out tomorrow for no parking as we install those parklets on Thursday and Friday.
Speaker 0: Gretchen, can I just ask that just from the public perspective? Can you and I'm not sure if people through social media or other ways with public works department can put out or those parklets will be or where this next group of parklets are appearing. It'd be great for the public to know as well just to help those restaurants and to the people know as well. I'm not aware of what the list is and I love to know. I think the public should know as well. That would be great. And let me get a couple quick questions. Thank you. A couple of quick point questions. Customer Austin brought up Claire born in Bixby Knolls, which I'm glad is on the list. This is the the street that's also called. I just want to make sure they see it's a cardboard drive east of Atlantic two alley. Is that the alley by Long Beach Creamery? Because I know that they had reached out to them just confirming that to be the case. Mr. Beck.
Speaker 6: Yes, I believe it is. This is a concept that's been floated by the business district for some time, a concept called Clear Born Commons, which would ultimately close a segment of the streets and activate it for supporting those businesses. So we've been working through different designs, and I think this gives us an opportunity to really deploy those those ideas on a temporary basis. And then as we learn what works and what doesn't, modify them into potentially a permanent solution at that location.
Speaker 3: Let me just point of order for a clarification. And Claiborne is off of the Atlantic, and that is not where the Long Beach Creamery is. But I am certainly open to adding the Claiborne from Long Beach Boulevard. West to the alley. To the alley, right? Yep.
Speaker 0: Okay. That was my clarification, because I think there may be some confusion there. So I agree with Councilmember Austin on that. So let's make can we. Mr.. Mr.. Back I just want to make sure that that that piece of cardboard, remember, is Boulevard west of the alley is also included in the list. So thank you for that. Thank you, Councilman, for that clarification. Then let me turn to downtown. A couple things I would like to add as well is I want to make sure there was a request to do some closures on Linden between First Street and Broadway. That was something that came through. I talked to Councilmember Pierce about this as well. So we're both supportive of that. So if you can and I understand, Craig, that some of these what I what I'm doing is we're adding these four so you can move forward. It may not be feasible. There may be issues that come up. I understand you may have to work with the businesses, but if want to assure that these requests are on the table, so it gives you the flexibility to work with them and the councilmember. So I just want to include Linden between First Street and Broadway. Also want to include I know that there's a fire department issue currently with the promenade, but we we need to move forward with the promenade and hopefully with that it will get resolved. And so the promenade corridor between first and third streets is built literally for this type of expansion. And so also asking, I know the fire chief and others around this line to please, let's resolve that issue so that those promenade restaurants that really made an investment in that area and want to expand have the ability to do so. And so I'd like to see the promenade on that on this list as well. And I've discussed that also with the councilmember. I also want to add, and I've discussed this both with councilmembers one and two, I'd like to I know that I'd like to add Pine Avenue and north of Broadway, between Pine Avenue, north of Broadway, all the way to seventh as an option. Also, I understand it's a more complicated closure, and that could need a permitting process that's separate of this process. But I just want to get everybody to begin working on that. And the council members are very interested in that, as well as some of the small businesses that have many of which were affected on the obviously by some of the looting that that had happened. And so they're really asking for some support here, and I want to support those businesses as well. So if you can add Pine to that list, I want to clarify. Councilman Ringa mentioned, I think 15, 16 and 15, 18 on Willow. And I think that's those are in front of the Long Beach beer lab. I think he's talking about two parklets there. Just to clarify, Mr. Beck, that we want them. That's a great local small business that we want to move forward on and include those as well. Also, we have just to clarify for Vice Mayor Andrews, he's interested in activating portions of Pine Avenue between Willow and PCH. That's obviously the that's Wrigley Village. And he just like he'd like to implore that you work with that business corridor and businesses to find some parklets or street closure opportunities for those businesses. At least that's the way the vice mayors communicate it to me. So I'd like to add that also as a as a note and then more, more, more broadly, I want to just add something that I know vice mayors are reaching out to me to include also is if we can please work directly with our Cambodia town, they're really looking for some opportunities, if possible, to do something. I know Anaheim is a complicated street, but if there's a parking lot opportunities or a side street opportunity to do some kind of parklet work or street closure, I think Cambodia Town would really appreciate some of these proposals as well. So those are the those are the additions that I want or clarifications I wanted to make. And I just want to also just Councilman Pierce, just from emotion perspective. I want to make sure that the traffic engineer has the ability not just to adjust the street boundaries, but like was mentioned, I think, by Councilman Austin, that if if, if, if staff in working with a council office or a business district wants to make a street closure longer to support the businesses that they have the ability to do so. And I think that the traffic engineer and public works also need the ability to add additional street segments as identified by public works in conjunction with either with the neighborhoods and the council office. So I want to make sure that obviously any new street closure gives getting input from the council office to make sure that it's supported. But I want to give staff the flexibility to do that, or we're going to be back here every week with more streets. And so and inclusive of that, we can do the month report. I think that Councilman Mongo mentions that we come back a month from now and put it all together. So that is my thoughts. Councilor Pearce, I know you and I discussed some of these for the motion and I'm turning back over to you.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, everyone. And I support everything that's been talked about. And as I was clarifying in my previous comments about business corridor versus neighborhood corridors, if we're going to expand and have the conversation about what streets we can add today so that we don't have to come back at a later time, I want to accept the motions that are on the floor, the friendlies that have been made. And I also want to add two things. One is I have some streets that I'd like to add for the public record that.
Speaker 1: Should staff be able.
Speaker 2: To get to them. I understand that you have a limited amount of resources to close streets down, but might as well add them today instead of coming back. One is St Louis from fourth to fifth, which is right off of Retro Row. The other is Garvey to 10th to 11th. The street that the mayor mentioned, taking it from ocean to Broadway on London. That's where the neighborhood has their arts festival. They used to close it down once a month already. So this adds that ability as well, support the extended time and making sure that you're working with the neighborhood on what the appropriate time should be. But extending it to 9:00, of course, the promenade. And one thing on the promenade, I've sent one email and I know things have been busy and it hasn't been a priority, but there's slivers of greenspace on the promenade where a lot of. Activity that is not wanted or welcomed is happening. I know that one of them is like a little dog. I'm not sure if that is space. That could be revision for the long term. And this is a different conversation, but no, that I fully support moving some of that that area and we can have a conversation down the road. But to open up the promenade, especially in front of what is in the ordinary and right there there's two green spaces that.
Speaker 1: It's just it doesn't.
Speaker 2: Welcome a lot of people to have outside dining there.
Speaker 1: And then the other thing that I.
Speaker 2: Would add is part of the Broadway conversations that we've had in the past. Part of the visioning for Broadway have been these parklets. I know that the black bar that's there and I know there's a new coffee shop closer to Alamitos. Both of those are spaces that have been interested in outside dining. So putting that on this list so that down the road they could also be included in that Parklet program. I think it really adds to the final touch of a Broadway show that's on the streets. The second part is I want to address just briefly, you know, the comments about organizations and how they would interact with public works. My office did work to try to make sure that we activated some streets. I know that different organizations had different ideas. As long as public works can make sure that the neighborhood associations are, you know, if there's a group like we love language that wants to come in and activate a street, it just needs to be done with the associations that are there and the residents that live on that block. Definitely. My office has supported putting together an item that would bring more funding to activate some of those streets. We've held off on that because of COVID. So I think this is a very great first start and. Appreciate all the input that everybody's had. So with that, I say we vote.
Speaker 0: Thank you. There's no public comment. Please go ahead and call the roll call.
Speaker 1: District one, district two I. District three i. District four.
Speaker 3: I.
Speaker 1: District five. I. District six.
Speaker 3: High.
Speaker 1: District seven.
Speaker 3: I.
Speaker 1: District eight.
Speaker 3: I.
Speaker 1: District nine.
Speaker 3: All right.
Speaker 1: Ocean carries.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Madam Court. That concludes I'm 21. To item 14, please. Next.
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to approve intermittent closure of certain non-arterial, neighborhood streets, as identified, to through vehicular traffic for increased outdoor activities, and a stronger economic recovery, all while maintaining appropriate physical distancing and adherence to the current Safer at Home Health Order; and

Authorize City Traffic Engineer to review and adjust identified neighborhood street boundaries and closure hours, as necessary.  (Citywide)