Speaker 0: Ocean is scared.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Next, we have item 18.
Speaker 0: Communication from Councilwoman in the House, Councilwoman Allen Councilmember Your Honor. Vice Mayor Richardson recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Economic Development Department to create a fresh Start Long Beach program to lessen the financial burden on Long Beach business owners most impacted by COVID 19 restrictions.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilwoman. And they are.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Vice Mayor, and thank you so much for signing on to this item along with Councilwoman Allen and Councilmember Mutunga. As you know, our businesses have been stricken so hard during this last year and a half and it's just been devastating for some of our business. So as I know, it's been really hard for us to see so many businesses have to close. And it saddens me to see that all the hard work that was put in by our business owners just be, you know. Be so hard on them that they have to close due to financial hardships that came with the pandemic. Our local businesses help us thrive, and it is so important to me to be able to continue strengthening our partnerships with our local business owners and to make sure that they know that their city cares and that we truly want to see them succeed. This item offers us an opportunity to provide additional support to residents and businesses who have felt that they were left behind. This program would help those most impacted by the pandemic to receive a fresh start and work with the existing programs and maybe see in which ways we can help them to perhaps restart their business. So I'm really, really thankful to everyone that signed on to this item and I hope that I get support from the council. Thank you.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you. And at the second year of this motion, I'm happy to chime in and support. I think it's a very thoughtful item. We have the resources and recovery plan. And the fact is some businesses are not eligible to apply because they went out of business during the pandemic. And we have to be thoughtful about how we react to that and respond to that and ensure that, you know, if you've been a longstanding business, you've been contributing and during the pandemic, you took a loss. Let's get you back. Let's get you back started and help you navigate our own system and make sure that you're benefiting from the resources in the plan that we already put forward. So I think it's a thoughtful item and I'm happy to support it. Councilwoman Allen.
Speaker 0: Yes. I thank you, vice mayor. Thank you, Councilman, than they have for bringing for bringing this forward. I agree. It was just a very thoughtful, thoughtful item. Many business owners, as we all know, are terribly impacted by COVID. And many businesses do not make it through COVID in no fault of their own. So supporting these folks to get back on their feet I think is important for an equitable recovery. So I look forward to seeing what staff comes back with on this item. Thank you.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman, often. Thank you. I do think this is a good item worthy of our attention and study. I did have a couple of quick questions because I recognize that there was some urgency on this item. There was no financial or fiscal review. Just wanted to hear from the city manager. Somebody over there to find out is or will we be able to do an assessment in terms of what this program could cost us or would cost? And do we have the resources? Yes. So we understand this could be a part of the programs that you've already approved for business support. We generally have criteria that say that those are for active businesses. That's what all of them have been in the past. We understand this would be to look at certain specific businesses that meet certain criteria that we would just take it out of that pot. So it would essentially be funded, it would just be added as additional criteria and of having a little bit less for other businesses. We would need to work with the city attorney to make sure that there's not a gift to public funds, that there's still a public purpose here, that we're helping, you know, a business that went out of business, maybe transition to a new business, something that creates public purpose, more sales tax, more jobs or something. And so that's what we would look to do. And then we would open that pot of money. And with those criteria, I thank you for that clarification and are I'm looking forward to supporting this. Thank you. Any public comment here? Okay. So, nonmembers, please cast your vote. Just one part. Most cars. Thank you. I remember 20. Recommendation to request city manager communicate the city of Long Beach in opposition to Senate Bill nine and Senate Bill ten to our state legislative delegation and governor's office.
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Economic Development Department to create a Fresh Start Long Beach Program that allows City Staff to allocate American Rescue Plan Act Funds to lessen the financial burden on Long Beach business owners who held valid Long Beach business licenses, were in good standing, were within those industries identified as the most impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, and who have not renewed that license due to closing the business as a direct result of COVID-19 hardships.