Speaker 1: So item 21.
Speaker 3: Item 21 Communication from Mayor Robert Garcia. Recommendation to update the Los Angeles River Link plan for the City of Long Beach and to work with the L.A. River Revitalization Corporation and other regional partners to improve and enhance the entirety of the Los Angeles River and surrounding areas.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Well, let me begin by making some some comments. I think there's been a lot of conversation in both the media and in the community about the Los Angeles River and the impact, obviously, it has on all the cities it goes and travels through. But also on the real focus that has been coming from the city of Los Angeles and from other cities on really doing restoration and a relook at the Los Angeles River. We did as a as a city, we did our last major update to our river like Los Angeles River Master Plan back in 2007. Since 2007, there there's been a lot of work that has gone into upgrading projects up and along the Los Angeles River. And these projects include some great projects. When it comes to our wetlands and the de force wetlands in North Long Beach. Other projects, including the Drake Park expansion project here closer to to the south and a variety of smaller park projects that need to be incorporated into the master plan. As as we all know right now, the L.A. River Restoration Corporation is taking the lead effort, along with the city of Los Angeles, in going to the Army Corps and a bunch of other organizations and putting together a master river project for the entire, really, county and region. As we all know, while the river most of the river is in Los Angeles, here in Long Beach, we actually and the river ends in our city. And we see a lot of both the benefit and the damage that is done by storm runoff and trash and litter that goes onto our beaches and into our harbor. What's incredibly exciting is a few months ago, I had a chance to meet with architect Frank Gehry, who is probably the most well-known living architect currently alive, one of the most well-respected across across the world. And he has been in a partnership with the with the new in a new partnership with the L.A. River Corporation in trying to masterplan the entirety of the river. And so it's important for us to take this next step to redevelop our master plan and to work with the current structure to do something really fantastic for Long Beach. And so I think there's I talked about this in my state of the city. I've been talking about this for for many years, was on the council, so of others on the council. We really need to update this master plan and begin working with Mr. Gehry, his team, as well as the L.A. River Court. This is going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to reimagine and have this world class architect and visionary as part of our our river project. And so with that, that is the motion on the floor. There's been a motion and is second. I'll begin. Councilman Richardson, do you have any comments?
Speaker 2: Sure. I think you hit the nail on the head, Mr. Mayor. I think it's really timely that we capitalize on the synergies that we already have with things like the projects you mentioned with the Forest Wetlands Restoration, the Drake Drake Chavez expansion. And and I think is really also an opportunity to really think about all of those areas adjacent to the L.A. River, like to see see right away the 710 expansion that's going to take place very soon. So it's an opportunity for us to really think broadly about how we activate that whole space, to really expand open space opportunities and create create a more inviting and holistic approach to to that corridor that really divides the west portion of our city. So thank you so much. And obviously I'll be in support.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilman Turanga.
Speaker 4: Thank you. As a member of the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, we've been talking quite a bit about the river and some of the improvements that are taking place upriver. Some of it has been returned to wetlands. That has been very successful in creating more recreational opportunities for the citizens of that area. So looking forward to our new plan here and hopefully that we can create some additional recreation opportunities here in Long Beach.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Councilman Austin.
Speaker 6: Thank you. I think this does present a great opportunity, obviously, with other cities like Los Angeles moving forward to do this. It makes a lot of sense for us to be looking at it as well. I don't think we should leave out or not consider this, that all of the cities in between, which I think are critical to to making any sort of Los Angeles River link plan work. I know we'll be definitely looking at this and have been looking at prioritizing through the Gateway Cities Council of Governments in many of those cities or within the Gateway cities. And so I'll be working hard to build partnerships along the way. And I know that there are state legislation proposed by Assembly member Anthony Rendon that seeks to kind of bring people together to to develop that synergy and a plan around the Los Angeles River. And I think we should give that a serious look as well, showing that Long Beach has a has a significant voice in that process. I do have some concerns with this because it doesn't speak to the fiscal impact. And I know we are considering our F 16 budget. How would this be paid for? Have we identify potential funding? And I'm not not so ambitious to look at funding the entire project, but but I'm a study and looking at this is going to require some sort of commitment from from from this council. Is is this motion to have the city manager come back at some point for a vote for the council to appropriate funds or what?
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that the this is obviously just focus on the update to the master plan is what the item is for. The idea is first and foremost, there are some pretty great grant opportunities out there right now to do some of this work. And so I think we want to make sure that the council moves in the direction of being supportive of the of the update. And from there, we're going to begin by looking at some grant opportunities through the RAMSI and in other agencies as well.
Speaker 6: Okay. Well, I'm prepared to support this. I just want to make sure that we're not blindly going into something where we are appropriating a significant amount of resources.
Speaker 1: And if if there's a if there's obviously a a resource that we have to end up spending in the future that would come back to council.
Speaker 6: So thank you.
Speaker 1: Councilman Gonzales.
Speaker 0: I just want to thank you, Mayor, for your leadership on this. I know this has been a talk. We've been talking about this for some time. And so I'll reiterate a lot of what my council colleagues said. But it is certainly will be a place for recreation, hopefully a place for sustainability. And of course, I'll also mention adjacent support to the western half of our city, like Drake Chavez and Shoemaker, which I know our city staff has been working very hard on and providing updates. And so I think all of that will be a perfect marriage for for this. And so I just look forward to seeing how this progresses. And I thank you.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilman Andrews.
Speaker 7: Yes, thank you. Thank you, Mayor. You know, I agree with the mayor on this plan because I think we definitely need the update on it. And I have seen a great change in L.A. complete completely. And it would be nice to, you know, enhance these along our river banks because especially if it included diversions or that our rivers could be even cleaner. So it helps the beaches out also. So I really definitely agree with you, Mayor.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Is there any public comment on the item? Seeing none. And before we vote, just another point. And so all the mayors of all the upstream cities are actually having conversations about this right now. And so they absolutely are a part of it and are excited about about this next step. Please cast your vote.
Speaker 3: Motion passes eight zero.
Speaker 1: Thank you. We're going to do because we have some of the students here. We're going to quickly go to item 23 so that we can be respectful of their their time. So we can read number 23.
Recommendation to request City Manager to update the Los Angeles River Link Plan for the City of Long Beach and present a new updated plan to the City Council, and request City Manager to work with the LA River Revitalization Corporation and other regional partners to coordinate efforts to improve and enhance the entirety of the Los Angeles River and surrounding areas.