Speaker 0: Is there Nicholson here? Okay, now Nicholson is not here. Okay. And I called Mr. Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy, not here. Okay. Mr. Kennedy, I hear we're going to go ahead and here item madam. Quick item number eight.
Speaker 1: Item eight, say communication from Vice Mayor Richardson. Councilmember Pierce, Councilmember, your UNGA recommendation to request the city manager to explore the feasibility of establishing a farmers market ordinance that requires farmer's market in Long Beach to accept cow fresh electronic benefit transfer cards.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Vice Mayor Richardson.
Speaker 5: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The purpose of this recommendation is simple. We want to make sure as many residents as possible gain unfettered access to fresh fruit. Now we know because our health department, our heels on many of our initiatives in our city, have done this work for years, that there are barriers to accessing fresh fruits and vegetables . And farmer's markets have really been a they've been a a real they've done a lot of good work in making sure that we've we actually have these have access to these in our community. We worked for a number of years on a number of different farmer's markets in North Palm Beach. And it was frankly, it was different, difficult to navigate in terms of getting them established, making sure that they're sustainable, making sure it's easy to engage with the city. We've done mobile food stands. We've done a number of different activities. And we've noticed that some cities have taken some steps, like making sure that you deal with one point of contact and like sort of one expert, a farmer's market expert in our city that helps you to navigate those those permits that are across multiple departments. It didn't cost any money. It was a matter of just sort of realigning how we engage. So what we want to do here is we want to explore two things. We have a farmer's market in our city. We want to we want to explore the feasibility of making sure that you do accept the Cal Fresh program. Cal Fresh has accepted in a number of our farmers markets and having a policy that ensures access to all of them, or at least those are located on city property makes sense to me and can further ensure that our residents do have that access to fresh fruit and vegetables. Now there is a perception that applying to accept and implement Cal. Cal Fresh can be confusing and difficult. So I want to make sure that this feasibility study looks into looks into this perception. And if it does seem to be true that it's, you know, unfeasible. Then we look at ways to ensure that the city can assist these farmer's markets in ways to make this reality. So this is a good thing. This isn't intended to be a burden on an existing farmer's market. The point here is we want to make sure that we do assist these farmer's markets because, you know, the outreach we've done, these folks, they want to achieve it, but they've they've run into, you know, different issues here, there. So this is an opportunity for us to take another look at these barriers, get some expertize in terms of someone locally, internally that can help them navigate this and see how we can make sure that we look at these permits, license fees, any other barriers to establishing markets and to having our own sort of ombudsman as well as access to the Cal Fish program. And the hope is that we explore this. We come back within the next 60 days. What I'd like to see is, hey, these are what the burdens are that we've heard of, and this is where we think we can be. We don't want this to be a punitive process. These are these are typically good minded folks. These these individuals do farmers markets. We want to just make sure that we're sending the right message to the whole community. And, you know, other cities are starting to navigate some of the same stuff, that this is an opportunity for us to also be aligned with other cities that are taking taking these steps. So that's the gist of this. So this is my motion. And thank you, Councilman you, Ranga, for your second.
Speaker 0: Councilmember, your ranga.
Speaker 4: Thank you, Vice Mayor Richardson, for bringing this forward and for inviting me to participate in this and this issue. I think it's very important that we expand the opportunity for farmer's markets to get out there, and I hope that this does precisely that, as well as providing an additional option for people with cards to purchase some fresh fruit and vegetables. So I totally support this this this item. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Councilman Price.
Speaker 7: Thank you. To support this item, I think it's a really fantastic concept and I'm happy that we're requesting a feasibility study because there be a couple of components that hopefully would be included in the study. And I'm hoping that the maker of the motion and the authors of this item are supportive of a study that would include a couple of things. The first is, you know, having a liaison, farmers market liaison or ombudsmen, as Vice Mayor Richardson mentioned, is a good idea. But I would really caution us to explore and think outside the box about who that person could be like. Could it be an existing staff member that we have or a management assistant or even an intern who wants to later work with the city that might be able to take on a program like that so that we're not, you know, spending money on another position, especially with I don't know that a new position would be warranted for just this responsibility, but I just want to be mindful of that. And then the second would be, I would hope that the feasibility study would include things such as maybe doing a pilot in certain areas, because I'm assuming there would be some costs associated with purchasing the card reader or having a staff member or volunteer work the station where the card reader is. So hopefully the feasibility study would look at what that kind of a cost would be, whether people can opt in and out based on demand at their market, so that, as Vice Mayor Richardson said, we're not placing a burden because I don't view this item as intending to place an additional burden. So I support it. And hopefully Vice Mayor Richardson and the authors are agreeable with the feasibility study being broad enough to include those two topics.
Speaker 5: Thank you. I just want to respond. So I'm good, but I do want to say something every time we want to do something for for people who are in need, we always claim fiscal problems there. There was nothing in this motion that says hire anybody. We had help people in our health department. And I just want to be clear, make a statement here. We have people in our health department. We're just asking them to take a look at the best way to do this. So I don't want to make it seem like we have to be creative or don't spend a dollar that's not in this motion. We want I mean, we have we have capable staff here. We have management assistance. We have all these individuals. And if there are concerns, I would hope that we don't muck up this by saying, hey, this isn't really important, therefore let's make sure we don't spend any money on this. That's not the message I want to send here. We've done this a number of times where we explore different things and our staff is creative and able to figure it out. So I do want to be clear this is important. Access to fresh fruits and vegetables is important, and they will do their diligence, city staff on the feasibility and report back. And in terms of the other the other recommendation in terms of pilot, I don't support a pilot. I think we should there's only a number of farmer's markets in our city and some that are in the process. I think we should talk to those ten different individuals. It's not that many and see if this is feasible. So, no, I think no matter where you live, we should be trying to provide access, not about a pilot. We throw out an idea about a pilot, about ARVs. No. After having those conversations and sort of we came to a place that, you know, the whole city deserves this. So I would not be open to a pilot. I think we need to have this conversation. It comes back and it's not feasible. Then we'll address it. Those are my positions on that.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzales.
Speaker 7: Yes. I'd like to thank Vice Mayor Richardson and Council Member Saranga for being bringing this forward. I think it's a great item. I would agree to that. We need to keep something more longstanding and sustainable in the city of Long Beach. I know that some farmers markets do already accept MBT, which is fantastic. If we can look into this a bit further, it would be great. I would add one thing, though, if you would be up for this tiny, friendly amendment, but it would just be, and I'm sure you've already thought of it. Just knowing you is outreach to and trying to create better outreach to Cal State, Long Beach students and Long Beach City College students. I think all of us know the statistics are about one in five of every CSU or college student is suffering from lack of healthy, good, healthy food. And so I think if we bolster that program a bit and I know Cal State Long Beach is already doing this to some extent, it would be good to highlight that if we do get something in place.
Speaker 3: Absolutely. Okay. Thank you.
Speaker 2: Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Austin.
Speaker 8: Thank you. I'm going to be supporting this item because I think it makes good sense. And I would just ask that, you know, the we may not always agree 100%, but a disagreement. And I welcome the input from all of my colleagues. I have a couple of farmers markets in my district. I've always been very supportive of them. I will continue to do so. I will recommend the staff go and talk to the folks at the government leaders who've implemented CBT at the farmers market like three years ago. So this is not anything new. Other farmers markets actually do already recognize MBT And, you know, it's just a process, I think, working with the county to get a system in place to coordinate that. And so I'll be supportive of this and invite you guys to visit the Uptown Farmers Market every Thursday, 6 p.m..
Speaker 0: Thank you. Councilman Price.
Speaker 7: Thank you. And I just want to clarify, I wasn't trying to, quote, make up any item. I think it's a great item. So I said that before I'm and I repeat it because I think maybe that was lost on me just asking a few questions. Sometimes when we support one another's comments, we also ask tough questions or we ask questions that are interesting to our constituents. So in this particular case, we did reach out to our farmers market. And the only thing they said was, could the report include the possibility of, you know, would there be any costs associated with a card reader and a staff member to man, that particular man or woman, that particular station? And if so, then could the farmer's market have the opportunity to determine whether or not they have a customer base for T readers? So that's all I was trying to say. I really wasn't trying to be negative about the item or say anything other than it's completely 1,000% fantastic. I was just asking a few questions and even if there were a fee associated with it, I'm not saying let's not do it. I'm just saying like like I said and then you repeated management assistance people in the in the current city. Those are opportunities for us to actually give people an experience in running a program like this, which would be a really great experience. So that's all I was trying to say. I just want to clarify, you know, just because we ask a question about a council's item and ask it in a particular I mean, I've seen really harsh questions be asked preceding someone voting in favor of an item. It's not personal and the item is fantastic. Let me repeat that. The item is fantastic. I just want to make sure the report is broad. Thank you.
Speaker 5: Thank you. I'll just I'll just say thank you for your clarification. It wasn't really directed at you. I'm just careful with the message that we send to some of our more vulnerable neighborhoods. I don't want them to think any time there's an idea to help support them, that it always we always sort of go to this place of, you know, fiscally it's difficult to achieve. So unfortunately, it came out this way, but it is something I have noticed moving, you know, when we take on issues like this. So but I'm happy we were able to land how we land. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Public comment. Please come forward.
Speaker 3: Hi. My name is Kate Sarnoff. I live in the third district and my family goes to two farmers markets every single week and we love it. And even though I am very, very privileged to live in a high income neighborhood and run into a lot of well-heeled people at those two farmers markets, I would love to see people of all stripes and incomes at that farmer's market and to be attracted to those farmers markets because they know that there is a beauty there. And I am also here representing the Long Beach Alliance for Food and Fitness, which is working towards reducing diabetes and other diseases and conditions related to obesity here in Long Beach. We know that we have very high obesity rates, very high diabetes rates, and we are working on policies to reduce that. This is.
Speaker 7: One of those.
Speaker 3: Policies that could help because people don't have most people my family accepted don't have the access to fresh fruits and vegetables that that they deserve to have. My understanding is that the vast majority, perhaps eight out of.
Speaker 7: Ten, nine out of 11.
Speaker 3: Of the farmer's markets in Long Beach already have this up and running and have for a long time. And it's no big deal. Right. So I don't think that we need a pilot because we have those experiences to go from. I can also say that Long Beach Alliance for Food and Fitness reached out to one of those farmer's markets that does have a diverse customer base, that does not have the beauty in place and offered to help them and were we did not get a response on that. And that's part of why we very much support this effort to just have an across the board policy. If we're going to be having more farmers markets that come.
Speaker 7: On board, well, they'll have a heads up already. But this is something that needs to go into their business plan.
Speaker 3: So I don't think it's rocket science. I'm sure that our our current staff could could handle it. And I'm very excited to see us take a clear position on it and support low income people who need fresh produce. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Next speaker, please.
Speaker 4: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, and members of City Council. My name is Tony Demeaco and I am co-director of Long Beach Fresh. We work as a local Food Policy Council. I'm also a member of the executive committee of the Long Beach Alliance for Food and Fitness. So we have been part of these conversations and very interested in finding creative ways to support farmers markets. And, you know, there's a couple of challenges that are very consistent with farmers markets. One is that it is actually, contrary to popular belief, quite difficult and cumbersome to acquire EBT status. You know, there's a federal process, but there is also the kind of complicated process of trying to choose a third party processor. As you may know, these processors are often banks and they operate at a profit. And, you know, they market their services quite heavily. And there are kind of multiple ever levels or tiers of fees that they charge from per transaction fees to ATM machine fees. And there have been federal grants that have sought to make the machines free. But those grants from folks we've talked to are often the money's dried up by the time you apply for it. So there are real barriers with actually getting there with elite status, and we definitely hope the study would look at that as well as the broader challenges to opening a farmer's market. I think then we can best help and I know this is something that Los Angeles recently passed, and I think they had sufficient ideas in place to better support the markets. And I think there are a lot of things the city could do, potentially even looking at ways that the city could actually vet the third party processors, you know, to maybe get better deals with them for the local farmers market. So we're just a few ideas from the conversations we've had, but I know a lot of our smaller vendors and you know, I know that farm stands probably wouldn't fall into it, but those are a lot of the folks we've talked to, like the folks that growing experience Farm or Lincoln Spring Farm stand. And it's been very difficult for them to get there, even though they've been working on it for quite some time. So thank you to the member or Vice Mayor Richardson for bringing this forward. We think it's a great thing and we just hope the study will be brought into a little bit so we can better address the challenges of getting it status. And just I guess one last thing to mention is that the markets that we found have been most successful with the VTR, the ones that fall under the in like high poverty areas. But that's primarily because they're able to take advantage of market match, which is a statewide program that we worked for a couple of years with this statewide Food Policy Council to get the state to commit $5 million of funding to and receive federal matching grants. So this program is exceptional and really helps to counter the notion that farmer's markets are too expensive because it doubles people's purchasing power. And currently, I think all of the markets that are eligible for this program in Long Beach are utilizing it and are very successful. So that's something to look at as well. That would boost CBT benefits quite a bit for those who need it the most. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you. And the other speakers, Mr. Goodhue. Very good to clear as the address. My experience with farmers markets began with the when they disingenuous operator the one that operates the what's essentially a de facto arts and craft market in the Long Beach slipped it in as a farmers market and misrepresented the fact that while this was going to be a home a a part of, the proceeds will go to the Alamitos Heights Homeowners Association. And the first thing we heard was the president of the association said they could not associate with that because of and this began my education a true farmers market. Which I seriously doubt we have in this city. I think the majority and we have our arts and craft markets. A true farmers market is regulated by the federal government. The intent was and the intent is today to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to areas of a city or a county or a country or area that does not have a Ralphs, that does not have a lawn, that does not have a food for last, that does not have a smart and final period. You go down there now and in the the one weekly at the end that they snuck into the Marine Stadium. It is. They've got liquor. T-shirts. Everything you find out at the checkouts stand at the 99 cent store. Very little that would qualify. I think they have some. But you go down there and check it yourself. Next week I've got two pictures of an I'll show there. They are not. They are, in fact. And what you need to understand are really what I say. Arts and craft, market spirit. Now. In addition to that, they are an attraction for these. They come down and scope out the neighborhood. I think I related a couple of years ago about the conversation I heard with two guys coming down in the blue line about the one in North Long Beach. And they were telling how you know where to go during that and the shops and the residents to go because everybody's down there and so forth. So I would suggest you really get inside of it and figure it out, because what you're actually also doing is inherently reducing or intensifying the propensity of a Ralphs or a local food market to pull up stakes. I don't know how most of you are really, pal people. All right. They operate on very thin and thin margins. And when you suck out a little every little bit, it, you know, takes its toll period. So I would suggest that you do your study and go around for yourselves and check how much your arts and crap and how much of your actually true vegetables and fruits certified by the government is the type that they intend to destroy and distribute. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please.
Speaker 8: Robb report from black votes matter. Okay, this is a good thing. I agree with it because everybody needs vegetables and all that. You know, it's easy to do something like this because everybody's going to be on the beat and they're going to stay on the beat. With these policies, we need more policies as something that can really put something in people's pockets like that airport that left that could have brought jobs, but it didn't. Okay. Like dealing with a legal situation, like not making this a sanctuary city. If you wouldn't have done all that and everybody voted on that, then that would have been many more dollars freed up, which I happen to know. You support a lot of these groups with. Or or Karl Marx is over there. You know that she should have willed her out. The a wheelbarrow shouldn't even allow her to sit there, you know. Anyway, so we're going to need a beat, you know, because there's a lot of homeless people, veterans. As I walk through, I see them sleeping right by the library and know piss on the ground. And I remember, what, about three months ago, there was a $25 million bus be for the homeless. I want to run and ask money. Nobody heard about nothing. They knew. I told them about nothing. Then we just passed something else for the homeless. Some always pass for the homeless. But don't. Nothing change, you know. So that's a good thing because they're all on the beat. And I talk to a lot of them. A lot of these homeless living in the canal got degrees on this meth and heroin, you know? So we really need to do something about that. That's a good thing. But let's change these policies. Listen, I was coming just hard and I'm not going to just keep coming because we need I'm serious. We need to do stuff, and I'm gonna come hard and certain things. But come on, now, all this. 809. No, listen, let's get some good stuff and not just be going one way and let's really do something, you know? And Donald Trump is the man. Remember that? He's the man. He was the man before he became president. He's really the man now. Don't mess with Trump. You get Trump out.
Speaker 0: All right. Thank you. Seeing no other public comment, we have a motion in a second on the floor.
Speaker 8: Where did the airport. Poor girl.
Speaker 0: Still here. There's a there's a motion any second on the floor by Vice Mayor Richardson and members. Please go ahead and cast your vote.
Speaker 1: Motion carries.
Recommendation to request City Manager to explore the feasibility of establishing a farmers market ordinance that requires farmers markets in Long Beach to accept CalFresh Electronic Benefit Transfer cards; and 

Recommendation to review a reduction of permit fees, license fees, and any other barriers to establishing farmers markets in Long Beach, and report back to City Council in 60 days.