On November 3, 2020, the City of Long Beach will hold a Consolidated Municipal Election with the Los Angeles General Municipal Election at which voters will consider a ballot measure relating to the Long Beach Community Services General Purpose Oil Production Tax Increase Measure. To make sure there is adequate time for those interested in writing arguments for or against the measure, the Interest Form for Argument Writers is available today on the Office of the City Clerk webpage www.longbeach.gov/cityclerk/elections/ballot-measures/. All interest forms must be received by the City Clerk at 411 West Ocean Boulevard, Lobby Level, Window #12, Long Beach, CA 90802, no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2020.

The Mayor will announce his nominees for argument writers at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2020. The City Council will vote on those nominations at the City Council meeting on August 11, 2020. Arguments FOR or AGAINST the ballot measure are due to the City Clerk by Friday, August 14, 2020 at 4:30 p.m., while rebuttal arguments are due by Monday, August 24, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. Arguments must not exceed 300 words and rebuttal arguments must not exceed 250 words. For more information, please contact the Office of the City Clerk, at (562) 570-6101.

Councilman Red Richardson (on record weeks ago as supporting defunding/reducing LBPD funding) and Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce spoke critically about the amount of General Fund spending allocated to police.

When city staff indicated that LBPD accounts for about 50% of LB'a General Fund spending, Councilman Richardson asked City Manager Tom Modica by how much management's FY 21 budget proposes to reduce LBPD spending. Mr, Modica said the proposed FY21 reduction is about 5.2%, prompting Richardson to ask if the spending trend was increasing or decreasing. When Mr. Modica indicated the trend was increasing, Richardson responded that the trend had been continuing for some time and it was time to be talking about changing course.

Public testimony (four of twelve teleconferenced speakers) said the proposed reductions don't go far enough. One speaker said if the Council doesn't make further reductions, it might be time to go back into the streets; he called for cutting LBPD by 50%.

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No public speakers (individuals or groups) testified in opposition to the police reductions.

No Councilmembers mentioned 2009-2015 budget actions that erased roughly 20% of LB's police level (with 180 officers not restored despite the Measure A sales tax increase). And none noted that LB's current per capita police level for its taxpayers is significantly thinner than provided by City Councils in Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Signal Hill.

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Councilwoman Suzie Price indicated she would reserve most of her comments for budget presentations by specific departments, but said people need to feel safe, and while acknowledging the benefits of using civil investigators in certain matters, she said she plans to ask Police Chief Luna whether residents can expect the same level of service whether sworn or non-sworn.

Councilwoman Stacy Mungo said she'd like to see a list of the zip codes for police and fire priority calls (noting if low priority alls are civilianized she wouldn't want those areas left without resources if emergencies occur.)

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Councilman Al Austin took no position on the police reductions. He said the proposed budget offers a "different approach" on police and he's looking forward to engaging with the community to discuss innovative ways to provide services.

On Aug. 6 at 10:00 a.m., Councilman Austin will chair a meeting of the Council's Budget Oversight Committee (which includes Councilmembers Price and Uranga.)

The Aug. 6 Budget Oversight Committee agenda includes items to "receive and file presentation on the City Manager's Proposed FY 21 Budget" and to "receive and file the highlights in the Proposed FY 21 Budget as it relates to the Framework for Reconciliation" (an equity and racially focused document advanced by Councilman Richardson, coming to the full Council on Aug. 11.)

The full Council is also slated to conduct budget hearings on Police, Fire and Parks/Recreation during the Council's Aug. 11 meeting.

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