Mayor Robert Garcia
City of Long Beach
February 15, 2022
To: Members of the City Council
From: Mayor Robert Garcia
RECOMMENDATION:
To receive and approve Commission appointments to Non-Charter Commissions.
APPOINTMENTS
New Appointments
Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission Jodi Meade – First term through June 2024
Jodi Meade is a business owner in Council District 3. She, along with her partner Deb, opened Wine Beach on 2 nd Street in Belmont Shore this last December. Jodi is also leading Avison Young ’s naTonal specialty AutomoTve Proper Tes Group as their Principal and Na Tonal Director.
Jodi is part of the Na Tonal Auto Dealers Associa Ton (NADA), Women In AutomoTve (WIA) and the InternaTonal Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
Board of Examiners Appeals and CondemnaBon
Frank Esparza – First term through June 2024
Frank Esparza is a Council District 3 resident living in the Belmont Shore area. Frank is a re Tred Engineer from the Exxon Mobil, Torrance re finery where he coordinated various construcTon projects. Frank holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California.
Steve Askin – First term through June 2024
Steve Askin is a Council District 2 resident living in the Rose Park Neighborhood. Steve is the Founder and Managing Partner for Small World Strategy, a Public Interest Research firm. Steve is also the co-owner and operator of a small family-run residen Tal business with a 35-year record of providing high quality housing. Steve is a graduate of the School of Journalism at Columbia University and holds a Master’s in Business Administra Ton in Accoun Tng from Columbia Business School.
Board of Health and Human Services
562-570-6801 | [email protected] | @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802
R-8
REVISED
Dr. Lauren Walton – First term through June 2024
Dr. Lauren Walton is a Council District 3 resident. She works as an Addic Ton Psychiatrist and Chief of Services- AddicTon Medicine for the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and is the latest recipient of their Physician’s Choice Award- OutpaTent Physician. Dr. Walton holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences degree from the University of Ohio and a Doctorate in Medicine from Northeastern Ohio UniversiTes College of Medicine.
Abraam Girgis- First term through June 2024
Abraam Girgis is a Council District 3 resident. He is a DenTst and the owner of Heartwell Dental here in Long Beach. He has previously worked as an Associate DenTst for Lakewood Smiles and is a member of the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) of the American Heart Associa Ton.
Abraam holds a Baccalaureate of Science in General Biology from University of California, Irvine and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Marque ae University School of DenTstry in Michigan.
CiBzens’ Advisory Commission on DisabiliBes
Marissa Gonzalez – First term through June 2024
Marissa Gonzalez is a Council District 3 resident. Marissa was raised in the Alamitos Heights neighborhood and is now a resident of the Naples community. She grew up with monocular vision and recently lost most of her vision in her remaining eye. As a legally blind person, she looks forward to offering her perspecTve in assisTng the many efforts of the CiTzen’s Advisory Commission on DisabiliTes. Marissa is currently the Director of Special Events for the USC School of DramaTc Arts and is a founding Board member of World Eye Cancer Hope. Marissa holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Annenberg School of CommunicaTon and Journalism at USC.
Economic Development Commission
Robert Smith – First term through June 2026
Robert “Robb” Smith is a Council District 7 resident. Robert works as an O ffice Manager for Covenant Doors in Hawthorne and is a is the owner of Alley Cat Deliveries, a downtown local food and goods delivery business. Robert hopes to bring his experience in working with many local business owners towards efforts to strengthen the relaTonships between businesses, our community and the city.
Homeless Services Advisory CommiIee
Ray Morquecho – First term through June 2024
Ray Morquecho is a Council District 1 resident living in the Westend Gateway Neighborhood downtown. He is the CEO and Founder of Caliblu Surf School. Ray is looking forward to applying his interest in community service, experience and creaTvity to assist in supporTng the city’s homeless services efforts. Ray holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in PoliTcal Science from the University of California, Irvine.
Diego Castañeda– First term through June 2024
562-570-6801 | [email protected] | @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802
Diego Castañeda is a Council District 2 resident. Diego is a Personal Service Coordinator for Mental Health America, Los Angeles here in Long Beach where he manages treatment for adults with chronic mental illness. Diego is also a Spanish/English cerTfied court interpreter and was a Non-Medical Vaccine RegistraTon Volunteer with the Long Beach Medical Reserve Corps. Diego holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Occidental College and is currently in Master's program at California State University, Long Beach for Emergency Management.
Long Beach Transit Board of Directors
Raul Añorve – First term through December 2026
Raul Añorve is a Council District 9 resident. Raul works as a Paralegal for the Los Angeles City Aaorney’s Office, Safe Neighborhoods & Gang Division. He has been an ac Tve community member and volunteer previously serving on the CiTzens Police Complaint Commission, Grants Commiaee Panel for the Arts Council of Long Beach and Fellow with the Equality California Leadership Program. Raul is a rider of Long Beach Transit, inducted into the Equality Plaza at Harvey Milk Park, and a Leadership Long Beach graduate.
Senior CiBzens Advisory Commission
Carolyn ChrisHan Hines – First term through June 2024
Carolyn Hines is a Council District 1 resident. Carolyn lives in the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony at the edge of the downtown. She has been an avid volunteer and community leader who has served in a number of boards including: 100 Black Men, Girl Scouts of Greater Long Beach Area and the EOPS/CARE Advisory Board for El Camino College, among others. Carolyn is also an Adjunct Professor for the Los Angeles Community College District. She holds a Master’s in Mass CommunicaTon from UCLA, a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from California State University, Fullerton and is a graduate of Leadership Long Beach class of 1999.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Approve recommendaTon.
Respecnully submiaed,
Mayor Robert Garcia
February 11, 2022
562-570-6801 | [email protected] | @longbeachmayor
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802