Date: February 14, 2023
To: Members of the City Council
From: Mayor Rex Richardson
Subject: Council Committees
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve a new list of City Council Standing Committees and request the City Attorney draft a resolution reflecting the changes as approved by the City Council.
Discussion
The City Council has traditionally adopted a new list of City Council Standing Committees, Authorities and Memberships bi-annually. The most recent Council action was on January 12, 2021 and included Council standing committees for:
• Budget Oversight Committee
• Economic Development and Finance Committee
• Federal Legislation Committee
• State Legislation Committee
• Public Safety Committee
• Port, Transportation, and Infrastructure Committee
• Climate Action and Environmental Committee
• Housing and Public Health Committee
• Government, Personnel, and Elections Oversight Committee • I-710 Oversight Committee
• Charter Amendment Committee
• LBUSD Joint Use Committee
To promote equity, efficiency, and inclusion, an updated set of standing City Council Committees is being presented for consideration.
This new set:
● Retains 3 existing standing Council committee names and functions:
o Budget Oversight Committee
o Housing and Public Health Committee
o Public Safety Committee
R-12
REVISED
● Updatesthenames,androlesandresponsibilities,whilecombining2oftheother6 existingstandingCouncilcommitteesandaddingoneentirelynewcommittee,sothat6 StandingCouncilCommitteesremainandarenamedandfunctionasdescribed below:ThePorts,Transportation,andInfrastructureCommittee,whichhashistoricallyreviewedandprovidedinputintopoliciesimpactingoperationsandprojectslocatedintheTidelandsArea,policiesapplicabletothePortofLongBeach,theCity’sCapitalImprovementPlan(CIP),majorstreetandroadimprovements,andotherlargeinfrastructureprojects,willhenceforthbeknownastheMobility, Ports,andInfrastructureCommittee.Thiscommitteeshallcontinuetofunctionsimilarlyto the Ports,Transportation,andInfrastructureCommittee,withadditionalemphasison encouragingthe Council’s engagementwiththe LongBeachAirport,LongBeachTransit,thePortofLongBeach,L.A.Metroandafocusonimprovinglocaltransportationinfrastructure,walkability, andbikeabilityin theCity.TheClimateActionandEnvironmentalCommitteeshallhenceforthbeknownastheClimate,Environment,andCoastalProtectionCommittee.Thiscommitteewillcontinuetoberesponsibleforconsideringpolicychangesimpactingclimatechangeandenvironmentalmatters,andsupportingtheCity’stransitiontowardsclean energy and zero-emission standards.The Government,Personneland ElectionsOversightCommitteeshallbehenceforthknownastheGovernmentOperationsandEfficiencyCommittee.Thiscommitteewill continueto be responsiblefor consideringCity CharterCommissionappointments,namingrecommendations,andreviewingsmallersettlements to be entered into by the City.TheEconomicDevelopmentandFinanceCommitteeshallbehenceforthknownastheEconomicDevelopmentandOpportunityCommittee.Thiscommitteewillcontinueto beresponsibleforexploringpublicpolicypositionsandprovidingfeedbackandideastotheCityCouncilwithrespecttostrengtheningtheCity’staxbase,andopportunitiestoissuebonds,revenuesandfinancingtoencourageeconomicdevelopmentandexpandeconomicopportunityfor LongBeachresidents.TheStateLegislationCommitteeandtheFederalLegislationCommitteeswillbecombinedintoa singlecommitteethatshallbe henceforthknownas theIntergovernmentalAffairs Committee.Thiscommitteewill continueto beresponsibleformonitoringLosAngelesCounty, StateofCalifornia,andfederal
governmentlegislation’simpactsonLongBeach,aswellaspreparingStateandFederal Legislative agendas for the City.AnewcommitteeknownastheArts,Culture,andTourismCommitteeshallbeestablished.ThisnewcommitteewillbetaskedwithdevelopingpublicpolicypositionsandprovidingfeedbackandideastotheCityCounciltosupportandstrengthenLongBeach’s arts,culture,andtourismsector, withthegoalofattractingnewinvestment,bolsteringpublicart andentertainmentactivities,nurturingthe localartscommunity, andupliftingLongBeach’s richculturaldiversity. This new committeehas the potentialto ensurethat everyneighborhoodseesnew, innovativeartsandculturalactivitiesthatengageresidents in placemaking, healing, activism, and community building.
What results is a new set of 9 standing City Council committees, whereby each memberoftheCityCouncilshall:chaira standingcommittee,serveasvicechairofasecondstandingcommitteeandbea memberofa thirdstandingcommittee.Withthisformat,eachCityCouncilmembershallhavemembershiponthreestandingcommittees.Thenewlyproposed9 standingCityCouncilCommitteesarenamedbelow, withtheproposed updated responsibilities.
Budget Oversight CommitteeExplorepublicpolicypositionsandprovidefeedbackandideastotheCityCouncilforthe purposesof developinga budgetfor theupcomingfiscalyear, whichwillbepresented to the full City Council for consideration.
Mobility, Ports, and Infrastructure CommitteeProvideinputintopoliciesimpactingoperationsandprojectslocatedintheTidelandsArea,policiesapplicabletothePortofLongBeach,LongBeachTransit,L.A.Metro,andtheLongBeachAirport,andreviewtheCity’s CapitalImprovementPlan(CIP),majorstreetandroadimprovements,effortstoimprovewalkabilityandbikeabilityinthecity,as well as other large infrastructure projects.
Economic Development and Opportunity CommitteeExplore public policy positions and provide feedback and ideas to the City Council withrespect to strengthening the City’s tax base, and opportunities to issue bonds, revenuesandfinancingtoencourageeconomicdevelopmentandexpandeconomicopportunityfor Long Beach residents.
Intergovernmental Affairs CommitteeAnnually, provide policy direction for City Council consideration with respect to theupcomingyear’s federalandstatelegislativeagendas.ReviewtheCity’s progressonlegislative positions adopted by the City Council.
Public Safety CommitteeExplorepublicpolicypositionsforCityCouncilconsiderationwithrespectto publicsafety matters.
Climate, Environment, and Coastal Protection CommitteeExplorepublicpolicypositionsforCityCouncilconsiderationwithrespectto climatechangeadaptation,mattersimpactingtheCity’s naturalenvironment,airquality, andcoastline,andsupportingtheCity’s transitiontowardscleanenergyandzero-emissionstandards.
Housing and Public Health CommitteeExplorepublicpolicypositionsforCityCouncilconsiderationwithrespectto publichealth, housing and homelessness.
Government Operations and Efficiency CommitteeProvidepolicyreviewonmattersimpactingkeycitymatters,includingrecommendingthe namingof city buildingsand infrastructureand reviewingsmallerlitigationsettlements, as well as City Charter Committee appointments.
Arts, Culture, and Tourism CommitteeExplorepublicpolicypositionsforCityCouncilconsiderationregardingLongBeach’sartsandculturesectorandassociatedtourism,withthe goalof attractingnewinvestment,bolsteringpublicartandentertainmentactivities,nurturingthelocalartscommunity, and uplifting Long Beach’s rich cultural diversity.
Additionally, anupdatedsetof CouncilAuthoritiesandSpecialCommitteesis beingpresented for consideration.
This new set:
● Retains2 existingCouncilAuthoritiesandSpecialCommitteenamesandfunctions:o Charter Amendment Committeeo I-710 Oversight Committee ● Updates the name and function of 1 Special Committee:o LBUSDJoint Use Committeewill be renamedthe EducationalPartnershipsCommittee.ThisSpecialcommitteeshallcontinuetofunctionsimilarlytotheLBUSDJointUseCommittee,butwithafocusonbuildingpartnershipsliketheLongBeachHousingPromiseandCollegePromise,andexploringjointuseopportunitieswithlocaleducationalinstitutionsincludingLBUSD,LongBeachCity College,and CaliforniaStateUniversity, Long Beach.
Fiscal ImpactThere is no fiscal impact to this item.
Suggested ActionApprove recommendation.
Respectfully submitted,
Mayor Rex RichardsonFebruary 14, 2023