MEETING: WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD
Susana Arredondo
Executive Officer, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
Arredondo, who officially starts her position May 2, earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from UC San Diego and a master’s in environmental management from Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment. The lifelong resident of San Ysidro, a community located three miles from the U.S./Mexico border, traces her interest in water issues to early exposur e to chronic pollution problems in the Tijuana River Estuar y. Arredondo most recently worked for the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, a wastewater facility in northern coastal San Diego County that uses an advanced purification process to treat and recycl e water for irrigation purposes. Her responsibilities included ensuring compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Ocean Outfall permit, the state directive for per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) outfall testing, and the plume tracking field and model analysis of discharges from the Escondido and San Elijo ocean outfalls.
Key Items for Discussion
• LB Utilities has a long history of successfully preventing sanitary sewer overflows and is committed to continuous improvement of policies and procedures. • The City is responsible for monitoring and sampling water quality in LB when there is a sewage spill
• The California Water Code dictates which account receives penalties approved by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB). When there are no viable responsible parties available to undertake cleanup or abatement work related to sewage spills, penalties are commonly paid to the State Water Resources Control Board’s Cleanup and Abatement Account
Requests:
• Prioritize local communities like LB who are directly impacted by upstream sewage spills for Cleanup and Abatement Account funding
• Need additional support for regional infrastructure improvements to prevent upstream sewage system overflows that impact LB
• We support legislative efforts that would invest more of the penalties deposited in the Cleanup and Abatement Account to regional boards
MEETING: ASSEMBLYMEMBER CHRISTOPHER WARD
Assemblymember Christopher Ward
Chair, Housing and Community Development Committee
Assemblymember Chris Ward was first elected in 2020, and re-elected in 2022 to serve the 78th Assembly District representing San Diego and El Cajon. He currently serves as Chair of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee, as well as the Select Committee on Biotechnology. He is also currently serving as the Assembly designee on the California State Coastal Conservancy and Vice Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
Assemblymember Ward focuses his legislative efforts on housing, homelessness, climate, state budget and water supply issues, while balancing other key priorities concerning constituents.
Key Items for Discussion
• Housing: The City has built 5,700 affordable and special needs housing units built in the last five years, and $3.8B in housing investments and development o The City’s Housing Element certified and received Comprehensive Plan Award of Excellence from the American Planning Association
o Achieved a Pro-Housing Designation from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for the City’s commitment to policies and practices that remove barriers to housing production
• Homelessness: On January 10, 2023, the Long Beach City Council proclaimed a state of emergency for homelessness in Long Beach
o Findings of the 2023 Homeless Point in Time Count reveal that Long Beach identified 3,447 people experiencing homelessness in January 2023, which represents a 4.6% increase from last year
o The proclamation of a local homelessness emergency in Long Beach allowed the City to reduce the time entitled to an affordable housing project to 60 days from 6 -12 months pre-pandemic
o Since the emergency declaration, we have enrolled nearly 600 people in perman ent housing programs and nearly 2,000 people in interim housing programs
Requests:
• Additional State resources to advance the development of affordable housing • Expand state efforts to incentivize and produce affordable housing and shelter in the Gateway Cities region—advancing a regional approach in areas that have not built sufficient housing
• Make distribution of State homeless funding more equitable through the Homeless, Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program
MEETING: ASSEMBLYMEMBER BUFFY WICKS
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
Chair, Assembly Appropriations Committee
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks represents the East Bay in the California State Assembly. Assemblymember Wicks was recently appointed Chair of the Appropriations Committee, after serving as Chair of the Assembly Housing Committee for two years prior. Her work focuses heavily on advancing solutions to solve California's housing and homelessness crisis, expand ing our state’s social safety net, protecting kids in the digital world, and championing the rights of women and working families . A lifelong community organizer, Asm. Wicks previously served on both of President Barack Obama’s campaigns and worked for him in the White House.
Key Items for Discussion
• AB 1657 (Wicks): A proposal to put a $10B bond measure on the ballot to support State affordable housing development grant programs
• Housing: The City has built 5,700 affordable and special needs housing units built in the last five years, and $3.8B in housing investments and development o The City’s Housing Element certified and received Comprehensive Plan Award of Excellence from the American Planning Association
o Achieved a Pro -Housing Designation from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for the City’s commitment to policies and practices that remove barriers to housing production
• Homelessness: On January 10, 2023, the Long Beach City Council proclaimed a state of emergency for homelessness in Long Beach
o Findings of the 2023 Homeless Point in Time Count reveal that Long Beach identified 3,447 people experiencing homelessness in January 2023, which represents a 4.6% increase from last year
o The proclamation of a local h omelessness emergency in Long Beach allowed the City to reduce the time entitled to an affordable housing project to 60 days from 6 -12 months pre-pandemic
o Since the emergency declaration, we have enrolled nearly 600 people in permanent housing programs and nearly 2,000 people in interim housing programs
Requests:
• Additional State resources to advance the development of affordable housing (the City supported AB 1657)
• Expand state efforts to incentivize and produce affordable housing and shelter in the Gateway Cities region—advancing a regional approach in areas that have not built sufficient housing
• Make distribution of State homeless funding more equitable through the Homeless, Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program
MEETING: CALTRANS
Caltrans Staff
Executive Office- Monica Benavides, Chief Deputy District Director Jeff Newman, Chief of Staff
Tasha Higgins, LA28 District Liaison
Program & Project Management- Kelly Lamare, Acting Deputy District Director Osama Megalla, Chief, Office of Project Management
Transportation Planning- Marlon Regisford, Deputy District Director
External Affairs- Blanca Rodriguez, Deputy District Director Maria Raptis, Manager, Office of Governmental Affairs
Shane Weaver, Governmental Affairs Liaison
Key Items for Discussion
• On August 1, 2023, the City unveiled investment plans totaling $758 million, with $188 million allocated over the next four years for Olympic priority projects under the Elevate ‘28 plan • The proposed plan includes new funding to prepare the City to be a showcase for the world during the 2028 Olympics
• The Elevate '28 Infrastructure Investment Plan combines the approved Measure A Five-Year Infrastructure p lan approved in FY23 along with the three new categories: 2028 Olympic Legacy, Community & Cultural Investments, and Gold Medal Park Refresh projects. o 64 new projects to elevate the city to the international stage o 6 Olympic sports in Long Beach
o $40 million of Measure A for 2028 Olympic Legacy projects • The Shoreline Drive Realignment and Shoemaker Bridge Replacement projects will replace existing, outdated roadway facilities and construct an iconic bridge that serves as a gateway for Long Beach and the Southern California region.
o The remaining need for Shoreline Drive Realignment is $40 million (final design 2024) o The total estimated cost of the Shoemaker Project is $900 million (30% design) • These projects will provide necessary improvements to safety, operations, and connectivity and will add 5.5 acres of usable park space and improve local connectivity
Requests:
• Support policies, legislation, and funding for the implementation of the Elevate ‘28 Infrastructure Investment Plan to revitalize the City’s infrastructure in preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games
• State support to fund the Shoreline Drive Realignment and Shoemaker Bridge Replacement Projects
• How can we get Caltrans to prioritize these projects for state and federal funding advocacy? MEETING: STATE LANDS COMMISSION
Jennifer Lucchesi
Executive Officer, State Lands Commission
Jennifer Lucchesi, Executive Officer of the State Lands Commission, has worked for the Commission since November 1999. The Commission appointed Jennifer as its Executive Officer in December 2012. Jennifer graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Jennifer began her career at the Commissi on as a land agent in the Land Management Division, primarily working with ports and harbor districts on waterfront redevelopment efforts. While working in the Land Management Division, Jennifer attended evening classes at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. Jennifer began her legal career at the Commission in 2006 after earning her Juris Doctor from the McGeorge School of Law.
Key Items for Discussion
• Long Beach is a leader in preparing for climate change and has established an Office of Climate Action in the City Manager’s Office to manage implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan • Top priority climate action projects include facility resilience to ensure City and public facilities are resilient to climate change impacts, as well as funding for key emissions reductions including the transition away from oil production and reliance on combustion vehicles • Grow Long Beach is a strategy to increase local revenues and ca talyze economic growth to prepare for the transition from fossil fuel production
• State investment in oil well abandonment in the Tidelands. The State needs to save approximately $700 million to meet their abandonment liability, and the City has to save around $81 million.
Requests:
• What is SLC’s perspective of Senator Gonzalez’s proposal to increase state investment in abandonment liability (SB 1425)? Can SLC support and advocate for this proposal? • State resources for the City to help cover abandonment costs to support the transition from fossil fuel production and additional revenue streams for the Grow Long Beach framework
MEETING: CARB BOARD MEMBER, DEAN FLOREZ
Dean Florez
CARB Board Member
A Central Valley native and a descendant of farm workers, Dean Florez has long advocated for important issues and for his community, including combating climate change, crafting policies to clean California’s air, and fighting for overtime pay and better working conditions for farm laborers.
Dean served in the California Assembly from 1998-2002, and then he was a member of th e California Senate from 2002 -2010. He was the first Latino Senator in the history of the Central Valley and rose to Senate Majority Leader. Dean has advocated for not only cleaning up the air and being tough on polluters, but also giving some of the most vulnerable environmental justice communities a seat at the table to make decisions about how to best fight climate change and clean the air. Dean is a graduate of Harvard Business School and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from UCLA, where he served as student body president.
Key Items for Discussion
• Through the West Side Promise, the City has launched a 10 -year community investment plan to coordinate economic development and climate mitigation efforts in West Long Beach, an area that has historically faced unique environmental challenges and adverse health impacts • With the newly established Office of Climate Action and Sustainability (OCAS), the City is now organized to centrally coordinate interdepartmental efforts for LB CAP implementation and this team will be calling on our residents, businesses, and industries to take steps to reduce our GHG emissions.
• Furthermore, the OCAS completed a GHG emissions report and began production of a public dashboard to transparently publish LB CAP performance data • Port challenges with CARB regulations:
o At-berth reg: terminals won’t meet timeline for shore power installation (2025) o In-Use locomotive reg: ZE locomotives are emerging tech and need large -scale operational changes
o Commercial harbor craft reg: uncertainty about federal standards o Advanced clean fleets reg: All drayage ZE by 2035, enforcement on hold until EPA
Request:
• Ongoing support is needed to improve open space, public health, environmental health, and public infrastructure in West Long Beach
MEETING: SENATOR ANNA CABALLERO
Senator Anna Caballero
Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee
Senator Anna M. Caballero is currently serving her second term in the California State Senate representing the 14th Senate District . In 2023 Senator Caballero was instrumental in securing over half a billion dollars in direct funding to support veterans, flood victims, institutions for higher education, agricultural modernization and district-specific infrastructure projects. Senator Anna M. Caballero is a woman of firsts. She was the first female Mayor elected in the 126 -year history of the City of Salinas and the first Latina elected to represent the 28th Assembly District in 2006. In 2011, Governor Edmund G. Brown hired Senator Caballero to serve as a member of his cabinet as the Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. Senator Caballero was recently appointed Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee.
Key Items for Discussion
• Housing: The City has built 5,700 affordable and special needs housing units built in the last five years, and $3.8B in housing investments and development o The City’s Housing Element certified and received Comprehensive Plan Award of Excellence from the American Planning Association
o Achieved a Pro -Housing Designation from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for the City’s commitment to policies and practices that remove barriers to housing production
• Homelessness: On January 10, 2023, the Long Beach City Council proclaimed a state of emergency for homelessness in Long Beach
o 2023 Homeless PIT Count: 3,447 people experiencing homelessness in January 2023, which represents a 4.6% increase from last year
o The proclamation of a local homelessness emergency in Long Beach allowed the City to reduce the time entitled to an affordable housing project to 60 days from 6-12 months pre- pandemic
o Since the emergency declaration, we have enrolled nearly 600 people in perm anent housing programs and nearly 2,000 people in interim housing programs • City supported SB 37 (Caballero): to develop the Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Pilot Program, offering competitive grants to administer a housing subsi dy program for older adults and adults with disabilities experiencing homelessness.
Requests:
• Additional State resources to advance the development of affordable housing • Expand state efforts to incentivize and produce affordable housing and shelter in the Gateway Cities region—advancing a regional approach in areas that have not built sufficient housing • Make distribution of State homeless funding more equitable through the Homeless, Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program
MEETING: ASSEMBLYMEMBER JOSH LOWENTHAL
Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal
Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 to represent the 69th Assembly District. Assemblymember Lowenthal worked as an entrepreneur and business owner with a long, successful record of accomplishment in tech and telecom startups. Growing up and working in Long Beach, Josh committed himself to improve the community we live in by working to alleviate homelessness, help at -risk children, and create good, 21st - century jobs. Assemblymember Lowenthal serves on the following Standing Committees: Appropriatio ns, Business and Professions, Privacy and Consumer Protection, and Transportation.
Key Items for Discussion
• City supported AB 2208 (Zbur, Lowenthal, and Wood) —California Ports Development and Offshore Wind Infrastructure Bond Act of 2024
o AB 2208 would place a $1 billion bond before voters aimed at helping ports build capacity for offshore wind energy projects off the California coast • AB 2235 (Lowenthal) would allow the City to procure contracts relating to the terminal development project at the Port of Long Beach (POLB), known as Pier Wind o The proposal will allow the POLB to employ alternative project delivery models to design and build Pier Wind, a 400 -acre terminal purpose-built for staging, integrating, and fabricating the foundation of floatin g offshore wind turbines in the Long Beach Outer Harbor
• AB 2506 (Lowenthal) would authorize a county board of supervisors to exempt from property taxation any possessory interest held by a tenant of publicly owned housing • Grow Long Beach is a strategy to i ncrease local revenues and catalyze economic growth to prepare for the transition from fossil fuel production
• Housing: The City’s Housing Element certified and received Comprehensive Plan Award of Excellence from the American Planning Association
Requests:
• Grow Long Beach: State support to identify new revenues and resources to transition to new growth economies
• Homelessness Emergency: Advocate for making distribution of state homeless funding more equitable for Long Beach through sources like the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program
• Mental Health : Advocate for a pathway for cities with their own health departments to access direct allocations of future MHSA funding and expand County resources
MEETING: ASSEMBLYMEMBER MIKE GIPSON
Assemblymember Mike Gipson
Assemblymember Gipson served as Mayor Pro Tempore in the City of Carson for nearly a decade, before running for the California State Assembly in 2014.
Assemblymember Gipson represents the new 65th Assembly District which includes Watts, Willowbrook, Compto n, Carson, North Long Beach, Harbor Gateway North & South, Harbor City, Wilmington, and San Pedro.
Assemblymember Gipson Chairs the Select Committees on Police Reform, Ports and Goods Movement; and is a member of the Select Committees on California- Mexico Bi-National Affairs, Domestic Violence, Los Angeles County Homelessness, Nonprofit Sector , Restorative Justice , Social Determinants of Health, State Parks , and Status of Boys and Men of Color . Assemblymember Gipson is also an active member of the California Legislative Black Caucus.
Key Items for Discussion
• AB 2034 (Rodriguez)
o This proposal would make it a misdemeanor to loiter in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution
• Grow Long Beach is a strategy to increase local revenues and catalyze economic growth to prepare for the transition from fossil fuel production
• Housing: The City’s Housing Element certified and received Comprehensive Plan Award of Excellence from the American Planning Association
Requests:
• Grow Long Beach: State support to identify new revenues and resources to transition to new growth economies
• Homelessness Emergency: Advocate for making distribution of state homeless funding more equitable for Long Beach through source s like the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program
• Mental Health: Advocate for a pathway for cities with their own health departments to access direct allocations of future MHSA funding and expand County resources
MEETING: SENATOR LENA GONZALEZ
Senator Lena Gonzalez
Senator Lena A. Gonzalez was first elected to the State Senate to represent the 33rd District in a special election in June of 2019 and was subsequently re-elected in the November 3, 2020 general election f or her first full 4 -year term. As State Senator, she represents nearly 1 million residents in Southeast Los Angeles, Signal Hill, portions of South Los Angeles, Lakewood, and her hometown of Long Beach.
Senator Gonzalez is a member on the following Standing Committees: Energy, Utilities and Communications; Environmental Quality; Education; Transportation and Health. Senator Gonzalez was recently appointed as the new Senate Majority Leader alongside Pro Tem McGuire.
Key Items for Discussion
• City supports SB 1425 (Gonzalez) – Oil revenue: oil trust fund o This proposal aims to increase the State’s required monthly contribution toward its share of the liability for the decommissioning of oil and gas operations in the City of Long Beach
o Currently, the state reserves $2 million per month from state oil revenues in an Oil Trust Fund to cover its liability, with the remaining state liability shortfall estimated at $700 million
o At this rate of monthly savings, the state’s shortfall will be fu lly met around the year 2050 – five years after the Governor’s original goal to end oil production by 2045 • Grow Long Beach is a strategy to increase local revenues and catalyze economic growth to prepare for the transition from fossil fuel production
Requests:
• Grow Long Beach: State support to identify new revenues and resources to transition to new growth economies
• State resources for the City to help cover abandonment costs to support the transition from fossil fuel production
• Homelessness Emergency: Advocate for making distribution of state homeless funding more equitable for Long Beach through sources like the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program
• Mental Health: Advocate for a pathway for cities with their own health departm ents to access direct allocations of future MHSA funding and expand County resources