Thread by @shayshinecastle

"I think it's got to be a holistic approach," Kevin says.

"You gotta have the enforcement piece along with services to support the homeless population."

Huntley asking the first q (climate change, sustainability, etc.) again.

Boulder having a climate initiative dept "is a good sign," Kevin says. Long Beach has an office of sustainability.

"We've made a lot of progress in making our city buildings more efficient." 65% of city fleet is "green" (using alternative fuels)

Next Spanish-language q!

It's the same one. How can the common resident become involved to impact decisions in the racial equity plan?

These are all the same! Hitting most of the highlights, tho. Not much about housing, though, unfortunately, since both places are pretty expensive.

Kevin: "One of the things that really attracted me to Boulder is that they have invested in equity and produced an admirable, comprehensive plan."

"Under my leadership, equity will be realized operationally."

In regards to Latinx, we're going to provide support. But I think first we need to build relationships, through personnel, partnership with community-based organizations.

With end goal to "eliminate" the disparities that have led to such unequal impacts from COVID.

Going over some non-specific work that has been done in Long Beach with Latinx, Black communities.

More specific: Comprehensive immigrant protection was one of those things.

Biz q next for Kevin. (How will you engage? What are the biz issues you see here?)

Kevin: COVID
"Making sure we provide resources to local biz as part of the recovery process to ensure they're able to sustain their operations."

That... was it.

Arts and culture "are absolutely essentially" for social enrichment, economic development, Kevin says in response to the next q. "I'm a strong advocate of arts and culture."

In Long Beach, worked to establish African American culture center and museum. That led to efforts for a Latinx culture center, being worked on now.

"We've been very deliberate about making sure we're providing funding to arts and culture organizations" throughout the pandemic.

Next q: Intersection of land use and transportation

Kevin: We updated our land use plan. "We're a coastal community that has been built out for a long time. A very compact, dense setting." New plan "puts into place policies that promotes ... development along transit corridors."

"There is an important intersection between land use and transportation to make transportation more accessible." Update to land use plan was "very controversial for us.... but we were successful in ID'ing areas where we want to promote" more development, affordable housing.

New q about city manager's role in connecting community, city council, staff.

That's the primary job of the city manager, Kevin says.

"This is an area I look forward to adding value.... to strengthen relationships that also exist and make sure we build relationships with every segment of the community." Specifically mentions Latinx, Black, indigenous.

Another new q: What experience do you have with town-gown issues? (Being in a college town)

Kevin spent 9 years in Champaign, Ill, with U of Ill there.

References "trying to build and strengthen relationships" between the city, uni there. Built "several successful partnerships."

"I look toward the university as an asset for the community. That's something we shouldn't take lightly, something we should always try to strategically advance. There's a way to go about it and be successful with it."

Next batch of qs about policing (along the spectrum of concern over crime rates to reform, defunding)

Kevin: "I want to state from the outset, public safety is paramount. It's critically important. ... But we have other issues in the community where we have vulnerable populations that sometimes intersect with unfortunate circumstances."

There are issues that are historical and "rooted in a lack of investment."

Police dept. needs to provide "a level of service that is appropriate for keeping the community safe" but also supports the community to "try to avoid ... police violence."

"Here in Long Beach, we've done a lot with police reform." He oversees police oversight, which is being looked at now "to make sure it is modernized, effective."

Police dept. there has "office of constitutional policing" and all use-of-force policies have been comprehensively reviewed.

LBC developed a "racial reconciliation plan" that also included police reform.

"I think police reform and accountability is an issue that def needs to be addressed. On the other side of the house, it's important for us to look at community violence and community safety" and making sure we have adequate community supports and resources.

First reference to Tipton Report! Q is about staff departures and low morale.

"We just have to have an effective employee engagement plan in place" that includes "opportunity for growth."

Employees need to be "connected to the city vision and goals ... and looked at as leaders in our organization and actually empowered to make contributions," Kevin says.

"In order for us to be successful ... we have to have employees who feel valued and understand the importance of service, coming to work every day feeling like they can make a dif."

"It's an advantage to a manager coming in that this survey has already been done," Kevin says. If it hadn't been, he'd want to do a cultural assessment first thing.

Next q about viewsheds and height limits that is not entirely accurate.

We're NOT raising height limits! For the last freaking time. We have a MORATORIUM on building to 55 feet in all but a few places, that's been in place for ~6 years now...?

Kevin referencing Alpine-Balsam and Boulder Junction. "There's already some areas that are in play and underway and I think are appropriate," Kevin says. Mentions redevelopment experience.

Kevin says he would rely "on the work that's already been done in the comprehensive plan" RE: height limit and densities. "There's some opportunities already there. It's just a matter of effectively implementing them."

Last q is about "differing viewpoints" on council, in community. What's the role of the city manager in moving through these controversies and past deadlock?

"The city manager's role is to understand all perspectives, all needs ... and align that understanding with proposed solutions ... that are practical and could actually work."

"Use that foundation to build consensus where you can," Kevin says, calling this an "area of strength" for him.

"Using data and facts to drive the formation of those recommendations ... The data is a neutral way, or a way to build a foundation for consensus."

Good for Kevin, who has a few times talked about what are strong points for him. I aspire to be able to do this in interviews. Maybe when I've been working for 24 years, I will be.

Anyway, Kevin is heading out but Huntley has more info for us. Goodie.

It's a link to a feedback form! You can fill it out for the hiring committee to consider. Due by 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Here it is: tinyurl.com/26e84tm9

Huntley confusing all Gen Z'ers by saying this meeting has been "tape recorded"

It's a digital recording but the important thing is that it will be available tonight if you want to watch. In 3-4 hours, it will live there: tinyurl.com/2ehe4s7f

That was a quick but illuminating meeting. ~140 participants in tonight's meeting (less than half of who signed up!)

The video will be public until 2 weeks after the city manager is selected, Huntley says.

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