Bits 'n' Pieces

Disaster Response Kits Designed to Stop the Bleed

As school campus shootings continue to occur across our country, St. Mary Medical Center is taking action to help. One way to prepare students ahead of a disaster is to properly equip and train them to improve the chance of survival. Thanks to a generous grant from Fanny & Svante Knistrom Foundation and additional funding efforts, St. Mary Medical Center is donating Stop the Bleed tourniquet kits for installation in AED boxes across the city.

The Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT), a true, one-handed tourniquet is proven to be 100 percent effective by the U.S. Army’s Institute of Surgical Research.

St. Mary’s team of trauma nurses will be demonstrating and instructing the public on how to successfully use the CAT. A media demonstration was held on Thursday morning at CSULB.

This emergency response program was developed after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense called upon organizations to improve the chances of survival during an active shooter and other mass casualty events.

Annual Fraud Hotline Activity Report

City Auditor Laura Doud has released her annual Fraud Hotline Activity Report. The report highlights the City Auditor’s Fraud Hotline operations, investigations and the 21 corrective action recommendations as a result of the 76 cases closed in 2018.

Of the 76 cases closed in 2018, the report highlights the top fraud tip types as:

1. Waste/abuse of city resources

2. City payroll fraud

3. City contract or vendor fraud

For every tip received through the City Auditor’s Fraud Hotline, the office creates a case and conducts analysis to determine if there is sufficient basis to investigate. Of the 76 cases closed in 2018, 47 percent were related to city fraud, waste or abuse, had sufficient basis and were investigated by the office or in conjunction with a city department. As a result of these investigations, there were nine cases with founded allegations or control weaknesses which led to 21 corrective action recommendations surrounding:

  • Contract enforcement;
  • Verification of vendor work and invoices;
  • Efficient staffing structure;
  • Collateral employment verification; and
  • Policies and procedures for employee committees and onboarding volunteers.

Some cases (16 percent) were not actionable, because they lacked sufficient information or merit. Other closed cases fell outside of the City Auditor’s Fraud Hotline purview and were referred to the appropriate city department (25 percent) or external agency with jurisdiction (12 percent) for review.

There are three ways to anonymously report tips of alleged City fraud, waste or abuse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to the City Auditor’s Fraud Hotline:

  • Phone 1-888-FRAUD-07 (1-888-372-8307)
  • Online form at CityAuditorLauraDoud.com
  • MyAuditor App available for free at the App Store or Google Play.

Studies show that tips are the most common method of fraud detection. To emphasize this and improve understanding of fraud hotline operations, the office implemented an internal educational campaign,

Residents Sought for City Ethics Commission

Interested residents are encouraged to apply to serve on Long Beach’s Ethics Commission. On Nov. 6, 2018, Long Beach voters approved Measure CCC, which created an Ethics Commission in the City Charter composed of seven Long Beach residents for monitoring, administering and implementing governmental ethics in the City of Long Beach.

The commission’s responsibilities include the impartial and effective administration and implementation of the provisions of the Charter, statutes and ordinances concerning campaign financing, lobbying, conflicts of interest and governmental ethics.

Ethics Commissioners serve a four-year term and members can serve no more than two consecutive terms. The mayor and the city auditor will appoint two members each, with the City Council confirming the appointments. The remaining three members will be appointed by the confirmed four commissioners.

Requirements for the mayor’s appointments include being involved with local civic organizations with a demonstrated history of involvement in local governance. Requirements for the City Auditor’s two appointments include a background in public policy or public law, governmental ethics or open government matters, campaign finance, auditing of ethics laws and/or protection of whistleblowers.

The application is available online at: http://www.longbeach.gov/mayor/action/commissions/. The Mayor and City Auditor plan to announce their appointees in June 2019. Interested candidates should submit applications by June 7 for consideration. For more information about the Ethics Commission and its duties and responsibilities, residents can review a March 22, 2019 memo regarding the Ethics Commission Implementation.

Summer Class Registration Underway at PR&M

Registration for new recreation classes offered by Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) is now underway. More than 400 classes in art, music, nature, fitness, special interest subjects, adult sports leagues and aquatics programs will be offered starting in June.

In addition to fee-based classes, the “Recreation Connection” also lists dozens of free and low-cost activities for families, youth sports leagues, teen centers and senior centers.

“I am excited about all the great summer programs we are offering throughout the city,” said Parks, Recreation and Marine Director Gerardo Mouet. “From week-long theme camps for kids, free family programs at parks, and events planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the El Dorado Nature Center, there are hundreds of ways to make this a memorable summer.”

New classes for summer 2019 include options for every age range.

Preschool

  • Little Hoopers basketball for ages 3-7.
  • Little Hoopers Next Level for children ages 4 and up.

Youth

  • New Specialty Camps, including Celebrity Chef Favorites and Five Ingredient Feast.
  • Floor hockey, golf, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee and volleyball.

Adults

  • TGA Premier Volleyball including drills and games that improve skills.

Residents can register using a variety of methods: online at lbparks.org, by calling (562) 570-3111 or by visiting the Registration Reservations Office (2760 Studebaker Rd.) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

The Heart of Hospice

British author Charles Dickens once said “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” Pathways Volunteers have “lightened the burden” of many in the Greater Lakewood/Long Beach area for the past 34 years and continue to be the heart and soul of the Pathways organization. Last month, Pathways took the opportunity to honor their volunteers and donors during National Volunteer Month. Hosting a ‘50s themed dinner at the Grand in Long Beach, guests were treated to a burger and ice cream bar in addition to live entertainment by saxophonist Ruben Cantu.

“Our volunteers are the most incredible people who selflessly give of themselves to make a difference in another’s life,” said Cindy Skovgard, Pathways’ Executive Director. “Coupled with very generous donors who make our work possible, our volunteers make a huge impact in the communities we serve.”

A special distinction at this year’s event was the awarding of the “Heart of Hospice,” a recognition that is only presented every few years. The recipients honored this year were the dynamic duo of Board Member Jeff Green and Pathways Donor Debbie Underwood.

Jeff joined the Pathways board after being introduced to the organization in 2012 when a crisis hit his high school campus. At the time, Jeff was serving as principal of Cerritos High School and will never forget the phone call he received informing him that one of his students was killed in an automobile accident while on a cross country team trip to Mammoth.

“I never had even heard of Pathways when this happened,” said Green. “But, ever since I have been incredibly grateful for the services they brought to our campus and the care and compassion they showed our students, parents and entire campus family.”

Since that time, Jeff has been an incredible champion of Pathways. He selflessly, and tirelessly, works behind the scenes supporting the Pathways staff in many of their program needs and enthusiastically lends his hand to all of Pathways activities and fundraising events.

It is no surprise then that Jeff thought to bring Debbie Underwood into the mix who has personally become a generous donor to Pathways through her work at Geiger Promotional Products.

Pathways is proud to recognize Jeff Green and Debbie Underwood as the 2019 recipients of the Pathways “Heart of Hospice” award.

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