Bits 'n' Pieces

Mouet Named Director PRM

Long Beach City Manager Patrick H. West named Gerardo Mouet as the city’s director of Parks, Recreation and Marine. Mouet brings 28 years of local government experience in various leadership positions including overseeing parks, recreation and community services operations, human resources administration and city-wide functions in budget development and contract administration. 

Gerardo currently serves as the executive director for the City of Santa Ana’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency and has been in this role for the last 14 years. During his tenure, he managed 50 parks, 17 recreation centers, the santa ana zoo and the public library system.

He took lead in major department restructuring that resulted in merging the City of Santa Ana’s Library services with the Parks and Recreation Agency, increasing efficiency and cost savings. He oversaw a budget of $24 million annually with 72 full-time employees and 350 part-time employees. Gerardo is also a member of the Orange County Fair and Event Center Board of Directors. 

The Parks, Recreation and Marine Department is comprised of over 1,000 full-time and part-time employees with a budget of over $55 million that provides animal care services, marine and beach maintenance and community recreation services.

Mouet holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, San Diego. His appointment will be effective June 18.

Bridge Ramp Closing

The transition ramp that connects truckers and motorists traveling east from Terminal Island along Ocean Boulevard to the northbound 710 Freeway in Long Beach is scheduled to permanently close, so it can be demolished to make room for the construction of a new connector ramp. Under current plans, the northbound connector ramp could close as soon as 6 a.m. Sunday, June 10. The actual date for the closure may change depending on weather and other factors.

When the connector ramp closes, eastbound traffic on the Gerald Desmond Bridge and heading north to the 710 Freeway will be briefly diverted onto northbound Pico Avenue, then travel about one-half mile on Pico before rejoining the northbound 710 Freeway.

Demolition of the eastbound Ocean Boulevard/northbound I-710 connector ramp is required to build the new ramp connecting the new bridge to the northbound 710. When completed, the new bridge will include six traffic lanes and four emergency shoulders, a higher clearance to accommodate large cargo ships, a bike and pedestrian path with scenic overlooks, and more efficient transition ramps and connectors to improve traffic flow, especially among trucks.

New Online Foodborne Illness Reporting System

To further the City’s commitment to health and safety, as it relates to foodborne illness prevention in Long Beach, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is pleased to launch a new online reporting system that will make it easier for residents to report foodborne illness in the city.  Online reporting is a proven and efficient method for gathering information that can help prevent foodborne illness.

The Foodborne Illness Incident Report is now available on the DHHS website. This system can be used by any member of the public to file a complaint if they believe that they have become sick after eating food or drinking a beverage from a food establishment in Long Beach.

Approximately 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness (food poisoning) each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Foodborne illnesses often catch media attention during multi state outbreaks such as the currently ongoing romaine lettuce E. coli O157 outbreak and the egg shell Salmonella outbreak.

DHHS’s Consumer Protection Program consistently works alongside food establishments to ensure that the food sold and served in Long Beach is safe, wholesome, properly labeled and produced under sanitary conditions. DHHS also tracks foodborne illness by asking hospitals to report increases of gastrointestinal illness in their emergency departments, but often the most valuable indicators are reports from the public to identify possible outbreaks within the city.

Food poisoning can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Although anyone can get food poisoning, some people, such as women who are pregnant, young children and older adults, are more likely to develop severe illness.

The report form can be found on the DHHS website at www.longbeach.gov/foodpoisoning.

Marinas Get Certification

Long Beach’s Alamitos Bay Marina, Shoreline Marina and Rainbow Harbor Marina have recently received a five-year recertification under the Clean Marine program.  The program is a marine industry alliance that promotes environmentally clean marinas and boat yard facilities. The program helps protect coastal and inland waters from pollution through encouraging industry best management practices.

By receiving the Clean Marine designation, Long Beach’s public marina properties have demonstrated that they are operated in an environmentally sensitive and “green” manner.

Long Beach’s marinas received the recertification following on-site inspections and evaluation processes conducted by independent marine industry professionals. The processes included evaluating marina policies and procedures and boater education efforts for on-site vessel maintenance requirements and limitations; sewage, solid waste and liquid waste management practices; storm water runoff systems; environmental programs; and debris prevention and clean up practices.

The City of Long Beach has participated as a Clean Marine member since 2006 and has maintained uninterrupted program certifications since that time. The Marine Recreation Association of California, an industry professional association and advocacy group, endorses the program.

For more information about the City of Long Beach’s participation in the Clean Marine program, the public can contact Kurt Borsting, superintendent for marine operations at (562) 570-4960 or visit www.cleanmarina.org/members.html.

Panel on Mental Health

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately one in five adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in a given year, and one in five youths aged 13-18 experiences a severe mental disorder during their life.

To address the national concerns surrounding mental health at a local level, MemorialCare’s Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach recently hosted a panel discussion in partnership with the Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services.

“In partnership with the Long Beach Health Department, we complete a community health assessment every three years, and mental health is always at the top of the list of concerns,” says Kristen Pugh, MPA, VP, Advocacy & Government Relations, MemorialCare. “The goal of the panel was to build new partnerships, strengthen existing partnerships between all of the organizations present, and provide a forum for people to learn.”

The panel was moderated by Elise Johnson, LCSW, who is a social worker at Long Beach Medical Center with more than 20 years of experience in the Emergency Department.

Experts from The Guidance Center, NAMI Los Angeles County Council, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH), Stars Behavioral Health Group and the Long Beach Police Departments Mental Evaluation Team shared their best practices in crisis intervention during the panel to strengthen the connections of mental health resources in the community.

Panelists addressed issues, such as how to define a mental health crisis, strategies for de-escalation during a crisis, points of contact, and when it’s necessary to call 911.

In existence for more than 22 years, the Long Beach Police Department Mental Evaluation Team (MET) consists of sworn officers who are partnered with clinics from DMH. The MET team shared their vital role in providing additional resources by responding to and handling called involving the mentally ill and homeless population.

‘Legacy Triathlon’ Coming

The City of Long Beach in partnership with USA Triathlon, announced plans for the Legacy Triathlon, a new event to be held in Long Beach, starting July 20, 2019. The race will be held at Alamitos Beach, proposed site of the triathlon competitions for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Legacy Triathlon will begin in 2019 as an age-group race with a cap of 750 athletes. Participants will cover a sprint-distance course featuring a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and five-kilometer run. Registration is now open and the public can register at thelegacytriathlon.com. No qualification is required.

The event will eventually expand into a two-day multisport festival that includes both amateur and elite racing. Plans are for the elite component to begin as an ITU Triathlon World Cup and ultimately become a stop of the ITU World Triathlon Series – the highest level of elite ITU competition – in the lead-up to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The USA Triathlon Foundation has pledged a total of $100,000 ($10,000 per year through 2028) to support local community initiatives in conjunction with the Legacy Triathlon.

For more information about the Legacy Triathlon, visit thelegacytriathlon.com.

Rental Assistance

LiBRE (Long Beach Residents Empowered) and LBCAP (Long Beach Community Action Partnership) have teamed up to help low-income families ease the financial burden when looking for affordable housing. The costs of moving is already high before you include the amount of application fees charged by property managers and owners. These costs can add up as families continue their search for housing.

That is why LBCAP and LiBRE are working together. LiBRE is handling the outreach for RAAP and LBCAP is acting as a fiscal agent. The program, which launched June 1, will run for as long as funds last. Funds have been raised by Mike Murchison and Gary DeLong, and Councilmember Pearce is currently soliciting additional funding.

The program is open to all who meet income guidelines and are seeking residence in Long Beach. If you or a family you know are looking for help with rental applications, contact LiBRE to see if you qualify at wearelbre@gmail.com or (562) 444-5147.

Mental Health Training

Long Beach firefighters recently received in-depth training on the best strategies to assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In support of their mission, the Long Beach Fire Department Homelessness Education and Response Team (HEART) team delivered an 8-hour class titled “Mental Health First Aid for Fire and EMS” to a group of our newest firefighters.

The mission of the Long Beach Fire HEART Unit is to reduce the number of fire department responses to individuals experiencing homelessness. This is achieved through a rapid response to 911 calls for service, collaboration with continuum of care partners, and educating fire service and community members about local resources and issues surrounding homelessness.

With a focus on treating all people with dignity and respect, and always understanding that we are all part of one community. The HEART team ensures individuals experiencing homelessness have a positive and caring experience when they interact with the fire department.

The course at the Long Beach Fire Department Regional Training Center was delivered by HEART team members Firefighter/Paramedics Joel Davis and Justin Verga. These two individuals are the first Firefighter/Paramedics on the west coast to be trained and certified to teach “Mental Health First Aid for Fire and EMS.” This accomplishment highlights the organizational commitment on behalf of the fire department to educate all firefighters in the City of Long Beach on how to address the needs of someone experiencing a mental illness or substance use-related crisis.

HR Officer Honored

Lorraine Booth, MemorialCare chief human resources officer, was awarded the 2018 Leaders of Distinction Award by the HRO Forum at a nationwide event in Washington, DC.

One of 50 nominees in her category, Booth was named Chief Human Resources Officer of the Year for Nonprofit Organizations nationwide – one of only a few health care leaders ever honored by the organization. Winners in other categories include executives from T-Mobile and Aflac. The Forum is part of HRO Today, a leading media company reaching over 180,000 decision makers.

During her 27 years at MemorialCare, Booth has been instrumental in re-imagining people and culture initiatives, leadership performance, system integration, succession planning and benefits design.

Harassment Nets 3 Years

Joaquin Jensen, 35, of Long Beach, was sentenced to three years in County Jail and placed on three years of probation after his convictions for harassing his ex-girlfriend and restraining order violations. He was sentenced by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lori Behar of the Long Beach Courthouse.

Jensen was sentenced on May 15, after being convicted of 11 misdemeanor counts of violating a restraining order issued to protect Jensen’s ex-girlfriend and her two children.

The violations included contacting his ex-girlfriend and sending disturbing and threatening emails to her. One email sent by Jensen states, “These people are crazy and it’s time to end all of them. Joaquim will never stop,” and another, “Now I am a ghost, I’ll haunt you and everyone involved until I’m sent to hell or heaven.”

Jensen and the victim dated for nine months from August 2015 to May 2016. A restraining order was issued in July 2016, prohibiting Jensen from contacting the victim and the children, one of whom was fathered by the defendant. However, Jensen violated the order at least 33 times before his arrest in November 2017.