The meeting was convened at 7:10 PM.

Councilman De Long provided an update on several issues:

-Budget deficit of $16.9M for this year primarily due to decreased revenues from taxes and oil. Next year the deficit will approximate $40M with the city planning on a $23M savings by freezing city employee salaries.
+The City is moving forward with the airport expansion under the leadership of the new airport manager.
+Upgrades are continuing at the Port of Long Beach focusing on plug-ins to electrical power and rail to move containers. Such changes should help the port reduce pollution by 50% by 2014.

Ray Thorn and Norman Zoref from the Friends of the Colorado Lagoon (FOCL) and Steve Lopez from the City, did a presentation on both phase 1 and phase 11 plans for restoration of the Lagoon. FOCL was formed in 1999 and has worked diligently to get to this point; the group deserves much credit for pushing forward this project. Although funding for the restoration project is an issue, at this point work should start on the Termino Ave drain in October (funding is from a different source). As most know, this will divert runoff that currently ends up in the west end of the Lagoon. Phase 1 has been fully approved and will proceed as funding becomes available. The project was scheduled to begin April, 2009 but has been suspended secondary to budget considerations. However, the design elements of phase 11 are still under consideration with a study being performed by Moffatt & Nickel that should be completed in 6 to 7 months. At issue, is whether increased water flow should occur through an open channel configuration or through culverts. FOCL favors an open channel approach because data show that this will be the most effective long term means of increasing tidal flow. FOCL has also discovered that funding for an open channel is more readily available than funding for culverts.

More information on the Lagoon project can be found on the FOCL website at:

http://www.coloradolagoon.org/focl/home.html

A recent article in the "District" also provides a comprehensive overview:

http://thedistrictweekly.com/2009/print/features/focal-point/

When asked by an attendee at the meeting what the BHCA could do to support FOCL and this project, both Ray and Norman said that "stating your views in support of a tidal creek (open channcel) approach to phase 11 to the Mayor and City Council" would be helpful and supportive. The Board of the BHCA supports the open channel approach as the most effective long-term solution to contamination and pollution in the Lagoon, and would like to write a letter stating that support. However, we would also like the support of our membership to do so. Please either email your position on this issue to the President, Dianne Sundstrom, or post a response to this email. If you plan to attend the June 10 meeting you can also speak to any board members present at that time.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Dianne Sundstrom, President