TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on participatory budgeting in Long Beach.
DISCUSSION
Participatory budgeting (PB) is a different way to manage public money and to engage people in government. It is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget, and enables residents to work with government to make the budget decisions that affect their lives. Though each PB initiative looks different, the process generally involves several months of public meetings, developing project proposals, and a community-wide vote on which projects will be funded.
The Brazilian city of Porto Alegre started the first full PB process in 1989, for the municipal budget. Since 1989, PB has spread to over 1,500 cities in Latin America, North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. This past year, Long Beach joined these cities and became the first city in the Southern California region to pilot a participatory budgeting initiative with great success. Three Council Districts led efforts in their respective communities, with more than 3,500 people participating.
A presentation is being given to share the successes of the participatory budgeting process, and to discuss strategies for continued and meaningful resident engagement throughout Long Beach.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund for this presentation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
REX RICHARDSON, COUNCILMEMBER
NINTH DISTRICT
LENA GONZALEZ, COUNCILWOMAN
FIRST DISTRICT
SUZIE PRICE, COUNCILWOMAN
THIRD DISTRICT