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Issue: # 52
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August 7, 2015
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| From the Desk of Councilmember Al Austin II |
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| Councilmember Austin speaking at Boeing Volunteer Day at the Growing Experience |
Dear Eighth District Residents and Friends,
As we enter August, the City Council begins its budget process to set our spending priorities for the coming fiscal year. Parents and kids also start to look forward to the new school year that is now less than a month away.
The Eighth District has events this month to help you prepare for both of these annual traditions.
The Eighth District Community Budget Meeting on August 13 will be an opportunity for you to learn what is proposed for the upcoming fiscal year, ask questions and provide your input on how the City should be spending your tax dollars.
Also, on August 22, I am pleased to host our annual Back To School Summer Jam at Davenport Park. There will be free backpacks and school supplies, as well as valuable resources and screenings to help our kids be prepared for the new year.
This week's spotlight is on a local non-profit that is helping kids in the Eighth District start school on the right foot.
I hope you enjoy this week's newsletter.
Sincerely, 
AL AUSTIN II |
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Upcoming Events
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First Fridays in Bixby Knolls
Friday, August 7
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Atlantic Ave. from Bixby Road to San Antonio Drive
Join your neighbors and people from far and wide for First Fridays in Bixby Knolls!
Music, art, a farmers' market, great dining and more!
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The Whooligans at Los Cerritos Park
Wednesday, August 12  6:00 p.m. Los Cerritos Park 3750 Del Mar Ave.
The Los Cerritos Neighborhood Association will be sponsoring the last concert at Los Cerritos Park this year featuring The Whooligans.
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8th District Community Budget Meeting
Thursday, August 13
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Expo Arts Center
4321 Atlantic Ave.
Councilmember Al Austin II is hosting the 8th District Community Budget Meeting to discuss the proposed Long Beach City budget for fiscal year 2016. Provide your input on what services are important to you.
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Back to School Summer Blast
Saturday, August 22nd
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
2910 E. 55th Way
Councilmember Al Austin II is hosting the 4th Annual Back to School Summer Blast where free health screenings, school supplies, resources and information booths will be offered.
(Flyer)
For more information email [email protected].
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Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site Free Summer Concert
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unday, August 23rd
4:30 p.m. - Picnicking on lawn
5:30 p.m. - Concert begins
Rancho Los Cerritos
4600 Virginia Road
The Rancho's third summer concert series features a tribute to Johnny Cash by the Walking Phoenixes.
This summer's concerts commemorate the 1950s, when the Rancho was transferred from the Bixby family to the City of Long Beach (1955).
(Flyer)
For more information visit Rancho Los Cerritos' website.
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Be S.A.F.E. at Scherer Park
Monday through Friday
(June 22- August 28)
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Scherer Park
4600 Long Beach Blvd.
The Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, in collaboration with the Eighth Council District, is providing summer activities and programs for the whole family on weeknight evenings in Scherer Park.
Each week, families can share fun-filled activities and new experiences.
Participants may enjoy classes, sports, games, graphic design workshops, video production classes, tournaments and a variety of other activities.
Every week ends with Family Night on Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information, see the
Be S.A.F.E. Scherer Park calendar of activities.
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In the News
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Fiscal Year 2016 Budget
The Mayor and City Manager released the
proposed budget for the next fiscal year
last week. The Fiscal Year 2016 City budget projects a small $600,000 surplus and maintains current levels in the core services. However, budget deficits of more than $7 million are still projected for each of the following two fiscal years.
There are also $11.7 million in what is considered "one-time funds" in this fiscal year. The City Manager is proposing to use these funds on such investments as additional police overtime to combat violent crime, 2016 election expenses, additional street and sidewalk repairs, a portion of the cost needed to demolish the old state courthouse, and new signage for an overhaul of the street sweeping system.
The City Council is required to vote on the budget by September 15, and will be holding budget hearings during each of the upcoming Council meetings prior to that date.
Councilmember Austin will be hosting a Community Budget Meeting on Thursday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Expo Arts Center, located at 4321 Atlantic Avenue.
Councilmember Austin will provide his thoughts on the proposed budget and discuss potential impacts on the Eighth District. Representatives of the City Manager's office and Financial Management will provide an overview of the budget. The Police, Fire, Public Works, Library Services, Parks, Recreation & Marine, and Economic and Property Development departments will also be on hand to discuss their budgets and answer questions.
To view the entire proposed budget, the Mayor's recommendations and other budget documents, click here.
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Digital Billboards
The Planning Commission approved the first proposed electronic  billboard in the Eighth District on Thursday. An existing billboard located on the east side of the 710 Freeway just north of Carson Street in the Metro Blue Line Service Yard will be converted to digital.
As part of the City's digital billboard policy adopted in 2014, the applicant, Clear Channel Outdoor, will need to remove existing billboards equivalent to four times the square footage of the new electronic billboard.
The applicant will be removing the six remaining billboard faces located on the Metro Service Yard property, as well as five other billboard faces within the City, including one located at Atlantic and 53rd Street.
This is the third electronic billboard in the City approved by the Planning Commission (one is located on the west side of the 710 Freeway near PCH and one is on the 91 Freeway at the transition from the northbound 710). As a result, a total of 47 static billboards faces are being removed from within Long Beach.
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Photos Around the Eighth District
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| Councilmember Austin is honored to install the new officers for the Board of Carmelitos Senior Housing. |
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| Councilmember Austin was pleased to join more than 70 Boeing employees who volunteered their time to make improvements at the Growing Experience Urban Farm. |
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| Councilmember Austin with School Board Member Megan Kerr on the Eighth District Harbor Cruise. |
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| Eighth District residents got a close up look at the operations of the Port of Long Beach on our annual Harbor Cruise. |
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| Councilmember Austin and Assemblymember O'Donnell hosted a Fraud Prevention Senior Town Hall which featured a panel of experts sharing important information on how to avoid schemes, scams and rip-offs. |
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Councilmember Austin with Chief Luna, Allison Gallagher from Assemblymember O'Donnell's Office, and members of the Eighth District Senior Advisory Council at the Fraud Prevention Senior Town Hall.
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| Councilmember Austin was pleased to join residents in several National Night Out activities throughout the Eighth District. Councilmember Austin meets with the Jane Addams Neighborhood Association at Grace Park. |
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| Councilmember Austin spoke at the P.E.A.C.E. League Awards Banquet culminating another successful season of this important program. |
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| P.E.A.C.E. League Banquet at the Expo Arts Center. |
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Eighth District Spotlight
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This week, we shine the Eighth District Spotlight on His Little Feet, a nonprofit organization that collects and restores shoes to benefit students at Jane Addams Elementary School.
His Little Feet was started in January 2014 by Hali Wolf during a Bible study where the topic was how some people's extra items were other people's needs. When Wolf heard about the need for shoes at Jane Addams Elementary School, she knew right away that she wanted to do something to help. "I could not stop thinking about it" Wolf said, "I was thinking, I'm not just going to walk on by. I'm going to do something about it."
Since January 2014, His Little Feet has collected and delivered over 1,200 pairs of shoes to Jane Addams Elementary School. Students in need of new shoes are referred by teachers, counselors, or social workers.
His Little Feet is hosting their 1st Annual Back to School Shoe Drive starting August 10th to 21st. They are collecting boys and girls shoes from children size 10 to adult size 10. Drop off locations can be found on their website.
For more information about His Little Feet, visit www.HisLitFeet.org or email [email protected].
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Did You Know ...?
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Requesting a Special Collection
For oversized and odd-sized items, the City of Long Beach provides each
residential account two free "Special Collections" annually. Special collection items can include:
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Computers and monitors
- Television sets
- Tires (no rims)
- Other odd items
A maximum of five large items will be allowed for each scheduled pickup. Items cannot exceed 72" x 48".
To request a special collection, call the hotline at (562) 570-2876 or fill out the request form
here.
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Contact Your 8th District Council Office
City Of Long Beach
Councilmember AL AUSTIN II
City Hall:
333 West Ocean Blvd, 14th Floor- 8th District
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 570-6685
District Office:
5641 Atlantic Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90805
(562) 570-1326
(562) 570-1327 fax
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