Newsletter #88: Recycle your tree, Project Updates, Happy New Year, and more!

Issue: # 88

December 30, 2016

From the Desk of Councilmember Al Austin II

Dear Eighth District Residents and Friends,

As we close out the year and welcome in 2017, I would like to first thank all of you for your engagement and passion for the Eighth District and our entire wonderful City of Long Beach.

2016 was a challenging year in many respects, but we also had many accomplishments to celebrate locally. The Eighth District continues to thrive, with more exciting projects in store for 2017. It is an honor to work with so many outstanding residents, business owners and community partners on behalf of this district and city.

From my family and the 8th District team, I would like to wish you and your family a safe, healthy and happy new year!

Sincerely,

AL AUSTIN II

Upcoming Events

New Year's Eve Stroll with the Bixby Knolls Strollers

Saturday, December 31

7:15 a.m. Meet up

7:30 a.m. Stroll begins

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

4105 Atlantic Avenue

Get started early on your New Year's resolution by joining Long Beach's most popular neighborhood walking club, the Bixby Knolls Strollers, for their weekly stroll through the greater Bixby Knolls area.

It's a great way to get fit, check out the businesses, explore the neighborhoods, and meet your neighbors. (Friendly) dogs are welcome, too. The walks last for about an hour (averaging 3.8 - 3.9 miles) and the route changes each week.

The walkers meet up at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 4105 Atlantic Ave., at 7:15 a.m. each Saturday, and depart promptly at 7:30 a.m.

For more information, or to sign up for their weekly updates, click here.

City of Long Beach Holiday Closures

Closed Monday, January 2, 2017

Long Beach City Hall will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2017 for the New Year's holiday.

All libraries will be closed on Saturday, December 31st and Sunday, January 1st.

Street sweeping and associated parking control will NOT occur on Monday, January 2.

Refuse and recycling collection WILL occur on its regular schedule.

Parking meters with holiday exemptions will NOT be enforced on January 1st. All meters and time zones WILL be enforced on December 31st.

"Treecycle" Your Holiday Tree

Free Drop-Off Locations

Through January 6, 2017

Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sat. - Sun., 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

North Police Substation

4891 Atlantic Ave. at Del Amo Blvd.

(enter on 46th Street)

Free Curbside Pick-up

Saturday, January 7, 2017

The City's annual holiday "Treecycling" Tree Recycling program gives residents a chance to dispose of trees free of charge while keeping the trees out of the trash after the holidays.

Now through January 6, 2017, residents can drop off trees at several locations throughout the City, as shown on www.longbeach-recycles.org., including at the North Division Police Substation at the corner of Atlantic and Del Amo.

Residents with City refuse service can also leave their trees out where trash is normally collected by 7:00 am on Saturday, January 7, 2017.

All trees must have decorations and stands removed, and trees over 12 feet tall should be cut in half. Flocked trees will be accepted.

For more information, view the flyer.

In the News

Update on Projects Around the District

Davenport Park

The landfill membrane liner was installed on December 6, and final grading is being performed for the capping of the landfill that is required for Phase II of Davenport Park on Paramount Blvd. at 55th Way.

City staff has worked with local residents on a conceptual design for Phase II, which will provide an additional 5 ½ acres of park space and extend the existing facility out to Paramount Blvd. The conceptual design includes athletic fields, a skate park, a fitness path and an amphitheater. Measure A, which was approved by Long Beach voters in June, will provide additional funding in the next few years for the design and construction of the new park.

DeForest Wetlands

Cleaning and grubbing of non-native trees and vegetation in the DeForest Wetlands is 80 percent complete and debris clean-up has been completed. Test piles for the boardwalk have been installed, and the contractor plans to start grading activities shortly.

The DeForest Park Wetlands Restoration Project will provide for the development of 39 acres of wetlands, riparian and upland habitat, accessible public trails, and educational interpretation along the Los Angeles River, from DeForest Park to Del Amo Boulevard. Along with the adjacent Dominquez Gap wetlands, the DeForest Wetlands Restoration Project will create almost 3 miles of recreated wetlands along the Los Angeles River.

Orange Avenue

After some previous unanticipated delays, work is expected to start on January 3, 2017 to repair Orange Avenue between 52nd Street and South Street.

Sequel Contractors will perform the work, which includes replacing damaged curbs, gutters, driveways, alley entrances and sidewalks; tree trimming and root shaving; and reconstructing and resurfacing the street. The bike lanes on Orange Avenue will be widened and updated to current standards.

The City Council approved the expenditure of $2,566,537 for the project, which includes repairing Orange north to 64th Street.

Steelcraft

Steelcraft, located at the intersection of Long Beach Blvd. and Bixby Road, has completed construction. Steelcraft is an outdoor urban eatery, fashioned from repurposed shipping containers, that promotes sustainable and high quality craft food and drink.

Smog City Beer and Steelhead Coffee are currently open for business. Additional food stands are expected to open for business over the next couple of months prior to an official grand opening for the location. For more information, visit their website.

City of Long Beach Year in Review

The City of Long Beach has released its annual snapshot of accomplishments for 2016.

Among the highlights are:

The unemployment rate reached a nine-year low in March 2016;
Completed construction and opened the Michelle Obama Library in North Long Beach, a state-of-the-art facility;
57.5 lane miles of streets rehabilitated;
14.2 miles of sidewalks replaced;
1,220,000 square feet of graffiti abated;
Average response time to police priority calls is 4.8 minutes, one of the fastest for any large city in the country; and
Completed at least 17 park projects around the City with another 10 projects under construction or in development.

To view the complete 2016 Year in Review, click here.

Overnight Winter Shelter Opens

The overnight winter shelter for homeless individuals opened in North Long Beach last week, and will be open until March 1. Four other local shelters operate year-round for individuals and families.

Throughout the year, staff from the Health and Human Services Department's Homeless Services Division and its community partners canvass Long Beach daily, engaging people who are homeless and offering emergency shelter, transportation, access to service providers and opportunities for housing. In 2016, 980 persons, including 200 veterans, received help to end their homelessness and were placed in permanent housing.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the administrative authority responsible for selecting the winter shelter operator, selected First to Serve as the operator in November.

The shelter operates daily between the hours of 5:00 pm and 7:00 am. In the event of inclement weather these hours may be extended by the operator. The shelter is a closed facility; once checked into the facility participants cannot enter or exit at-will. The shelter does not accept walk-ins; participants must be transported to and from the location from designated pick up/drop off areas.

The other local year-round shelters include the Long Beach Rescue Mission and Project Achieve for single individuals, and Catholic Charities and Lydia House for families.

Led by the Long Beach Health and Human Services Department, the Long Beach Continuum of Care (CoC) collaborates with multiple partners, from business and neighborhood associations, nonprofit and faith-based agencies to medical and educational institutions, to proactively address homelessness.

The CoC provided nearly 11,000 individual contacts in 2016, linking individuals to comprehensive services including shelter services, connection to mainstream benefits, mental health, medical care, employment, childcare, veteran benefits, housing linkage, prevention services and access to mail service and shower facilities.

For more information or assistance, contact the Long Beach Multi-Service Center at (562) 570-4500.

Eighth District Spotlight

New Eighth District Business - Aguas Way

This week, we welcome a new business to the Virginia Village business corridor in the Eighth District.

Aguas Way is located at 5248 Long Beach Blvd., and they will be celebrating their grand opening on Monday, January 2nd at 12 noon.

Specializing in aguas frescas, the

popular Mexican fresh fruit drinks, Aguas Way, also features a menu that includes carne asada fries, California burritos, acai bowls, homemade salsas and champurrado. They will also feature regular specials.

Owner Leo Sandoval said that the business is truly family-owned and operated. They are using many of his mom's recipes, his brother oversaw the construction of the space, and his wife, sister and other family members also help run the business.

Leo grew up in Long Beach and he and his family are Eighth District residents, living within walking distance of the business. He said he chose this location for Aguas Way because it was near their