Summer is right around the corner, school is almost out, and many of us are preparing to celebrate our graduates of all ages. Graduations and Promotion Ceremonies are one of my favorite times of the year. As a former school board member, I believe that middle school promotions, high school graduations, and college commencements hold immense importance. These milestones signify the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and personal growth for our students. These ceremonies recognize individual accomplishments and inspire and motivate future generations, highlighting the value of education, perseverance, and the pursuit of lifelong learning. Next Thursday, June 8, Long Beach City College will host the 2023 Commencement Ceremony in Veterans Memorial Stadium. Congratulations to our Vikings! | |
As you all know, Long Beach is dedicated to becoming a "Bicycle Friendly Community," recognizing the importance of having multiple modes of transportation for our residents. Beach Streets on May 20 demonstrated that by offering various means of travel, we can reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, promote physical activity, and create a more vibrant, connected community. It was a great event, and I hope to see more of you out at the next Beach Streets event. | |
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On Memorial Day I participated in the 38th annual Forest Lawn Memorial Day Service. It was an honor to be in community with Veterans, Gold Star Families, and neighbors. We all took a moment to honor and remember the brave service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. May we remember that their service is not limited to a single day but is an ongoing commitment that deserves our respect and support every day of the year. "Lest we forget"
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As always, I am grateful for your continued engagement with me and my office, and I look forward to seeing you out in the community soon. Be sure to follow my Social Media @CWMeganKerr to stay connected!
Let's get to work,
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Megan Kerr, Councilwoman
Long Beach, District 5
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June is Pride Month
This month, our country and city celebrate the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community and advocate for full equality. The City of Long Beach has a vibrant LGBTQ+ community and a rich history of LGBTQ+ pride, activism, and advocacy, exemplifying a spirit of acceptance and celebration.
It is essential that we continue to acknowledge the historical milestones and ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, while fostering an environment of support, understanding, and equality for all residents. Happy Pride everyone!
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Upcoming Events &
Community Meetings
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Refuse Collection Delays
Long Beach residents with City-serviced refuse accounts may experience delays in their regularly scheduled refuse collection. Public Works is currently experiencing significant challenges due to staffing shortages, such as illness, vacancies and injuries. Recycling collection is not impacted at this time.
City refuse customers are advised to leave their refuse carts or bins out for service if they are not collected on the regularly scheduled day. Every effort will be made to collect carts on the following service day; if collection does not occur on the following day, residents may call 562.570.2876 and a collection will be scheduled.
The City is working to resolve this issue through a variety of operational and administrative adjustments that aim to minimize service disruptions.
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Military Operations at LGB
Heads up! Two F/A-18 aircraft will be conducting operations at Long Beach Airport on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4. We anticipate that the aircraft will arrive in the afternoon on Saturday and depart in the morning on Sunday, but all times are tentative and subject to change.
F/A-18s are significantly louder than aircraft that typically operate in our city. Military aircraft are exempt from our noise regulations; however, the military has demonstrated a desire to assist us in being a good neighbor and they have been very responsive to community concerns within their mission and safety of flight constraints. The aircraft will use noise abatement procedures when operating in the vicinity of Long Beach. These procedures include modified arrival and departure flight profiles and minimum use of afterburners.
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Temporary Runway Closures
A friendly reminder that while daytime main runway closures at the Long Beach Airport have ended, some nighttime closures remain in place through July.
Major electrical upgrades designed to improve the safety of the primary runway at Long Beach Airport are underway to bring the Airport’s largest runway in line with the latest FAA standards and add to the Airport’s sustainability efforts.
The Rehabilitate Runway 12-30 project necessitates temporary nighttime Runway 12-30 closures Sundays through Thursdays through mid-July. Exact dates are subject to change, and details are available on the Airport’s Current Noise Advisories webpage.
Are you wondering how you can stay informed about scheduled noise advisories?
In addition to following the Airport’s social media accounts (@LGBAirport) and lgb.org for updates, residents may sign up for LinkLB notifications and select to receive Airport news.
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Free Spring Jazz Concert
LBCC Performing Arts Department and Associated Student Body present The LBCC Big Band with guest drummer TINA RAYMOND! Performing the music of Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones, Tito Puente, and more!
Friday, June 2 at 6:00 p.m.
Performance is Outdoors, in the quad in front of the Auditorium, LAC Campus
4901 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90808
Located on Harvey Way between Clark and Faculty Avenue.
PARKING $2 in Lot E & Lot F
For more info visit their website.
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Long Beach property owners can now save money and time on their next accessory dwelling unit (ADU) project with the City's Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (PAADU) Program, which provides access to City-approved design plans.
The standardized project plans are for residential single-story, freestanding ADUs of less than 1,200 square feet. Once a design is selected, property owners can work directly with the registered design professional to obtain construction documents for a negotiated fee.
Benefits of using a pre-approved plan
One- to three-month reduction in working time to develop architectural and structural plans
Same day over-the-counter plan reviews from the City in lieu of the normal four- to six-week processing time
Timely project approvals
Cost savings due to the repetition & frequency of using the pre-approved design plan
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Long Beach Police Department
News & Events
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Coffee with the East Division Commander
Come out to Sheldrake Coffee Roasting on 2nd Street for a discussion with Commander Richens from East Division to hear updates about community facing issues.
Thursday, June 8 from 4pm to 5pm.
East Division Commander's Forum
Save the Date! The East Division will hold a Commander's Forum on Wednesday, June 28 at 5:30pm. Location details yet to be determined, but will be included in my next newsletter.
Traffic Complaints Online Form
LBPD has just launched a new Traffic Complaints Online Form, which allows the community to report traffic items such as speeding vehicles at a regular location, habitual parking issues and/or violations, abandoned vehicles, sign or signal damage and/or obstructions.
E-Commerce Exchange Zones
Long Beach Police Department offers three e-commerce exchange zones where you can safely conduct in-person transactions. At our North, West, and East stations, we have designated spaces with 24/7 video surveillance so that you can reduce the risk of theft and have a peaceful transaction.
Gun Buy Back Event
In partnership with Supervisor Janice Hahn's office, LBPD encourages community members to turn in their firearms to receive a gift card at the Gun Buy Back event in June at MacArthur Park.
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Homelessness Emergency Declaration
The Homeless Services Bureau is now offering evening mental health therapy programming for people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, including those who are unsheltered and those staying in congregate or non-congregate shelters in Long Beach.
This new offering is in addition to existing mental health services currently offered during business hours and includes scheduled 45-minute phone therapy sessions, available weekday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m.
Information detailing the city's homelessness response efforts is now available on the Homelessness Digital Dashboard.
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Leadership ARTS Mentoring Program (LAMP)
Youth Internship Opportunity
Long Beach Community Action Partnership youth services department operates the Leadership ARTS Mentoring Program (LAMP) and is currently accepting applications!
This income-qualifying paid summer internship offers leadership skill development in combination with digital media arts education for youth 14-24 years old in the following art disciplines taught by experts at their facility in North Long Beach: Film/TV Production, Graphic Design, Music Production, and Photography.
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2023 Propeller Club of LA-LB Scholarship Applications Open
The Propeller Club of Los Angeles-Long Beach is offering scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000 to graduating high school seniors. In 2019, the Board of Governors established two additional scholarships in memory of David Arian (former ILWU President and member of Port of LA Harbor Commission) and Adam Birkenbach (former Port of LA Chief Harbor Engineer and Propeller Club board member).
This scholarship is open to high school seniors currently attending schools located in the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, San Pedro, Wilmington, or Carson and to students of all intended majors. Applications due Friday, June 16.
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E-Learning Resources for K-8 Students
The Energy Resources Department, Long Beach Water Department, and the Department of Public Works’ Environmental Services Bureau have partnered with The National Theatre for Children (NTC) to educate and inspire Long Beach and Signal Hill students and their families about the environment. The program has been adapted into an all-digital alternative to safely bring the environmental curriculum to students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Conservation Caper and LBC E-Team digital programs, which can be accessed remotely by teachers, students, and their parents, are an effective way to deliver novel curriculum and foster student engagement during this time of distance learning. Both digital programs provide vital information on water conservation, natural gas safety and conservation, and waste reduction.
If you are a parent and are interested in this free digital resource for your child, please contact your child's teacher to request access.
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Youth Advisory Council Applications
The City of Long Beach is now accepting applications for the Office of Youth Development’s second iteration of the Youth Advisory Council. The Youth Advisory Council is a body of 11 young people that help ensure authentic youth-led engagement in the design, oversight and implementation of the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan (YSP), the Measure US Youth Fund and other systems of youth development, ensuring that youth voices are uplifted throughout the City.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be between the ages of 16 to 26.
- Reside in Long Beach.
- Be available to meet twice a month.
- Have a passion for issues affecting youth in Long Beach.
Now through Friday, June 30, youth may submit their application online. Those without computer or smart phone access can visit a public computer lab at the Ron R. Arias Health Equity Center (6335 Myrtle Ave.) or at any Long Beach Public Library location to fill out and submit their digital application.
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Annual Summer Reading Program
Long Beach Public Library annual Summer Reading Program kicks off Saturday, June 10, and invites readers of all ages to “Find Your Voice” by reading, completing activities and enjoying special events and programs at all 12 Library locations.
The Summer Reading program runs from June 10 to August 12, and encourages participants to read by awarding incentives for every five days they read, with extra incentives for completing activities and writing book reviews.
LEARN MORE...
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Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate & Poet Ambassadors
Long Beach will announce its inaugural Youth Poet Laureate and Poet Ambassadors at a culminating evening ceremony of poetry and community taking place Thursday, June 1, at 6 p.m.
The Youth Poet Laureate program brings youth the opportunity to enact positive change in their communities through activism and art and is sponsored by the Long Beach Public Library, in partnership with the Arts Council for Long Beach and supported by Urban Word NYC.
LEARN MORE...
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Community Input on Updated Subdivision Ordinance
The City of Long Beach is in the process of comprehensively updating its Subdivision Ordinance for the first time since 1983. The Ordinance provides guidance and procedures for the design and improvement of various types of land divisions in the city. These regulations help preserve and protect valuable natural resources and amenities in the city while ensuring public health, safety and convenience.
LEARN MORE...
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City Seeks Partners to Support Smart City Initiative
The City of Long Beach is seeking to partner with qualified organizations to support the new Smart City Initiative program, the Long Beach Collaboratory (LB Co-Lab), to provide technology solutions that address neighborhood challenges sourced by community participants from four Long Beach neighborhoods.
LEARN MORE...
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Safety Tips for Mosquito Season
Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and mosquito season, and the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) encourages everyone to do their part to control mosquitos.
Mosquito bites can cause more than skin irritation. Mosquitoes can transmit germs when they bite.
LEARN MORE...
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Celebrate Pride with LB Public Library
The Long Beach Public Library celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month each year with a series of special events, book and film lists and other activities for community members.
Each Pride activity will highlight the importance of visibility through history, culture, art, storytelling or film.
LEARN MORE...
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Upcoming
City Council Agenda
Tues. June 6, 2023, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
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Items of Interest
Item 4 Recommendation to provide contributions to Partners of Parks in support of the Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration, to support the Uptown Jazz Festival; to the Long Beach Century Club in support of the Mayor’s Trophy Charity Golf Tournament. (Item Details) (eComment)
Item 23 Recommendation to suspend Council rule contained in Municipal Code Section 2.03.020 (B) relating to the meeting schedule of the City Council in order to cancel the City Council meeting of July 4, 2023. (Item Details) (eComment)
Item 24 Recommendation to receive and file Contract No. 36576 with Long Beach Rescue Mission Foundation, Inc., a California public benefit corporation (Lessor) and the City of Long Beach (Lessee) and Contract No. 36578, a Sublease between the City of Long Beach (Sublessor) and First to Serve Ministries, Inc., a California nonprofit corporation (Sublessee), for approximately 17,000 rentable square feet of space at 702 West Anaheim Street, for use as an emergency shelter. (Item Details) (eComment)
Item 31 Recommendation to adopt resolution in support of the formation of the Lower San Gabriel River Recreation and Park District. (Item Details) (eComment)
Item 32 Recommendation to accept grant funds from the California Natural Resources Agency for capital improvements at Wrigley Greenbelt and Multi-Service Center. (Item Details) (eComment)
Item 33 Recommendation to accept and expend grant funds from the California Department of Parks and Recreation for capital improvements at El Dorado East Regional, El Dorado Park West, Houghton, and Stearns Parks. (Item Details) (eComment)
Item 35 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Chapter 5.92 to reinstate language related to the operation of adult-use dispensaries in mixed-used buildings in Downtown Long Beach, read and adopted as read. (Item Details) (eComment)
Members of the public have the option to use eComment to provide comments on agenda items. Written Comments may also be submitted by email to CityClerk@longbeach.gov.
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