D5 Newsletter: Weekly Updates & End of October Events

(562) 570 5555 | district5@longbeach.gov

Weekly Updates & End of October Events

Happy Friday, District 5! A number of seasonal cultural celebrations are before us as we close out October and continue through the fall. More on that below, as well as updates related to Council items, voting centers, library services, the proposed affordable housing community at Wardlow & Cerritos, and more.

On Tuesday, my colleagues and I passed Item 20, a request for a report back from Long Beach Utilities to assess their current infrastructure improvement and repair plans, and to look into ways to improve emergency communications in the wake of the recent water main incident and subsequent Boil Water Notice. See below for more details.

This weekend, get into the spirit of the season with lots to do in and around CD5! Tomorrow, Oct. 26th, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to visit our local Sunnyside & Municipal Cemeteries for the 28th Annual Historical Cemetery Tours, open from 8:30 am to 3pm. You can also stop by Cal Heights Music from 1pm – 3pm for their free, family-friendly “Howl-O-Ween Festival” complete with activities and live performances. Additionally, you can spend the afternoon shopping from local vendors at LBX for this week’s pop-up Halloween Market from 12pm – 5pm. If you’re not tuckered out by Sunday, Oct. 27th, you can join the BKBIA’s KIDical Mass Zombie Ride, taking off at 11am! Wear a costume for a chance to win a prize, or show up early to get “zombified.” That same day, you can enjoy a free cultural celebration of Día de los Muertos at Rancho Los Cerritos from 2pm – 7pm, or head over to Willow Springs Park from 3pm – 5pm, for their next Experience, “Words in the Park.” See the flyers below for more information on these and other upcoming events!

Looking into next week, I wish all who celebrate a safe and happy Halloween! Whatever your plans may entail, be sure to stay alert and be cautious whether you’re walking or driving throughout the evening and night! To all who commemorate, Día de los Muertos (All Souls Day), on Nov. 1st & 2nd, I wish you and your loved ones a time of reflection as you honor those who have gone before us. May these days bring you joy and be a meaningful celebration.

With all of these events and happenings, don’t forget that Election Day is just around the corner! Some in-person voting centers will open as early as tomorrow, Oct. 26th. See the City Clerk info. block below for more information on voting centers and vote-by-mail drop boxes as you prepare to cast your ballot on or before Nov. 5th!

Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12th at 5pm in the City Hall Chambers, due to the Election Civic Holiday.

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.

The work continues,

Megan Kerr, Councilwoman

Long Beach, District 5

Upcoming Meetings & Events

Community News & Updates

Recent Council Item

Item 20: Request of After-Action Report from LB Utilities

On Tuesday, October 22nd, my colleagues and I passed Item 20 to request a comprehensive report from the Long Beach Utilities Department regarding the recent water main incident, the emergency communications used, and a general overview of Utilities’ ongoing work to maintain our great city’s aging infrastructure.

It’s important that we learn from this recent incident to find areas for improvement to our emergency response systems, especially in how we provide alerts to the community, to be better prepared in the face of a future event. We can expect the report to be completed before the end of the year. I thank my colleagues for their support on this item, I thank the Utilities crews for their expedient response to repair and restore affected areas, and I look forward to learning more about how we can continue to improve as a city to keep all of Long Beach safe, healthy, and informed.

Community Development Dept.

3401 Cerritos - Latest Updates

On Monday, we received the Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Initial Study regarding the onset of the Environmental Review Process for the proposed affordable housing community to be located at 3401 Cerritos. These documents provide information on the proposed project, including a general description and some updated designs, as well as details on how the community can be involved during the Public Review Period that helps inform the official Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

As part of the NOP process, the City of Long Beach will conduct a virtual public scoping meeting to present the proposed project and environmental process. After the presentation, public comments will be accepted either orally or in writing. The purpose of this meeting is to solicit input from the community on the potential environmental impacts to be evaluated in the EIR. This is a legal, required step for any development in Long Beach and is still considered a preliminary step in the development's application process. The scoping meeting will be held via web conference per the details below:

Date: October 28, 2024

Time: 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://longbeach-gov.zoom.us/j/97599562613?pwd=aEkHtdZyuKabQPAyrJZwci22C56s0e.1

Passcode: 909665 By Telephone: 213.338.8477 Webinar ID: 975 9956 2613

International numbers available: https://longbeach-gov.zoom.us/u/ac7XZyrcp8

During this public comment period, from Oct. 22 – Nov 21, direct any public comment you wish to make on the project to

Elijio Sandoval, Planner

City of Long Beach, Community Development Department

411 W. Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor,

Long Beach, CA 90802

(562) 570-6194

LBDS-EIR-Comments@longbeach.gov

As this proposal enters this legal phase, the Community Development and Planning departments will oversee public engagement and commenting. We encourage you to learn more about the ways to make official comment and provide feedback for the public record. Our office will continue to amplify the information that these departments provide during this process.

City Clerk's Office

Voting Information for Nov. 5 Election

Are you ready for Election Day? Cast your ballot, in person at any vote center or vote by mail drop box on or before November 5, 2024! Below are CD5-specific locations, but check out the full list of in-person vote centers and vote by mail drop boxes in Long Beach! Learn more at longbeach.gov/cityclerk.

On August 6, 2024, the City Council unanimously adopted a Resolution which approved placing three items on the November 5, 2024 ballot, Measures JB, LB, HC. We encourage all voters to do their research on these measures and more before casting their vote. You can visit the City Clerk’s website for impartial analysis, arguments for and against, and FAQs.

CD5 In-person Vote Centers

Open Oct. 26 – Nov. 4: 10am – 7pm & Nov. 5: 7am – 8pm

Long Beach City College

Multi-Purpose Room – T1200 4901 E Carson St, 90808

CD5 In-person Vote Centers

Open Nov. 2 – Nov. 4: 10am – 7pm & Nov. 5: 7am – 8pm

Dana Neighborhood Library Community Room 3680 Atlantic Ave, 90807

Pan American Park Gymnasium 5157 E Centralia St, 90808

Wardlow Park

Social Hall

3457 Stanbridge Ave, 90808

CD5 Vote By Mail Drop Boxes

Open now – Nov. 5: ballots must be received by 8pm

Dana Neighborhood Library

3680 Atlantic Ave. 90807

Heartwell Park Community Center

5801 Parkcrest St, 90808

Wardlow Park

3457 Stanbridge Ave, 90808

District 5 Aquarium Night

Save the Date for a Free Aquarium night! | Nov. 13

Save the date for District 5’s Aquarium Night! The Aquarium of the Pacific is allowing free entry for District 5 residents on Wednesday, November 13th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. We will have a limited number of entries available, so keep an eye out in future newsletters for the registration link as the date approaches. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Public Works Dept.

Organics Collection

Public Works began the Phase 1 rollout of the Organics Collection Program last week. This is a new program for everyone, including city staff, so patience is appreciated as the rollout continues! The Public Works Dept is experiencing a high volume of calls to their call center and wait times are longer than usual. If you have questions regarding the new green and blue cart deliveries, email them to LBOrganics@longbeach.gov. For other trash and recycling requests or reports visit Long Beach Recycles’ Refuse page.

Long Beach Police Dept.

Robbery Series Investigation & Arrests

Last week, LBPD announced that robbery detectives have made several arrests related to multiple robberies of victims who were minors that occurred in May 2024 on the east side of District 5. Thank you to community members who supported the investigation with anonymous tips and thank you to our hardworking detectives in the LBPD for working the case and apprehending the suspects! Read the recent press release for more details.

Long Beach Public Library

Catalog System Upgrade Coming Nov. 6

The Long Beach Public Library is upgrading their catalog system! This enhancement will improve access to their collection, expand search capabilities, and enrich your overall library experience—both online and in person. The upgraded system will function similarly to the current one, but will include enhanced features such as additional filtering options for easier searches and the ability to create and save specific searches and lists in your account.

The upgrade process began on Monday, Oct. 7, and will continue through Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. The new system will go live on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Most library services will remain available during this upgrade, including checking out items and accessing digital resources like OverDrive, Libby, Hoopla, and Udemy. Our library programs, computers, Wi-Fi, study rooms, and meeting rooms will also continue to be accessible.

Please note the following temporary changes during the upgrade:

LBPL are not accepting new hold requests, but existing holds will still be fulfilled.

No new items will be added to the catalog until the new system goes live.

From Oct. 25 to Nov. 5, we will not be able to check in materials or process payments, or update account information. Due dates have been extended, so please hold onto your checked-out items until the new system is live on November 6.

The library’s app will be inaccessible from Oct. 26 to Nov. 5. You can check the catalog at www.lbpl.org or call your local branch for availability information.

Important Security Note: Your current library PIN is encrypted and will not migrate to the new system. Starting Nov. 6, the last four digits of your registered phone number will serve as your default PIN. If you have any issues or wish to reset it, please click “I forgot my passcode” in the library catalog or call any branch during open hours.

In preparation for the new system, all branches will be closed to the public on Monday, November 4.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at 562.570.7500, email lbpl_reference@lbpl.org, or visit any library branch. For more information on programs, events, and resources, please visit our website at www.lbpl.org. Thank you for your understanding and support during this exciting transition!