District 5 Office

CD5 Community Meeting | Thursday, Feb. 26

Join us for the next CD5 Community Meeting, being held on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6pm at the Expo Arts Center (4321 Atlantic Ave), where we will be joined by Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan, as well as the Community Crisis Response (CCR) Team.

While not required, we ask that you please RSVP to help us prepare adequate seating. We hope to see you there!

Public Works Department

Studebaker Rd. Transformation Project Latest Updates

This week, Public Works informed our office that street construction pertaining to the Studebaker Rd. Transformation project is scheduled to begin on Monday, Feb. 23rd in the “Segment 3 area,” between the I-405 and Wardlow Rd. While this segment is mainly located within the Fourth District and along our shared Council District boundaries, we know many residents utilize this corridor for travel to and from the I-405 and El Dorado Park.

Construction activities are scheduled to take place Mondays – Fridays from 7am to 4pm. “No Parking” signs will be posted a minimum of three days prior to the start of construction in affected areas. As work gets underway, be sure to drive carefully, follow all posted signage, and plan ahead for potential delays in traffic.

As a reminder, this segment indicates the beginning of “Phase 1” of the multi-phased transformation project. As construction progresses through additional phases, particularly those segments affecting the Fifth District, our office will continue to amplify updates as we receive them from Public Works. In the meantime, learn more about the project and sign up for direct updates from Public Works at the project website.

Long Beach Police Department

Coffee with a Cop, North Division | Feb. 18

Join LBPD’s North Division officers for a Coffee with a Cop! On Wednesday, Feb. 18th, stop by the Starbucks at Cherry Ave. and Del Amo Blvd. from 10am – 12pm to enjoy coffee, have a conversation, and share concerns with the local LBPD officers that patrol your area.

District 5 extends through multiple LBPD patrol divisions. Unsure where you land? Check out this map to find out!

Community Development Department

Zone In: Bixby Project Hearing at Planning Commission | Feb. 19

After more than two years of engagement and technical work, the final proposal for Zone In: Bixby is officially scheduled for a Planning Commission hearing on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at 5pm in the City Hall Chambers.

The official Notice of Public Hearing (NPH) and the zoning and Land Use Element maps for the project are available for public review at all Long Beach Public Library branches as well online at the Planning Commission's NPH webpage.

For those looking to provide input leading up to the hearing, you can submit public comments to the Planning Commission by emailing PlanningCommission@longbeach.gov. Additionally, we encourage all who may be interested in continued updates on this project to sign up for the Community Development Department’s project email list and/or review the project webpage for more information. 

Recent Council Items

Item 14: Presentation on "Response Strategy for Individuals Displaying Unsafe or Non-Criminal Threatening Behavior"

At the Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, Item 14 provided my colleagues and I, as well as the public, with an overview of the City’s ongoing response strategies for calls for service regarding individuals displaying unsafe or non-threatening criminal behavior. Not all calls to police dispatch regarding “threatening behavior” stem from criminal intent, therefore police units may not always be the best response to resolve or deescalate a situation. Many times, these behaviors arise from complex social and behavioral health needs, and a better course of action may include ensuring individuals can be connected to beneficial, long-term resources and services.

The presentation provided some definitions that help determine whether threatening behavior is considered criminal, as well as recent crime statistics, dispatch procedures, and the many non-emergency response programs and services available through our Health, Police, and other city departments. While many of these programs and resources do great work, some only operate within designated times of day, and as a city we still face challenges around limited staffing capacity and coverage, constitutional and legal considerations, and the overall variability of perceived threats. No policy actions were taken at this time, but staff provided recommendations for opportunities and methods to improve upon these systems. We expect an additional report back with an assessment of the opportunity to expand or adjust hours for some programs to better serve the needs of our communities. Learn more by reviewing the item, presentation, discussion at Tuesday’s meeting, and/or the recent staff report on the same topic.

While it is helpful for residents to stay informed of the various resources and teams that may be dispatched to a call for service, it is ultimately the responsibility of the dispatcher to call for the most appropriate unit depending on the nature of the call and the resources available at that time. If you find yourself in one of these situations, it is still best to call the non-emergency dispatch line at 562-435-6711, or 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.

Bye Bye Mattress

Free Mattress Recycling

If you are planning to be one of the many mattress shoppers this Presidents Day weekend, remember that there are some no-cost, easy ways to keep your unwanted one out of the landfill or from becoming illegally dumped in our community.

As a reminder, the City of Long Beach offers free 24/7 Mattress Drop Off Service located at 970 W. Chester Place, as a safe and sustainable option to dispose of unused mattresses 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no cost to residents. Learn more at the program webpage. You can also learn about additional options to properly dispose of mattresses including retailer take back, recycling options, and more at ByeByeMattress.com.

LA County Emergency Rent Relief Program

Applications Open Now - March 11

Help with housing costs is available now! If emergency-related hardship caused past-due rent or mortgage payments, the Los Angeles County Emergency Rent Relief Program (LAERRP) is open as of Monday, February 9th.

LAERRP provides financial assistance to help eligible tenants and landlords cover past-due rent and related housing costs due to emergency financial hardship. Tenants and landlords are encouraged to review eligibility requirements and apply between now and March 11th by visiting lacountyrentrelief.com. 

Southern California Association of Governments

Applications Open Now - March 11

At my recent Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) meeting, they announced that applications for the 2026 SCAG Scholarship Program have opened up.

This scholarship program will award nine $4,000 scholarships to high school or community college students from the SCAG region. Students of any field of study are encouraged to apply, with preference for applications demonstrating a commitment to community planning, regional planning, urban planning, civil engineering, political science, public administration, sustainable development, or related fields. Interested students can apply now through March 20th. For additional details about the program requirements and to access the application, visit scag.ca.gov/scholarship. Please share this program fact sheet with high school and community college students who may wish to learn more. 

City of Long Beach

City Seeking Input to Improve Access & Participation in City Council Meetings

The City of Long Beach is inviting residents, community-based organizations, and local business owners to share feedback on how to increase participation in Long Beach City Council meetings, and how to make meetings more accessible to the whole community. Submit your feedback through this survey, designed to help the City better understand how people currently participate in City Council meetings and identify barriers that may prevent community engagement.

The online survey is open now through Friday, March 20th. Paper versions of the survey will also be available through the City Clerk’s Office at upcoming City Council and Commission meetings at City Hall. 

Long Beach Utilities

Gas Surveys on Residential Meters

Maintaining their commitment to public safety, Long Beach Utilities (LBU) will start conducting surveys on residential gas meters beginning this month. This is part of a 3-year maintenance schedule LBU abides by, to inspect every residential gas meter in the city. These surveys are a proactive safety measure designed to identify and prevent gas leaks and corrosion, and can help ensure the long-term integrity of your gas service, early detection of potential issues before they become hazards, and compliance with federal and state safety regulations.

In the coming weeks, trained LBU technicians may periodically visit your property to perform these quick and non-invasive surveys. Conducting the survey may require LBU employees to enter your property line, but they will never demand to enter the inside of the physical structure of your home. Gas meters and associated infrastructure are often found in areas such as front-, side-, and/or backyards, and LBU staff will need access to these areas to conduct a full inspection of a natural gas meter. All LBU technicians are required carry 2 forms of employee identification and may provide supervisor contact information upon request. Learn more about gas inspections and natural gas safety at lbutilities.org.

Energy & Environmental Services

Ongoing Blue Recycling Bin Exchange

As a reminder, the ongoing blue recycling cart exchange as required by Senate Bill 1383 began earlier this month. Check out our reminder flyer for some reminders on why this exchange is occurring and what to expect!

Visit the city webpage for more information, as well as an interactive map that will show you your address’ anticipated exchange date throughout the 6 – 8 month process.