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(562) 570 5555 | district5@longbeach.gov | |
Weekly Updates & Happy Father's Day | |
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Happy Friday, District 5! To all fathers and father-figures, I wish you a happy Father’s Day! This Sunday, we remember and thank all fathers and father-figures for everything they have done and continue to do to provide and care for their families. To those able to celebrate together, I wish you a warm and cheerful day of familial love and appreciation!
On this upcoming Wednesday, I wish you all a happy Juneteenth! This holiday commemorates June 19, 1895, the day news of President Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation finally made its way to the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, and more than 250,000 enslaved Black people were freed by the executive decree. Join neighbors in joyful celebration at Rainbow Lagoon with this year’s Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 15th! Note: the City of Long Beach observes Juneteenth as an official holiday; on Wednesday, June 19th, several city services and facilities will be closed, including our CD5 office.
At Council this week, my colleagues and I voted on Item 28 and Item 29, the first of the agreements for Long Beach locations to be used in the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. We also heard Item 30, a presentation on potential revenue measures to explore through the November ballot. On Tuesday afternoon, I also heard presentations on Inclusionary Housing and Missing Middle Housing in Long Beach at the Housing & Public Health Committee meeting. See below for more details regarding these items.
Earlier this week, Mayor Richardson announced the recipients of the 2024 Keys to the City! One of the recipients, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, will be giving a special free/low-cost performance on Tuesday, June 18th at 8pm at the Long Beach Terrace Theater. See below for more information.
Looking for activities in CD5 this weekend? On Saturday, June 15th, join neighbors in celebrating Philippines Independence Day with traditional music and dance, authentic food and drink, and more, at the Filipino Festival at LBX from 12pm – 6pm. On Saturday from 11am – 4pm, you can also head over to LBCC for the Grand Opening of the JumpStart Artist Gallery. The free, family-friendly event is a chance for people of all ages and skill levels to explore their creativity through a variety of art activities led by local artists, to view the works in the gallery, to enjoy live music and performances by local talent, and to support local vendors.
Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the upcoming FAA Webinar to be held on Tuesday, June 25th from 5pm – 7pm. Registration for the online meeting is now available. See below for more details. That same week, save the date to attend the Ribbon Cutting at the El Dorado Park West Duck Pond on Thursday, June 27th at noon! See below to learn more about these and other upcoming events.
Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, June 18th at 5pm in the City Hall Chambers. A list of items of interest can be found at the bottom of this newsletter. I encourage you to attend or watch online.
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,
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Megan Kerr, Councilwoman
Long Beach, District 5
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Upcoming Meetings & Events | |
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Recent Council & Committee Items
Items 28 & 29: Olympics & Paralympics Venue Use Agreements
As we prepare for the LA’28 Olympics and Paralympics, Long Beach is poised to serve as the major aquatic center for the upcoming events. We are on track to become the largest venue city outside of Los Angeles. Last week's Items 28 and 29 begin to establish the usage and impact the games will have on our city. The presentation focusing on Marine Stadium can be found here, and the presentation on the additional venues (the Long Beach Convention Center, the Alamitos Beach Waterfront, and the Belmont Shore Beach Area) is here.
Further details on impacts to residents, businesses, and public spaces will become available as LA’28 develops its event plans and navigates the Coastal Commission’s permitting process. See the FAQ sheet provided for current info as of this week. LA’28 is expected to finalize the Games schedule this summer, at which time the specific sporting events hosted in Long Beach will be detailed. Watch the meeting’s video to hear the full presentation and discussion.
Item 30: Potential Additional Revenue Sources
As we forecast a budget deficit in the years ahead, the city is looking to explore potential additional revenue measures, so we can feel confident and secure in our ability to maintain the basic services and address the basic needs of the community. The City Manager’s office presented us with a few local revenue options to consider moving forward. I encourage you to review the item details and presentation, where you can find the options outlined and grouped by how they may impact the city.
Note, no votes were cast by Council on any of the presented measures; the presentation was informational, to educate Council and the public on the research done thus far to make these recommendations, and for staff to receive feedback. We expect another discussion in August, for the Council vote to potentially add a measure to come before voters on the November ballot. Watch the meeting’s video to hear the full presentation and discussion.
Housing & Public Health Committee
At the Housing and Public Health Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 11th, we heard presentations from the Community Development Department regarding the current state of Long Beach’s Inclusionary Housing Policy, the concept of Missing Middle Housing, and policy recommendations related to each.
Both of these presentations provided us with information and context on some of the gaps in housing accessibility and affordability throughout Long Beach as we continue to face a housing crisis. Hearing these presentations at the committee meeting allows us to provide the information as public record and allows for public discourse on potential policy changes and recommendations from staff before they are taken to Council for a vote. I encourage all who are interested in learning more about Inclusionary Zoning and Missing Middle Housing to review the item details and presentations or watch the recorded meeting and discussion.
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Office of Mayor Richardson
June 18th | 2024 Keys to the City Presentation Event
This week, Mayor Richardson announced the recipients of the 2024 Keys to the City: Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Samuel “Skip” and Beth Keesal, and Rev. Dr. Leon and Paula Wood! The latter two couples will be presented with their keys at the upcoming City Council meeting on June 18th. At 8pm, Fluffy will perform a special low-cost/free show at the Long Beach Terrace Theater, where Mayor Richardson will present him with his key.
Public general admission tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster for $15. Our office also has a limited number of free tickets reserved for CD5 youth aged 16 - 24, available on a first-come-first-served basis. With only a limited amount, we cannot guarantee free admission, but please reach out to our office to inquire about the availability of these reserved tickets!
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This special event will also feature a youth-focused job and resource fair starting at 6:30 p.m., food trucks, and bars available for those over 21.
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Parks, Recreation, & Marine
June 27th | Ribbon Cutting for the El Dorado Park West Duck Pond
Mayor Rex Richardson, Councilman Daryl Supernaw, and the Departments of Parks, Recreation and Marine and Public Works invite you to attend the El Dorado Duck Pond Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at
12:00 p.m. at El Dorado Park West (2400 N. Studebaker Road).
The El Dorado Duck Pond project will improve public access, convert the pond into a recycled water reservoir, and upgrade the walkway surrounding the pond.
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The project will provide a new reclaimed water system to the adjacent golf course reducing the use of potable water. Visitors will experience improved water quality, enhanced habitat, and see enlarged wetlands and forebay areas.
For more information regarding this event, please contact Brent Dennis, Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine, at (562) 570-3170 or Brent.Dennis@longbeach.gov.
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Port of Long Beach
CD5 Community Day - Green Port Harbor Tour
The Port of Long Beach is offering a Harbor Tour for a limited number of CD5 residents on July 25th!
Join us for a Green Port Harbor Tour to see world-leading environmental sustainability projects at the Port of Long Beach.
Registration is required no later than July 3rd, so be sure to request your ticket via this form today!
Please note that we have a limited number of tickets available—filling out the form does not guarantee your ticket. Confirmation emails will be sent out in advance of the event.
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Federal Aviation Administration
June 25th | Public Informational Webinar
On May 14th, we received notice that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and LGB will cohost a public informational webinar on Tuesday, June 25th from 5pm - 7pm. On June 10th, we received notice of the final details and instructions for joining the webinar.
Registration for the webinar is now available at the FAA Community Engagement website and via this direct link.
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Registration is not required to attend, however registering early allows attendees to submit questions before the webinar. Attendees may also submit questions during the webinar via the chat feature. The event will be recorded and available for later viewing on YouTube.
In addition, the FAA recently posted a Community Education Series of videos to share with communities and address aviation concerns, including topics related to aircraft noise. A variety of factors contribute to aircraft noise that may cause disturbance for residents near airports and below flight paths. In this series, the FAA discusses the causes of noise exposure and how the FAA is collaborating with airports, operators, and communities to address it.
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Long Beach Police Department
Congrats to Newly Promoted LBPD Commanders!
Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish has selected Norma Carrillo and Jeremy Boshnack for promotion to the rank of Commander, effective June 1, 2024.
Commander Norma Carrillo joined the Long Beach Police Department as a police recruit in 2000. She was promoted to sergeant in 2018 and to lieutenant in 2022. She has played a crucial role in the LBPD’s Peer Support Program, Cadet Program, and Baker to Vegas team, serving as a Vice President and runner throughout her career.
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Commander Carrillo is also active in the community, participating in various events for the Southern California Special Olympics.
Commander Jeremy Boshnack began his career with the Long Beach Department as a police recruit in 2007. He was promoted to sergeant in 2017 and to lieutenant in 2022. Throughout his career, Commander Boshnack has worked to address gun violence in the City of Long Beach. He was awarded Employee of the Year in 2015 for his tenacious fieldwork to reduce violent crime and, since then, has spearheaded numerous projects to take illegal guns off the streets.
Congratulations to both of these newly promoted Commanders! Thank you for your continued dedicated service to the Long Beach community!
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McBride High School
Congrats Class of 2024!
Yesterday, McBride High's Class of 2024 celebrated their graduation! Congratulations to the class of more than 150 hardworking students! We look forward to each of your bright and successful futures. Wherever your paths may take you next, we know you'll continue to make District 5 proud!
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Pacific Gateway
Applications Now Open for Public Service Fellowship through Pacific Gateway
The Long Beach Public Service Corps program provides college students interested in pursuing careers in local government, nonprofit management and public service an opportunity to engage in paid fellowship opportunities across City departments, allowing participants to gain practical experience and develop the skills necessary for various in-demand occupations.
Pictured here is Jayden, recent CSULB graduate and our team's Public Service Fellow who has been assisting in our office and gaining valuable experience for a future in Public Service!
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Applications for the second cohort are available now through Friday, June 30, 2024. Learn more at in the recent press release or at longbeach.gov/psc. | | |
Long Beach Animal Care Services
LBACS Needs Your Help!
This week, LB Animal Care Services announced that their animal shelters are at capacity and they need your help! There are currently no new available kennels for new dogs arriving, You can help by adopting, fostering, or working with rescues in the community!
Every 4th of July, shelters experience an increase in incoming dogs as pets flee their homes in fear of fireworks. The sudden bright flashes and loud noises can cause animals to run into roadways, resulting in unsafe conditions for both animals and drivers.
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When animal shelter admissions surge due to pets lost because of fireworks, finding space becomes a challenge.
You can make a difference by short-term fostering an adoptable dog or cat, creating space for incoming animals during the Independence Day holiday. Your support helps the shelter, the community's animals, and the families of those lost pets, giving them time to reunite with their beloved companions.
Learn more about how you can help at longbeach.gov/acs!
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Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine to Offer Free Recreation Programs Starting June 17 | | |
City of Long Beach Announces Early Childhood Development Workshop Series for Families & Caregivers | | |
Long Beach Parks, Recreation, & Marine Announces Long Beach Municipal Band 2024 Summer Concert Season "Music to My Ears" | | |
City Celebrates Opening of New Affordable Housing Community | | |
City of Long Beach Launches Elevate '28 Website | | |
City Provides Tips to Prevent the Spread of Mosquito-Borne Diseases | | |
Long Beach Parks, Recreation, & Marine to Offer Free Summer Food Service Program for Children June 17 - August 23 | | |
Office of Youth Development Announces Youth Power Participatory Budgeting Long Beach 2024 Awardees | | |
Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. June 18, 2024, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
Item 1 (Item Details) 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 meetings on July 2nd, July 9th, and July 23rd.
Item 15 (Item Details) Recommendation to adopt resolution to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with Everytable, of Los Angeles, CA, for meal delivery services for the Encampment Resolution Fund Motel Voucher Program. (Districts 1, 2)
Item 17 (Item Details) Recommendation to continue the local emergency regarding an outbreak of Tuberculosis (TB) pursuant to Section 2.69.060 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. (Citywide)
Item 23 (Item Details) Recommendation to adopt resolution to amend Purchase Order No. 22401356 and enter into a contract with Spay Neuter Project of Los Angeles, dba Community Animal Medicine Project (CAMP), of San Pedro, CA, for providing spay/neuter veterinary services. (Citywide)
Item 24 (Item Details) Recommendation to amend Contract No. 35644 with PP-CA LP dba Long Beach Animal Emergency, of Long Beach, CA, for providing emergency veterinary services and extend the term of the contract to September 30, 2025. (Citywide)
Item 29 (Item Details) Recommendation to amend Contract No. 36729 with Forensic Nurse Specialists, Inc., of Los Alamitos, CA, for Sexual Assault Response Team services. (Citywide)
Item 33 (Item Details) Recommendation to request Public Works Department to initiate a 12-month pilot study of electric scooters on the Beach Bike Path to determine the long-term viability of the safe use and management of this eco-friendly shared mode of transportation on the Path.
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