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(562) 570 5555 | district5@longbeach.gov | |
Weekly Updates | Mar. 07, 2025 | |
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Happy Friday, District 5! March is underway, which means it’s officially Women’s History Month! I hope you’ll take the opportunity this month to learn about and show your appreciation for all the incredible contributions made by influential women here in Long Beach and around the world. As we get into this week’s updates, keep an eye out below for information from the Community Development, Animal Care Services, and Fire departments.
At Council on Tuesday, I brought forth Item 30, which passed as a directive for the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to increase the fine structure for violators of our Airport’s Noise Ordinance, as well as to correct outdated language. Though perhaps a small step, it is certainly in the right direction as this action follows one of the seven recommendations to help mitigate community concerns around general aviation, as outlined by city staff in the 10/31/23 GA Report and its subsequent updates. The proposed amendments will come before Council in the coming weeks.
Earlier this week, Community Development Department staff informed us that the resources and materials presented at the recent community meeting regarding the proposed development at Wardlow & Cerritos are now available online. Please see the info block below for details.
This weekend, there are a number of ways to spend time in CD5, including by joining me and my office at our District 5 Day at Rancho Los Cerritos, this Sunday, March 9th! RSVP today to secure your entry to the Rancho as early as 11:30am on Sunday, to tour and explore the historic grounds with neighbors before public hours open at 1pm. Additionally, you can enjoy and support the local community by attending First Fridays in Bixby Knolls tonight, March 7th, from 6:30 – 9:30pm, as well as tomorrow, March 8th, at Second Saturdays in Parkview Village from noon to 3pm, or the Springtime Bloom Market at LBX from noon to 7pm.
Looking ahead, save the date for Monarch Day of Action at Willow Springs Park on Saturday, March 15th, where you can learn about Monarch Butterflies and help plant native pollinators to support their natural habitat. Mark your calendars, as well, for our next District 5 Dump Day on Saturday, March 29th! As spring often spurs cleaning sprees, our office is partnering with Public Works to provide dumpsters at 3 locations across District 5 so residents can dispose of large, bulky items that take up space and don’t fit in your regular refuse bin. See the flyers below for more details on these and other upcoming events.
Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 5pm in the City Hall Chambers. The full agenda as well as 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.
Working together,
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Megan Kerr, Councilwoman
Long Beach, District 5
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Community Development Department
Wardlow/Cerritos Recent Meeting Resources
Thank you again to everyone who attended the recent meeting regarding the proposed affordable housing community at Wardlow & Cerritos. Materials from the meeting are now posted on the Community Development Department's website, including the presentation slides, the open house boards from each feedback station, an audio recording of the presentation and town hall comments, and the project FAQ sheet that was distributed at the meeting.
City staff are now processing the written and verbal feedback provided. As discussed at the meeting, all feedback is being considered, and staff anticipate additional changes to the project based on feedback. More information on the process and next steps can be found in the linked materials.
We will continue to amplify updates regarding this project in our weekly newsletters.
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Rancho Los Cerritos
Join Us for District 5 Day at Rancho Los Cerritos | March 9
Join us for District 5 Day at Rancho Los Cerritos on Sunday, March 9th!
In partnership with RLC, our office is organizing a local community event to encourage residents to visit the beautiful and historic Rancho grounds right here in CD5. RLC will be opening early, at 11:30am, for CD5 residents to enjoy the grounds before they open for regular hours at 1pm. We hope you'll join us for a day of rich history, vibrant culture, and immersive scenery. RSVP today!
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Public Works
Free Shred Event | March 8
The City of Long Beach Public Works Department is hosting a free shred event to help residents securely dispose of confidential documents.
Saturday, March 8
Veterans Memorial Stadium
4901 E. Conant St. (enter on Conant)
Visit lbcity.info/shredevent for more details about what to bring. For questions, please contact lbrecycles@longbeach.gov.
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Long Beach Animal Care Services
City Announces Project to Provide Free Spay & Neuter Services to Community Cats | Grand Opening March 29
The City of Long Beach Animal Care Services, in partnership with The Little Lion Foundation, is launching the Long Beach Community Cat Project. This project, a first of its kind in the city, is focused on significantly reducing the overpopulation of free-roaming community cats in Long Beach and its service cities of Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Signal Hill by providing free and accessible sterilization surgeries and animal care resources to community cats.
Community cats are free-roaming cats that live outdoors. These cats are often cared for by one or more people and range from friendly, social cats to unsocial feral cats. A high population of community cats contributes to a strain on animal shelter systems and resources.
This program will serve to alleviate those challenges by reducing animal overpopulation and therefore reducing the number of cats and kittens entering the Long Beach shelter system. With an annual goal to spay and neuter 2,500 free-roaming cats in 2025, this initiative represents a proactive, humane and cost-effective solution to an important community issue.
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The Little Lion Foundation headquarters will serve as the operating hub for this project and LBACS will serve in a supportive role by providing payment vouchers and will work with community partners to address high breeding areas of community cats.
Community members and animal serving organizations with community cats are encouraged to participate in this program to help support the City’s goal of drastically reducing community cat overpopulation. Those interested may submit an application at The Little Lion Foundation website or call LBACS at 562.570.7387 for more information.
To celebrate the project launch, the City and The Little Lion Foundation invite the community to a grand opening event and ribbon-cutting ceremony, taking place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at The Little Lion Foundation headquarters (1179 E. Wardlow Rd.). Review the recent press release to learn more.
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Health & Human Services
Nominations Open for 2nd Year of Veterans Banner Program
The Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is accepting nominations for the second year of the Long Beach Veterans Banner Program.
Last year, 25 veterans were honored with individual banners displayed on Carson Street between Clark Avenue and Woodruff Avenue. This year, up to 60 veteran nominees will be selected for the program. The Health Department’s Office of Veterans Support, in collaboration with the Long Beach Veterans Commission, will oversee the selection of banners to be displayed at various locations throughout Long Beach for one year, beginning in summer 2025.
The community is encouraged to nominate any veteran, living or deceased, who served honorably and meets one of the following eligibility criteria:
- Born or raised in Long Beach.
- Currently working or previously worked in Long Beach.
- Currently residing or previously resided in Long Beach.
- Educated in Long Beach.
- Formerly stationed or worked at the Long Beach Naval Station or Shipyard, the Long Beach Naval Hospital or the Long Beach Armory.
Nominations for the Veterans Banner Program are now open and will be accepted through March 31, 2025. Review the recent press release to learn more and apply!
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CD5 Community Shout Out
Congrats to Troop 134's Newest Eagle Scouts!
Last weekend, three young community members achieved their goals of becoming Troop 134’s newest Eagle Scouts! CD5 residents Samuel and Nicholas, and Patrick from nearby Lakewood, have dedicated years to learning the skills and values that all Scouts pledge to live by—all while enjoying the adventures and strong friendships made along the way.
They have contributed to their communities with countless volunteer hours, and each found a way to make a positive impact with their Eagle Scout projects. Samuel’s project created an Educational Butterfly Garden at the Lakewood Equestrian Center to promote the benefits of gardening with native plants to support local wildlife like Monarch Butterflies; Nicholas’ project was also centered around the Lakewood Equestrian Center, where he created shelters for feral/community cats for the dual benefit of providing a safe haven for the cats who in turn help manage the local rodent population, reducing the need for harmful pest control methods; and Patrick’s project supported his high school’s theater program, as he led a renovation of Lakewood High’s theater tech booth to create a safer, more functional space for students and staff. Congratulations Samuel, Nicholas, and Patrick, and thank you for your contributions to the betterment of our communities!
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Long Beach Exchange
Welcome New Business at LBX: Urbane Café
Earlier today, March 7th, Urbane Café celebrated their grand opening at LBX! You can help them celebrate and give back to the local community, with their “Share the Love” event tomorrow, March 8th, where you can dine and donate to help support the Assistance League of Long Beach. All throughout the month, Urbane Café is finding ways to show appreciation for hardworking community members such as teachers, healthcare workers, service members, and students. Be sure to sign up here or check out the flyers below to participate in these deals and events, and join me in welcoming Urbane Café to CD5!
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Upcoming Meetings & Events | |
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Long Beach Issues Rain Advisory Due to Recent Showers | |  |
City Recognizes March as National Procurement Month | | |
Long Beach to Host Veteran and Service Member Job Fair on Thursday, April 17 | | |
Long Beach to Host Virtual Community Meeting for 1st Street Pedestrian Improvements Project | | |
Memos to the Mayor & Council
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Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. March 11, 2025, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
FULL AGENDA
Item 1 Recommendation to provide a contribution to the following organizations:
- Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association in support of the renovation and creation of a community board room;
- Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership in support of their Long Beach Gives event;
- Conservation Corps of Long Beach in support of their Dine on Pine event;
- United Cambodian Community in support of the Sankranta event;
- Lakewood Village Little League in support of their ongoing programming and support their ongoing mission;
- Uptown Long Beach Youth Baseball in support of their ongoing programming and support their ongoing mission;
- Friends of the Long Beach Firefighters (Item Details)
Item 8 Recommendation to execute all documents necessary for a Second Amendment to Lease No. 35645 with GCC Long Beach, LLC. (Landlord), for the City of Long Beach’s continued use of 2019 East Wardlow Road as a temporary Fire Station 9 for 12 additional months through March 31, 2026. (Item Details)
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