Weekly Updates | May 2, 2025 | | |
Happy Friday, District 5! May is upon us, and with it comes a number of month-long commemorations, such as Older Americans Month and Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, to name few. See below for details on how to celebrate and get involved at free citywide events all month long, in addition to other updates from city departments.
Looking for things to do in District 5 this weekend? You can start tonight, May 2nd, by attending First Fridays in Bixby Knolls for an “Arte de Mayo” themed celebration up and down the Atlantic Ave business corridor. Then tomorrow, May 3rd, you can begin your AAPI Heritage celebrations with a “hAAPI Market” in Norse Way Village from 10am – 2pm. On Sunday, you can return to Norse Way for a spring clothing swap from noon to 4pm, before finishing out the weekend with KUBO LB’s AAPI Romance Writers author talk on Atlantic Ave from 4pm – 6pm. Learn more in the flyers below!
As you plan for next week, I encourage you to save the dates for the next Coffee with a Cop, East Division at the LBX Dunkin Donuts on Wednesday, May 7th; the next Artist Workshop at Rancho Los Cerritos on Saturday, May 10th; and the opening night of the Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s 2025 New Works Festival on Saturday, May 10th, featuring a trio of staged readings of new plays directed, designed, and performed by our talented local university students. See 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, May 6, 2025, at 5pm in the City Hall Chambers. The full agenda and 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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Long Beach Police Department
Coffee with a Cop - East Division | May 7
Join LBPD's East Division at Dunkin Donuts for Coffee With a Cop! Meet your local officers, ask questions, and stay connected with your community. Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, May 7
5pm - 6:30pm
Dunkin Donuts
3061 Lakewood Blvd, 90808
Not sure which LBPD Patrol Division you're in? Check out this map to find out!
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District 5 Office & American Red Cross
Blood Drives in CD5! May 16 & May 30
Join us and make a difference in your community by donating blood at one (or both) of our upcoming blood drives!
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Friday, May 16th from 9:00am - 3:00pm at the Expo Arts Center (4321 Atlantic Ave).
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Friday, May 30th from 9:00am - 3:00pm at the Wardlow Park Community Center (3457 Stanbridge Ave).
For both of these drives, every donor will receive a $20 e-gift card via email and will automatically be entered into a sweepstakes to win a trip for 2 anywhere in the US! Sign up to donate blood today!
| | To schedule an appointment at either location, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code CD5 or click here. To learn more about the American Red Cross RapidPass, click here. | | | |
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Long Beach Fire Department
Hybrid CERT Training
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, LBFD will offer a hybrid Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training session. The CERT program equips community members with essential emergency preparedness and response skills, enabling them to assist neighbors, coworkers, and professional first responders during times of crisis. This is a valuable opportunity to gain life-saving knowledge and play a crucial role in building a more resilient community. We encourage all interested individuals to register and take part in this important training.
- Location: 3861 Worsham Ave, Long Beach, CA 90808
- Time: 7:45 AM – 7:00 PM. Registration will begin promptly at 7:45 AM and close at 8:00 AM. The training session will start immediately at 8:00 AM.
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To ensure compliance with the training requirements, FEMA requires that all participants complete or retake the FEMA online course within six months before attending the in-person skills training. As the number of available spots is limited and the demand is high, the training will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested and want to be included on the attendee’s roster, please complete the training online in advance. Be sure to follow these instructions to ensure you complete the correct course. Once completed, please email a copy of your certificate to CERT@longbeach.gov to register for the upcoming training session. If you have any questions or need additional information, email CERT@longbeach.gov.
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Parks, Recreation, & Marine Department | |
May is Older Americans Month!
During the month of May, the Parks, Recreation, & Marine (PRM) department will be celebrating Older American’s Month! From crafting to dancing, sports to hidden talents, as well as informational resources, there’s something for everyone in May, with a host of free events for residents aged 50+.
See the flyer for more details, and note, those events marked with stars require advance registration! Read this newsletter or call the park location for each event for more information.
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Youth Invited to Give Input in Survey on Park Programs & Amenities
The PRM and Health Depts have launched a youth community survey to promote and enhance physical and social activity in parks for middle school-aged youth looking for a safe space for recreation, exercise, and connection with peers. This survey is now open through Thursday, May 22nd, and will engage middle school youth ages 11 to 14 with questions about how local parks can support their health and well-being by enhancing resources and programs. Youth who fill out the survey online or in person will be eligible for a chance to win prizes such as t-shirts, hats, or gift cards from local vendors. Learn more in the recent press release or at lbparks.org.
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Long Beach Public Library
May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month!
The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) will host its annual celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, May 1 – 31, 2025, through a variety of engaging and educational programs that honor the rich cultural traditions, histories, and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Long Beach.
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Check out LBPL’s dedicated webpage for more information on events and activities all month long, from the AAPI Heritage Month Kick-Off Celebration tomorrow, May 3rd at BJK Main Library, to the Grand Opening of LBPL’s Filipino American Cultural Heritage Collection being celebrated on Saturday, May 31st at Harte Neighborhood Library!
Additionally, visit LBPL’s Reflections of Long Beach page for at-home activities and resources to explore and engage with the local AAPI community!
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District 5 Office
Latest Updates on Orange Ave Backbone Bikeway Project
Earlier this week, I met with Public Works Director Eric Lopez for our monthly departmental briefing, during which I expressed the concerns that many neighbors have shared about the Orange Ave. Backbone Bikeway project, particularly those around ADA/accessibility concerns, traffic calming and street safety, and parking, to name a few. Director Lopez assured me that he is taking the feedback with thoughtful consideration as he shares with the design team.
The next step from here will be for Public Works staff to present a recommendation to Council, which can be expected sometime this summer. My office and I will not have any new information until staff presents their recommendation to Council, during which time there will be opportunity Councilmember discussions and for residents to make public comment on the recommendation given. Following Council approval this summer, the project will go out to bid, then construction.
We will keep you informed once a Council date for the staff presentation is confirmed, should you wish to watch, attend, and/or provide public comment. In the meantime, you can continue to find information related to the project, as well as continue to submit feedback and questions, at the Public Works page: longbeach.gov/orangeaveproject.
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Public Works Department
May is Bike Month!
May is Bike Month! The City of Long Beach and local community groups are hosting events every week to bring neighborhoods together and encourage bicycling.
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This year’s events include community rides (like the BKBIA’s Kidical Mass on Sunday, May 18), workshops, and even the highly anticipated Beach Streets Open Streets event, next Saturday, May 10th! In the spirit of Bike Month, attendees are encouraged to bike or travel via other forms of active transportation, like walking or skating, to events. If you don’t have your own bike, the Long Beach Bike Share program has bicycles to affordably rent throughout the City.
Learn more about these and other events, as well as National Bike to Work Week and the city’s Bike Month Challenge at GoActiveLB’s Bike Month webpage.
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Community Development Dept.
May is National Home Improvement Month!
May is National Home Improvement Month, and the Long Beach Community Development Department is leading a citywide celebration of neighborhood pride and the spaces we call home.
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Whether you rent or own, residents are invited to share their projects, access helpful resources and join us for the culminating Home Improvement Expo at Whaley Park—a family-friendly event featuring live demos, food trucks, DIY activities, composting tutorials, photobooths and more. Let’s come together to show what it means to Love Where You Live!
Home Improvement Expo
Whaley Park (5620 Atherton St.)
Saturday, May 31, 2025
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Share your project for a chance to be featured at lbcity.info/nhim-spotlights! Learn more at longbeach.gov/nhim.
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Zone In: Bixby Knolls - 2nd Walk Audit | May 17
Share your thoughts and ideas on the Zone In: Bixby Knolls project! The Community Development's next walk audit for this project will take place on Saturday, May 17th at 9am, and is expected to conclude at 10:30am. The walk audit will meet and depart from the northeast corner of Long Beach Blvd and San Antonio Dr, outside of the 7/11 at 4200 Long Beach Blvd.
This second walk audit will focus on the existing development patterns and new opportunities that rezoning provides for San Antonio Drive between Long Beach Blvd and Atlantic Ave, with an emphasis on the major shopping center between Atlantic & California Aves. Due to staffing limitations and for the safety of attendees, this event will limit attendance to 45 attendees wuith RSVP required. Click here to RSVP!
For more information, visit the project webpage, review the project area map, or sign up for updates and info on future outreach events!
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Arts Council for Long Beach
Call for Grant Panelists
The Arts Council of Long Beach’s annual grant applications are now open, and they’re seeking passionate individuals from the Long Beach community to join as panelists in selecting next year’s grant recipients. If you have a love for the arts and want to make a difference, visit artslb.org to learn more about this rewarding opportunity!
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City of Long Beach
Spring Cleaning is Back!
Spring Cleaning is back in Long Beach! This May, the City is teaming up with residents, neighborhood associations, businesses, and community organizations across the city to roll up our sleeves and make sure Long Beach is in tip-top shape for summer. This year, we’ll be cleaning parks and neighborhoods, filling in potholes, and having tons of fun with our neighbors while doing it. Find an event near you to join, sign up to host your own, and learn more at longbeach.gov/springcleaning.
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District 5 Office
Recent Community Meeting & Save the Date!
Thank you again to all who attended last week's CD5 Community Meeting at Wardlow Park! It started off great information from the Fire Department about how keep your home and family emergency ready by prepping with tips from their emergency planning guide and signing up for AlertLB! Then we heard from the Community Development Department as they shared details about their different bureaus and wide range of responsibilities, including such topics as historic preservation and Code Enforcement. In case you missed it, be sure to save the date for our next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, June 26th at 6pm at the Wardlow Park Community Center. Hope to see you there!
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Long Beach Utilities
Upcoming FY26 Budget Workshops
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The Long Beach Board of Utilities Commissioners will host a series of community budget workshops as they prepare for Fiscal Year ’26 (FY26). The workshops will include discussion on proposed water, sewer, and gas rates for FY26, as utility rates are established annually to fund infrastructure, maintenance, and operation services to the greater Long Beach community.
Long Beach rate-payers are invited to share your input at public workshops:
Long Beach Utilities Administration Building
(1800 E Wardlow Rd) at 9am
Thursday, May 15 | Thursday, June 12
The department budget, inclusive of rates, is expected to be adopted by the Board of Utilities Commissioners at the final public workshop on Thursday, June 12. Members of the public are encouraged to attend; comments can also be submitted via email to commission@lbutilities.org. Learn more about these meetings and the proposed FY26 Utilities Budget at lbutilities.org/budget.
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Large Valve Replacement Project - Orange/Carson & Orange/San Antonio | May - September
The Long Beach Utilities Department (LBUD) is scheduled to conduct underground utility construction at the intersections of Orange & San Antonio and Orange & Carson, to replace large valve equipment which will help improve the flow of water for distribution and to improve the Utilities’ underground pipeline infrastructure. The work on both of these intersections is expected to begin the week of May 6th and expected to end in September 2025, barring inclement weather or other unforeseen complications.
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Traffic in all directions (North/Southbound on Orange, East/Westbound on Carson, and East/Westbound on San Antonio) at each of these intersections will be reduced to one-single lane. Please plan your routes accordingly, and keep an eye out for posted Detour and No Parking signs. LBUD does not anticipate any interruptions in water service during this construction.
For more information, visit lbutilities.org/LargeValve.
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Work Near Spring/Bellflower
As part of Long Beach Utilities’ ongoing maintenance and replacement program, construction has been scheduled to renew portions of the buried natural gas piping system in the area of Spring & Bellflower. The system upgrades are anticipated to begin around the week of April 21st, and will continue for approximately 2 months. Project locations will include the intersection of Spring St & Charlemagne Ave, and the alley north of Spring St, between Montair Ave & Bellflower Blvd. Keep an eye out for posted no parking signs in the area. For additional information, please contact the LBU Manager of Gas Construction, Paul DeYoung at (562) 570 2074.
| | | | Upcoming Meetings & Events | | | Long Beach Youth Poets Take the Stage: 2025 Youth Poet Laureate Finals Set for May 17 | | | City Hosts Business Resource Fair for Small Business & Economic Development Weeks in May | | | City Unveils Downtown Shoreline Draft Vision Concept | | | Health Department Hosts Spring Into Health Event | | | City Commemorates Demolition of English Vilage Near Queen Mary | | | City Takes Home 6 Communications Awards, Receives Best in Show from CA Association of Public Information Officials | | | Long Beach Releases First-Ever Opioid Overdose Report Highlighting 5 Years of Impact | | |
Memos to the Mayor & Council
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Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. May 6, 2025, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
FULL AGENDA
2:30pm - Mobility, Ports, & Infrastructure Committee Meeting (Agenda)
Item 7 25-55173 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $6,500, offset by the Fifth Council District One-Time District Priority Funds, transferred from the Citywide Activities Department to provide a contribution to the following organizations: $2,000 to Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride, Inc in support of their annual Long Beach PRIDE Festival; $1,500 to Lakewood Village Neighborhood Association in support of their annual summer concerts; $1,000 to the Los Cerritos Neighborhood Association for their annual summer concerts; $1,000 to Camp Fire Long Beach for their Centennial Anniversary celebration event; $500 to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Long Beach for their improvements and their Preschool’s 40th Anniversary, $500 to Los Cerritos Elementary for their Centennial Anniversary celebration event; and decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $6,500, to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department.
Item 19 25-55082 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any subsequent amendments, with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, to accept and expend grant funding in an amount not to exceed $95,700, for the 2025 Dodgers Dreamteam Program, including the acceptance of funding for park maintenance, umpire fees, in-kind contributions, and two Dodgers Dreamteam Coordinators for youth baseball and softball for the 2025 summer season; and Increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $95,700, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
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