Weekly Updates | May 30, 2025 | | |
Happy Friday, District 5! With June nearly upon us, summer is right around the corner! With outdoor concerts, block parties, and more, I hope the season of sunshine and warmth holds exciting opportunities for us all to gather and connect. More on some of those upcoming events below, as well as updates from LBPL, LBPD, and other departments.
Earlier today the American Red Cross held their second District 5 Blood Drive of the month at Wardlow Park. Thanks to everyone who participated at either drive; your donation makes a huge impact on the lives of patients in need! In case you missed them but would still like to donate, visit RedCrossBlood.org to find a drive near you.
To kick off this weekend, get into the summer spirit by experiencing all there is to offer at CampFire Long Beach, as they host a Centennial Celebration & Open House, tonight, May 30th, from 4 – 6pm. Then on Saturday, May 31st, visit local brewery Ambitious Ales from noon to 6pm to enjoy music, beer, and vinyl vendors at the Ambitious Records Fair. On Sunday, June 1st, join in another local business’ milestone anniversary, as Deep Blue Swim School celebrates their 10th anniversary with a free Water Safety Day at 1pm. You can pack even more fun into the weekend on Sunday afternoon, by joining in the BKBIA’s Retro Romp from 12 – 4pm, or by stopping by Willow Springs Park for their “double header” of activities, “Movement in the Park” at 1:30pm and “Drawing in the Park” at 3:30pm. See the flyers below for more info on these and other upcoming events!
Looking ahead, I hope you’ll save the date for our next CD5 Community Meeting at the end of this month! On Thursday, June 26th, join us to hear from representatives from the Public Works Department and the Port of Long Beach as they answer questions and discuss infrastructure, traffic, environmental services, and the many ways they support our city every day. While not required, we ask that those who plan to attend please RSVP to help us adequately prepare seating.
Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 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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District 5 Office
Save the Date! Next CD5 Community Meeting | June 26
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On Thursday, June 26th at 6pm, my team and I are hosting the next of our bi-monthly community meeting series, this time featuring staff from the Public Works Department and the Port of Long Beach to discuss topics including infrastructure, traffic, and the ways they support our city every day.
Learn more on our webpage, and if you plan to attend, please RSVP to help us prepare adequate seating!
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Office of Veterans Support
Remembering the USS Frank Evans & the Lost 74 | June 3
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Join the Office of Veterans Support, in collaboration with the USS Frank E. Evans Association, to honor veterans and commemorate Long Beach’s rich naval history with a ceremonial community event, Remembering USS Frank E. Evans & the Lost 74. The event will honor the naval ship USS Frank E. Evans and 74 sailors who perished at sea on June 3, 1969.
Tues June 3 from 10am – 1pm
Shoreline Aquatic Park
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City Auditor's Office
Street Projects & Pavement Management Performance Audit
Earlier this week, Long Beach City Auditor Laura Doud released the Street Projects & Pavement Management Performance Audit conducted by Matrix Consulting Group, a public sector management consulting firm, on behalf of the City Auditor’s Office.
Streets are essential to daily life as residents and visitors utilize them for everyday activities such as school, work, shopping, and social outings. The condition of our streets is a top priority for residents as well-maintained streets improve safety, reduce vehicle wear and tear, and support transportation and public safety.
The audit was conducted to review how the City manages its street projects which included $310 million spent between Fiscal Years (FY) 2020 through 2024. The audit identified several opportunities to improve the City’s management of street projects and recommendations for Public Works, the department responsible for the maintenance and repair of City streets, aimed at increasing operational efficiency and cost-effective delivery of projects to maximize future investments in City streets. To learn more, review today’s press release, the full audit report, or the City Auditor’s fact sheet.
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City of Long Beach
Apply to Serve on the Long Beach Ethics Commission | June 5
| Residents interested in serving on the City’s Ethics Commission are encouraged to apply, now through June 5th! The Commission’s advisory responsibilities include the impartial and effective administration and implementation of the provisions of the City’s Charter, statues, and ordinances concerning campaign financing, lobbying, conflicts of interest, and governmental ethics. At this time, the Mayor will appoint one new member and the City Auditor will appoint two new members. Learn more at the Ethics Commission webpage, and submit your online application! | | | |
Long Beach Police Department | |
Etch & Catch Event | June 7
The LBPD has partnered with the City of Long Beach’s Fleet Services Bureau to host “Etch & Catch – A Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Event.” This free event is open to any Long Beach resident to have their vehicle’s license plate number etched onto the catalytic converter of their vehicle. This process can assist LBPD investigations if your catalytic converter is stolen, and may also discourage criminals from stealing it. The event will be held at the Long Beach Health Dept., 2525 Grand Ave, from 8am – 1pm. Learn more about requirements and registration to participate. Please direct any questions to the LBPD Auto Theft Detail at LBPDAutoTheft@longbeach.gov or (562) 570 7362.
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Safety Tips - Traffic Collision Scam
As part of their ongoing efforts to prevent crime and keep our communities safe, the Long Beach Police Department is sharing the following information about a traffic collision scam, where suspect(s) stage a traffic accident, get the victim to pull over, and steal miscellaneous items from them.
How the Scam Works:
- The suspect tricks the victim into pulling over by claiming they were part of a traffic accident.
- The suspect’s vehicle cuts off the victim, forcing them to stop.
- The suspect requests the victim exit their vehicle to assess the supposed damage.
- While the victim is distracted, the suspect or an accomplice steals items from the victim’s vehicle, then quickly flees the area with the stolen belongings.
LBPD’s Safety Tips to Reduce Auto Scam:
- Always keep your doors locked while driving, and remove all valuables from sight.
- Remain vigilant and attentive to your surroundings.
- If another motorist requests you to pull over, assess the situation with your safety as a top priority. Consider whether it is safer to pull over to a secure location or to continue driving.
- If you feel threatened, leave the area and contact law enforcement.
- If possible, take note of the suspect vehicle’s description and license plate. If it is safe to do so, try to photograph the suspect.
For more safety tips, visit longbeach.gov/LBPDSafety. Always remember to call Police Dispatch at (562) 435-6711 to report suspicious activity or dial 911 for emergencies.
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Long Beach Public Library
"Level Up at the Library" Summer Reading 2025
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The LBPL invites readers of all ages to “Level Up at the Library” with their annual Summer Reading Program, kicking off on Saturday, June 14th and running through Saturday, August 9th. Participants can enjoy a summer of adventure by reading, completing activities, and attending special events and programs at all 12 LBPL locations.
Readers aged 12 and under can earn incentives for every 5 books read, and those aged 13+ can earn a reward for each finished book! Children who read at least 10 books and teens or adults who read 2 books will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize. The more books you read, the more chances you’ll have to earn incentives!
Sign up and join the Summer Reading kickoff event at BJK Main Library, on Saturday, June 14th, with a special performance by The Alley Cats at 11am. Otherwise, you can register for Summer Reading starting on June 14th in person any Library location, such as CD5’s Dana Branch or Bach Neighborhood Library, or online at longbeach.beanstack.org. Be sure to keep an eye on the LBPL event calendar for even more free, family-friendly events at LBPL locations all summer long! Review the recent press release or visit lbpl.org to learn more.
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Public Works Department
Organics Collection Rollout Update
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Last week, Public Works announced the next steps for the phased rollout of the Organics (Green Cart) Collection program. The City will continue rolling out the program in phases based on your regular collection service days, as follows:
Service Day – Rollout Month:
- Monday – June 2025
- Tuesday & Wednesday – August 2025
- Thursday & Friday – October 2025
Residents will receive a mailer with a start date and a new green cart before service is set to begin. Increased rates to cover the cost of the organics collection will be charged only once service begins, no sooner than Aug. 1, 2025.
For more information, visit longbeach.gov/LBOrganics. There you can use the map tool to double check your service days and start month, find answers to FAQs, and review organics collection guidelines to help prepare for the transition.
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CD5 Community Shout Out
Congratulations CD5 Team Graduates!
Congratulations to three young members of our CD5 team! My team’s Public Service Fellow & Legislative Intern have both just graduated from Cal State Long Beach! One will be moving on to grad school at UC Irvine, while the other will soon begin an internship with the City Prosecutor's Office. Additionally, our part-time Legislative Aide is moving on to law school up north as the next step of his professional journey. This week we celebrated them with a brief lunch at Pita Pitaki, and I hope you can join me in thanking and congratulating these three young people who have helped in our office and across the district over the past 1-2 years. We are grateful for all their hard work, we are incredibly proud of their accomplishments, and we look forward to seeing them grow and thrive in their future endeavors! Good luck Ashley, Kayla, & Gabriel!
Do you know a college student or young adult interested in learning more about careers in public service? Now through June 30th, the City is accepting applications for the third cohort of the Long Beach Public Service Corps (LBPSC) Program! The program offers paid internships that provide local college students and recent graduates ages 18 to 30 with hands-on experience working in City government and exploring careers in public service. Learn more in the recent press release or on the LBPSC webpage, and feel free to share with those young people in your life!
| | | | Upcoming Meetings & Events | | | Long Beach Airport and Public Works Department Honored for Historic Preservation Achievements | | | City Opens Applications for the Long Beach Public Service Corps Program | | | Annual KJLH Women’s Health Expo Celebrates 25 Years of Women’s Wellness | | | City Civil Service Department Merges with Human Resources Department | | |
Memos to the Mayor & Council
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Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. June 3, 2025, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
FULL AGENDA
Item 2 Recommendation to provide a contribution to the following organizations:
LGBTQ Center Long Beach in support of their 2025 Black & White Gala;
Partners of Parks in support of their Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament;
Long Beach Day Nursery in support of their Tea for Tots event;
Success in Challenges, Inc. in support of their 20th Anniversary Celebration. (Item Details)
Item 13 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP HE-24-499 and award contracts to Interval House, of Long Beach, CA, and First to Serve Inc., of Los Angeles, CA, to provide operation and supportive services for the Homeless Prevention Program supporting persons at-risk of experiencing homelessness in the City of Long Beach. (Item Details)
Item 18 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any necessary documents, including any subsequent amendments, with the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028, of Los Angeles, CA, to accept the donation of a Handover Lifeguard Tower, at no cost to the City. (Item Details)
Item 21 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement for a new Master Joint Use Agreement between Long Beach Unified School District and the City of Long Beach for the reciprocal use of facilities for recreational, educational, and civic activities. (Item Details)
Item 22 Recommendation to declare ordinance finding and determining that a Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF) credit is due for the development project located at 3443 Long Beach Boulevard; and to execute an agreement with 888-5 Partners, LLC providing for a TIF credit resulting in a payment to 888-5 Partners, LLC for the TIF credit amount, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading. (Item Details)
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