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(562) 570 5555 | district5@longbeach.gov | |
Weekly Updates & Welcome December | |
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Happy Friday, District 5! December is here, and it’s hard to believe that we are so near to the end of 2024. As the end-of-year holidays approach, there are ample ways to celebrate with the community all month. More on that below, as well as news from Public Works, So Cal Edison, and the Long Beach Airport.
At next week’s City Council meeting on Dec. 10th, we will hear Item 28, Long Beach Utilities’ presentation of the After-Action Report regarding October’s water main break on Orange Ave and the subsequent Boil Water Notice. With this report, we will be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the recent incident’s response and move forward with improving our processes for any future emergency.
Tuesday, Dec. 10th, will also be Councilmember Al Austin’s final Council meeting. As he concludes his 12 years of service to Long Beach, see below for more details on how you can show him your thanks and appreciation! The following week, Dec. 17th, the city invites all residents to the swearing-in ceremonies of Councilmembers Cindy Allen, Daryl Supernaw, and Suley Saro along with Councilwoman-elect Tunua Thrash-Ntuk. I look forward to working together as we move forward into the new year and beyond.
Looking for ways to get into the holiday spirit this weekend? You can start tonight, Dec. 5th, along Atlantic Ave, with Bixby Knolls’ First Fridays “Holiday Village” from 6:30 – 9:30pm. Then on Saturday, Dec. 7th, you can visit the Hangar at LBX for a “Holly Jolly” pop-up market from noon to 5pm. Lastly, Sunday, Dec. 8th, you can spend the afternoon with Norse Way Village at their “Holidays on Village Road” event from 10am – 2pm. See details of these and more upcoming events (like BKBIA’s SantaCon, Parkview Village’s Second Saturdays, and a community day on the Queen Mary) in the flyers below.
This weekend, you can also take some time to care for your four-legged friends, by bringing them to our CD5 Pet Adoption & Vaccination Clinic! Join myself, my team, and our partners from Animal Care Services at Rosie the Riveter Park on Sunday, Dec. 8th from 8am – 12pm, where you can find low-cost pet vaccinations and micro-chipping, while supplies last. If you don’t have a furry friend of your own, we hope you’ll still attend and consider adopting one of ACS’s shelter pets in need of a forever home!
Finally, I’d like to remind you that the next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 10th 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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Upcoming Council Meeting
Item 28 - Presentation from LB Utilities
On Oct. 22, 2024, we requested the City Manager work with the Long Beach Utilities Commission to provide a presentation on infrastructure and communications plan overview of Long Beach Utilities and a comprehensive after-action report and presentation to Council regarding the significant water main breaks that occurred on Oct. 9, and the subsequent boil water notice. The report is now complete and will be presented to Council on Tuesday, Dec. 10th.
Councilman Austin's Final Meeting!
Residents are encouraged to join us at next Tuesday’s meeting as Councilman Al Austin concludes his 12 years of service to the 8th District. This meeting is a special opportunity to share your thoughts and memories. We encourage you to speak during the public comment periods and share your reflections on Councilmember Austin's contributions to our community.
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There will be two opportunities to provide public comment, one at the beginning and another towards the end of the meeting.
Can't make it in person? You can still share your comments by emailing them to cityclerk@longbeach.gov. Your comments will be officially included in the meeting record.
It has been a pleasure working with Councilman Austin and his team for the last few years, especially as he represented portions of District 5, prior to the 2021 redistricting. I thank him for all he has done for our communities, and I wish him the best in his next chapter!
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Southern California Edison
Maintenance Notice
Our office has received notice that Southern California Edison (SCE) has scheduled maintenance on communication cables located on utility poles along Bellflower Blvd south of Heartwell Park. The work is currently scheduled between next Monday 12/9/24 and Wednesday 12/11/24. Construction will take place between the hours of 8AM and 3PM. Be sure to check for No Parking signs in the area during this time.
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Community Shout Out
Holiday Tree Lighting Celebrations
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who helped us kick off the holiday festivities by attending the City’s Tree Lighting and Cal Heights’ Tree Lighting celebrations earlier this week! They were beautiful events filled with music, joy, and holiday cheer. Thanks again to VisitLB for hosting downtown, and to f/8 Studios and Cal Heights Market for hosting the local community event, as well as to all the sponsors that made these events possible. I’m already looking forward to next year!
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Long Beach Police Department
East Division Commander's Forum | Dec 28
LBPD East Division’s Commander Benson will be holding her final Commander’s Forum of the year on Saturday, Dec. 28th at the East Division Station. Following the forum, East Division will host an open house, offering a wonderful opportunity to tour the station and connect with LBPD’s amazing officers. Families are encouraged to bring their children to both the forum and the open house, where Explorers and Cadets will provide engaging activities, distribute stickers, and offer light refreshments. See the flyer for more info.
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Long Beach Airport
Centennial Celebration Concludes with Time Capsule
As we close out the Centennial Year of the Long Beach Airport, we celebrate our past and look to the future. Yesterday, my colleagues and I had the honor of contributing to LGB's Time Capsule, to be opened 50 years from now.
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2074 - who knows what heights we will have reached by then! We also had some fun playing the inaugural game at the airport's pop-up pickleball courts, which are now open for the rest of this holiday season.
Thanks to all the amazing airport staff, volunteers, and community partners for making this special day possible. LGB truly is "America's coolest airport!" View the recent press release to learn more.
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South Coast Air Quality Management District
Check Before You Burn Season
Did you know that we’re in the midst of South Coast AQMD’s annual “Check Before You Burn” season? Every year, from November to February, residents are asked to check before burning wood in their fireplaces to limit emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
A No-Burn Day is a 24-hr ban on wood-burning in residential fireplaces, stoves, or outdoor firepits in the South Coast Air Basin.
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South Coast AQMD forecasters call for residential no-Burn days when PM2.5 is expected to reach unhealthy levels due to air emissions and stagnant weather conditions.
Stay informed with AQMD’s Air Alerts, Check Before You Burn map, or by visiting their webpage with more information.
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Arts Council LB
Heartwell Park Mural Complete!
Earlier this year, community members voted on a mural to adorn and beautify the outer wall of Heartwell Park’s Community Center. The mural is now complete! Thanks to the artist, Helen Snell of Peak Murals, for bringing her creative vision to life in our park, and thanks to all who participated in the selection process. If you’re visiting Heartwell, be sure to stop by and check it out!
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Pacific Gateway
Introducing Second Cohort of Public Service Fellows
The City of Long Beach recently welcomed the second cohort of the Long Beach Public Service Corps (LBPSC), an innovative paid fellowship program that provides local college students and recent graduates with hands-on experience working in City government and exploring careers in public service. The fellowship placement program is intended to foster economic inclusion and expand opportunities for residents, including young people, to develop successful career paths.
Joining our CD5 Team through this fellowship is Kayla Rosenthal! Originally from Torrance, Kayla is currently studying Political Science at CSULB. As a student and resident of Long Beach, community engagement is especially important to her. In her spare time, Kayla volunteers with local organizations such as the Long Beach Community Compost and has participated in multiple canvassing opportunities for local, state, and national positions. During her time with District 5, Kayla hopes to gain experience in local government affairs, explore public service opportunities, and build relationships with driven leaders and changemakers. Welcome to the team, Kayla!
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Long Beach Area Veterans Collaborative
Veterans Donation Drive
In celebration of Veterans Day and as we enter into the holiday season, our CD5 office is partnering with the Long Beach Area Veterans Collaborative to hold a Veterans Donation Drive! Find locations across CD5 from Monday, Nov. 11 - Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, and help us in giving back to local veterans in need.
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Review the flyer below or our webpage for more information on what to donate and where to find donation bins. Alternatively, you can support by buying an item from the drive's Amazon Wish List, which will send your donation directly to our office, or by making a monetary donation at lbavcoll.org.
Thanks to all Veterans for your brave and dedicated service, and thanks to all who can participate in our drive this holiday season!
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Long Beach Police & Fire Departments
Toy Patrol - Annual Toy Drive
The Long Beach Police and Fire Departments are kicking off their annual Toy Patrol activities for the 2024 holiday season. This is when they ask local businesses and organizations to host toy drop-off collection boxes for new and unwrapped toys.
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These toys are distributed across the city by police and fire personnel to families in need as well as families who receive services through the Long Beach Trauma Recovery Center.
All donated items must be new and unwrapped. Toys for all ages are welcome. Items for teens are also greatly needed. We are looking for toys, games, books, school supplies, sports equipment, and gift cards from stores such as Walmart, Target, etc.
See below for participating businesses in District 5!
- CD5 Field Office at Wardlow Park | 3457 Stanbridge Ave | M/W/F 1p - 5p
- The Waltzman Institute | 4251 Long Beach Blvd, Ste 102
Your donation is appreciated and goes a long way in helping make this holiday season feel special for those in need. Thanks for your support and have a safe and joyful holiday season!
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City of Long Beach Offering Annual Holiday Treecycling Program for Residents | | |
Parks, Recreation and Marine to Offer Free Winter Fun Days Recreation Program for Youth Starting December 23 | | |
Health Department Awarded Grant to Expand Drug-impaired Driving Prevention Program | | |
Save the Date! City's Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration Returns January 18, 2025 | | |
Health Department Awarded Grant to Promote Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety | | |
Upcoming
City Council Meeting
Tues. December 10, 2024, 5:00pm
411 W Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
Ceremonials and Presentations: RECOGNIZING THE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE OF COUNCILMAN AL AUSTIN II
Item 15. Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 35430 with All American Asphalt, of Corona, CA, for providing as-needed local street construction services, to extend the term of the contract to December 31, 2025. (Item Details)
Item 16. Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, review and determine that the proposed project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15307 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for the Protection of Natural Resources) and Section 15061 (b) (3) (the ‘Common Sense’ Exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines and accept Categorical Exemption (CE-24-022);
Declare ordinance setting aside and dedicating in perpetuity Parcel A in Willow Springs Park, located at 2745 Orange Avenue, for public park purposes and uses, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading;
24-55777 Declare ordinance amending Table 35-2 (Park Dedication/Designations) of the Long Beach Municipal Code (ZCA20-016), to include the entirety of Parcel A of Willow Springs Park, thereby approving its dedication, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading;
24-55778 Declare ordinance amending the Use District Map (Zoning Map) to change the Zoning District (ZCHG20-008) for that portion of Parcel A in Willow Springs Park that is zoned Medium Industrial (IM) to Park (P) Zone, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading; and
24-55779 Adopt resolution setting forth the City Council’s recommendation for the future dedication of Parcel B, located at 1040 Spring Street, as Willow Springs Park, and related General Plan Land Use Placetype change from Community Commercial (CC) Placetype to Open Space (OS) Placetype, upon the establishment of a land bank for park replacement purposes. (Item Details)
Item 28. Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the significant water main breaks that occurred on October 9, 2024, and subsequent Boil Water Notice, and the after-action report on the incident. (Item Details)
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