New CD4 COVID-19 Vaccine & Testing Sites

Monday - Friday | 9:30 am - 1 pm & 2:30 - 5 pm | 2800 N Studebaker Rd.

This week, one of the Health Department's COVID-19 testing sites was relocated to El Dorado Park Recreation Center to be more accommodating of the community’s current needs. There is another vaccine & testing site in CD4 located at Long Beach State.

California State University, Long Beach

Mondays & Wednesdays | 12 pm - 3 pm | 1401 Palo Verde Ave. in front of the SRWC

To make an appointment, visit this link or call (562) 570-4636. View the press release at this link.

Sidewalk Vending Virtual Meeting

On Monday night, the City of Long Beach hosted a virtual Sidewalk Vending Community Feedback meeting. Judging by the fact that there were nearly 100 attendees, there is a lot of community interest in this topic. The PowerPoint presentation from the meeting is available at this link. Feedback from the community meetings will be utilized to help inform sidewalk vending regulations. For questions regarding street vendors, please contact Daniel Ramirez at daniel.ramirez@longbeach.gov.

Large Turnout for CD4 Community Meeting

On Tuesday, we hosted a near capacity crowd at the Los Altos Library for our Council District 4 community meeting. Special thanks to our two guest speakers: LBPD East Division Commander, Michael Richens, and City of LB Ethics Officer, Heather Van Wijk. Both speakers took a number of audience questions during their presentations. Thanks to all those who attended, and we hope to see you at our next meeting. It is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28th, and more details will be provided in upcoming newsletters.

Council OKs Natural Gas Price Relief Program

On Wednesday, a Special City Council Meeting was held to discuss the development of a price-spike relief program utilizing revenues generated by the utility users tax (UUT). City staff estimates there will be an additional $1.5 million generated by the UUT this winter due to the increase in wholesale natural gas prices. City Council unanimously approved a plan to redirect the additional revenue to Long Beach Utility residential customers most in need. You can read the City’s press release at this link. Regarding price relief in the future, LB Utilities GM, Chris Garner, stated during the meeting that Long Beach will have the lowest cost of gas in the State of California. February bills should be 66% lower than January’s if you use the same amount of natural gas. You can find information about utility bill payment assistance at this link.

FREE Tax Preparation from CSULB

January 30th - April 8th | M-Th: 10am to 8pm; Fri: 9am to 3pm

The CSULB College of Business is offering FREE income tax preparation online from January 30- April 8, 2023. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) IRS program provides virtual appointments to individuals who qualify as low-income ($58,000 annually), students, the elderly, non-residents and limited English proficiency. The VITA IRS-certified tax preparers can assist you in preparing both federal and state tax returns. Schedule a virtual appointment or get more information by contacting Heather Anne Eusebio at vita.csulb@gmail.com or call 562-726-2331.

New Nature Center Art Exhibit

Tuesdays - Sundays in February | 8:30 am - 4 pm | 7550 E Spring St.

The El Dorado Nature Center is hosting its monthly art gallery in February. This month's exhibit will feature "The Gold of El Dorado" watercolor and photography from artist Mary Long. There will be an open house event tomorrow, February 4th from 2 - 4 pm to meet the artist. For more information, call (562) 570-1745.

PRM Spring Class Registration

February 6th | Online or In-Person at 2760 Studebaker Rd. 

Registration for spring recreation classes offered by Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) begins Monday, Feb. 6. More than 300 classes in art, music, nature, fitness, special interest subjects, adult sports leagues and aquatics programs will be offered starting in March. These programs provide opportunities for social interaction and learning, exercise and recreation, and growth and relaxation for preschool-aged children to adults. Details about the spring classes as well as summer camp registration information is included in the latest issue of PRM’s program catalog, Recreation Connection, available online beginning Feb. 2. You can read the press release at this link.

Blood Drive at the Nature Center Museum

February 6th | 10 am - 4 pm | 7550 E Spring St. 

The El Dorado Nature Center is hosting a blood drive on Monday, February 6th from 10 am to 4 pm. To make an appointment, please sign up online at RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code: ElDoradoLB or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Help save a life. Schedule your blood donation appointment today.

Virtual FY24 Budget Meeting

February 6th | 6 pm - 7:30 pm | Zoom Meeting Link

The City of Long Beach is inviting members of the public to participate in the City’s fiscal year 2024 budget development process at one of the upcoming community budget meetings. On February 6th, there will be a virtual meeting from 6 - 7:30 pm. For more information, read the press release at this link.

Next on the City Council Agenda

February 7th | 5:00 pm | 411 W. Ocean Blvd.

The City Council meeting will start at 5:00 pm in the Bob Foster Civic Chambers on the ground floor of City Hall, located at 411 W. Ocean Blvd. City council meetings are broadcast live online and are available on Channel 3 for Charter cable subscribers and Channel 21 for FIOS subscribers. Comments can be submitted by email to: CityClerk@longbeach.gov. Items on Tuesday's meeting agenda include:

• R-19: Recommendation to receive and file the Fiscal Year 2022 Year-End Budget Performance Report and increase appropriations in several funds across several departments for various purposes to reflect final expenditures and carryover clean-up. (Citywide)
• Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with Mallory Safety and Supply, LLC, of Longview, WA, for Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system equipment, on the same terms and conditions afforded to the County of Fairfax, VA, in total amount not to exceed $1,208,372, until the County of Fairfax, VA, contract expires on September 30, 2023, with the option to renew for as long as the County of Fairfax contract is in effect, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
• ORD-23: Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Section 2.84.170, to temporarily suspend certain provisions of Chapter 2.84 during the proclaimed local emergency caused by homelessness; declaring the urgency thereof; and declaring that this ordinance shall take effect immediately, read and adopted as read. (Citywide) (Emergency Ordinance No. ORD-23-0003)

The entire agenda can be found here. To see the schedule and agenda for all upcoming city meetings, click here.

NAACP Natural Gas Bill Presentation

February 9th | 6 - 7:30 pm | Virtual meeting link

The Long Beach Branch NAACP and other partners are hosting a virtual workshop for residents to learn why natural gas bill prices are increasing. Chris Garner, the General Manager of the Long Beach Utilities Department will be present to provide information and answer community members' questions. For more information on the workshop, please email mnaacp@gmail.com or call LB Utilities at (562) 570-2300. Visit this link to access the Zoom meeting.

Pawlentine's Day Adoption Event

February 11th | 3 - 5 pm | 7700 E Spring St.

Join Long Beach Animal Care Services to celebrate Valentine's Day at the shelter. Community members can enjoy music, photos, and Valentine's Day card decorating to bring home. Adoption fees will be waived for ALL pets during the event. Please bring unopened store-bought pet treats and toys to put in the treat buckets. For more information, visit this link.

Blind Date with a Book at Los Altos Library

Month of February | 5614 E Britton Dr.

The Los Altos Library will be offering a Blind Date with a Book program, where participants can check out one book that has been wrapped to take home. Then, unwrap your mystery book and read it for the first time! Patrons will have an opportunity to earn a prize by completing a "Rate my Date" form submitted by Saturday, March 4. More information at this link or call (562) 570-1045.

"Who Let the Dogs Out?"

Our “And Finally” feature typically includes a vintage, ironic or humorous photo. Today’s image of a dog picking up after himself qualifies as both humorous and ironic. It’s funny to imagine the dog’s owner training him to comply with Municipal Code 6.16.200: “Defecation Removal required”. The irony is that the photo also illustrates the dog’s owner is in violation of a different section of the Muni Code 6.16.100: “Dog Leash required”. The fines are steep for off-leash dog violations progressing from $100 to $500 per incident. However, the fines do not seem to be the deterrent one would imagine. In 2022, Animal Care Services issued 323 citations, 165 warnings, 1,186 letters to people asking for their compliance, 173 Notifications to Comply, and 1,336 education encounters with dog owners. This is a serious public and animal safety issue that will likely be addressed at a future City Council meeting.