Vol. 04 | Issue 39

September 26, 2026

Greetings!

There is a lot happening across District 3 this week, including storm preparation, updates related to West Nile virus, and opportunities to get involved. Please read on to learn more about what is happening in District 3:

District 3 Peninsula Community Meeting and Preparation Update: Join us at 6:30 pm on Monday evening to hear directly from City staff about El Niño preparation efforts and plans for the Peninsula.
Sandbag Distribution: Sandbags are available today from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Claremont parking lot. If your property is prone to flooding, please take this opportunity to pick up sandbags and keep them on hand throughout the El Niño season.
West Nile Virus Cases Increasing: Long Beach has reported 41 cases and its first West Nile-related death since 2017. See below for information on how to protect yourself and your family.
Share Your Input on Long Beach’s LA28 Planning: The City’s community survey is open through September 30.
Anaheim Street Corridor Community Meeting: Join us from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm on September 29 to learn more about planned improvements along Anaheim Street from the Los Angeles River to Pacific Coast Highway.
Open Channel Project at Colorado Lagoon: See below for the latest update.

As always, the District 3 team and I are here to help. You can reach us at District3@longbeach.gov or (562) 570-6300.

Sincerely,

Kristina Duggan

Councilmember | District 3

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Council Update

Upcoming City Council Meeting Highlights

On Tuesday, September 29, the City Council will not meet.

Summary of Previous City Council Meeting

On Tuesday, September 22, the City Council considered the following items of interest:

Item #22: Direct City Manager to work with Director of the Office of Police Oversight and the Long Beach Police Department’s Chief of Police to provide a joint, comprehensive presentation regarding the 2024 Office of Police Oversight (OPO) Annual Report, the 2025 Complaint Investigation Review, the resulting recommendations, and the current, tangible status of the Long Beach Police Department’s (LBPD) implementation. This item passed unanimously.

Item #23: Request City Manager to work with Director of Public Works and/or any other necessary staff members to provide an update at the next Long Beach City Council meeting on Street Sweeping operations. The update should include current personnel or equipment issues preventing consistent completion of street sweeping routes and, if needed, recommended City Council-directed solutions that could assist with improving current conditions citywide. This item passed unanimously.

Item #27: Approve resolution of the City Council of the City of Long Beach approving the implementation of a revolving credit facility lease financing with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000, outstanding at any one time, for a maximum period of one year, and backed by the General Fund, to bridge finance various capital projects for the City of Long Beach, approving the forms and authorizing execution of related documents and approving related official actions. This item passed 8-1, with Councilmember Duggan opposing. Councilmember Duggan does not believe the City should be taking on $50 million in bridge financing.

Item #38: Request City Manager to add $131,969, in ongoing structural funding in the General Fund Group to support the enhancement of one Paramedic Assessment Unit (PAU), consistent with the Fire Department’s established PAU deployment model, with deployment to be determined by the Fire Chief based on operational need, system demand, and the geographic distribution of Advanced Life Support (ALS) resources, further expanding ALS capability and strengthening the City’s emergency medical response system citywide. This item passed 8-1, with Councilmember Duggan opposing. Councilmember Duggan said she supports adding resources to the Fire Department, but felt the budget process wasn't transparent. She noted the Council reduced public comment at City Council meetings with the stated purpose of helping preserve Monday library hours, but then found nearly the same amount of money days later to add a Paramedic Assessment Unit to the Fire Department. That shifted the message from cutting Engine 14 to investing in the Fire Department.

News & Resources

Peninsula El Niño Preparation and Coastal Protection Update

Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency for El Niño on September 21, and the City of Long Beach followed shortly after by declaring a local emergency to strengthen preparation efforts.

The City is also closely monitoring Hurricane Polo and other Pacific storm activity that could bring increased wave activity to Southern California from late Sunday through Wednesday. In preparation, the Marine Bureau is strengthening the Peninsula boardwalk, moving sand back onto the beach where possible, and testing 3,000-pound sandbags along the boardwalk bulkhead to help limit erosion.

The City also released a comprehensive memo outlining its planning efforts for the Peninsula throughout El Niño. This includes continuing to repair, rebuild, and strengthen the boardwalk, dredging the Alamitos Bay entrance channel with the Peninsula receiving approximately 415,00 cubic yards of sand, and moving an additional 50,000 to 100,000 cubic yards of sand onto the Peninsula. The memo also evaluates several shoreline protection options, including rock revetment and sheet piles. As the dredging project moves forward, the City will begin designing and permitting a low-profile rock revetment that could be covered with sand and incorporated into a dune system. The idea is that if the sand erodes during a major storm, the rock would help provide additional shoreline protection. The goal is to have this designed, permitted, and ready to implement if the sand from the dredging project is not holding.

The memo also discusses longer-term solutions focused on habitat restoration and nature-based coastal protection. I encourage residents to read the full memo to learn more about the short- and long-term options being considered.

Comprehensive Memo Update for the Peninsula

City Emergency Declaration

City Update from Last Week

Sandbag Distribution from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Claremont Parking Lot

The City is providing sandbags from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Claremont parking lot. Several thousand prefilled sandbags will be available, along with additional empty bags. If your property is prone to flooding, please take this opportunity to pick up sandbags and keep them on hand throughout the El Niño season.

Learn More

Anaheim Street Corridor Improvement Project Community Meeting

6:00 pm on September 29 at MacArthur Park Community Center

Join the Long Beach Public Works Department on Tuesday, September 29, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the MacArthur Park Community Center (1321 E. Anaheim Street) to learn more about the Anaheim Street Corridor Improvement Project.

The project will improve approximately four miles of Anaheim Street from the Los Angeles River to Pacific Coast Highway, including pavement rehabilitation, traffic signal upgrades, new and improved crosswalks, ADA improvements, transit upgrades, medians, and landscaping. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027.

Learn More

Long Beach Health Department Reports First West Nile Virus Death Since 2017

Long Beach is seeing an increase in West Nile virus cases, with Districts 3 and 4 among the most impacted areas. As of September 24, the City has reported 41 cases and its first West Nile-related death since 2017. Residents are encouraged to use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors, and regularly empty standing water around their homes where mosquitoes can breed.

Learn More

League of California Cities Annual Conference: Coastal Leadership Group Discussion

This week, Councilmember Duggan joined Dana Point Mayor John Gabbard, San Clemente Councilmember Mark Enmeier, and Coronado Councilmember Amy Steward at the League of California Cities Annual Conference for a discussion on the impacts of Hurricane Marie, sea level rise, and preparation for El Niño. The conversation focused on how coastal cities are preparing for future storms and how they can work together as a coalition to push regulators for clearer guidance, faster permitting, and greater support for coastal resilience projects. The discussion also included Coastal Commissioner and Hermosa Beach Councilmember Raymond Jackson.

Share Your Input on Long Beach’s LA28 Planning

Long Beach residents, businesses, and community stakeholders are invited to share their priorities and ideas as the City prepares for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog through September 30.

Take the Survey

First-Ever Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Nests Found in Southern California, Eggs Relocated Ahead of Hazardous Surf

Last week, beachgoers witnessed the first documented olive ridley sea turtle nesting on the U.S. West Coast, with nests found in Seal Beach and Huntington Beach. Because hazardous surf and high tides from Hurricane Polo threatened to wash away the nests, wildlife officials made the difficult decision to carefully relocate the eggs to the Aquarium of the Pacific. The eggs are now being kept in a temperature-controlled environment and, if viable, are expected to hatch in roughly 45 to 60 days.

The nesting is an important and unusual development for Southern California. Olive ridley sea turtles typically nest much farther south, including along Mexico’s Pacific coast, and some populations are protected as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Scientists do not yet know why these turtles chose local beaches, but possible factors include El Niño, recent tropical activity, range expansion, or the species’ natural adaptability.

October Programs at Brewitt Library!

Learn More

Sign Up for AlertLB

AlertLB is the City of Long Beach’s emergency notification system used to send important updates during severe weather, emergencies, and other incidents that may impact the community. Residents can sign up to receive alerts by text message, phone call, or email so they can quickly get information about changing conditions, safety instructions, and other emergency updates.

Learn More

Weekly Update on the Open Channel Project at Colorado Lagoon

Paving at Colorado and Eliot Streets is nearly complete, and final roadway striping is expected this week. Colorado Street is expected to reopen by the end of the month, restoring access to Fire Station 14. Eliot Street will reopen later after additional repairs are completed near the fueling station, and repairs are also needed to the bike path at 3rd Street and Paoli.

9/26 Weekly Update

Traffic & Parking Advisory in CD3 Neighborhoods

Check out our traffic & parking advisory in CD3 neighborhoods. Residents should plan ahead as several upcoming events may impact parking availability and traffic flow in our neighborhoods.

We encourage residents to allow extra travel time, anticipate parking impacts, and use alternate routes when possible.