Next Tuesday, August 11, the City Council will discuss the proposed budgets for the Long Beach Police Department and Long Beach Fire Department. Given the significant budget deficit facing the City this year, we knew emergency services would be affected. However, I believe we need to limit the effect these reductions will have on the emergency response services residents rely on.

Starting with our Police Department, I am encouraged that the proposed budget includes $7 million in Measure A funding for Police Academy Class 101, which allows for about 70 new recruits.

The budget also makes the High Crime Focus Team structural by reallocating 12 existing officers from other assignments, including eight bike patrol positions. This High Crime Focus Team plays an important role in addressing violent crime, including issues we have seen on 2nd Street.

At the same time, the City proposed eliminating more than 50 sworn positions, while the Mayor has recommended restoring four patrol officers and two Quality of Life officers. The reductions include 13 vacant patrol positions, 18 vacant investigative positions, six vacant Motors positions, five Quality of Life positions, and several other specialized assignments.

Emergency response times are my primary concern. The patrol positions proposed for elimination are currently vacant, but the funding for those positions is used to pay for overtime so enough officers are available to respond to 911 calls, particularly when officers are out on leave or assigned elsewhere. Eliminating these positions, along with reducing overtime capacity, would mean fewer officers available to answer 911 calls or respond to emergencies.

The City’s average Priority 1 response time, which reflects responses to life-threatening emergencies, has increased from 4.4 minutes in fiscal year 2020 to approximately 5.6 minutes today. For Priority 2 and 3 calls, between July 2021 and July 2024, response times rose from about 31 to 51 minutes and from 43 to 64 minutes, respectively. While LBPD projects that Priority 1 response times will remain at 5.6 minutes, Priority 2 and 3 response times are expected to continue increasing.

I have requested more analysis of how the proposed reductions could affect patrol capacity and Priority 1, 2, and 3 response times. I hope to receive that information before Tuesday’s discussion.

The budget also proposes shifting one Police Sergeant and four Police Officers to Tidelands patrol assignments funded through the restricted Tidelands Fund. I support increasing patrol capacity in the Tidelands area, and we should have a clear process to document that these positions remain focused on Tidelands-related work so restricted funds are not used to subsidize general municipal services.

For the Fire Department, my biggest concern is the proposed elimination of Engine 14, while Fire Station 14 near Colorado Lagoon would remain open. Under the proposal, the station would continue to house its Basic Life Support ambulance, and a paramedic rescue unit would be moved from Station 4 in Belmont Heights to Station 14. However, it would no longer be staffed with a fire engine, and Engine 14’s fire suppression duties would be handled by neighboring engines. This change would save about $3.8 million from the General Fund.

I understand the Fire Department’s analysis shows that eliminating Engine 14 would have the lowest service impact compared with other engine reductions, but I disagree with reducing emergency response capacity in southeast Long Beach while demand in the area is growing. Approximately 1,200 housing units are in development near 2nd and PCH, bringing thousands of additional residents to southeast Long Beach. AES is also expanding its battery storage facility on Studebaker Road next to its natural gas power plant. These are exactly the kinds of factors I believe we need to consider before reducing fire suppression and emergency response capacity in the city. When residents call 911, they expect the City to be able to respond quickly. Protecting that capacity needs to remain a priority as we work through this difficult budget.

I encourage residents to participate in the City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 11, and share their views on the proposed public safety and emergency response reductions. Residents may now provide public comment virtually or by phone, making it easier to participate without attending City Hall in person.

You can attend the meetings in person at Long Beach City Hall or participate virtually by Zoom or telephone.

Join the Meeting in Zoom Webinar

Download and use the Zoom application for desktop and mobile. Participants are encouraged to join the meeting up to 15 minutes before the meeting begins.

Zoom: https://longbeach-gov.zoom.us/j/92878731826

By Telephone: (213) 338-8477

Meeting ID: 928 7873 1826

In the Zoom Webinar, use the raise hand function or if dialing in press *9 on your phone.

To submit written public comment:

Online: https://longbeach.primegov.com/public/portal?fromiframe=true

Email: CityClerk@longbeach.gov

On Tuesday, August 11, the City Council will consider awarding the bid for the Alamitos Bay Entrance Channel Dredging and Peninsula Nourishment Project. The project will complete much-needed dredging in the Alamitos Bay entrance channel and place the dredged sand along Peninsula Beach, extending the beach by approximately 260 feet.

If approved, construction is expected to start in fall 2026 and be completed in early 2027. This project has been years in the making, and it is exciting to see it reach this important milestone.

Over the past several weeks, students from across Long Beach joined our office as interns to learn more about how the City works, conduct research, and plan community events. Thank you to our District 3 summer interns, Jaden, Elijah, Marely, Jackson, Julia, Sahakbillivitou, Scarlette, and Amy for their hard work and creativity.

Last week, they put that work into action by organizing a beach cleanup at Granada Beach, a Bee Hotel Decoration Day, a gardening activity, and a District 3 Pickleball Tournament. These projects gave our interns the opportunity to turn their ideas into real community events while promoting sustainability and bringing neighbors together.

Councilmember Duggan visited four District 3 block parties for National Night Out and enjoyed spending time with neighbors across the community. Thank you to everyone who hosted and joined us!

Each year, the Port of Long Beach offers community members an opportunity to get an up-close look at the second-busiest port in the Western Hemisphere and learn more about the operations, infrastructure, and industries that drive our local economy. Thank you to the community members who joined us this year for a tour of the Port!

Our office is regularly asked what regulations vending businesses and food trucks must follow and how residents can report potential violations. To make that information easier to find, we created simple flyers outlining the requirements and reporting process. The best way to report a potential violation is through the Go Long Beach app or the Go Long Beach website. You can download the flyers below.

Councilmember Duggan recently sat down with students participating in Algalita’s Urban Ocean Story Lab, a five-week summer program that gives Long Beach youth hands-on experience with environmental issues, documentary filmmaking, and storytelling.

The students are creating original short documentaries about Long Beach’s urban ocean, including our waterways, wildlife, pollution, stewardship, and community connection. Their work will culminate in a community film screening at the Aquarium of the Pacific on Saturday, August 15, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. See the event section for more details. 

The park is officially open! Parks, Recreation and Marine and the District 3 Office are planning a community celebration in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more information. Eliot Street and Colorado Street are expected to reopen in September 2026. The latest weekly update on the Open Channel Project is included below.

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.