Long Beach · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Long Beach public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Flood Cleanup
City crews in Long Beach are rushing to clean up flood damage before high tides hit again. If you live near the coast, expect some street closures.
Storm-related overtime costs
Recent storms generated overtime for marina staff that will hit both FY26 and FY27 budgets. The committee asked staff to break out storm costs by equipment and manpower at a future meeting.
50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act
The committee wants to invite former Coastal Commissioner Mel Mutter to speak at the next meeting, marking 50 years of the Coastal Act — Long Beach certified the state's first local coastal plan. A certificate of recognition is planned.
Climate change and public service focus
New President Gloria Cordero asked staff and commissioners to keep climate change and equitable public service front of mind, citing Colorado River supply pressures and El Niño.
AI and Data Privacy website
The city is about to launch a dedicated website explaining how it uses AI and protects resident data, closing an 'information trust gap' found in community surveys. It will spotlight the digital rights platform showing what data city technologies collect.
NSF-funded privacy assistant app
A nearly $1.5 million NSF grant with Cal State Long Beach and Carnegie Mellon is building an app that lets residents actually exercise data rights — request deletion, corrections, and opt-outs — rather than just see what data city tech collects.
Leaded fuel health concerns
A resident urged the commission to investigate leaded aviation fuel falling on neighborhoods and schools near the airport, noting the FAA's 2030 target for ending leaded fuel and the city health department's inaction.
Demolition of the Southeast Resource Recovery Facility
The SERRF fund ran out of revenue years ago and can't fully cover demolition and wind-down costs. The city and the LA County Sanitation Districts have a tentative deal — the district pays up to $1 million, the city covers the rest — but it still needs approval from both governing bodies.
Demolition of the SERRF facility
The shuttered Southeast Resource Recovery Facility is being torn down, and this contract sets that in motion. Once demolition is complete, the joint powers authority that runs SERRF will dissolve — ending a long-running city-district partnership.
Right-of-way landscaping practices
A new five-member ad hoc committee will study how the city handles landscaping in public rights-of-way such as parkways and medians. The work could shape climate-resilient, water-wise street landscaping standards.
Alamitos Bay entrance channel dredging
Last year's bids came in over budget ($13-14 million), so the city applied for a $5 million state Coastal Conservancy grant and is re-advertising the bid. Dredged sand will stay on Long Beach beaches.
Long Beach Climate Network launch
The utility is tying together its turf removal, native plant parkway, and direct-install gardens programs into one network that helps residents, businesses, and public agencies find rebates, design help, volunteer labor, and maintenance education. Climate Action Corps fellows did much of the groundwork, converting over 11,000 square feet of turf to native plants.
Fireworks and water quality
A resident asked the Commission to review a water-quality study connected to the city's three July 4th fireworks shows, concerned about pollution in popular swimming areas.
Stormwater capture limitations and curb cuts
Commissioner Gaytan pressed for curb cuts and stormwater infiltration, but Director Wang explained Long Beach's coastal clay layer prevents captured stormwater from reaching drinking-water aquifers, limiting its value as a supply. The Long Beach Municipal Urban Stormwater Treatment project was cited as the main capture mechanism.
Trash can replacement and clean team operations
Commissioner Hines formally requested a Public Works presentation on street cleaning, saying seniors want cleaner streets, to be scheduled at a future meeting.
Abandoned vessel abatement
The Marine Bureau has destroyed 122 abandoned boats since 2019 at over $900,000 in cost, with state grant funding shrinking from $400,000 to $50,000. Staff are exploring recycling lead keels and boat donations to cut costs.
Overflowing trash receptacles near shoreline restaurants
Trash cans near Gladstone's and other waterfront restaurants overflow daily, and wind spreads the litter. Members want more frequent service or added receptacles.
Derelict and abandoned vessel program
Marina staff are applying for a supplemental grant of $10,000 to $25,000 to destroy abandoned boats that pose environmental and navigation hazards, including a steel-hulled boat with a compromised hull.
Phase out of diesel and gas powered lawn equipment
A new ad hoc committee will study phasing out gas-powered lawn equipment, a major local source of smog-forming pollution. A resident cited American Lung Association rankings showing the LA-Long Beach area as the nation's most ozone-polluted.
Beach and marina cleanliness and public stewardship
Commissioners flagged dirty drinking fountains, litter at the sailing centers, and 292 tons of monthly beach trash. Staff plan a public campaign to encourage visitors to pack out their own trash.
Pesticide use and wildlife concerns in parks
A resident reported recent herbicide spraying around trees and picnic tables in Area 2 near the sailboat pond, including a dead duck found in a sprayed area, and asked the commission to make wildlife and plant health part of its mission.
PFAS contamination risk in regional groundwater
The state now requires PFAS monitoring at all of Long Beach's wells. Neighboring Lakewood detected PFAS in four of its eleven wells and must abandon them; Long Beach's centralized treatment approach gives it a buffer, but migration in the aquifer is a concern.
Environmental justice and emergency response
The Environmental Justice Ad Hoc is meeting with emergency response experts, including Fire Department Battalion Chief Jake Heflin, and expects to bring recommendations to the full commission by summer, timed with extreme heat season.
Green Parkways Initiative Council Referral
The City Council referred a green parkways initiative to this commission and a council committee. Staff will explore new standards for parkway landscaping and maintenance and bring recommendations back to council later this year.
Municipal solid waste processing and disposal services
The commission renewed the contracts that handle the city's trash processing and disposal with three vendors, keeping waste services running for another year with renewal options.
Maintenance of Public Green Spaces
Commissioner Sergy raised concerns that the city invests in restoring green spaces but then fails to maintain them, calling it a climate, drought, heat-island, and equity issue. Staff confirmed there is no dedicated budget for maintaining medians, parkways, or regular tree trimming.
Airport sustainability efforts
The airport is renewing its carbon accreditation, cutting parking-lot energy use by 30% with motion-sensing lighting, and diverted 21 tons of food waste from landfills last year. Stormwater sampling was delayed by lab closures over the holidays.