Long Beach · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Long Beach public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Planning Commission's new code appeals role
The commission is inheriting building and code appeals hearings that used to go to the Board of Examiners, Appeals and Condemnation. Property owners and builders will now bring these disputes to the commission instead.
El Niño Emergency Preparedness
Long Beach is bracing for what could be a historically strong El Niño winter, with risks of flooding, downed trees and power lines citywide. The emergency declaration lets the city line up state resources, speed up contracts, and move staff quickly — and officials are asking residents to prepare their own homes now.
Timeliness of disciplinary appeals and the ten-day filing deadline
A city worker fired after his commercial driver's license was suspended missed the 10-day window to appeal and asked the commission to hear the case anyway. The commission denied the request, saying excusing one late appeal would effectively erase the deadline for everyone, but signaled openness to future rehire consideration.
Late-filed disciplinary appeal of terminated refuse operator
A six-year city employee lost his job after his commercial driver's license was suspended, then missed the 10-day window to appeal. The commission's decision turns on whether strict deadlines apply even when the employee claims he didn't read the notice.
Cybersecurity awareness and deepfake threats
The city ran a month-long cybersecurity campaign with staff trainings, posters, and tips on phishing, AI deepfakes, and voice-cloning scams. Staff plan to make lunch-and-learn sessions quarterly and are training directors to verify unusual requests — a real defense against AI-powered fraud.
Human trafficking research partnership
The commission's human trafficking committee is awaiting results from a Cal State Long Beach research project and plans to meet for an update soon.
Appeal Case 01-DR-2526
The commission took up a recommendation to hear an appeal on case 23-D-2223, but simply received and filed the item without acting on it. Anyone following this case should watch for it to reappear on a future agenda.
Appeal on case 23-D-2223
A disciplinary appeal the commission was set to hear was pushed to a later date because the employee's attorney fell ill. Staff will coordinate new dates with both sides.
Police Chief Retirement
Long Beach's police chief is retiring, forcing city hall to launch a high-stakes search for a new top cop. This leadership change gives residents a rare chance to see how future policing priorities will take shape in our neighborhoods.
Community connector outreach program
The city is trying a new way to reach residents who don't attend traditional meetings: a cohort of resident "community connectors" from disadvantaged areas who help run outreach and shape engagement activities. A connector from West Side Long Beach told the board the program got her civically involved, though its future depends on continued funding.
Pending litigation against the city
The city is facing six lawsuits in Los Angeles Superior Court, and the council met privately with its lawyers to discuss them. Outcomes could affect city finances through settlements or judgments.
Airport noise violations and complaints
There were 13 noise violations in August — all first-time general aviation offenders, so no fines — and over 22,700 noise concerns logged, up a couple thousand from July. Staff explained the escalating penalty structure, including a unique criminal misdemeanor provision.
Surveillance camera trailer pilot
Mobile camera trailers will watch two Belmont Shore parking lots for six months (~$20,000) as a crime deterrent pilot. Residents raised privacy and transparency concerns and asked that data and reports be made public.
Department-wide storm response readiness
Staff described storm preparations including 109 dead tree removals, generator checks, pump readiness at Houghton Park, and past activation of an evacuation center at El Dorado Park for peninsula flooding.
Fire hydrant maintenance and stem nut standardization
The city just finished surveying all ~8,000 fire hydrants and found about 550 with non-standard stem nuts that don't fit firefighters' wrenches. The new hydrant parts contract supports replacing those so the Fire Department can use its standard equipment.
Noise violations and community noise concerns
There were 13 noise violations in August — all first-time general aviation offenders, so no fines — and over 22,700 noise concerns logged, up a couple thousand from July. Staff explained the escalating penalty structure, including a unique criminal misdemeanor provision.
Second Street public safety options
The city presented a menu of options to address late-night problems on Second Street: a special dining district with fees on bars, a citywide alcohol coordinator, extended meter hours to fund police overtime, and more. City Council will decide direction in November — residents can still weigh in.
CSI Patrol accountability and reporting
The private security contractor presented its first monthly reports after years without data. Residents criticized the reports as thin and daytime-heavy, noting the late-night bar hours remain the problem window.
Social media and campaign contact lists
The ad hoc is finalizing a recommendation to keep constituents connected to outgoing officials' social media accounts and contact lists — so you don't lose your source for sandbag locations during a flood when a council member leaves office. Enforcement would require a new ordinance.
FAIR Act lobbying ordinance progress
The FAIR Act — the ethics commission's lobbying reform package — got a warm reception at a City Council study session. Council members want clarity on what counts as a lobbyist 'contact,' and the mayor wants an extra council review before the meet-and-confer process, which could push final adoption well past the end of the year.
Social media and campaign activity recommendation
The commission's recommendation on social media and campaign activity is one step from the City Council — it's awaiting the City Manager's final review and could reach council by Friday.
Proposed Internal Affairs process for Long Beach Police Department
The Office of Police Oversight has proposed a new Internal Affairs process for how the Long Beach Police Department handles complaints against officers. The commission was scheduled to discuss it and gather public feedback, but the meeting was cancelled, so that conversation has not yet happened.
Community outreach to neighborhood associations
The commission finalized (with one more revision) a plain-language presentation about what the Ethics Commission does, and authorized commissioners to start booking neighborhood association talks beginning in January 2027.
Nitrous oxide retail sales ban
Council directed staff to bring a local ordinance within 60 days codifying the state's new ban on retail nitrous oxide sales, with a 120-day plan for tougher local rules. Emergency visits tied to the drug jumped 246% between 2018 and 2023.
Emergency Management
Most Long Beach evacuation advisories are finally lifted, but some homeowners are still dealing with red-tagged properties after a local emergency. Residents should know that while the worst is over, getting back into damaged homes will take time.
Board of Health Focus Areas
The Board's standing focus areas were scheduled for discussion and receipt and filing. The cancellation means no updated direction on health priorities was recorded this month.
Marine Patrol staffing and enforcement
Police and Marine Patrol reported tripling fishing and trespassing citations over the summer, impounding illegal jet ski rentals, and coordinating with the Coast Guard and business licensing on unpermitted charters. Commissioners raised illegal e-bike enforcement as well.
Police interactions with residents with behavioral disabilities
A mother told the commission her adult son with communication disabilities had a weapon drawn on him during a police visit, and asked for sticker/notification systems so officers recognize disability cases. She also asked the commission to push the council on inclusive park design.
Long Beach Values Act support
ÓRALE asked the commission to support the Long Beach Values Act, a local sanctuary policy coming to council November 10, including banning immigration enforcement staging on public property.
Homeless Services Bureau quarterly operations report
The Health Department's quarterly data on homeless services operations was scheduled to be received and filed. The cancelled meeting delays the committee's review of how city homeless services are performing.
Response to Cesar Chavez and Jeffrey Epstein sexual abuse allegations
The Office of Equity is hosting listening sessions this fall on potentially renaming city assets currently honoring Cesar Chavez.
Long Beach Justice Fund funding
Advocates are pushing the city to fund the Justice Fund at $3 million in FY 27, up from last year's $2.2 million, as ICE enforcement intensifies. The mayor has proposed $1 million in structural funding, and Uranga's letter asks for $1 million every year going forward.
Filippo Ruffino v. City of Long Beach litigation
The council discussed two potential lawsuits the city might file and one threatened or anticipated legal claim against it. Details remain confidential until the city chooses to disclose any action.
Threats to public services and facilities
The Board met in closed session with security and IT leaders to assess threats to public services and facilities. Details are confidential; no action was reported.
Disciplinary appeal case 09-D-2425
A city employee's disciplinary appeal is moving forward. The commission received the case and went into closed session to handle it, as employee discipline is discussed privately.
Resident's long-running parking and code complaint near Willmore/Bluff Park
James Richardson told the commission his historic home sits next to an eight-unit building with unpermitted attic units and cars parking two- and three-deep in a side yard with no driveway, creating safety problems. He's complained for years and threatened to seek removal from the historic district. The chair directed him to his council office and staff promised follow-up.
City data privacy policy (AR-839) implementation
The city now runs privacy evaluations on every technology that collects resident personal information, with most data required to be deleted within 90 days. Residents can look up how their data is used on the city's digital rights platform.
Safe Streets Long Beach / Vision Zero update
Long Beach's goal of zero traffic deaths by 2026 won't be met — 2025 saw an unprecedented spike in fatalities. The city is restructuring its Transportation Services Bureau, creating a Traffic Safety Division, hiring a traffic safety officer, launching speed safety cameras, and rewriting the plan for adoption in 2028.
Alcohol license overconcentration in North Long Beach
The City Council voted the night before to develop restrictions on smoke shops near schools, senior facilities, and senior buildings; a commenter noted a smoke shop next to the senior center and ongoing drug activity.
Emergency Declaration
Hurricane Marie already stripped more than half a mile of Peninsula beach and boardwalk, and a stronger-than-90-percent-chance El Niño winter is coming. The emergency declaration lets the city fast-track contracts and personnel and coordinate with the state. Residents are urged to get sandbags, five days of supplies, and sign up for Alert Long Beach now.
Federal H.R. 1 cuts to Medi-Cal and CalFresh
Starting September, people aged 19 to 64 receiving CalFresh or Medi-Cal must document 80 hours a month of work, volunteering or school or lose benefits. Commissioners urged nonprofits and seniors to prepare volunteer and employment opportunities now.
Community input shaping future police audits
The council privately evaluated the performance of the city's police oversight director and discussed labor terms with that unrepresented employee. The outcome could affect how independently the city's police watchdog operates.
Mayor's Fund grant awards for homeless services
The subcommittee decides which community organizations get Mayor's Fund grants to serve people experiencing homelessness. This round, about $30,000 went to two organizations, while meal-focused requests were declined as outside the fund's intent.
Library fence and Olympic-era displacement
The HSAC letter criticizing the fence around the Billie Jean King Main Library is with the city manager's office. Members worry Olympic security zones could shift control to federal authorities and lead to displacement of unhoused residents, and want proactive, community-centered planning.
Workforce seat on the Continuum of Care Board
The regional homelessness board wants a workforce representative from this network to link housing stability with employment services. No decision was made; staff will bring an action item to a future meeting.
Block by Block clean team performance and grease problem
The new clean team gets praise for cleaning and pressure washing, but restaurants leaving grease bags on sidewalks remain a problem. Commissioners may agendize a letter to Council Member Duggan, since enforcement is a business-license/health-department matter outside the commission's authority.
CSI Patrol security contract accountability
The district pays CSI Patrol $275,000/year, but residents say they rarely see officers on foot. A new reporting tool is in the works, and the commission will decide in November whether to extend the six-month contract past December 31 or rely on the cameras instead.
Gas atmospheric corrosion survey outreach
The city awarded a supply contract to keep cathodic protection running on 900+ miles of gas pipeline, over half of it more than 50 years old.
Alcohol in parks policy concerns
Repeated public testimony opposed serving alcohol at park events, questioning the precedent as more special events with beer and wine come before the Commission.
PFOS and sewer crossbore safety
The Infrastructure Committee report showed no PFOS detections in Long Beach wells to date and reviewed the crossbore inspection program, which finds gas lines accidentally run through sewer laterals — a serious safety risk.