Long Beach · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Long Beach public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Marina Fund fiscal year 2026 financial performance
How the city's water, gas, and sewer funds are tracking financially this fiscal year. These funds pay for utility operations and can influence future rates customers pay.
2026 Lease Revenue Bonds for city capital projects
The Authority authorized bonds that will pay for a long list of city projects: Fire Station 9, police crime lab and DNA lab upgrades, EV charging stations, the Belmont Pool, Convention Center roof work and more. The debt is repaid through leases on city buildings.
Update requested on city layoff actions
Commissioner Owens asked that HR come back with the final outcome of the potential city layoffs the commission examined at a special September hearing, since the October 1 date has passed.
Vendor data ownership and procurement reform
Commissioners want vendors who collect data on Long Beach residents to disclose what they collect, store it on city infrastructure, and delete it when contracts end — lessons drawn from a smart sensor pilot. Procurement due diligence emerged as a possible 2027 workplan item.
Statewide women's policy initiatives
The state commission shared legislative wins including the child marriage ban (AB 1267) and college health center funding, plus a first-ever Advocacy Day in Sacramento on March 17, 2027. Child care affordability is a top 2027 priority.
Large technology contracts approved on consent
The utilities department can now buy IT hardware, software, licensing, and consulting through CaliforniaGovConnection under a cooperative contract, avoiding repeated bidding. Includes needed laptop upgrades and supports the department's phone and WebEx systems.
Pro-Housing Designation renewal
The city's state Pro-Housing Designation — which gives affordable projects extra points in state funding competitions — expires in January 2027, and staff has posted a draft renewal application.
Housing Authority contract-signing authority
The Housing Authority updated who can sign contracts with grantors and vendors, letting its top two executives sign on the City Manager's behalf. This keeps housing programs and grants moving without waiting for full commission sign-off on every agreement. Staff said the underlying policy dates to the 1960s and had no digital copy.
Housing Authority financial and operational performance
The Housing Authority updated who can sign contracts with grantors and vendors, letting its top two executives sign on the City Manager's behalf. This keeps housing programs and grants moving without waiting for full commission sign-off on every agreement. Staff said the underlying policy dates to the 1960s and had no digital copy.
Mini Grant Program funding decisions
The board chose four nonprofits to receive HHS Fund mini grants, but not before debating whether public money should pay for staff spa days and retreats. Members agreed the grant guidelines need tightening before the next round — which is being paused anyway due to reduced staffing.
Dissolution of MAC subcommittees
The commission dissolved its Finance, Tidelands Capital Projects, and Marine & Beach Maintenance/Operations subcommittees, moving those topics into regular meetings to save staff time and comply with the mayor's FY 27 budget direction limiting commission meetings. The Executive Committee remains as a meeting-prep body.
Yacht club guest fee waivers under budget pressure
Chair Kajer suggested the Marine Bureau stop waiving dock and tie-up fees for visiting yacht club racing guests, asking hosting clubs to pay their guests' expenses instead — a small revenue shift as the city faces a budget deficit.
CHC meeting day may move to Thursdays due to budget cuts
Because of the city's budget shortfall, staff wants to hold CHC meetings back-to-back with Planning Commission meetings on Thursdays to cut staff overtime. Commissioners worried about daytime meetings conflicting with members' jobs and public access. The change will come back as a bylaw amendment with public input.
In-house work vs. outside consultants
Commissioners Austin and Parkin pressed staff on whether projects could be done in-house instead of by consultants, noting in-house work could cost roughly half as much. The General Manager accepted the challenge and will bring a decision framework to committee.
Non-career employee pathways to full-time work
Commissioners flagged that some "non-career" employees have worked 20+ years without benefits or pension contributions. HR says it's focused on creating pipelines from non-career to permanent roles, and Commissioner Owens wants a pathway for long-timers.
Proposed limit on commission meetings
The City Council has asked the city manager to develop a policy limiting all commissions to two meetings a month. President Morales is seeking an exemption for this commission, since its hearing schedule depends on appeals that come in unpredictably.
City budget cuts hit housing staff
Two Community Development employees, including one at LBCIC, will be gone by October 1 due to city budget pressures and federal funding uncertainty. The commission's meeting day may also shift to Thursdays as the city consolidates meeting schedules.
Airport fee increase
The airport expects about $59 million in revenue this fiscal year, down from $63 million, largely from Southwest's capacity cuts. A 13% airline fee increase took effect March 1 to offset roughly $1.7 million of the loss, and staff are freezing hiring and cutting overtime — passengers might see about a dollar added to fares.
Long Beach Gives peer fundraising for HHS Fund
The health department is asking board members and the public to create peer fundraising pages for Long Beach Gives (Sept 18–24), with a $10,000 goal. Money goes to direct client support — up to $1,000 per person for basics like rides to medical appointments — for vulnerable residents losing federal and traditional support.
Park fee waivers for community events
The city waives about $5,148 in permit and rental fees for six community events this fall, from a dog appreciation day to a Halloween carnival. A first-time disc golf tournament series at El Dorado Park West will be a trial run.
Council District funding requests not recommended
Requests including restoring Fire Engine 14, police patrol staffing, weekend homeless outreach, and youth programs were acknowledged but not recommended for the FY 27 budget due to fiscal constraints; they remain on file for future consideration.
Library hours and quality-of-life officer restorations
Multiple letters — from Districts 6 and 7 and the mayor — ask to restore Monday library hours and quality-of-life officer positions cut in the budget. Allen noted these requests have come up repeatedly this season.
City Place parking garage rate changes
A proposal would change downtown City Place garage parking from one hour free to 90 minutes free with $2 per 30 minutes. Business owners and advocates say restaurants depend on lunch customers who need more than an hour, and urged reconsideration.
SERRF fund shortfall and settlement with Sanitation Districts
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.
Neighborhood microgrants and library funding
Council Member Kerr's office asked about restoring $150,000 in library programming now proposed for the VIBE City branding campaign. Restoring the microgrant program would cost about $230,000 including admin overhead, and staff will report back on options.
FY 27 Public Works reorganization and staffing
The FY 27 budget proposes a new Traffic Safety Division, seven maintenance assistants for sign replacement backed by a $10 million Caltrans grant, and staff for streetlight repairs and the traffic management center.
Committee recommendations for transparency and engagement
The committee's letter to the Mayor and Council recommends more community outreach about Measure A, an annual town hall, publicizing audit results, short-term spending reports, and publishing a city building condition inventory.
Development impact fee increases and housing affordability
A draft nexus study will support proposed increases to the city's development impact fees — with fire facility fees targeted for the biggest jump — plus automatic inflation indexing. Councilmember Allen warned the increases must not slow housing production, especially since neighboring cities like Lakewood and Compton charge no impact fees at all.
Measure LB revenue shortfall under audit
The power plant tax projected at up to $15 million a year is collecting only a couple million; the city auditor is investigating why.
Income-qualified customer data sharing with SCE
A data-sharing agreement with Southern California Edison will let the utility identify income-qualified customers in its service territory and boost enrollment in bill assistance programs, while protecting privacy through a non-disclosure agreement.
FY 2027 parks and recreation fee changes
The Commission adopted the annual fee update for parks programs and facilities. Most fees go up 3.64% with the city cost index, but there are new fees — including a $10 youth sports admin fee per player and a $10 permit-to-gather fee for groups of 25 or more. Staff says scholarships will keep cost from keeping kids out of programs.
FY27 parks fee adjustments
Nearly all of the department's 287 fees would rise 3.64%, with bigger hikes for youth sports participation and a new $10 fee for open-space gatherings. These go to a public hearing July 16 before landing in the city budget.
Cost and efficiency of commission meetings
The commission's first annual report shows meetings cost roughly $20,000 a year in staff time. Ideas on the table include fewer meetings, pairing with Planning Commission nights, and minimum agenda sizes.
Technology procurement via cooperative agreement
The utilities department can now buy IT hardware, software, licensing, and consulting through CaliforniaGovConnection under a cooperative contract, avoiding repeated bidding. Includes needed laptop upgrades and supports the department's phone and WebEx systems.
Development impact fee reports
Two yacht club fee waivers reached the commission only after the City Council had already approved them, prompting criticism that the advisory process had become a rubber stamp. The commission adopted substitute motions asking to receive such items in advance of council action.
Campaign accounts and Divide-by-Nine district funds
A refresher on what elected officials can do with campaign funds, officeholder accounts, and their district priority funds — including strict prohibitions on personal or political uses and a council-approval process for new spending. Public can view all campaign filings online 24/7.
Charter Commission appointments and reappointments
The Charter Commission reviews and recommends updates to the city's governing charter. The committee received the list of appointments and reappointments and forwarded it to the City Council, which gives final approval.
2026 Fundraising and Shifting Federal Funding
With federal homelessness priorities shifting away from permanent housing, members want the utility bill insert and city website to carry a message that Long Beach must step up locally, emphasizing the fund's role in pilot and gap projects.
Grant accountability and reporting
Members found prior grantee reports too vague — one showed identical contributions two months running — and demanded detailed financial breakdowns, service counts, and homelessness outcomes before final dollars are released.
New golf fees and Players Club changes
New golf fees take effect July 1, with Players Club structure changes following July 16 after a 45-day notice. Platinum upgrade memberships run $54-$69 with a large bucket of balls daily included.
Food and beverage pricing review
A new ad hoc committee will review food and beverage prices for 2026-27, benchmarked to fair market value rather than CPI, before the September meeting.
Timely committee input on the city budget
Past committee recommendation letters reached the council too late to influence the budget. Members plan to finalize a draft letter at their August 6 meeting and ask to present at the Budget Committee, chaired by Council Member Ricks-Oddie, before adoption in September.
Commission size and meeting frequency recommendations
Regular Veterans Affairs Commission meetings are moving from the second to the third Wednesday of each month, starting next month. The change helps Commissioner Earl avoid a conflict with the Belmont Heights Association.
Commission size and quorum problems
The commission has never had all 11 seats filled in its two years, causing quorum struggles. Staff recommended the city consider reducing the commission's size when it's next reviewed.
$17 Million in County Park Funding Allocated Citywide
The city allocated over $17 million in accumulated LA County park funds to 19 projects across all five study areas, mostly completing Elevate 28 projects like new playgrounds and restrooms.
Airport finances amid declining passenger activity
Passenger numbers are down about 6% this year, driven by Southwest cutting flights, but the airport softened the blow by raising airline, parking, and rideshare fees. Revenues are projected at $62.8 million — only about 1% down — with $9.3 million in operating results expected.
Lifeguard tower advertising proposal
The city is considering selling advertising on up to 25 lifeguard towers, but estimated revenue is only about $40,000 a year. Commissioners and residents largely opposed it, saying the beach should stay ad-free, and urged alternatives like sponsored trash cans or educational signage.
June 2026 primary candidate filing transparency
All current elected officials and candidates above the $2,000 fundraising threshold have filed their campaign forms on time, but many first-time candidates haven't filed anything yet. The commission is urging voluntary early filing so voters can see where money comes from.