Long Beach · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Long Beach public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Groundwater Treatment Plant valve rehabilitation
A $3.6 million construction contract and a $782,684 construction management contract support Phase 2 of valve rehabilitation at the Groundwater Treatment Plant, which treats a key share of the city's drinking water.
Gas pipeline maintenance services
Resolution UT-1570 would lock in a contractor for emergency gas pipeline tapping and stopping services, up to $2 million over five years. This is the behind-the-scenes work that keeps gas repairs safe and fast.
Cost of services study for Long Beach gas services
A study examining what it costs to provide gas service in Long Beach. Results could shape how gas service costs are allocated to customers in future rate discussions.
Port of Long Beach Water System Transfer
An amended agreement between the Harbor and Utilities boards would move portions of the Port's water distribution system to the utilities side. It's a behind-the-scenes asset shuffle that affects who runs which water pipes.
FY 2026 water and sewer capital program
A $1.6 million contract keeps the ongoing sewer rehabilitation and replacement program moving, reducing the risk of spills and failures in aging pipes.
Natural gas price hedging
The city buys gas daily, uses storage to dodge price spikes (like the 2023 pipeline explosion spike), and is negotiating a backup supply deal with the oil island operator (Thums) for the 2028 Olympics. Storage keeps customer bills lower when prices surge.
State water conservation mandates
The state's 'Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life' framework kicks in for compliance in 2027, and Long Beach utilities will need to hit multiple milestones on indoor, outdoor, and water-loss standards.
Natural gas procurement and affordability
Staff walked the board through how the city buys gas daily, uses storage to dodge price spikes, and manages pipeline capacity. Storage and smart purchasing help keep customer bills lower when markets get volatile.
Warehouse inventory modernization
The Utilities Department's warehouses stock everything from pipes to safety gear, but current tracking systems are clunky and there's no easy way for staff to see what's in stock. Modernization plans include standardized procedures, an in-house inventory dashboard, and better data analytics — with a long-term goal of possibly consolidating two warehouses into one.
Natural gas supply, storage, and price protection
The city buys gas daily, uses storage to dodge price spikes (like the 2023 pipeline explosion spike), and is negotiating a backup supply deal with the oil island operator (Thums) for the 2028 Olympics. Storage keeps customer bills lower when prices surge.
Haynes pipeline delay and Seal Beach franchise dispute
Construction began in May to supply recycled water to LADWP's Haynes Generating Station, which must stop using ocean water for cooling by 2029. The plant could use up to a third of the city's recycled water, prompting exploration of additional supply from the Los Coyotes reclamation plant.
FY 2026-27 water and sewer rate increases
A $1.6 million contract keeps the ongoing sewer rehabilitation and replacement program moving, reducing the risk of spills and failures in aging pipes.
Natural gas supply reliability and price volatility
Long Beach depends on a handful of pipelines feeding California — when one went down in Arizona in 2023, prices spiked. The city manages risk through storage, multiple suppliers, and daily balancing, and is exploring an emergency supply deal with local producers for the 2028 Olympics.
Pilot hygiene project siting
A $50,000 Mayor's Fund pilot will fund portable restroom/hygiene services for unhoused residents. The subcommittee wants staff to identify high-need 'hot spot' areas rather than defaulting to the Multi-Service Center, weighing overnight accessibility and transit barriers.
Sewer lift station rehabilitation before 2028 Olympics
Three aging sewer lift stations near the Queen Mary, Marina, and Queensway Bridge are getting a $4.4 million rehab, with work scheduled to finish by the end of 2027 ahead of the Olympic construction moratorium.
2026 Water Resources Plan
The city's roadmap for water supply through 2050 was received and filed. It centers on the Groundwater Resilience Program, buying additional groundwater rights, and new recycled water from the Los Coyotes plant, with imported water, pure water, and brackish desalination as longer-term options.
Utilities logo trademark protection
The unified Long Beach Utilities logo — on trucks, uniforms, and event materials — is now protected via a federal trademark application. This guards against counterfeit use and fraud as the merged water, gas, and sewer department builds a single public identity.
Groundwater Resilience Program feasibility study
Long Beach is taking a major step toward relying less on imported water by studying a new groundwater treatment plant and pipelines connecting its two water zones. Commissioners called it future infrastructure that will outlive them all.
Orange Avenue water transmission main replacement
An 80-year-old water main on Orange Avenue that broke twice in 2024 will be replaced using trenchless pipe bursting — faster, quieter, and about half the cost of digging up the street. Construction runs September through November 2026, with temporary parking impacts along the route.
Transit bus pass program for Belmont Shore workers
The free employee bus pass program hit record ridership (up 8%), freeing parking spots and cutting car trips. Public Works pays via Prop A funds (about $5-6K/month) and plans to extend the contract past December — commissioners want to know when Prop A money runs out.
Signal Hill groundwater delivery agreement
Long Beach will pump groundwater using Signal Hill's water rights and deliver it to Signal Hill, splitting the savings between the two cities. Revenue generated should help reduce costs for Long Beach ratepayers.
Alley water main replacement, Pacific Avenue and Spring Street
Water mains installed in 1927 and 1931 that have burst 19 and 4 times respectively are being moved out of alleys into streets along Pacific Avenue and Spring Street, meaning fewer outages for residents and businesses.
Refuse Department staffing and workplace conditions
Sanitation workers described broken trucks, no training, tripled trash rates without visible service improvement, and a toxic workplace culture they've raised for four years.
Expiration of 582 Emergency Housing Vouchers
About 480 households using emergency housing vouchers were at risk of losing rental help when federal EHV funding ends. The Housing Authority found enough Section 8 funding to move them over starting November 1, with ~80 LA-based households absorbed by LA's housing authority — plus $480,000 in federal conversion bonuses.
2025 Water Distribution System Master Plan Update
The parks department's spending and revenue are both on track at about 33% of budget, and water use is running well below last year — good news for taxpayers and conservation.
First strategic plan for merged Long Beach Utilities
The utility is developing its first strategic plan since water, gas, and sewer operations merged. Commissioners and staff spent the retreat identifying shared vision, mission, values, and priorities, with a final plan expected in spring 2027.
Gas utility future and affordability pressures
Consultants and staff flagged declining gas consumption, rates pegged to SoCal Gas, and a roughly $20 million annual transfer to the city's general fund as major pressures. There's no long-term plan for the gas utility's future amid electrification and climate goals, though opportunities exist in fuel cells and industrial customers.
Parks water use and conservation
Water spending is down (62% of a $3.2M budget), but commissioners warned hot, dry weather could drive costs up and they want to avoid the brownouts seen during past droughts.
Dredging project approval and October start
The City Council approved the Marine Bureau's dredging project, with the contract awarded and work targeted to begin in mid-October — an aggressive timeline staff says everyone is on board for.
Battery energy storage at the treatment plant
The board extended the battery system agreement with HEBT through 2034, raising guaranteed annual savings from $55,000 to $70,000 with no fee increase. The battery shaves peak electricity demand at the treatment plant, which spends over $5 million a year on power.
Groundwater resilience program and Pure Water Southern California
The commission backed Metropolitan Water District's massive water recycling project, which would convert highly treated wastewater into drinking-quality supply. Long Beach has a contract for about 4,000 acre-feet, supporting groundwater resilience in west Long Beach.
Campus Realignment and Modernization
The utility department operates out of three aging campuses and is studying consolidating into one modern facility. Early modeling suggests keeping the land, ground-leasing it for industrial use, and renting office space nearby could get close to cost-neutral for ratepayers — but the numbers are very rough and decisions are months away.
Colorado River shortage framework
The federal government issued an environmental impact statement framework for Colorado River operations, with shortages likely — Arizona would bear early cuts starting 2028. The river delivered only 3.5 million acre-feet this year against an 11–12 million average need. Long Beach's imported water supply could be affected.
Southern California Edison THUMS Islands facilities dispute
The city is in litigation with Southern California Edison over a PUC application that would require a customer-financed agreement for replacement electrical facilities serving the THUMS Islands. Who bears those costs is the core question.
Large valve replacement program
Aging gate valves from 1948-1962 are being replaced with modern butterfly valves at four locations, cutting valve operating time nearly in half during main breaks and shrinking the areas affected by shutdowns. Construction starts in April with traffic control at each site.
Utility bill printing modernization
The city is outsourcing printing and mailing of about 185,000 utility bills a month to InfoSend, replacing an aging in-house print operation blamed for recent billing incidents. No city employees lose jobs, and roughly $354,000 in staff time shifts to higher-value technology work with no net fiscal impact.
Drought and Climate Action Plan progress
The city reported 2025 drought accomplishments under its Climate Action Plan, including water efficiency rebates, ocean-friendly gardens, and green space projects. The Utilities Department is planning a major expansion of local groundwater and recycled water supplies.
Haynes power plant recycled water project
Construction began in May to supply recycled water to LADWP's Haynes Generating Station, which must stop using ocean water for cooling by 2029. The plant could use up to a third of the city's recycled water, prompting exploration of additional supply from the Los Coyotes reclamation plant.
Citywide digital timekeeping rollout
The city has launched phase one of the Upland digital time-entry system, replacing green paper time cards for thousands of employees, with more departments coming in the next few months.
LADWP Haynes Generating Station pipeline improvements
Long Beach is managing recycled water, sewer, and now potable water pipeline projects to serve the Haynes power plant as it phases out ocean cooling by 2029. LADWP pays all costs, and the work could create recycled water connections for future city customers.
Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility utility relocations
The Port's rail yard expansion requires moving water, sewer, and gas lines in the North Harbor area. The port covers all costs, and gas relocation work should wrap up by fall 2030.
Water supply pathways for 2050 reliability
A wet winter has pushed the local groundwater basin to about 99% of its optimum level, and Metropolitan may end the year with surplus supplies. But a warm winter left the Sierra snowpack at just 43% of normal, limiting how much of this year's precipitation becomes stored water.
On-call emergency water and sewer repair contracts
Four contractors are now on standby to fix water main breaks, sewer collapses, and sinkholes quickly, with $6 million total capacity over two years. This keeps emergency response fast when pipes fail in neighborhoods.
Olympic-era sewer and water capital projects
The Infrastructure Committee reviewed sewer and water projects near Olympic venues and travel corridors — previously planned but fast-tracked to avoid disruptions during the 2028 Games. Outreach to nearby residents and businesses will come closer to construction.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
The state requires a five-year update showing Long Beach can supply water through 2050, even in droughts. The plan forecasts reliability thanks to record Metropolitan storage, and includes a water shortage contingency plan with staged irrigation cuts if shortages hit.
Alamitos Tanks No. 11 & 13 rehabilitation
Two aging water tanks at Redondo and PCH — one from the 1930s — are getting a $5.3 million rehab to extend their life and keep the tank farm reliable.
Colorado River negotiations
The General Manager's report covered the lower basin states' proposal to manage Colorado River flows and extend negotiations to 2028, with Commissioner Cordero noting a seven-state agreement appears unlikely and shortages are expected.
New drinking water wells and Lakewood Interconnect power
A $7.27 million contract will equip two new wells drilled in 2024 in El Dorado Park and replace vandalized temporary solar/battery power at the Lakewood Interconnect with permanent Edison service, improving water supply reliability.
Colorado River supply stress
The MWD board adopted its budget with a 6.2% water rate increase, which will factor into Long Beach's FY 2027 budget. Commissioner Cordero reported Colorado River conditions are dire, with possible litigation over Lake Mead allocations.
Verizon wireless facilities at marina sites
Verizon plans to present proposals for cell equipment at the Alamitos Bay lot and the dry storage/impound yard to boost capacity around the 2028 Olympic venues. Commissioners raised questions about Olympic sponsorship conflicts and Coastal Commission review.