Long Beach · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Long Beach public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
The city wants to update the fees developers pay for parks, police, fire, and transportation improvements citywide. This shapes how new growth pays for the services it demands — and can affect housing costs. A public hearing is scheduled for residents to weigh in.
Pacific Avenue street improvements
Two big contracts — a protected cycle track and broader corridor upgrades along Pacific Avenue — totaling over $30 million, largely paid by state and federal grants. Expect construction activity and, ultimately, safer and smoother streets in District 1 and 6 neighborhoods.
Homelessness and health grant funding
Multiple grants are up for acceptance — $11 million for Continuum of Care homeless services, $7.3 million for Black Infant Health, plus youth homelessness and other health program funding. Mostly state and federal money flowing into local services.
Long Beach Values Act support
The Council will consider directing the City Manager to report back within 60 days on federal immigration enforcement cooperation, SB 54 compliance, complaint processes, and the October 17 incident. This is a key accountability item for immigrant residents.
Historic El Niño and community storm preparedness
Forecasters expect a historic El Niño, with king tides falling on Thanksgiving and Christmas week. The city is running pre-season sandbag giveaways, pushing Alert Long Beach sign-ups, and teaching residents to build go bags and stay kits before storms hit.
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.
$60 Million Street Repair Contract
The commission will consider adding $11.7 million to the All American Asphalt street repair contract, for a total of $18.6 million. This funds pothole and street repair work across Long Beach.
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.
Measure A FY 27 spending plan
Measure A sales tax dollars fund city services, and this committee provides citizen oversight. The update shows how the plan the City Council adopted in the FY 27 budget is being put into action.
New Technology and Innovation Director appointment
After an extended acting period, the city has appointed TJ Mal as Director of Technology and Innovation, effective November 16. He brings 25 years of public-sector tech leadership, most recently as CIO at Pasadena City College.
Series 2026 bond financing for city capital projects
The Finance Authority signed off on lease revenue bonds that pay for Fire Station 9, the police crime lab and DNA lab, the Police Academy, EV charging stations, Belmont Pool and Convention Center improvements, plus infrastructure across the city. The deal also refinances 2019B open-space bonds. This is the financing mechanism behind a big chunk of the city's capital improvement budget.
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.
AI Learn and Earn digital skills program
Long Beach's digital skills programs graduated 104 residents in October, giving participants certificates and free computers. The city plans to expand to roughly 400 participants over the next six months, adding youth programs and a YMCA partnership.
2026 Lease Revenue Bond issuance
The Authority considered authorizing Lease Revenue Bonds, Series 2026, to pay for a broad slate of city projects — Fire Station 9, police crime lab and academy facilities, EV charging stations, the Belmont Pool, Convention Center improvements, and infrastructure citywide. The bonds would be repaid through leases of city-owned buildings.
$50 Million Revolving Credit Facility for City Capital Projects
The Finance Authority signed off on lease revenue bonds that pay for Fire Station 9, the police crime lab and DNA lab, the Police Academy, EV charging stations, Belmont Pool and Convention Center improvements, plus infrastructure across the city. The deal also refinances 2019B open-space bonds. This is the financing mechanism behind a big chunk of the city's capital improvement budget.
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.
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.
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.
Financing and education to improve rental housing
Committee members and the apartment association found common ground on exploring low-cost city loans for seismic and habitability upgrades, a tenant/landlord education hotline, and better data collection on substantial remodel outcomes.
Substantial remodel loophole and aging housing stock
Advocates say landlords abuse the substantial remodel eviction ground — about 170 notices filed since April 2023, with many more unreported — while the apartment association argues it's a lawful, necessary tool for upgrading housing where 82% of stock predates 1980. Both sides agreed clearer definitions are needed.
Strengthening Long Beach's just-cause eviction ordinance
Tenant advocates want the city to eliminate substantial remodel as an eviction ground, set a two-month non-payment threshold, raise relocation assistance to LA County levels, and cover all renters including those in single-family homes. The current ordinance meets only the state minimum and sunsets in 2030. The committee will develop recommendations for the full council.
Mills Act Program modifications
Long Beach is considering changes to the Mills Act, which gives historic property owners property tax reductions in exchange for preservation work. Proposed changes include new priority criteria for cultural heritage, public benefit, and affordability; a biennial application cycle; and 20-year limits on new contracts. The program costs the general fund about $400,000 a year in property tax revenue but incentivizes restoration of historic homes and buildings.
100% Condo Participation Requirement
Owners in historic condo buildings like the Cooper Arms say the requirement that every single unit owner join a Mills Act contract lets one holdout block an entire building. Staff recommends keeping the rule, citing legal concerns and older contracts with sub-100% participation, but commissioners asked for further study of alternatives like supermajority HOA approval.
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.
2026 Veterans Day event planning
The November 7 Veterans Day event is happening but without the traditional recognition ceremony, because staff hours were cut and council offices declined to help. A veteran in the audience criticized the city for not honoring veterans properly compared to Orange County cities.
Restoration of Public Health Professional III position in Office of Veterans Support
The Office of Veterans Support coordinator's position has been cut to part-time, limiting what the commission can do — including cancelling the Veterans Day recognition ceremony. The commission is organizing a letter and outreach campaign to get the position restored in the FY 2027 budget.
FY 2028-2032 HUD Consolidated Plan development
Long Beach is starting the year-long process of writing its next five-year plan for federal HUD money — funds that pay for affordable housing, homeless services, senior meals, after-school programs, and park improvements. Residents can shape it now through a multilingual survey open through March, community sessions in early 2027, and public hearings in the spring.
2026 Long Beach Veterans Day Celebration
Planning for the November Veterans Day event is ahead of schedule, with 11 of 25 resource fair vendor slots filled and a new flyer awaiting approval. There will be no veterans recognition ceremony this year and the flyover was cut as too expensive; commissioners will help promote the event and invite council offices.
Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) with LA County
The city is exploring an EIFD that would capture a portion of future property tax growth from new development in five areas — downtown, the airport, Anaheim/Esther corridors, North Long Beach, and the Santa Fe corridor — and spend it on infrastructure and affordable housing. The county could match the city's contribution, potentially yielding about $385 million over 50 years. No new tax is involved, and formation would require multiple public hearings and a protest opportunity for residents and property owners in the district.
Coastal erosion and managed retreat on the Peninsula
Successive December-through-February storms have squeezed the Peninsula beach down to the width of a dump truck in places. Staff said dredging will re-nourish the beach, and consultants are developing best management practices for ongoing backpassing and berm maintenance.
Strengthening the Long Beach Values Act
The Long Beach Justice Fund Coalition asked the city to close SB 54 loopholes, strengthen signage, ban license plate readers and facial recognition, bar police side jobs with immigration enforcement, strengthen contracts, and add a private right of action. City staff countered that current policy already blocks federal data sharing and that a private right of action would expand city liability. A commission ad hoc will draft a support letter by late April.
Labor negotiations with city employee unions
The city is negotiating contracts with nearly all of its employee bargaining groups, from SEIU Local 721 to engineers and city attorneys. Any deal on pay and benefits will eventually come back to the council — and affect the city budget — in public.
Surveillance camera trailer pilot
Public Works is installing two mobile camera trailers in the lots behind Panama Joe's and Dogs to curb late-night rowdiness, at about $3,200/month for six months. Residents worry about privacy, noise, data retention, and whether bars causing the problem should pay — and the commission has limited authority since Public Works can proceed regardless.
Affordable housing fund nearly depleted
The legacy affordable housing fund from the old redevelopment agency is down to about $49,000 after years of spending down. The good news: new state and county grants are now funding roughly $27.5 million in projects with over 500 new units.
Airport sustainability performance
The airport is ahead of its pollution and carbon goals — already at 67% carbon reduction versus a 40%-by-2030 target — and halved electricity costs at parking structure B. Staff are exploring battery storage to keep the airport running during outages.
Pedestrian safety on Westside corridors
Commissioner Clemson argued the Santa Fe Avenue project was signal synchronization, not safety, and that planned CIP safety improvements stop short of Westside freeway ramps — leaving pedestrians crossing a truck corridor exposed.
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.
Affordable housing production under Measure A
The city has finished 163 of its 540-unit five-year affordable housing goal, but 669 more units are under construction — meaning Long Beach should exceed its target at 124% once they're done. About half of those units are expected to be completed within the next year.
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.
Rising cost of affordable housing construction
The $79.6 million price tag for roughly 100 units — about $800,000 per unit — sparked discussion about why new affordable housing costs so much and whether alternatives like ADUs and acquisition-rehab make more sense.
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.
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.
Affordable housing shortfall
Long Beach has met market-rate housing targets but only about 6% of its 15,000-unit affordable housing need, and applications for large new projects have dropped sharply since late 2024. Commissioners want better tracking of why entitled projects die before construction.
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.
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.
Hurricane Rachel storm response
Weekend storm surge flooded the Peninsula and Naples areas, red-tagging eight homes. Utility crews staffed the sewer station, sealed manholes, and shut off water and gas to damaged homes — no sewer system failures occurred.
General aviation landing fees at Long Beach Airport
Residents and some commissioners want the airport to charge general aviation landing fees, arguing airlines pay about $744 per landing while GA pays nothing despite flying 91% of operations. Staff says the current structure is federally compliant, fees can't target noise, and a study would take 6-12 months. An ad hoc committee may be formed next month.
$4 million in affordable housing awards for North Long Beach
Three developers were selected to create or preserve 119 affordable units in North Long Beach — rehabbing two existing apartment buildings and buying land for 39 new family units. Rehab projects keep current tenants in place and lock in affordability for 55 years, or forever in the land trust's case.
FY 2027 budget cuts to parks programming
The department absorbed about $2.8 million in cuts amid a $58 million citywide shortfall, but preserved maintenance funding and restored B-Safe evening hours, teen programming and Nature Center hours.
Westside Promise Initiative progress and accountability
The ten-year, place-based investment plan for West Long Beach is three years in, with park upgrades, tree plantings, and night markets — but residents say there are no measurable benchmarks and that pollution and clean air must come first.