10:50am | There was no shortage of news in 2010, and even in a year that saw massive budget deficits and cost-cutting, the City of Long Beach would like to point out that there was also no shortage of accomplishments.

The City released a statement Wednesday listing a wide range of completed projects and achievements that occurred in 2010, with the overall message that local government can continue to serve even through financial difficulties.

Among the most notable are nearly 20 miles of streets repairs and 48,000 filled potholes, along with entering into a feasibility study agreement to study modification of the Long Beach Breakwater, acquiring 34 acres of the Los Cerritos Wetlands and completing eight park projects.

City Manager Pat West applauded the accomplishments.

“The work done in 2010 resulted from the Mayor and City Council’s policy direction and the efforts of our hard-working city staff,” he said. “These accomplishments would be remarkable even in good financial times, but should be considered nothing short of incredible given the serious financial difficulties all cities are facing.”

West is right about one thing: Long Beach faced some economic challenges in 2010. The City Council approved cuts to the police and fire departments, as well as several other City services, in September in order to make up for an $18.5 million deficit. It was an accomplishment in itself that the budget was balanced at all. Balanced painfully, but balanced nonetheless.

Unable to renegotiate labor pension plans with some city employee unions, there will be more big bills on the way. That means several more years of cuts and budget crunches, and several more years of difficult decisions when it comes to City services. There was certainly a lot accomplished in 2010. Let’s see what’s in store for 2011.

Full list of last year’s accomplishments provided by the press release below:

  • 19.3 miles of streets repaired
  • 14.6 miles of sidewalks repaired
  • 1.8 million square feet of graffiti removed from 118,038 sites
  • 48,000 potholes filled
  • 164,000 calls for service responded to by the Police Department
  • 59,000 calls for service responded to by the Fire Department
  • 61,000 calls for service completed by Animal Care Services staff
  • 40,000 building inspections completed
  • 20,000 vaccinations provided by the Health Department
  • 12,776 Code Enforcement cases resolved
  • 1.6 million items checked out of City libraries
  • 440 film permits issued, with a total of 670 production days
  • 78 citations issued for illegal garage conversions
  • 48 homes removed from foreclosure rolls
  • 740,000 youth and teen participant days recorded in Parks, Recreation & Marine programs
  • 2,000 Long Beach residents placed into permanent employment by Workforce Development Services

 
Awards and Distinctions:

  • Top 10 Green Fleet in the Nation (third year running)
  • Nine programming awards for LBTV, the City’s cable channel
  • Top 25 Bike-Friendly City in America from Bicycling Magazine
  • The Alamitos and Burnett Libraries celebrated their 100th anniversaries
  • Neighborhood of the Year Award 2010 for Willmore City Heritage Association from Neighborhoods, USA

 
Parks and Open Space:

  • Completed acquisition of 34 acres of the Los Cerritos Wetlands

Park projects completed:

  • Rosie the Riveter Park
  • Michael K. Green Skate Park
  • Promenade Square Park
  • Silverado Park Skate Spot
  • Peace Garden
  • Chrissy Strong Marshall Plaza at Somerset Park
  • Mothers Beach Play Area Renovation
  • El Dorado Nature Center Stream Restoration

What do you think of the accomplishments of 2010, and would you add any of your own to the list?