Good morning and welcome to Monday Morning Coffee! Grab your cup and let’s get to your weekly briefing of what’s on the agenda for local government and business leaders. Want to stay ahead of the pack? Get us in your inbox every Monday morning.
City meetings
- The week will start Monday (Sept. 9) with a 2 p.m. meeting of the Homeless Services Policy Subcommittee. During that time, commissioners will discuss the city’s written response to the Grant’s Pass ruling, a Supreme Court decision made in late June. They will also review a presentation by the Clean Sweeps program, handled by the city’s Public Works Department. The ruling and Long Beach’s response will come up again on Tuesday during the city’s Continuum of Care Board meeting at 3 p.m.
- Expect another packed City Council schedule on Tuesday, starting with the city’s Budget Oversight Committee meeting at 3 p.m. Committee members will have the opportunity to look over budget recommendations by Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and follow up on any deferred items related to the budget.
- Following a closed session at 4:45 p.m., the Long Beach City Council will convene at 5 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 10). Council members will look over a $323,000 annual contract with the April Parker Foundation, one-year agreements with several motels to temporarily house local homeless at the Coast Motel and Pine Avenue Inn; and a recommendation to continue its local emergency order for Tuberculosis. At this meeting, the Council will also look to adopt the 2025 Fiscal Budget, following a final reading of all recommendations and changes made over the past few months.
- After a month-long recess, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will convene on Sept. 10 at 9:30 a.m. Supervisors will look to approve the $45.5 million MacLaren Community Park Project, designate federal funds for purchasing sidewalk food carts, and look at ways to reduce Angelenos’ exposure to forever chemicals.
Business events and information
- Nearly half of business owners have no transition plan. That’s why, according to the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, nearly three-quarters of former owners leave their sale regretting it. But the ebb and flow of business is inevitable; that’s why the chamber is hosting its Exit Planning: Readiness Workshop on Sept. 19, starting at 9 a.m. For more information, visit lbchamber.com.
- The chamber on Tuesday (Sept. 10) will have its monthly Good Afternoon Networking Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at Parkers’ Lighthouse at 435 Shoreline Dr. Tickets start at $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Speakers will include Matthew Harns, an L.A.-based nonprofit leader, and Michelle Byerly, executive director of The Nonprofit Partnership. For more information, click here.
- The city of Long Beach’s Community Development Department earned its flowers, recently being named the Planning Agency of the Year by the Los Angeles section of the American Planning Association (APA). The award was given for the department’s role in planning and construction of affordable housing, code enforcement, neighborhood improvement, historic preservation and more. “These awards recognize the Department’s efforts to facilitate equitable and sustainable communities in Long Beach, as well as recognize the dedicated staff working on these important initiatives,” said Planning Bureau Manager Alison Spindler-Ruiz.
- Kimberly Yu was selected as the newest Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Long Beach Transit last Thursday. Transit board members appointed Yu for her decades-long experience in transportation work: Yu previously served as Vice President of Southern California Transportation at AECOM and as Chief Operations Officer at the Southern California Regional Rail Authority. “We are thrilled to welcome Kimberly to LBT,” said Kenneth A. McDonald, President and CEO. “Her expertise in transportation planning, combined with her visionary leadership and commitment to safety, will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and provide transit services to the greater Long Beach area.”
ICYMI — California and national news
- More than 1.5 million Dodge Ram trucks have been recalled globally after a glitch was found in the vehicles’ braking software. (NPR)
- Don’t worry cheddar biscuit fans: The seafood chain Red Lobster is escaping bankruptcy after all. (LAT)
- As a nursing shortage looms, lawmakers approved programs for community colleges. Then universities pushed back. (Calmatters)