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. Get this in your inbox every Monday by signing up at lbpost.com/newsletters.

City meetings

The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday is expected to approve a citywide expansion of its inclusionary housing ordinance. Currently used in the city’s Downtown and Midtown neighborhoods, the expansion would require much of future housing built — including those in the coastal zone — to include a set number of low- and very low-income units. 

Council members at their 5 p.m. meeting are also expected to expand the Long Beach Percent for the Arts Program, transfer funds to park improvements and allocate an additional $2 million toward construction of the Colorado Lagoon Open Channel project. 

The money will be given to contractor Reyes Construction to address “unforeseen conditions encountered” with abatement of hazardous materials, utility relocations and other preludes to rising costs. 

Reyes Construction remains tied to an investigation by the South Coast Air Quality Management District into workers’ complaints of wrongful firings following their reporting of illegal dumping of hazardous materials at the site. 

Earlier, the dais will hear a presentation with updates on the city’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget. They are also expected to recognize March 31 as the Transgender Day of Visibility, meant to bring public awareness to experiences, achievements and continued struggles of transgender people. 

At a 4 p.m. session Wednesday, the Long Beach Community Investment Company is expected to enter a $5.6 million loan agreement with the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation to develop a 73-unit affordable housing complex at 1131 E. Wardlow Rd. 

Elsewhere, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors at its 9 a.m. meeting Tuesday is expected to hear an analysis of the windstorm and fires last month, field a five-year, $65.7 million contract for security at county libraries and hear updates on plans to overhaul the county’s probationary halls.

Business events and information

  • The city of Long Beach will offer free youth recreation programs at its parks during public school’s spring break period, April 14-18. Titled Spring Fun Days, the classes are open to ages 5 to 12 and include sports, arts and crafts, and special events. Programs will be held at city parks from noon to 5 p.m. during the five-day period. Pre-registration, required to join, begins March 31. Registration forms can be picked up at participating parks. For more information, click here.
  • Long Beach City College Superintendent-President Dr. Mike Muñoz will present the 17th Annual State of the College on March 20 starting at 4 p.m. His address will cover student and faculty achievements in programming and preview updates at the college in the coming year. The address will be held at the Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium, Building J, Liberal Arts Campus, with parking made available at lots G and H, along Clark Avenue. To RSVP, click here.
  • Join local public relations consultant Leslie Smith, owner of McCormick L.A., for her inaugural online class BOOST, a three-day boot camp for small businesses, starting March 25. “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20% of businesses fail the first year in business, and almost 50% in the first five years,” a release states. “Smith suggests that one problem is a lack of understanding marketing basics.” The online class is based on her 2021 book, Laws of Promotion, which helps owners with basic marketing strategies to help their business survive. Registration costs $69, though Smith is offering a $30 discount with code BOOST30. To RSVP, click here.
  • The Downtown Long Beach Alliance is hosting a two-hour neighborhood mixer for business owners in the Willmore City Historic District on March 19 at 5 p.m. For more information, visit their website here.
  • And the next “Mug to Mug” morning networking event will be held at Herbal Shea on March 18 starting at 10 a.m. For more information, click here.

ICYMI — California and national news

  • ‘They’re being so stingy with everything.’ State Farm criticized for claims response (L.A. Times)
  • Tourists find decapitated dolphin on Long Beach shoreline after botched disposal (Long Beach Post)
  • Look up! The Goodyear Blimp is celebrating a big birthday (LAist)