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Good morning, Long Beach,

We’ve talked before about the grim budget picture the city is facing. Now it’s time to hash out the details — and you can get involved.   

The Long Beach Budget Oversight Committee (BOC) and City Council are kicking off their review of the Fiscal Year 2027 proposed budget this week, starting the roughly two-month window for approving a spending plan that will dictate the city’s policies and ambitions for the next year. 

Residents can follow along and chime in on hearings covering anything from tax measures to department budgets and capital investments. 

The budget committee will start with a community engagement session on Tuesday in a meeting during which they approve their own schedule and tease what’s to come with a presentation by the city health department. A session on Aug. 17 will dedicate 90 minutes to public comment on the budget. 

The city will also hold community meetings Aug. 5 to Aug. 14. The first session on Aug. 5 will run 6 to 7:30 p.m. To watch virtually, click the Zoom link here. 

Meetings will continue until final recommendations are locked in on Sept. 8. Separately, the city council will have hearings between Aug. 4 and Sept. 1, starting with a presentation on expected cuts to departmental services. Meetings will be held inside the Civic Chambers at 411 West Ocean Blvd. 

Whether you care deeply about roads in your neighborhood, have opinions about police budgets, or just enjoy keeping your local elected honest, here’s a full schedule for following along:

Budget Oversight Committee Meetings

  • Tuesday, July 28 (1-3 p.m.): The budget committee will approve its schedule, hold a budget community engagement overview and hear the first half of the Health Department overview.
  • Aug. 4 (12-2 p.m.): The first half of a proposed Civil and Human Rights Investment Screening Policy, plus informational updates on federal funding and tenant assistance.
  • Aug. 11 (1-3 p.m.): An overview on Measure US (a 2020 voter-approved oil tax) and a fee study audit on development impact fees.
  • Aug. 17 (5:30-7 p.m.): Public comment only. An evening session for residents to speak their minds without competing against staff presentations and recognition ceremonies. 
  • Aug. 18 (1-3 p.m.): Traffic safety improvements overview alongside a Public Works traffic and transportation deep dive.
  • Aug. 25 (12-2 p.m.): Part 2 of both the Health Department overview and the Civil and Human Rights Investment Screening Policy.
  • Sept. 1 (1-3 p.m.): Department presentations for Economic Development & Opportunity and the City Manager’s Office.
  • Sept. 8 (1-3 p.m.): Final committee meeting to lock in the official list of budget recommendations.

City Council Budget Hearings

  • Aug. 4: The City Manager will unveil his proposed budget and talk about departmental budget cuts.  
  • Aug. 10-11: Public safety, including Fire, Police, and Disaster Preparedness.
  • Aug. 10: Health & Human Services
  • Aug. 25: Parks, Recreation & Marine programs/services, alongside Library, Arts & Culture. 
  • Sept. 1: Public Works

Here are some key updates from last week:

  • The city Commission for Women and Girls has lent its support for a slate of newly proposed protections under the Long Beach Values Act, the city’s local sanctuary and immigrant protections policy. The expansions would include blanket protection of all residents regardless of criminal history, prohibit data being shared with federal immigration officers, ban on using city property for staging immigration enforcement operations and also ban the use of automated license plate readers and facial recognition, among other recommendations. In a response included in the memo, Deputy City Manager Teresa Chandler said the city council has already approved all protections allowed under state and federal law. 

  • The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will give a progress update on the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) from 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, July 28. The meeting will include updates on the ports’ Clean Truck Program, Clean Marine Fuels Feasibility Assessment and workforce assessment. The meeting will be held at Banning’s Landing Community Center, 100 E. Water St., Wilmington, CA 90744. Proceedings will be livestreamed here, passcode: 886660. Participation is in-person only. Minutes and presentations of prior meetings can be found here.

  • A proposed water taxi service connecting San Pedro and Long Beach for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games might be dead in the water, according to a July 16 report by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It would cost upwards of $1.5 million to operate during the 47-day service window — too hefty a price tag considering federal and state grants don’t exist for short-term ferry services, and considering there are already widespread vessel shortages during the peak summer season (not to mention staff challenges and strict state emissions compliance deadlines). Metro officials concluded that unless local funding is secured to begin procurement by late 2026, launching the service before July 2028 probably won’t happen.

ICYMI — Los Angeles, California and national news

  • What do you think about the Olympics coming to Long Beach? Let the city know (Long Beach Post)
  • Take a peek at Long Beach’s past through this 1976 time capsule (LAist)
  • They’re on our flag, but do long-gone grizzly bears belong in modern California? (CalMatters)
  • Hollywood’s open secret: It’s battling AI — and already addicted to it (Los Angeles Times)