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Happy February,
January was a very busy month for the Council, with the State of the City, a vote on Minimum Wage, and our annual Council Retreat, which was held this past Saturday. The retreat was a great time for me and my colleagues to get educated on several important topics such as (1) Bond Disclosure Responsibilities under Federal Securities Law, (2) Commission appointments, (3) Port of Long Beach infrastructure projects, (4) Water quality improvements in the City and (5) our livability efforts including, bikeability, walkability and swimability. We also talked about our individual priorities for the City and our Districts. I listed the following three priorities for our District, (1) improving our Public Safety efforts, (2) moving the SEADIP process along and (3) exploring funding options for the Belmont Pool. Of course, completing the PeROW project and moving the Open Channel process along for Colorado Lagoon are also major priorities for me.
Council will take up the issue of Medical Marijuana again this
Tuesday, February 2nd. This issue has come to us several times and, as a result of a proposal I put forth at the last council meeting on the issue, Council voted 5 to 4 to allow for home delivery as an option to provide access to patients who need/want the drug but to not allow, at this time, the actual on-site sales at dispensaries. If this proposal passes, Council can consider the option of adding storefront locations at a future time once we have more data and if this is deemed to be a prudent decision in light of the data we obtain.
Finally, for the chocolate enthusiasts among you, February is the month for the annual Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival. Join me on
February 6th as I help judge the best chocolate creations.
I hope you and your families take some time to reflect on the history of our great nation during the upcoming President's Day holidays. On a fun note, I certainly hope you enjoy watching the Super Bowl and the Oscars this month. If you are anything like the Price family, there will be a lots of pizza and chicken wings consumed this month. We will all get back on track with our diets together in March! Maybe Justin Rudd can create a Spring Biggest Loser challenge for all of us.
Looking forward to a great month!
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3RD DISTRICT COMMUNITY EVENTS
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Sand Bag Saturday
Long Beach Preparedness. Come and fill your own sandbags with assistance from CERT & Search and Rescue personnel on February 13th. This is the last Sand Bag Saturday scheduled. Sand and Sandbags will be available FREE on site.
El Nino Preparedness flyer
-- by Antonella Schaub
3rd District, Communications Director
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Electrical Workshop RECAP
On Saturday, January 23rd, approximately 30+ residents came together to attend Councilwoman Price's 1st in a series of DIY Workshops, this one in particular focused on electrical fixes. It was our pleasure to partner with Alexandra Torres and her W.I.N.T.E.R. team at the Rosie the Riveter facility. Myron Cox our electrical specialist was extremely knowledgeable and showed us how to switch out a wall plug, light switch, proper installation of a ceiling and bathroom fan as well as giving us important information about circuit breakers for the home.
A special thank you to Mike Sheldrake, owner of Polly's Gourmet Coffee for graciously donating all the coffee for the workshop!
Our 2nd workshop will take place in a few months and will focus on plumbing fixes.
Please checkout W.I.N.T.E.R.'s web site or Facebook page for more information on their programs.
--- by Lisa West
3rd District, Business Relations Liaison
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Holiday Schedule
February 15th is a City holiday
NO - street sweeping
NO - parking meter fees
Trash collection is on it's regular schedule
Library - closed
Long Beach Unified School District - closed
Please note that February 8th is not considered a city holiday and all City Public Services will be operational.
---by Antonella Schaub
3rd District, Communications Director
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3rd District Neighborhood and Association Meetings
Belmont Heights Community Association
2nd Wednesday of each month
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Belmont Heights United Methodist Church
Belmont Shore Resident Association
2nd Thursday of each month
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Bay Shore Library
Friends of Belmont Shore
Last Thursday of each month (except for January)
Thursday, February 25th
6:00 - 8:00 PM
St. Bartholomew Meeting Hall
NW Belmont Park Community Watch
Approximately every 3 months as determined
8:30 - 10:00 AM - next meeting February 6th
Third District Field Office
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Broadway is Going on a Diet
The Broadway corridor as a whole is undergoing some major changes that will help improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians. These changes an emphasis on traffic calming is all part of a project that the Third District Office initiated last March to address traffic speed and pedestrian safety concerns. These concerns were initially raised by the residents of Bluff Park and led to a traffic study being conducted of the Broadway corridor. This study generated several recommended alterations that will increase safety for everyone who travels Broadway by car, by foot, or by bicycle.
I am pleased to tell you that the traffic calming project is moving forward and as of Thursday included the installation of speed feedback signs along Broadway that will remind motorists to reduce their speed when they are driving too fast. Additionally, in the upcoming weeks new crosswalks and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons will be installed along Broadway at the intersections of Newport, Euclid, and Mira Mar. These crosswalks will be among the most visible in the city as the new signs and beacons will draw attention to pedestrians as they cross Broadway.
The most significant changes to Broadway however will be installed beginning the week of
February 15, 2016. On Monday the 15th the Public Works Department will have a contractor re-stripe the center lane divider on Broadway between Temple Avenue and Coronado Avenue. This will be done to reduce the number of travel lanes in each direction from two lanes to one lane. A center two-way left turn lane will also be added. This street modification or road diet as it is being called is being completed with the express goal to improve pedestrian access across Broadway, calm vehicle traffic along Broadway, and provide a refuge for vehicles turning left from Broadway. These changes will also allow the City to add marked crosswalks at Orizaba Avenue and Coronado Avenue. These changes are designed to improve the experience for all users along Broadway - whether they are walking, taking the bus or driving.
3rd District, District Office Director
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Olympix Fitness Club
Olympix Fitness Club in Belmont Shore is set to open in late summer 2016 at the former location of Yankee Doodles (4100 East Ocean Blvd). Belmont Shore's newest gym with-a-view replaces a run-down bar that negatively impacted the immediate neighborhood.
 This high-end renovation will enhance this location and draw more community members to enjoy our waterfront. With beautiful open beam 29 foot ceilings, this state-of-the-art fitness facility will have a second level cardio mezzanine with an ocean view as well as a roof top yoga deck that will overlook our beautiful coastline. Pre-membership sales will begin in the near future with early members receiving a price advantage as well as other benefits. Visit
www.OlympixFitness.com to receive updates as well as information about our membership. You can also find OlympixFitness on Instagram, and please like us on Facebook.
-- by Kurt Schneiter
Owner of Olympix Fitness Club
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Smart Gas Meters Being Installed
The City's Gas and Oil Department is implementing new smart gas meters throughout Long Beach that will enable more efficient natural gas usage and eliminate thousands of monthly meter reader visits to homes and businesses.
These new smart gas meters communicate consumption data directly to the City, providing the Long Beach Gas & Oil Department with more accurate meter reading in a more timely fashion. Additionally, the meters will automatically alert officials when a gas leak or other problem is suspected, and allow customers to start or stop gas service in real time when they move into or out of their home or business.
From February 1, 2016 to early 2018 all residential and business ut
ility customers in Long Beach will have their gas meters upgraded. This is done by either replacing the current meter, or by simply installing a small remote-reading device on the gas meter, with no interruption in gas service. No action by customers is necessary. All customers will receive a courtesy notice in the mail in advance of having their meter upgraded.
The City of Long Beach Gas & Oil representatives and the City's meter installation contractor, Utility Partners of America (UPA), will be working to facilitate the meter conversion process. Approximately 30 Long Beach residents have been hired to install the smart meters. All installers are required to have a valid identification badge, company logo on the vehicle, and to be in uniform. For additional information on the program, please visit the utility's smart gas metering webpage at
www.longbeach.gov/smartgasmeter.
The City of Long Beach has successfully completed a pilot project consisting of converting more than 1,000 gas meters from June to October, 2015. All of the new meters are communicating properly with the City's meter reading and billing systems.
Shortly after the new smart meters begin tracking usage, the utility will provide customers with new informative tools online, to help customers monitor and modify their usage, become more efficient natural gas users and also save money in the process.
-- by Julie Maleki
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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Spotlight on Business - Publisher Heidi Niess
Alamitos Bay Neighbors, publisher Heidi Nye's hyper-local, monthly magazine for Naples and the Peninsula, educates, delights and entertains residents. Information on real estate, estate planning, emergency preparedness, neighborhood events, Naples
 and Peninsula history, pets and much more is found within its pages-all with a local flare! Each month, Alamitos Bay Neighbors features a family on the cover with an accompanying profile inside. This makes residents want to open the magazine and read about their neighbors and what they have given back to the community. "Neighbors call to ask who's on the next cover," Heidi says. "That's how eager they are to read the upcoming issue."
Read more...
--- by Lisa West
3rd District, Business Relations Liaison
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Panama Joe's is not closing its doors!
According to the manager, Panama Joe's is renovating their Belmont Shore location to update the aesthetics of the building. The operations will remain the same and their anticipated re-opening will be in early March 2016. It does look like the update will be a positive change for the community.
www.panamajoescantina.com
--- by Lisa West
3rd District, Business Relations Liaison
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Target Express Update
The iconic red balls are in place! Construction on the new Target Express located at 5760 E. 7th Street in the Bixby Village Plaza is going well. The store is scheduled to open on March 9th with an official grand opening on March 13th. This store will cater to local residents including students and faculty from nearby Long Beach State University, as well as staff and patients from VA Long Beach Hospital.
Target is set to hire approximately 90 Team Members for the new Target Express location. The hiring event will run through the end of
--- by Lisa West
3rd District, Business Relations Liaison
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| City Council Meetings City Council Meetings are held every Tuesday evening, with the exception of the last Tuesday of the month when council is "dark." Meetings are held in City Hall - Council Chambers (333 W. Ocean Blvd.) at approximately 5pm. Times do change, so please check with our office or website for exact times. City Council meetings are open to the public and we encourage your attendance, especially if there is an important topic up for discussion. Charter (channel 3) and FIOS Verizon (channel 21) subscribers can view the City Council Meetings on their televisions or you can live stream the video through LBTV.com, View City Council Meeting. Agenda items change on a weekly basis so please check the city website for the most current agenda. The City Clerk is required to post the City Council Agenda the Monday, a week prior, to the Tuesday of City Council Meeting. View agenda items Important agenda items coming this month are as follows... February 2 - Medical Marijuana February 9 - TBD February 16 - TBD February 23 - no council meeting
--- by Antonella Schaub
3rd District, Communications Director
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Los Cerritos Wetlands
Did you know that February 2nd is World Wetlands Day? Wetlands are important for a number of reasons; they house fragile and sensitive species, they can absorb large amounts of water which helps softens the impact of sea level rise along the coast and they act as sinks for carbon and other greenhouse gases. The Third District of Long Beach is home to Los Cerritos Wetlands, territory we share with our neighbors, the City of Seal Beach. Once a historic wetlands complex of over 2,400 acres, the current conservation area for the restoration of the remaining portion of Los Cerritos Wetlands is about 500 acres. Over the years the balance had been filled in for roads and development. While at times our local wetlands might look dry and uninviting there are exciting plans to improve our wetlands, make the habitat more robust and make the entire area more welcoming for both wildlife and people. Imagine a world class nature center, sensitively placed interpretive trails with signage for the local community to enjoy as well as targeted educational experiences for our local youth out on Los Cerritos Wetlands.
 It will take time to realize the goals of restoring and rehabilitating our local wetlands but in the meantime, why not get to know our local wetlands better by attending one of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust's guided nature walks. The next walk will be on
Saturday, Feb 6th, where they will be trekking for sea turtles who reside in the San Gabriel River. It's a great trip led by naturalists from the ecological consulting company Tidal Influence. Details, how to rsvp for a spot and a map of where they meet are on the
attached flyer. I urge you to join the walk and check out Los Cerritos Wetlands first hand.
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Long Beach By Land, By Bike, and By Sea
I am sure you have heard the buzz word Walkability, and as you live in Long Beach there is also a good chance you are also familiar with the term Bikeability. These terms have been developed to measure how well suited cities are for people to be pedestrians and cyclists respectively. Both Walkability and Bikability are areas where Long Beach has been making great improvements, and now I introduce you to another, Swimability.
 Because of Long Beach's amazing access to water recreation the city is promoting the idea of Swimability to highlight the resources we have for swimming and all kinds of water activities. An example of the fantastic swimming opportunities available in Long Beach is the buoy-line in Alamitos Bay. There are only three buoy lines in Southern California that are as long as the one here in Alamitos Bay. However, ours is unique as it is always no more than ten yards from shore making it a great swim location for swimmers in their prime as they train for a triathlon, or for kids just learning to swim.
Additionally, Long Beach has excellent water quality at all of its swimming areas, but most residents do not know it. In order to draw attention to the great water quality flags will be installed at the Alamitos Bay buoy line and other swimming areas that indicate the day's water quality, as well as the temperature.
The fact that Long Beach has opportunities for water recreation that are as great as they are truly needs to be highlighted so all residents can take advantage of them. With this in mind Swimability will become one more point of pride for Long Beach and District Three specifically.
-- by Jack Cunninghman
3rd District, District Office Director
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Congratulations to 3rd District Resident Ward Johnson for being a semi-finalist in Justin Rudd's Unsung Hero for 2015.
The 3rd District Council Office nominated Mr. Ward Johnson for Justin Rudd's 2015 Unsung Hero Award because of his extraordinary contributions to our Community, sacrificing his own time and money to make Long Beach a great place.
 Ward is a "Long Beach Lifer." He attended Long Beach schools, participated in the Junior Lifeguard Program and graduated from Cal State Long Beach. He is a 3rd District resident who lives in the Stoneybrook Villas; located between Bellflower Boulevard, PCH and Colorado. His wish has always been for Long Beach to be a safe city. As well as a clean city; free of graffiti and trash.
--by Antonella Schaub
3rd District, Communications Director
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Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Homemade Chocolate Dessert Contest
12p to 1pm
Chocolate Festival
1pm - 3pm or until we run out
Hof's Hut Chocolate Pie eating contest
3pm - 4pm
Councilwoman Price will be one of the judges for this year's contest
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Grand Opening of East Division Substation
February 20th, 11:30 AM- 1:00 PM
3800 E. Willow Street, LB
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