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With the hectic holiday season behind us all, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year. The start of a new year inevitably leads you to reflect on the past year as well as look with optimism toward the coming year and what plans you make. For me, there are a lot of accomplishments I am proud to have made progress on for our community.
A few of the highlights include big investments in Alamitos Bay with new docks, a new lifeguard station, the revamped Leeway Sailing Center facility, and concession stands, as well as the amazing inflatable kids play dock. If you spent any time at Bay Shore this summer I am sure you saw how popular this was.
My team and I have also been able to make some exciting progress in Marina Vista Park. This includes new bathrooms, installation of pathway lighting through the park, a beautiful dedication ceremony for the Luke Tatsu Johnson Sport Court and memorial bench for Stefanie Yates that was a touching reminder of how caring and strong the Third District community really is.
This past year I worked hard to make sure we saw the approval of absolutely amazing plans to restore the Los Cerritos Wetlands and remove much of the current oil operations in order to consolidate them to a new location. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to rehabilitate so
me of the last remaining wetlands in the state and preserve them for future generations.
I am also very proud of the progress we have made in terms of walking paths and beautification at both the Colorado Lagoon and Red Car Greenbelt Park. I personally walk these two areas on a daily basis and love to see the spaces
activated with people throughout the day.
In terms of policy I am glad to see that my proposal to ban RV parking on
 residential streets has been implemented throughout the City. I have put a big focus on stopping bike thefts by initiating a new free, online, voluntary bike registration program to help give police officers more information on who owns a bike when they come across them. I am proud that my team and I have been able to host several bike registration events to register bikes in the system. We have inputted hundreds of bikes so far! Additionally, I brought an item to council which created a new ordinance to allow better enforcement tools and provide criminal sanctions for the existence of bike chop shops in public spaces.
 I have also been able to initiate a neighborhood specific prosecutor that works directly with police officers and judges to advocate for appropriate consequences to better address crimes occurring in the district. Public Safety is always my primary focus, so this year's budget was good news not only because it was a balanced budget, but it funded our efforts to continue growing our police department, hiring more quality of life officers, and creating additional homeless outreach teams. The budget also included funding for a program I am very optimistic about that I developed to offer paid work on a day-to-day basis to homeless individuals for working with our Public Works teams for routine maintenance and clean up projects. This will certainly not solve homelessness but for those newly homeless or close to getting out of homelessness a program like this could help get someone's life back on track. Other cities have run similar programs and seen great results so I m expecting the same here in Long Beach and I am anxious to get the program started.
This year I led on a number of programs that confront issues ranging from illegal fireworks, to wire blight from utility wires, to improving the safety of our open spaces, to bringing the community together on addressing concerns around hate incidents, a fantastic program encouraging leadership in young girls, an anti-bullying event for middle school students, programs to provide tsunami preparedness, an annual event to help get
 pets spayed and neutered, and of course, my regular small business workshop. And all these came on top of the work my office and I do to organize monthly community meetings, regular free concerts, and other events, while also responding to requests for curb repairs, and tree trimmings, traffic studies and crosswalk installations, help getting large items picked up by trash collection, and the thousands of other phone calls, emails and other requests we work to take care of every year.
As you can tell last year was a busy year full of great progress for the Third District, and I am very excited to begin another new year seeing our community move forward together.
Thank you all for an amazing 2018, and I look forward to working in collaboration with you in 2019 as well.
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3RD DISTRICT COMMUNITY EVENTS & NEWS
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3RD DISTRICT COMMUNITY MEETING - JANUARY 23rd
Community Meeting on Climate Action and Adaption Plan
Everyday we see the effects of Climate C
hange. Statewide, California finds new ways to implement and improve our cities on how to become green and how to better prepare for climate change.
We will have Keynote Speakers join us from the Planning Department:
* Alison Spindler, Advance Planning
* Christopher Koontz, Planning Bureau Manager
* Commander Pat O'Dowd, Chief of LBPD East Division
* Elvira Hallinan, Marine Bureau Manager
* Gonzalo Medina, Marine Safety Chief of LBFD
Please join us Wednesday, January 23rd at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club from 6 - 9 PM to discuss how Long Beach is preparing for Climate Adaptation.
Alamitos Bay Yacht Club
7201 E. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90803
-By Gabriela Yates
3rd District, District Office Director
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PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING - JANUARY 29th
Community Meeting for Public Safety
As we enter the New Year let us all regroup and connect to discuss public safety. This is a top priority for our team, our residents, and the entire Third District Community.
We will be holding a Community Meeting:
Time: 6 PM
Date: Wednesday, January 23rd
Location/Address: Alamitos Bay Yacht Club (7201 E Ocean Blvd)
As important as this is to all of us, let us all be positive and open to hearing the updates from:
* Commander Pat O'Dowd, Chief of LBPD East Division
* Gonzalo Medina, Marine Safety Chief of LBFD
* Elvira Hallinan, Marine Bureau Manager
- By Gabriela Yates
3rd District, District Office Director
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Update on Last Month's Progress to Limit Smoking in Restaurants and Bars
Last month the Councilwoman was able to pass a new ordinance limiting smoking in restaurants and bars. Today we all know the harms that people suffer from exposure to smoke which goes well beyond the individual choosing to smoke but to those nearby in public, children and elderly who are more susceptible to the harms of second-hand smoke, as well as emplo
 yees in restaurants who have no choice but to be exposed to smoke in the course of their day to day job. The proof of the health consequences is overwhelming and undeniable, and as with this in mind the Councilwoman is very glad to pass a new ordinance that she first introduced to the City Council in August. (
Link)
The new ordinance bans smoking in outdoor seating areas at restaurants and bars as well as near where people are eating outdoors. Additionally, it was written in a way that addresses second-hand smoke at restaurants and bars where people have gone out to eat and drink, with a common sense approach that also limits any negative effects for businesses.
- By Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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LET'S WELCOME A COUPLE OF OUR NEW CD3 STAFF MEMBERS
Mollie Wilson, from Lakewood, California, is currently in her third year at California State University, Long Beach. She is studying both Political Science and International Studies, hoping to earn a law degree after she completes her undergraduate degrees. Mollie worked closely with
Councilwoman Price's 2018 re-election campaign and interned for the Councilwoman this past summer! She has a passion for serving the community, as she currently serves as Executive Vice President for Sigma Kappa, an all-woman's collegiate service organization. Outside of her involvement at CSULB, she enjoys exploring local coffee shops, watching live theater, and collecting vinyl records. She is excited for the opportunity to work with Councilwoman Price and to get more involved in the Third District of Long Beach with the team!
-By Mollie Wilson
3rd District Legislative Assistant
Elaine
Scenters-Zapico moved to Long Beach, CA in 2015 and is a proud District 3 r
esident. She has graduated summa cum laude this past December from California State University
, Long Beach and received her B.A. in Psychology and is excited to have been given the opportunity to be a part of the CD3 Team! In the future, she plans to continue her education and become a School Psychologist, as she has previous experience doing ABA therapy with children with disabilities and is currently volunteering in a children's development lab. In her free time, she loves to enjoy the vast amount of adventures that Long Beach provides such as Rosie's Dog Beach, local restaurants, or spending time at Colorado Lagoon Park.
-By Elaine Scenters-Zapico
3rd District Legislative Assistant
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Happy 2019!
Councilwoman Price and her team believe the world is a better place when we all give back. 2018 was no different. Most of us want to help, but only 1 in 4 actually do. That's why I wanted to share a great platform for making a positive difference in our communities in 2019. We all know it can be tough to make time to volunteer, and even once we commit to the time, it can be a challenge to figure out where to go, what to do, or where our skills would be most helpful. That's where State Farm's Neighborhood of Good™ campaign comes in. They make it easy to find and volunteer for the causes that matter to you, right in your neighborhood.
Be honest about what you can offer.
Use your skills, hobbies or abilities to help others.
Try something new.
If you just want to help, however you can, look for causes that stretch you a bit.
Resist
over-committing
.
Keep from burning out by making time for friends, family and yourself.
Bring your friends.
Inviting friends to volunteer is fun and can help the cause even more.
Be smart about it.
Do some research to see how your time and energy make an impact.
Let's help make the places we call home better together, and fill the gab between intention and action when it comes time to make a difference in our community.
- By Lisa West
3rd District, Director of Business Relations,
Programming & Outreach
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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 Residents Association
2nd Thursday of each month
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Bay Shore Library
Bluff Park Community Meeting
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
370 Junipero Ave.
Please check their website for meeting details
Friends of Belmont Shore
First Thursday of each month, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Bay Shore Community Congregational Church - 5100 The Toledo
Friends of Bixby Park
Please check their website
Greenbelt Heights Neighborhood Association
All neighbors welcome
Next meeting Wednesday, January 9
Regular meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 8pm - 9pm
917 Bennett Ave., LB
2nd Sunday neighborhood clean-up at 9am
NW Belmont Park Community Watch
Approximately every 3 months as determined
Third District Field Office
Peninsula Beach Preservation Group
Stoneybrook Villas Association Meeting
3rd Wednesday of each month
7:00 PM - Clubhouse at 500 Bellflower Blvd
Do you have a community or
neighborhood meeting that you
would like to add to the 3rd
District calendar? Email:
District3@longbeach.gov
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BELMONT SHORE CHRISTMAS PAR
ADE
Long Beach welcomed the start of the Christmas season with it's annual
Christmas Parade on December 1st, 2018 from 6 pm-9 pm. With over 100 local entries, this year's parade was themed, "The Parade of 1000 Lights" and included local marching bands, businesses, and even a Santa Clause! District 3's float led the way down East Second St. with Suzie Price spreading holiday cheer to all of the attendees.
-By Elaine Scenters-Zapico
3rd District Legislative Assistant
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NAPLES HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE
Naples got into the holiday spirit with it's 72nd annual Naples Christmas Boat Parade
on December 8th, 2018 at 6pm. Large and small boats alike were decorated in multiple themes such as The Polar Express, The Nutcracker, and The Grinch. Spectators watched the decorated boats as they sailed through the canals and past the beautiful homes found in Naples. Great holiday enjoyment for the entire family!
-By Elaine Scenters-Zapico
3rd District Legislative Assistant
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CLIMATE ACTION ADAPTATION SURVEY
Long Beach is currently developing its first-ever Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), and resident input is essential to future policy recommendations and planning. All residents are encouraged to take the CAAP survey to share ideas, priorities, and solutions to help establish and achieve the City's climate goals. How we address the changes that are anticipated is something all residents should have a say in.
These issues are likely to have impacts on major areas of Long Beach and the Third District in particular. So, it is very important that residents provide their input on this topic to help orient the City's responses.
- By Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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The Belmont Shore coffee scene just got a bit perkier with the addition of Philz Coffee at the former Children's Place location. Philz Coffee seems to embody all that is great about coffee shops while securing recognizable small business success. Phil Jaber's love affair started in the Bay Area over 25 years ago when he went on a quest to make a really great cup of coffee, but it didn't end there. Phil knew that offering a quality product or service is essential for success in any business, but you need more if you are going to run a business that you want your customers to be a part of. Philz employees live by the core values of
"Putting the customer experience first, being quality driven and progress
focused, and being kind and keeping it real." This mission has followed the company since early 2003 when they opened their first store, and they continue to show individuality in every cup of coffee they create. You won't find lattes or macchiatos
at Philz, but you will find some 30 unique blends that create a memorable cup. My favorite is the Mint Mojito, but there is more to the experience than just coffee.
Phil, and his son Jacob wanted the shops to encourage coffee lovers to talk to one another, and that is why they made sure that each customer interacts directly with the barista that is making their coffee.
This allows for a personalized cup of coffee that elevates the experience to a connection. That connection helps build a sense of community, while making people happy. The caffeine doesn't hurt either!
We are thrilled to have the first Philz Coffee that opened in Long Beach find it's home in the 3rd District, Belmont Shore!
Philz Coffee
4801 E. 2nd Street
(562) 588-9184
Web: Philzcoffee.com
Hours of Operation:
Sunday - Thursday: 6 am - 8 pm
Friday & Saturday: 6 am - 9 pm
- By Lisa West
3rd District, Director of Business Relations,
Programming & Outreach
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CITY COUNCIL UPDATES
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
- By Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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RECENT MARINA VISTA PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Marina Vista Park is a fantastic community asset that is well used by people in the surrounding neighborhoods as well as by people from all over the City.
This park has continually been a focus for me. One of my very first accomplishments as a City Councilmember was having a crosswalk installed on Eliot creating a much safer connection between Marine Stadium Park and
Marina Vista. This safety was further improved with the installation of flashing
b
eacons to alert drivers when a pedestrian is present. This is great for kids walking to and from school, people attending the farmers market, and families
using the park for sports during the weekend.
The park has also seen the construction of a new bathroom designed with individual stalls making it safer for kids and families to use since they no longer need to walk into a large open bathroom where there may be others present prior to choosing a stall. This construction is a great aesthetic upgrade from the previous building, and a safer design. The tennis courts have also seen improvements with lines painted
to allow for playing pickle-ball further encouraging all age groups to enjoy this park.
Marina Vista Park was also the location selected by the Youth Participatory
Budgeting Committee of Third District students to install a youth sport court for basketball and four-square. This was an incredibly rare program that was only
the second program in the US to allow youth to have a direct say in how city
funds were spent. So, I have been very excited to see this court installed and getting so much use especially now that it has been named the Luke Tatsu Johnson Sport Court in memory of the young Alamitos Heights
resident, Luke Johnson, who was a part of the student led committee that developed proposals, and collected votes from schools throughout the district to decide on this project.
Earlier this year, I was truly touched by the strength of our community when we held the dedication event officially marking the park in Luke's memory while also unveiling a bench nearby dedicated to Stefanie Yates, both of whom were beloved third district residents who lost their battle with cancer. Things like this serve to bring us all closer together as neighbors and make this park an even more deeply connected part of our community.
Most recently, I am very proud to report that we have installed pathway lighting through the park to make it a safer environment for users, as well as reducing opportunity for crime to occur.
Marina Vista is a great park and I hope everyone takes advantage of this amenity that is getting better and better all the time.
- Suzie Price
3rd District Councilwoman
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COMMUNITY HOSPITAL CONTINUING TOWARD REOPENING
Last Month the second Community Hospital Reopening Update meeting was held at the Long Beach Yacht Club. This has been a long process to get us to the point where there are expectations and plans being made for the hospital's reopening after the previous operator had abruptly stated its intentions to close the hospital and then proceeded to do so more quickly than expected.
 Through hard work from City staff they were able to find a new operator who is interested in and committed to reopening Community Hospital to include the Emergency Room that is so desperately needed on our side of town.
Last month's meeting included presentations from
John Molina, Community Hospital's new CEO, Virg Narbutas and Community Hospital Board Chair, Ray Burton. The meeting focused on the schedule for reopening of the hospital. City Council approval of a plan is anticipated for January. From there the proposed new operator, Molina Wu Networn (MWN), will need approximately 90 days to finalize all preparations for the hospital to be operational.
Below are videos from supporters of the hospital:
- By Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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WETLANDS RESTORATION PLAN MOVES FORWARD
December 12th the California Coastal Commission approved a plan that would take 154 acres of wetlands out of the control of an oil company and put it in public hands. This plan has been years in the making as Synergy Oil proposed
restoring the 154 acres and giving it to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority in
exchange for five acres of wetlands north of the Marketplace shopping center. There they could consolidate their operations and be able to remove all other old oil pipes and take from the property in an effort to restore
it to wetlands. The oil company would remove all of the oil operations on the large part of the wetlands between Pacific Coast Highway and Studebaker Road west of Second Street and restore it to wetlands condition.
Originally, the land swap and wetlands restoration had a 40-year timeline, although one section of the wetlands called the Steamshovel Slough could be restored and transferred fairly quickly. However, Synergy now proposes to cease oil production and abandon one-half of the existing wells within 10 years of the date it receives a "certificate of occupancy" for a new office building to be constructed on the Pumpkin Patch site from the city. The remaining oil operations on those two sites would cease fully within 20 years.
- By Jack Cunningham
3rd District, Chief of Staff
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HOLIDAY TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM
 The Department of Public Works is holding its Annual Holiday Tree recycling program from December 26, 2018 through January 11, 2019. This program provides residents with numerous opportunities to recycle their holiday trees free of charge.
From December 26, 2018 through January 11, 2019 residents can drop off holiday trees at 12 locations throughout the City (see attached for drop off locations).
Residents with City refuse service can also have their trees picked up from their homes on Saturday, January 12, 2019. Trees need to be set out for collection by 7:00 AM at the regular refuse collection location.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please call Diko Melkonian, Manager of Environmental Services, at 652-570-2856.
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DID YOU CATCH SUZIE IN DECEMBER?
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Visit the link to see all the upcoming events in Long Beach...
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Other Events in Long Beach
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RETIREMENT OF COMMANDER LIZ GRIFFIN
Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication!
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FRIENDS OF BIXBY PARK - MONTHLY CLEANUP
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Please join Long Beach Community Foundation
for Around the Table:
Activating the Community on Homelessness
This event builds upon the Around the Table event conducted last year. Residents told us that the most important issue facing Long Beach is homelessness and housing, and that they want to help, but are not sure how. So this time, conversations will focus on ways that we, as individuals and businesses can make a positive impact for those experiencing homelessness. Specifically, come learn directly from nonprofit and community leaders:
1. Why are people affected by homelessness in Long Beach?
2. What is being done about it?
3. What can I as a resident or business owner do to help?
It's time we use our talents, strengths and resources to help.
Complimentary parking. Refreshments available.
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