• The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners is allowing one additional outdoor watering day during the summer. Outdoor watering for residents and businesses is permissible on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through September 30.
• The L.A. County Business Federation has recognized the City of Long Beach as one of the five most business friendly cities in the county. There are 88 cities in L.A. County, with Long Beach being he second largest after Los Angeles. The rating was based on an annual survey of county employers.
• The Long Beach City Council has approved the Downtown and Transit-Oriented Development Pedestrian Master Plan “that will create a more safe and enjoyable pedestrian-friendly downtown and enhance community options throughout the city.” For more information, visit: www.lbds.info.
• Mercedes-Benz USA has donated 350 electric vehicle chargers to the city, which will make them available at no cost to qualifying Long Beach residents and businesses early next year. An estimated 1,200 electric vehicles are in use by residents, with about 20 added monthly.
• The city was recently awarded an additional $765,000 from the federal government to provide services to those experiencing homelessness. This brings the total annual award to $6.9 million. According to the city, “Eleven agencies in Long Beach are sub-grantees to these funds; together they will provide a total of 21 projects consisting of transitional housing, permanent housing and supportive services to individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness.”
• The Long Beach Department of Technology & Innovation is receiving a national award “for its innovative use of technology in creating and delivering genuine business value.” Long Beach is the only city to be recognized among 100 honorees that include companies such as Dell, Hilton and Wells Fargo. “Long Beach is using technology and innovation to increase business efficiency, improve health outcomes and safety, and help residents communicate more efficiently with city hall,” Mayor Robert Garcia said.
• The first phase of a citywide LED project has been completed, replacing about 1,750 intersection lights. The phase was funded by a $659,000 community mitigation grant from the Port of Long Beach. Phase two is expected to begin late summer replacing 24,000 high-pressure sodium lights currently illuminating city streets with LED streetlights. When completed, the retrofit is estimated to reduce the city’s overall energy consumption by almost 10%.
• Long Beach has been named the No. 10 “Most Bike Friendly City in America.” According to a city statement, “The survey looked at the percent of commuters who bike to work, bicycle commute times, miles of protected bike lanes, and bicycle storage facilities. The survey used data from Zillow.com, and was featured on Active.com, the largest athletic event website in the United States.”
• Renovations to the Alamitos Beach Parking Lot, plus improvements to Shoreline Drive to improve traffic circulation and ADA access to the beach have been completed. The improvements on Shoreline Drive from Ocean Boulevard to Linden Avenue also facilitate pedestrian and bicyclist circulation and access to the beach.
• The city and developer Century Housing Corporation are applying for $17.7 million in state funding for affordable housing for lower-income seniors and veterans. If approved, groundbreaking would occur in late 2017 for 160 one- and two-bedroom apartments built at 1201 to 1235 Long Beach Blvd.