Long Beach Moves to Open City Hall to More Voices Under New State Law
The City of Long Beach is poised to make its city council meetings more accessible and transparent, with a proposed ordinance returning to the full council tonight that would expand public participation options, move up agenda release deadlines, and allow residents to comment remotely via Zoom.
The proposed changes come as Long Beach prepares to implement Senate Bill 707, a new state law that expands public participation requirements for local government meetings, beginning July 1.
Among the key updates under consideration is a shift in the timing of supplemental agenda materials — moving from Friday afternoons to Thursdays, giving residents more time to review materials ahead of meetings. The ordinance would also establish earlier meeting start times, set time limits for public comment, set sign-up deadlines for speakers, and establish procedures to manage hybrid meetings with both in-person and virtual participation.
The proposed ordinance follows several months of community outreach and policy discussions dating to last fall, including community surveys, committee discussions, and engagement with the Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disabilities, according to insidelbnews.com.
If adopted at tonight’s meeting, the changes would take effect beginning with the July 21 City Council meeting. The meeting is slated for 5 pm, tonight at City Hall, 411 West Ocean Boulevard. Residents can follow the ordinance’s progress at longbeach.gov.
Lancaster Asks Property Owners to Weigh In Before Assessment Rates Rise
The City of Lancaster is inviting property owners to two community open houses this month before moving forward with proposed updates to assessment rates for its Drainage, Lighting, and Landscape Maintenance districts and Sewer service area — the first significant changes to many of those rates in 15 to 30 years.
The open houses follow the Lancaster City Council’s May 26 approval of Resolutions of Intention initiating Proposition 218 proceedings, the state constitutional process governing how local governments may increase property owners’ assessments.
Under Proposition 218, assessments may only be charged to properties that receive a special benefit from the services and infrastructure being funded. The city says many of its existing assessments were established decades ago and have remained unchanged even as inflation, utility costs, labor expenses, material costs, and infrastructure maintenance needs have continued to climb — creating a growing gap between assessment revenues and the actual cost of providing services.
The first open house is scheduled for 5:30-7 pm on June 16 at the Lancaster National Soccer Center Eastside Building. The second is scheduled for 5:30-7 pm on Wednesday, June 17, at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center lobby. City staff and the city’s assessment consultant will be on hand at both sessions to answer questions, explain the Proposition 218 process, and help property owners understand which districts apply to their specific properties.
The public hearing is currently scheduled for 1:30 pm Tuesday, July 14, in Lancaster City Hall Council Chambers, 44933 Fern Avenue.
Property owners may submit assessment ballots, written comments, and protests as part of the process. For more information, visit cityoflancasterca.gov/prop218, email prop218@cityoflancasterca.gov, or call (661) 723-6173.
Palos Verdes Estates Faces Financial Crossroads
The Palos Verdes Estates City Council will hold a special meeting tomorrow night to open a community conversation about the city’s long-term financial future — with a key public safety parcel tax set to expire, a recent ballot measure having failed, and a hard deadline approaching to place a new measure before voters in November.
The meeting comes as Measure E — the city’s Law Enforcement Parcel Tax — approaches its sunset after Fiscal Year 2026/27. A recent effort to address the city’s finances through Measure PF failed at the June 2 election, leaving the council to reassess its options with the August 7 deadline to place a measure on the November 3 ballot looming. The council is seeking direct community input on priorities, concerns, and the path forward before making any decisions.
According to revenue modeling prepared for the city by NBS Government Finance Group, Palos Verdes Estates is projected to face operating deficits beginning at $3.21 million in Fiscal Year 2025/26 and growing to $10.2 million by FY 2032/33.
When the city’s unmet and unfunded infrastructure and staffing needs are factored in, the deficit in the current fiscal year alone reaches $12.66 million. The NBS analysis identified four potentially viable revenue options for the city to explore: property-related fees for sewer and storm drain maintenance, a transactions and use tax, a utility user tax, and renewal of the parcel tax with increases and annual adjustments.
Tomorrow’s meeting is intended as a community discussion, not a decision-making session. Residents are encouraged to attend in person or participate remotely via Zoom. A Zoom link will be posted on the meeting agenda and available at the city’s website prior to the meeting. The council wants to hear directly from residents as it considers how to maintain local services, preserve public safety, and ensure the city’s long-term financial stability ahead of the November ballot deadline.
The special meeting is scheduled for June 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 340 Palos Verdes Drive West.
Monrovia Throws It Back to the Block Party Basics at Julian Fisher Park
The City of Monrovia is dusting off one of its most effective community-building tools — the old-fashioned block party — as the Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) returns to Julian Fisher Park on June 13 for a free evening of food, music, games, and neighbor-to-neighbor connection.
MAP was formed in 2006 as a city program designed to build a strong community by creating a network of engaged individuals who work through education, training, networking, and activism to make Monrovia a fun, safe, and vibrant place to live.
The community-driven initiative emerged specifically to address challenges in the relationship between residents and the local government, tackling issues such as increased crime, blight, and apathy in certain neighborhoods.
The block party tradition grew out of that founding mission — MAP hosted its first block party at Julian Fisher Park in 2009, with a focus on reaching neighborhoods that felt most disengaged from city life.
The June 13 event runs from 5-8 pm at Julian Fisher Park, 915 S. California Ave. Free food, music, youth and family activities, raffles, giveaways, and information booths staffed by city departments will be on hand. City staff will be available to update residents on current programs and take concerns and suggestions directly from the community — the core governance function that has always separated a MAP block party from a simple neighborhood cookout.
For information, contact the Monrovia Area Partnership Team at (626) 932-5563 or map@monroviaca.gov.
