City of Long Beach Seeks Community Input to Improve Access and Participation in City Council Meetings
The Californer/10338956

Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach is seeking input from residents, community-based organizations, and local business owners on how to increase participation in City Council meetings and make them more accessible to the entire community. The city has launched an online survey, available in English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog, to gather feedback on current participation methods and identify any barriers that may prevent community members from engaging.

The survey will remain open until Friday, March 20, 2026. For those with limited access to a computer or smartphone, public computer labs are available at all open Long Beach Public Library locations. Additionally, printed copies of the survey will be available at upcoming City Commission and City Council meetings at City Hall through the City Clerk's Office.

This initiative comes after the Government Operations and Efficiency Committee presented proposed changes to the order of business for City Council meetings on October 21, 2025. These changes were informed by a previous circulation of the community survey and included expanding early public comment, establishing estimated times for high-interest agenda items, adjusting public comment periods, setting earlier meeting start times, and maintaining existing time limits on ceremonial items and presentations.

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On November 18, 2025, the City Council reviewed the Committee's recommendations and directed the City Manager and City Clerk to further analyze the proposed changes. They also requested that staff re-circulate the community survey to gather additional input on ways to streamline meetings and encourage broader public participation. This direction was given in light of Senate Bill 707 - a new state law requiring hybrid meetings and virtual public comment availability.

Once the survey closes, results will be presented to the Citizens Advisory Commission on Disabilities (CACoD), as directed by the City Council. CACoD will use this feedback to inform further proposed changes to the order of business for City Council meetings. These changes will then be presented to the City Council in mid-2026.

For media inquiries, please contact Tyler Bonanno-Curley, Deputy City Manager, at Tyler.Curley@longbeach.gov.

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