City of Long Beach Seeks Community Input to Improve Access and Participation in City Council Meetings

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach is inviting residents, community-based organizations and local business owners to share feedback on how to increase participation in Long Beach City Council meetings and make meetings more accessible to the whole community. The City is seeking input to better understand how people currently participate in City Council meetings and identify barriers that may prevent community members from engaging.

The survey is available online in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog, and will remain open through Friday, March 20, 2026. Those with limited access to a computer or smart phone may also visit a public computer lab available at any open Long Beach Public Library location to access the survey. Community members may also complete the survey in person at upcoming City Commission and City Council meetings at City Hall, where printed copies will be available through the City Clerk's Office.

On Oct. 21, 2025, the Government Operations and Efficiency Committee presented proposed changes to the order of business for City Council meetings. These proposed changes were informed by a previous circulation of this 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.

On Nov. 18, 2025, the City Council considered the Committee's recommendations and directed the City Manager and City Clerk to further analyze the proposed changes, as well as the implementation of Senate Bill 707, a new state law requiring hybrid meetings and the availability of virtual public comment. As part of this direction, the City Council also requested that staff re-circulate this community survey to gather additional input on ways to streamline meetings and encourage broader public participation.

Survey results will be presented to the Citizens Advisory Commission on Disabilities (CACoD) following the close of the survey, consistent with the direction provided by the City Council. CACoD will use this feedback to inform further proposed changes to the City Council order of business, which will be presented to City Council in mid 2026.

Media inquiries may be directed to Tyler Bonanno-Curley, Deputy City Manager, at [email protected].

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