Tonight we are announcing a major shift in our city's operations as we continue to address the COVID-19 health crisis. Starting Monday, many city facilities, including City Hall, libraries, and community centers, will begin closing to the public. I will remain working at city hall with our city leadership team but much of our staff will be working from home to practice responsible social distancing.

The following operational changes will be effective Monday, March 16, through the end of March, or until further notice. 

We need to take serious actions now to suppress any spread of COVID-19, and that is going to include limiting access to City Hall and temporarily closing City libraries and public facilities across Long Beach. Beginning Monday, we will be transitioning to online and telephone services to ensure the safety of the public and our City employees.

To aid residents and businesses financially during this difficult time, the City will be suspending penalties and interest for late payments of utilities and parking citations, business license fees and library fines that are incurred beginning March 15 and at least through the end of the March. The City also will be returning City park fees or other City fees for canceled activities and events at City facilities.

The operational changes are as follows: 

City Hall & Port Administration Building

• City Hall and the Port Administration Building will be closed to the public through March 31, or until further notice. 
• Essential City services will continue, but in-person services at City Hall will be suspended through March 31, or until further notice.
• City Hall will transition to online services; residents and businesses are encouraged to use online public services.
• In addition to online services, the City will accommodate the lack of in-person services by heavily staffing phone lines.

Parks

• The following Parks buildings will be closed to the public through March 31, or until further notice:
  • Parks, Recreation and Marine Administration Office
  • Sports Office
  • Community Recreation Centers 
  • Leeway Sailing Center
  • Community Pools
  • Belmont Pool
  • El Dorado Nature Center Museum 
• All recreation programs, classes, permits and reservations are canceled through March 31, or until further notice. 
• All youth and adult sporting activities are suspended through March 31, or until further notice. 
• Long Beach Senior Centers will remain open with limited services to ensure we support our most vulnerable community only with appropriate social distancing. 
  • Long Beach Senior Center (1150 E. 4th St.) will remain open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for cafe and lunch service only.
  • Senior lunches also will be served at the following sites from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with appropriate social distancing:
    • Cesar Chavez Park (401 Golden Ave.)
    • El Dorado Park West (2800 N. Studebaker Rd.)
    • Expo Center (4321 Atlantic Ave.)
    • McBride Park (1500 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.)
    • Ramona Park (3301 E. 65th St.)
    • Silverado Park (1545 W. 31st St.)
• City Parks, skate parks and dog parks, El Dorado East Regional Park, Nature Center trails and golf courses will remain accessible to the public and their maintenance and upkeep will continue. Marina offices will remain open.
• Public beaches will remain accessible to the public; however, all planned public events have been canceled through March 31, or until further notice. 

Animal Care Services

• Long Beach Animal Care Services will remain open and will be implementing temporary protocols to protect the community and staff, and ensure animals at the shelter continue to receive care during this difficult time. 
• Adoption services will continue with appropriate social distancing.
• Animal Control Officers will continue to accommodate the most emergent health and public safety issues in the community. 
• Pet licensing can be done at the shelter by drop box; via mail by sending payment to: 7700 E. Spring St. Long Beach, CA 90815; over the phone by calling 562-570-3081; or online at www.longbeachanimalcare.com. 

Libraries

• Public city libraries will be closed through March 31, or until further notice. 
• While libraries are closed, Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) is relaxing its borrowing policy. 
  • All late fees will be suspended and due dates extended during this period. 
  • Patron holds for items are also suspended. 
  • Patrons may continue to enjoy the items they have already borrowed. 
  • Items may be returned in outdoor book drops at any of our 12 locations. 
• Library patrons are encouraged to make use of LBPL’s vast collection of digital resources available 24/7. 
  • E-books and e-audiobooks for children and adults, magazines, music and movies are available for free streaming and download. 
  • Students also may access free online tutoring and learning resources. 
  • Most resources are accessible using your LBPL library card number and PIN. 
• Library staff are available to provide assistance through telephone reference at 562-570-7500, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

City Services

• All services requiring in-person visits or public service counter assistance (including licensing and building permits) will be suspended or made available via phone, online or through email. 
• Building inspection services will continue.
• Health facilities are open for essential services; however, the Housing Authority will be closed to in-person visits and services will be provided online or via phone.
• The Long Beach Police Department’s Business Desk at Police Headquarters will remain open, though the City encourages everyone to call 562-435-6711 for non-emergency police assistance and 562-570-7260 for general information and questions regarding filing police reports.
• Jail visitation will be curtailed with the exception of clergy and lawyers.
• All Public Works services will remain in place with the exception of in-person permit submissions, which can be made online at http://www.longbeach.gov/lbds/building/permit-center/online/.
• Refuse collection and street sweeping will continue per the usual schedule.
• Energy Resources will provide restoration of gas service to customers currently shut-off for non payment. For more information, visit: www.longbeach.gov/energyresources.
• Passport services and civil ceremonies provided by the City Clerk’s office will be suspended.

Financial Support for Residents and Businesses

• To aid residents and businesses financially during the difficult time, the City will be suspending penalties and interest for late payments for utilities and parking citations, for business license fees and library fines that are incurred beginning March 15 and at least through the end of March. 
• The City also will be returning City Park fees or other City fees for canceled activities and events at City facilities.

City Meetings

• Next week’s Long Beach City Council meeting will take place via teleconference. 
• The City Council meetings of March 24 and April 7, 2020, will be canceled or conducted by teleconference. Electronic comments are encouraged.
• Commission meetings will either be suspended or conducted by teleconference at least through April, or until further notice. 
• Written comments may also be submitted by email to [email protected]. 
• The Council Chambers will be open to members of the public for comment, but public health officials encourage electronic comments.

For additional assistance, please call 562.570.INFO (4636). These changes were put into effect by Acting City Manager Tom Modica in accordance with the emergency declaration for COVID-19. 

This notice will be updated as new information becomes available.

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The City encourages all residents to visit www.longbeach.gov/COVID19 for up-to-date facts on COVID-19 and to avoid misinformation. You can also follow updates, tips and notices on the City’s social media pages @LongBeachCity and @LBHealthDept and by following hashtag #COVID19LongBeach.