Bringing you the latest local news highlights to kick off the week of Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.
Long Beach ‘Treecycling’ Initiative Offers Sustainable Disposal for Holiday Trees
The City of Long Beach is initiating its annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program, also known as “Treecycling,” aiming to provide residents with a sustainable and convenient method to dispose of live holiday trees free of charge. The program is set to run from Dec. 26, 2023, through Jan. 12, 2024, and offers 12 drop-off locations across the city. Treecycling is an environmentally conscious effort by the Public Works Department that collects discarded holiday trees and redirects them either to chipping facilities for landscaping mulch or biomass conversion facilities for energy generation. This initiative typically manages about 200 tons of holiday trees annually, equivalent to roughly 10,000 to 15,000 trees. Its primary objectives are to mitigate fire hazards and reduce instances of illegally dumped trees in public areas.
Residents are encouraged to utilize the drop-off locations, operational on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The city provides a map of these locations available in multiple languages for easy access. Tree disposal guidelines stipulate the removal of all decorations and stands. Trees taller than 12 feet should be cut in half, and while flocked trees will be accepted, artificial trees will not. Notably, this service is exclusively for residents; businesses cannot avail themselves of this disposal service. For residents with City-serviced refuse accounts unable to access drop-off locations, a citywide Treecycling pick-up day is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. These customers need to place their trees where recycling is regularly collected by 7 a.m. on the designated pick-up day. Further details about the Treecycling program can be found at longbeach.gov/lbrecycles, offering comprehensive information and resources. Learn more here.
April Walker Appointed as Long Beach’s New Assistant City Manager
During the Dec. 12 Long Beach City Council meeting, April Walker was unanimously approved with a 7 to 0 vote to assume the position of Assistant City Manager. This appointment, sanctioned under Section 301 of the City Charter, grants the City Manager the authority to nominate an Assistant City Manager, subject to confirmation by the City Council. Ms. Walker, who currently serves as the Administrative Deputy City Manager, is slated to commence her new role on Dec. 31, 2023. As the Assistant City Manager, Ms. Walker joins the Executive Management Team, providing support to the City Manager’s Office while assuming critical responsibilities outlined in the City Charter. Her duties encompass overseeing city finances, management planning, policy formulation, and facilitating coordination among departments for high-priority projects, aligning with the City’s 2030 Strategic Vision.
Ms. Walker’s tenure within the City of Long Beach spans several pivotal roles, including her recent position as Administrative Deputy City Manager since October 2021. Notable achievements include leading critical administrative functions, spearheading the City’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games, overseeing the Office of Ethics and Transparency, and playing a pivotal role in infrastructure development and procurement processes. Her professional background includes prior roles within the Department of Public Works, where she contributed significantly to initiatives such as managing citywide parking operations, energy efficiency programs, infrastructure collaborations, and procurement strategies. With a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine, and a bachelor’s degree in Criminology, Law, and Society from the same institution, Ms. Walker brings a wealth of expertise and experience to her new role. Learn more here.
Health Department Secures $326K Grant to Enhance Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety
The Long Beach Health Department has been awarded a $326,477 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to bolster its Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Division’s Walk and Roll Long Beach Program. This one-year grant aims to extend and broaden initiatives dedicated to enhancing pedestrian safety, promoting secure streets, and reducing preventable injuries and fatalities linked to pedestrian and cyclist collisions. The grant will facilitate a range of strategies and activities, slated to run until Sept. 30, 2024. These include safety pop-up events, workshops for older adults on neighborhood safety, community skill-building activities for all ages, participation in the City’s Beach Streets event, and the implementation of a Youth “Safe Streets” Ambassador Program.
The grant will further fortify partnerships with various City departments and community-based organizations to engage in national, state, and local bike and pedestrian safety campaigns, aligning with Long Beach Walk to School Week and National Bike Safety Month. The funded initiatives align with the Health Department’s objectives to reduce preventable deaths and injuries among children and youth, expand Safe Streets Awareness Week activities, and support the City’s Safe Streets Action Plan aimed at eliminating traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by 2026. This marks the eighth consecutive year the Health Department has secured an OTS grant, emphasizing its sustained commitment to promoting bike and pedestrian safety. In the previous year, the Walk and Roll Long Beach Program reached over 2,000 individuals, disseminating safety materials and resources at various community events and presentations, including initiatives aiding people experiencing homelessness and training youth in bike and pedestrian safety leadership. Learn more here.
