PRESS RELEASE

Updated 2/06/24: Members of the public interested in attending the Feb. 6 or 13 meetings should park in the Verizon Parking Lot located at Carson and Lew Davis Street. Parking Structure 1 will not be available for public parking on these dates.

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Civic Chambers (411 W. Ocean Blvd.) will temporarily close to the public beginning today, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, for scheduled audio/visual equipment upgrades and testing. The project will add additional speakers and broadcast lighting in the Civic Chambers to improve the audio experience inside the Chambers for both in person and hybrid meetings and improve overall visibility. The Chambers will remain closed through Feb. 13, however during that time, members of the public may still participate in meetings for City Council, Commissions and Committees in person at alternative locations or via the City’s OneMeeting portal.

City Council regular and closed sessions and standing committee meetings scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 23, Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 will be held at Long Beach City College’s Board of Trustees Chamber, located on the Liberal Arts Campus (4901 E. Carson St.), Building T, Room 1100. There is no City Council meeting scheduled for Jan. 30. Parking for these meetings is free and open to the public in Parking Structure 1, located off Clark Avenue and East Lew Davis Street (Verizon Parking Lot located at Carson and Lew Davis Street reserved for Feb. 6 and 13 meetings. Parking Structure 1 will not be available). City Council meetings will also remain available for livestream viewing via the City’s LBTV YouTube channel. Language interpretation services will only be available in person. Those interested in providing public comment may do so by attending a meeting in person or digitally via OneMeeting or emailing CityClerk@longbeach.gov.

A list of alternative in-person locations for all impacted City Commissions and Committee meetings is available here. Temporary in-person locations may be subject to change; those interested in attending a meeting in person should check online for updates before attending.

The scheduled construction will enhance the broadcasting experience for in-person and hybrid attendance of all future meetings held in the Civic Chambers and online. The Chamber improvements include broadcast LED lighting upgrades and the augmentation of its current audiovisual systems, including the addition of four directional speakers to the surrounding side walls of the Chambers to improve dais and audience listening experience and increase clarity as well as the installation of seven additional broadcast lights to the existing lighting system to improve lighting visibility at the dais and presenting lectern and offer in person and virtual attendees higher quality visibility from various angles. The total cost of this project is approximately $158,000, utilizing Civic Center funds, an internal fund used to maintain, improve and operate the Civic Center complex, which includes City Hall, Civic Chambers, the Billie Jean King Main Library, Lincoln Park, Police headquarters, Fire Station 1 and related parking facilities.

People with questions may contact the Office of the City Clerk at 562.570.6101 or CityClerk@longbeach.gov.

Media inquiries regarding City Council, Commission or Committee meetings may be directed to Monique de la Garza, City Clerk, Office of the City Clerk, at 562.570.6101 or CityClerk@longbeach.gov. Media inquiries regarding the project may be directed to Joy Contreras, Community Relations Officer, Department of Public Works, at Joy.Contreras@longbeach.gov.