Long Beach wants to know how to increase community engagement at its city council meetings, and is asking residents to submit their thoughts in an online survey. 

In an effort to increase engagement and to make meetings more accessible, residents, community-based organizations and local business owners are encouraged to  complete the survey through March 20. The City is primarily looking to identify barriers that prevent the community from engaging in city council meetings. 

Questions in the survey include: 

How have you participated in City Council meetings in the past 12 months, and how often?

How do you usually learn about upcoming City Council meetings? (Select all that apply)

What changes would most increase your likelihood of attending a City Council meeting?

Any additional suggestions for making City Council meetings more accessible and engaging?

Catalyst Cannabis CEO Elliot Lewis speaks about the cannabis equity program at Long Beach City Hall during public comment at the May 10, 2022, City Council meeting. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Residents are also asked which barriers have kept them from attending a council meeting in person: 

Scheduling conflicts

Transportation challenges

Childcare responsibilities

Physical access concerns

Lack of interest in agenda items

Language or interpretation needs

Prefer to watch online

Lack of information about agenda items

Feel voice isn’t heard anyway

Location of meeting

Length of meeting

Safety concern or other

The survey is available online in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. 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.

The Long Beach Independent Redistricting Commission members sit during the commission meeting on Nov. 19, 2021, to vote on the proposed new city council district map. (Richard. H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

The City is currently considering the following changes to its council meetings based on a previous community survey: 

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.

Requiring hybrid meetings and the availability of virtual public comment. 

The Long Beach City Council requested City staff to re-circulate this survey to gather additional input.

Survey results will be presented to the Citizens Advisory Commission on Disabilities (CACoD) following the survey deadline. CACoD will use this feedback to inform further proposed changes to the City Council order of business, which will then be presented to City Council in mid-2026.