Bits 'n' Pieces

Treecycling Program

The city’s Public Works Department will once again offer its Holiday Tree Recycling Program, also known as “Treecycling.” This annual program provides Long Beach residents with 12 convenient drop-off locations for disposal of live holiday trees free of charge from Dec. 26, through Jan. 12.

For information on drop-off locations, visit longbeach.gov/lbrecycles.

Residents with city-serviced refuse accounts who are unable to drop off their holiday tree may participate in the citywide pick-up day on Saturday, Jan. 13. Customers must place their tree where recycling is normally collected by 7 a.m. on the pickup day.

All tree decorations and stands must be removed and trees over 12 feet tall should be cut in half. Flocked trees will be accepted, however artificial trees will not. Businesses cannot utilize this service for disposing of their holiday trees, as this service is for residents only.

The program collects the disposed holiday trees and sends them to either a chipping facility where they are turned into landscaping mulch or to a biomass conversion facility for energy generation.

The city collects approximately 200 tons of holiday trees annually, which equates to approximately 10,000 to 15,000 trees. Proper disposal of holiday trees through the program prevents fire hazards and reduces illegally dumped trees in alleys and the public right-of-way.

New LB Port Appointments

Khristina Jason, previously the port’s assistant director of Human Resources since November 2021, will become Director of Human Resources. She joined the port’s HR Division in April 2021 as manager of talent relations and engagement, having served various roles in the Long Beach Department of Human Resources beginning in 2015. The port’s Human Resources Division oversees the human capital strategies and provides services for about 570 employees of the Long Beach Harbor Department.

Clint Herrera, who has been the port’s assistant director of Engineering Design since 2019 is the new director. He worked previously in public works with the cities of South Gate, where he was deputy city engineer and Corona, where he rose to senior civil engineer. His experience also includes private sector engineering work on transportation projects. The Engineering Design Division is critical to the development and maintenance of port infrastructure such as channels, roads, wharfs, utilities and other facilities, producing technical reports, studies, plans and specifications for port construction projects.

The appointments were effective Dec. 16.

Walker New Assistant City Manager

April Walker, who currently serves as the city’s administrative deputy city manager, will begin her new role as assistant city manager on Dec. 31, 2023.

The assistant city manager is a member of the executive management team and supports the city manager and various functions within the office of the city manager. Per the City Charter, the assistant city manager is empowered to perform all duties of the city manager in the event of the absence or disability of the city manager.

The assistant city manager works closely with the mayor and members of the City Council and their offices, management staff, department directors, media, representatives of community groups, and elected and appointed officials in other governmental agencies. The position plays an active role in overseeing the city’s finances, management planning, policy making, and coordination of high-priority projects between departments. The assistant city manager also plays an integral role in the implementation of several key areas of the city’s 2030 Strategic Vision.

Walker has served as the administrative deputy city manager since October 2021 where she leads various critical administrative support functions including mayor, city manager and City Council relations and coordination of successful City Council meetings, City Council staff reporting and meeting management, review of administrative regulations and memoranda, and Public Records Act compliance.

Walker holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of California, Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business and bachelor’s degree in criminology, Law and Society from University of California, Irvine. She has worked for the City of Long Beach since 2015. Prior to her service in Long Beach, Walker worked for the University of California, Irvine.

Credit Union Makes Holiday Donation

LBS Financial Credit Union employees donated hundreds of toys and gift cards on Dec. 13 to the local non-profit, Cerritos Optimist Club, as part of their annual tradition at the credit union’s holiday breakfast.

The Cerritos Optimist Club is an all-volunteer service club in Cerritos, CA dedicated to helping local youth. In attendance was Club President, Ron Glassman, who accepted the donations and spoke on behalf of the organization. The Credit Union’s donations will provide gifts for local students through the Club’s partnership with ABC Unified School District and their ABC Cares Program. The program provides basic needs to the school’s students who are either from low-income or homeless families. Ron explains, “During the holiday season the center stocks up and gives away toys, dolls, and games. Last year, [2022] we offered these items to about 950 students.”

The event was hosted by LBS Financial Credit Union’s President and CEO, Sean Hardeman. He shared, “The annual holiday breakfast is one of my favorite traditions. The entire LBS Financial team is excited to come together and donate holiday gifts to the children and families in our community.”

The holiday gifts were collected by the club members of Cerritos Optimist and will be going to select students in ABC Unified School District as well as children in the cancer ward at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach.

Sponsorship Call

The Port of Long Beach’s Community Sponsorship Program will accept applications beginning Jan. 1 through the end of the month. The program funds community events and activities that help inform residents about the Port. The events center on the environment, education, social justice, the arts and historic preservation.

The program was updated in September 2023 and calls for applications will now be in January, May and September, changing from the previous schedule of September and March, giving nonprofit groups one more opportunity to apply each year.

Community groups may submit sponsorship applications online starting Monday, Jan. 1, through 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31. Due to the application review process, applicants are advised to plan well in advance for their events. Events in this sponsorship call must take place on or after April 1, 2024; this allows time for the review, consideration and recommendation process followed prior to the decision by the Board of Harbor Commissioners.

Applications are judged on how effectively the proposed events and activities can help the Port inform the community of its critical role as an environmental steward, economic engine and job creator. Events chosen should include promotional, marketing and community outreach opportunities for the port. The sponsored events and programs help spread awareness about the port’s operations, initiatives and community investment.

For more information on the port’s Community Sponsorship Program and how to apply, go to www.polb.com/sponsorships.

For the first award of fiscal year 2024, Harbor Commissioners awarded 167 community sponsorships totaling $587,750.