Bits 'n' Pieces

CSULB Student Parking Option for Fall Semester

 Long Beach State University will offer expanded student parking options during the opening weeks of the fall semester.

A new contract for 300 off-campus parking spaces at Los Altos Gateway Shopping Center will allow students the option of parking off campus with guaranteed parking along with free shuttle service directly to and from campus.

Shuttles will depart to campus every 15 minutes with the first trip leaving the overflow lot at 8 a.m. and the final shuttle departing the University Student Union at 5 p.m.

Permits for the off-campus parking spaces will be sold at a discounted rate of $65. This price is less than half the price of a regular Student Semester Permit for on-campus parking. Fall permits go on sale starting on July 16.

Overflow permits will be valid in the designated parking area within the Los Altos Gateway Shopping Center, Monday through Thursday, for the first eight weeks of fall semester (August 27 to October 18). Overflow permits will also be valid on-campus on the weekends, Friday through Sunday, during this same eight-week period. After October 18, the additional spaces at Los Altos Gateway Shopping Center will no longer be available for student use and the overflow permits will then be valid on-campus seven days a week until the end of the fall semester.

Please visit www.csulb.edu/parking or call 562.985.8292 for more information.

Transition of Community Hospital Continues

The City of Long Beach conducted a week of progressively positive meetings with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development (OSHPD), MemorialCare, and Molina, Wu, Network, LLC (MWN) in an effort to facilitate the transition of Community Hospital to a new operator after July 3. MemorialCare and the City have identified a process by which the existing hospital license may be placed in “suspense” so that the facility is recognized as a “continuously licensed” hospital by the State of California.

“It’s encouraging that all stakeholders involved in Community Hospital are working collaboratively with the city in order to create a smoother transition to a new operator,” said Mayor Robert Garcia.  “MemorialCare put their license in suspense, which is helpful to the process, and we continue working quickly to try to minimize the gap in service and get the new operator up and running.”

On June 27, the city confirmed MemorialCare formally submitted a letter to CDPH requesting a “suspension” of the hospital license after July 3 through the time a new hospital operator obtains all the requisite approvals to re-open the facility. The city will continue to work with its chosen operator to address the seismic issues, obtain financing and secure required regulatory approvals for the transition of Community Hospital.

LBCC Cuts Budget Deficit

Long Beach City College, through a combination of cost savings and an aggressive enrollment push, has dramatically slashed its deficit by $5.9 million.

LBCC’s 2017-2018 budget included a deficit of about $10.7 million. It is anticipated that as of July 2018, the total deficit amount will be reduced to $4.8 million.

“We’ve been able to reduce $5.9 million from our deficit without layoffs or cuts to instructional programs,” said LBCC Superintendent-President Reagan F. Romali. “In the next few months we will address the remaining structural deficit and get LBCC back on solid financial ground.”

In continuing to reduce the deficit, LBCC offered a Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (SERP), which allowed employees over the age of 50 to retire early with a monthly benefit in addition to their CalSTRS/CalPERS retirement plan. Fifty-three LBCC employees voluntarily accepted the SERP plan.

“I want to thank these amazing members of the LBCC family,” said Romali. “They watched the two campuses transform into modern state-of-the-art facilities, and the start of the Long Beach College Promise. They leave behind an amazing legacy from the programs they launched and the people they have trained.”

LBCC made an aggressive push to enroll additional students into the Summer Session classes which has resulted in a 21 percent increase in full-time equivalent students compared to last year’s Summer Session numbers. LBCC is also providing a number of workshops for future and current LBCC students to assist them enrollment or answer questions about financial aid.

New LBS VP of University Relations and Development

 Michele Cesca, who has more than 25 years of experience in fundraising, program development and management, has been named Long Beach State University’s new vice president of University Relations and Development. She begins in her new position August 1.

“I am delighted to join the team at Long Beach State University, and to be part of an effort that elevates an already remarkable institution,” Cesca said. “The campus and the California State University system play a vital role in our state, and that role has never been more important. The state’s economy is the fifth largest in the world, and one in 10 of California’s workforce is a CSU graduate. One of the things we must do in our jobs is to help people learn about the many significant contributions being made to this state – and beyond – by our alumni, faculty, staff and students.”

As the division’s new leader, Cesca will head a diverse team charged with advancing the campus’ mission by creating awareness, building enduring relationships and generating philanthropic support for the university.

“Given Michele’s extraordinary energy and expertise, I am confident she will take us to the next level of success, and I look forward to working with her,” said Long Beach State University President Jane Close Conoley. “That, combined with her record of accomplishment, will help us continue building on our strengths.”

Cesca currently serves as associate vice president of Development at Cal State Fullerton, where she has led fundraising efforts resulting in unprecedented growth in overall support to the university. During her time there, she helped manage that campus’ first comprehensive campaign, created a university-wide approach to annual giving and launched the innovative Cal State Fullerton Research Enterprise. Previously, she was national executive director of Assistance League, and during her tenure there, she advanced a new strategic plan, managed the board of directors and implemented national public relations, marketing and branding campaigns.

Prior to her work at Cal State Fullerton and Assistance League, Cesca held key development positions at Cal State Northridge, UC Irvine, USC and the California Museum of Science and Industry. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Chapman University, and an executive management certificate from USC. Cesca succeeds Andrea Taylor, who retired after leading the division for more than 12 years.

Koontz Appointed Manager, Development & Planning

Long Beach Development Services Director Linda F. Tatum, has named Christopher Koontz, AICP, as planning bureau manager for the Development Services Department. 

Koontz has served as the city’s advance planning officer since May 2015. During his tenure, he played an integral role in several key city projects and initiatives, including the Southeast Area Specific Plan, Midtown Specific Plan, Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, Land Use Element update and Urban Design Element, Uptown Planning Land Use and Neighborhood Strategy, and Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program, which offers tax incentives to homeowners for the restoration of historic properties.

Finding the right balance of new development and essential services continues to be a priority for Long Beach. The city’s planning team works with the mayor and city council, city departments, neighborhood groups, residents, and business owners to promote more safe and livable neighborhoods, and create sustainable destinations throughout the community.

Volunteers Needed

If you have an interest in history and preservation, Long Beach Heritage can  offer  you  an array of volunteer opportunities.

Long beach Heritage is a non-profit education and advocacy organization which promotes public knowledge and preservation of significant historic and architectural resources, as well as, the cultural heritage of Long Beach, through community forums, educational programs, lectures and architectural tours of four of Downtown Long Beach’s historic neighborhoods.

The  organization  also owns, maintains,  preserves  and provides both educational  and  public tours of the 1906 Historic Bembridge House.  Community and private groups frequently hold meetings and special events in the ambience of the beautiful home and gardens. This is all possible through the hard work of  its dedicated volunteers.

The hours are flexible with no set times or hours. The volunteers  are friendly,  No experience is necessary,

For additional information regarding Long Beach Heritage, visit the website at www.lbheritage.org or call  (562) 493-7019.