Residents Invited to Attend Urban Agriculture Meetings

PRESS RELEASE
June 5, 2012

Contact: Larry Rich, City of Long Beach Office of Sustainability, 562.570.5839
For immediate release

Residents Invited to Attend Urban Agriculture Meetings


Residents are invited to share their thoughts on raising backyard livestock, and potential changes to the City's laws on chickens, goats and bees in residential areas.    

The first public meeting will be held on Monday, June 11, at 6:30 pm at the Long Beach Community Action Partnership, 3012 Long Beach Blvd. The second meeting will be held on Thursday, June 14, at 6:30 pm at the Whaley Park Community Center, 5620 E. Atherton St. The same content will be discussed at both meetings.

Public feedback gathered at these two meetings will be presented to the City Council’s Environmental Committee, which is scheduled to consider the matter on Tuesday, June 26.  The City's current ordinance allows livestock in some areas of Long Beach, but not in others.  The Environmental Committee is considering an ordinance that may standardize the City's livestock ordinance throughout the City, and create new standards for allowing chickens, goats and bees in residential areas.

For more information, contact Larry Rich, City of Long Beach Office of Sustainability, 562.570.5839.

Hi Long Beach urban agriculture agvocates,

From Donna at Long Beach Grows. If you are interested in keeping backyard chickens, bees or goats I suggest you attend this meeting.

Our lease for the farm is also up this night on the City Council agenda. We are #16 on the list so bring a snack. See you on the steps of City Hall-
-Sasha Kanno

Hi Long Beach urban agriculture agvocates,

This is a final reminder that your help is requested at tomorrow's Environmental Committee meeting to be held October 18th starting at 3:30 PM at City Council chambers, 333 W Ocean Boulevard.

The City of Long Beach will be addressing the suggestions made by Long Beach Grows and by the city’s Sustainable City Commission and Office of Sustainability, to allow urban agriculture, including small scale animal husbandry and beekeeping, without the current restrictions imposed by our municipal code.

Let's fill the house! with PRO URBAN AG supporters and speakers!

Please try your best to attend, even if it means rearranging your busy schedule. Although it is not required, each member of the audience who wishes to speak is usually given 1-2 minutes to do so.

In addition, whether or not you plan to attend, please it would be very helpful if you could send your supportive comments to your City Council representative as well as to each member of the Environmental Committee.
The Chair of the Environmental Committee is Dr. Suja Lowenthal: district2@longbeach.gov, Suja.Lowenthal@longbeach.gov
The Vice Chair is Patrick O’Donnell: district4@longbeach.gov, Patrick.ODonnell@longbeach.gov
The third city council member of the committee is James Johnson: district7@longbeach.gov, James.Johnson@longbeach.gov
 If you don’t know who your City Council representative is, you can find that information here: http://www.longbeach.gov/council/default.asp
I would appreciate being cc'd on your emails: donna@longbeachgrows.org

A set of Talking Points was provided in a previous email. If for some reason you didn't receive that message and wish to see it, please let me know.

Thanks again for your support. I look forward to seeing you this Tuesday, that's tomorrow.

Best wishes,

Donna Marykwas
Long Beach Grows
Growing a more sustainable future
www.longbeachgrows.org
donna@longbeachgrows.org
1-562-912-3364

Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner
www.examiner.com/urban-agriculture-in-long-beach/donna-marykwas

Tuesday, October 18th at city hall

This Tuesday, October 18th in the City Council chambers the lease for Farm Lot 59 will be up for a vote. The item is number 16 on the agenda, meeting starts at 5 so I'm sure you have plenty of time to come by after work. If you are unable to attend that's ok too, just keep us in your thoughts. The recommendation is for a full approval but you just never know!

Also happening same day, same place but at 3:30 in the afternoon:

Message from Donna of Long Beach Grows:
This Tuesday, October 18th starting at 3:30 in the City Council chambers the City of Long Beach will be addressing the suggestions made by Long Beach Grows and by the city’s Sustainable City Commission and Office of Sustainability, to allow urban agriculture, including small scale animal husbandry and beekeeping, without the current restrictions imposed by our municipal code.

It would be very helpful if you could attend the upcoming meeting, with as many PRO URBAN AG supporters and speakers that you can muster up. Although it is not required, each member of the audience who wishes to speak is usually given 1-2 minutes to do so.

In addition, whether or not you plan to attend, please it would be very helpful if you could send your supportive comments to your City Council representative as well as to each member of the Environmental Committee.

The Chair of the Environmental Committee is Dr. Suja Lowenthal: district2@longbeach.gov, Suja.Lowenthal@longbeach.gov

The Vice Chair is Patrick O’Donnell: district4@longbeach.gov, Patrick.ODonnell@longbeach.gov

The third city council member of the committee is James Johnson: district7@longbeach.gov, James.Johnson@longbeach.gov

If you don’t know who your City Council representative is, you can find that information here: http://www.longbeach.gov/council/default.asp




You can join her mailing list or find out more at http://www.longbeachgrows.org