City revises budget schedule, Parks and Rec discussion continues Tuesday

When a crowd of residents that were upset over proposed Parks and Recreation cuts such as the Police Athletic League and a cafe at the Long Beach Senior Center showed up at a budget workshop Tuesday, it quickly became clear that there wouldn't be enough time for the City Council to fully vet the issues.

So, Mayor Bob Foster said the discussion would continue another day. Assistant City Manager Suzanne Frick gave me an update a couple days later on the new budget workshop schedule. Things have been pushed back to allow the Parks and Rec issues to be discussed nextTuesday, she said.

"We're kind of playing it by ear to see what the next hot topic is that the council wants to get into," Fricke said.

Here's what's coming:

• Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., at City Hall - Council study session on Parks, Recreation and Marine, and the Water Department, if there is time. Water and Long Beach Transit originally had been scheduled for that day, though Fricke didn't know when or if Transit's budget will be specifically discussed now.
• Thursday, 6 p.m. at the Petroleum Club - 7th and 8th council districts community discussion about the budget.
• Aug. 26, possibly 5 p.m. (unconfirmed) at the Main Library - 1st District communty discussion, followed by a discussion soley about the proposal to close the Main Library from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 27, 6 to 7 p.m. at unconfirmed location - 6th District community budget discussion.
• Sept. 2, 3:30 p.m., at City Hall - Council study session about the Main Library, followed by a general budget hearing from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• Sept. 9, 3:30 p.m., at City Hall - Council budget study session, followed by likely council approval of budget at 5 p.m. meeting.