Today's budget session: mayor's recommendations, parks and rec.

Last week's City Council budget study session was a bit unfocused, with council members and the public weighing in on anything and everything related to the proposed, and pared down, budget. A few council members have complained about the lack of specific topics for each scheduled budget workshop, but that issue now has been resolved.

Assistant City Manager Suzanne Frick told me today that the council will discuss Mayor Bob Foster's budget recommendations and the Parks, Recreation and Marine budget, including the proposal to close the Police Athletic League youth centers, during today's workshop.

The three youth centers may be run by the Police Department, but Parks and Rec helps out. Ultimately, it will be Parks and Rec's responsibility to take up the slack and make sure the youths served by PAL (the number has been estimated at up to 1,000 of them) have someplace to go and activities to do.

At the Aug. 19 budget session, the Water Department and Long Beach Transit budgets will be discussed. On Sept. 2, the proposal to close the Main Library will be discussed. The Sept. 9 topic is yet to be determined, Frick said.

Today's study session runs from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

And FYI, if you're going to the regular council meeting at 5 p.m., be aware the regular agenda items will get a late start. Councilwoman Rae Gabelich is presenting her 8th District recognitions first, and the pomp and circumstance of such council district presentations often can drag on for an hour.