The passing of two former Marine Advisory Commissioners over the past several months has me thinking about the impact that we each have on the lives of those in our personal and professional worlds. Whether we act with intention or inadvertently create a ripple of action through this life we all have left an impression on our family, our friends, our colleagues, and our community. In conversating about Mr. Peter Hogenson (MAC 2004 – 2014) and Mr. Chris Kozaites (MAC 1989 – 1998) with my predecessor, Elvira, she made a comment that has stuck with me… “All of us leave a legacy.”
 
Peter and Chris both had a passion for all things Long Beach and, specifically, the Alamitos Bay Marina area. They each at different points in their lives set out to join a volunteer commission to make a difference in the way our municipal government interacts with and serves the public. Their legacy of public service should be admired and aspired to.

I definitely have not been in the Marine Bureau Manager seat long enough to think about legacy, but I often think about the impact I have on those around me and the people we serve. My goal is to always treat my fellow Marine Bureau employees with respect and show genuine interest and care about the goings on in their daily lives. Our Marina staff consisting of Administration, Operations and Maintenance folks is the backbone of all that we do, and strive to accomplish, to make the Long Beach Marinas system a spectacular community and sought-after destination.

I also make every effort to see things in our marina system from your point of view. The view of the customer and the public. I am beholden to uphold the Long Beach Municipal Code and the Rules & Regulations of the Long Beach Marinas. However, that needs to be done in a way that puts the wants, needs, safety and well-being of our customers and residents first. We will not always see eye to eye. Or agree on the implementation of a particular rule or regulation. But I will always listen and be open to ideas, suggestions, and other pathways to achieve a shared success.

Basically, I have enjoyed every minute of these first six months as your Marine Bureau Manager. I promise to continue learning and growing into this job. Together we all can make meaningful impacts and elevate your Long Beach Marinas experience well into the future. Because… “all of us leave a legacy.” 
 
Now, looking towards what’s ahead…. Happy Daylight Saving Time. Spring forward on March 10! With DST comes the start of Spring and all the great things it brings. I’m talking Opening Day events and Regattas, Races in Marine Stadium, Long Beach Grand Prix, harbor tours, fishing trips, whale watching excursions and the not too distant start of the Summer season.
 
We still have some rain forecasted for at least March and April. Make certain to visit your vessel to secure your canvas, fasten slack lines and check that your bilge pump is functioning properly. Special events are also picking up with the coming of fair weather. Contact the Marina Offices to see what is on the calendar or just check out the Office of Special Events & Filming’s calendar at https://www.longbeach.gov/special-events-filming/events/ to see what is going on in the area around your slip.

Stay well and safe boating,

Todd Leland
Marine Bureau Manager
Marina Offices are open and accepting new vessel permit applications. To provide more comfortable and efficient customer service we have moved to a hybrid front desk/window service at ABM and Shoreline offices. Note – Many requests can still be readily handled by phone or email. 

KEYS & FOBS – Lost, stolen and missing keys and electronic fobs are a priority security issue. If you have lost or misplaced a marina key or fob contact one of our marina offices immediately. Staff will record the loss of a numbered key or deactivate a missing fob. Doing this will allow us to better secure marina docks and facilities. If a marina key or fob has been stolen, please address the theft by filing a Report with LBPD. Then provide the completed Police Report to the Marina Office.

TENDERS & DINGHIES – Over the past several months we have seen an increase in marina fairway incidents involving moored tenders and dinghies. In each incident the tender or dinghy causing an issue has been moored outside the allotted “overhang” limit of the permitted slip. In November and December, the Marine Bureau started red-tag noticing tenders and dinghies that are moored outside the allotted space for permitted slips. In January and February 2024 the Marine Bureau will start impounding tenders and dinghies moored outside allotted slip space.

Unauthorized commercial activity is ILLEGAL IN LONG BEACH – Please do not engage in unauthorized commercial activity at, on or near Long Beach Marinas property. Violators can and will be cited and punished to the full extent of applicable law. Reminder – Unauthorized Commercial activity will put your slip permit in jeopardy of cancellation.
 
DID YOU KNOW The phrase “feeling blue” originated at sea. When a captain was lost during a voyage, the sailors would raise blue flags, indicating their loss. Now, when you say you feel blue, you are feeling sad. The longest mountain range on Earth is the Mid-Oceanic Ridge, which snakes, mostly underwater, a total distance of 40,390 miles between all the continents.
Southern California’s 200-MPH Beach Party Returns April 19-21, and construction began February 29 on the city streets in the downtown Shoreline area. In March and April leading up to race weekend, more than 2,400 concrete blocks delineating the 1.97-mile, 11-turn racing circuit will be placed. Fourteen large grandstands for spectator seating will also be erected to line the racecourse. Over 192,000 fans attended the race in 2023, the event’s highest attendance since the 2008.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and Grand Prix staff commemorated the start of track construction in what will be Turn 10 of the racecourse in the Long Beach Arena parking lot.

“Over the past 49 years, the [Acura] Grand Prix has become part of the tapestry of Long Beach,” said Richardson. “Every year, thousands of people come here to enjoy our waterfront, understand our community, see the Port of Long Beach as a backdrop and really support our local economy. The people who set up this racecourse – their kids play soccer at Long Beach parks, they go to Long Beach schools so it’s really an economic boon with a big local impact.”

From Late February to race day Grand Prix Operations staff will put in more than 33,000 working hours installing the race circuit components – over 14 million pounds of concrete blocks, four miles of fencing and 17,000 bolted-together tires – as well as grandstands, pedestrian bridges and giant vision boards for TV coverage. The build-up continues with Grand Prix staff installing 50 high-end hospitality suites, three hospitality clubs, tents, electrical lines and equipment, phones, porta-johns, trash containers and a myriad of other items around the track.

A portion of the racetrack will also be used for the 2024 Formula Drift event on April 12-13, and another part of the circuit will be used to hold the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach’s 6th Annual Grand Prix 5K Run on Sunday morning, April 14. Businesses along the race circuit, which includes Shoreline Drive, Aquarium Way and Pine Ave., will remain open during construction of the racetrack.

Acura Grand Prix ticket prices range from $40 for Friday General Admission tickets to $185 for three-day tickets. Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, NTT INDYCAR SERIES Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets and hospitality packages. Children 12 years and under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult.
The Southern California region saw heavy rainfall throughout January and February that activated the City’s Emergency Operations Center. The coordinated response, by City Manager Departments, across the entire City helped to quickly address flooded roadways, downed trees and power lines.

In our Long Beach Marinas footprint Beach Maintenance, Marine Maintenance and Marine Operations staff worked additional hours to prepare our beaches and facilities for high surf conditions and heavy rainfall. Beach Maintenance staff moved over 850,000 cubic feet of sand to erect, maintain and rebuild berms on the Peninsula and other low-lying areas on our beaches. Marine Maintenance staff responded to and addressed facility issues at our Boatowner restrooms and Marina facilities caused by over 10 inches of rainfall delivered upon the Long Beach area. Marine Operations staff patrolled docks looking for and addressing vessels taking on too much water. All in all only a handful of vessels required de-watering and just two boats were deemed “sunken” due to the storms.

Maintenance staff even assisted in clearing flood waters from City streets in areas where the stormwater run off system could not handle the deluge. In the ensuing weeks clean up has begun in earnest. Beach Maintenance staff have removed over 1,000 tons of debris from the beachfront and are returning to a core services posture.

With more rainfall expected in March through the month of April please visit your vessel frequently to secure your canvas, fasten any slack lines and check to make sure your bilge pump is functioning properly.