14 October 6, 2026
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Long Beach
California
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation to authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute a Right-of-Entry Permit, and any other necessary documents including any amendments, with The Surfrider Foundation, of San Clemente, CA, to access designated City-owned landscape areas for the purpose of supporting the establishment and ongoing care of Ocean-Friendly Gardens, leading community education workshops and conducting related turf-to-garden stewardship activities for an initial one-year term, from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods through September 30, 2029, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Districts 1, 3)
DISCUSSION
The Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) has partnered with Long Beach Utilities and The Surfrider Foundation (Surfrider) through the Ocean-Friendly Gardens Program to convert several City-owned landscapes in the tidelands area from non-functional turf to oceanfriendly, water-wise landscaping. Previous phases of this collaborative work were completed under a Long Beach Utilities purchase order, through which Surfrider provided volunteer coordination, educational workshops, and ongoing landscape stewardship support.
Since Fiscal Year 2025, approximately 18,000 and 8,500 square feet of water-wise gardens have been installed in the Alamitos Bay and Shoreline Marinas, improving the visual character and ecological resilience of the city’s shoreline landscapes. These efforts advance PRM’s environmental sustainability objectives and support compliance with AB 1572, which requires elimination of non-functional turf on public property by January 1, 2027. PRM and Surfrider plan to expand the Ocean-Friendly Gardens initiative by installing an additional 2,000 to 9,000 square feet of ocean-friendly landscape near the eastern edge of Shoreline Marina.
In addition to environmental benefits, the Ocean-Friendly Gardens initiative provides meaningful community engagement opportunities. Surfrider’s volunteer coordination, hands-on workshops, and stewardship events help build public awareness of sustainable practices and foster a shared sense of caretaking responsibility for shoreline landscapes.
To continue this work within PRM-managed lots, Surfrider has requested a Right-of-Entry Permit to access designated sites to carry out installation, stewardship, and educational activities at approved garden sites. This Right-of-Entry Permit is consistent with the Parks Make Long Beach Strategic Plan by advancing sustainable landscape practices, supporting long-term environmental stewardship, and enhancing community participation in the care and Parks, Recreation and Marine
2760 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach, CA 90815
(562) 570-3100
Honorable Mayor and City Council
October 6, 2026
improvement of public open spaces.
The proposed Right-of-Entry Permit will contain the following major provisions:
City/Permittor: City of Long Beach, a municipal corporation.
Permittee: The Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit public benefit corporation.
Premises: Designated landscape areas in Alamitos Bay and Shoreline Marinas (Attachment A).
Permitted Uses: Turf-to-garden conversion and stewardship activities as approved by PRM, including weeding, trimming, planting, and watering; conducting community education workshops; and coordinating and supervising volunteer activities.
Term: One year, commencing on October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
Renewals: The Term of the Permit may be extended for two additional oneyear periods, through September 30, 2029, at the discretion of the City Manager.
Termination: At any time during the Term, either party may terminate the Permit upon 30 days’ advance written notice for any reason or no reason.
Permit Fee: Because the activities are beneficial and directly support City turf transformation projects, no permit fee will be charged.
Access Restrictions: Access to the Permit Area may be limited or temporarily suspended during operational activations associated with LA28 events. The City will provide reasonable advance notice when possible.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Millicent Usoro on September 15, 2026, and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on September 17, 2026.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on October 6, 2026, to ensure the Permit is in place to allow continued landscape conversion and monitoring activities to ensure the success of the OceanFriendly Gardens.
LEVINE ACT
This item is subject to the Levine Act. The Mayor, Councilmembers, and Commissioners who have received a contribution of more than $500 within 12 months prior from a party, participant, or their representatives involved in this proceeding may do either of the following: (1) disclose Honorable Mayor and City Council
October 6, 2026
the contribution on the record and recuse themselves from this proceeding; OR (2) return the portion of the contribution that exceeds $500 within 30 days from the time the elected official knew or should have known about the contribution and participate in the proceeding.
All parties, participants, and their representatives must disclose on the record of this proceeding any contribution of more than $500 made to the Mayor or any Councilmembers within 12 months prior to the date of the proceeding. The Mayor, Councilmembers, and Commissioners are prohibited from accepting, soliciting, or directing a contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or their representatives, during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is rendered.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal or local job impact associated with this recommendation. All work performed under the proposed Permit, including installation, stewardship, and community education activities, will be conducted by The Surfrider Foundation at no cost to the City. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen P. Scott
Director
Parks, Recreation and Marine
ATTACHMENT A - MAP