The Long Beach City Council voted 7-0 in closed session tonight to have city negotiators move forward on a controversial proposed land deal that would exchange part of Los Cerritos Wetlands for the city's public service yard, according to City Attorney Bob Shannon. Council members Tonia Reyes Uranga and Dee Andrews were absent.
The council met in closed session because the matter was a real estate transaction, which is standard policy. Shannon said the council will meet at least one more time in closed session to discuss the deal, but once a final contract is drawn up, it will be made public and the council will vote on it in open session.
Environmentalists and critics say Long Beach isn't getting a fair deal in the trade, which previously was to exchange 33.7 acres of the 189-acre Bixby Ranch portion of the wetlands in southeastern Long Beach for the 12.1-acre public service yard in western Long Beach. Now, city officials say the deal may be expanded to include another 10 acres of the wetlands.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
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Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
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