September 2009 Archives

Water Commissioner Paul Blanco was unanimously elected president of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners on Sept. 17. Blanco takes officially takes office Thursday. See the Water Department press release with biographical information about Blanco below.

Paul Blanco Elected President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners

LONG BEACH, CA - Effective October 1, 2009, Mr. Paul C. Blanco will serve as the new President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners.  Mr. Blanco was elected President by a unanimous vote of his fellow Water Commissioners at the September 17th meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners held at the Brennan S. Thomas Water Administration Building.  Commissioner Blanco was appointed to the Board of Water Commissioners by Mayor Bob Foster in July 2007.  

Mr. Blanco retired from his position as a medical case worker with Los Angeles County, Department of Mental Heath in August 2007.   He is the founder, former president and chief executive officer of the Federation of Filipino American Associations.  

Mr. Blanco has held senior leadership positions in several Christian and Filipino grassroots organizations both in the United States and abroad.  He has served as Commissioner of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., California Holiday Commission; and as a member of the Long Beach Citizen Police Complaint Commission.  He has also been a member of the Veterans Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. In 1992, Mr. Blanco was an official member of President George H.W. Bush's Presidential Delegation attending the 50^th Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan and Corregidor in the Philippines.  

Mr. Blanco holds a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from the Philippine Christian University, and has an M.A. in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.  He also holds a Professorship of Academic Leadership from the University of Phoenix.

Two other Water Commission posts were also filled at the meeting.  During the next year, Commissioner Suzanne Dallman will serve as Vice President of the Board and Commissioner Frank Clarke will serve as Secretary of the Board.          

Since 1931, the Water Department has been governed by a Board of five Water Commissioners, each appointed to a five-year term by the Mayor, subject to approval of the City Council. The overlapping terms of the Board members provide necessary continuity and bring to the Department the combined expertise of the Commissioner's business and professional backgrounds. In addition to the five current Commissioners, 55 citizens of the City have served as members of the Board.

The City Charter entrusts the Board with significant responsibility and authority. The Board is charged with full jurisdiction over all water works necessary to the acquisition, treatment, sale, and distribution of water served to the City and is responsible for the collection and disposal of the City's sanitary sewage. Among other duties, the Board has authority to acquire or sell real property, to construct and operate facilities, to purchase equipment and enter into contracts. The Board establishes the Water Department's mission and goals, and adopts policies and strategies to meet these ends. The Board submits an annual budget to the City Council, fixes water and sewer rates, hires the General Manager and establishes compensation for all LBWD employees.

For more information on the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners, visit www.lbwater.org.

The Long Beach Water Department is an urban southern California water supply agency and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.

Ninth District City Council candidates Brad Shore and Val Lerch (the incumbent who is running a write-in campaign for a third term) are having fundraisers tonight. The election is still months away, scheduled for April 2010.

Shore is having his event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Smooth's Sports Grille, 144 Pine Ave. The minimum donation is $20. Learn more about Shore at www.bradshore.org.

Lerch's event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at INCO Co., 6621 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 280. Learn more about Lerch at www.writeinvallerch.com.

 

The Port of Los Angeles issued the following statement following today's 7.9-magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Samoa, a small South Pacific Island thousands of miles from California.... 

The Los Angeles Port Police are taking precautionary measures throughout the Port of Los Angeles complex in response to the tsunami advisory issued on Tuesday after a 7.9 earthquake struck American Samoa.

     Port Police plan to evacuate all beachgoers from Cabrillo Beach by 7 p.m. Tuesday night until Wednesday morning. Additionally, no fishermen or others will be allowed on or near the breakwater.

     Port Police have been working with marina operators and residents advising them of the tsunami advisory. All terminal operators at the Port of Los Angeles are also being contacted to make sure they are aware of the advisory but terminals are not being advised to shut down operations.

    A tsunami advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or dangerous waves. Significant inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory.

   A tsunami warning for this region is not anticipated to be issued.

Former Long Beach politician Norm Ryan was sentenced today to 180 days in Shasta County Jail effective immediately, to be followed by 180 days' adult work program and three years' probation, according to news blog www.anewscafe.com.

Ryan was convicted in May of five felonies in the embezzlement of about $1,400 from a nonprofit animal-control authority, which he had served as CEO. Ryan bilked Haven Humane Society in Redding of about $700 to attend a Humane Society of the United States conference in 2007 in Chicago that didn't take place, and also used his work credit card to pay for an approximately $600 personal trip to San Francisco, prosecutors said during the trial.

Before moving to Redding, Ryan was well-known in Long Beach political circles. He served on a water board, led the campaign to lower the city's utility users' tax, served as Lowell Elementary School PTA and made unsuccessful runs for mayor and City Council.

The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce released a statement today in support of a proposal by City Council members Robert Garcia and Gary DeLong to begin investigating how to increase the number of locals who receive affordable housing. About 60 percent of the city's affordable housing residents were already living in Long Beach. Here's the full statement:

Randy Gordon, President and CEO of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
released the following statement today regarding Councilmembers Robert
Garcia and Gary DeLong's proposed housing preference:

"It is a policy priority of the Long Beach Chamber to support responsible
housing policies that help attract and retain Long Beach businesses.
Specifically, the Chamber is committed to supporting efforts, such as the
proposed housing preference, which will increase workforce housing
opportunities for Long Beach residents."

"The Chamber supports Councilmembers Robert Garcia and Gary DeLong's
upcoming request of the City Attorney and City Manager to return to the
Council within 60 days to report on approaches to strengthen the local
housing preference program in new and existing residential developments."


"When housing developments open, the City of Long Beach conducts an outreach
effort to local residents before opening up the new housing to applicants
who do not live in Long Beach. According to Garcia and DeLong,
approximately 60% of new units go to people who live or work in Long Beach
at the time of application. This leaves 40% of Long Beach's workforce
housing stock to residents who do not live or work in Long Beach. Long Beach
residents deserve better."

"The Chamber looks forward to working with Councilmembers Garcia and DeLong
to create a stronger housing preference for Long Beach residents and
workers. City resources should serve Long Beach residents first."

Long Beach City Council members Robert Garcia and Gary DeLong want to examine giving preference to more local residents in affordable housing developments. They announced today that at next week's council meeting they will be asking the council to approve having city staff report on the feasibility of stronger local presence.

According to a press release from DeLong and Garcia, 60 percent of affordable housing in Long Beach goes to local residents, but they would like to see more. No changes to the current affordable housing system would be implemented at Tuesday's meeting. It would only be the first step in the process of possibly changing Long Beach's policy.

See the full council agenda here.

State officials have dropped their appeal of a Sacramento Superior Court ruling which found the 2008 taking of $350 million in redevelopment funds was illegal, the California Redevelopment Association announced today.

However, CRA intend to file a second lawsuit against the state challenging its $2.05 billion redevelopment raid included in the state budget passed in July 2009.

CRA contends the second state budget raid is no different than the first raid in 2008 which was ruled unconstitutional.

"One down, one to go," said CRA Executive Director John Shirey. "While we're pleased that the State dropped the appeal of the 2008 State raid, we must head right back to court to block an even more drastic raid this year."

Read more about it in Tuesday's P-T.

Hostmark Hospitality Group is out and Delaware North Companies is now at the helm of the Queen Mary, at least in terms of running the ship's day-to-day operations.

New York-based Garrison Investment Group still holds the city-owned ship's lease and the rights to develop 45 acres of land next to the Queen Mary. Garrison took over Save the Queen, which technically still has the ship lease, at the beginning of the year when that company's principals ran out of money. Save the Queen bought the ship's lease in November 2007 at auction after the previous operator went bankrupt. It was Garrison's decision to give Hostmark the boot and bring in Delaware North. Read the company's press release from today below.

Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts to pilot the Queen Mary

Experienced national attractions operator onboard to manage iconic 75-year-old ocean liner

 

LONG BEACH, Calif.; September 28, 2009--Launched 75 years ago on September 26, 1934, the Queen Mary's rich history continues to grow with the addition of new management from Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, one of the nation's leading hospitality management companies, which also operates several resorts and attractions in California's Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks as well as popular destinations around the U.S. and Canada.

 

Over the next five years, the Queen Mary management team plans to continue restoring the stately Long Beach icon. It will also focus on enhancing the Queen Mary's powerful draw as an attraction supporting events such as this year's Halloween Terrorfest, SHIPWRECK!, its elegant traditions such as fine dining at Sir Winston's, and its unique and impressive amenities as a popular conference venue and hotel.

 

"Our team plans to work closely with the Long Beach community. We've met many of the area's leaders over the past several weeks and have been impressed and excited by their commitment to tourism and hospitality in the region," said the Queen Mary General Manager Uwe Roggenthien.  "We're equally impressed and excited to be taking the helm of the legendary Queen Mary at this juncture in its history."

 

About the Queen Mary

Located in Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco period décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. Its award-winning restaurants include Sir Winston's fine dining as well as a weekly Sunday Champagne Brunch served in the ship's Grand Salon.  History buffs enjoy the ship's museum and Behind the Scenes tour while guests of all ages love the Ghosts and Legends tour. The Queen Mary features 80,000 square feet of event space in 14 remarkable, authentic Art Deco period salons as well as a tri-level, 45,000 square-foot Exhibit Hall. The Queen Mary boasts 314 staterooms spanning three decks including eight full suites which have hosted a variety of colorful characters from World War II leaders to British royalty and the stars of Hollywood's golden era. For more or for reservations, see www.queenmary.com or call (800) 437-2934.

 

About Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts

Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts is a subsidiary of Delaware North Companies, a leading hospitality provider with significant experience in hotel, retail, food service, recreation, and transportation operations.  The company's portfolio includes historic properties in North America, such as the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; Yosemite, Sequoia, Yellowstone, and Grand Canyon National Parks; Tenaya Lodge; Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa; Niagara Falls State Park; Jones Beach; The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake; and Gideon Putnam Resort.  To learn more about Delaware North Companies' expertise in the hospitality industry, visit www.experiencednc.com.

The friendly competition between Long Beach and Downey to bring in a Tesla Motor Co. manufacturing and assembly plant -- and the 1,000 to 1,200 jobs that would accompany it -- keeps heating up. After Downey officials visiteds the CEO's office earlier this month to deliver a gift basket, Long Beach City Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske created the below video to poke a little fun at Downey's efforts.

We haven't heard yet from Downey about which city will win, but the Bay Area company is expected to announce it anytime.

Chris Zappia, the marketing director at the Queen Mary, sent an e-mail today indicating that he and the company he works for, Hostmark Hospitality Group, will no longer be running the day-to-day operations of the ship beginning Monday. Delaware North Companies, a Buffalo, N.Y.-based hospitality company that runs hotels and attractions around the world, will be taking over. We knew this was coming and reported at the end of last month about the pending operator change.

New York-based Garrison Investment Group still holds the city-owned ship's lease and the rights to develop 45 acres of land next to the Queen Mary. Garrison took over Save the Queen, which technically still has the ship lease, at the beginning of the year when that company's principals ran out of money. Save the Queen, you may remember, bought the ship's lease in November 2007 at auction after the previous operator went bankrupt. So continues the long saga of the Queen Mary changing hands in attempts to revive it and make it a viable business and tourist attraction.

Here's part of Zappia's e-mail explaining the pending change.

As most of you are aware, there is a change of management companies occurring here at the Queen Mary.  This change will become effective Monday, September 28^th.  The new company will be outsourcing a good deal of the PR and marketing responsibilities, which means that the Director of Marketing position is being eliminated.  Thus, today is effectively my last day.

The decision to replace Hostmark with Delaware North apparently came from Garrison. Delaware North runs a variety of tourist attractions and hotels that the company calls "special places."

The company manages services at Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park in California, runs the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, and provides hospitality and food service at London's Wembley Stadium, among others.

Authorities are investigating the death of a longshoreman who collapsed in extreme heat Wednesday shortly after returning from lunch break.

The unidentified man, said to be in his 50s, was cleaning containers at the Yang Ming Terminal in San Pedro early Wednesday when he became nauseous. He then collapsed upon returning to work at 1 p.m., said Mark Jurisic of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 13.

"He took about 12 steps inside the gate after lunch and just collapsed," Jurisic said. "We're still trying to determine what happened."

The death comes less than two weeks after another longshoreman, John Kiser, was fatally struck by a yard tractor while helping offload containers at the neighboring Evergreen terminal. The Sept. 12 has been ruled accidental.

The latest incident occurred on a day when temperatures rose into the upper 90s in San Pedro. The victim had reportedly been washing containers at the terminal for a few hours when he vomited and asked to take a break.

It's unclear if he was suffering from any underlying health problems, and the Los Angeles County Coroner's office is conducting an autopsy. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also reviewing the death. 

A lawsuit filed by 792 current and former Long Beach police officers is seeking tens of millions of dollars in compensation for unpaid work. Litigation alone is expected to cost the city of Long Beach $1 million to $2 million, and that's only if the city wins.

The list of allegedly uncompensated work is based on depositions from 56 officers. The claims range from things that appear reasonably justifiable as work responsibilities -- cleaning vehicles, checking work e-mail, checking equipment -- to the seemingly frivilous -- shaving, getting a hair cut, doing homework for the police academy.

The Press-Telegram has obtained a list of the claims from the City Attorney's Office. Click the link below to see the list, and you be the judge.

Police lawsuit claims.doc

See a full story about the lawsuit, with comments from the police officers' attorney and updated dollar figures on how much this could all cost, later today at www.presstelegram.com.

Long Beach City Hall and other city offices will be closed Friday for money-saving employee furloughs. This will be the last furlough Friday of the current fiscal year, and so far, no more furloughs are planned when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Of course, that is in theory. If city negotiators can't work out pay freezes or defer contractual pay raises with all nine of Long Beach's employee unions, furloughs could yet be implemented. We'll have to wait and see.

This Friday, police, fire and paramedic emergency services still will be available by calling 911, and gas and public works services are available 24/7 by calling 562-435-6711. The Long Beach Public Library also will be open.

The closed city offices include: City Hall , 333 W. Ocean Blvd.; all city pools, except for private swim lessons; all Parks, Recreation and Marine administrative offices and community and senior centers; El Dorado Nature Center; Fire Department Headquarters, 3205 Lakewood Blvd.; Marine Safety Headquarters, 225 Marina Drive.; Health Department Main Facility, 2525 Grand Ave., and all other facilities, except Multi-Service Center and North Facility Center. For a complete list of closed city offices, go to www.longbeach.gov.

 

Long Beach City Attorney Bob Shannon calls it "patronizing."

Councilmembers agreed.

A letter addressed to the city council from a State Lands Commission attorney caused a bit of an uproar at Tuesday's meeting as members were deliberating a proposal to increase the annual transfer of port profits to city coffers.

The letter apparently bypassed Shannon's office in the hours before Tuesday night's meeting, prompting the city's top legal mind to blast it's "nature and tone" as "very unprofessional."

"It would be interesting to know where this came from and why...who was behind it," Shannon said. "I consider it very unprofessional."

To be fair, he's previously counseled the city's elected leaders as what they can and can't do with port profits. Much of what is in the state lands letter has been discussed - in public and private - by Shannon.

The city is considering increasing the transfer amount from 10 percent to 15 percent or higher - or setting a minimum dollar amount. The transfer this year garnered the city about $16 million for beach upkeep, lifeguard patrols and other uses along the waterfront.

The letter, signed by State Lands Commission attorney Jennifer Lucchesi, asks the city to reconsider its proposal to study increasing the transfer amount or setting a minimum dollar amount - a move Lucchesi and others contend may violate the spirit of a 1911 California law which gave Long Beach control of day-to-day port operations.

Port authorities and the businesses they serve also worry the move may prompt other cash-strapped cities to raid port profits in communities up and down the coast.

The law basically says that profit derived from public lands must be reinvested in ways that benefit the statewide public and not a municipality or local agency.

"The overarching principle of the Public Trust Doctrine is that trust asset lands and trust assets belong to the statewide public and are to be used to benefit the statewide public rather than for local community or municipal purposes," Lucchesi said in the letter.

Siphoning of port profits in Long Beach, which began during another fiscal crisis in 1993, is now limited under city law to no more than 10 percent. Any changes increasing or in any way altering that amount would need voter approval.

 

 

The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce today announced its opposition to a City Council proposal to hold a Charter Amendment Committee meeting to consider increasing the Port of Long Beach transfer to the Tidelands Fund. The Port now gives 10 percent of its profits, but that transfer is expected to drop in half in the next couple of years.

The council voted x-x tonight not to hold a Charter Amendment Committee meeting on the issue yet, but to have a study session first to talk about some of the potential legal issues that have been raised by the State Lands Commission. Below is the full text of the press release from the Chamber of Commerce.

Long Beach Chamber Statement On Convening A Meeting Of The Charter Amendment
Committee

Randy Gordon, President and CEO of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
released the following statement regarding the City Council Agenda Item 27
09-1018 on convening a meeting of the City Council's Charter Amendment
Committee:

"The Chamber opposes to tonight's City Council agenda item requesting the
Charter Amendment Committee to review ways to increase the current level of
investment by the Port of Long Beach. Currently, our Port transfers 10% of
the tidelands fund to the City to pay for tidelands-related services which
has amounted to $16 million so far this year.

The Chamber agrees with the authors of this motion that during difficult
budget times, it is important to re-examine all funding sources and ensure
they reflect the changing economic environment.

But re-examining ALL funding sources should not mean re-examining the
funding sources that actually work and then pick their pockets. Instead,
re-examining sources that drain funding is a more productive way to approach
our fiscal problems.

How about re-examining out of control costs associated with public employee
pensions?

How about re-examining increasing fees on businesses?

How about re-examining ways to actually retain and attract businesses?

How about re-examining ways to streamline current city staffing levels -
instead of just eliminating vacant positions?

How about re-examining ways to stabilize public safety funding?

The "what we should be re-examining list" goes on and on. The bottom line
here is that re-examining ALL funding sources is not the intention of this
motion. Instead, this is yet another political power grab at one of the few
departments in this city that can actually run itself responsibly.

It is also important to understand that the Port of Long Beach is the only
port in the US that annually transfers funds to its governing City. And,
since 1990, our Port has invested over $790 million into the City of Long
Beach which would average out to approximately $41.5 million per year.

Increasing or making changes to the tidelands transfer will take away from
the Port's ability to invest in the areas that this Council and vocal
members of our community urge the Port to invest: things like environmental,
security and transportation programs.

Speaking of the environment, the Port has made major strides to improve its
footprint through progressive policies such as the Green Port Policy and
Clean Air Action Plan. Taking additional tidelands funds away from the
Port's operating revenue will impede the Port ability to fund these programs
and accomplish their environmental and security program goals.

Finally, increases or changes to the tidelands transfer will send the wrong
message to the shipping industry. Funds used for the transfer come from
leases, wharfage fees and other fees paid by terminal operators and the
shipping industry. These funds have are collected and are designed to be
reinvested in the port through capital improvements and environmental
programs.

By taking away funds needed to invest into the port, you send the message to
industry that the City of Long Beach is not business friendly or committed
to making sure that we have a state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly
complex.

I urge the City Council to take the spirit of the well intentioned motion
and focus it on areas that deserve review.

Let's let the Port do its job by providing the needed economic job-creation
and annual investment already in place so that we can focus on other areas
that need re-examining."

Mayor Bob Foster's office confirmed today that he has signed the budget approved by the City Council last week without using his line-item veto. Tonight, the council is expected to give final approval to the $2.5 billion budget for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

In approving the budget, Foster didn't dispute the council's restoration of $169,000 in city contributions for the operating costs of the Long Beach Museum of Art. Foster had recommended eliminating the entire $569,000 city contribution after the museum wasn't able to pay off $3 million in bond debt this month, which the city then had to cover.

The council meets at 5 p.m. tonight. Watch the meeting online at www.longbeach.gov.

Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske keeps trying to find ways to boost funding for libraries with spare change. Schipske initiated the effort two years ago, and at the upcoming Good Neighbor Festival and Picnic in her district, she is hoping some penny games -- actually, nickel games, to be accurate -- will help raise money for area libraries.

Here's the press release that Schipske's office sent out today:

Who says you can't buy anything with penny now a days?

Check your couches and your cars and round up your spare pennies and change and bring them to the "penny carnival" this Saturday, September 26 at the Third Annual Good Neighbor Festival and Picnic.

"Kids can play several carnival games for 5 cents each and at the same time help El Dorado and Bach library branches," says Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske.

Pennies brought to the Good Neighbor Festival will be donated to the two branch libraries in the 5^th District and used to purchase books and materials.

The Third Annual Good Neighbor Festival and Family Picnic will be held Saturday, September 26 from 10 am until 3 pm at Good Neighbor Park, 2800 Studebaker Road. In addition to the penny carnival, the Festival features music by the Wonderelles, free food, a sidewalk chalk art contest, prizes, a pie eating contest and more than 45 informational booths.

For more information, contact Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, 562.570.6932.

The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce plans to give a statement on Councilman Robert Garcia's proposed "equal benefits ordinance" when the Economic Development and Finance Committee meets at 4:30 p.m. today at City Hall.

Committee members are reviewing the proposal, which gives preference to city contractors that provide benefits to domestic partners -- when those businesses give benefits at all. The business group is generally supportive of the idea, with a few suggestions.

The chamber's statement appears in full below:

 Good afternoon, Chairman Gabelich and members of the committee. 

My name is Lori Lofstrom and I am Chairman of the Long Beach Area Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors.

On July 8, 2009, the Chamber released a statement outlining our position on
Councilmember Robert Garcia's proposed Equal Benefits Ordinance.

At that time, we supported Councilmember Robert Garcia's aggressive action
relative to his beliefs so early in his term and understood that an EBO is a
trend in many cities with wide support and also has the needed support of
Long Beach City Council to pass. 

However, the Chamber likewise understands that business, especially smaller
businesses, are simply unable to sustain increased governmental expense
requirements in the current recessionary environment. 

The Chamber remained neutral on Councilmember Garcia's Equal Benefits
Ordinance. 

However, after many conversations with the business community, elected
officials and Councilmember Garcia, the Chamber decided to support the
Councilmember's decision to seek further review of this ordinance by
allowing it to be fully vetted in this Economic Development Committee. 

We felt that the committee process allows the Chamber and other interested
stakeholders more time to be a part of the process of the EBO's development
which we appreciate.

The Chamber is a strong supporter of equality and is proud to represent a
business community in the most diverse urban city in America.

The idea of an equal benefits ordinance is commendable based on our
collective desire to maintain our standing as a diverse city.

The implementation of such an ordinance must take into consideration the
impact, both positive and negative, to all who will be affected by this law.

After even further discussions with interested stakeholders the Chamber
would like to take this opportunity to respectfully submit our input to help
to craft an ordinance that will work for all concerned and, therefore, the
Chamber urges this committee to consider the following recommendations:

- We would request that City Staff research, understand and present to this
committee, the fiscal impact to the city and business community based on
empirical data from other cities with similar ordinances already in place.
This committee and eventually the City Council must understand that San
Francisco, for example, experienced significant costs associated with its
implementation of a similar program to the tune of $300,000 a year. Any
massive fiscal impact of any proposal must be understood given these tough
economic times for both the City itself and for our local economy.

- It will be critical that the City Manager develop a method of assessment
to monitor costs, savings, and other issues associated with implementing a
new EBO to ensure that the fiscal impact to the City remain stable and
manageable.

- Any exceptions and waivers implemented by the City Manager must be
specific and the process for such exceptions and waivers must be streamlined
to avoid unintended results of vendors being discouraged from doing business
with the City.

- Finally, the Chamber strongly recommends that the impact of this EBO upon
small businesses be carefully considered at a time when businesses are
losing, people are losing homes and credit remains tight if not,
inaccessible. Business owners are being impacted at all levels of
government with increased regulations and taxes. In order to accomplish a
reasonable balance, the Chamber would advocate that the proposed EBO apply
only to contracts over a monetary threshold of $100,000 AND exempt
businesses with less than 25 employees which has been a common threshold to
define "small business".

The Chamber hopes that these four recommendations will be given due
consideration in your discussions today and in the future related to the
decision to move this EBO forward.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

No special guests are planned at tonight's monthly Beer & Politics forum, but organizers say there will be a "spit and argue"-style open discussion about national, state and local topics, including health care reform. I'm guessing that whatever form the new health care system takes, it will generally frown on any public spitting. But tonight it's all right.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. at Gallagher's Pub & Grill, 2751 E. Broadway. If you can't attend, you can watch it live online at www.beerandpolitics.org.

Things must have gotten backed up at City Hall because of the budget over the last couple of weeks. The agenda for next Tuesday's City Council meeting isn't just a government document -- it's a book! Forget "War and Peace." "Don Quixote"? That's light reading.

If any last-minute items are added to the agenda this afternoon (and they almost always are), the agenda will have at least 50 items on it. And I thought we were going to be finished with late-night meetings for a while after the council approved the budget last week.

For the most part, however, there isn't anything of great controversy on the agenda, though you never know for sure what might stir up trouble into you're sitting in the Council Chambers. Twenty-one items are on the consent calendar, which is passed with a single vote, and many of the other actions are for various contracts. Fairly routine stuff.

One big controversial issue could be an item from council members Rae Gabelich, Gerrie Schipske and Tonia Reyes Uranga to have the Charter Amendment Commitee (which is essentially the mayor and the full council) consider charter reforms to bring in more money. That includes but is not limited to, the agenda item notes, revising the Harbor Department transfer to the General Fund. That means the council members want more money from the Port of Long Beach. This discussion has been touched on many times before, and grabbing that extra cash requires walking a thin legal tightrope. The Harbor Department is certainly likely to resist.

By coincidence, earlier Tuesday, at 3:30 p.m., the Charter Amendment Committee will meet to discuss creating a charter-required "rainy day" fund to ensure that when extra money is on hand, part of it is saved for tough economic times -- like now. The council would have to put the fund on the ballot for voters to consider.

The council starts its regular meeting Tuesday at 5 p.m. Click here to go the city clerk's Legistar program that will allow you to see all of the meeting agendas with their backup documents.

The Long Beach City's Council's Economic Development and Finance Committee doesn't usually draw a crowd, but Monday's meeting may be different.

Two politically charged and controversial issues -- an Equal Benefits Ordinance for domestic partners such as gay couples and potential regulation of medical marijuana dispensaries -- are going before the committee, which meets at 4:30 p.m. in City Hall, 333 W. Ocean Blvd.

The Equal Benefits Ordinance, proposed by Councilman Robert Garcia, would require that city contractors that already provide spousal benefits to their employees also include domestic partners in their benefits plan. Part of the reason for the ordinance is to give benefits to gay couples. Garcia is one of two openly gay council members. The council voted in July to send the matter to committee, where it was supposed to be discussed in August, but it may have been delayed because of the council's budget talks.

The second issue going to the committee has its own kind of controversy.

Medical marijuana dispensaries are popping up more and more around Long Beach, but they are unregulated and nobody knows exactly how many there are. Their numbers have been estimated at up to 40. The council voted unanimously Aug. 4 to have City Attorney Robert Shannon report within 60 days about the feasibility, legality and enforcement of ordinances on medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives, which are also known as dispensaries or clubs.

The Economic Development and Finance Committee will vet the issue Monday and then could make recommendations to the full council, though the council wouldn't have to support the committee's plan. The committee members are council members Rae Gabelich, Gary DeLong and Tonia Reyes Uranga.

Police Chief Tony Batts was interviewed on "Straight Talk with Art Levine" recently and warned about cutting the Police Department's community outreach budgets. Under budget cuts approved by the City Council on Tuesday, the police are losing their ability to do crime prevention and intervention, and now will be focusing mostly on suppression.

It's essential that the public views police as part of the community, otherwise "police departments will only be looked upon as an occupying army," Batts told Levine.

On hiring his replacement when Batts goes to Oakland, it would be "a tragedy" to hire from outside of the department he said, because he has many capable deputy chiefs and commanders. Departments should only hire externally when a department wants a change, he said.

Watch the full interview below: 

Councilman Gary DeLong seemed to surprise everyone in the Council Chambers moments ago when he announced he would vote against a new contract with the Long Beach Police Officers Association that would save the city millions of dollars.

After months of negotiations between POA and city officials to get police officers to forgo some pay raises, POA President Steve James called DeLong's vote a "slap ... in the face" and Councilman Patrick O'Donnell said DeLong was "grandstanding."

DeLong said he couldn't support the contract because it doesn't contain reforms of the city's costly pension program. Other council members thanked police officers for reopening their contract and reducing their pay raises even though they didn't have to.

The new contract will give officers an 11 percent raise spread out over five years instead of the nearly 9.3 percent raise they were due Sept. 30. The deal, which was overwhelmingly approved by POA members, will save the city $7.6 million this year and $15 million over the next five years.

"Your comments are the epitome of the dysfunction we've dealt with," James told DeLong. "Don't slap these people (police officers) in the face. This needs to pass with a 9-0 vote. They deserve it."

DeLong responded that he had tried to reach James on Monday to inform him of his decision and that he doesn't like to "blindside" people, but O'Donnell interrupted DeLong, saying: "Why didn't you tell us?"

As DeLong and O'Donnell began to argue and Mayor Bob Foster tried to silence O'Donnell for speaking out of turn, O'Donnell shouted out: "This is grandstanding."

The council approved the POA contract 8-1, with DeLong dissenting.

A few minutes ago, more than 100 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents 3,800 city of Long Beach employees, took their seats in the Council Chambers of Long Beach City Hall. The union had a rally and march beforehand and are here to put pressure on the City Council to give them a good contract.

City officials have been negotiating pay concessions with five different unions that have contractual pay raises going into effect at the end of the month. Two weeks ago, the Long Beach Police Officers Association announced it had approved a deal that will give officers an 11 percent raise spread out over five years instead of the nearly 9.3 percent raise they were due Sept. 30. The deal, which the council will vote on today, will save the city $7.6 million this year and $15 million over the next five years.

However, the IAM is unhappy with the progress of its negotiations. Union officials say they have offered city management a deal that would save Long Beach $8.5 million, but that city officials say it isn't enough. So, the IAM will be protesting today what they say is a budget that will be balanced on the backs of city workers.

To eliminate the $38.3 million general fund deficit, city officials are banking on $18 million in savings through employee concessions in the form of forgone pay raises. If the city can't reach a deal with its unions, that may mean further layoffs or citywide furloughs.

In a surprisingly quick and efficient budget hearing this afternoon, the Long Beach City Council approved the 2010 fiscal year budget that includes $38.3 million in general fund cuts.

After last week's budget negotiations during which council members found agreement on which programs to restore, there were few arguments and little prosthelytizing today. The council unanimously approved the remaining budget measures and threw out a few new restorations, including fully restoring Marine Rescue Boat 3, which had been slated to be cut.

The council is now in closed session discussing union negotiations (which aren't exactly going great -- see an earlier post from today) and later is scheduled to vote on a new police contract that will save the city money this year.

Read the full story later today at www.presstelegram.com.

The deadline is here. The Long Beach City Council must approve a budget tonight, or City Manager Pat West's proposed budget will automatically go into effect, per the City Charter.

Check out this Press Corps blog and the Press-Telegram news page for updates throughout the evening about the city workers' rally, council votes and the budget plan that is ultimately approved. It could be another late night tonight, but we will keep you informed.

The council will have a budget hearing at 3:30 p.m., followed by a closed session at 4:30 p.m., the regular council meeting at 5 p.m. and a final budget hearing scheduled to begin no later than 7 p.m. If you're really interested, the meetings are open to the public and can be viewed live on Charter Communications Channel 8, Verizon FiOS Channel 21 or online at www.longbeach.gov.

Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents 3,800 city of Long Beach employees, are planning to rally at 4:15 p.m. today at Cedar Avenue and Broadway, then march to City Hall, 333. W. Ocean Blvd., to protest the budget before the 5 p.m. meeting. City officials have been negotiating pay concessions with five different unions that have contractual pay raises going into effect at the end of the month.

Two weeks ago, the Long Beach Police Officers Association announced it had approved a deal that will give officers an 11 percent raise spread out over five years instead of the nearly 9.3 percent raise they were due Sept. 30. The deal, which the council will vote on today, will save the city $7.6 million this year and $15 million over the next five years.

However, the IAM is unhappy with the progress of its negotiations. Union officials say they have offered city management a deal that would save Long Beach $8.5 million, but that city officials say it isn't enough. So, the IAM will be protesting today what they say is a budget that will be balanced on the backs of city workers.

To eliminate the $38.3 million general fund deficit, city officials are banking on $18 million in savings through employee concessions in the form of forgone pay raises. If the city can't reach a deal with its unions, that may mean further layoffs or citywide furloughs.

 

Port authorities are hosting a forum on plans to expand and modernize a port-adjacent railyard south of Anaheim Street.

The plan calls for a massive overhaul of the mismatch of track and switching yards roughly bordered by Ninth and Anaheim streets and the Terminal Island (47) and Long Beach (710) freeways (see map here).

The hearing is the first step in a project Long Beach port authorities hope to launch within the next few years - an ambitious project to increase on-dock rail usage and ease congestion, reduce truck traffic and purchase property to stage rail car storage.

The 6 p.m. hearing will be held at the port's headquarters, 925 Harbor Plaza in Long Beach (follow the signs crossing over Queensway Bridge).

To see the full proposal, visit www.polb.com/railNOP.

 

 

Departing Long Beach Chief of Police Anthony Batts is the guest on this week's edition of Straight Talk.
 
Straight Talk repeats at 7 p.m. on Charter Cable Channel 3 on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday at 7 p.m. The show is Viewable on Demand at www.StraightTalkTV.com and can also be seen on YouTube, iTunes and Facebook. 

The District Weekly's Dave Wielenga reported today that all police records about a confrontation at City Hall last year, first reported by the Press-Telegram, between a member of Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal's staff and the councilwoman's husband, Superior Court Judge Daniel Lowenthal, have disappeared. Wielenga said he had made a public records request for the documents after police were called yet again for another incident at Suja Lowenthal's office last week. In the most recent case, there was an alleged confrontation between two of Lowenthal's staff members, as first reported by the District.

So where are the reports from last year's incident, which police said at the time was under investigation? Police officials told Wielenga that no records exist. That's a bit suspicious, to say the least.

Read the District's report here. Below is the Press-Telegram story about last year's incident, dated July 22, 2008.

The second phase of a project to improve and cover Atherton Ditch in the 4th District to prevent flooding is about to begin. Councilman Patrick O'Donnell announced today that he will have a groundbreaking ceremony for phase II on Saturday. Here is the press release:

LONG BEACH - Fourth District Councilmember Patrick O'Donnell will be hosting a ceremony on September 12^th to celebrate Phase II of the Atherton Ditch improvement project. The event will take place on the Atherton Service Road at McNab Avenue.

The Atherton Ditch was put in over 40 years ago and has been a hazard during flooding as well as an eyesore to the community. The Councilmember has rallied for years, promising to take on the Atherton Ditch. Extensive input was sought from members of the community and Public Works officials on the ditch.

The final phase of a two-phase project, this achievement will allow the ditch to finally be covered over and replaced with natural vegetation and trees. An underground drainage pipe will allow for water to drain out of the region replacing the ditch that is currently in place. The construction is expected to start in the working days following the ceremonial events.

"I've been working with Public Works and members of the community for many years on this project," O'Donnell said.  "I am looking forward to the completion of the project- 40 years in the making."

The event will begin at 9:00 am on the 12^th of September along the Atherton Ditch, and will feature construction information from the Department of Public Works. Following the brief ceremony, light refreshments will be served. Members of the community are invited to attend and commemorate this historic event.

At its Long Beach facility today, foreign and Boeing Co. officials celebrated the delivery of Qatar 02, Qatar Emiri Air Force's second C-17 Globemaster III.

"On behalf of the Qatar Emiri Air Force, I want to thank Boeing's C-17 work force and suppliers for a job well done," said Brig. Gen. Ahmed Al-Malki, head of Qatar's airlift selection committee. "The C-17s you built for Qatar will help us extend our reach when supporting humanitarian aid, disaster relief and peacekeeping missions."

Qatar 02 will stop at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., before heading to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Waning domestic orders in recent years have prompted Boeing to seek out foreign orders to supplement its production line, which employs about 5,000 workers in Long Beach and thousands nationwide through suppliers.

Of the 206 C-17s in service worldwide, 17 have been placed with international customers, including the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Australian Air Force and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability consortium of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.

In 2008, Qatar became the first Middle East nation to order the C-17 and was delivered its first on Aug. 11.

Read this article in English here.

Tal vez leyeron en mi columna hoy que entre los programas que podrían terminar en el presupuesto de Long Beach, uno es el "simulcast" en español para ver las juntas del Ayuntamiento Municipal en la television.

Los consejeros Robert Garcia y Tonia Reyes Uranga, quienes son los dos latinos del consejo, dijeron el martes que estaban preocupados que este programa, lo cual cuesta $37,000, podría terminar y pidieron que el gestión del gobierno municipal traten de salvarlo. Sin embargo, el ayuntamiento no tomó ninguna acción official para salvar el programa.

El "simulcast" proporciona intérpretes de español durante las juntas del ayuntamiento que transmiten en television, y parece que es un programa muy popular. El Oficial Secretario Larry Herrera reportó que un estudio que hicieron hace unos anos mostró que 4,000 hispanohablantes usan el "simulcast" para ver las juntas en español cada semana.

El ayuntamiento tiene sus últimas juntas para aprobar el presupuesto el próximo martes a las 3:30 de la tarde y continuando a las 7 de la noche. La junta ocurre en El Palacio Municipal (City Hall), 333 W. Ocean Blvd.

You may have read in my column today that among the proposed Long Beach budget cuts is an end to Spanish language simulcasts of council meetings.

Council members Robert Garcia and Tonia Reyes Uranga, the two Latinos on the council, raised concerns Tuesday about eliminating the $37,000 program and asked city management to find a way to save it. However, the council took no formal action to save the program.

The simulcast provides Spanish interpreters during the council meeting television broadcasts, and apparently is quite popular. City Clerk Larry Herrera reported that a study conducted several years ago showed that 4,000 people use the simulcast service each week to watch council meetings.

Speaking of Spanish speakers, I've translated this entry into Spanish so they can learn about this as well. Click here for that blog entry.

As Long Beach City Council members went through some of the most collaborative negotiating and compromising that I have seen to come up with a viable budget plan Tuesday, an entertaining exchange occurred between Mayor Bob Foster and Councilman Gary DeLong, chairman of the Budget Oversight Committee.

After DeLong sat down and ticked off a long list of the revised budget restorations that had been agreed upon, Foster asked: "Mr. DeLong, do these balance?"

"Within $12,000," DeLong replied.

"I guess that's good enough for government," the mayor quipped, half-jokingly.

The sad thing is, when it comes to government accounting, Foster was probably right.

When times are tough, common sense says to put that extra cash in the bank, under the mattress, in the cookie jar or wherever else people squirrel away money.

Well, times couldn't be tougher for the city of Long Beach, as officials try to pass a budget that has the largest general fund deficit - $38.3 million - in the city's history.

In the middle of seemingly endless budget talks Tuesday, the City Council approved a measure that would give Long Beach its own cookie jar. Maybe a better term would be a safe, because it would come with a lock to which only the people of Long Beach would hold the key.

The proposal by council members Val Lerch and Gary DeLong is to create a City Charter amendment requiring a "rainy day fund."

Under their proposal, whenever the city's revenue growth exceeds 5 percent over the previous year, half of that money would be placed in the fund. In lean fiscal times, the city could withdraw up to 50 percent of the rainy day fund in one year, but no more than the amount of the revenue decline from the previous year.

The council unanimously approved having the Charter Amendment Committee consider the feasibility of implementing the fund when it meets Sept. 22. The council would have to approve placing the fund on the election ballot, likely in 2010, and Long Beach voters would decide whether to approve the charter amendment. 

What may have begun as a clever political tactic is likely to be a celebratory event at Fire Station 18 on Sunday.

Last week, Councilman Gerrie Schipske announced the East Long Beach station would have an open house this weekend, right before the council is expected to approve the city budget next Tuesday. Under City Manager Pat West's original budget proposal, the station was to share a fire engine with Station 1 downtown, leaving the Eastside station empty during the day.

The open house may have been a tactic to draw attention to the issue and drum up community support before the council vote, and it is supposed to give the public a chance to sign a petition against the station's partial closure. But this Tuesday the council voted to restore the station's fire crew to full strength, a move that seems likely to get final passage next Tuesday. Sunday's open house should be a joyous event now.

The open house takes place from noon to 2 p.m. at 3361 Palo Verde Ave. Visitors can meet the firefighters and have cookies and lemonade.

An emergency bill written to free up a backlog of state-required emission credits has received a new title, but retains the same purpose - circumventing a recent legal ruling that has made it fiscally impossible for new and expanding businesses to buy emission credits from state air quality regulators.

The bill, formerly known as SB 696, is now SB 827. It passed the State Senate this week on a 21-3 vote, and will go before the state assembly Sept. 8 before heading to the governor's desk, where it's expected to be signed before month's end.

The bill, supported by regional air quality regulators, was written by State Sen. Rod Wright, D-Long Beach. Because it's considered "emergency" legislation, it requires 2/3 passage in both state legislative houses.

Read more about the bill here or visit the "Yes on 696" campaign.

 

Sweeping views and a rare opportunity to traverse the towering Vincent Thomas Bridge by foot are on tap for Monday's 8 a.m. "Conquer the Bridge" 5K race.

The race offers the public a chance for the first time in decades to run - or walk - over the 185-foot high span, which has been closed to foot traffic for most of its 46-year existence. The heavily traveled bridge will be closed to vehicles for three hours (8-11 a.m.) and organizers are placing rubber mats on the eight open metal grates along the span to ensure participants don't fall through the cracks and into the shipping channel below.

Starting and ending points are at Fifth Street and Harbor Boulevard, and medals will be awarded to top finishers. About 1,200 people have signed up so far, including fitness fanatic/ San Pedro councilwoman Janice Hahn. 

Entry forms and more info are available at www.conquerthebridge.com. Registration is required - the cost is $37 - and is available through race day.

Just be sure and follow the signs while traversing the bridge (cones will guide runners and walkers). One of the last athletes to "conquer" the bridge - Olympic diver Larry Andreasen - was killed when he tried to set an illegal world record by diving from a support span at the bridge's 385-foot-high apex in 1990.

The bridge, built in 1963 to replace ferries that had previously carried people across the port's main shipping channel, may not be as popular or inspiring as the world-famous Golden Gate, but it has its place in pop culture, including extensive footage in the great William Friedkin thriller "To Live and Die In L.A.", where it's featured extensively in shots throughout the film, including closing credits to the sounds of Wang Chung's "Wait."

Complaints about proposed budget cuts have been many, but solutions often few at Long Beach City Council meetings. But 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews has a proposal (and my apologies on the delay for putting this online) to prevent Fire Department cuts that would reduce the total number of firefighters on duty from 137 to 130 and reduce the number of fire crews, including the part-time closure of Fire Station 18 in East Long Beach. Andrews' solution? Cut infrastructure funding (the city happens to be getting some extra funding anyway this year, he notes) and implement some other cost-cutting measures that have been suggested by the Long Beach Firefighters Association.

Here is Andrews' detailed press release explaining his plan:

BACKGROUND & FACTS

The funding from Federal, State, and County grants has restrictions on what it can be used for. With that in mind, when you review infrastructure repairs on a macro level the investment we are receiving from these agencies are 8 times more than our general fund contribution of $2,200,000 citywide.

• Long Beach is one of a handful of cities in the state that received both payments of Prop 1B money, totaling 15 million in FY 08, and 09 paving 8 to 10 miles of residential streets.
• In addition, Long Beach is scheduled to receive 15 million from the American Investment and Recovery Act in FY 10 to repair 10 to 12 miles of residential streets.
• From Measure R funding, from Los Angeles County sales tax, Long Beach will receive 2.5 million for FY10 and 4.3 million for FY11.

In addition, the Long Beach Fire Association has come forward with additional revenue estimated between four to six hundred thousand dollars ($400,000-$600,000), as discussed in the BOC meeting.

Additionally, our Long Beach Fire Firefighters gave back the equivalent of 2% in salary reductions, resulting in an additional $732,000 in savings in FY 09. 

DISCUSSION

I believe most individuals would agree that eliminating 21 Sworn Fire Department employee positions, who are emergency responders, is totally unacceptable. There are many cuts in this budget that will be difficult to live with. The impact will be felt in the four corners of the City of Long Beach. We cannot allow for 21 Sworn Firefighters to be cut. Their positions are critical to saving lives.

The current proposed budget is asking for:

Elimination of 12.0 sworn positions by having one engine during the day at one station and relocate the engine during the night at another location.

$1,669,000

Elimination of 9.0 sworn positions by creating a "Light Force" fire engine

$1,205,696

CONCLUSION

If we reallocate $2,200,000 in General Fund Infrastructure Repairs from the FY10 Budget and if the City Council adopts the Fire Association Sponsored BOC recommendations of $400,000-$600,000 revenue, we will be closer to the needed $2,874,696 to keep the 21 Sworn Fire Department employee positions.

I hope you support my position that this is the most important restoration of funding we can do as a Council and I would like to hear any further recommendations.

Anyone familiar with San Pedro's history knows about Bloody Thursday, when thousands of dockworkers fed up with meager wages and abuse at the hands of bosses revolted in a violent struggle up and down the West Coast that ended with six unarmed longshoremen shot dead and hundreds of others bloodied and battered.

The story of that struggle, which culminated with a general strike that paralyzed San Francisco for several days in 1934, and the founding of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union is the subject of  a new documentary - "Bloody Thursday" - 8 p.m. Thursday at the beautifully restored Warner Grand Theatre, 478 Sixth St. in San Pedro.

Directed by San Pedro resident and historian Jack Baric, the documentary follows the long, tedious and ultimately successful struggle to organize dockworkers, mariners and warehouse workers up and down the West Coast - a legacy which continues benefitting some 60,000 ILWU members and their families today.

 

The film will also air on KOCE-TV in Southern California at 8 p.m. Sunday.

 

Another ILWU-related show focuses on union leader and founder Harry Bridges, whose life and works have been produced in a stage play "From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks," which was recently adapted for TV and being played on PBS stations across the country. For a list of showtimes, check here.

To learn more about the ILWU, click here.

Michael Eagle, who recently took over as spokesman for Congresswoman Laura Richasdson, is returning to his home state of Pennsylvania to work on Democratic campaigns in the coming year.

Eagle took over in mid-May after former spokesman William Marshall Jr. left to take a position in public relations in the nation's capitol. Eagle didn't explain his sudden departure, only saying that "opportunities" presented to him in recent weeks were too good to pass up.

Eagle accompanied Richardson on a recent congressional visit to California, where representatives met with local port authorities and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss funding a laundry list of long-overdue infrastructure projects in the port.

 He had also been deeply involved in promoting two of Richardson's key legislative initiatives this year - The Movement Act of 2009 and Harbor Maintenance Trust Reform Act. Both bills would potentially funnel billions to California ports for projects like bridge repair and replacement, rail upgrades, dredging, security and new, "green" equipment.

Eagle says Richardson Chief of Staff Shirley Cooks will handle media until a replacement is found.

After pulling his proposal from this week's City Council agenda, 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews will return it to the council the first week of October, his chief of staff, John Edmond, told me. The item had been removed from the agenda because of expected time constraints as the council took on budget issues this week.

The parking plan would allow the city to designate certain parking lots as places where the homeless could park and live in their cars. The lots would provide security and social services to help people get back on their feet and into real housing. Andrews' proposal, which he announced to help "economic refugees" who are down on their luck during the recession and aren't the traditional homeless.

Of course, the idea has stirred up some opposition and concern from residents about having these parking lots in their neighborhoods, which will surely lead to a contentious council meeting. The council's first meeting next month is scheduled for Oct. 6.

As the population keeps going up in California and water supplies keep shrinking, the problem becomes pretty obvious. But the Long Beach Water Department is working to alleviate at least a small part of this conundrum with its experimental desalination project.

Last Friday, the Water Department announced it received an important permit extension for a key piece of the project. Read the full press release below:

LONG BEACH, CA - Today, the Long Beach Water Department received a two-year extension on its coastal development permit from the California Coastal Commission for the department's Under Ocean Floor Seawater Intake and Discharge Demonstration System, the first intake system of its kind anywhere in the United States.  The extension postpones the date by which the Water Department has to wrap up its operations at the site from May 2010 to May 2012.

"This is great news for the City of Long Beach," said Kevin Wattier, General Manager for the Long Beach Water Department.  "The extension will allow us to conduct further valuable research on both the cost and effectiveness of under ocean floor intake and discharge technology as part of an overarching desalinated water supply facility," said Wattier.  

The Long Beach under ocean floor seawater intake and discharge system is a vital component of the Long Beach Desalination Project, an ongoing national research and development partnership between the Long Beach Water Department and the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.  It was built to demonstrate a cost-effective, environmentally responsible alternative to more traditional seawater intake and discharge practices used around the world, which have been criticized for their unintentional, but deadly impacts on ocean habitats and species.  State legislation was introduced earlier this year that would make it illegal in the future to build traditional open-ocean intake systems, further highlighting the need to find alternative, environmentally-friendly seawater intake processes.

The under ocean floor intake system utilizes a natural, biological filtration process, which reduces organic and suspended solids, largely eliminating the need for additional pretreatment, and resulting in a smaller overall energy footprint and cost of operation.  A full-scale, sub-ocean floor intake system, with technology identical to that which the Long Beach Water Department has constructed, has been operational, and successful, at a 25 MGD seawater desalination facility in Japan for the last several years.

"California's water crisis continues to worsen, which makes it imperative that we remain committed to finding alternative, reliable sources of water," said John Allen, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners.  "It's also our responsibility to ensure that any water supply alternative we pursue is an efficient use of taxpayer money and results in no negative impacts to the environment.  We are pleased that the California Coastal Commission recognizes the value of our Under Ocean Floor Seawater Intake Demonstration System project and is permitting us two extra years of research and development at the site," added Allen.    

Photos of the Under Ocean Floor Intake project can be seen HERE

The Long Beach Water Department is an urban, southern California retail water supply agency and the standard in water conservation and environmental stewardship.

It wasn't heated debate, fiery dialogue or hot tempers that stoked the fires of Monday evening's Budget Oversight Committee meeting and City Council budget workshop. It was the air conditioning system, or lack thereof.

Apparently, the AC wasn't turned on for the meetings that began at 5 p.m. and ended close to 8:30 p.m. True, it is unusual for a meeting to take place in the council chambers on a Monday night. The chambers are tall and spacious, and the crowd was small, both of which probably helped the situation. But by night's end, the room was hot, humid and uncomfortable on a day when the high temperature reached 91 degrees in Long Beach. I know I was sweating, and I wasn't one of the city staffers sitting in the hot seat (no pun intended, really) as council members asked them rapid-fire questions about the budget.

Maybe that's why council members Gary DeLong and Patrick O'Donnell disappeared midway through the 6 p.m. workshop (both are part of the Budget Oversight Committee and had been there since 5 p.m.). Councilman Dee Andrews disappeared later as well, as did Mayor Bob Foster, ironically just shortly after he responded to Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, who had been complaining about the members being absent during an important budget meeting. He told there was nothing he could do to make people stay, and apparently that included himself.

Let's just hope the AC is on tonight, when budget discussions very well could go on for hours. My guess is the meeting could approach midnight. So, a plea to whoever is in charge of that "on" switch at City Hall: Sitting through hours of city budget meetings can seem like hell, but please don't make the room temperature feel like it.