2:30pm | We thought we might try something a bit different for today’s CityBeat. Instead of one of my long analysis articles on one or two items, we though we might try doing a shorter round-up of some of the items that came before the City Council this week. If you prefer this format, let us know in the comments or by sending me an email directly at keith@lbpost.com.

There were 29 items on the Council agenda this week. Twelve of these items were simple “receive and file” actions for such things as minutes of the previous meetings, an overview of a trip to a Washington, D.C. conference, four alcohol licenses for local businesses, etc. One item, a public hearing regarding Council denying Cabe Toyota a permit for an electronic freeway sign like the Cal Worthington sign off the I-405, was withdrawn.

As many of you know, the Council agenda is typically broken up into five main sections: public hearings, the consent agenda, the regular agenda, ordinances and new business.

The single public hearing for this week was on a request by residents on Parkcrest Street adjacent to Heartwell Park (between Bellflower Boulevard and Woodruff Avenue), for a preferential parking designation. The Parkcrest residents complain that overflow parking during sporting events at the park fill their streets. A City study found that during peak times all of the available street parking within five-blocks of Parkcrest were filled and 86 percent of the vehicles were not registered to residents of the neighborhood.

The residents requested that street parking in the five-block area should be limited to one-hour from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, except holidays. A city-conducted survey found that 83 percent of residents within two blocks of and including Parkcrest Street were in favor of the restrictions. However, only 52 percent of the residents within and including Parkcrest Street approved of the restrictions.

Despite only the two-block area meeting the two-third resident approval threshold to enact parking restriction, the Council approved the motion to establish the five-block parking restrictions by an 8-0 vote. Council member Gary DeLong was absent from the meeting.

Moving on, the Council approved all eight items on the consent agenda with a single vote and without discussion. Other than “receive and file” items, these included:  a $50,000 contract to continue providing free vessel pumpout and dump stations to marina customers and the boating community; approval of a one year contract with the Los Angeles County Probation to provide the city with a full-time Deputy Probation Officer for gang crime suppression services in an amount of $145,000 (plus an option for two one-year renewals); and, a resolution to vacate the alley east of Temple Avenue and Fourteenth Street and set a public hearing date on the vacation for July 6.

During the regular agenda, the Council first approve a motion allowing them to cancel the June 8 City Council meeting, due to the General Municipal Election.

The Council also unanimously approved a motion to review a proposal calling for charging “nuisances properties” additional fees for excessive police or other city services. The idea behind the proposal, brought forth by the Citizens for a Better Long Beach advocacy group, is that a small percentage of “nuisance properties” may be consuming a large percentage of law enforcement and other civic services and the city should explore how to recoup these costs. The Council wants city management, the City Attorney and the City Prosecutor to study how other city’s have handled such an issue and report back.     

Also approved unanimously was a one-year $160,000 contract with Long Beach-based Harbor Diesel and Equipment to provide Cummins brand vehicle parts and services for the city fleet.

Plans and specification for a project to place utilities underground along portion of The Toledo were also approved unanimously, as well as a $744,200 contract with the Hood Corporation to perform the work.

Lastly, the Council members approved a motion allowing the city to enter into an agreement with the Long Beach Community Foundation for a period of three years to help restore public access television to Long Beach. The city will provide Public, Education, and Government Funds already reserved for Public Access television as a one-to-one match to secure operational funding, up to $200,000 a year, from the Knight Foundation. Since the Knight Foundation funds — part of the foundation’s overall $24 million national grant program for community media — were only available to community foundations, the city chose to partner with LBCF on this project.

During the ordinances portion of the agenda, Council members agreed to consider possible changes to the Municipal Code relating to Dog and Cat Licensing and Rabies Control read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading.

The members also approved an ordinance establishing a temporary 120-day moratorium on the approval of permits for the installation of cell phone and telecommunication facilities (most notable towers). Part of the ordinance reads: “There is a current and immediate threat to public health, safety and welfare because, without this urgency ordinance, Wireless Facilities could be installed, constructed or modified in the City without conforming to the City’s full intention to protect residential neighborhoods and the City’s urban design and minimize disruption to residential neighborhoods and other land uses caused by the proliferation of Wireless Facilities.” The Council plans to take the time to study existing city regulations governing wireless facilities and possibly modify them.

Lastly, the Council approved a motion regarding the city towing services. City Hall is currently advertising a Request for Proposal for firms to provide the city’s towing, which is a major revenue generating for the city as part of the city’s parking enforcement. The approved motion calls for city staff to study how other cities are providing similar services in order to determine how Long Beach might maximize its investment.

And there you have it — just about all the content of the 2 hours and 50 minute Council meeting this week.

Again, if you prefer this type of format in covering the City Council meetings, let us know.

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