City To Help Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride, Inc. Reduce Pride Festival Fees – The city plans to work with Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride (LBLGP), Inc. on identifying ways to minimize city and state fees for the organization’s annual Pride Festival held each May.
According to the office of 2nd District Councilmember Jeannine Pearce, the fees have risen in the past couple of years. In 2014, the organization paid $139,135, whereas in 2016, fees totaled $181,617. LBLGP garnered $281,694 from the event in 2014, while it lost $96,687 two years later.
To maximize efficiency, the city has requested LBLGP to provide this year’s plans no later than April 1. Councilmembers have directed the city’s special events and economic development departments to work with LBLGP to identify cost saving measures such as parking plans, shorter days and advertising opportunities, and present their recommendations to the council after 45 days. The council also suggested that the LBLGP, Inc. work with the Long Beach City Auditor to establish best practices for the next six months.
The Long Beach City Council also voted on the following items at its March 20 meeting:
Council To Amend Municipal Code To Benefit Prospective Tattoo Artists – The city council voted to declare an ordinance amending Title 21 of the Long Beach Municipal Code, which relates to the regulation of the city’s tattoo parlors. In March 2017, the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Title 21 violated the First Amendment by restricting prospective tattoo artists from setting up shop in Long Beach. The amendment would make it easier for them to work in the city.
City Amends Contracts With Communications Companies To Provide Services – The city council approved contract amendments with Frontier Communications of America, Inc., Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Verizon Wireless to provide local and long-distance telephone and data communications, as well as Internet services, for up to $3,000,000 for one year. Councilmembers also voted to execute a contract with Verizon Business Network Services, Inc. for up to $1,000,000 for additional services.
City Amends A Contract For Civic Center Technology Infrastructure – Councilmembers voted to amend a contract with Plenary Properties Long Beach, LLC, for the purchase and installation of technology infrastructure for the new Long Beach Civic Center, in an amount of up to $7,050,000. They also decided to execute lease-purchase agreements with Banc of America Public Capital Corporation for the financing of this infrastructure, in a total amount of up to $8,476,000.
Los Angeles County Funds To Aid HIV Prevention Services In Long Beach – The city council requested the city manager to execute an agreement with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to accept up to $3,189,860 for HIV prevention services through December 21, 2022.
City To Apply for Grant To Complete Park Project – Councilmembers voted to apply for a grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Land and Water Conservation Fund Program, for up to $3,000,000 to complete the Davenport Park Sports Field and Recreation project.
New Partnership Aims To Cut Down On Bike Theft – Due to the prevalence of bike theft, the council requested the city manager to partner with 529 Garage, a bike registration program, to develop a free, voluntary program in Long Beach as well as an education campaign to inform residents of the benefits of registering bicycles.
Ordinance To Restrict Access To Street Medians – Due to safety concerns, councilmembers requested city staff to draft an ordinance banning pedestrian access to medians that are less than four feet wide or are located on streets with a speed limit of at least 35 miles per hour.
Municipal Code Amendments To Designate Two Signs As Historic Landmarks – The city council voted to amend the Long Beach Municipal code to designate two historic landmarks: the Fly DC Jets sign located at 3860 N. Lakewood Blvd. and the VIP Records sign originally located at 1014 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Long Beach Taco Company To Add Outdoor Dining – Councilmembers requested the city manager to grant Long Beach Taco Company, 442 E. 1st St., a permit for outdoor dining.
The city council voted on the following items at its March 13 meeting:
Contract Amount For Long Beach Civic Center Consulting Services Increased – The city council voted to amend a contract with Arup North America Limited to provide technology and engineering consulting services for the new Long Beach Civic Center, as well as a needs assessment for the parking facility. The amendment will increase the amount by $2,102,000 for a revised total of up to $10,201,733.
Council Grants Approval Of Surplus Fund Expenditure – The city council recommended the approval of budget appropriation adjustments to make use of surplus funds in the General Fund and the Tidelands Operations Fund from fiscal year 2017. Some of the recommended uses include appropriating $150,000 to assess the seismic conditions at the Community Medical Center Long Beach site and $15,000 for the winter homeless shelter. A surplus is also available due to funds from the Measure A tax increase.
Council Approved Impact Fee Reports – The city council voted to adopt a resolution approving the reports for the Transportation Improvement Fee, Parks and Recreation Facilities Fee, the Fire Facilities Impact Fee and Police Facilities Impact Fee. The fee expenditures totaled $1,257,363 for fiscal year 2017. A few of the expenditures included the Citywide Traffic Mitigation Program and upgrades for the fire department’s fire alerting system.
Long Beach Bike Share Program To Expand – Councilmembers voted to purchase bicycles, station racks and associated equipment from Social Bicycles, Inc. of Brooklyn, New York, to expand the Long Beach Bike Share program, for an amount of up to $1,000,000 for a three-year period. The council also decided to increase appropriations in the Transportation Fund in the public works department by $1,000,000.
Councilmembers Approve Purchase Of Personal Computers – The council voted to request the city manager to execute a previously approved agreement with Dell Marketing, LP for the purchase of personal computers, in an amount of up to $1,522,000. To finance the computers, councilmembers approved a lease-purchase agreement with Banc of America Public Capital Corporation for up to $1,654,000. The city council also voted to increase appropriations in the General Services Fund in the technology and innovation department by $1,200,000.
Contract Amount Increased For Climate Action And Adaptation Plan – Councilmembers voted to amend a contract with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for the preparation of a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, to increase the amount by $313,464 for a total of up to $727,141 for an additional year through January 2020.
Development Services Presents Update On Affordable Housing Recommendations – Councilmembers received a presentation on the progress of 29 policy recommendations the council adopted in May 2017 to increase the production of affordable housing. Some ongoing initiatives include housing preservation, the use of project-based vouchers and waiving development impact fees for affordable housing. According to the presentation, 1,376 at-risk units were preserved since 2014. Vouchers were recently awarded to The Beacon Apartments, Las Ventanas Apartments and The Spark at Midtown. Some complexes that received fee waivers recently include Immanuel Place, Anchor Place, The Beacon and The Spark at Midtown.
Vote Concerning Wireless Telecommunications Facilities Laid Over To April 17 – Councilmembers rescheduled the vote to amend the Long Beach Municipal Code to transfer departmental responsibility regarding wireless telecommunications facilities in the public right-of-way. The item was moved to April 17. It also calls for a vote authorizing the city manager to execute license agreements with wireless telecommunications providers to use city-owned property for their facilities.