Business owners, employees and residents have a chance to provide input on the prospect of raising the minimum wage in Long Beach through a citywide policy just prior to a long-awaited study on the subject is expected to be released.

 

The Long Beach City Council’s three-member economic development and finance committee is hearing public testimony on the potential of a city-mandated minimum wage policy at its meeting this Thursday, October 29, 7:30 a.m., Long Beach City College.

 

Serving on the committee are: 5th District Councilmember Stacy Mungo, the chair; 3rd District Councilmember Suzie Price, vice chair; and 7th District Councilmember Roberto Uranga, member.

 

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) is expected to release a study to the public sometime in November on the feasibility and potential impacts of a minimum wage policy in Long Beach.

 

The city council voted on September 15 to commission the LAEDC to conduct the study, which will consider the feasibility of such a city policy along with possible incentives or exemptions that would help certain employers comply.

 

The scope of work the LAEDC was commissioned to conduct includes: providing literature on best practices of municipalities that have passed minimum wage laws; describing the economic environment and socioeconomic characteristics of Long Beach; explaining the dynamics of the city within the region; and conducting a random sample survey of 600 businesses.

 

While no minimum wage proposal has been brought forward, city officials have agreed to study the issue after a wave of large municipalities, including the City of Los Angeles, across the state and the country have passed minimum wage policies. The City of Los Angeles passed an ordinance earlier this year requiring its minimum wage be increased to $15 an hour incrementally between 2016 and 2020.

 

Mungo told the Business Journal that the city is working hard to receive as many comments from residents and community members as possible in hopes of addressing any considerations that need to be made if a minimum wage policy is brought forward.

 

The meeting was conducted early in the morning to give employees and business owners the best chance to provide input before going to work. Ultimately, all comments and opinions will be brought together in a formal document for consideration.

 

After the LAEDC study is released next month, three more public meetings will be held: November 17, noon, Admiral Kidd Park, 2125 Santa Fe Ave.; November 20, 4 p.m., Bay Shore Neighborhood Library at 195 Bay Shore Ave.; and November 24, 6:30 p.m., at city hall.