Long Beach council approves grants and contracts, hears police briefing on trespass and unlawful lodging

The Long Beach City Council on Jan. 21 reported three closed‑session settlements, approved grants and contracts affecting climate, airport security and graffiti removal, and heard a police briefing on how officers respond to trespassing and unlawful lodging.

The council reported it agreed to settle three lawsuits in closed session: Dolly v. City of Long Beach for $495,000; Bellamy v. City of Long Beach for $175,000; and Welch v. City of Long Beach for $300,000. The mayor’s staff announced the settlements at the start of the public meeting.

In regular business the council approved an agreement to accept $100,000 administered by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors for the Climate LB microgrant program. Fern Bueno of the city manager’s office told the council the Climate LB microgrant program is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund and funds youth‑led projects focused on equity and environmental justice in West Long Beach. “The projects that can be proposed must be from youth serving organizations and projects led by youth,” Bueno said; she listed eligible categories including reforestation, urban greening, climate…