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 education, climate ambassador programs and public art and awareness campaigns.

The council also authorized amendments and awards to city vendor contracts. Long Beach Airport will amend its contract with Convergent Technologies for maintenance, repair, support and security‑system improvements at a revised contract amount not to exceed $3,594,013. The council awarded a citywide contract for graffiti removal services with a total annual amount not to exceed $1,983,450. Both contract items were approved by motion; the council recorded the motions as carried during the meeting record.

Councilmembers approved a package of grant applications to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. The staff recommendation authorized submission of three applications: $453,000 for the Drake Chavez Connection project, $4,000,000 for the Willow Springs Trailhead project and $4,993,650 for the San Gabriel Rivers Trail Westside Enhancement Phase 2 project. Staff told the council that, if awarded, the city would accept grant funds in an amount the staff recorded on the agenda (as presented at the meeting).

Two agenda items that were scheduled for public hearings — an entertainment permit and a separate permit for a food and beverage service provider — were withdrawn from the agenda at the presenters’ request; council members voted to withdraw those items.

The Long Beach Police Department delivered a staff presentation on how officers respond to calls involving trespassing and occupying abandoned properties. Bureau Chief Ruby Marin Jordan and Police Chief Wally Hebeisch described the difference between criminal trespass and unlawful lodging under California law, and explained how enforcement interacts with property owners. The presentation cited California Penal Code Section 647(e) (unlawful lodging) and discussed a local “602” no‑trespass registration program implemented under Penal Code guidance. Staff said the 602 registration form is valid for one year and allows officers to warn, cite or remove persons unlawfully occupying a registered location without requiring an owner to be physically present for each incident; the department said it intends to co‑host an event with the city prosecutor’s office in February 2025 to help property owners enroll in the program.

Councilmembers asked questions about how officers handle reports from owners who live out of state and about whether the 602 program covers commercial and residential properties; staff replied that the response depends on circumstances and that both homeowner‑occupied and commercial properties are eligible to enroll in the no‑trespass program. Council members said they want outreach to inform property owners, particularly those with vacant buildings, about enrollment in the program.

The meeting included multiple public commenters who raised housing and tenant concerns, including opposition to what they described as evictions tied to “substantial remodels,” and requests that the council review relocation compensation levels. Speakers urged higher relocation payments and expressed worry about displacement of long‑term residents; those comments were part of general public comment and did not result in council action during the meeting.

All motions taken on consent items and the listed contracts and grants were recorded in the meeting minutes as carried; the council did not publish individual roll‑call tallies for those motions during the public record of the meeting.