Long Beach council approves series of routine measures; pier concession, towing and property actions among votes

The Long Beach City Council approved a package of routine resolutions and a pair of separately considered items during its June 17 meeting, including a five-year concession agreement for bait-and-tackle on the municipal pier and an agreement to list a replaced ladder truck for sale.

By block vote the council approved items described in the agenda as: (1) a technical correction to a memorandum of agreement with the Long Beach Civil Service Employees Association addressing how out-of-title pay information is listed; (2) appointment of Amanda Hall as a second marriage officer for a four-year term; (3) an award of a towing and storage contract to All County Towing (three-year term with two optional three-year extensions); (4) acceptance and disposal of real property received in lieu of tax forfeiture at 61 East Fulton Street; (5) authorization to settle tax-certiorari or related proceedings involving Long Beach Shopping LLC for property at 214–226 East Park Avenue; and (8) a budget amendment to the capital projects fund to account for FEMA reimbursements. The block motion passed 5–0: Council member Bridal Yes; Council member Lester Yes; Council member Reinhart Yes; Vice President Miyamura Yes; President Finn Yes.

Separately, the council considered item 6, a five-year concession agreement with City and Fish Long Island LLC to operate the bait-and-tackle concession at the municipal pier. The contract keeps year 1 rates steady and provides 3% increases each subsequent year. The council approved that item with a roll-call vote (Bando Yes; Lester No; Reinhart Yes; Vice President Villamora Yes; President Finn Yes).

Item 7 — a professional services agreement to list and market a replaced ladder truck through a third-party auction platform — also passed after discussion. Councilors discussed reserve pricing and the council's control over final sale terms; the resolution authorizes the use of a listing and marketing service but does not publish a reserve price. Vote: Bendel Yes; Lester No; Reinhart Yes; Vice President Fehmara Yes; President Finn Yes.

Council members and staff clarified details on several items during the meeting. Staff said towing award is to All County Towing as the higher-reimbursing proposer and that the towing contract term is three years with two optional three-year extensions. On the tax settlement for Long Beach Shopping LLC staff declined to discuss particulars, citing pending litigation, but said the property currently yields about $16,000 a year in taxes and that settlements often resolve past and future tax liability and any refund amounts.

Public commenters included Sean O'Neil of CSEA, who thanked council members and staff for correcting the civil-service agreement language. No substantive policy changes beyond the listed resolutions were taken at the meeting.