Votes at a glance: City council adopts block‑vote measures and approves 50 Broadway settlement

The Long Beach City Council on March 18 approved a set of routine resolutions in a block vote and separately adopted a contested settlement agreement related to construction at 50 Broadway.

Block‑vote items: The council used a block vote to adopt items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Those items included: - Item 1: Resolution accepting a donation of funds for the Magnolia Center senior programs (donor: Harvey Wiesenberg) and authorizing a budget amendment to the general fund budget to create the budget line. (Approved as part of block vote.) - Item 2: Resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with the selected parking management consultant (Desmond and subconsultants) for a parking management plan and study funded in part by a state grant. (Approved as part of block vote.) - Item 3: Resolution authorizing the city manager to purchase sodium bisulfate for the water pollution control plant from the lowest responsible bidder (sole bidder: Tortorella Autochem Court). Staff noted the city solicited other chemical suppliers; a sole bid was returned and staff contacted a county supplier to confirm low interest because local quantities were small. (Approved as part of block vote.) - Item 5: Resolution retaining the New York State Industries for the Disabled (via Siri Systems) for records imaging services to scan long‑term and permanent records under a FEMA Sandy grant (approx. 1,100,000 images). (Approved as part of block vote.) - Item 6: Resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a temporary access agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for beach erosion surveys to support future beach replenishment work. Staff said the agreement allows DEC survey access and will be coordinated to limit impacts during the summer season. (Approved as part of block vote.)

All block items were approved by voice roll call when the council adopted the block; recorded voting showed the motion to block‑vote and adopt items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 carried unanimously.

Contested item (Item 4): The council separately debated and then approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a community benefit bonuses and settlement agreement with the 50 Broadway entities. That vote produced at least one recorded no vote and one abstention; staff reported the settlement secures $200,000 in community benefits in exchange for allowing the as‑built one‑story covered parking to remain. The related enforcement matter remains active in Long Beach City Court.

Summary of formal outcomes recorded in meeting discussion and roll call: - Items 1, 2, 3, 5, 6: Approved via block vote (voice/roll call) — unanimous recorded on the block vote. - Item 4: Resolution authorizing execution of the 50 Broadway community benefit and settlement agreement — adopted (majority in favor; at least one 'no' vote and one abstention recorded).