Long Beach Council approves series of ordinances, grant and permits in final 2024 meeting

At its Dec. 17 meeting the Long Beach City Council approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and permits covering policing policy, parks funding, zoning changes and other municipal business.

Key actions at a glance: - Military equipment policy (AB 481): The council adopted an ordinance creating the 2024 Military Equipment Special Order for the Long Beach Police Department to set funding, acquisition, use and reporting requirements as mandated by Assembly Bill 481. The ordinance was read and adopted on second reading.

- Davenport Park grant: The council accepted and authorized expenditure of up to $3,656,000 in Land and Water Conservation Fund grant funding from the California Department of Parks and Recreation for the Davenport Park Expansion Project (District 8).

- Willow Springs Park dedication and zoning: The council adopted ordinances dedicating parcel A of Willow Springs Park in perpetuity for park uses and amended municipal code tables and zoning maps to change a portion of parcel A from medium industrial to park zoning (Districts 1 and 5).

- Fairmont Breakers entertainment permit: The council granted an entertainment-with-dancing permit for the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach hotel (210 East Ocean Boulevard) with conditions limiting outdoor amplified sound and specifying hours for indoor and outdoor entertainment. The permit takes effect immediately.

- Sidewalk vending and parking code changes: The council adopted amendments clarifying sidewalk vending is a permitted use in parks districts and approved amendments to municipal parking requirements and related findings citywide.

- Transaction and use tax emergency ordinance: Council approved an ordinance amending the municipal code to align the citys transaction and use tax administration with language from Los Angeles County Measure A; the ordinance was adopted as an emergency measure.

- Budget and administrative items: The council approved fourth, third and final departmental and fund budget appropriation adjustments for fiscal year 2024-20 (citywide) and approved a resolution amending the MOU with the Long Beach City Prosecutors Association (20232026) to add two new classifications, chief gang prosecutor and chief violent crimes prosecutor, with a correction to the council letter clarifying which titlesalary range change was intended.

Several city staff members presented the items in staff reports. Julian Cernuta of Economic Development spoke about the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area annual report; Junie Salcedo from Financial Management presented the Fairmont Breakers entertainment permit; an assistant city treasurer corrected administrative language in the community facilities district annual reports.

Votes and outcomes: where the transcript records roll calls the items were adopted or motions carried; multiple second readings were adopted with no further debate and were recorded as "motion is carried." Detailed roll-call tallies were not read into the transcript for each item; the meeting minutes will contain the official vote tallies.

Why it matters: the AB 481 military equipment policy changes how Long Beach documents and reports certain police equipment and acquisitions. The Davenport Park grant adds over $3.6 million for park expansion in District 8. Zoning and park dedications for Willow Springs Park permanently set aside parkland and clear a path for park development and public use.

No items were tabled during the session; several items (consent calendar) were approved in bulk with items 8 and 15 pulled for brief staff corrections and votes.