Long Beach council approves series of purchase agreements, settlement and schedules capital-financing hearing

The Long Beach City Council on July 15 approved a block of agenda items that included contracting authorizations for routine supplies and services, a settlement of pending litigation and publication of a notice for a capital-projects financing hearing.

The council voted unanimously by those present — Council members Lester and Reinhart, Vice President Fiamara and President Finn — to move and adopt the remaining items on the consent/regular calendar. Council member John Bendo was recorded absent. The block vote covered a one-year agreement for fire-department dispatch infrastructure, supply contracts for concrete and aluminum sulfate, an agreement for mandated firefighter physicals, settlement of a city lawsuit and the publication of a financing ordinance notice with a public hearing set for Aug. 5 at 7 p.m.

City staff said the agreement for fire dispatch and paging network infrastructure will be with Island Tech Services under an existing state contract; staff said the vendor has worked with the city for many years and that the contract will cost $900 less than last year. The council packet described this as a service the city lacks the internal capacity to run.

Public Works staff presented a single-year purchase order for supply, transport and delivery of concrete. Bids were solicited from 112 vendors; two bids were received and Universal Ready Mix was the low, responsible bidder. Staff said the contract will cover various mixes used by the city; the packet and staff remarks noted a modest increase in prices and a roughly $15 premium for winter concrete due to an additive that improves cold-weather curing.

A separate resolution authorized the city manager to enter into an agreement with Island Occupational Medical Resources (IOMR) of Amityville to provide OSHA- and PESH-mandated annual physical examinations for fire department personnel, including interior and exterior firefighters and EMS personnel. Staff told the council the total contract amount is based on an updated count and average exam cost; the request cited roughly $45,000 to cover approximately 45 members, with the per-exam average presented in discussion at about $250 (higher for members over 40 who receive additional screening). Staff emphasized the exams are required and that earlier screenings had identified medical conditions in members.

The council also authorized the purchase of aluminum sulfate for the municipal water purification plant. Public Works reported Chemtrade Chemical was the low bidder, the same supplier used last year. Staff said the price rose by about $0.16 per gallon and that the city uses roughly 48,000 gallons of the product annually, which staff estimated would increase annual expense by about $7,700 compared with last year.

Corporation Counsel briefed the council on a negotiated settlement with Impressive Auto Body Inc.; the proposed resolution authorizes a $50,000 payment to the city to resolve active litigation. Counsel reminded the council that the matter is active litigation and discussion is limited without an executive session.

Finally, the council authorized publication for hearing of an ordinance to finance various city capital projects with an estimated total cost of $25,993,400; the hearing was set for Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. The item was published for notice only at this meeting.

No individual roll-call record for each separate item was read aloud during the meeting; the motion to block-vote and adoption was recorded by voice responses from the four members present who voted yes. The council took no additional substantive amendments to these items during public discussion.

Votes at a glance

- Item 1 — IT services for fire dispatch/paging (Island Tech Services): approved (state contract; staff said $900 less than last year). - Item 3 — Supply, transport and delivery of concrete (Universal Ready Mix): approved (two bids received; winter mix carries an additive premium of about $15 per unit). - Item 4 — Annual firefighter physicals (Island Occupational Medical Resources): approved (staff said updated count requires approximately $45,000 to cover interior/exterior/EMS personnel; per-exam average ~ $250). - Item 5 — Aluminum sulfate for water purification (Chemtrade Chemical): approved (price up ~$0.16/gal; estimated additional cost ~$7,700 annually; city uses ~48,000 gallons). - Item 6 — Settlement of litigation with Impressive Auto Body Inc.: approved ($50,000 payment to city; item noted as active litigation). - Item 7 — Publication for hearing of ordinance to finance capital projects (estimated $25,993,400): approved for publication; public hearing scheduled Aug. 5 at 7 p.m.

What happened next

The council proceeded to close the meeting for personnel matters and to continue the agenda. Staff did not request further public hearings for these individual procurement items beyond the published capital-financing hearing date.

Details and context

Staff noted that several of the procurement items used state contracts or had long-standing vendor relationships. For the water-plant chemical purchase, staff confirmed the city treats water with three chemicals (chlorine, lime and aluminum sulfate) and explained aluminum sulfate helps coagulate particles so sand filters capture them more effectively. For firefighter physicals, staff said examinations helped identify health issues in members and that both career and volunteer personnel are covered under the program.

The meeting record shows no separate amendments to the resolutions and no votes recorded contrary to the block vote; a single consolidated adoption was recorded by voice votes of members present.

Ending

City staff will implement the contracts and report back as required by city purchasing rules. The council will hold a public hearing on the capital-projects financing ordinance at 7 p.m. on Aug. 5. Several items noted cost increases tied to market prices or fuller accounting of eligible personnel.