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Council rescinds port custodial contract after state labor investigation
Summary
The Los Angeles City Council asserted jurisdiction over a Harbor Commission contract with Metro Building Maintenance and voted to reject the award after receiving notice the firm is under investigation by the California State Labor Commission for alleged overtime violations.
The Los Angeles City Council on an emergency motion asserted jurisdiction over a Board of Harbor Commissioners contract and voted to reject a one-year custodial services contract with Metro Building Maintenance that included a one-year renewal option.
Councilmember Glanter moved to assert jurisdiction and to reject the Harbor Commission recommendation after last-week information indicated the winning firm was under investigation. Councilmember Weingard told the council that "the firm is under investigation by the California State Labor Commission for business practices which are in violation of the overtime laws," and urged immediate action so the port could select another vendor.
Port staff confirmed the council had received late information about the investigation and said employees were temporarily covering work while the board prepares to act again. Councilmembers discussed two procedural options: assert jurisdiction and hold the contract in limbo or assert jurisdiction and reject the contract immediately so the port could seek another vendor. The council voted to reject the award and to assert jurisdiction; the roll call recorded 11 ayes.
Councilmembers said the rejection would allow the port to re-solicit or select another provider and avoid finalizing a contract while the investigation proceeds. Council members also noted the board had itself requested the council's intervention once it learned of the new information.
The action does not itself determine the outcome of the state investigation, and port staff said they would return to the board on March 15 with next steps. The council's vote immediately removed the threatened contract from proceeding to finalization.
Votes at a glance: Council voted to assert jurisdiction and reject the Board of Harbor Commissioners' recommended award to Metro Building Maintenance; roll call: 11 ayes.
Context: The Board of Harbor Commissioners had awarded a one-year custodial contract with a one-year renewal option on Feb. 23. The California State Labor Commission investigation was cited as new information supporting council intervention. Port staff said current city workers are covering services on an interim basis.
