Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mlk Center Lease topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reconsiders and approves new lease with MLK Center, Inc.
Summary
After a motion to reconsider, the Long Beach City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter a new lease with MLK Center, Inc., resolving a dispute that had delayed center programs.
The Long Beach City Council voted to reconsider a prior tally and then approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter a new lease agreement between the City of Long Beach and MLK Center, Inc.
The action followed a motion to reconsider the council's earlier vote on item No. 5. After the procedural motion was seconded, the council moved directly to adopt the underlying resolution. Council members Bendo, Lester, Reinhart, Bridal and President Finn voted yes; no no votes or abstentions were recorded on the record during the roll call. Upon reconsideration, the council declared the item passed with a supermajority.
Council discussion before the vote touched on legal concerns raised about a reported $1 rent term in an earlier draft of the lease and on a severability clause in the agreement. One speaker said the $1 provision "is not legal," but noted the lease contains a clause allowing an invalid provision to be severed so the remainder of the lease could remain in force. That speaker also said some programs have been held up while the lease status was unresolved; the speaker stated a preference not to be the single vote blocking the center's lease.
Public commenters who addressed the lease during the meeting praised the council's action. James Hodge, a Long Beach resident and former MLK Center board member, said the community had long sought a lease for the center and thanked the council for the vote, saying the center "will be taken out of eviction court" and noting he would review details sent shortly before the meeting. Council remarks after the vote thanked MLK Center representatives Sheena and Marsha for their efforts and noted optimism about the center's programs and benefits for North Park Avenue.
The council's resolution authorizes the city manager to execute the new lease agreement between the city and MLK Center, Inc. The record as presented at the meeting did not specify the lease term, the rent schedule, or whether the agreement included other material changes from the previously considered draft. The council directed no further action on the floor beyond adoption.
Votes at a glance - Motion to reconsider item No. 5: moved and seconded (mover/second not specified on the record); roll-call votes recorded for reconsideration: Bendo (yes), Lester (yes), Reinhart (yes), President Finn (yes). Motion to reconsider carried. - Resolution authorizing city manager to enter new lease agreement with MLK Center, Inc. (item No. 5): adopted on reconsideration. Recorded yes votes: Bridal (yes), Lester (yes), Reinhart (yes), Bendo (yes), President Finn (yes). Outcome: approved.
The council proceeded to other agenda items after adoption. The meeting record did not include a printed copy of the final lease attached to the motion on the public record; council members said some final details had been circulated to them shortly before the meeting.
