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Council approves multiple routine contracts, a rehire exception and an oversight pay increase
Summary
At its April 7 meeting the Long Beach City Council approved a temporary rehiring exception for a retired police administrative officer, a stop‑loss insurance contract, a $60M street‑repair contract authorization, a cannabis‑special‑events ordinance, a permanent taxicab program ordinance, and a merit pay increase for the director of police oversight.
The Long Beach City Council approved several routine but consequential items on April 7.
Personnel: The council authorized an exception to the 180‑day rehire waiting period to allow the temporary, part‑time reemployment of Julie Bedard in the Police Department to support a leadership transition. The appointment was limited to a maximum of 960 hours in the fiscal year and the cost (approximately $66,000) was to be covered within existing police appropriations.
Benefits and risk management: The council authorized execution of a stop‑loss reinsurance agreement with Evolution Risk at an estimated cost of $3,193,000 to maintain current healthcare benefit levels and compliance with state and federal requirements.
Procurement and contracts: Public Works received council approval to award an as‑needed local street‑improvement contract to All American Asphalt with a not‑to‑exceed amount of $60,000,000, and the council adopted an ordinance amending municipal code provisions to implement a permanent taxicab program.
Regulation: The council read and adopted an ordinance adding Division 13 to Chapter 5.92 to regulate cannabis special events citywide; councilmembers noted the public‑use provisions and asked staff to monitor private‑property aspects.
Police oversight salary: The council approved a 7% merit increase to the annual base salary of the Director of Police Oversight, effective Oct. 4, 2025, and a $3,000 one‑time performance payment; some public commenters questioned the timing and urged stronger police‑accountability actions.
All motions carried and no item on this slate was tabled. Several public commenters used their allotted time to raise concerns about policing, city priorities and contract transparency; councilmembers said many of these matters would be addressed in committee or a future staff report.
