Long Beach Public Safety to be a Hot Topic Tonight

The debate around public safety funds is expected to continue at Tuesday night's City Council meeting in Long Beach.

Last week, several residents spoke with great concern about the cuts by the city of police officers and funding towards the safety of the general public. Residents seemed to be in total agreement — more officers are needed, not less. 

The cuts were a part of 2012 budget that was pushed through Sept. 6 and saw $20.3 million in reductions. They include most prominently cuts that both the police and fire departmetns saw — 32 sworn police officer positions and a proposal to shrink crews on city fire engines from four firefighters to three.

Another likely hot topic at today's meeting will be a proposed contract between the city of Long Beach and its police union, which is said to help officials dig out of financial hole in which they find themselves.

The new deal, which the council will consider, would increase police officers pay by 8% on Oct. 1, but the officers would forgo contractually planned raises of 3% in 2014 and 6% in 2014, according to city officials.

Officers would also have to increase their pension contributions from 2% of their salary to the full 9%— a 7% increase. And instead of receiving 3 percent of their salary for each year of service upon retirement, as current officers do, new police officers would get 2 percent for each year on the job.

If approved, the city would have to pay an extra $2.575 million in the coming fiscal year because of the pay raise and to avoid layoffs. It is estimated that Long Beach would save at least $16.6 million through fiscal year 2016 — and over the next 11 years, the city would save about $69 million. 

The council is expected to vote on the agreement Tuesday, and John Gross, Long Beach's director of financial management, said the plan would “significantly help” close the estimated $40.3 million budget shortfall through 2014.

Also, on Tuesday, the council is set to approve the finalization of the repairs of Broadway Avenue between Termino Avenue and Livingston Street — half of the project was completed this past year, and the improvements on the other half should be underway soon. 

The Budget Oversight Committee, on which Belmont Shore's representative, Gary DeLong, sits, will also be recommending to the council to approve a Prop L analysis. This analysis would initiate a review of all potential impacts of bidding out on an item, in this case, towing services.