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Politics & Government

How to Spend $18 Million in Oil Surplus Funds?

Third district Council member Gary DeLong met with residents at the monthly Thursday Belmont Shore Residents Assn. meeting to determine how his district could use the excess funds.

Council member Gary DeLong spokes at the monthly Thursday Belmont Shore Residents Assn. meeting about how to spend an unexpected $18 million in Tidelands funds. By law, the money must be spent in coastal Long Beach.

In the Bay Shore Library meeting, DeLong presented to about 20 people a plan of how the significant oil surplus could be used in the publicly-owned property along the coast.  DeLong plans to direct the funds towards upgrading beach restrooms, repaving parking lots, restoring the bluff, and cleaning and retrofitting storm drains.  In discussing maintenance of structures that have deteriorated, like the Belmont Pool parking lot, DeLong said, “we have an impetus to fix those things.”

DeLong also pushed for replacing the Leeway Sailing Center with a new facility.  He said he feels it is important to replace the Center because it is in a dilapidated condition and it lacks space.  “We anticipate funding for the new facility next year but we have allocated some of the money for the design of the new facility,” DeLong said.

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He will also be continuing investment in the Long Beach Convention Center because it offers a lot of revenue through tourism.  Investment in the convention center also proves to be beneficial to the Shore's 3rd district because “we need appropriate entertainment space,” DeLong said.

DeLong said he will also be more proactive by funding liabilities such as the water main and the oil pumps.  He believes it is imperative to have reserves set aside for these liabilities should either system fail, but it was not clear how much reserve currently exists. “When the oil pumps stop pumping, we need to remediate that land and it’ll be costly to do it. We’re going to make sure that there’s always money on hand,” DeLong said.

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He concluded his plan by looking to the community for input.  “We’re interested in hearing from the community about things that aren’t on the list that should be on the list,” DeLong said.

One person asked about a beach wall that he'd like to see torn down, but DeLong doesn't think he'd be able to tear it down. Another person asked about when the Belmont Pool would be earthquake safe and DeLong agreed it was "seismically challenged" because of the roof and he'd work towards getting it earthquake safe. Ideas from the public were welcomed.

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