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Long Beach City Council Votes To Share Cost Of Breakwater Feasibility Study by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 06.23.10 |
+  8:15pm | The Long Beach City Council has voted unanimously (8-0, Schipske absent) to enter into a cost-sharing agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with a Feasibility Study into possible options for reconfiguring the Long Beach breakwater with the goals of improving the marine habitat, water quality along the shore and in the Los Angeles River, and providing an economic boost without damaging residential or industrial property. The City of Long Beach and Army Corps of Engineers will be equally responsible for the cost of the $8 million study. Many funding possibilities were discussed and will be pursued by City Management such as providing in-kind services (such as geotechnical studies, socioeconomic studies, real estate analysis, coordinating public involvement and more) and requesting grant funds as well as one-time money from the Port of Long Beach as well as money from the Tidelands Fund. The move was the necessary next step in determining the best course of action for possibly altering the breakwater. The study will take an estimated four years to complete, with the goal of producing options for construction that could take several additional years and cost between tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. The City would be responsible for 30-percent of that cost when - if? - the time comes. The study will not begin until Federal appropriations are handed down, which could be delayed due to this year's slow-moving budget process. Long Beach Government Affairs Advisor Tom Modica said tonight that it's possible the Federal Government will not provide the funding to the Army Corps of Engineers until January of 2011. Councilmember Patrick O'Donnell, who introduced the approved motion, released the following statement: "Tonight, I am proud to say that the Council took a historic step towards the restoration of our shore. The Council’s decision to direct the City Manager to enter into a Federal Cost-Share Agreement with the Army Corps for the Long Beach Breakwater Feasibility Study is a win-win for our residents and the region. We are one step closer to cleaner water, a more vital economy, and increased recreational opportunities." Councilmember Robert Garcia released the following statement: "Long Beach took a bold and courageous step forward by supporting and funding the breakwater feasibility study. We now have a historic opportunity to remake our shoreline and bring waves and clean water back to our city. As we move forward, we will ensure that the study fully looks at protection of our coastal homes and the Port of Long Beach." More details to come... Related Coverage UPDATE: Army Corps Of Engineers Approves Interest In Breakwater Feasibility Study O'Donnell Offers Surfing Lesson To Chamber CEO After Breakwater Statement Councilmembers Take Sides On Breakwater Issue Long Beach Chamber Opposes Funding Breakwater Study Follow the LBPOST.com on our Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages. Click here to read our policy on covering the Long Beach City Council.
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38 Comments so far.
Matt Kinley Total waste of money. Total lack of understanding that we are running out of money. Capster Wow - that was nearly painless...what the heck happened? I love it! Judy C. Good decision! Can't wait to see how everything unfolds for this issue! The highlight of the evening was hearing Mayor Foster put Mr. Gordon in his place! anonymous If the city could get local technical companies to get these contracts, this would be awesome. give the money back to employees working in the LBC:) If it's possible to bring some waves back to our fantastic city, let's explore that option. I love Long Beach. lbresident Whats a few million amongst friends? Jason Wright FINALLY! Although there is a long way to go, finally we have a council that is committed to following the will of the community. Matt Kinley, your statements are totally short sighted. It may be a waste of money for you, but I am willing to invest my tax dollars in something that will benefit my children and grandchildren. It is time to make right, all the wrongs that the Port and the LA River have done by us. It is time to restore Long Beach to the beach community it once was. Clean water, a thriving marine habitat and people at the beach would be huge for this town. To the naysayers, stop accepting status quo as good enough. Do you really like living in a community with a cesspool in your backyard? Good Job City Council... Rick What a shame. With Libraries cutting hours and other major cuts to the budget, we need to find 4 million dollars somewhere so that surfers can have surf. Aaron Yes!! Unanimous consent for a brillant idea for the city. I can't believe it!! We so desperately need this to happen as a city. And it's not just so the surfers can have surf Rick. It's so people can actually swim at the beach without becoming deathly ill. If this goes through Long Beach could actually HAVE an economy! C in the SE LB If they reconfigure that breakwater right it's a win for this city. Look at old pics of LB back in the pre-breakwater days...all the people on the beaches. Usable beaches attract visitors bringing in $$$. Ever check how much $$$ Huntington Beach makes off travel and tourism to "Surf City"? Scare Tactics Yes, Judy C., was that great or what, Mayor Foster calling Randy Gordon back to reprimand him for basically lying and trying to scare people. What is his deal? Isn't his job to create business in Long Beach? What a bunch of mistruths and scare tactics he spewed forth....way to call him out Mr. Mayor! 8-0, here we go! lbjack Waste of money? What utter rot! This city lost its naval facility and defense industries -- lost its economic base -- and needs a reason to exist besides accommodating greedy old cranks waiting to die. The cost of this project, which I'd gladly contribute to in taxes, is minuscule compared to the benefits in quality of life and city income down the road. I only regret it's going to take a decade to do what should have been done decades ago. CHARLIE This too shall pass, Randy; At least you know first hand now where The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce stands in the mind of the LB City Council of Surfer's It'll be interesting to watch now how they manipulate the money for Peter to pay Paul? Sounds kind of like what's going on in Washington...Doesn't it? david baker Last night's vote beautifully illustrates how government at every level has become so deeply mired in red ink. The process is broken. The inmates are running the asylum. Because of political ambition, no one is willing to stand up for common sense any more. The good news is that despite this ridiculous waste of money the report will probably reject the idea of lowering the breakwater. Jon Great news! This will benefit the city economically tremendously in the long run. Where was Schipske? She appeared to be campaigning against this motion and then doesn't show up? Who cares though I guess, good riddance to myopia. sad The problem with this group is that they did not have to earn the money themselves. They don't think like business people. lbjack Finally, a real chance for this city to crawl out of the red, and here come the mindless slogans about "surfers". These doubtless represent the Peninsula, where the fat cats live by the inane paradox that polluted waters and lack of surf keep their beachfront "unspoiled". Like the airport NIMBYs, their motto is, "To hell with the community, I only care about ME!" Fine, then move to Idaho. Kevin I can't believe there are naysayers on this issue. The investment in reconfiguration will be repaid many times over in economic benefit to LB, not to mention quality of life. I just wish the timeline weren't so long and am hopeful the scope of reconfiguration doesn't get diluted over fear of what it does to coastal homes and the port. Great News Watch, this will end up as another subsidy for the Surfrider foundation so a bunch of OC and Malibu beach bums won’t need to work. Stephen Rick you're a kook! Glenn Agoncillo FINALLY! Thank you Councilmembers! I call Long Beach "home" for the past 10 years and was afraid to step into our beach. I was mostly afraid that I'd encounter the "three eyed fish" from the Simpson's cartoon swimming around... THANK YOU!!! Naples resident Good news! The POLB should finance but not manage the study. LBCritic I agree with Matt. When we have public safety and infrustructure issues and cutbacks, there is no reasonable way to spend money for a non-essential. This council needs to stop bringing social concerns to the budget table until we get our city's house in order. Dave in Alamitos Beach Phew, finally the City Council does the right thing. Foster included. I'm truly perplexed by the people who are against the reconfiguration of the breakwater. I've rarely seen anything be such a win-win for busines AND for residents. Seriously, is it just Beverly O'Neill's supporter's sour grapes or something? Ed Dugan If one really digs into the issue at hand you'll find positives all over. Here are just a few: A) This is not coming out of the Tax Payer's pocket. This will be 1/2 funded by the Fed. and the other 1/2 coming out of the Tideland Oil Fund, or the LB Port Authority, not of our taxes. B) Think about the increase in your Property Values. With Long Beach having a real beach, proximity to LA & OC, a real downtown, great shopping, etc... Property Values will increase in and around the beach side areas, and in-turn will trickle into the rest of the city. C) The economic revitalization, spending, and stimulation that beach-goers will bring to the Belmont Shore area & Downtown Pike area and the city as a whole. Reports show that upwards of $52M will be restored economically into Long Beach with removal of the Breakwater. For these reasons alone, not looking at the ecological reasons, the City Council was willing to invest $4M for the study. This is not just for surfers to have their surf back. It's for Long Beach to have a "Beach" once again, and restore the ecological system that the Breakwater destroyed. The Army Corps of Engineers already conducted the preliminary study, and found Federal interest for both Ecological and Economic reasons. The main purpose of the study to figure out what to do with all the boulders from the Breakwater. Our polluted waters will once again be swim-able, and our city will be economically revitalized! Great move City Council, thanks for listening to us... finally! City Employee Kudos to my Mayor! lbresident Now that this is out of the way, the council and mayor can go back to their day-to-day work of succombing to unions and trying to get elected to higher offices ASAP. Dr. Karl Randy Gordon, are you just lobbying for the port or are you interested in how the smaller businesses and citizens will profit from the reduction of the breakwater? Is the Chamber open to listening to the wide spectrum of people in the Long Beach area, or just those with a lobbying force? Ken Houp Please restrain your unfounded enthusiam: Decades will go by before any foreseable changes will be made and much more of my tax dollars. And don't give me none of my tax dollars will be involved-get real. This is nothing more than selfish, short-sighted display of people who place personal pleasure above solving immediate problems, such as the of lack of city pension reform which will tsumani any wave action which may come to pass as a result of this misappropriation of Tideland funds. Thanks, Mr. Mayor for your grandstanding and not desiring to address the real issues. Yes, let's take away any investment opportunitites for jobs by the Port and dole them out to satisfy this loco attitude of changing the wave pattern. Clean-up of the LA River is not contigent upon this study. By the way, you might get prepared to say goodby to Ocean Ave as you now know it. Joan We need clean beaches and a clean river to sustain our historic downtown and the westside by bringing tourists to Long Beach! Long Beach is well known throughout the midwest and they'll all want to come because as you all know they can't go to the Gulf Coast or Florida anymore. blue heron All the nay-saying on here is so silly and lame. A four million dollar investment - minus inkind contributions and grants and partnering with neighboring cities - means about three quarters of a million a year for five years. The possible return on this investment? 50-100 million a year in economic activity. We'd be crazy not to do this. And, uh - Ocean ave was there long before the breakwater. Glad the council was on the right side of history on this one. Simpleton Blue Heron, you and other posters on this topic seem a bit confused about the economics of what was just bought by our city council. Taxpayers here, there, and everywhere, will be spending about $8 million bucks for a make-work study by a slew of consultants. (Make-work, and getting paid to tell you the time on your own watch, are the bread and butter of consultants.) Neither the City of Long Beach nor the Army Corp of Engineers generates their own treasure. They take it from us taxpayers by fiat. The study will generate consulting fees for consultants, most of which aren't anywhere near Long Beach. They'll recommend more studies on how to change the breakwater, which is a pipe dream because it would cost hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars (and couldn't be done by windmills and solar panels.) If you are a resident of Long Beach, you've been fleeced. If you are a consultant, you fleeced us. Thanks Good Memory 4 million dollars rings a bell . . . hmmm, oh yeah, the Kroc Center needed 4 million and the City of Long Beach had 4 years to come with it. Surfing sounds a lot better than a community center for thousands of inner city families. How bad is our water quality anyway? Isn't that due to the LA river flowing filth into our ocean. 4 million could mean cleaner ocean water by means of effectively filtering the LA River. 4 million could do a lot to clean up a major ocean polluter couldn't it? Or do they just want pretty waves slapping at the sand, eroding our ocean front and collapsing buildings that weren't made to withstand an open beach. What about the man-made reef the breakwater has provided. Where will all the little lobsters and crabs live? And for those of you who love the look of Huntington Beach - they have no marina. What will happen to the Long Beach marinas when the boats are being battered in their slips. And all those people in the pictures of the '20s and '30 flocked to the beach because there was no air conditioning. I know that for a fact. My family has lived in Long Beach since 1909. Pete Wish I could have gone to watch Foster put Gordon in his place. Is there video of this? Sarcasm @Good Memory, thanks for refreshing mine. I forgot that the people only went to the beach in the 20's and 30's but since A/C was invented nobody goes to beaches anymore. I guess I'll stop riding to Seal Beach and buy an A/C unit instead. I also forgot that cities like Oceanside that have marinas also have huge breakwaters blocking their entire beach. Oh what's that ? They don't? Well surely Marina Del Ray has a breakwater because they have a marina? Right? What do you mean that's what Jedi's are for? Facts, smacts, I don't want to read studies, I'd rather base my opinion on my emotions. I'm angry because my life sucks and I'd rather blame the government than look to myself, and I'll be darn if anybody else tries to improve themselves or their cities, rah! Chamber guy The fine mayor knows that Gordon was not sincere about this, and was only doing the Port's bidding as payback for their (last and final) contribution to the Chamber. Rumor is that Gordon spelled that out to the Mayor subsequent to the council meeting. Randy has a huge ego and didn't like the verbal beat-down he took from Foster, so don't look for further self-inflicted beatings. Wide-eyed lap dogs like Matt Kinley will be the ones putting their jaws out for the sucker punch from now on. Randy will chuckle with each verbal slap they stupidly take. Win! Typical government. Trying to improve the city for EVERYONE. Have you met 'everyone?' Buncha jerks if you ask me. My only joy in life was sitting in my worthless beach property watching children splash around in industrial waste. Now what'll I do? Belmont Bob I have been out of town for a week and in that short time our council has had a bout of insanity. If tht breakwater was to be reconfigured, and damage to the shoreline homes occured, we would be going through this same process to rebuild the breakwater. We have it, it works, surfers can surf at Seal Beach. Use the money for some of the serious needs of our impoverished city. Paul A Any reconfiguration/removal of the breakwater has to take into account the extensive port and shoreline development, much of it is landfilled area where there was formerly ocean, as well as the marina, and be able to protect those areas from storms and high wave action. the mentality of some who want rip ALL of it, or "as much as possible" out so LB can have great waves for surfing, in the name of "clean water" is idiotic, and a recipe for catastrophe!
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Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.
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