Tuesday, September 24, 2024

The council's largest expenditure approvals were a recurring $5 million payment to the Water Replenishment District of Southern California for groundwater assessment fees (5-0) and a $1.96 million road repair contract to Hardy & Harper, Inc. from Measure P funds (5-0), followed by a recurring $800,000 purchase order to the Metropolitan Water District for imported water (5-0). A $203,944 youth counseling services contract was approved 4-1 with Bowers dissenting — but only after the city manager disclosed on the floor that intended vendor VCH Prosperity Consulting DBA Compton Wellness ($92,600, just below the $100,000 approval threshold) had active state licensing board issues; the council substituted St. John's at the same amount while retaining Nimble Thoughts Counseling at $111,344, with Bowers noting that vendors were not adequately vetted before appearing on the agenda. The council also approved $62,436 split between Safe Life Defense ($24,487, just below the $25,000 approval threshold) and Axon Enterprise ($37,949) for code enforcement vests and tasers (5-0), and $139,980 to Villarruel Architects for Jackie Robinson Stadium renovation using CDBG funds (5-0). Four public speakers asked that Restoration Diversion Services — a human trafficking services nonprofit occupying city-owned space at 206 North Long Beach Boulevard — keep its lease at $1 per year; the council approved a one-year renewal at that rate (5-0), while a second lease item for the same organization and the Sylvia Nunn Angels lease item were both pulled by staff without a vote. The citywide salary schedule amendment was withdrawn before a vote after Councilmember Darden identified errors and a missing prior resolution, and will return at a future meeting.