This week, the City Council will look to close loose ends, and in the process, possibly open up several more.
The FY 2008 budget is up for a second and final vote, as well as a vote affirming a list of budget priorities from the Budget Oversight Committee.
The following are several ordinances being proposed this week, all of them springing from some previous action:
Shopping Carts: On March 21, 2006, the City Council voted to discourage stray shopping carts by imposing a system of citations and eventual fines for the owners of the shopping carts, i.e. the grocery stores. The previous system gave a 24-hour warning notice to the stores, and the City Manager’s office would like to eliminate this notice. No word yet on when the City Council or the City Manager will take action against those who actually steal the shopping carts from the stores.
Canopies: On February 15, 2005, the City Council voted to allow the City Manager the ability to issue citations to unpermitted free standing canopies in residential yards, resulting in a $100 fine if not removed in 30 days. Over two years later, on July 17th, 2007, the City Council voted to change the ordinance to allow free standing canopies in back yards. Oops. This is that ordinance.
Store-Front Churches: Last year, the City Council voted to look at and clarify the zoning of churches in Long Beach, stemming from a 2000 Bill passed by Congress protecting the rights of religious institutions. The City Council will vote on guidelines that also give more latitude to zoning officers.
Final Note: One loose end that is not on the City Council agenda Tuesday, because it was withdrawn, was voting to consolidate the two city-wide initiatives with the Presidential election occurring at the same time in February. The two initiatives, one repealing the hotel labor peace agreement and the other repealing the big-box supermarket ban, are opposed by a majority of the City Council, and should provide fireworks when discussed again.