Plenary/Edgemoor Civic Partnership (PECP) is one step closer to possibly designing Long Beach’s future civic center, following last night’s vote at the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners meeting.

Staff recommended the project to city council last week, but PECP needed the support of the Port of Long Beach (POLB) because the Port has the option to open their new offices at the rebuilt Civic Center.

The board authorized the Port’s chief executive to negotiate memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the city manager on the details of the Port’s participation, according to Port spokesman Art Wong. However, the board did not give the chief executive authority to execute the MOU, which will require another board vote.

“Essentially, we will continue to participate in the development of this project, but we don’t have detailed terms or a binding agreement yet,” Wong said.

PECP said it is happy to have the Port’s support to move forward with its project.

“We see the Port’s involvement as a real benefit, not only because of the efficiencies they bring, from a design perspective, but more because of the vitality and energy the Port brings to the project,” said Stuart Marks, Senior Vice President of PECP.

PECP will present its design tonight to the city council, which will then vote to approve the staff’s recommendation to move forward with the design.