TITLE
Recommendation that City Council review and adopt a Labor Peace Agreement submitted by the City Attorney.
DISCUSSION
On October 4, 2005, the Long Beach City Council considered a proposal from Council members Bonnie Lowenthal, Dan Baker and Tonia Reyes-Uranga requesting that the full City Council adopt a labor peace agreement that would become a condition of approval for any new lease, lease amendment or lease assignment for all hotels located on City-owner property. The proposal stated that labor disputes were increasing in the hotel industry and that cities are impacted by the loss of revenue resulting when potential hotel clients and customers refuse to cross labor picket lines.
Additionally, such labor actions can be extremely disruptive and tarnish a city's reputation, thereby affecting future considerations for travelers and convention selection of Long Beach as a host city.
The Council voted to approve a recommendation to request the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would require the City receive documentation from a hotelier that can include, but is not limited to, a labor peace agreement as a condition of approval for any new lease, lease amendment or lease agreement for all hotels located on City-owned property.
On January 17, 2006, the City Attorney brought before the City Council the first reading of an ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding a labor peace agreement requirement for hotels and motels on City-owner property. The Council approved a motion to refer the item to the State Legislation and Environmental Affairs Committee for further discussion.
On May 9, 2006, the State Legislative and Environmental Affairs Committee met to discuss the labor peace agreement and to hear from interested parties and the public at large. Several questions we submitted into the record through public testimony and traditional and electronic mail. The questions were submitted to the City Attorney's Office for response.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILWOMAN LAURA RICHARDSON, SIXTH DISTRICT