TITLE
Recommendation to override the veto by the Mayor of an ordinance of the City Council amending Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 16.58, relating to labor peace agreements for hotels on City-owned property.
DISCUSSION
In an effort to protect the city's financial investment, the City Council on November 21, 2006 voted to pass the Labor Peace Ordinance for hotels on city owned property. The ordinance requires hotel operations lessees, when their lease is renewed or amended, to sign agreements with the labor organizations that represent employees in the hospitality industry, and include in the contract a clause to prohibit the labor organizations and its members from engaging in picketing, work stoppages, boycotts or other economic interference with the business of the hospitality operators.
In his veto statement of December 22, 2006, Mayor Foster requested "time for the parties to engage in productive discussions aimed at a resolution." We have tremendous respect for Mayor Foster and his goal of building consensus and bringing the sides together. The City Charter provides 30 days for Council to respond to mayoral vetoes, making this January 16 Council meeting the last opportunity for Council to consider action within the charter-mandated deadline.
Both sides have had opportunity to reach consensus, but sufficient progress has not yet been made, and action must be taken today.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
BONNIE LOWENTHAL, VICE MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBER, 1ST DISTRICT
TONIA REYES URANGA, COUNCILMEMBER, 7TH DISTRICT