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NEWSWATCH February 18-March 3, 2014
Collective Bargaining Transparency Effort Halted By City Councilmembers ■ By TIFFANY L. RIDER Editor A presentation on how Costa Mesa’s collective bargaining transparency regulation could be mirrored in Long Beach was tabled after councilmembers opposed exploring the option further. The issue, which had been raised on multiple occasions by 5th District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske at the city’s personnel and civil service committee level, was brought to the Long Beach City Council on February 4 with support from 3rd District Councilmember Gary DeLong. The idea was to explore how to restructure collective bargaining to include an independent negotiating party – as Costa Mesa has done – and increase transparency in the process, a move that may or may not result in a cost savings for Long Beach. Several councilmembers, including Vice Mayor and 1st District Councilmember Robert Garcia and 8th District Councilmember Al Austin, disagreed with the comparison of Long Beach to Costa Mesa and with the development of an ordinance based on Costa Mesa’s “civic openness in negotiations” ordinance. The item was received and filed, with no further action taken. “There wasn’t real clear direction on what they wanted to do,” according to City Attorney Charles Parkin. He said changing the city’s collective bargaining policies would require certain procedures. “We could get the council there,” he said, “if that becomes the council’s desire.” ■
City Council Takes Up E-Cigarette Regulations ■ By TIFFANY L. RIDER Editor After a 5-1 vote on February 11 to move forward on regulating e-cigarettes, the Long Beach City Council hears a final reading on the subject tonight (February 18). Councilmembers Gary DeLong, Patrick O’Donnell and Gerrie Schipske left the council meeting prior to the vote. The regulations, as proposed by city staff, involve amending an existing ordinance regulating tobacco products to include e-cigarette devices, meaning e-cigarettes could not be used in public places like in parks, near schools, on restaurant patios or inside retail establishments. Moreover, businesses that sell e-cigarettes would be required pay a yearly operational permit and limit advertising in the same way tobacco product advertising is restricted. Alan Schroeder, partner and owner of
Long Beach Business Journal 3 Vapin USA in Downtown Long Beach, told the Business Journal that regulating e-cigarettes like tobacco products “demonizes vaping . . . Vaping shouldn’t be lumped into that category.” Vice Mayor and 1st District Councilmember Garcia, who was the sole dissenting vote on the item presented February 11, said during the meeting that while he understands the regulations would not ban e-cigarettes, the discussion on the dangers of e-cigarette use might be unfounded until science proves otherwise. “The only part that is difficult for me is that I have friends and family members, particularly one who has been smoking for 35 years, and has destroyed his lungs,” Garcia shared during the meeting. “He’s never been able to quit, has tried everything in the book and now that he’s tried the e-cigarette he’s actually been able to quit. I certainly don’t know all the science behind what’s in that cigarette, but I couldn’t imagine it being worse than what he was putting in his lungs before.” Back in December, the city council approved directing the city attorney’s office to draft an ordinance regulating ecigarette use. At the same time, council directed the city attorney to prepare options for the regulation of e-cigarette business locations using the city’s zoning laws. According to City Attorney Charles Parkin, city staff is still working on those options. ■