LONG BEACH – The city of Long Beach accomplished what many states and the federal government often have trouble doing. On Wednesday, Dec. 15, the City Council adopted the city budget for the new year before the deadline of Dec. 31.

“It went well,” said council member Gary Luethe.

The budget was a group effort by the city staff, City Council, the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and the union for Long Beach Police. Negotiations with the union were concluded in an executive session, which are closed to the public, just prior to the open city council meeting.

In the past, the union contract was negotiated on a year-to-year basis. This year, however, the parties involved were able to arrive at a three-year contract, saving the city the lawyer and negotiator fees for the next couple years.

“Each year we’ve done this one year at a time,” said council member Ralph Moore. “(City Administrator) Robert (Strope) has stepped up to the plate and helped negotiate. We’ve got some good years coming.”

“It’s nice to see common sense prevail,” added council member Fred Cook.

The City Council agreed the agreement would be beneficial to all concerned.

“It was a good process,” said Strope.

The budget also allowed the city to recognize the efforts of all its employees with a $300 bonus this year, including the fire and police department employees.

“This community is fortunate to have dedicated long-term employees,” said Cook.

After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the resulting economic downturn, city employees agreed to forgo raises and bonuses to help city finances. The city council views the bonus as a long-overdue reward for the employees’ dedication.

“They always put the welfare of the city up front,” said Mayor Ken Ramsey.

Council member Moore did emphasize that the bonus was not “an every year thing.” And council member Cook had one more stipulation for the bonus. “Shop locally,” he said.

In addition, the last minute request by the Peninsula Visitors Bureau for an additional $10,000 was granted. The money will come out of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee funds. The LTAC budget also included $10,000 for Lewis and Clark Bicentennial support and $10,000 for Summerfest.

The LTAC received budgeting requests in the amount of $225,700, but only had $148,000 in available revenues. To help balance the budget, the LTAC recommended that the city terminate the service agreement with group marketing consultant Linda Braderick, who was earning $2,500 monthly. Council members agreed to the recommendation.

Council member Luethe also wanted to make clear that the city would not have funds available to hire a consultant concerning formalizing the Peninsula’s name as Cape Columbia. The council as a whole expressed concern about the idea.

“We do have an identity,” said Cook.

Additional business on the agenda included a presentation by representatives of Charter Communications cable company, which services the area. City staff will be working on a final agreement with the company for a 15-year contract.

The council also discussed changes to the city’s shoreline master plan to allow property owners to remove shore pines from the dune areas of their property, partially in an attempt to preserve the dune ecosystem. A public hearing on the subject will be announced. Following public hearings, the changes will have to be submitted to the Department of Ecology for final review and approval.

In the consent agenda, the council passed ordinance 789, concerning condemnations of properties for the completion of the Lewis and Clark trail. Fourteen property owners, including the state of Washington, still have not given the city permission to move ahead with trail construction.

According to Strope, the city can now move ahead, and hopes to complete the project some time next year.