Long Beach looks at retirement incentives

Long Beach City Council members will vote Tuesday on a resolution authorizing the city to create an early retirement incentive for some employees, City Manager Jack Schnirman said.

If passed, Civil Service Employees Association union members would get an incentive for leaving their city jobs as a way to downsize the workforce and save money, Schnirman said. He said he and the council worked closely with the union, which has 250 members in Unit 7569, on the incentive plan.

According to the resolution, CSEA members who retire would be compensated at 50 percent of their unused sick time.

"Normally when you leave you get 30 percent," Schnirman said. The city still needs to gauge the amount of interest in the incentive, he said.

The council will also vote on a resolution to enter into a contract with law firm Harris Beach, which would act as a consultant to the city as it creates a local development corporation aimed at supporting small businesses.

"This will incentivize businesses to come to Long Beach and support businesses already in Long Beach, create a business-friendly atmosphere and promote job creation," Schnirman said.

The cost of retaining the firm would be between $10,000 and $15,000, and the project has already been provided for in the budget, Schnirman said.

Tuesday's council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on the sixth floor of City Hall, 1 W. Chester St.

Monday marks the debut of the Long Beach Listens campaign, where Schnirman and the council will meet with Long Beach residents to hear their city-related concerns.

The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the West End Community Center, 91 Maryland Avenue.