It was the last council meeting for these three members

As Liz Treston, Tina Posterli, and Karen McInnis of the Long Beach City Council attended their final meeting as council members Dec. 19, they left behind a time on the council marked by navigating significant challenges, trying to make decisions for the community.

The council navigated a three-decade legal battle, reaching a tentative settlement with developer Sinclair Haberman, who had filed a $131 million lawsuit against the city.

The agreement paved the way for the construction of two 13-and-a-half-story apartment buildings — the city’s tallest. The settlement, with a reduced $75 million payment, averted potential costs exceeding $150 million.

“This is not an easy decision,” Posterli said in a council meeting held in December of 2021.  “It’s an important step in taking an albatross off our backs.”

This resolution was celebrated by some, ended prolonged litigation, reduced growing interest payments, and showed an important move toward improving Long Beach’s finances.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent veto of a bill for Equinor’s $3 billion offshore wind project reflected the council’s vocal stance against the proposal. Their July letter expressed support for renewable energy while opposing Equinor’s plan, resonating with the community’s concerns. Top of Form

“We fully support the Governor’s renewable energy goals, including offshore wind, but this proposal and this company were wrong on just about every level,” Liz Treston said in an Oct. council meeting. “In case this veto doesn’t send a strong enough message to Equinor, I’ll take it a step further by calling on them to withdraw their proposal immediately.”

The proposal to invite new vendors to utilize the Martin Luther King Center generated intense community response and opposition. The council, while facing allegations of nonpayment of rent spanning over 20 years and asserting a decline in community service, initiated steps to invite nonprofits to share the space. This move sparked community protests, with accusations of a “land grab” and concerns about potential changes to the center’s name.

The council resolved a years-long litigation with former city firefighter Jay Gusler. The lawsuit, stemming from a 2016 agreement after Gusler’s workplace injury, was settled in May with a unanimous vote from the council.

As the Dec. 19 meeting progressed through the agenda, the floor was extended to the three council members, offering a moment of reflection on their time serving the community.

“In these two short years, I’ve worked hard for positive change alongside my fellow council members, and this city’s administration, we’ve tackled many challenges and celebrated successes together,” Posterli said. “I’m proud to have been part of the first women majority council in our city’s history, and of what I brought to the table here.”

Reflecting on her past four years, McInnis shared, “This administration has been more productive for over versus other councils for the past several decades. And this council, while I’ve been on it for the past four years, will be more impactful for decades to come because of the tough decisions that we made. So it doesn’t say that you have to be in office long to really make an impact. You just have to do the job.”

Concluding the reflections, Treston expressed, “I find this moment bittersweet. Gratitude extends to my family and friends for putting things on hold, enabling me to dedicate myself entirely to the city. I am thankful to the residents of Long Beach for granting me this unique opportunity to serve the public in a distinctly meaningful way.”

The three extended their well wishes and congratulations to the incoming council members, Chris Fiumara, Brendan Finn, and Mike Reinhart, as they begin their new roles starting Jan. 1.