How ironic it would be if Councilman DeLong (after several councilman have tried and failed), turns out to be the one who figures out how to move the Los Cerritos Wetlands from the private sector to the public domain.

I don't care what Tom Dean's reasons are, or if the City made him an offer he couldn't refuse, I just want to see the Wetlands restored.

If this deal comes together, maybe it is a good thing to have a "business" type person as our councilmember.

Mr Dean, Mayor Foster , Patrick O'Donnell and Mr DeLong are to be applauded for trying to reach a Global Settlement in the interest of restoring a Coastal asset , but until more is known, there will be concerns.

All interested parties deserve Full Disclosure of every aspect of this proposal so that the stakeholders , residents and others can proceed with their eyes open. Community trust is not enhanced when people are left in the dark, time after time.

Whoever is actually doing the bargaining , needs to reveal each and every deal point too. Many of us bargain pretty hard, and want any deal to be good for both sides, not just the landowner. It would be nice to know who really has experience profitably structuring such deals for the City as well.

Objective, Third Party consultantion is a must. We need vetting by a team with a track record of consistent success in this area to insure that Long Beach is getting a good deal., We also need access to the sellers experts to check the math. We have our own math too.

There also needs to b independent , objective review Legal Review as to the actual feasibility and overall fairness of each piece of the puzzle too. . A lot of people who have not been studying many of the moving pieces, or possibilities, will in fairness, need time as well. Those who have studied this chess board for a long time will need to see how conservative or generous all of the estimates, ranges and assumptions are as well. This could easily take a year.

Most see no need to rush to purchase land in today's market either, few see anything resembling a Real Estate valuation bottom either. The City of Long Beach probably has time on it's side to bargain far further, so any 'pushing' needs to be explained. Dean could easily be handing us a descending asset because the list of bargains is growing, as venture capital and new construction withers. Rushing seems clearly in the Sellers best interest for now, absent further details. Many wonder how eager the seller is to 'get out' too.

Gary's problematic WADIP idea plays a key part in any Global Compromise too , because a Master EIR, or Environmental Review study, under CEQA law, is needed for all of WADIP's lofty goals. This could easily take 2 or 3 more years which could get very sticky..

. There has been talk for some time that many finally agree that nothing will ever get built 'out there' in Bixby A and B, or ''The Wetlands'', but that in order to ''do anything'', density must be increased upon existing developments. This is being pushed by some to '' leverage the existing entitlements''. This is the goal of Mr DeLongs Wetlands Area Plan, and apparently some City Staff trying to drive revenue. This push for more entitlements, is not being that well received by many, or necessarily possible for several reasons.

A key question is , who directed you to ''DO'' anything like WADIP in the firat place? Many like our 'Short Squatty Buildings', just fine and desire the existing SEADIP protections, at a minimum. . They comfortably limit further Traffic, Pollution, Nuisance and density. Gary was not elected with a mandate to double the density in the area ? But he seems convinced on giving it yet another try.?

Another key question is how much of the soil will be remediated, if any, and who bears the liability going forward ? . Estimates have exceeded 100 Million Dollars assuming the worst , it could be much more, or less. This is a moving target until test excavation and testing begins because we are basically 'punching in the dark' since the dump was wide open to anything at times.. Mr Dean would not be th first person to step away due to the soil issues.

. Also the source of all present groundwater contamination, including Heavy Metals, and the Benzene plume at around 30 times the non drinkable standard, must be investigated. Benzene is not the product of oil extracion, but their are 2 possile explanations being studied.

Don May of the California EarthCorp, and other Experts, have often described a 'ticking time bomb' contained within the 6 abandoned City dump sites and elsewhere should leaching or leakage occur.. Fortunately, a mostly impermeable clay basin has hopefully contained it for now. The cap of soil shows no fissures, upon routine inspection. Testing has been performed over the years and further study seems wise before penning any deal.. Monitoring in the future seems prudent.

Several remain concerned should any future leakage of presently entombed toxicants ensue due to decomposition, or if contamination due to prospective water infiltration begins causing leakage. Further water and Wetlands contamination could result, which could be terrible, and there are potential health hazards.

Tank farm and piping leaks are an issue that also concerns many. Petroleum has mysteriously floated into the adjacent water from time to time, adjacent to the Storeage Tanks or around the transfer piping , thus the further concern.

The future of the Home Depot parcel plays an important part as well. It's lingering issues are far from moot.

When and were all oil operations may be consolodated to, and when, is also key, as is the continuing expense to Long Beach due to our paying to treat the waste water, under a 1925 Grandfather Agreement.

Any future grant or expectation of further oil exploration rights , need also to be Disclosed.

Many would also like to hear about Mr Dean's entitlement expectations at Spring and Orange as well. This seems like a far more feasible and profitable plan for him, and fairly well timed. The lateral , or land swap, appears clearly in his best interest preliminarily, thus a reasonable price for the Wetlands seems only fair.

It would be nice to see that parcel get revitalized as others have and are, in the area. But the Sports Park, which will be hard to fund, has much merit too, possibly elsewhere as a Condition of Approval? The Kroc Center fills a lot of his prior desire one might believe?

Dave, excellent job as always. We have a lot more questions to resolve before anyone outside the deal can truly judge the entire package's overall merit. The entire file needs review, and vetting. This first step seems to be in the right direction , but pricey. We'll see ?

The City of Long Beach should NOT give up any gas,oil.or mineral rights.The concept is
absurd on its face!!!!
Did anyone hold a gun to the good Mr.Dean's head forcing him to buy property?It would
appear the he was listening to much to the disconnected that lacks the DNA to sense the
pulse of his district on to many issues.

It would be a shame to lose the sports park. It was intended to be a "Field of Dreams" complex. If any one is familiar with these, you know how truly awesome they are! The Field of Dreams parks are 2/3 scale replicas of major league ball fields. The Chino Hills and West Covina Fields of Dreams feature ball parks like Fenway, Angels' Stadium, Detroit Tigers Stadium. Seeing your kid hit a homer on the Fields of Dreams is an epic moment.
The plan also included 6 soccer fields. Considering the city is going to take away playing space with the "restoration" of Colrado Lagoon, it would be better to have the sports complex than more ugly tract houses.

I agree with LB City Girl that it would have been great to have the Field of Dreams parks and the soccer fields, but if it was going to happen, it would have happened by now.

Since purchasing the Wetlands makes our City even better, I'm all for it. But the City should continue to look for ways to create more soccer fields.

Mr. Dean, Mayor Foster , Patrick O'Donnell and Mr. DeLong are to be applauded for trying to reach a Global Settlement in the interest of restoring a Coastal asset , but until more is known, there will be concerns.

All interested parties deserve Full Disclosure of every aspect of this proposal so that the stakeholder, residents and others can proceed with their eyes open. Community trust is not enhanced when people are left in the dark, time after time.

Whoever is actually doing the bargaining, needs to reveal each and every deal point too. Many of us bargain pretty hard, and want any deal to be good for both sides, not just the landowner. It would be nice to know who really has experience profitably structuring such deals for the City as well.

Objective, Third Party consultation is a must. We need vetting by a team with a track record of consistent success in this area to insure that Long Beach is getting a good deal., We also need access to the sellers experts to check the math. We have our own math too.

There also needs to b independent, objective review Legal Review as to the actual feasibility and overall fairness of each piece of the puzzle too. . Many people who have not been studying many of the moving pieces, or possibilities, will in fairness, need more time. . Those who have studied this chess board for a long time will need to see how conservative or generous all of the estimates, ranges and assumptions are as well. This could easily take a year.

Most see no need to rush to purchase land in today's market either, few see anything resembling a Real Estate valuation bottom either. The City of Long Beach probably has time on it's side to bargain far further, so any 'pushing' needs to be explained. Dean could easily be handing us a descending asset because the list of bargains is growing, as venture capital and new construction withers. Rushing seems clearly in the Sellers best interest for now, absent further details. Many wonder how eager the seller is to 'get out' too.

Gary's problematic WADIP idea plays a key part in any Global Compromise too, because a Master EIR, or Environmental Review study, under CEQA law, is needed for all of WADIP's lofty goals. This could easily take 2 or 3 more years which could get very sticky..

. There has been talk for some time that many finally agree that nothing will ever get built 'out there' in Bixby A and B, or ''The Wetlands'', but that in order to ''do anything'', density must be increased upon existing developments. This is being pushed by some to '' leverage the existing entitlements''. This is the goal of Mr. DeLongs Wetlands Area Plan, and apparently some City Staff trying to drive revenue. This push for greater entitlements, is not being that well received by many, or necessarily possible for several reasons.

A key question is, who directed you to ''DO'' anything like WADIP in the first place? Many like our 'Short Squatty Buildings’’, just fine and desire the existing SEADIP protections, at a minimum. . They comfortably limit further Traffic, Pollution, Nuisance and density. Gary was not elected with a mandate to double the density in the area ? But he seems convinced on giving it yet another try?

Another key question is how much of the soil will be remediated, if any, and who bears the liability going forward?. At worst, estimates have exceeded 100 Million dollars ,at best it could be much more.. This is a moving target until test excavation and testing begins because we are basically 'punching in the dark' since the dump was wide open to anything at times. Mr. Dean would not be the first person to step away due to the soil issues.

. Also the source of all present groundwater contamination, including Heavy Metals, and the Benzene plume at around 30 times the non drinkable standard, must be investigated. Benzene is not the product of oil extraction, but there are 2 possile explanations being studied.

Don May of the California EarthCorp, and other Experts, have often described a 'ticking time bomb' contained within the 6 abandoned City dump sites and elsewhere should leaching or leakage occur.. Fortunately, a mostly impermeable clay basin has hopefully contained it for now. The cap of soil shows no fissures, upon routine inspection. Testing has been performed over the years and further study seems wise before penning any deal.. Monitoring in the future seems prudent.

Several remain concerned should any future leakage of presently entombed toxicants ensue due to decomposition, or if contamination due to prospective water infiltration begins causing leakage. Further water and Wetlands contamination could result, which could be terrible, and there are potential health hazards.

Tank farm and piping leaks are an issue that also concerns many. Petroleum has mysteriously floated into the adjacent water from time to time, adjacent to the Storage Tanks or around the transfer piping , thus the further concern.

The future of the Home Depot parcel plays an important part as well. It’s lingering issues are far from moot.

When and were all oil operations may be consolidated to, and when, is also key, as is the continuing expense to Long Beach due to our paying to treat the waste water, under a 1925 Grandfather Agreement.

Any future grant or expectation of further oil exploration rights, need also to be Disclosed.

Many would also like to hear about Mr. Dean's entitlement expectations at Spring St.and Orange Ave.as well. This seems like a far more feasible and profitable plan for him, and fairly well timed. This lateral , or land swap, appears clearly in his best interest preliminarily, thus a reasonable price for the Wetlands seems only fair.

It would be nice to see that parcel get revitalized as others have and are, in the area. But the Sports Park, which will be hard to fund, has much merit too, possibly elsewhere as a Condition of Approval? The Kroc Center fills a lot of his prior desire one might believe?

Dave,excellant job as always. We have a lot more questions to resolve before anyone outside the deal can truly judge the entire package's overall merit. The entire file needs review, and vetting. This first step seems to be in the right direction, but pricey. We'll see?

Once again Delong is impressive. Hopefully he can pull this off.

And regarding Dean, did it ever occur to you that his purchases were not bad business deals at all and that this sort of thing was always his plan?

lbresident: Sounds like you applaud Thomas Dean for soaking the city for whatever he can.

No. The story claims he made bad business deals / decisions. I'm simply suggesting that may not be the case.

In consideration of the price of oil over the last year, I would guess that Mr. Dean has already made a ton of money which is why he is probably open to selling the Wetlands now.

Also, while he probably can't develop as much of the property as he'd like, there is definitely some developable acres out there. If the City has figured out a legal way to take land around the Wetlands that could be developed and move it to the public domain, I'm all for it. Although, in Santa Barbara there is a current project to build homes in and around some Wetlands acres up there.

This sounds like a win-win for all concerned. I'll be interested to hear how the deal was put together once it is officially announced. DeLong more than likely didn't negotiate the deal points - City staff would do that - but the deal couldn't have come together without the support of the 3rd District Councilman. In fact, it would take the entire City Council to make it happen. I'll have to go back and look at the Closed Session agendas to see if I can figure out when the meeting(s) took place.

I didn't realize our City could be so creative! Maybe I should have voted Yes on Prop I afterall.

DeLong and Dean put the deal together. Dean is extremely saavy developer. Do you really think that he stumbled into this deal, thinking that he was ever going to develop a swamp? The City could have bought the property from Bixby, but could never raise the cash to pull the trigger. Tom Dean was able to get the cash to do it, and he and DeLong have put together a great deal where the wetlands will be preserved without tax dollars up front. Brilliant, and couldn't have happened without Dean and DeLong. I would also suggest that "losing" the Sports Complex property isn't a loss, but a gain, as the City is broke, and can't afford to develop the project for the foreseeable future. Thus, it was as much of a liability as an asset.

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority tried to buy the land from Bixby, but Bixby wouldn't give them the time of day. Tom Dean also probably quickly realized that a State agency could never afford to pay anything near "market rate" for the land.

It appears that City has brought much more flexibility to the table by being able to trade land that has a low value to the City, but a higher value to Mr. Dean. A cash offer would never find a willing seller's price matching up with a willing buyer's offer.

It will be interesting to see the details, but unless there is a big surprise in there, I'm all for acquiring the Wetlands.

Sir Cheese,

Who's going to clean up the soil and what are the remaining Entitlement expectations in and around the area we wonder ? And how sweet a deal is it for everybody? What about this WADIP mega density plan , and the rumors of shopping a smaller box where the Home Depot failed ?

I think the Fields of Dreams are built with grant & sponsorship money. In addition, these parks charge admission-- they were potentially a money maker for the city.

Thank you Dave for your expose—your first paragraph says it all—“City officials are secretly negotiating a succession of land deals involving land developer Tom Dean…..”
This whole land swap deal has a very distinctive odor of backroom politics. Of course, there was no community involvement, again everything done in secret and the public finds out 4 days prior to its going before Council? Transparent government—my aunt! I am a taxpayer.

For transparency-the public should have the $ numbers.
For transparency- the public should know who is going to be responsible for the wetlands cleanup (a cost much greater than the acquisition of the land). Bolsa Chica’s cleanup cost 147 million.

Your article immediately prompts so many questions.
Remember one of Councilman DeLong’s main contributors to his campaign was Tom Dean. He took a sizable contribution from him just one month prior to his “yes” vote on Home Depot, (Tom Dean property)–another expose in the DW.

Mr. DeLong was also head of another secretive SEADIP Committee which was committed to higher and denser development in the Seadip area, surrounding the Wetlands. Then there was Best Buy. Legends loan, the secretive Breakwater deal with Hankala, etc etc.

Mr. Delong has consistently said, “We need to delineate the wetlands, to find out if they are truly wetlands”. Of course, this proved an impossibility since they were private land and the owner wouldn’t let anyone on the property to delineate them. Or did he? They either are or they aren’t --- DeLong is saying now they are?

How much did Tom Dean pay Bixby for the Wetlands? Is this also a secret? He bought the oil rights as well. It would indeed be a stupid move on the City’s part to bail Dean out and NOT retain the oil rights! And stupid on the citizens part not to demand all these Wetllands be returned including the 5 acre parcel on second and Studebaker; however Long Beach has always been notorious about giving the store away.
And how will the disenfranchised 7th district with Tonia Reyes Uranga as Councilwomen feel about this betrayal and loss of their Council promised Sports Park?

Dave, you stated the city would have “warm fuzzies” from this endeavor-- which it needs--to proceed for other development projects proposed for the east side, (the main project on the horizon being Seaport Marina with it’s 12 story Tower). Is this the leverage they are trying for—the wetlands-- for more massive development without community objections?

Dear Queen,

Don't forget that Marc Bixby Chaired Gary;s Committee to erect They are very tight friends . They often get 'silly' together ! Also recall, that Mr Bixby attended many of The AWARD winning, City Staffed, wide open, '' Los Cerritos Wetlands Study Group'' meetings, pounding the table for approval of Home Depot, and for entitlements in and around Bixby A , B, and more.

He repotedly used to say , over and over, ''this Committee is not binding'' and ''we have entitlement expectations'' .Many would consistently reply, that the ENTIRE area was an ESHA, or Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area . Staff would wither and lament, 'Then I guess we can't do anything?''. Well, you can try and likely fail. Many agree, that this 2004-6 rezoning effort was highly laudable, lawful, community based, totally Democratic and favorably dispositive towards the vast majority of residents. .

Also recall that all 4 Council candidates, and all 3 Mayoral candidates received support and endorsements based upon their reviewing and accepting this work.

As for delineation studies. Highly placed rumors are that at least 2 wetlands delineation studies occured, and that our longstanding claim that it all, or substantailly all of the area is in fact Wetlands. It is probable that this has apparently been kept quiet to maintain value, and possibly financing ?.

Similarly, soil tests at Home Depot and elsewhere had more bad news we hear, and recall that many asserted, correctly, that CEQA Law required Full Disclosure before Certification.. We are still waiting. , A Superior Court Judge later ordered tests, where are they? Several filed DTSC and AQMD complaints, they demanded Disclosure, they too have been ignored, Also, where's the promise to be included in a drafting of a soilremediation MOU as to inform the community about the results and all potential hazards?

As for this swap, it seems possible that they are taking one of several ''back doors'', or exit strategies. This could be for a list of reasons, including probable valuation write downs and/or due to possible pains in the assets.. Balance sheets are bleeding Red ink all over America and none of us are completely immune from the business cycle ?.

Many leveraged roll up investors are also suffering the inability to roll over, or renew debt in today's market.. We'll shall see?

Again, Is this a true bargain? Time is clearly on our side, so why not keep on grinding and hammering on the price like the big boys will continue to do for several years to come, given this Rescession ?.

The Wetlands is not going anywhere, and the City may finally realize that they are all protected by Law, and almost all of us. Several fine Staff have said so themselves.

It's not making me feel warm and fuzzy.

So basically you would like to kill the deal?

Of course City officials "secretly" negotiated the deal, that is how deals are done. How would it have been helpful to seeing the purchase happen if every back and forth in the negotiation process was debated in the public?

If it was done your way, it would never have come together.

We should look at the end result. If the public likes the deal, then it should go forward. If the public doesn't, then leave the degraded wetlands alone for many more years.

I would like to see the Wetland restored in my lifetime.

P.S. Sizable contribution? The maximum amount if $350. I laugh every time someone says a politician can be purchased for a few hundred dollars. Politicians charge a lot more than that.

Yes, I would like to kill the deal.

I sure hope the enviro groups challenge their historic behavior and focus on positive outcomes not irrelevant distractions like how much money Dean makes. Let's get the wetlands acquired, restored, and finally clean up that embarrassment of a property. If Dean makes some money in the process so be it.

Kudos to delong for what looks like a viable plan.

First, if you don't want this kind of negotiations to succeed, make them public, and given that the Coastal Commission's definition of wetlands has become very inclusive, to say the Los Cerritos Wetlands is "perhaps-impossible-to-develop" is silly.

When Tom Dean bought the Bixby parcels several things were well understood: they included a lot of wetlands; any sale of wetlands to the public would not include oil rights, as the total price would be prohibitive, and; oil operations may be consolidated but will continue.

The Sports Park is another story. It was recommended in the mid-80s fought over almost until the mid-90s. The plan to locate it in El Dorado Park was abandoned, and the only other site the City already owned where there were no neighbors and no extant parkland to sacrifice was a location surrounded by Signal Hill north of the cemetery at Spring & Orange. It is full of industrial, historical (the first water source for the City - springs and willows) and environmental issues. Good luck.

But I agree. This is a "win-win-win-win situation" - finally to be able to save and restore the Los Cerritos Wetlands. Thank you, Councilmember DeLong, for your diligence and pertinacity.

At first glance, this looks like a “high five.”
At second reading, an extremely poor solution to a rescue of the Wetlands.

Cunning, and clever developer, Tom Dean bought the 181 acres of Wetlands from Bixby, including oil rights, which he always knew he could use for leverage in an area that so reveres wetlands. He sees a superb opportunity in the 7th district for good development. He is willing to swap the 181 acres,( excluding the oil rights, which he makes big bucks on) for the parcel in the 7th District. Of course the city will have to rezone, change the General Plan, and dismiss the Sports Park, which they are glad to do, as well as throw some other goodies his way. They are also happy to oblige him and give him the 51/2 acres of Wetlands on 2nd and Studebaker, including oil rights! This means folks, Mr. Dean now has the opportunity to develop right on the Wetlands! The city tries to right this by buying a meager parcel of wetlands in the Wrigley area as mitigation. Hey, isn’t this supposed to be about Los Cerritos Wetlands? Guess not. This is about a Long Beach Giveaway, helping bro Tom Dean.

Meanwhile Dean continues to hold the Home Depot parcel, the Wetlands next to the Mobile Home Park and the Pumpkin Patch. This is certainly a win- win situation but for only Tom Dean!

Gary Delong was appointed as Chairman of LCWA, (Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority), and if you read the Authority Agreement, it states their purpose is to acquire Bixby, Bryant, Hellman properties and the 51/2 acre Edison wetland parcel (which Delong now wants to give to Dean).Yeah!

The District Weekly recently printed a list of the 13 scariest people in Long Beach. Hope all you DeLong apologists read it, as Gary DeLong was one of them.

As a staunch supporter of Los Cerritos Wetlands, I would like to know what the Los Cerritos WetLands Land Trust members think of this "giveaway", as they have been strangely silent on the issue.

There is a deal on the table. We should either take it, or recognize that it may be many years before an opportunity comes our way again.

Look at the two reasons DeLong was included on the "Scariest" list - both flimsy at best.

Further, the way I heard it is that the City approached Tom Dean, not vice versa . . .

P.S. Maybe the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust is waiting until they have all the facts before taking a position! (Unlike those of you who have already jumped to the conclusion that purchasing the Wetlands is a bad deal)