The Seal Beach City Council could revisit a proposed contract to recover oil revenue. That’s because of a request from District Two Councilman Thomas Moore at the June 25 council meeting.
Councilman Moore had to recuse himself from the June 11 vote on an oil contract because of a potential conflict of interest. At the time, Moore said the oil revenue recovery contract could have a “material financial effect” on Crimson Pipeline, a client of his employer.
But at Monday’s meeting, Moore said during council comments that “the company that thought it was a large part of the contract that I work for is actually a very small part of that contract.” Moore then “asked the City Attorney that this item be added to the agenda with a contract that does not include Crimson Pipeline to avoid any conflict” therefore allowing Moore to vote on the matter.
It’s not clear when a revised contract could be presented to council for consideration. In an email message on Tuesday morning, Moore wrote, that when it does come before council he “will be able to review this item with the other council members to make a determination of what we feel is best for the City. I will look at both sides of this issue and consider everything before making any decision,” Moore wrote.
At the June 11 City Council meeting, the council deadlocked two to two to deny a contract with Greg Kirste and Municipal Petroleum Analysts. The proposed one-year contract would have given Kirste a 15 percent contingency fee on any one-time or ongoing revenue he identified that the city collected from oil companies for a period of seven years. Kirste has estimated there are millions of dollars in unpaid taxes, fees and other payments owed to the City of Seal Beach. Another proposal to pursue a $45,000 contract with oil contractor Clarke and Greene deadlocked in a two to two vote, as well.
