(June 12, 2006) -- Following-up on flash first reported on our front page (www.lbreport.com) earlier today, LBReport.com has learned that Mayor O'Neill's office has been informed that Vice Mayor/5th district Councilwoman Jackie Kell won't be present at the June 13 Council meeting.

At that Councilman meeting, the Council is scheduled to hear appeals of the Planning Commission's decision to certify the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) regarding expansion of the Airport's permanent terminal area facilities. Several weeks ago. the Council set June 13 as a date on which the appeals could come up.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, 49 parties have filed appeals...including the LB Unified School District, LB Council PTA, LBHUSH2, [all titles following for identification only] Chapman University Law Professor John Eastman, retired Councilman/LBCC Trustee Jeff Kellogg, LB Redevelopment Agency Boardmember Terry Jensen, LB Airport Advisory Commission members Doug Haubert, Bruce Alton and Carol Soccio and LB realtors Mike Kowal and Joe Sopo.

The June 13 Council meeting is the first following the June 6 runoff election in which challenger Gerrie Schipske leads the two-term Council incumbent and wife of LB's retired Mayor by 262 votes. Councilwoman Kell has not conceded the race, awaiting a final tally of additional provisional and absentee ballots (currently expected June 20).

LBReport.com's efforts to reach Vice Mayor/Councilwoman Kell personally were unsuccessful.,,but Mayor O'Neill's senior advisor, Dianne Jacobus, told us that Councilwoman Kell had advised the Mayor's office that she would not be attending the June 13 Council meeting.

LB Assistant City Attorney Heather Mahood tells LBReport.com that to uphold the Planning Commission's certification of the EIR requires a resolution...which under the LB City Charter requires an affirmative vote of five Councilmembers.

In a June 6 runoff in which she waged a write-in campaign under term limits to remain in office, Councilwoman Kell trails challenger Gerrie Schipske by 262 votes as of June 7 but has not conceded the race, awaiting the Clerk's final count of still-uncounted absentee and provisional ballots before deciding her next move.

LB Airport is in Councilwoman Kell's 5th Council district.

The second district Council seat is currently vacant (with the ballot count not yet completed or certified).