The issue surfaced publicly at the June 2 Council meeting in an otherwise inexplicable colloquy that LBReport.com explains below as a newsworthy matter.

Mr. Smith, who didn't approach LBReport.com about this story, told us in response to a telephone inquiry from us: "I very much enjoyed my time on the Housing Development Company board. As I said at the Council meeting tonight in testifying on another item, the issue of Housing is one of my great passions. At the same time, it's the Mayor's decision whom he wishes to have on the Board and I understand and respect that."

Mr. Smith elaborated in an email:

I have very much enjoyed serving on the Long Beach Housing Development Company Board. I have been an enthusiastic supporter of LBHDC projects and of housing staff. I believe I have contributed significantly to the Board and to the purpose of housing in Long Beach.

When the Mayor's office called me, the response to my question of the topic was that he just wanted to talk to me.

In addition to being happy to continue serving on the LBHDC Board I had applied for a charter commission at the suggestion of my Council-person, Tonia Reyes Uranga.

In the meeting, the Mayor alleged that I had said something about him and Tom Dean regarding a Dean project in West Long Beach. I assured him I had said no such thing. I told the Mayor I had no idea if he (the Mayor) even really knew Tom Dean.

I can't be responsible for what other people say. We had a very cordial, frank conversation about it. We also discussed several City issues.

When I asked about why I wasn't on the list for renewal to the LBHDC Board, he said it was "because of this." It was clear to me I was not being reappointed in response to the false allegations. I asked about the my possible appointment to a Charter commission, but the Mayor didn't seem to be aware that I had applied or whether a commission had any vacancies.

As I left the Mayor's office, I told him I'm happy to continue my service to the city in any way he sees best.

I'm surprised at his actions re my reappointment / appointment. I'm disappointed that the Mayor put false allegations over our personal conversation. Frankly, I'm amazed he's so concerned with something I didn't say.

I do very much appreciate he called me to discuss the issue personally and I continue to have the deepest respect for Mayor Foster.

The issue surfaced publicly during Council consideration of an agenda item dealing with the Mayor's appointments to various non-City Charter Commissions. Mr. Smith testified earlier at the Council meeting on another item but had left City Hall and wasn't present for the item on the Mayor's appointments.

Belmont Shore Residents Association President Mike Ruehle came to the public podium and cited an Oct. 2008 city management memo [mentioned in a June 2 LBReport.com editorial] that indicated non-Charter required Commissions would be eliminated for budget reasons...and asked rhetorically why this wasn't being done.

Mr. Ruehle went on to say, "I have to say, why are we doing this [making appointments to Commission that management said would be ended]?...If these things are not political, then why would you remove, Mayor Foster, a previously appointed Commissioner because you said he implied that you and Tom Dean were friends?"

A brief exchange ensued between Mr. Ruehle and Mayor Foster...but after other public testimony escalated into a more pointed exchange involving Councilwoman Tonia Reyes (for whom Mr. Smith is a constituent) and the Mayor. In the exchange with Councilwoman Reyes Uranga, Mayor Foster said [without identifying Mr. Smith] that the statement "wasn't a disagreement. It was a statement he allegedly made in a public setting that had nothing to do with anything I said. He conveyed an opinion about what I said, made a statement stating that I said something or that I must have been in favor of something because of that. I had never even talking to him, never even talked to him..."

Mayor Foster added, "I had a conversation with the gentleman, which is exactly what I should do, because I wanted to clear the air...I talked to the gentleman personally. That's exactly what you do."

To hear the colloquies, click here. [The two separate colloquies are connected in our audio clip by a "whoosh" sound.]

[update] At midmorning, the Mayor's office issued a statement on the matter, which LBReport.com has reported verbatim. To view the statement, click here. [end update]

So...what's next? "I think it's important to move on," Mr. Smith said.

The Council approved Mayor Foster's Commission appointees 9-0.