Long Beach Says Its Library Fence Cost $790K. Records Show About $419K Went to Construction

City records obtained by NBC4 Investigates are raising new questions about what made up the full cost of the controversial fence surrounding the Billie Jean King Main Library.

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Adrian Morales

Adrian Morales covers breaking news, public safety, and community stories across Long Beach for Long Beach Classic.
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The fence surrounding the Billie Jean King Main Library in Downtown Long Beach has already faced criticism over its roughly $790,000 price tag.

Now, there are new questions about exactly where that money went.

According to city records obtained by NBC4 Investigates, the original construction contract with Quality Fence Co. was for $398,168.

A later change order added another $20,395.20, bringing the documented construction contract to $418,563.20.

That’s roughly $371,000 less than the approximately $790,000 total project cost previously provided by the city.

So What Accounts for the Rest?

The difference doesn’t necessarily mean $371,000 is missing. The city’s total project cost can include expenses beyond what was paid directly to the company installing the fence.

The question is exactly what those additional expenses were.

The city has said the overall cost included other project-related expenses beyond construction. However, a detailed breakdown accounting for the roughly $371,000 difference has not been made clear publicly.

That leaves a pretty simple question: How did a $419,000 construction contract become a $790,000 project?

Why Was the Fence Built?

The fencing was installed around the outdoor terrace of the Billie Jean King Main Library next to Lincoln Park.

The area had dealt with ongoing issues involving encampments, homelessness and access to the library’s outdoor spaces.

The enclosed area has since reopened as the Children’s Terrace, which the city says provides a more secure outdoor space for library programs, activities and families.

The fence itself includes approximately 261 feet of galvanized steel fencing and eight gates and doors, according to the construction documents obtained in the investigation.

The project has faced criticism since before it was completed, particularly over whether hundreds of thousands of dollars should have been spent fencing the area instead of addressing homelessness through other services.

Now, the debate has expanded beyond whether the fence was worth the money.

It’s also about understanding exactly how Long Beach arrived at the $790,000 total in the first place.

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