LONG BEACH >> This downstream Los Angeles River city wants a say in efforts to clean the waterway along points north.

The City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to look into opportunities to collaborate with Los Angeles on a $1 billion revitalization of its namesake river.

The proposal by Vice Mayor Robert Garcia follows Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s push for the plan during his first official visit to Washington in October.

Garcia was not present for the vote, but one of the cosponsors of the item, Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal, called it a “great opportunity” to build the city’s partnership with Los Angeles.

“We in Long Beach have a real and continued interest in any improvements to the L.A. River since it empties into our harbor and impacts our beaches,” said Lowenthal.

Councilman Al Austin co-sponsored the resolution.

The $1 billion L.A. River restoration plan is one of the options proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve the 51-mile river from its start in the San Fernando Valley through Griffith Park, downtown Los Angeles and south to Long Beach and the Pacific Ocean.

Garcetti said Los Angeles has already spent more than $200 million on the river and is looking for federal financial assistance, but the project faces a difficult path as Democrats and Republicans wrangle over spending, deficits and other political disagreements.

A second component of the measure passed Tuesday would start an update of Long Beach’s River Link plan, which guides development and restoration along the river.

Last week, Garcia said the decade-old plan should incorporate wetlands projects, the upcoming 710 Freeway widening and efforts to reuse Shoemaker Bridge as an elevated park.

City Manager Pat West will report back on the efforts in 90 days.

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske was absent for the vote.

Staff writer Rick Orlov contributed to this report. Eric Bradley can be reached at 562-499-1254.