MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Hermosa Beach, California, held on Tuesday, July 1, 1997, at the hour of 7:25 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Pete Tucker, Planning Commissioner

ROLL CALL:

Present: Benz, Bowler, Oakes, Mayor Reviczky

Absent: Edgerton

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Reviczky announced that the purpose of tonight's meeting was to receive public input on the preliminary parking structure design alternatives to be presented this evening by the architect. He said the workshop had been scheduled because Council wanted to ensure that those most affected by the project had the opportunity to be involved early in the design process. He described the meeting format, saying there would be a brief staff report followed by a presentation by the parking structure architects and then audience comments. He invited interested members of the public to walk up during the presentation to look at the model which was located in the middle of the room.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - None

CONSIDERATION OF DESIGN ALTERNATIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI-LEVEL PARKING STRUCTURE TO BE DEVELOPED ON PUBLIC PARKING LOT C

City Manager Burrell reiterated that the primary purpose of this workshop meeting was to gather public input before the design process began and actual plans were developed for the proposed parking structure on lot C, so that public comments could be taken into account throughout the design process. He said the architects had prepared a model and design alternatives relating to site constraints. He said tonight's discussion would be informal and would be followed up by future meetings as the project moves along.

Councilmember Oakes left the meeting at 7:30 p.m., noting that she had already heard the architect's presentation at an earlier Council subcommittee meeting.

Pauline Souza, of Gordon H. Chong & Partners architectural firm, presented a site-analysis board prepared after the initial visit to the site which showed a mix of commercial and residential in the area, a primary view corridor down 13th Street, the retail area anticipated on the Hermosa Avenue edge and pedestrian access, noting this was one layer of information gathered to help with the development of the project. She said they also read the environmental impact report and were aware of concerns about lighting, security, mass and bulk. She reviewed the size of the site and the proposed structure, noting that a portion of 13th Street would be used. She then reviewed the structural and functional considerations and said the current proposal showed hotel access at the northwest corner of the structure and public access at the southeast corner, noting that the southeast corner would be notched for queuing into the structure. She said the structure, which would be 22 feet 8 inches at its highest point, would have two elevated decks with a one-way system. She said the hotel entrance would access 100 parking stalls on the ground level, and the public entrance would access 11 parking spaces on the bottom level and 300 total on the two elevated decks. She said an area on the east side of the ground floor would accommodate trash, electrical, storage and office space She said there would be two lanes for queuing at the public entrance to enable cars to pull up and stack and then go up a five-percent ramp. She pointed out the locations of the elevators and stairs and then reviewed the architectural and landscape considerations. She said based on the site, the structure should be kept low and simple and stressed the importance of keeping the view corridor at 13th Street clear. She said the proposed architecture was very simple with a lot of horizontal lines and was in keeping with architecture found along the beaches in California and in Greece, and she referred to the display showing elevations and images of other structures. She reviewed the proposed landscaping around the structure and suggested a green plaza on the Hermosa Avenue side since it was as yet unknown when retail would be developed at that location.

Coming forward to address the Council on this item were:

Chris Bennett - 1286 Strand, asked how long it would take to build the structure and if any pre-fab work would be involved (Ms. Souza said construction would take from 13 to 15 months and that the entire structure would be built on site);

Sam Perrotti - 1506 Golden Avenue, Planning Commissioner, said people had expressed concerns about security at the Planning Commission meeting and asked about proposed lighting and other security measures (Ms. Souza said the structure would be as open as possible to avoid dark or hidden areas and would be painted a light color to keep it bright inside; re the lighting; said the fixtures would be located in the center of all of the drive aisles, at the corners, in the stair corridors and at the entrances, noting that the all of the fixtures would be focused down to keep the lighting contained in the parking structure, with no overspill to impact adjacent properties) (Mayor Reviczky noted the possibility of eventually moving parking enforcement into the structure, saying that the presence of officers would further enhance the security of the structure);

Steve Goddard - 57 14th Court, expressed concern about anticipated traffic usage on his street; asked if the parking structure walls would be high enough to prevent the glare of headlights from shining into his home; also concerned about noise from cars going up and down the ramp (Ms. Souza said hotel patrons would have access down 14th Court, noting the need for further study of that street before final decisions; said the structure walls would be high enough to shield headlights and that any noise would be minimal due to the gradual 5-percent slope) (Mayor Reviczky noted the structure would have an attendant and cars would be permitted to enter only if there were available parking spaces to accommodate them, so no one would be circling in search for a parking space);

Pat Spiritus - 1610 Strand, business owner of 58 11th Street, referred to the commercial lot between the parking structure and Hermosa Avenue and suggested consideration of a pedestrian-friendly open-air market at that location until such time as the site is developed; suggested motorcycle parking for any odd-shaped small spaces left over in the structure after the designation of parking spaces; also suggested bicycle parking within the structure and asked about the use of amber lighting (Ms. Souza said although high-pressure sodium lighting was sometimes used in parking structures, they were recommending a white light because it was the most efficient and would blend with most of the downtown lighting; said there would be areas on the ground floor for motorcycle and bicycle parking; said some features could be changed depending on the use in front);

John Hales - 624 Eighth Place, asked how the future store fronts facing Hermosa Avenue in front of the parking structure would be serviced by large service and trash trucks (Ms. Souza said they were recommending a temporary green plaza until the area in question is developed) (Mayor Reviczky said there were no proposals to provide retail at this time, and that Hermosa Avenue would be available for servicing whatever stores go in there in the future);

Pete Tucker - 235 34th Street, Planning Commissioner, said during its environmental review of the project the Commission had hoped for planters or something similar to break up the massiveness of the structure itself, and for a break in the structure on the north end to allow more light and ventilation for the homes there (Ms. Souza said the elevation at the north edge was proposed to be a maximum of 11 feet 6 inches and that it would taper along with the structure to reduce the massiveness and minimize the build-out; said the notch for queuing would also preserve some of the view corridor; and said landscaping would be placed on all sides of the structure, not just the north side);

Tiffany Moher - owner of a retail shop on Hermosa Avenue, asked about alternative parking places during the construction period and if access to her business would be affected (Community Development Director Blumenfeld said the City would arrange a temporary shuttle program to deal with the interim use of some remote parking to primarily accommodate the downtown employees, which would offset about 300 parking spaces in the downtown and more than make up for the lost parking on lot C; said the City also would be looking at a permanent shuttle program; said neither Hermosa Avenue nor 15th Street would be closed during construction);

Steve Goddard - 57 14th Court, said he currently had two parking spaces directly in front of his house which would be eliminated when the street was opened to traffic, asked what consideration there would be for his parking and if he would be able to have spaces assigned to him in the parking structure; asked if curbs would be installed (Community Development Director Blumenfeld said the speaker's house was an existing non-conforming residential use in the downtown and if the use were to change, the building would have to be brought into conformity; said if the two referenced parking spaces are located on 14th Court, a public alley proposed to become a functioning public alley, it would be up to the property owner to provide parking; said a parking policy regarding the allocation of parking spaces in the parking structure was an issue that the Council would be considering at a future time; said Public Works had looked at the issue of improvement but there were currently no curbs or radical changes planned for the street elevations);

Hal Burger - 68 14th Street, said he accessed his garage from 14th Court, expressed concern about safety due to the increased traffic flow; asked about increased noise from the open top deck of the structure created by patrons exiting their vehicles; asked about an echoing effect on the first level; asked about litter control and lighting (Community Development Blumenfeld said ingress and egress currently taken off 14th Court would continue; said 14th Court was a currently closed off public alley which would become an open public alley and it was not clear that the parking structure would create an increased traffic flow on 14th Court, noting that the primary entrance to the structure is from 13th Street; said there was a problem concerning nonconforming uses on that street which was an issue that would have to be addressed) (Ms. Souza said the top deck of the structure should be no noisier than the current parking lot; said the parking structure would be an open design which would minimize noise bouncing off of hard surfaces; said trash receptacles were typically located at the stairways; said they would be very careful to ensure that light is not directly focused on any adjoining properties);

John Hales - 624 Eighth Place, asked if there would be dedicated spaces at the west end of the structure to accommodate service trucks for the hotel (Community Development Director Blumenfeld said when the hotel project was reviewed by Council and the Planning Commission in December, a drop-off area for guests and service was added as a result of the environmental review process and the terminus of 13th Street was to be designed as a loading area to serve all of the businesses and to service special events, and that no spaces would be provided in the parking structure for service vehicles);

Craig French - 1300 The Strand, expressed concern about noise and asked if there was any type of surface texture to eliminate the screeching of tires that occurred in garages on rainy days (Ms. Souza said the squeal of tires can be eliminated with a gripping surface in the concrete) (Sam Nunes, architect, said the noise came from people on foot going to and from their cars, walking in the stairwells or waiting for elevators; said the stairwells and elevators would be located in the corners at 13th Street/Hermosa Avenue and 13th Street/Beach Drive to keep the most public areas of the garage away from the hotel and the residences; said cars make no more noise in a structure than they do on surface streets; said they would use tooth in the finish of the concrete to create a grip between the tire and the surface and eliminate the squeal of tires); and

Chris Bennett - asked if 13th Street would be closed during the construction and asked about parking validation (Ms. Souza said there would be access on 13th Street but no parking both during and after construction) (Mayor Reviczky said parking validation was an issue to be determined at a future date).

Mayor Reviczky noted there would be future meetings on this item and asked the architects to deliver the model to City Hall well in advance of the next public hearing to allow for adequate public review.

CITIZEN COMMENTS - None

ADJOURNMENT - The Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hermosa Beach adjourned on Tuesday, July 1, 1997 at the hour of 8:26 P.M. to the Regular Meeting of Tuesday, July 8, 1997 at the hour of 7:10 P.M.

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