MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Hermosa Beach, California, held on Monday, July 8, 2002, at the hour of 7:20 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Mayor Pro Tem Edgerton

ROLL CALL:
Present: Edgerton, Keegan, Reviczky, Yoon, Mayor Dunbabin
Absent: None

ANNOUNCEMENTS - In response to a concern by Economic Development Review Committee Chairman Joe Mark about a problem with notice to Committee members and a Daily Breeze article that incorrectly stated the meeting was tomorrow night, Mayor Dunbabin suggested an initial discussion this evening with the scheduling of an additional meeting at a future date to allow greater participation.

1. PRESENTATION OF SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT

   Chairman Joe Mark presented the Committee's report and touched on the major options that the report explored such as additional parking; cooperative efforts with property owners and incentives to encourage participation; a public transportation system to reduce the number of cars downtown; and the widening of sidewalks to make Hermosa Beach more pedestrian friendly. He cited examples used in other cities, such as having downtown employees ride to work in shuttles from remote parking areas. He asked for direction from the Council and said it would be helpful if the City began the momentum, noting that he realized all projects would have to fit into the City's budget.

2. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF PROJECTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE

   The major topics discussed by the Council included:

   • Community meetings to get the public involved;
   • The concept of business improvement districts and assessment districts;
   • Tree planting, possibly with funds from an urban tree grant, as a trigger point with free trees and perhaps a citywide barbecue;
   • Welcome to Hermosa Beach signage;
   • The priority of making the City comfortable for residents, which in turn will make visitors comfortable;
   • The need for public transportation to reduce traffic, increase safety, encourage residents to frequent local businesses, and decrease the need for additional parking;
   • Encouraging retailers to keep sidewalks clean in front of their businesses;
   • Recognizing the "Block of the Month" on the City marquee;
   • The possible widening of some sidewalks to encourage a more pedestrian oriented community;
   • The establishment of remote parking and a determination of how far people are willing to walk;
   • The advantages of mixed use, especially with regard to shared parking;
   • The availability of MTA grants;
   • Medians on Pacific Coast Highway;
   • Incentives for residents to clean out their garages to reduce the need for on-street parking; and
   • The placement of notices in trash bills to keep the public informed.

   A subcommittee comprising of Councilmembers Keegan and Reviczky was formed to meet with Aviation Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway business owners starting in mid-September.

CITIZEN COMMENTS

Coming forward to address the Council at this time were:

Betty Ryan

- Hermosa Beach, spoke of the effective use of plants in other cities and suggested a lot of landscaping to keep Hermosa Beach green; suggested local public transportation that was colorful and fun to ride; said the Committee was seeking direction from the Council;

Cathy McCurdy

- Hermosa Beach, spoke in support of a citywide program which could be called "Clean and Green"; suggested a public shuttle to tie the whole city together and encourage resident shopping downtown;

Pete Tucker

- Hermosa Beach, noted that the report had been done by residents; stressed the need to hold more meetings but also to take action soon to keep the enthusiasm alive; said plans for upper Pier Avenue had been designed but not implemented; and

Ron Newman

- Hermosa Beach, spoke of the need to determine the comfortable distance for people walk downtown after parking in remote areas; encouraged the establishment of a public transportation system to tie the community together and provide easy access to the downtown, get cars off the street, promote patronage of City businesses, provide transportation for students to go to school and the beach, possibly with storage areas for boogie boards, etc., and provide an opportunity for retailers to advertise on the shuttles to help underwrite the cost; suggested a citywide garage sale.

City Manager Burrell responded to Council questions and, as directed by the Council, said he would report back on items including parking in the alley behind the businesses on the north side of upper Pier Avenue, mixed use development on Pacific Coast Highway and Aviation Boulevard, the planting of trees to keep the City green, parking at the Community Center, and medians on Pacific Coast Highway, in order of priority.

ADJOURNMENT - The Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hermosa Beach adjourned on Monday, July 8, 2002, at the hour of 9:05 P.M. to the Regular Meeting of Tuesday, July 9, 2002, at the hour of 7:10 P.M.