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.
-
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.
-
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.