MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Hermosa Beach, California, held on Tuesday, September 28, 2000, at the hour of 7:15 P.M.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Police Captain Mike Lavin

 

ROLL CALL :

Present: Bowler, Dunbabin, Edgerton, Mayor Reviczky
Absent: Oakes

 

DISCUSSION OF ISSUES RELATING TO 4TH OF JULY ACTIVITIES AND RELATED NOISE ISSUES . Supplemental draft ordinance amending the noise control chapter of the Municipal Code. Supplemental letter from Sue and John Horger received September 26, 2000.

 

Public participation opened at 7:24 P.M. Coming forward to address the Council were the following Hermosa residents:

Ron Gillett - expressed concern about the Ironman event which starts early in the morning; said people go on rooftops to watch it; asked if the event required a permit and questioned the liability of the City;

Sam Perrotti - said parties today involve 200-300 people, and the more people, the less control; suggested requiring a permit for parties exceeding a certain number of attendees, making party-givers responsible for all activities;

Carol Reznichek - did not oppose the parties, but said the City plan should include sweeps of the whole Strand, noting that problems build in other areas during the Ironman event; said monitoring the noise and a better police presence would help; also said the big speakers placed in alleys should not be allowed;

Bernie Robbins - expressed concern about the use of fireworks on the Strand and beach and the safety of the homes, noting he found remnants of fireworks on his roof; said fireworks are illegal and the City should make it clear that their use will not be tolerated;

Eric Kenyon - Hermosa Beach, said the solution was the objective monitoring of noise;

Jim Caldwell - expressed concern about the noise from the Plaza coming from speakers placed outside establishments and about transient noise from drunks walking on Manhattan Avenue and especially Palm Drive because it was dark; suggested better lighting in the alleys;

Jerry Costello - said his neighbor threw a party but did not allow guests to use the facilities so they used his yard instead; said the problems should be resolved before next year;

Laurie Katayama - said the music from downtown should not be heard after 10 P.M.; said there was more traffic as well and suggested limiting Manhattan Avenue to one-hour parking; said the drunks litter, urinate and do graffiti and the 4th of July was getting worse each year;

Mordy Benjamin - asked about the availability of the sheriffs to help the City; said the crowds were getting out of control and ordinances needed enforcement;

Pete Tucker - said the City prepared well for New Year's Eve and had police presence and no problems; thought many of the problems began with the Ironman contest; said the City needed a Code Enforcement Officer;

Janet Hamilton - said the City needed to enforce no alcohol on the beach and Strand and use sweeps as needed, not just on the 4th of July; said police vehicles should be on the beach on weekends during warm weather;

Gina Nyman - expressed concern about noise at 2-3 A.M. with people walking back after an evening downtown; suggested that bars and restaurants print "please be courteous to your neighbors" messages on napkins and doors; said the police should be up at Manhattan Avenue at that time asking people to be quiet; requested that something be done about parking on their block;

Sandy Seaman - expressed concern about noise impacts coming from the open door of the neighboring North End Bar and from customers outside smoking and drinking; suggested a reduction of their bar hours and removal of public parking from the street;

Mike Lacey - Comedy and Magic Club owner, said he recently became involved with the Restaurant and Bar Association and they have come up with ideas to resolve some of the concerns raised, including recycling all bottles to eliminate noise when trash is dumped, contacting taxi companies about staying in lines to pick up fares, and placing portable restrooms in downtown areas on weekends to eliminate public urination; suggested that the City hire someone to go out and attract desired businesses to the City to get a better mix; supported creating more parking under the tennis courts and having trolleys bring people to the downtown area;

Tom Amorosi - North End Bar owner, said they hired a doorman to keep smokers quiet and the noise level has been reduced; said the owners of the five homes directly across from his business were not complaining;

Susan Seaman - requested a designated taxi stand to eliminate the noise of people yelling for cabs; suggested limiting the on-street parking to residents only; requested that the alcohol law be enforced;

John Quartz - North End Bar owner, disputed some of the comments made tonight about his business;

Chris Alexander - said people yell for cabs all night long and the cabs blow their horns; said a solution was needed for the parking problem;

Jim Lissner - said the City was sending the wrong message by adding more liquor licenses and allowing year-round events on the beach; suggested the use of different or materials to eliminate the noise echo effect;

Joan Dambros - suggested having police beats with officers on foot; expressed concern about motorcycle noise;

Frank Wattles - expressed concern about the proposed "reasonable man" ordinance; said measuring the noise by decibels was more objective;

Bill Sigler - requested that the Council take as many actions as possible; and

Susan Blaco - asked why permits were not required for the Ironman since police were assigned to be there; said the event organizers should have to pay for police services as other groups do;

 

Public participation closed at 8:40 P.M.

 

City Manager Burrell and Police Chief Straser responded to Council questions.

 

Action : To direct staff to bring back the draft noise ordinance presented this evening with a full staff report for Council consideration at a future regular meeting.
Motion Bowler, second Mayor Reviczky. The motion carried, noting the absence of Oakes.

 

Action : To direct staff to draft an ordinance or amend the City's current ordinance, as necessary, to require a permit for private parties of over 100 people.
Motion Bowler, second Edgerton. The motion carried, noting the absence of Oakes.

 

City Manager Burrell said staff would present a proposal that includes permits and other criteria as well.

 

Mayor Reviczky directed staff to bring back an action plan detailing how the City will address the issues, including the need for additional officers, for all holidays.

 

Police Chief Straser said the action plan for all holidays would be done before New Year's Eve. City Manager Burrell said the action plan would include input from almost every department, including the Fire Department.

 

Mayor Reviczky directed the posting of signage about two or three weeks in advance of the 4th of July stating that fireworks are not allowed on the beach.

 

City Manager Burrell said staff would put the signs up about two or three weeks in advance.

 

Mayor Reviczky directed staff to look into the feasibility of designating taxi stands in the downtown area and in the north end as well, if it is a problem.

 

There was Council consensus to hold off on considering any changes to the parking restrictions at this time.

 

Mayor Reviczky directed staff to look into a sign program that deals with courtesy and respect for neighbors when leaving downtown businesses.

 

Councilmember Edgerton suggested a higher police patrol presence at 1-2:30 A.M. on Hermosa Avenue, Manhattan Avenue, and Palm Drive, to make people move along. So directed.

 

Mayor Reviczky directed staff to enforce the conditional use permits with regard to outdoor speakers and open windows and doors, noting that requests for outdoor speakers should go through the permit amendment process for consideration.

 

Action : To direct an amendment at the appropriate time to the City's ordinance to take advantage of AB2187 which, if signed by the Governor, would take effect January 1, prohibiting the consumption as well as the "possession" of open containers in public places in the City.
Motion Mayor Reviczky, second Dunbabin. The motion carried, noting the absence of Oakes.

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS :

 

Coming forward to address the Council at this time were:

Geoffrey Hirsch - Parks and Recreation Commission, volunteered to work on a formal event honoring Hermosa resident and volleyball gold medalist Eric Fonoimoana; and

John Hales - Hermosa Beach, said the first gold medalist from the City was from 20+ years ago.

 

Mayor Reviczky asked that a proclamation be prepared for presentation to Eric Fonoimoana at the next meeting.

 

ADJOURNMENT - The Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hermosa Beach adjourned on Tuesday, September 28, 2000, at the hour of 10:33 P.M. to the Regular Meeting of Tuesday, October 10, 2000, at the hour of 7:10 P.M.

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