Belmont Shore Residents Association
MEETING MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
January 8, 2015
The meeting was called to order by President Terence Endersen at 6:00 pm. The other members of the Executive Board present were: Aileen Colon, Julie Dean, Dick Gaylord, Secretary Jeff Miller, David "Coach" Newell, and Treasurer Robert O'Connor. Vice President Max Alavi and Executive Board member Sara Schumacher were absent. Twenty-six additional BSRA members and visitors were present.
The agenda for this meeting was approved and the minutes of the December 11 meeting were approved.
LBPD East Division Lieutenant Jeff Lieberman reported the high level of police staffing on New Year's Eve and said this contributed to the low number of incidents that evening. He provided details of some recent crime incidents and noted the continuing problem of unlocked doors or windows as a primary factor in the case of many residential burglaries. Likewise, visible items in autos remain a significant issue in auto burglaries.
In Public Participation, two residents spoke about crime issues and the planned parking study.
The guest speaker was Elvira Hallinan, Manager of Marine Operations, who spoke about issues related to the beach and responded to questions. Some of the items discussed: Kite surfing activities will be limited to three vendors. Shade canopies will be allowed, but must be removed each evening. Vendor's trucks must also be removed each evening. Permit holders will be allowed to give lessons, rent equipment, and sell limited 'sundry' items. Ms. Hallinan explained that different City agencies are responsible for different aspects of beach matters, for example Special Events is in charge of the summer Sea Festival events. She said to contact her with questions and she will refer callers to the appropriate agency. (email: [email protected]) Dog Beach: signs are being prepared to replace the orange cones now used to delineate the area. Transients and homeless: outreach efforts are continuing, and police are responding to illegal activity and violations. Dogs are not allowed on the pedestrian path. (Suzie Price, Third District Councilwoman interjected here, saying she does not support allowing dogs on the path at this time because there is insufficient enforcement capability.) Councilwoman Price had unexpectedly arrived at the meeting, and was welcomed.
Alexis Rabenn, owner of Quinns and board member of the BSBA, announced the Chocolate Festival event is scheduled for February 7 from 1 to 4 pm. Also that day there will be a chocolate chip pancake breakfast available for $5. Open Sesame plans to expand into the space vacated by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Questions have been raised about allowing another retail location to become a restaurant with no provision for parking. Their corner location will close but will be re-opened later as a different restaurant. Phuket Thai is closing.
Kristina Duggan, Third Council District Field Representative, announced a neighborhood meeting scheduled for January 24 at 9 am. Preceding that meeting will be a Community Watch meeting, at 8 am. Questions from the audience were addressed by Duggan and Councilwoman Price: Dog Beach violations and lack of enforcement, hazardous traffic on Broadway and Ocean Blvd., concern about lack of parking for additional patrons and staff at an expanded Open Sesame, high rents on Second Street, lack of funding for a new Belmont Pool, and the continuing eyesore at the former Roe restaurant were some of the topics addressed. Councilwoman Price announced that longtime City Traffic Engineer Dave Roseman was no longer the City's Traffic Engineer, and that Derek Wieske is handling those duties.
Councilwoman Price also announced that the Bay Shore Library will begin opening on Sundays, beginning February 22, to which the audience responded enthusiastically. Following the Third Council District report and the discussion that followed, Councilwoman Price and Kristina Duggan departed the meeting.
President Endersen reported there was no Parking Commission meeting in December.
Secretary Miller announced the planned mailing of membership dues reminder notices to approximately thirty members who have not renewed their membership.
Treasurer O'Connor reported the bank account balance is now $3,717.
In Old Business, Secretary Miller presented a letter from the Board to Mike Conway, Long Beach Director of Economic and Property Development, detailing comments from the Board members and from the audience at the December BSRA meeting. This was a follow-up to Conway's presentation at that meeting when he offered a draft of the Belmont Shore Parking Study RFP Scope of Work document and requested comments. A motion was approved unanimously to send the letter to Conway.
Julie Dean announced the upcoming BSRA Members Survey, which will be sent to all BSRA members by email later this month. This will be an opinion survey concerning topics related to the Shore that have been addressed at meetings in the last few years.
Aileen Colon began a discussion of the application by Super Mex for a type 47 liquor license - beer, wine, and liquor. They currently have a type 41 license - beer and wine only. This restaurant is in a high crime area (as defined by LBPD) with an over concentration of liquor licenses (3 licenses are allowed, 20 exist on the north side of Second Street), it is close to the Tot Lot children's playground and less than 100 feet from residences. They have an open patio which extends across the back of their restaurant and three additional businesses. Some points noted in the discussion: allowing this change from a beer and wine license to a full liquor license would set a precedent for other similar restaurants in the Shore, many late-night problems can be attributed to the excess number of type 47 licenses already on Second Street, the cost of this license would encourage Super Mex to heavily promote hard liquor sales. The discussion led to a motion to oppose the license application, which was approved unanimously by the Board.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 pm.
Submitted by:
Jeff Miller, Secretary
MEETING MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
January 8, 2015
The meeting was called to order by President Terence Endersen at 6:00 pm. The other members of the Executive Board present were: Aileen Colon, Julie Dean, Dick Gaylord, Secretary Jeff Miller, David "Coach" Newell, and Treasurer Robert O'Connor. Vice President Max Alavi and Executive Board member Sara Schumacher were absent. Twenty-six additional BSRA members and visitors were present.
The agenda for this meeting was approved and the minutes of the December 11 meeting were approved.
LBPD East Division Lieutenant Jeff Lieberman reported the high level of police staffing on New Year's Eve and said this contributed to the low number of incidents that evening. He provided details of some recent crime incidents and noted the continuing problem of unlocked doors or windows as a primary factor in the case of many residential burglaries. Likewise, visible items in autos remain a significant issue in auto burglaries.
In Public Participation, two residents spoke about crime issues and the planned parking study.
The guest speaker was Elvira Hallinan, Manager of Marine Operations, who spoke about issues related to the beach and responded to questions. Some of the items discussed: Kite surfing activities will be limited to three vendors. Shade canopies will be allowed, but must be removed each evening. Vendor's trucks must also be removed each evening. Permit holders will be allowed to give lessons, rent equipment, and sell limited 'sundry' items. Ms. Hallinan explained that different City agencies are responsible for different aspects of beach matters, for example Special Events is in charge of the summer Sea Festival events. She said to contact her with questions and she will refer callers to the appropriate agency. (email: [email protected]) Dog Beach: signs are being prepared to replace the orange cones now used to delineate the area. Transients and homeless: outreach efforts are continuing, and police are responding to illegal activity and violations. Dogs are not allowed on the pedestrian path. (Suzie Price, Third District Councilwoman interjected here, saying she does not support allowing dogs on the path at this time because there is insufficient enforcement capability.) Councilwoman Price had unexpectedly arrived at the meeting, and was welcomed.
Alexis Rabenn, owner of Quinns and board member of the BSBA, announced the Chocolate Festival event is scheduled for February 7 from 1 to 4 pm. Also that day there will be a chocolate chip pancake breakfast available for $5. Open Sesame plans to expand into the space vacated by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Questions have been raised about allowing another retail location to become a restaurant with no provision for parking. Their corner location will close but will be re-opened later as a different restaurant. Phuket Thai is closing.
Kristina Duggan, Third Council District Field Representative, announced a neighborhood meeting scheduled for January 24 at 9 am. Preceding that meeting will be a Community Watch meeting, at 8 am. Questions from the audience were addressed by Duggan and Councilwoman Price: Dog Beach violations and lack of enforcement, hazardous traffic on Broadway and Ocean Blvd., concern about lack of parking for additional patrons and staff at an expanded Open Sesame, high rents on Second Street, lack of funding for a new Belmont Pool, and the continuing eyesore at the former Roe restaurant were some of the topics addressed. Councilwoman Price announced that longtime City Traffic Engineer Dave Roseman was no longer the City's Traffic Engineer, and that Derek Wieske is handling those duties.
Councilwoman Price also announced that the Bay Shore Library will begin opening on Sundays, beginning February 22, to which the audience responded enthusiastically. Following the Third Council District report and the discussion that followed, Councilwoman Price and Kristina Duggan departed the meeting.
President Endersen reported there was no Parking Commission meeting in December.
Secretary Miller announced the planned mailing of membership dues reminder notices to approximately thirty members who have not renewed their membership.
Treasurer O'Connor reported the bank account balance is now $3,717.
In Old Business, Secretary Miller presented a letter from the Board to Mike Conway, Long Beach Director of Economic and Property Development, detailing comments from the Board members and from the audience at the December BSRA meeting. This was a follow-up to Conway's presentation at that meeting when he offered a draft of the Belmont Shore Parking Study RFP Scope of Work document and requested comments. A motion was approved unanimously to send the letter to Conway.
Julie Dean announced the upcoming BSRA Members Survey, which will be sent to all BSRA members by email later this month. This will be an opinion survey concerning topics related to the Shore that have been addressed at meetings in the last few years.
Aileen Colon began a discussion of the application by Super Mex for a type 47 liquor license - beer, wine, and liquor. They currently have a type 41 license - beer and wine only. This restaurant is in a high crime area (as defined by LBPD) with an over concentration of liquor licenses (3 licenses are allowed, 20 exist on the north side of Second Street), it is close to the Tot Lot children's playground and less than 100 feet from residences. They have an open patio which extends across the back of their restaurant and three additional businesses. Some points noted in the discussion: allowing this change from a beer and wine license to a full liquor license would set a precedent for other similar restaurants in the Shore, many late-night problems can be attributed to the excess number of type 47 licenses already on Second Street, the cost of this license would encourage Super Mex to heavily promote hard liquor sales. The discussion led to a motion to oppose the license application, which was approved unanimously by the Board.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 pm.
Submitted by:
Jeff Miller, Secretary