Belmont Shore Residents Association
MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
June 9, 2016
The meeting was called to order by President Terence Endersen at 6:00 pm. Executive Board Members Ray Bradford, Aileen Colon and Julie Dean as well as Treasurer Robert O'Connor were present. 23 additional BSRA members and visitors were present. Vice President Max Alavi was absent and excused.
The Executive Board voted for the agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the March 10, April 14 and May 12 meetings.
Bay Shore Librarian Debi Vilander gave the library moment announcing:
The Summer Reading program kicked off for kids, teens and adults. There will be events every day from June to July, including the Bark Dog program where kids are able to read to dogs to strengthen their reading skills.
Also, a reminder that the first Saturday of each month is Craft & Movie day at 3pm at the library, free of charge.
LBPD Sgt Tim Olsen provided the following updates:
Elizabeth Lambe, Executive Director Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust and Linda Pemberton, Board member of Belmont Heights Community Association and Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust explained the following:
SEASP Map:
Third District Councilwoman Price’s office updates from Jack Cunningham included:
Belmont Shore Business Association update from Dede Rossi:
President’s Report:
Treasurer’s Report:
Public Comment:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm
Submitted by:
Julie Dean, Executive Board
MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
June 9, 2016
The meeting was called to order by President Terence Endersen at 6:00 pm. Executive Board Members Ray Bradford, Aileen Colon and Julie Dean as well as Treasurer Robert O'Connor were present. 23 additional BSRA members and visitors were present. Vice President Max Alavi was absent and excused.
The Executive Board voted for the agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the March 10, April 14 and May 12 meetings.
Bay Shore Librarian Debi Vilander gave the library moment announcing:
The Summer Reading program kicked off for kids, teens and adults. There will be events every day from June to July, including the Bark Dog program where kids are able to read to dogs to strengthen their reading skills.
Also, a reminder that the first Saturday of each month is Craft & Movie day at 3pm at the library, free of charge.
LBPD Sgt Tim Olsen provided the following updates:
- Assault at 2nd & Pomona where a drunk male and drunk female were fighting outside. The female was the aggressor. Once people arrived she was disappeared and no one knew who she was, nor could they find her.
- A drunk aggressor left the Crows/Chianina area of Naples and started harassing and fighting with the valet. Aggressor was detained at the scene of the assault and given a citation.
- In the 5300 block of 2nd St, in front of Sushi on Fire, three unknown suspects began fighting with a victim. The three suspects were furious that they were kicked out of a business. The victim did not want to prosecute for the assault.
- In the 4900 block of 2nd St a robbery took place where the suspect snatched the sunglasses off of the victim’s head.
- Beat officers say that most problems are still related to bikes being stolen out of open garages and car break-ins where residents are not locking their cars. Suspects simply try car door handles until they find an open one and then rob victims of the valuables in the car.
- On July 4th the LBPD project includes a command post and booking van for the potential of mass illegal fireworks arrests. If residents see fireworks being set, please call police.
- Vehicle thefts are up. Some suspects are using “shave keys”, which allows suspects to easily access and steal older cars. Do not know what the trend is regarding new or old cars. Expensive cars are more difficult to steal so they don’t tend to be the trend.
- FYI, regarding the Police Report, the times on the report are when the call is made.
- Two groups of guys were caught in Long Beach who were checking windows and doors and sometimes kicking in doors that were easy to enter. They cut screens in an “L” fashion, so it looked like the screen was still in place and people didn’t realize a burglary was going on.
- Resident Question: How can we work with the LBPD so that we feel safer? Our quality of life has diminished. Police Answer: Residents are the eyes and ears for the police. Please call if you see anything out of line. If you feel something is weird, you’re probably right; there’s probably something wrong going on. This is the best way the community can help.
- RQ: Just had car broken into and items stolen. Alarm company installed the alarm, but a shave key was used to access car. PA: LBPD are running sweeps and other patrol activities.
- RQ: Thank you for being so responsive. Someone came down driveway, resident challenged stranger and stranger said he was looking for Broadway. Resident called 911. Stranger went to next neighbor and next neighbor, etc. Within two minutes the police were onsite and there was a helicopter overhead.
- Reminder: non-emergency police line is 562-435-6711
- Most of the 2nd Street cameras should be working by the end of July.
Elizabeth Lambe, Executive Director Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust and Linda Pemberton, Board member of Belmont Heights Community Association and Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust explained the following:
- The Los Cerritos Wetlands offers kayak tours, hiking tours, newsletters and more. Their next kayak trip into Los Cerritos Wetlands will be Sunday, July 31st. If interested, reserve your spot by sending an email to: Elizabeth Lambe, Executive Director Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust at [email protected].
- The Los Cerritos Wetlands falls within the SEADIP (Southeast Area Development and Improvement Plan) project boundaries, which regulates the land use, design, transportation, resource conservation and infrastructure of the area and replaced the old zoning when it was implemented.
- The proposed changes to this decades-old zoning plan, renamed SEASP (Southeast Area Specific Plan) and which would guide development in the 1,500-acre area over the next 50 years, were received with skepticism by some residents.
- Elizabeth wants the best protection for the fragile eco system of the Wetlands and wants to know what the new zoning and plan will do for people who live nearby. The traffic will have an impact, due to the plan’s immense amount of retail and residential development allowance. The plans say that the community will get some benefits back and that they want to strive for a balance between commercial property owners and residents, however at this point, the community benefits are not guaranteed and not required within any specific timeline. Developers have the option to implement the community benefits years after their own commercial development, if at all.
- Elizabeth sat on the SEASP Community Advisory Committee and Linda was a public observer at most committee meetings. Linda asked to be added to the committee but was told she wasn’t needed because she lives in Belmont Heights.
- The SEASP area includes all of the power plants, oil fields, wetlands, and a large retail and residential strip along PCH. Please see SEASP Map below, to fully understand the scope.
- Outreach was conducted via creation of the Community Advisory Board, public meetings and 210 page draft conceptual plan public review and input, however no one from the Naples Improvement Association, Peninsula Beach Preservation Group or the Belmont Shore Residents Association was on the Community Advisory Committee even though these neighborhoods are highly affected by the traffic at 2nd & PCH.
- The next step will be the release of the PEIR (Program Environmental Impact Report) and it will be important for residents to look at this and give input immediately.
- There are some great things being proposed: landscaped median down PCH to slow down traffic, city place markers, restoring wetlands, bike paths, pedestrian paths, additional streets, open spaced/view corridors, design elements. The question is why can’t we do all of this without the high density? Commercial property owners want a tradeoff, but what if we don’t want all of these as a tradeoff?
- Christopher Koontz advised Linda that the only way for the commercial property owners to see profitability is if they go with high density solutions.
- As part of the new plan, Mixed Use land use designation would apply to the following areas: the Marina Pacifica Mall, the Marketplace, the Hotel at 2nd & PCH and the area where Whole Foods is.
- Mixed Use allows for
- Hotels/hospitality
- Parking
- Retail
- Office
- Dwelling units and more
- Per the Draft plan, these Mixed Use areas would be allowed to have up to a total of 5300 dwelling units and 425 hotel rooms.
- Some of the Mixed Use Density details include
- Increase in height up to 5-7 stories
- Increase population to 9000+ and resident Units increased to 5600+
- Reduced requirements with mixed use, meaning you can do more things with a lower level of service (lower quality of traffic in regards to flow, speed and density, 15-20% fewer parking spaces, etc.)
- Impact of Density
- Traffic
- Parking
- Wetlands
- Neighboring communities
- Feasibility of funding for public benefits
- RQ: What about safety, tsunami, evacuation? Has that been looked at in regards to high density traffic? A: Unsure. Will research.
- RQ: They keep building up DTLB and it directly affects the Shore residents, but no one seems to concern themselves with these issues. A: DTLB has a different infrastructure that supposedly allows for higher density.
- The plans will have to be approved by the Coastal Commission. Current zoning for the area is pre-coastal act and really isn’t legal anymore. Traffic gets so bad and environmental protection laws get more lax; zoning should be updated to reflect realities of today.
- Changes in Density – up by 138%
- Existing dwellings in SEASP area is 4079 (please see map below to understand the scope); the plan for mixed area alone, where there are currently no dwellings, is 5619.
- Traffic in mixed use area
- Reduced traffic standard for LOS (level of service)
- Proposed mitigations which might/might not be implemented/no deadline:
- Privately financed shuttle
- Bike paths
- Walking paths
- Shorter blocks
- More internal streets
- Synchronize lights
- Improved freeway on/off ramps
- Extension of shopkeeper road to Studebaker (at PCH and Marina Dr)
- Waterway promenade for walking and driving north of 2nd & west of PCH
- The city may accept a level of service below the city standard for area
- Parking in mixed use area
- Options:
- Parking structures
- Parking lots
- On-street parking
- Bicycle parking
- Bus passes for employees
- Mitigation ideas:
- Shared parking
- Transportation demand management system
- Unbundled parking; sell residence, parking not included
- Joint use parking; businesses during day, residents at night
- Central parking
- Circulator shuttle
- Autonomous vehicles
- Reduced parking requirements in mixed use area; 15-20% less spaces required
- Options:
- Wetlands and neighborhoods will be impacted by these density issues
- Funding feasibility
- Benefits without the density? Density without the benefits?
- “A detailed financing plan should be prepared to successfully implement the improvements and programs identified in the plan”
- When will this be done?
- Developer Funding Options: what percent of funding will come from developers?
- Impact fee: one-time fee
- Development agreements: city and property owners discuss
- Therefore the number of public benefits that can be provided are unpredictable and must be negotiated on a case-by-case basis (by developers)
- Often, developer fees are not sufficient to pay for resident benefits
- Capital funds, general funds, EIFD (Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District) tax which requires vote from LA for tax revenues
- Negotiate with existing business and property owners to pay for these benefits
- Assessment districts require majority vote of parties involved
- Property based improvement district if all people in area form a fund
- State: active transportation planning ATP Grant; this grant process is quite competitive. Cap and trade, which is not currently delivering, funds this; it also funds the bullet train.
- Per the current SEASP plan, the public benefits will take 20 years to be fully implemented
- Within 1-5 years, to be paid by the city and public: gateway signage, street enhancements, bike facility enhancements
- During 10-20 year mark, to be paid by New Development and the public: sewers/storm drains, other. But how can we wait that long to deal with these infrastructure needs, when high density could occur in years 1-5?
- Benefits without the density? Density without the benefits?
- When process started, Linda and Elizabeth thought Development Services would make a proposal based on market plan and then they would listen to neighbors, allowing for a back and forth, a give and take, but it didn’t really work that way.
- Next Step:
- PEIR should come out this month via city email list
- BSRA will send email to residents on our email list
- Land Trust knows their role is to advocate for the biological resources
- The Los Cerritos Wetlands is asking for money for a traffic study so they can contract with a consultant to have them review the traffic portion of the PEIR. If you are able to contribute, assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please contact [email protected] for details.
- RQ: What is the due date for PEIR comments? A: Usually the minimum amount of time is 30 days from the date the PEIR is released. They will have to respond to comments and have lined up an attorney and biologist to do that. Not sure when PEIR will be release, but soon.
- RQ: The traffic and building height are 2 of the main issues. At public meetings, it seemed like they didn’t want to talk about that. This could impact Colorado Lagoon; are those residents aware? A: Suggest talking to Suzie and her staff. Ask questions and get good data.
- Resident Comment: Traffic Study for 2nd & PCH got an F grade.
- RQ: What about Sempra Synergy? A: Sempra Synergy is working on a project to remove the oil derricks; that project is not related to the SEASP project.
- For more information, please review the SEASP Conceptual Draft at: http://www.lbds.info/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=5738
SEASP Map:
Third District Councilwoman Price’s office updates from Jack Cunningham included:
- Measures A & B passed, so Engine 8 is coming back. Police and Fire are excited. We’ll be able to pave more streets.
- There will be an Ocean Blvd Diet meeting at the end of June. The plan is to reduce from 2 lanes to 1 lane, find places where diagonal parking makes sense and add a bicycle lane.
- Beginning June 20th, there will be flags at water/beach locations designating the quality and temperature for that day; this was instigated by the swimability campaign.
- The Tree trimming contracts have been completed; the contracts are much better than old contracts so we should have better responsiveness, a more thorough job of maintenance and more proactive behavior.
- Jack has spoken with Tasha Day from Long Beach Special Events and she will start including the BSRA in her notifications.
- Movies on the beach have cut back; they’ll be on Tuesday nights this summer. See the following link for more info: http://www.alfredosbeachclub.com/seafest-movie.html
- Suzie will be coming to the BSRA July 14 meeting to discuss Measures A & B Funding priorities and plans.
Belmont Shore Business Association update from Dede Rossi:
- A Real Estate office will be going in where the Marijuana dispensary was, across from Roe.
- LF, The Outlet, a trendy clothing outlet store from LA, has opened where Apostrophe was.
- Alcove women’s clothing boutique has opened where Kimberly’s was (same owner).
- Poke Pola has opened where Gallo’s was.
- Roe Restaurant is currently hiring and should open in July.
- Cityology is open and selling gifts, home décor and clothing. They are located next to La Strada and are owned by the Citylights Streetwear owner.
- The Belmont Shore Sidewalk Sale will run from July 29th to the 31st.
- Stroll n’ Savor will be July 20th & 21st from 5:30pm to 9:00pm.
- We all know Measure A passed, which will raise the sales tax by 1%, but the BSBA asks residents to please continue to shop in Belmont Shore. They appreciate residents Shopping Local.
- Most of the Security Cameras on 2nd Street are working; plan is for all of them to be functional by the end of July.
- Behind Urban Table, a wall will be fixed, which wasn’t visible due to a tree.
- BS Parking Commission is trying to get rid of all the cement trash cans on 2nd Street (not on the side streets) and replace with 51 single big belly solar compacting trash cans. The cement trash cans will be refurbished and moved to other parts of the city.
President’s Report:
- President Endersen read excerpts from a letter provided by Sara Wan (former Coastal Commissioner who has been very active in trying to preserve the intent of the Coastal Commission). Ms. Wan’s letter addressed many concerns about potential changes to CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) and Coastal Act. See attached letter.
- BSRA Board voted unanimously to support content of letter and to sign on to the cause.
Treasurer’s Report:
- Balance: $3756
- Renew PO Box at $100/6 months; voted on and approved by Executive Board.
- None
Public Comment:
- None
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm
Submitted by:
Julie Dean, Executive Board