Belmont Shore Residents Association
MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
October 13, 2016
The meeting was called to order by President Terence Endersen at 6:04 pm. Executive Board Members Julie Dean, Christina Jones and Susan Miller, as well as Vice President Aileen Colon were present. 19 additional BSRA members and visitors were present. Treasurer Robert O'Connor and Secretary Genny Hulbrock were absent and excused.
President Endersen introduced the new BSRA Executive Board.
The Executive Board voted for and approved the agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the September 8 meeting.
Bay Shore Librarian Debi Vilander gave the Library Moment announcing:
LBPD East Division Commander Liz Griffin provided the following update:
Ken from Belmont Heights Neighborhood Association discussed Noise Reduction:
Jack Cunningham from Third District Councilwoman Price’s office provided these updates:
Alexis Rabenn (Quinn’s Pub & Grill) provided Belmont Shore Business Association update:
Eric Forsberg from the Parking Commission gave these updates:
Treasurer’s Report:
President’s Report:
New Business:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm
Submitted by:
Julie Dean, Executive Board
MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
October 13, 2016
The meeting was called to order by President Terence Endersen at 6:04 pm. Executive Board Members Julie Dean, Christina Jones and Susan Miller, as well as Vice President Aileen Colon were present. 19 additional BSRA members and visitors were present. Treasurer Robert O'Connor and Secretary Genny Hulbrock were absent and excused.
President Endersen introduced the new BSRA Executive Board.
The Executive Board voted for and approved the agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the September 8 meeting.
Bay Shore Librarian Debi Vilander gave the Library Moment announcing:
- Retired librarian Claudine Burnett writes Long Beach history and conducts many speaking engagements. She also leads cemetery walking/ghost tours at Halloween.
- On Sep 10th the Michelle Obama Library opened in Bixby Knolls. Thousands of people turned out for the event at the absolutely beautiful new library, located at South & Atlantic.
- Keep an eye on the library’s schedule online at: http://www.lbpl.org/events/special_events_calendar.asp, as they have many programs, including discussions with local authors.
- Also, a reminder that the first Saturday of each month is Craft & Movie day at 3pm at the library, free of charge AND they are now open on Sundays from 12:00-4:00pm.
LBPD East Division Commander Liz Griffin provided the following update:
- East Division violent crime up overall 22.7%. Most killings in E Division are domestic in nature.
- East Division property crimes up 7%. East Division residential burglaries, commercial burglaries and bicycle burglaries are down, however Belmont Shore residential burglaries are up. The majority of burglars are breaking into garages that are attached to houses and stealing from the garage (many bikes), which counts as a residential burglary.
- 37 bikes were recovered in the last 3 months from transients but only one had been reported. LBPD were not able to locate the owners of the other 36 bikes. Please keep a copy of your bike’s serial number and report stolen bikes to LBPD. When bikes are found, LBPD looks at stolen bike reports. Also, if bike has been etched with owner info, police will follow-up.
- Commercial robbery is when thief goes into a business and takes something by force or fear. Personal loss/robbery is when there is personal loss to a person.
- There has been both personal robbery and commercial robbery at Vons. Requests to relocate the recycle center are being reviewed. LBPD is working with Vons to mitigate issues.
- There was a street robbery where an out of town victim was on an early walk, was approached and suspect said “give me your money and don’t turn around”.
- A Suspect used a gun and a knife to take victim’s wallet at Ocean & Livingston; the suspect was arrested for another incident.
- At end of September, LBPD arrested a guy who was a confirmed homeless person; another male was arrested in Huntington Beach. After these two arrests, there was a drop in LB residential burglaries so LBPD believes they were the culprits.
- A resident and business owner explained her frustrating day the day before. A guy with a bike and a little cart attached was seen in a garage and is known to not be the homeowner. Two men called police and held him there. The police came, saw a bunch of stuff in the cart but could not arrest the man because the homeowner would not press charges. He got his tools back from the man with the cart and said that he was a therapist and didn’t feel it was the right thing to do. He also said he didn’t want to be a victim. Eventually there were 3 police cars trying to deal with the situation but no arrest was made. Note: Ruth Anne from LBPD advised that two burglary detectives in E Division still put everything together and presented it to DA, even though homeowner would not press charges. Must call issues in, must report, must press charges, otherwise suspects will continue to steal within our neighborhood. If they know they won’t be jailed, they will stay in the area and keep stealing.
- Community Watch Groups are so important. We need to know our neighbors, know their kids. It is effective; it works. LBPD is asking streets to create watch groups and they can help. Just contact the LBPD East Division and pull together a date and your neighbors.
- There is nothing LBPD can do with homeless who are sleeping on sidewalks or on the parkway, as long as they’re not impeding the flow of traffic.
- Transients using businesses’ shopping carts can be cited under the business and professions code. Many of the homeless know that and tend to use other things, like baby strollers, etc. If a cart is not marked, then it can’t be proved that it belongs to a business.
- Cannot take a homeless person’s possessions, unless they’re trash, and in that case you need to call Public Works.
Ken from Belmont Heights Neighborhood Association discussed Noise Reduction:
- A Belmont Heights Neighborhood Association committee is charged with addressing noise reduction, especially helicopter noise. They want to ensure everyone in the area is aware of the FAA’s program.
- Helicopters fly up and down Redondo, using it as a corridor. They are not supposed to turn until they get to the ocean, but they do.
- Asking that we write petitions to senators and other legislators.
- We can download HeliTracker app to our smart phones in order to report helicopter noise. An increase in complainants, and therefore reports, will help the cause.
- This issues has not been well publicized, so the committee is trying to get the word out.
- Committee also wants the FAA to get helicopters to fly higher. Most of them fly at 300 feet, which many think is unsafe over residential areas. They are currently supposed to stay above 500 feet, however the committee would like 2000 feet to be standard.
- Redondo corridor is bad; pilots go from airport down Redondo, over several schools.
- Most helicopters are the following types of businesses: Catalina tourism, flight schools, deliveries, private travel to another airport. We are not talking about police helicopters.
- Helicopters have little to no regulations, as long as they fly safely.
- If you want more info, contact Donna Sievers with the Bluff Heights Neighborhood Association.
- Please see the following for additional information:
http://www.gazettes.com/opinion/another-view-helicopter-noise-still-an-issue/article_6e96bd80-04ae-11e5-96a9-c3a9c60362ed.html
Jack Cunningham from Third District Councilwoman Price’s office provided these updates:
- Mid-term review event was held to show what has gone on the last 2 years and plans for next 2 years. 227 traffic engineering improvements, 18 new crosswalks, 4 new stop signs, 96 red curbs in the district – Small Business Workshop: expand clientele, keep employees, brand marketing with 35 guests. Harbor & Port Tour.
- Suzie is very focused on anything that will improve public safety.
- Homelessness Study Session: provide stats, give public opportunity to ask Questions, explain what is being done, areas to improve, planned projects.
- RV Parking Ban: Suzie wants to reduce safety issues, like pedestrians and bikeriders having to step into the street to see around RVs. How can the city approach this in a reasonable manner, reduce negative impact? Make a citywide ban of RVs? Suzie believes we must have consistent signage, possibly at entrances to city.
- Resident Question: Allow RVs to be parked in church parking lots, multi-purpose resource center? Answer: Parking and safety elements most important. These would be safe spaces for people who sleep in their RVs.
- RQ: Concerned about changes to Shore signage, which is currently based on height, width, length, number of days parked and covers detached trailers. Belmont Shore residents worked hard with the city to create these regulations. A: Considering 22 feet while we currently have 20 feet in the Shore. Currently cannot park over 2 days in a row. City Attorney has suggested 22 feet because that is what other cities are doing, as there are pick-up trucks that are 22 feet. This will come back to Council. RQ: What about “Unless stated otherwise, the max sizes are xxx” (this would allow a citywide set of rules, unless stated otherwise, like in the Shore where there would be specific sizes signed and it would allow for exceptions).
- Resident Comment: One size fits all doesn’t work for Naples, Shore, Peninsula due to narrow streets. Safety is an issue. A: City Attorney is looking at options, including exceptions. Keeping reduced costs important
- RQ: Requested more info from Councilwoman and updates on status
- Q: LaVerne & Ocean red light needed to slow down traffic. A: Signals and stop signs are installed for cars to understand right of way, they are not installed for speed. The planned Road Diet will slow down the traffic by adding diagonal parking, reducing to one driving lane. Tuesday October 25th 630p at field office on Nieto Ocean Blvd Road Diet – PD and FD talking, special events, traffic engineering. Will notify residents. Might have to increase space size to accommodate more residents.
- Monday Oct 24 6p presenting BS Parking Study findings from Walker at field office on Nieto.
- Jack will try to find the specific ordinance dealing with the brick area in front of some businesses where homeless are sleeping, etc. and will follow-up with us.
- Special Events Hotline for day-of-event residential communication if music is too loud, etc. is 562-570-5339. Leave voicemail, field folks at event are alerted and will deal with issue.
- RQ: Land Use Element of general zoning for the city. Being notified of what this contains. How are the current height limits being affected? A: The Toledo from Livingston to Claremont is R4R and is being changed from 28ft & 2 stories to 38 ft & 3 Stories. Also Ocean Blvd. will be affected by height.
- RC: These kinds of changes happen incrementally. We need to know; the people need to be made aware. The Land Use Element doc is 500 pages and needs to be compared to city code. The current zoning is not in the doc. Some places you might find number of stories but not height, etc. This all affects density, breezes, air, sunlight and residents need to be advised. These changes shouldn’t be happening in single family home areas. They should only happen on main corridors.
- Next step: Sep 2 DEIR was released and there are 60 days for comments. This might be extended.
- Planning Department: Carrie Tai [email protected] 562-570-6411 and Fern Nueno [email protected] 562-570-5081
Alexis Rabenn (Quinn’s Pub & Grill) provided Belmont Shore Business Association update:
- Art Walk Saturday
- Mon 4-6p Halloween candy from 2nd St merchants. Be careful driving with all of the kids.
Eric Forsberg from the Parking Commission gave these updates:
- Concluded discussion regarding ashtray issue. $15,000 to retrofit Big Belly’s with ashtray component.
- Parking commission and BSBA have set aside certain holiday dates where people don’t have to pay for parking in Nov and Dec. The meter will have a pop-up saying FREE and there will be bags on meters in parking lots.
- Bill Lorbeer will be leaving Parking commission in December and will be replaced by Ryan Hoffman (Hofs Hut, Saind & Second) bus owner.
- Marsha termed out.
- Lisa resigned.
- Kurt Schneiter termed out.
- 3 replacements so far.
- The commission is to be made up of: 3 bus owners, 3 prop owners, 1 resident.
- Next meeting is next Thursday, Oct 20 at 9a at Bay Shore Library.
Treasurer’s Report:
- Balance: $3430
President’s Report:
- Go Dark in December (no Dec 8 meeting)? Idea was rescinded will be re-addressed at Nov 10 meeting.
- Many meetings coming up: SEASP, Belmont Pool, Land Use Element, Alley near Olympix, etc.
- Request from Wetlands: Please help donate to Wetlands because they have funded a traffic engineer to analyze the DEIR and present SEASP impacts.
New Business:
- None
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm
Submitted by:
Julie Dean, Executive Board