Belmont Shore Residents Association
MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
September 10, 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 and Julie Dean, as well as Vice President Max Alavi and Treasurer Robert O'Connor. 39 additional BSA members and visitors were present.
Bay Shore Librarian Debi Vilander announced September is Library Sign-Up month. Pamphlets are available on how to get started online. Residents can now also download and access magazines.
The agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the August 13 meeting were approved.
BSRA October meeting: Tasha Day, City of Long Beach Special Events and Filming
President Endersen announced that the BSRA October meeting’s speaker will be Tasha Day from the City of Long Beach Special Events and Filming. Her responsibilities include events that occur on the beach in Belmont Shore. Tasha Day is excited to hear from the residents regarding: which events are working, which are not working, permits, beach contracts, sound levels, etc. She also advised that some controls have been put into place related to: traffic control, police presence, someone from Special Events and Filming office will be at events, decibel meters at events, police will be educated regarding sound restrictions (which are not related to permits), etc.
BSRA Board Election and General Membership meeting
President Endersen asked members to remember to vote for the BSRA Board. He thanked BSRA members for renewing their membership and for expending the additional $10.00 per member for the annual dues. President Endersen also advised that this meeting was the annual General Membership meeting where members are able to bring up initiative motions during Public Comment. The process was explained as follows: a member describes a proposal they want the Board to act upon, the Members vote and with a two-thirds majority, the Board will take action on that motion.
Eric Forsberg, the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission resident representative, discussed the following:
Field Deputy for Third District Councilwoman Price, Kristina Duggan was delayed and unable to speak during the meeting.
LBPD East Division Lt. Liberman was unable to attend or send a representative due to an emergency police situation that evening.
Alexis Rabenn, owner of Quinn’s, represented the Belmont Shore Business Association and discussed the following:
President’s Report:
Treasurer’s Report:
Robert O'Connor reported the bank account balance is now $2,306.00, not including tonight’s dues.
Public Comment:
Election:
33 ballots cast – all candidates were elected
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35pm
Submitted by:
Julie Dean, Executive Board
MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
September 10, 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 and Julie Dean, as well as Vice President Max Alavi and Treasurer Robert O'Connor. 39 additional BSA members and visitors were present.
Bay Shore Librarian Debi Vilander announced September is Library Sign-Up month. Pamphlets are available on how to get started online. Residents can now also download and access magazines.
The agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the August 13 meeting were approved.
BSRA October meeting: Tasha Day, City of Long Beach Special Events and Filming
President Endersen announced that the BSRA October meeting’s speaker will be Tasha Day from the City of Long Beach Special Events and Filming. Her responsibilities include events that occur on the beach in Belmont Shore. Tasha Day is excited to hear from the residents regarding: which events are working, which are not working, permits, beach contracts, sound levels, etc. She also advised that some controls have been put into place related to: traffic control, police presence, someone from Special Events and Filming office will be at events, decibel meters at events, police will be educated regarding sound restrictions (which are not related to permits), etc.
BSRA Board Election and General Membership meeting
President Endersen asked members to remember to vote for the BSRA Board. He thanked BSRA members for renewing their membership and for expending the additional $10.00 per member for the annual dues. President Endersen also advised that this meeting was the annual General Membership meeting where members are able to bring up initiative motions during Public Comment. The process was explained as follows: a member describes a proposal they want the Board to act upon, the Members vote and with a two-thirds majority, the Board will take action on that motion.
Eric Forsberg, the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission resident representative, discussed the following:
- The BSPBIAAC meets the third Thursday of the month at the Bay Shore library from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and that residents are welcome to attend.
- The BSPBIAAC is looking at ways to get more Big Belly trash compactors onto 2nd Street. They work well because people and animals cannot pull trash out and they can handle large trash volume. They are also looking to increase the cleaning of sidewalks while remaining conscious of water.
- The Belmont Shore Parking Study proposal (a comprehensive study of business and residential districts) was approved on a 3 to 2 vote. It will now move to City Council for a vote. There was a lot of dialog about the proposal: potential to free up business parking spaces after hours, no interest in mechanical projects that would require maintenance, somewhat arbitrarily should cut budget down to $100,000.00. New RFPs may need to be sent out because item included in original scope will now be handled by other city projects (example: Ocean Blvd needs to be deleted from scope because it is being covered by Ocean Blvd Repave project). Residents questioned and were informed that these items were in scope : consider shuttle, parking permits, residential garage study.
- Resident asked about kiosk payment stations and meters: the 2nd Street meters take coins and credit cards. The meters in the parking lots behind the businesses take only coins. Parking Study to consider business parking lots and Kiosk payment station, and analysis of raising all meter rates.
- Resident asked about employee bus program: 494 unique riders of 1200 employees participate in this program.
- Resident felt there is not enough concern for residents’ parking situation, nor is it dealt with enough by BSPBIAAC projects: it was explained that the BSPBIAAC is an advisory board that was established for the purpose of making recommendations to the City on the use of revenue generated from parking meters within the 2nd Street Business district.
- Resident asked whether or not credit card meter users will receive spam: they will not receive spam emails. FYI, there is a credit card fee which the BSPBIAAC is absorbing.
Field Deputy for Third District Councilwoman Price, Kristina Duggan was delayed and unable to speak during the meeting.
LBPD East Division Lt. Liberman was unable to attend or send a representative due to an emergency police situation that evening.
Alexis Rabenn, owner of Quinn’s, represented the Belmont Shore Business Association and discussed the following:
- Snow Monster, where you can design your own ice cream sandwiches using either French Macrons or cookies, will be opening at the end of the month. They are located at 5211 E 2nd Street (where Sway used to be).
- Saint and Second has opened.
- There is work occurring at the old Roe property. A resident mentioned a rumor that it might be a restaurant called “on the Rocks”.
- The vacant storefront next to Dogz is up for lease.
- Stroll & Savor will be September 16 & 17 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
- Quinn’s on Nieto is doing well. They are open until midnight, their demographic is older (not college-age) and they serve beer, wine and Soju vodka and tequila.
President’s Report:
- The Long Beach Marathon is Sunday Oct 11th. Two residents asked if a Special Events representative will be there to stop the loud noise: vendors’ blaring music, volunteers screaming as they hand out bars/water/etc. These loud noises on Ocean and Livingston start at 6:30 am. President Endersen said he will advise Tasha Day beforehand.
- Please advise BSRA Board if you are not getting email and e-newsletter from the BSRA so that we can correct the issue.
- Councilwoman Price met with residents a few Saturdays ago in her Nieto office regarding the Ocean Blvd study (reconstruct Ocean Blvd to make it more pedestrian-friendly, lower traffic speeds, increase signage/crosswalks).
- The Ocean Blvd Rebuild Project will ensure Ocean Blvd. is ADA compliant by installing 88 ADA ramps at the corners, redoing some curbs, adding a bike lane and adjusting car traffic lanes. Resident said there have been 5 hit and runs at the corner of LaVerne & Ocean Blvd and asked why a stop sign has not installed. It was explained that the BSRA Board and residents have brought this up to Councilwoman Price’s office. A discussion ensued with some residents saying speed bumps are not effective and others saying that a different strategy needs to be worked out. Another Resident explained that in Seal Beach they have signs that say “stop if a pedestrian is in crosswalk”, which seem to work. It was explained that these types of issues are resolved based on the volume of individual emails sent, so please write Councilwoman Price.
- Los Cerritos Wetlands naturalists lead Walks, Hikes and Kayak Trips. Resident advised they also have other opportunities including a raptor walk and a turtle walk. The Los Cerritos Wetlands website has more info and great guides with a lot of information.
http://www.lcwlandtrust.org/
Treasurer’s Report:
Robert O'Connor reported the bank account balance is now $2,306.00, not including tonight’s dues.
Public Comment:
- What is the BSRA Board’s feedback on Friends of Belmont Shore organization? They had their first meeting last month. We know they represent residents, businesses and commercial property owners in Belmont Shore, Belmont Park and Marine Stadium. Per their first meeting and website: after the first meeting, one must be a paid member to attend their meetings; anyone can join but their area of concern is as listed above. Per the Bylaws listed on their website, voting members must be in this jurisdiction. The BSRA Board can only speak for us: our sole goal is to represent residents within our boundaries, as detailed in the BSRA Bylaws. Keeping property values as high as possible is a combined goal. The BSRA works with business owners and commercial property owners. The BSRA does not want that to dilute the purpose of the BSRA. The BSBA and BSRA are not going away. Hopefully we can work together, send a unified voice to our representatives and work in harmony.
- Resident: Would like BSRA to formally request Alfredo’s bid and contract be revisited as they feel there is no benefit to residents, the current operator is not operating a legitimate restaurant on the Belmont Shore pier and the Granada & Ocean facility is not operated regularly. Some residents feel the existing operator is violating the contracts, they are not meeting their obligations, they have a monopoly, they have the best real estate in the world, but there is no benefit to the public. Residents want a quality operator to take over. A motion was made to have the BSRA formally request that the beach concessioners’ contracts be analyzed by the city to determine if they are meeting the terms of the contract. It was advised the operator is allowed to have alcohol at one event (on only one beach) a day. President Endersen explained that Tasha Day, City of Long Beach Special Events and Filming, said they are looking at beach contracts for the snack shack, pier, Mother’s. A resident said that last Saturday there was a private wedding reception with cars parked long term on the ramp. A resident said there were many complaints regarding the Tiki Festival.
The Motion passed by18 votes. - Resident: How many people who have garages don’t use their garage? If people were somehow cajoled into using their garages for parking, the Belmont Shore parking situation might be alleviated. Another resident said that one of the problems is that many of the old garages don’t fit current cars since many were built for Model As/Ts. In some cases the turning radius has limitations.
- Resident: What is the status of the SEADIP changes? President Endersen said he has not heard anything.
Election:
33 ballots cast – all candidates were elected
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35pm
Submitted by:
Julie Dean, Executive Board