The Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Association
2022 Hermosa Beach City Council
Candidate Debate Questions & Format
The 2022 Hermosa Beach City Council
Candidate Debate
takes place on Wednesday, October 5, 2022
From 7 pm to 10:00 pm
in the Hermosa Beach
City Council Chambers
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This Debate will be Broadcast Live and Replayed on Cable
Spectrum Channel 8 and
Verizon FIOS Channel 31
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This Debate Will Also Be Available
for Replay on the City’s YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/CityofHermosaBeach90254
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This Debate Will Also Be Available
for Viewing Live Only on the City’s Zoom Channel:
Please click the link below to
watch the Debate Live via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83075287787?pwd=ZDFuWnBWNW5IblAwRkZ5eGdJRjFGQT09
Webinar ID: 830 7528 7787
You Must Use This Zoom Passcode: 880658
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2022 Hermosa Beach City Council
Candidate Debate Format:
Candidate Opening Statements
The Sales Tax Measure “B” Debate
The Cannabis Initiative Measure “M” and the Cannabis Tax Measure
“T” Debate
Candidate Debate Questions 1, 2, 3,
4 and 5
Questions from the Audience
Candidate Debate Questions 6, 7, 8
and 9
Candidate Closing Statements
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7
pm: Start of the 2022 Hermosa Beach City Council
Candidate Debate
Introduction
and the Pledge of Allegiance
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Opening Statements: 2
minutes for each Candidate’s Opening Statement
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City of Hermosa Beach 2022 Election Information
http://www.hermosabch.org/index.aspx?page=963
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Ballot Measure - Sales
Tax Measure “B”: Candidate Debate Question:
What is your opinion regarding
Sales Tax Measure “B” that is on the 2022 Ballot?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate for Sales Tax
Measure “B”
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Cannabis Initiative Measure “M” and Cannabis
Tax Measure “T” City Council Candidate Debate
Question:
What is your opinion regarding Cannabis Initiative Measure “M ” and Cannabis Tax
Measure “T”, that are on the 2022 Ballot?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate.
Include your opinion on both Measure “M” and Measure “T”, in your 1 minute answer.
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Hermosa Beach City Council
Candidate Debate Questions 1 and 2
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2022 Debate Question 1:
If
you are elected to be a Hermosa Beach City Council member, your term of office
will be for a period of 4 years.
What
are your top 3 priorities that you want to address and complete, during the 4
years that you have to serve?
Note:
The Brown Act restricts your communication with other Hermosa Beach City
Council members, when that communication, takes place outside of a City Council
meeting open to the public, and when that
discussion could lead to an agenda item being
added a future
City Council meeting.
This includes any communication, discussing a potential agenda
item, to more than one City
Council member, including use voice, email, text or
using someone else to forward your opinions to a City Council member.
And
you can’t communicate with one City Council member on one day, then wait a day
and communicate on the same potential agenda item, to a different City Council
member on the next day.
That is called a Serial Meeting and it violates the Brown Act.
So, any agenda item that you may want to, have placed on the City Council
Agenda, the Brown Act restricts to you to talking or communicating with only
ONE other Hermosa Beach City Council member, when you are NOT taking part in a Hermosa Beach City Council Meeting
that is Open to the Public.
Why? If you communicate with TWO other Hermosa Beach City
Council members, you now have established a quorum of THREE Hermosa Beach City
Council members including yourself, and you are now conducting a
City Council meeting that is Not Open to the
Public, and that meeting is violating The Brown Act.
Any
City Council member can communicate their request at any City Council meeting,
that is Open to the Public, to have an agenda item placed on a future agenda of
a City Council meeting.
It usually requires that other City Council members also support the request
for an agenda item to be added to a future City Council meeting.
The Basics of The Brown Act: This is a Must
Read
Understanding
the Brown Act (ca-ilg.org)
What are the actions you will take in the next four years, to
address your goals?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate
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2022 Debate Question 2:
Give us your list of the 3 problem areas in the City,
that can be addressed and controlled, by the enforcement of existing City of
Hermosa Beach law or State of California law or U.S. Federal law during your 4
years in office?
Note:
You can communicate with any number of existing
Hermosa Beach City members regarding the enforcement of existing City of
Hermosa Beach, State of California or U.S. Federal laws, as long as this
discussion does not include placing an agenda item on the City Council Agenda,
to be discussed or voted on.
If elected, you will take an Oath of Office, which includes your
promise to enforce all, City of Hermosa Beach, State of California and U.S.
Federal laws.
The Brown Act, does not limit a City Council member’s ability to
advocate or communicate for enforcement of existing City, State and Federal
laws.
The Basics of The Brown Act: This is a Must
Read
Understanding
the Brown Act (ca-ilg.org)
What are the actions you will take to address the problems you
have identified?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate
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Background Information: Debate
Question 3
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Agenda
Item From: Hermosa Beach City Council Meeting of January 12, 2016
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DOWNTOWN CORE REVITALIZATION STRATEGY -
PARKING STRATEGY
The
Downtown Core Revitalization Parking Strategy includes proposals for building
large multi-level public parking structures in 3 possible areas, in order to
service visitor car parking for the Hermosa Beach downtown area.
1. The First multi-level parking structure for the public is
proposed to be at the City’s Parking Lot A, which is a City
owned surface parking lot directly south of Pier Plaza, on the corner of 11th Street
and Hermosa Avenue, in the downtown area. [BOLD Added]
2. The Second multi-level public parking structure, possibly
constructed underground, is to be part of a proposed newly constructed Civic
Center, at the current location of City Hall, 1315 Valley Drive, outside the
downtown area. [BOLD Added]
3. The Third multi-level parking structure is proposed to be
located on the City owned land, directly west of the
Hermosa Beach Community Center building on the corner of Ardmore and Pier
Avenue, outside the downtown area. [BOLD Added]
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Code Amendments
– Reduction of Parking Requirements
There
are many existing single story commercial buildings that were built from
early 1920’s, into the 1950’s, in the Hermosa Beach Downtown area.
Some
people believe that these 70 to 100 year old single
story commercial buildings provide a unique character and scale to the Hermosa
Beach downtown area.
PLAN
Hermosa and the Downtown Core Revitalization Strategy is proposing numerous
“special incentives and provisions to minimize the impact of parking”
requirements, for the redevelopment of single-story commercial buildings and to
provide incentives to open new restaurants with outdoor dining/seating.
Reductions
in parking requirements are also proposed as incentives to build new
multi-story mixed-use buildings in Hermosa Beach.
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From
the: PLAN Hermosa -
Integrated General Plan and Coastal Land Use Plan – pdf page 91
http://www.hermosabch.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=9872
Building
Design and Orientation
“Development
along Pier Avenue and Hermosa Avenue
should
conform to recommendations of the Downtown
Revitalization
Strategy . . .”
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Hermosa Beach City Council Study Session of January 12, 2016
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DOWNTOWN CORE
REVITALIZATION STRATEGY - PARKING STRATEGY
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Confirm
Council’s previous direction to continue to implement the Downtown Core Revitalization
Strategy as a top priority, and provide input on the 11 proposed code
amendments outlined in the Parking Strategy.
Parking Strategy:
During
Spring 2015 the Planning Commission commenced consideration of potential
parking-related code amendments to implement to Strategy, taking into account
the results of the January 2015 Beach Access and Parking Study commissioned by
the City.
The
most relevant parking information from the Strategy is provided below.
There are two primary aspects of the parking strategy - first, the
development of a public parking supply that is publicly managed with demand
pricing to help control the distribution and availability of parking.
The
public parking can be provided for by using in-lieu fees and parking charges to
help pay for the program, and a specific financing plan for these will need to
be developed. New public parking structures should be located to help
alleviate peak loading on thoroughfares and for better traffic management.
The second component of the parking strategy involves
modifications to the existing zoning requirements for new development in
support of a pedestrian-oriented district where the continuity and quality of
the pedestrian experience is given a priority and a certain amount of walking
to parking facilities is part of the experience of place.”
Parking Strategy:
The Strategy identified 11 potential code amendments to encourage
a more pedestrian-oriented district.
1. Pier Avenue, from PCH to Hermosa
Avenue and including the Community and Civic Center sites and Hermosa
Avenue and the Downtown Core from 10th to 14th Streets should be
designated as a pedestrian-oriented district, with special
incentives and provisions to minimize the impact of parking and to
encourage pedestrian and bicycle mobility.
2. All parking in the pedestrian-oriented district
should be allowed to be provided off-site, rather than the current 25% of parking for
buildings with greater than a one floor-to-area ratio (FAR). This is only currently
allowed in the SPA-11 zone (Pier Avenue east of Hermosa Avenue to Valley Drive)
as an incentive to conserve iconic buildings (Section17.38.550(D)).
3. There should be a reduced amount of required
parking for commercial (office and retail) uses within the pedestrian
oriented district. Currently one space per 250 SF is required for these uses,
however, the Coastal Commission recently provided for a reduced standard of
1/333 SF, which is more consistent with other beach communities, contingent on
a parking evaluation from the City which should be
undertaken.
4. There should be a reduced amount of required
parking for restaurant uses within the pedestrian-oriented district. Currently,
one space per 100 SF is required. Cities such as Redondo Beach utilize a one space per 250 SF
for pedestrian-oriented districts, which should be considered in Hermosa Beach
as well.
5. Outdoor seating should be encouraged for the
creation of a more sociable environment within the pedestrian
oriented district. The determination of the appropriate amount of
outdoor seating within the public street right-of-way should be based on lot
frontage length, maintaining adequate space for pedestrian circulation and
considerations related to adjacencies and public safety. These are to be determined
on a case-by-case basis at a staff level by the Community Development and
Public Works Director. Parking requirements for outdoor seating
should be reduced appropriately to encourage the diversity of types of
establishments within the downtown district and in particular within the
Downtown Core. For example, in Redondo Beach, no additional
parking is required for the first 12 seats of outdoor seating.
6. Parking requirements should be reduced for mixed
use buildings on a single lot that generate parking demand during different
times of the day without the need for a discretionary action by the City. There are currently a
variety of conditions upon which the amount of parking reduction may be allowed
or a fee paid in lieu of providing parking, but a discretionary review is
required.
7. Upper level office use should be encouraged to attract a
lively downtown environment and provide a greater daytime population that
supports retail and restaurant uses. Parking for upper
level office use should be reduced and located off-site in shared
parking and public parking facilities.
8. Vehicular parking requirements should be reduced
in exchange for the provision of additional bicycle parking, beyond what is already required by the
City. This provision is currently limited to development along Pier Avenue. An
equivalence of 4 bicycle spaces for one car space, up to 20% of the parking
required for non-residential projects should be considered (which is the
provision allowed in the City of Los Angeles and other cities’ zoning codes).
This includes the required bicycle parking and any additional bicycle parking.
9. For an existing non-restaurant use that is
converting to restaurant use and whose parking requirements are met in common
facilities within the pedestrian-oriented district, a credit against the future
parking requirements should be allowed, based upon the zoning requirements of the existing use. Currently
this is not allowed for some types of restaurants in the downtown district.
10. Parking requirements for commercial uses within
the pedestrian- oriented district should be allowed in common facilities within
a quarter mile walking distance. This is currently only allowed for second floor office space
as an incentive to conserve iconic buildings in SPA-11 zone along Pier Avenue.
11. Parking requirements for commercial uses within
the pedestrian- oriented district should be based on a net usable building square footage basis, that
is, not including for example, bathrooms, hallways, lobbies, service, storage
and mechanical rooms.”
[UNDERLINE and BOLD Added on #1 to #11]
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From
the: PLAN Hermosa - Integrated
General Plan and Coastal Land Use Plan – pdf page 91
Downtown District
Future
Vision
“The
intent is to enhance the building form and orientation, and
maintain
the pedestrian realm along Pier Ave while transforming
the
realm on Hermosa Avenue.” [BOLD Added]
“The
Downtown District will continue to offer an array of uses
for
residents and visitors, and any new buildings should pay close
attention
to and contribute to the high quality pedestrian
environment
provided
throughout Downtown.”
Desired
Form and Character
Building
Design and Orientation
“Development
along Pier Avenue and Hermosa Avenue
should
conform to recommendations of the Downtown
Revitalization
Strategy to
realize a town-scale Main Street
environment
that supports pedestrian activity and local
serving
commerce.” [UNDLINE and BOLD Added]
“Many
of the unique buildings, streetscape features, and
public
spaces are iconic or historic in nature, and new
buildings
should be carefully integrated to retain the town’s
eclectic
charm.” [BOLD Added]
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Draft Executive Summary
Hermosa Beach Market and Economic Development Study
http://hermosabeach.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=226fdceb-e963-4fbf-a173-d3bf0015ccf2.pdf
Update 3/1/2021
Page
6 and 7
Business and Land Use Mix
• As a means of identifying the
appropriate tenanting strategy for Downtown, multiple interviewees suggested an
organized means of obtaining residents’ input on their desired category of
establishments.
• It
was overwhelmingly agreed that the public safety concerns associated with a
late-night bar scene have subsided significantly in the past decade, though the problem remains to some
degree, particularly late at night.
• While
some hope for a continued trend away from Hermosa’s image as a nightlife
destination, others view the City’s drinking culture as integral to its
identity and heritage.
• It
was also noted that some restaurants/bars depend on the post dining hours
drinking to make sufficient revenue to cover their costs.
• While
Hermosa Beach has historically not been a strong location for Class A office
space, it is in a unique position to capitalize on certain office trends given
its demographic characteristics and quality of life.
• It
was noted that the desirable environment, ample food and business services, and
the trend toward business decision-makers wanting to work closer to home are
supportive of the demand for Class A office space.
• The likely ongoing trend of increased work from home
could be augmented by coworking office space that offers an alternative to the
home office some of the time.
The development of mixed-use residential on infill sites downtown
would add “rooftops” to support downtown restaurant and retail businesses, and activate the streets in
the downtown core, as well as provide more ground floor commercial space.
[UNDERLINE
and BOLD Added on the above Bullet Points]
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Agenda
Item From: Hermosa Beach City Council Meeting of January 12, 2016
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DOWNTOWN CORE REVITALIZATION STRATEGY -
PARKING STRATEGY
The Downtown Core
Revitalization Parking Strategy includes proposals for building large
multi-level public parking structures in 3 possible areas, in order to service
visitor car parking for the Hermosa Beach downtown area.
1.
The First multi-level parking structure for the public is proposed to be at the
City’s Parking Lot A, which is a City owned surface
parking lot directly south of Pier Plaza, on the corner of 11th Street
and Hermosa Avenue, in the downtown area. [BOLD Added]
2.
The Second multi-level public parking structure, possibly constructed
underground, is to be part of a proposed newly constructed Civic Center, at the
current location of City Hall, 1315 Valley Drive, outside the downtown
area. [BOLD
Added]
3.
The Third multi-level parking structure is proposed to be located on the City owned land, directly west of the Hermosa Beach
Community Center building on the corner of Ardmore and Pier Avenue, outside the
downtown area. [BOLD Added]
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Parking Strategy:
The most relevant
parking information from the Strategy is provided below.
There are two
primary aspects of the parking strategy - first, the development of a public
parking supply that is publicly managed with demand pricing to help control the
distribution and availability of parking.
The public parking
can be provided for by using in-lieu fees and parking charges to help pay for
the program, and a specific financing plan for these will need to be
developed.
New public
parking structures should be located to help alleviate peak loading on thoroughfares
and for better traffic management.
[UNDERLINE and BOLD Added]
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The
recent Hermosa Beach Market and Economic Development Study, describes the
concept of “smart urban design” and “the rehabilitation and re-tenanting of
older buildings”, suggests the demolition and redevelopment of older single story buildings, to be replaced by new buildings in
the downtown area.
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Code Amendments – Reduction of Parking
Requirements
There
are many existing single story commercial buildings that were built from
early 1920’s, into the 1950’s, in the Hermosa Beach Downtown area.
Some
people believe that these 70 to 100 year old single story
commercial buildings provide a unique character and scale to the Hermosa Beach
downtown area.
PLAN
Hermosa and the Downtown Core Revitalization Strategy is proposing numerous
“special incentives and provisions to minimize the impact of parking” requirements,
for the redevelopment of single-story commercial buildings and to provide
incentives to open new restaurants with outdoor dining/seating.
Reductions
in parking requirements are also proposed as incentives to build new
multi-story mixed-use buildings in Hermosa Beach.
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2022 Debate Question 3:
What is your opinion regarding the financing and construction of
the large multi-level public parking structures to service the downtown area, as laid out by PLAN Hermosa, and “the Downtown Revitalization Strategy”
?
Do you want the City to proceed with code amendments to
reduce parking requirements as called for in the ”Downtown Revitalization
Strategy,”?
Could these actions lead to our older unique single story
commercial buildings being demolished, and replaced by new multi-story
buildings?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate
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Background Information: Debate
Question 4
Draft
Executive Summary - From the Economic Development Committee Meeting of March 1,
2021
Hermosa Beach Market and Economic Development Study -
Update March 1, 2021
http://hermosabeach.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=226fdceb-e963-4fbf-a173-d3bf0015ccf2.pdf
Page
8
City Policy and Role of
Civic Organizations
• Multiple interviewees noted that, in the past, Hermosa
Beach’s business environment had a subpar reputation.
• Some interviewees expressed that the City does not have a comprehensive commercial strategy.
•
Another issue mentioned during the interviews was the perception that the
City has focused on Downtown Hermosa at the expense of other commercial nodes
within the City.
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Excerpts
from pdf page 41 or Report page 33 of the ICMA Police Operations Report for the
HBPD:
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Community Lead Sergeant (Nightclub Enforcement)
The downtown area is an important part of Hermosa Beach. Identified
explicitly in the city’s strategic plan, an “eclectic downtown” in Hermosa
Beach is envisioned as a unique and well-maintained focal point of the
community, with a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere and locally owned retail and
dining establishments.
Anecdotal evidence obtained during meetings with stakeholders in
the community and members of the HBPD indicate that this vibrant public space
often takes on a different character than the one desired by the community.
Numerous accounts were given about the raucous and rowdy nature
that the downtown area exhibits during the evening hours due to the bar and
nightclub scene.
Essentially, it appears that the “friendly” atmosphere sought by
the community degrades into a disorderly location due to this nightlife.
The downtown area is an important part of Hermosa Beach, and the
dining, shopping, and nightlife experience available in this area brings a
vibrant social scene to the area and, along with the beach, is one of the
“signature” characteristics of the community.
However, the area demands a substantial amount of attention.
From a strategic, tactical, and resource allocation perspective
this area must be a high priority and the HBPD must have the resources
available to maximize the positive and minimize the negative aspects of the
area.
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Excerpts from pdf page 42 or Report page 34 of the
ICMA Police Operations Report for the HBPD:
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Examination of CFS [Calls for Service] volume
reported by the HBPD indicates that more than 20 percent of the entire CFS
[Calls for Service] volume can be attributed to the downtown area.
Additionally, of all the CFS [Calls for
Service] logged in the downtown area, more than 22 percent of those calls are
“disturbance” calls of various types.
Essentially, one out of every twenty calls
received by the HBPD are disturbance calls downtown.
Currently, the HBPD dedicates one sergeant to the downtown area.
This “Community Lead Sergeant” works a shift of 1500 hours x 0300 hours, and
follows the 3 on-4 off schedule, working every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
evening.
Complementing this position, the HBPD staffs three overtime shifts
every Friday and Saturday night from 1900 hours to 0300 hours.
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Findings
from the ICMA Police Operations Report for the Hermosa Beach Police
Department:
http://hermosabeach.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?event_id=333&meta_id=145053
"All stakeholders agree that the single
biggest challenge facing the city is the alcohol-related issues being generated
by the Pier Plaza bars." - HBPD ICMA Report Pdf Page 18
“Also, the HBPD handles a large number of “disturbance” CFS [Calls for Service], undoubtedly
originating from the downtown area.” - HBPD ICMA Report Pdf Page 24
“ICMA recommends that the HBPD establish a
committee that includes all the principal stakeholders, including
representatives from all ranks within the department along with community
members.” - HBPD ICMA Report Pdf Page 24
“This process, combined with an
dedicated team in the downtown area, can have a substantial impact on reducing
CFS handled by the HBPD and can free officer time on patrol to deal with
quality of life and other important community
problems.” - HBPD ICMA Report Pdf Page 24
"Third, it is clear that a large number of
CFS [Calls for Service], are related to disturbances.
Properly dealing with disturbances requires long-term problem solving and
resources.” - HBPD ICMA Report
Pdf Page 25
ICMA Report Recommendation: -
HBPD ICMA Report Pdf Page 25
Empanel a calls for service committee in
order to evaluate service demands and attempt to reduce nonemergency responses.
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2022 Debate Question 4:
What are your short and long term goals
for the Hermosa Beach Downtown area?
Should the City put together a comprehensive
commercial strategy,
that can actually be financed and implemented
for the Hermosa Beach Downtown area? And should this real-world
development plan, show in concept and in
visual detail, what the end results are?
Should
the City: Empanel
a Calls for Service Committee in order to evaluate service demands and attempt
to reduce nonemergency responses?
Does the City staff and the City Council spend too much time,
money and effort on implementing piece-meal downtown revitalization
parking code details, that are not connected
to a comprehensive commercial plan for the Downtown
area?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate
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Background
Information: Debate Question 5
This debate question refers to the findings and recommendations
from two peer-reviewed research studies and the Findings from the Hermosa SHINES Ordinance, regarding the
relationship of alcohol outlet density to increased violent crime in a city.
And violent crime Findings from the ICMA Police Operations Report for the HBPD.
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1. Findings from the Los Angeles County Department
of Public Health report: "Reducing Alcohol-Related Harms in Los
Angeles County"
Communities with a high density of
restaurants, bars or stores selling alcohol were much more likely to have
increased rates of violent crime.
"Excessive alcohol
consumption, which includes binge drinking and heavy drinking, not only has
devastating personal effects, but also takes a tremendous toll on families and
communities,"
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2. Findings from the Urban Institute Justice Policy
Center report: “Alcohol Outlets as Attractors
of Violence and Disorder”
The research conducted over the last
few decades has suggested that drinking establishments,
particularly
bars, attract clientele more likely to include motivated or potential
offenders.
The results from the models examining aggravated assault
reveal that the density of
on-premise
outlets is a significant predictor of aggravated
assault.
In essence, regardless of the behavioral mechanism that
“produces” violence, bars act as attractors of violence.
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3. Findings from the: Hermosa SHINES Ordinance – Draft - May 13, 2021
The City Council also desires to reduce
adverse impacts on the community that result from the operation of the alcohol
establishments.
Repeated and consistent crimes related to the sale and service of alcohol in the Downtown District include without limitation disorderly conduct, larceny, public urination and defecation, vandalism, and driving under the influence.
The disproportionate alcohol-related
crime rates have created an adverse impact and disruptions to the community,
resulting in a collective, consistent and long-term nuisance.
______________________________________________________________
4.
Findings from pdf page 14 or Report page 6 of
the ICMA Police Operations
Report for the HBPD:
TABLE 2: 2011 UCR Crime Comparisons
Looking at community crime rates, we took information from the FBI
UCR Program on Crime in the United States and compared Hermosa Beach with neighboring
communities and other California jurisdictions of similar populations.
For this analysis La Canada Flintridge, South El Monte, Marina,
American Canyon, Arvin, and Chowchilla were used as population comparators, and
Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Lawndale, and El Segundo were used as
neighboring comparators.
This analysis is meant as an illustration of communities in
California and how they compare with respect to rates of crime.
Examination of the comparisons presented in Table 1 indicates that
Hermosa Beach has a comparably high crime rate.
Out of the seven jurisdictions with similar population, Hermosa Beach
has the 4th highest violent crime rate and the highest property crime rate.
When compared with neighboring communities regardless of
population, Hermosa Beach has the second highest rate of both violent and
property crime.
[Note: The 6 neighboring communities include:
Lawndale, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo Torrance and Manhattan
Beach]
______________________________________________________________
The following crime data for the Violent Crime Ranking for
the 6 Neighboring South Bay Communities is compiled from:
ICMA Police Operations Report for the HBPD: - TABLE 2: 2011
UCR Crime Comparisons: on pdf page 14
From ICMA Report: Violent Crime Ranking for the 6 Neighboring
South Bay Communities
Ranked 1. Lawndale
number 1 in Violent Crime
Rate
528 per 100,000 pop.
Ranked 2. Hermosa
Beach number 2 in Violent Crime
Rate
314 per 100,000 pop.
Ranked 3. Redondo
Beach number 3 in Violent Crime
Rate
249 per 100,000 pop.
Ranked 4. El
Segundo number 4 in Violent Crime
Rate
226 per 100,000 pop.
Ranked 5. Torrance
number 5 in Violent Crime
Rate
126 per 100,000 pop.
Ranked 6. Manhattan
Beach number 6 in Violent Crime
Rate
124 per 100,000 pop.
“ . . . Hermosa
Beach has a comparably high crime rate.” HBPD ICMA Report Pdf
Page 14
“When compared with neighboring communities regardless of
population, Hermosa Beach has the second highest rate of both violent and
property crime.” HBPD ICMA Report Pdf
Page 14
NOTE: From the above, ICMA Report:
Violent Crime Ranking for the 6 Neighboring South Bay Communities:
1. Hermosa
Beach had more than Double the Violent Crime Rate, when compared to Manhattan Beach.
2. Hermosa
Beach had more than Double the Violent Crime Rate, when compared to Torrance.
3. Hermosa
Beach ranked number 1 in the Violent Crime Rate, when comparing the other South
Bay Cities that border the ocean.
______________________________________________________________
2022 Debate Question 5:
Do you agree with the Findings
from the following research reports?
The "Reducing
Alcohol-Related Harms in Los Angeles County" and the “Alcohol Outlets as Attractors of
Violence and Disorder” research reports.
And do agree with the Findings
from: the Hermosa SHINES Ordinance the ICMA Police Operations Report for the HBPD?
Have you been aware, and do
you think the Hermosa Beach public is aware, of the severity of the ongoing
alcohol-related crime problems in the Downtown area?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate
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2022 Debate Questions from the
Audience:
Each audience member that asks a question, must
pose their question for all City Council Candidates, to answer the same
question.
Please do not direct your question, to a
specific City Council Candidate by name.
Each City Council Candidate will be answering
that same audience question.
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate
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Background
Information: Debate Question 6
There seems to be two schools of
thought, regarding how to deal with the
alcohol related problems in the Downtown area.
The
First School of Thought is:
1.
The Downtown Area creates
insignificant negative impacts and provides an
overall net benefit to the City of Hermosa Beach.
Findings from the: Hermosa Beach
Market and Economic Development Study - Update 3/1/2021
We have explored the ramifications of these changes through
interviews with key stakeholders in the community, and have reflected what we
have learned in the summary observations described in this executive summary.
an opportunity the City can build upon; the evolution of the
business mix and the reduction of externalities from bars on Pier Plaza;
It was overwhelmingly agreed that the public safety concerns
associated with a late-night bar scene have subsided significantly in the past
decade, though the problem remains to some degree, particularly late at night.
While some hope for a continued trend away from Hermosa’s image as
a nightlife destination, others view the City’s drinking culture as integral to
its identity and heritage.
It was also noted that some restaurants/bars depend on the post
dining hours drinking to make sufficient revenue to cover their costs.
______________________________________________________________
The
Second School of Thought is:
2. The Downtown area creates significant negative impacts and
it requires significant time, effort and financial resources, to the detriment
of the rest of the City of Hermosa Beach.
______________________________________________________________
Findings from the: Hermosa SHINES Ordinance –
Draft - May 13, 2021
·
Pier Plaza serves as a popular venue for outdoor events and
dining, connecting Downtown to the beach, pier, and The Strand. However, the
area also contains a high concentration of on and off sale alcohol serving
establishments.
·
The correlation of the sale of alcohol and negative impacts
on the community are well documented in peer-reviewed scholarly
literature.
·
In as much as the city cannot continue to sustain the
disproportionate deployment within the Downtown District, additional
regulations are required to abate the collective nuisance and minimize the
impacts on the community resulting from the operation of alcohol serving
establishments.
·
This disproportionate expenditure on an area that consists
of only 5% of the city land area is not an effective deployment of police
resources, which should be more evenly deployed throughout the city.
______________________________________________________________
Findings from the ICMA Police Operations Report for the Hermosa
Beach Police Department
Excerpts from pdf page 17 or Report page 9 of
the ICMA Police Operations Report for the HBPD:
Issues Raised by Stakeholders
Staffing
• Every stakeholder group we spoke with
mentioned the issue of staffing. The issue manifests itself in several ways.
The greatest concern was expressed with respect to the Pier Plaza area.
• The feeling is that there are insufficient
personnel to deal with the alcohol-related issues in the area, particularly
after 10:00 p.m.
• There is a feeling, particularly among
community members, that there is no police presence east of Pacific Coast
Highway unless there is a call for service.
• There is a feeling among all of the sworn
ranks that enforcement should be avoided in order to prevent officers being
taken out of the field. Minimum staffing for patrol is described as two
officers and a sergeant.
• All ranks described feeling tired and
overburdened. Captains and lieutenants work overtime details to help lessen the
staffing burden.
• Community members praised the department’s
responsiveness and level of caring. All community members talked about lack of
resources.
• Several community members noted the lack of
traffic enforcement; both for moving violations and parking violations. These
observations were validated by the sworn personnel.
______________________________________________________________
“ICMA recommends that the HBPD establish a
committee that includes all the principal stakeholders, including
representatives from all ranks within the department along with community
members.” - HBPD ICMA Report Pdf Page 24
“This process, combined with an
dedicated team in the downtown area, can have a substantial impact on reducing
CFS handled by the HBPD and can free officer time on patrol to deal with
quality of life and other important community problems.” - HBPD ICMA Report Pdf Page 24
"Third, it is clear that a large number of
CFS [Calls for Service], are related to disturbances.
Properly dealing with disturbances requires long-term problem solving and
resources.” - HBPD ICMA Report
Pdf Page 25
______________________________________________________________
Findings from the Reducing Alcohol Harms in LA County report:
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/epi/docs/AOD%20final%20revised%20web%20ed.pdf
"The report, "Reducing Alcohol-Related Harms in Los Angeles County," examines the density of alcohol outlets in 117 cities and communities across the County and highlights the relationship between alcohol outlet density and alcohol-related harms."
Hermosa
Beach data from the report includes:
Hermosa Beach ranked
114 out of 117 cities or communities in Los Angeles County listed for
On-Premises alcohol outlet density / AOD.
- Hermosa Beach had the 4th highest alcohol
outlet density for On-Premises [On-Sale ABC License] establishments,
comparing the 117 cities and communities in the "Reducing Alcohol-Related
Harms in Los Angeles County" report.
["On-Premises Establishments" or
On-Sale Outlets are; Restaurants, Bars or Nightclubs, with an On-Sale ABC
Alcohol License]
- Hermosa Beach had the 9th highest alcohol
outlet density for Off-Premises [Off-Sale ABC License] establishments,
comparing the 117 cities and communities in the "Reducing Alcohol-Related
Harms in Los Angeles County" report.
["Off-Premises Establishments" or Off-Sale
Outlets are; Liquor Stores, Markets or Wine Shops, with an Off-Sale ABC
Alcohol License]
1. Hermosa Beach has more than 4 times the On-Premises alcohol outlet density compared to all of Los Angeles County.
Hermosa Beach has 38.6 On-Premises alcohol outlets per 10,000 of population.
Los Angeles County has 8.9 On-Premises alcohol outlets per 10,000 of population.
2. There are 7 South Bay cities that border the Pacific
Ocean. Those 7 South Bay cities are:
El
Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes
Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes.
Hermosa Beach ranked number 1 in the rate of
violent crime for the 7 South Bay cities that border the Ocean.
3. Hermosa Beach had more than Double the rate of violent crime, when compared to Manhattan Beach.
Hermosa Beach also has 1.7 times the On-Premises Alcohol
Outlet Density, when compared to Manhattan Beach.
Hermosa Beach had 3.5 Violent Crimes per 10,000 of population.
Manhattan Beach had 1.4 Violent Crimes per 10,000 of population.
Hermosa Beach has 38.6 On-Premises AOD compared to 22.5 On-Premises AOD for Manhattan Beach.
4. Hermosa Beach had more than 3 times the rate of violent crime, when compared to Rancho Palos Verdes.
Hermosa
Beach also has 9.6 times the On-Premises Alcohol Outlet Density, when compared to Rancho Palos Verdes.
Hermosa
Beach had 3.5 Violent Crimes per 10,000 of population.
Rancho
Palos Verdes had 0.9 Violent Crimes per 10,000 of population.
Hermosa Beach has 38.6 On-Premises AOD compared to 4.0 On-Premises AOD for Rancho Palos Verdes.
5. Hermosa Beach had more than 10 times the rate of violent crime, when compared to Palos Verdes Estates.
Hermosa Beach also has 10.7 times the On-Premises Alcohol
Outlet Density, when compared to Palos Verdes Estates
Hermosa Beach had 3.5 Violent Crimes per 10,000 of population.
Palos Verdes Estates had 0.3 Violent Crimes per 10,000 of population.
Hermosa Beach has 38.6 On-Premises AOD compared to 3.6 On-Premises AOD for Palos Verdes Estates.
______________________________________________________________
2022 Debate Question 6:
Do the negative impacts outweigh the positive
impacts from alcohol sales,
after 11pm in Hermosa Beach downtown area?
Are the problems related to alcohol-related
crime in the downtown area, easy to solve, or do these problems require a major rethink of the City’s
enforcement policy and a rethink of the Downtown Economic Development
Plan?
Do you ever see the, “late-night bar scene”
as a big money maker for the City of Hermosa Beach?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Background
Information: Debate Question 7
Numerous crime research studies have Hermosa Beach ranked as having
higher rates of violent crime than other comparable California cities listed in
the research reports.
In particular, Hermosa Beach appears to have a history of higher
crime rates for the violent crimes of Part 1 Rape and Part 1 Aggravated
Assault, when compared to Manhattan Beach.
Yet both Hermosa and Manhattan are ranked as having a similar high
density of alcohol outlets, as reported by the "Reducing
Alcohol-Related Harms in Los Angeles County" report.
______________________________________________________________
ICMA Police Operations Report for the Hermosa
Beach Police Department
Excerpts from pdf page 18 or Report
page 10 of the ICMA Police Operations Report for the HBPD:
______________________________________________________________
The Pier Plaza Area
• All stakeholders agree that the
single biggest challenge facing the city is the alcohol-related issues being
generated by the Pier Plaza bars. The Pier Plaza area is perceived as being out
of control and stakeholders also perceive that there are not adequate resources
to deal with the situation.
• A very common phrase, again used
by all stakeholders, was that the city had created the “beach party culture”
downtown and now doesn’t want to provide adequate resources to deal with this
issue.
• A brief review of the daily logs
suggests that alcohol abuse and other related issues are the greatest drain on
patrol resources.
• There are two downtowns; one
before 10:00 p.m. and one after.
• There does not seem to be any
type of strategic approach to dealing with this situation.
______________________________________________________________
Findings from the: Hermosa SHINES
Ordinance
– Draft - May 13, 2021
On evenings and
weekends, many of the on-sale establishments operate at standing room only
capacity, which is well beyond their seating capacity. Patrons crowd into the
establishment to consume alcoholic beverages, while additional patrons queue up
outside, waiting to get into the business.
The queueing at
multiple establishments, creates an environment where large numbers of
intoxicated individuals are congregating and loitering in a small, concentrated
area.
Limiting capacity to
patrons who have an available seat will also have a far-reaching impact to
reduce the negative impacts in the Downtown District.
A standing-room only
atmosphere makes it difficult for servers to monitor intoxication and
facilitates the overserving of alcohol.
Requiring patrons to
have an available seat in order to be served serves two purposes. First,
it allows servers to monitor patrons and prevent overserving of alcohol. It
also has been proven to be an effective tool at reducing alcohol related crimes
and disturbances.
The existing code regulations
and policies the City has implemented over the years to address negative
impacts to the community in the Downtown District have not been successful at
curtailing the disruptive, party-like, nuisance atmosphere.
______________________________________________________________
Hermosa Beach Police Department
HBPD 10 Year Crime Statistics
Manhattan Beach Police Department
MBPD 20 Year Crime Statistics
https://www.citymb.info/home/showpublisheddocument?id=42050
______________________________________________________________________________
Pre-COVID 10 Years – 2010 to 2019
Part 1 Aggravated Assault – Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach per
capita Comparison
____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
For 120 months, 2010 thru 2019:
Hermosa Beach had 2 times the Part
1 Aggravated Assault crime rate,
compared to Manhattan Beach.
______________________________________________________________
For 60 months, 2015 thru 2019:
Hermosa Beach had 2.18 times the Part
1 Aggravated Assault crime rate,
compared to Manhattan Beach.
______________________________________________________________
Hermosa Beach had a 105% Increase
in Part 1 Aggravated Assault from 2017 to 2019,
during the same period Manhattan Beach experienced a 41.1 %
Decrease in Part 1 Aggravated Assault.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Pre-COVID 10 Years – 2010 to 2019
Part 1 Rape – Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach per capita
Comparison
______________________________________________________________
For 120 months, 2010 thru 2019:
Hermosa Beach had 1.76 times the Part 1 Rape crime
rate,
compared to Manhattan Beach.
______________________________________________________________
For 48 months, 2013
thru 2016:
Hermosa Beach had 2.17 times the Part 1 Rape crime
rate,
compared to Manhattan Beach.
______________________________________________________________
Hermosa Beach had a 75% Increase in Part 1 Rape from 2017 to 2019,
during the same period Manhattan Beach experienced a 45 % Decrease
in Part 1 Rape.
______________________________________________________________
Hermosa Beach had a 133% Increase in Part 1 Rape from 2018 to
2019,
during the same period Manhattan Beach experienced a 37.5 %
Decrease in Part 1 Rape.
______________________________________________________________
New 2021 Hermosa Beach Part 1 Crime Stats are now included in the information below.
All the Crime Stats come from the HBPD Crime
pdf’s and MBPD Crime pdf’s from each City’s website.
______________________________________________________________
For
the 4 year period of 2018 to 2021,
Hermosa
Beach had a 133% Increase in Part 1 Rape
______________________________________________________________
For
the 4 year period of 2018 to 2021,
Hermosa
Beach had a 72% Increase in Part 1 Aggravated Assault
______________________________________________________________
For
the 4 year period of 2018 to 2021,
Hermosa
Beach had a 120% Increase in Part 1 Robbery
______________________________________________________________
For
the 3 year period of 2018 to 2020:
Hermosa
Beach had a 66% Increase in Part 1 Rape, during the same 3
year period
Manhattan
Beach had a 50% Decrease in Part 1 Rape.
_____________________________________________________________
For the
3 year period of 2018 to 2020:
Hermosa
Beach had a 36% Increase in Part 1 Aggravated Assault, during the same 3 year period
Manhattan Beach had a 23% Decrease in Part 1 Aggravated Assault.
_____________________________________________________________
For
the 3 year period of 2018 to 2020:
Hermosa
Beach had a 140% Increase in Part 1 Robbery, during the same 3
year period
Manhattan
Beach had a 8% Decrease in Part 1 Robbery.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2022 Debate Question 7:
To what do you attribute the decade long
history of higher crime rates for Part 1 Rape and Part 1 Aggravated Assault in
Hermosa Beach, when compared directly to Manhattan Beach?
The Findings from the Hermosa SHINES Ordinance
mentions problems with Over-Crowding and
Over-Serving of Alcohol that takes place at
bars and restaurants in the Downtown area.
There are California
ABC Laws that prohibits the Over-Serving of Alcohol at bars and
restaurants. There are also California Fire Codes that prohibits the
Over-Crowding of bars and restaurants.
As a beginning point, should the California ABC
Law and California Fire Codes be strictly enforced to protect the public,
reduce legal liability to the City, and eliminate Over-Serving of Alcohol and Over-Crowding of
bars and restaurants in Hermosa Beach?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Background
Information: Debate Question 8 and 9
This
debate question is based the following City webpage and City Notice:
Parking and Sidewalk Access Reminders – City of Hermosa Beach
http://www.hermosabch.org/index.aspx?page=914
PARKING EXAMPLES: DO'S AND DON'TS OF PROPER PARKING FOR SIDEWALK
ACCESS
California Vehicle Code – CVC Section 22500 states that it is
illegal for a vehicle to block access to a sidewalk.
The CVC Section 22500 states:
“No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle whether
attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other
traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official
traffic control device, in any of the following places:
(f) On any portion of a sidewalk, or with the body of the vehicle
extending over any portion of a sidewalk, except electric carts when authorized
by local ordinance, as specified in Section 21114.5.
Lights,
mirrors, or devices that are required to be mounted upon a vehicle under this
code may extend from the body of the vehicle over the sidewalk to a distance of
not more than 10 inches.”
If your vehicle is blocking sidewalk access, handicapped persons
and other pedestrians are forced into our City
streets.
If your driveway is not long enough to accommodate your vehicle,
consider parking perpendicular to your garage so that sidewalks are accessible.
Did you know the City has designated
“Safe Routes to School?”
These are streets and sidewalks that children walk along every
day. Take a look at your street. Do you live on a designated "Safe
Route?"
The way you park in your driveway and in front of your residence
impacts access to the sidewalks on these streets.
Please remember to BE AWARE & PARK WITH CARE.
Always park
responsibly and keep sidewalks clear so that children and pedestrians are not
forced to walk in the streets.
______________________________________________________________
NOTE:
8th Street is a Safe Route to School
Notice of Upcoming 8th Street Construction
Posted Date: 6/19/2019 6:00 PM
http://www.hermosabch.org/index.aspx?recordid=1364&page=28
NOTICE OF UPCOMING 8th STREET CONSTRUCTION
June 19, 2019
Subject: 8th Street Improvements (Capital Improvement Project
14-173)
Dear Occupant/Property Owner:
This notice is to let you know that the City of Hermosa Beach will
begin construction for the 8th Street Improvement Project the week of July 8th.
The project will be led by Gentry General Engineering and construction
improvements along 8th Street between Valley Drive and Hermosa Avenue will
include:
Creation of a continuous, accessible
sidewalk on the north and south sides of the street
Removal of encroachments from the public
right of way as necessary
Refreshing of crosswalks and
striping along the corridor
What to Expect During Construction
Once the project begins construction, it is expected to take
approximately 10 weeks to complete the work, pending weather delays and other
unforeseen conditions. To minimize inconveniences, the construction work will
be split into phases. Work will begin on the north side of the street beginning
and estimated to begin at Valley Drive working toward Hermosa Avenue, before
shifting to the south side of the street.
Construction hours are limited to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Monday
through Friday. As the project work is scheduled to begin in your immediate
neighborhood, additional updates and notifications will be posted on the City website, and fliers will be provided to residents that
will provide details for:
Street sweeping and trash collection
schedule changes
Temporary parking restrictions posted at
least 72 hours in advance
Sidewalk and street closures or
detours
Parking and Encroachments
During the project construction and at all times following the
completion of the project, residents must make arrangements to ensure vehicles or
equipment are not parked across or hanging over the sidewalk (or
location where sidewalks are to be constructed). Please make arrangements now
to clear space in your garage, schedule a bulky item pick-up, or obtain a
parking permit for the permitted area to avoid citations or towing of vehicles.
[ Above Underline and Bold added
]
Additionally, please be advised that the project construction will
involve the removal of unpermitted encroachments into the public right-of-way
by the contractor including fencing, bricks, steps, and landscaping. If you are
unsure whether your improvements are located on your property or within the
right-of-way, please contact us.
Community Meeting
A community meeting will be held on Wednesday June 26th from 3:30
to 4:30 PM
at the Clark Building located at 861 Valley Drive.
______________________________________________________________
Parking and Sidewalk Access Reminders
Please remember to be aware and park with care! Maintaining
access to sidewalks ensures that everyone can safely travel
without stepping into traffic.
The City of Hermosa Beach maintains a Safe Routes to
School program and has identified multiple safety corridors
throughout the city where crossing guards can assist at the most congested
intersections. Please use the "Contact Us" link for more information.
California Vehicle Code Section 22500 specifically provides that:
No
person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or
unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in
compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic control
device, in any of the following places:
(f)
On any portion of a sidewalk, or with the body of the vehicle extending over
any portion of a sidewalk, except electric carts when authorized by local
ordinance, as specified in Section 21114.5. Lights, mirrors, or devices that
are required to be mounted upon a vehicle under this code may extend from the
body of the vehicle over the sidewalk to a distance of not more than 10 inches.
Did you know the City has designated
“Safe Routes to School?”
These are the streets that children traverse on their wat to
schools.
They include:
Valley
Dr.
2nd St.
Pier
Ave.
5th St.
Ardmore Dr.
8th St.
Monterey
Blvd.
14th St.
Prospect
Ave.
16th St.
The
Strand
21st St.
Morningside
Dr.
27th St.
Longfellow
Ave.
Artesia Blvd.
Gould
Ave.
If your vehicle is blocking sidewalk access, handicapped persons
and other pedestrians are forced into our City
streets.
Is the vehicle in your driveway or the front of
your residence blocking sidewalk access?
The way you park in your driveway and in front
of your residence impacts access to the sidewalks on these streets.
Please remember to BE AWARE & PARK WITH
CARE
Always park
responsibly and keep sidewalks clear so that children and pedestrians are not forced
to walk in the streets.
Check to make sure your sidewalk is accessible
to ensure our children’s safety.
Are you sharing the road with young
pedestrians?
--- Don’t block the
crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians
to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.
---
In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians
crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
---
Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop
sign.
--- Take extra care to look out for children in
school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-code/veh-sect-21368.html
Whenever
a marked pedestrian crosswalk has been established in a roadway contiguous to a
school building or the grounds thereof, it shall be painted or marked in yellow
as shall be all the marked pedestrian crosswalks at an intersection in case any
one of the crosswalks is required to be marked in yellow.
Other
established marked pedestrian crosswalks may be painted or marked in yellow if either
(a) the nearest point of the crosswalk is not more than 600 feet from a school
building or the grounds thereof,
There
shall be painted or marked in yellow on each side of the street in the lane or
lanes leading to all yellow marked crosswalks the following words,
“SLOW--SCHOOL XING,” except that such words shall not be painted or marked in
any lane leading to a crosswalk at an intersection controlled by stop signs,
traffic signals, or yield right-of-way signs. A crosswalk shall not be
painted or marked yellow at any location other than as required or permitted in
this section.
______________________________________________________________
Note: The rear entrance/exit of the Valley School exits on to Loma
Dr. near 16th St.
This rear entrance of the Valley School, at one time had an
established marked School Crosswalk crossing Loma Dr.
This marked School Crosswalk more than a decade ago, was paved
over or seal coated over and the marked School
Crosswalk was never replaced.
This marked School Crosswalk at the rear of the Valley School
was established at one
time, and was paved over or seal coated over and this marked School Crosswalk
and should have been replaced because, CVC 21368 states: “Whenever a marked
pedestrian crosswalk has been established in a roadway contiguous to a school
building or the grounds thereof, it shall be painted or marked in yellow…”
______________________________________________________________
Findings from the ICMA Police Operations Report for the Hermosa
Beach Police Department
Excerpts from pdf page 17 or Report page 9 of the ICMA Police
Operations Report for the HBPD
______________________________________________________________
Issues Raised by Stakeholders
Staffing
• Every stakeholder group we spoke with
mentioned the issue of staffing.
• There is a feeling, particularly among
community members, that there is no police presence east of Pacific Coast
Highway unless there is a call for service.
• There is a feeling among all of the sworn
ranks that enforcement should be avoided in order to prevent officers being
taken out of the field.
• Several community members noted the lack
of traffic enforcement; both for moving violations and parking violations.
These observations were validated by the sworn personnel.
______________________________________________________________
2022 Debate Question 8:
Should Safe Routes to School sidewalks be available for all
Hermosa Beach school children and residents to use without parked cars
obstructing the sidewalks, at any time of day and 365 days a year, just like 8th Street?
Should California Vehicle Code Section 22500 be strictly enforced
to prevent cars from obstructing sidewalks in Hermosa Beach on Safe Routes to
School or not?
Does the following Finding from the ICMA Police
Operations Report for the Hermosa Beach Police Department seem valid to you?
“Several community members noted the lack of
traffic enforcement; both for moving violations and parking violations. These
observations were validated by the sworn personnel.”
Should the City of Hermosa Beach follow the guidelines of California
Vehicle Code Section 21368 and upgrade
or install new marked School Crosswalks on intersections up to 600 feet from a
school building or the grounds thereof?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate
______________________________________________________________
2022 Debate Question 9:
To what do you attribute the following ongoing threats to public
safety in Hermosa Beach?
1.
Why can’t we control the
Part 1 Violent Crimes of Rape and Aggravated Assault in Hermosa Beach, in the
same way Manhattan Beach does.
2.
Why can’t we stop putting
our children and residents in danger in Hermosa Beach, by not allowing cars to
obstruct our sidewalks on Safe Routes to School, like other cities do, by
strictly enforcing California
Vehicle Code 22500.
3.
Why can’t we have Marked
School Crosswalks on all street entrances that border Hermosa Beach schools, in
order to protect our school children, as other cities do, by using California Vehicle Code 21368.
These 3 problems have been allowed to exist for decades in Hermosa
Beach, and all efforts that have been directed to address these problems, has
had little or no effect on addressing the outcomes.
Is there a common thread of neglect, indifference or willingness
to look the other way in Hermosa Beach, that allows these public safety
problems to continue for decades?
What are your thoughts regarding other public safety problems that
you are concerned about?
1 minute response from each City Council Candidate
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Closing Statements: 2
minutes for each Candidate’s Closing Statement
______________________________________________________________
End of the 2022 Hermosa Beach City Council Candidate Debate
______________________________________________________________
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