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Agenda Item

a. REPORT 21-0264 HERMOSA SHINES PLAN FOR COMMUNITYWIDE REOPENING, RECOVERY, AND RESILIENCE (Deputy City Manager Angela Crespi)

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    Aubrey Brown almost 3 years ago

    OPPOSE!!!! This is ridiculous!! The restaurants and bars barely made it through especially the unwarranted 2nd shut down and sadly a few did not. Give them a break!!! The owners AND employees need opportunity to get back on their feet & be sustainable. All that pay so much to live here deserve our city and establishments back to regular operating hours and capacity! Live music is the heart of this town and they're struggling too. Don't ruin OUR city!!!!!

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    Michael Bergemann almost 3 years ago

    Restaurants, bars and retailers should be allowed to return to pre-pandemic occupancy and hours of operation as soon as possible.

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    Branden McBirney almost 3 years ago

    oppose

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    Justin Safier almost 3 years ago

    I have lived in the Soutbay for over 20 years. I lived in Hermosa Beach for over 17 years, and specifically on Manhattan Ave and Pier Ave from 2001 though 2016. Over these years I have seen many attempts at qaushing businesses on Pier Plaza. This most recent attempt seems to be the most egregious of them all. Where is the due process?

    Having lived in the neighborhood for so long I believed in the Hermosa community and recently signed a lease on the Plaza. Never in my wildest dreams did I think Hermosa Beach would attempt to create draconian measures such as the ones being proposed. It seems short sighted and down right ignorant to use COVID as an example of how businesses should be run in the future. This is a time that the city should be uplifting struggling businesses not trying to hold them to unfair and unnecessary conditions.

    I find it interesting that the proposal talks about debunking the Kosmont report for not considering many factors, but in the next paragraph they reference it as a source to further their argument.

    Also referenced in the proposal is the crime statistics over the past 10 years. Having looked at them, they have dropped in every single category from 2009 until 2020. It feels as if there is a problem being fabricated where one doesn't exist.

    The proposal to limit occupancy to the amount of seats in the restaurant/bar is unconscionable. This would cut many occupancies in half if not more. How this is even fathomable is beyond me.

    I believe in the people of Hermosa Beach and hope the right thing will be done in these trying times of need.

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    Brady Clark almost 3 years ago

    STRONGLY OPPOSE!! As a lifetime resident of the South Bay and a 25 year resident of Hermosa Beach this is one of the most ridiculous ordinance proposals the city has come up with yet. The bars and restaurants have struggled enough through the worst pandemic we have seen in over 100 years ( if they even survived ) and for the city to pass an ordinance like this would be the nail in the coffin for most of the bars and restaurants in Hermosa Beach that the majority of the community all frequent and enjoy. Yes there is some people that cause problems and act like idiots but that happens everywhere and it’s not fair for the families and kids and adults that enjoy the great bars and restaurants of Hermosa Beach to have to suffer because of a few bad eggs. It’s not like Bourbon street in New Orleans on Mardi Gras like some of these residents are saying which is ridiculous and anyone who frequents the pier plaza can see people and families from all walks of life enjoying all that Hermosa beach has to offer including the awesome bars and restaurants. Please don’t ruin our great little beach town and turn it into a retirement community and destroy what a lot of people have worked very hard to build by passing this ordinance.

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    Rocky Ciasulli almost 3 years ago

    This plan is asinine and would do more harm to our community than good.

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    Nicola Anderson almost 3 years ago

    I oppose everything about this. Guests being asked to wait in their car when we have a beautiful pier plaza and beach. Most guests are unerring with the reduction of parking. Lines do don’t cause the problems. Neither does entertainment. Covid doesn’t come out after 10pm. And to- go cocktails are not being made to chug on the stead, they are to have the opportunity to have the restaurant experience IG you can’t get in your favorite restaurant because of low occupancy it if you are too high risk to go out.

    As someone who sells liquor for a living, this affects my livelihood as well as those of all my customers. I am beyond disappointed in my city for trying to do further harm to businesses that have been fighting to survive for over a year.

    Please stop this immediately.

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    Kelly Trejo almost 3 years ago

    We need our restaurants and entertainment back.

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    Tim Barley almost 3 years ago

    OPPOSE WHOLEHEARTEDLY!

    The study that was commissioned fails in its understanding of Hermosa Beach and its history and its future. A 'cost benefit analysis' is NOT the correct way to look at the issue of police resources vis-a-vis the "Downtown Area."

    On its surface, the study's proposals SEEM like they would work. But, again this is for a city that is NOT Hermosa Beach.

    REASONING FOR OPPOSITION:
    - This is a veiled, overreaching attempt to once again limit the life blood that is the downtown area, wielding a scythe at a problem that would more aptly be fixed with a wrench, tightening up the loose screws, rather than cleaving the entire field. This is a nuclear option WITHOUT OFFERING ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS.
    - The 'solution' offered would push those who wish to enjoy drinks into neighborhoods, with "house parties" and possible underground "speakeasy" style drinking establishments, dispersing police resources across Hermosa into a game of cat and mouse.
    - The better solution would be to increase policing presence in the downtown area as a preventative measure rather than a reactive one (I have not often seen police patrolling the downtown area at night, only arriving in force if there is an issue)
    - Limiting the number of people that can be served, in "queue" will drive patrons away that don't want to wait to other cities with less restrictions.
    More to come...

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    Robert Gallagher almost 3 years ago

    facilis descensus Averno
    Did the city find an alternate source of revenue or sign a deal with OIL? Do they think by reducing the 16% of the daytime (3:00 to 10:00 p.m.) calls for service and 35% of the nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.) calls for service they found a way to fix their budget issues with the HBPD. Every few years a similar piece of legislation is posted and the results are the same, maybe sit at the table and discuss practical solutions to help grow the city we love instead of trying to appease a few individuals and change Hermosa to fit their version of perfect.

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    Kelsey Schaible almost 3 years ago

    The bars and restaurants have been through enough.

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    Jobeth Zimmerman almost 3 years ago

    In regards to the alcohol ordinance being studied/considered I strongly urge you to reconsider the impact this will have on restaurants in our small town. In a time where our restaurants are starting to recover and the light at the end of the tunnel is visible, this would only cripple their businesses. In addition, the ordinance would make dinning and enjoying our pier that much more impossible for residents. We don't need to deter business (both local and tourist) any more than we already have (limited parking now at meters, strict rules on alcohol, food, etc.) If you pass this, you will be spending more money and time on litigation from the business owners and I'd prefer you spend our money on reducing crime and homelessness in Hermosa. Do not pass this ordinance.

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    Anthony Higgins almost 3 years ago

    In the Hermosa SHINES “Message from the City Manager” Suja Lowenthal says:

    “The [Covid] health crisis caused many economic and social shocks -- and many times these were not in our control. BUT WHERE WE COULD RESPOND, WE DID.

    Our city manager went on to say:

    ...Like our businesses and community, THE EVER-CHANGING HEALTH ORDERS required the City to be NIMBLE and respond swiftly so that we could continue to meet the needs of the public during this time”.

    Well Ms Lowenthal the ever changing health orders did not cause the city to follow Manhattan Beach down the rat hole and subvert LA County Health orders when heath care workers were pleading for community support and people were dying in our county at record rates.

    THATS NOT NIMBLE. ITS SUBVERSIVE

    County health orders did not lead the city the CEQA approval process on the single lane configuration that has impacted the Health, Safety and Quality of Life in residential communities.

    I hope the council and city residents take the time to read my (Anthony Higgins) comments included as a url below in the May 13 City Council Agenda on page 7 section IX.A

    If interested you may need to cut and paste this url.

    https://hermosabeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9378540&GUID=CF14D6B8-6BBB-4970-93E4-F27B233A48B1

    I hope the council has the courage to squarely address this and not bury it in the public record.

    Anthony Higgins

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    Scotland Stevens almost 3 years ago

    Oppose Vehemently. Anyone who would create and pass such an unintelligent ordinance will be VOTED OUT out as soon as possible, for lack of self awareness and egregious representation of their community.

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    Adi Makhija almost 3 years ago

    The bias against the nighttime scene of HB from the author of this ordinance is evident when they try and refute the findings of their consulting report through an arbitrary statement on needing "additional resources". Also, land area should not be a factor when considering police resources. Anyone with common sense knows that areas with a denser population (the pier area at night) will require a proportionally adequate police presence, regardless of land usage. The pier area accounts for 90% of the public traffic during the hours of 10pm to 3am. The fact that only 35% of calls come from this area should not be cause for concern whatsoever.
    This proposed ordinance is incomprehensible. Nothing but a blatant attempt at overreach that will have profound negative impacts on local businesses located downtown and in the surrounding areas. Hermosa Beach is famous for its welcoming environment that provides locals and visitors alike with a safe environment to congregate and socialize. This ordinance is the opposite of what Hermosa Beach stands for.

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    Nora Cohen almost 3 years ago

    Oppose!

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    Lucas Spencer almost 3 years ago

    Respectfully, this ordinance is clearly written by someone who has never operated their own business before. This ordinance would absolutely decimate every bar and restaurant in Hermosa Beach. How can anyone think this is good government? Not only is this like taking a back hoe into back surgery, it doesn’t address any real problem— eliminating queues will only spill more intoxicated individuals into the city streets, looking for their next stop. Vehemently oppose. The fact that this is suggested is cause for a recall petition of all council members supporting this ordinance. Please go work on something that benefits the citizenry positively.

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    Mike Ciav almost 3 years ago

    I strongly oppose. I think any logical person and or elected official can see the flaws in all of this. If not I am not sure why your a elected official in our city. I would like to hear from any one who thinks this is a good idea in any way possible.
    Thank you

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    Larry Berlant almost 3 years ago

    As a proud Hermosa resident for 35 years I am absolutely appalled by the proposal to force struggling bars and restaurants to close by 10:00. This would deal them a death blow, causing many to shut down permanently, and cause a substantial reduction in business tax revenues to the City, substantial layoffs to resident employees, and result in a landslide of lawsuits from these struggling business owners just to allow them to try to survive this most difficult time for all of us, not to mention the cost and resources to defend these lawsuits as well as the cost to taxpayers and the City for all resulting damages the City would have to pay out as a result of these lawsuits!! I implore you to just drop this proposal and allow residents and local businesses to try to survive the worst financial and health crisis in the past century!!

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    Tony Cordi almost 3 years ago

    I do not wish to belabor the many comments in opposition of this proposed ordinance, but would ask that the City Council and City Staff consider some potential unintended consequences that may arise from enacting this ordinance:
    - This ordinance strongly disincentivizes investment in the downtown area, especially in restaurants and bars.
    - It threatens the decades old unique world-famous beach culture of Hermosa Beach.
    - It destabilizes key businesses downtown to the point of threatening their sustainability.
    - It possibly violates property owners rights.
    - It potentially triggers a downward spiral of neglect as city sales tax revenues decline and so too does city spending on policing, maintenance and anything else.

    What new groups will invest in a restaurant or bar if their recoupment period is a decade or more?

    We have a strong secondary market as is evident most recently with the sale of Rebel Republic. The secondary market for restaurants and bars would be virtually eliminated which significantly increases the perceived risk of an investment here. Today, owners wishing to move on at least have a chance of recovering some of their investment. This would potentially go away with this ordinance because the proposed licenses would not be transferable or assumable.

    If you go to the first paragraph of PLAN Hermosa you will see: We seek to retain our reputation as the “Best Little Beach City.” How does one retain a reputation if they change the very essence of the businesses that some of this reputation is built on?

    I can’t imagine a downtown Hermosa without dancing or live music that engages its audiences. This would significantly impact a number of businesses here. It would make it very difficult for many businesses to sustain a profit.

    Not just businesses suffer. Restaurants and bars tend to support stronger rent models. The combination of a lack of investment by new operators/tenants with the decline in rents decreases property values…a lot. A commercial lot in downtown Hermosa on average currently holds half the value of a commensurate lot in downtown Manhattan Beach and this ordinance could potentially increase this gap.

    If sales revenues drop by a factor of two, so too does the sales tax income for the city. The authors of the ordinance cite a study done a few years ago about the cost benefit analysis of the downtown. Obviously, if revenues drop, which they most certainly will, then it becomes even less “cost effective” for the city which could potentially result in a reduction in expenditures for the good of the downtown, hence the beginning of a downward spiral.

    While I completely support efforts undertaken to improve the health and safety of residents and visitors to Hermosa, I think additional thought should be given to the broader impact of this ordinance on the community.