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Hermosa Beach News for 2007

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Top Stories on This Webpage: Starting February 1, 2007 - Read the entire news stories, just below:

H.B. Commissioners take another look at downtown - Local officials expressed concern with the current situation on the pier plaza during last month's Planning Commission meeting, but commissioners ultimately declined to pursue any measures that would significantly alter the status quo. Instead, the commission opted to issue a stark warning to businesses on the plaza and in the downtown area - shape up, or prepare to ship out.  Every year, the Planning Commission is charged with reviewing conditional use permits from downtown area businesses as part of the city's annual review process. That process originated following a decision by the commission in 2003 to combine permit reviews for several different establishments into one meeting at the beginning of the calendar year. 

 

HB Planning Commission restricts 705 permit - Despite attracting a number of supporters to speak on their behalf, the owners of an upper Pier Avenue business could not convince the Hermosa Beach Planning Commission to see things their way. The commission adopted a resolution Tuesday night imposing severe restrictions on the business located at 705 Pier Ave. known as Club 705.  Tuesday's decision, if approved by the City Council, effectively revokes the provisions in Club 705's permit approving live entertainment and outdoor dining. It also imposes 19 new conditions confining the business to operate more like a traditional restaurant as opposed to a nightclub or bar.  Following the meeting, an attorney representing Club 705 vowed to seek redress from a higher authority, adding that his clients are being used “as a scapegoat.”  “Right now, we're going to have to appeal to the City Council,” said attorney Albro Lundy. “We believe they don't have the authority to do what they've done.” 

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch - DEADLY WEAPON ASSAULT. Someone was allegedly struck with a hammer in the 1000 block of Hermosa Avenue after engaging in a verbal confrontation with two other individuals. The incident allegedly occurred at 1:30 a.m. Jan. 15. A group of friends were reportedly threatened with violence by two male suspects while walking back to their car late at night along Hermosa Avenue. One of the suspects began wielding a hammer and eventually struck the victim in the head during the incident.

DEADLY WEAPON ASSAULT. An individual walking along the pier plaza after leaving a nearby establishment was allegedly struck by someone wielding a skateboard. The victim's two friends observed the incident, which occurred at approximately 1:47 a.m. Jan. 13. According to the report, the attacker had just engaged in a verbal argument with the victim and his friends just a few minutes earlier.

 

HB Council debates new entertainment permits - A prototype of a new law requiring businesses that provide live entertainment to obtain an “entertainment permit” was considered Tuesday night by the City Council, and the general reaction among those attending the meeting was uniformly negative.  Councilman J.R. Reviczky raised the issue at the council's Sept. 12 meeting, citing the need for the city to have a quick and efficient way to deal with uncooperative business owners. Currently, live entertainment is regulated in Hermosa Beach under the provisions of a business's conditional use permit.  But following the presentation on the new ordinance Tuesday night, which calls for promoters and relevant business owners to submit to a public hearing with the city manager before receiving a permit, Reviczky found himself defending the idea from a bevy of business owners and fellow councilmen. 

 

Plans for ‘Seagal (the actor) Club' in the works in H.B. - In a bizarre twist to the ongoing saga of a local nightclub known as Club 705, a Los Angeles-based entertainment company is tentatively planning to revamp the business into a new establishment that bears the name of a famous actor with a tough-guy image, Steven Seagal.  Instead of the punk rock shows and scantily clad women currently associated with Club 705's existing lineup, a new business plan calls for the creation of “The Seagal Club,” a restaurant, sports lounge and nightclub that serves as a showcase for the former martial arts action star.  Currently, Club 705 is owned and operated by Tim Moore and Arkadi Minassian. Both are principals in the firm Maximoore Inc. According to a letter submitted to the city in November, Minassian and Moore have been operating the business “under a temporary license since June 28, 2006.” 

 

Assault and Battery: 2:33 a.m. Nov. 25, 1100 block of Hermosa Avenue.  A participant in a fight was arrested on suspicion of fighting in public, public intoxication and resisting arrest for allegedly trying to attack another person involved in the incident as he was talking with police officers.  The report noted that the man had to be restrained when he resisted arrest when confronted by many police officers.

 

Obstruction: 2:33 a.m. Nov. 25, 1100 block of Hermosa Avenue.  A man was arrested on suspicion of resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer and public intoxication for allegedly disobeying an officer’s order to step back, yelling at officers to let a man under arrest go and slapping the officer’s are causing a minor injury while the officer was attempting to secure a perimeter at the scene of the fight.

 

City to reconsider CUP for 705 Pier club - The city of Hermosa Beach is currently considering modifying or revoking the conditional use permit for Pointe 705, also known as Club 705/Saffire. At the Planning Commission's meeting earlier this month, a staff report was presented to the commission recommending that the body “set the matter for (a) revocation/modification hearing.”  The report was prepared by local officials and recommended that the commission “amend the CUP to establish new operating restrictions for the business.” It included a three-page unsigned document bearing the name of Sgt. Lance Heard and listed 20 incidents requiring a response by local police officers. The incidents consisted mostly of fights, noise complaints and assaults. In July, officers were dispatched to the bar in response to a kidnapping report.   It went on to state that these incidents “involve multiple violations of law, including the California Penal Code, the Hermosa Beach Municipal Code, the Fire Code, as well as the Conditional Use Permit issued by the city to the business.”

 

HB Council may revisit entertainment permits - A member of the Hermosa Beach City Council recently proposed implementing a new citywide permit process for businesses that incorporate live entertainment. Councilman J.R. Reviczky aired the proposal at the council's Sept. 12 meeting. According to Reviczky, the proposal seeks to eliminate some of the red tape currently associated with the city's conditional use permit process by providing a faster and smoother mechanism by which local officials can deal with issues arising from local businesses.  “It's a simple mechanism to deal with issues in a timely manner,” said Reviczky. “It takes a long time to get through the (current) process.”  Reviczky envisions a completely separate process from the city's current CUP process. Entertainment permits would not “run with the land” as current CUPs do, but would instead be assigned to a particular business owner.

 

HB City Council to consider restaurant CUP - The Hermosa Beach City Council is scheduled to consider an application by the owner of the Hermosa Pavilion to build a new restaurant at his property at 1601 Pacific Coast Highway.  The issue of the multiuse commercial property is sure to attract a sizable number of residents who have been opposed to the owner's vision of his property for some time. Many, like Kammi Howlett, live directly adjacent to the property on the east of PCH and do not appreciate the impacts of the large building on neighborhood streets. In July, Howlett publicly testified at a council meeting that patrons of 24-Hour Fitness (a Pavilion tenant) consistently use her neighborhood as a parking lot and place to change. The council subsequently ordered Shook to grant two free hours of parking at his facility to alleviate the problem. At that meeting, Councilman Sam Edgerton warned Shook that he was in jeopardy of losing the community's support for a proposal to construct a new upscale restaurant on the premises.  n addition to the council's consideration of the impacts of the Pavilion on neighborhood streets, the city's Planning Commission was simultaneously addressing Shook's proposal to construct the Stillwater Contemporary American Bistro, a new 7,038-square-foot restaurant.


 

For More Information On: The Stillwater Bistro Conditional Use Permit for an On-Sale Alcohol License

 

What do you think?  Are New Alcohol Outlets in Hermosa Beach a Good Idea?

Read the opinions of Hermosa Beach residents and include you own.


 

Against PCH restaurant - Our City Council will conduct a public hearing to evaluate the feasibility of a land-use application at 1601 Pacific Coast Highway. The applicant proposes an 8,000-square-foot mega restaurant-bar-liquor store operation in close proximity to residential neighborhoods and school.  This land use will have an occupant capacity estimated to range between 500 and 600 persons. Nuisance conditions will become a chronic problem due to a parking plan that inadequately services the building. In application, when parking strategies and speculative projections fail, irreversible traffic and parking impacts develop. The high-impact restaurant-bar can only sustain itself from attracting a daily influx from outside our community. This generates high traffic volumes and heavy parking demands.

 

HB Pier restaurant denied extended hours - A request by the owner of a pier plaza restaurant fell on deaf ears Tuesday night as the City Council voted unanimously to deny the Mediterraneo restaurant permission to remain open until 2 a.m.  The restaurant's owner, Tommy Short, appeared Tuesday night alongside his attorney to plead his case. When the public hearing began, Short's attorney, Albro Lundy, introduced his client to the council.  Short began by thanking the council for providing “full representation” (the hearing was continued in July due to the applicant's wish to have the matter heard by a full council). He argued his case by comparing his restaurant to other establishments in the area.  While several people rose during the public hearing to oppose Mediterraneo's request, the majority of speakers Tuesday night spoke in favor of granting it permission to remain open until 2 a.m. The restaurant's supporters included local residents, other restaurateurs and the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. Many stressed the need for Hermosa Beach to have a restaurant that catered to an older clientele not interested in some of the other pier plaza establishments. 

 

We Get Letters - Council should protect residents - It is not a day at the beach when one is prevented from enjoying a simple walk. Public intoxication and the party street scene cultivated in Hermosa curtailed many from enjoying a stroll in broad daylight. A taxicab racing westbound along the 500 block of Pier Avenue veered toward the curb. Pedestrians were unprepared for what happened next. As the taxi approached the curb (never stopping), the passenger in the rear seat pitched two open containers out the rear window toward the sidewalk. The large airborne containers missed striking the heads of pedestrians, but the liquid contents splattered everywhere, which included soiling the clothing of a pedestrian. The lunatic who threw the containers fortunately was not drinking from a glass bottle. Glass fragments shattering along the sidewalk would have risked injury to infants in strollers and pedestrians. This pig behavior defiles our community and represents a living nightmare for residents.

In August, despite opposition by residents, the Planning Commission added another watering hole to the pub club circuit in Hermosa. This compounds our nightmare. The commission voted 4-0 to approve the mega-drinking destination at 1601 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Pavilion. This decision undermines the quality of life for residents and fosters a growing perception that the city has adopted an anti-resident attitude.

 

Alcohol approved at Pavilion restaurant - On the question of whether Hermosa Beach should allow any new establishments to serve alcohol, the views of the city's Planning Commission were quite clear after its meeting Tuesday night: one more can't hurt. It voted unanimously to grant the owner of the Hermosa Pavilion a conditional use permit to sell alcohol on the premises.  Prior to the meeting, the building's owner, Gene Shook, submitted an application to the city as part of his proposal to create the “StillWater Contemporary American Bistro,” an 8,000-square-foot “organic” restaurant catering to an “upscale” crowd. To win approval of the project, Shook conducted an intensive lobbying campaign within the community that included mailing invitations to every resident and business owner within the city of Hermosa Beach to an open house. As expected, many residents appeared at the Planning Commission meeting to oppose the city granting a liquor license to another business. Many argued that Hermosa Beach already exceeds the suggested limit of establishments serving alcohol within the area.

 

Report finds no problem with use of force - A consulting firm investigating the Hermosa Beach Police Department recently concluded that the agency does not have a systemic problem with respect to the level of force used by its officers. While declining to offer any formal criticism of the department or any individual officers, the firm did issue 27 recommendations in a 60-page report that seeks to improve the agency's internal policies and procedures.  The report was authored by Ron McCarthy and Sgt. Michael Mello. The two are principals with the firm R.M. McCarthy & Associates, a San Clemente-based firm that specializes in law enforcement-related matters.  City Manager Steve Burrell hired the company earlier this year to conduct a formal study of the Police Department's policies and procedures regarding the “use of force/deadly force.”

 

City officially welcomes new chief - Hermosa Beach officially welcomed new Police Chief Greg Savelli at an event held last weekend in front of City Hall. The ceremony attracted a vast array of community leaders, including City Manager Steve Burrell, City Attorney Mike Jenkins, Councilmen J.R. Reviczky and Kit Bobko, and Mayor Pete Tucker, among others.  Savelli takes the reins of the department at a precarious time for the city. Several issues remain unresolved that could potentially cause great damage to the city's reputation and/or financial well-being. Foremost among them is a year-old investigation by the federal government stemming from the arrest of an off-duty LAPD officer in 2003. After the Los Angeles field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation last year, the case has since been transferred to the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. A spokesperson with the DOJ would not comment on the investigation, except to say that the matter is still open.
 

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch - BATTERY. Someone was the alleged victim of an assault on July 19 at 8:30 a.m. As the victim was walking southbound along the beach, she was approached from behind by another individual who introduced himself as “Corey.” The suspect tried to give the victim a business card, and after she refused he grabbed her by the right arm and pulled her closer to him. The woman was able to pull back and free herself from the suspect.

 

 Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach Crime Close-Up.  Years 1998 to 2004 Crime Stat Comparison   http://www.hbneighborhood.org/1%20HB%20CrimeNews%202006%201.htm

 

View the CBS-TV Channel 2 news story on the Pier Plaza Assaults . . . 

Women attacked in 3 incidents near Pier Plaza in Hermosa Beach - Police fear two late-night incidents in the vicinity of bars are the work of one man, who may have also committed a 2004 assault in the same area.  All three women were walking alone.  Police in Hermosa Beach issued a warning Thursday for women to avoid walking alone late at night from Pier Plaza bars following two attacks that might be related to a brutal assault last year.  Investigators speculate that the man -- dubbed the "Late Night Attacker" -- was attempting to rape his victim Sunday when he grabbed her as she walked on Monterey Avenue in the south end of the city.  "We don't know what the motivation for the attacks is," Sgt. Paul Wolcott said. "They haven't actually been completed but ... the intent of the attacker was for sexually assaulting the victim."



The Beach Reporter – February 1, 2007

Hermosa Beach News

H.B. Commissioners take another look at downtown

By Chris Yang

Local officials expressed concern with the current situation on the pier plaza during last month's Planning Commission meeting, but commissioners ultimately declined to pursue any measures that would significantly alter the status quo. Instead, the commission opted to issue a stark warning to businesses on the plaza and in the downtown area - shape up, or prepare to ship out.

Every year, the Planning Commission is charged with reviewing conditional use permits from downtown area businesses as part of the city's annual review process. That process originated following a decision by the commission in 2003 to combine permit reviews for several different establishments into one meeting at the beginning of the calendar year.

But if residents are expecting big changes following an annual review, they may be waiting for quite some time given the record of past hearings. After the commission conducted its first review in 2004, staff was directed to schedule a “formal review” of the conditional use permits for two plaza establishments based upon incident reports compiled by the Police Department.

 

But when the commission held its next meeting in March, officials backed down and nixed the review of Aloha Sharkeez's and Sangria's CUP because there was “not enough evidence” that the two businesses were in violation. The decision to back down was made, according to the minutes of the meeting, “as a result of conversations among city staff, the city manager, (and) the police and fire departments.”

The commission declined to pursue conducting “formal reviews” at its next yearly review in 2005 and opted instead to continue “informal hearings” with six noncompliant businesses, all located on the pier plaza. Two of the businesses, Sharkeez and Dragon, were singled out at the commission's February meeting. But after a lengthy public hearing to discuss a list of code violations compiled by the city's police and fire departments, the commission once again declined to pull the trigger and opted instead to continue inspections using the city's code enforcement officer.

At the commission's 2006 annual review, the group received a staff report listing the citations of several businesses that were described as “repeat violators.” After a lengthy discussion, the commission chose to undertake a course of action that was virtually a repeat of the previous year - continue inspections through the use of the city's code enforcement officer.

This year's review, which took place Jan. 17, saw many of the same issues arise as in past years. Perhaps anticipating a coming wave of enforcement, Sangria's Chris Pike testified that several business owners were forming a group to “police ourselves.”

 

“As far as the restaurants in the downtown area, we do have concerns about an annual review system, in addition to what's already in place,” said Pike. “We feel that it is one more step to eliminate due process.” Pike added that the name of the new group is the Hermosa Beach Restaurant Association.

Police Chief Greg Savelli also attended the meeting, answering questions and offering suggestions to the commission during the hearing. Savelli pointed to the absence of Sharkeez as a possible factor in the lower number of incidents emanating from the plaza.

Following the meeting, several commissioners were quick to point out the difficulty of identifying the location of a particular nuisance when businesses are located close to one another. “It was difficult to determine whether the incidents were coming from a particular place,” said Commissioner Sam Perrotti. “Even where Blue 32, The Shore and The Underground are located, it's hard to determine whether it's one or the other.”

Commissioner Kent Allen echoed Perrotti's comments. “There's generally a situation going on down there, but how do you point to one party and say, ‘You're the culprit'?” Last month's meeting was Allen's second annual review as a member of the Planning Commission. He stated that the process is a good one that needs some fine tuning. “It can be an effective tool, but it needs more refinement. The ultimate thing is not to punish the wrong person.”

His colleagues agreed and voted to continue to monitor the downtown area instead of requesting any sort of formal hearings for businesses listed in the city's staff report. The decision was tempered by Perrotti, who offered the following comments about incidents like noise complaints arising from the downtown district.

 

“What bothers me, and it should bother you is, as residents continue to complain about this, and more residents get involved, eventually the City Council is going to have to readdress the standards for the outside dining areas,” said Perrotti. “I just don't see this continuing the way it is.”

 


The Beach Reporter – January 18, 2007

Hermosa Beach News

HB Planning Commission restricts 705 permit

Despite attracting a number of supporters to speak on their behalf, the owners of an upper Pier Avenue business could not convince the Hermosa Beach Planning Commission to see things their way. The commission adopted a resolution Tuesday night imposing severe restrictions on the business located at 705 Pier Ave. known as Club 705.

Tuesday's decision, if approved by the City Council, effectively revokes the provisions in Club 705's permit approving live entertainment and outdoor dining. It also imposes 19 new conditions confining the business to operate more like a traditional restaurant as opposed to a nightclub or bar.

Following the meeting, an attorney representing Club 705 vowed to seek redress from a higher authority, adding that his clients are being used “as a scapegoat.”

“Right now, we're going to have to appeal to the City Council,” said attorney Albro Lundy. “We believe they don't have the authority to do what they've done.”

 

Lundy's firm was hired by Maximoore Inc., a Los Angeles-based entertainment company that owns and operates Club 705.

 

Throughout the public comment portion of the hearing, Maximoore's supporters continuously stressed that the operation was being run differently than under the previous ownership. At one point, roughly 15 people stood up as a show of support for the vilified business. Club 705's manager, Xavier Flamenco, urged the commission not to adopt the resolution, stating that “one-dimensional” restaurants like Marie Callender's and Descanso that were previously located at that site were not viable because they only served food.

In particular, many of the new conditions imposed upon the business relate to noise, operating hours and receiving approval from the Planning Commission to amend any of the conditions going forward. The new resolution bans any use of “outside promoters” and limits the operating hours from 7 a.m. to midnight. A provision banning the use of cover charges was omitted prior to the resolution's adoption.

Ultimately, the commission was swayed not by the salsa dancers, the new owners or a local attorney, but by the voices calling for tighter controls and revocation of the business's permit.

“The No. 1 goal of the land use element for the general plan of the city of Hermosa Beach says, ‘protect and maintain the small-town beach community atmosphere',” said Commissioner Peter Hoffman. “This is not a site that is consistent with a ‘small-town beach community' Š it's going to be a club, it's going to be a lounge.” The City Council has the option to assert jurisdiction over the matter at its next meeting Jan. 23.

 


The Beach Reporter – January 25, 2007

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

DEADLY WEAPON ASSAULT. Someone was allegedly struck with a hammer in the 1000 block of Hermosa Avenue after engaging in a verbal confrontation with two other individuals. The incident allegedly occurred at 1:30 a.m. Jan. 15. A group of friends were reportedly threatened with violence by two male suspects while walking back to their car late at night along Hermosa Avenue. One of the suspects began wielding a hammer and eventually struck the victim in the head during the incident.

 

GRAND THEFT. Someone allegedly removed several items after the owner left his driver-side window down after parking it in the carport of his residence in the first block of Sixth Court. Several items were taken from the vehicle, including a digital camera, a GPS system and two golf clubs. The incident allegedly occurred between 8 p.m. Jan. 15 and 7 a.m. Jan. 16.

 

VEHICLE BURGLARY. Someone allegedly removed a Dell laptop computer from a 2002 GMC Yukon that was parked in the 600 block of Second Street. The owner of the vehicle is not sure if he locked his car when he parked it Jan. 15. The incident allegedly occurred between 11 p.m. Jan. 15 and 6 a.m. Jan. 16.

 

GRAND THEFT. Someone allegedly removed a cell phone and backpack from an establishment in the 1600 block of Pacific Coast Highway. The incident allegedly occurred between 6:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Jan. 19 at the basketball court located in the 24-Hour Fitness.

 

PETTY THEFT. After leaving his car unlocked in front of his apartment, someone reportedly removed several items from the vehicle. Among the items taken were a California Drivers License, registration and insurance paperwork, various tools and miscellaneous clothing. The incident occurred between 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 and 6:30 a.m. Jan. 19 in the 900 block of First Street.

 

VEHICLE BURGLARY. After parking a rental car in the upper level of a parking structure in the 2500 block of Pacific Coast Highway, a hotel patron returned the next day to discover the vehicle unlocked and numerous items missing from the trunk. The incident allegedly occurred between 8 p.m. Jan. 16 and 12:15 a.m. Jan. 17. Several items were taken including a set of golf clubs and various articles of clothing.

 


The Beach Reporter – January 18, 2007

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

VEHICLE BURGLARY. Someone allegedly removed $200 in cash and a set of keys from a 1991 Toyota van parked in the 900 block of 24th Street. The incident allegedly occurred between 11 p.m. Jan. 14 and 2:45 p.m. Jan. 15. A resident locked and secured her car, leaving it parked in the driveway of her home. The following day, she noticed the driver door was ajar and the interior ransacked.

 

VANDALISM. Someone allegedly damaged the front door of a resident's home at 2:30 a.m. Jan. 14. The incident allegedly occurred in the 600 block of Fourth Street. The resident did not observe the subject damage his door, nor did he call the police.

 

EMBEZZLEMENT. An employee of a local business allegedly embezzled approximately $40,000 over a lengthy period of time between June 1, 2005, and Jan. 1, 2007. The general manager of a business located in the 900 block of Aviation Blvd. was allegedly alerted to the situation by an accounting firm hired by the business. An employee subsequently confessed and was quickly terminated.

 

PETTY THEFT. Someone allegedly opened a UPS box and removed the contents between 5 and 7 p.m. Jan. 10. The incident allegedly occurred in the 700 block of First Place. A resident's wife allegedly saw an unopened UPS box sitting on the front porch. After returning from work, the resident discovered the box had been opened and the contents removed.

 

DEADLY WEAPON ASSAULT. An individual walking along the pier plaza after leaving a nearby establishment was allegedly struck by someone wielding a skateboard. The victim's two friends observed the incident, which occurred at approximately 1:47 a.m. Jan. 13. According to the report, the attacker had just engaged in a verbal argument with the victim and his friends just a few minutes earlier.

 


The Beach Reporter – December 14, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

HB Council debates new entertainment permits

A prototype of a new law requiring businesses that provide live entertainment to obtain an “entertainment permit” was considered Tuesday night by the City Council, and the general reaction among those attending the meeting was uniformly negative.

Councilman J.R. Reviczky raised the issue at the council's Sept. 12 meeting, citing the need for the city to have a quick and efficient way to deal with uncooperative business owners. Currently, live entertainment is regulated in Hermosa Beach under the provisions of a business's conditional use permit.

But following the presentation on the new ordinance Tuesday night, which calls for promoters and relevant business owners to submit to a public hearing with the city manager before receiving a permit, Reviczky found himself defending the idea from a bevy of business owners and fellow councilmen.

Fat Face Fenner's Fishack owner Gary Vincent echoed the comments of many of the other business owners appearing at the council's meeting.

 

“If there are violators that are not in compliance with their CUPs (conditional use permit), enforce those CUPs or revoke those CUPs,” said Vincent. “It seems like what the city wants to do on this is basically issue parking tickets to everybody in the city of Hermosa Beach because a few meters have expired.”

Mayor Sam Edgerton took issue with the proposal, questioning the placement of the city manager as the business community's first gatekeeper, as opposed to the Planning Commission.

“They know these issues as well as we do, if not better,” said Edgerton. “What we're really doing in my opinion is pulling restrictions or requirements out of a CUP and putting them into another bucket called an ‘entertainment permit' which is fine as long as there's due process at a really good level...”

City Attorney Mike Jenkins countered Edgerton's concerns by stating that the city could hire an independent permit administrator as in Redondo Beach, or by creating a new business license commission. Both ideas though, were met with a lukewarm response.

Wary of the community's response, Reviczky stuck to his guns and stressed that the process would be a quicker way to deal with problems than the cumbersome CUP process, which has taken up to a year to reach a resolution in some cases.

Edgerton, who has complained about promoters from time to time, introduced a motion proceeding with the permit process for anyone doing business as a promoter. Following the constant criticism from virtually every speaker about promoters, no one on the council opposed the motion. But on the question of whether Hermosa Beach business owners should be subjected to an entirely new permit process to provide live entertainment, the overwhelmingly negative reaction to the proposal eventually swayed the council. A final decision on the new ordinance was held off until a workshop is conducted early next year between downtown business owners and local officials to exchange ideas and find alternative solutions.

 


The Beach Reporter – December 14, 2006

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

THEFT. Someone reportedly took a backpack from a child who was waiting for his mother to return home from work. The incident allegedly occurred in the 700 block of Sunset Drive between 6 and 6:15 p.m. on Nov. 28. While waiting for his mother, the victim set his backpack down on the ground. The driver of a white van allegedly stopped his car, got out, picked up the backpack and drove away.

 

PETTY THEFT. A bicycle was allegedly taken from the front yard of a home in the 2000 block of Hermosa Avenue. The incident allegedly occurred between 9 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8:30 a.m. Dec. 8.

 

STOLEN VEHICLE. A blue Yamaha scooter was allegedly stolen from an open garage on Sixth Street. The incident allegedly occurred between 10 p.m. Dec. 9 and 7:30 a.m. Dec. 10.

 

VEHICLE BURGLARY. Someone reportedly smashed the front window of a vehicle in the 900 block of Aviation and removed a GPS navigation system. The incident allegedly occurred between noon Dec. 2 and 10 a.m. Dec. 3.

 

BURGLARY. The owner of a business in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue reportedly discovered several items missing from her establishment upon returning to work earlier this month. The incident, which saw items worth approximately $2,000 taken from the store, allegedly occurred between 6 p.m. Dec. 2 and 11 a.m. Dec. 3

 


The Beach Reporter – December 7, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

Plans for ‘Seagal (the actor) Club' in the works in H.B.

In a bizarre twist to the ongoing saga of a local nightclub known as Club 705, a Los Angeles-based entertainment company is tentatively planning to revamp the business into a new establishment that bears the name of a famous actor with a tough-guy image, Steven Seagal.

 

Instead of the punk rock shows and scantily clad women currently associated with Club 705's existing lineup, a new business plan calls for the creation of “The Seagal Club,” a restaurant, sports lounge and nightclub that serves as a showcase for the former martial arts action star.

Currently, Club 705 is owned and operated by Tim Moore and Arkadi Minassian. Both are principals in the firm Maximoore Inc. According to a letter submitted to the city in November, Minassian and Moore have been operating the business “under a temporary license since June 28, 2006.”  Maximoore purchased the business from Robert Miller, a local businessman who has “recently become financially insolvent.” The transfer of ownership, which is currently in escrow, has been held up, though, due to several administrative actions, including a review of the property's conditional use permit by the city.

In October, Community Development Director Sol Blumenfeld informed the Planning Commission that the Police and Fire Departments “have responded to an inordinate number of calls ... in connection with fights, public intoxication, underage serving (of alcohol) and overcrowding of this business, in violation of the Penal Code.”

The commission ultimately agreed and scheduled a public hearing to consider revoking or modifying the property's conditional use permit. But because the owners did not post a placard on the premises notifying other residents until the week of the hearing, the city postponed the matter until Wednesday night. Local officials believed the late notice would have put the city on precarious grounds should the owners have decided to appeal the matter or challenge it in court.

 

In the meantime, an updated staff report was prepared by Blumenfeld that concluded Club 705 “has demonstrated a clear pattern of noncompliance with many of the CUP operating conditions.” It urged the commission to decide whether these “egregious violations” justified revoking or modifying Maximoore's permit.

In an attempt to defend against these charges, Minassian submitted his company's business plan for the property at 705 Pier Ave. Minassian argued that the city should grant approval to continue operating because the new establishment will include a Japanese restaurant that serves sushi and “upscale cuisine,” a sports lounge complete with 15 televisions and a nightclub in which Seagal would periodically perform with his band “Thunderbox.”

“The goal of current management is to bring the business back to its original business plan,” wrote Minassian. “The basic business plan will call for an upscale dining room as the main foundation for the business. The plan will also establish a sports lounge and nightclub.”

On Monday, Club 705's general manager Xavier Flamenco had little to say prior to Wednesday's public hearing. “Basically what we want to do is to get back to the way things were done,” said Flamenco. He added that the new owners were doing their best to be “in compliance” with local rules and regulations.

 

Perhaps most interesting, Seagal himself co-signed a nonbinding letter of intent with Minassian to participate in the venture, which he described as an “upscale Japanese private club.” Seagal, who is currently on tour with his band, was unavailable to comment on the proposal.

Despite Minassian's letter, residents and local officials should not expect to see Seagal wandering the streets of Hermosa Beach anytime soon. In addition to the city's administrative review, Maximoore currently has a license transfer application pending with the state's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

 

Should the city eventually decide to deny Maximoore's permit or place any significant restrictions on the nightclub's operations, a lengthy battle might ensue that would tie up any chance of Seagal inking a deal with Minassian in the not-too-distant future. Minassian has expressed his intention to pursue a formal agreement with the actor only after both administrative matters are resolved.

 


The Daily Breeze – December 6, 2006

Hermosa Beach - Police Log

Assault and Battery: 2:33 a.m. Nov. 25, 1100 block of Hermosa Avenue.  A participant in a fight was arrested on suspicion of fighting in public, public intoxication and resisting arrest for allegedly trying to attack another person involved in the incident as he was talking with police officers.  The report noted that the man had to be restrained when he resisted arrest when confronted by many police officers.

Obstruction: 2:33 a.m. Nov. 25, 1100 block of Hermosa Avenue.  A man was arrested on suspicion of resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer and public intoxication for allegedly disobeying an officer’s order to step back, yelling at officers to let a man under arrest go and slapping the officer’s are causing a minor injury while the officer was attempting to secure a perimeter at the scene of the fight.

Residential Burglary: 10:35 to 10:39 p.m. Nov. 17, 1900 block of Manhattan Avenue.  A resident heard the voices of two males in the residence, shouted at them to leave and heard them leaving.  Police officers found a trail of muddy footprints and a screw driver that did not belong to the resident.  Entry appears to have been made through a window.

 Theft: 6 to 6:15 p.m. Nov. 28, 700 block of Sunset Drive.  A man in a white older model van stopped his vehicle and took a backpack containing school books.  A boy had set the bag down as he was standing outside waiting for his mother to come home from work.

 


The Beach Reporter – November 9, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

Gallery Apartments change hands

In yet another sign of the changes afoot in Hermosa Beach's real estate market, a 168-unit apartment complex known as the Gallery was recently purchased by a Chicago-based real estate investment trust known as Equity Residential.

According to the real estate Web site GlobeSt.com, the firm purchased the property located at 414 Second St. from Playa Pacifica, Ltd. for $64.6 million. The deal, which closed late last month, included a $34 million loan from Capmark, a real estate financial company.

A spokesman for Equity Residential spoke briefly with The Beach Reporter to comment on the firm's latest acquisition. “We very much like the market,” said assistant vice president Marty McKenna.

The acquisition is the second investment by Equity Residential within Hermosa Beach this year. In June, the company purchased the 285-unit Playa Pacifica complex located at 415 Herondo St. for $68.5 million. The two properties are right next door to each other. “Obviously that was part of the attraction for us on the Gallery property,” said McKenna.

Unlike Equity's acquisition of Playa Pacifica, which saw the firm spend approximately $20,000 to $25,000 per unit on improvements, no upgrades are planned for the Gallery. “The Gallery was built in 1971, but it was recently renovated and upgraded,” said McKenna.

As with the sale of Playa Pacifica in June, Equity Residential utilized the services of the brokerage firm Marcus & Millichap in its latest deal. “Between these two buildings, they represent 20 percent of the rental units in Hermosa Beach,” said Greg Harris, one of Marcus & Millichap's vice presidents. “The sale itself was not marketed. It was purchased on an off-market basis.” Harris, who works out of an office in El Segundo, was aided by fellow M&M broker Ron Harris to complete the transaction.

Following the sale, Equity Residential wasted no time in incorporating its newest property into its portfolio. Apartments from both the Gallery and Playa Pacifica are listed on the company's Web site equityapartments.com. Rents at the Gallery start out at $1,375 per month for a studio and top out at $2,700 per month for a two-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms.

 


The Beach Reporter – November 9, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

What's in a name? Some want a new one for South Park

Should the city rename one of its parks to disassociate itself from an irreverent cartoon with the same name? That is a question facing local officials as the city gears up for its highly anticipated Centennial Celebration early next year.

In conjunction with the centennial committee's ? Acts of Beautification,” the Woman's Club of Hermosa Beach agreed to purchase a new sign for one of the city's most popular parks, South Park. But part of the deal includes a request from the club to change the name of the park to avoid any future connotation with the popular Comedy Central cartoon about four grade-schoolers growing up in suburban Colorado.

According to a letter bearing Jean Cullen's name, the civic organization that is known for its annual pancake breakfast is seeking to rename the park because “with the notoriety of the cartoon and film of ‘South Park,' the name is not appropriate.” The letter included a suggestion to rename the park to “Centennial Park,” to coincide with the upcoming celebration.

Cullen, who was recently named Hermosa Beach's Woman of the Year, offered some thoughts about the request in a conversation earlier this week.

“A couple of months ago at one of our meetings, Laura Raymond mentioned that the city was looking for ‘100 Acts of Beautification' and one of our members mentioned that the park doesn't have a sign,” said Cullen. “We felt that it probably needed a name change also, because of the cartoon.”

Prior to the park's existence, the Hermosa Beach School District owned the property, using it as an elementary school. Following its closing in the early 1970s, some of the property was sold to developers who subsequently built condominiums, while the field itself that now makes up South Park was bought by the city. The park, which is located at 425 Valley Drive, spans approximately 4.51 acres.

“It was at one time a school and so it was South School, and then the school went away,” said Cullen. “Since then it's just been called South Park.” She added that the request is merely a “suggestion” and that the Woman's Club isn't interested in getting into a “fight” with anyone over the proposal.

At least one local organization has already signaled it is not opposed to the Woman's Club's request to change the name of South Park. Friends of the Park President Raymond stated that the names of parks “are not a particular focus” for her organization and that “anything that improves the visibility and usage of our parks is great.”

The request, which was to be heard Wednesday night by the Parks and Recreation Commission, could go into effect as early as the end of this month if the City Council takes action on the proposal at one of its upcoming meetings. The council may reject or accept the recommendations put forward by the commission, or it may continue the matter to a future time.

Whether or not the city agrees with the request remains yet to be seen, but people opposed to the name change shouldn't hold out hope that the show's notoriety will fade away in the near future. According to an executive with the Comedy Central Network, “South Park's” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are currently working on the show's 10th season. Cartman, Kenny and the rest of the “South Park” crew “will be on for at least two years,” said Director of Corporate Communications Jenni Runyan.

 


The Beach Reporter – November 2, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

The battle against clutter

As part of the centennial celebration early next year, a seminar to help local residents stay organized is scheduled for later this month. “Clearing Clutter From the Inside Out” will be held next Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Clark Building and seeks to provide residents with tips on avoiding the pitfalls of owning too many possessions.

The seminar is just one of the ideas that originated from a committee charged with implementing 100 Acts of Beautification. “The clutter seminar is the first (one) we've pushed out onto the community,” said Chairman Michael Divirgilio. “It's kind of a gradual scheme to beautify the community.”

The committee is currently engaged in a campaign to inform local residents of its upcoming activities. “We're doing a lot of little things and a lot of it is by word of mouth or e-mail,” said Divirgilio. So far, approximately 45 people are registered to partake in the seminar, he said. “It's kind of a grass-roots thing.”

Divirgilio stressed that the seminar is not the first event of the centennial's 100 Acts of Beautification. About 15 other items have already taken place, including the handprint mural along Pier Avenue and a Coastal Cleanup Day earlier this year. In addition to the seminar, Divirgilio mentioned a shrub planting, which will take place along the greenbelt within the next few weeks.

 

Local residents Marie Hoffman and Susan Murphy agreed to spearhead the seminar. As part of the seminar, Hoffman authored a short article detailing how her experience as a Realtor required her to help clients remove clutter from their homes in preparation for being placed on the market. “There was only one challenge,” wrote Hoffman. “It is human nature to collect things, often to the point where their homes were filled with way too much stuff.” As a result, Hoffman finds herself the perfect messenger for this particular event.

“Owning too much can also hold a person back from moving forward in their life by creating the never-ending response to invitations of ‘We have to clean up this weekend',” she said. As a result, Hoffman and a fellow Realtor created the “Clutter Seminars.”

The event is scheduled for Nov. 11 from noon to 3 p.m. The seminar is being held at the Clark Building, located at 861 Valley Drive. The cost to participate is $15, which includes a workbook, course materials and lunch. For more information about the committee or the centennial celebration, visit www.hermosa100.com/

 


The Beach Reporter – November 2, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

Correction

Last week's report incorrectly asserted that the public hearing for the Hermosa Pavilion's conditional use permit was rescheduled from Dec. 12 to sometime in January. At the council's last meeting, City Manager Steve Burrell requested that the hearing be continued from Dec. 12 to Jan. 9 to give the owner more time to complete a report on the building's parking structure. The council instead granted Burrell the power to continue the matter at his discretion, leaving the hearing set for Dec. 12.

 


The Beach Reporter – October 26, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

City to reconsider CUP for 705 Pier club

The city of Hermosa Beach is currently considering modifying or revoking the conditional use permit for Pointe 705, also known as Club 705/Saffire. At the Planning Commission's meeting earlier this month, a staff report was presented to the commission recommending that the body “set the matter for (a) revocation/modification hearing.”

The report was prepared by local officials and recommended that the commission “amend the CUP to establish new operating restrictions for the business.” It included a three-page unsigned document bearing the name of Sgt. Lance Heard and listed 20 incidents requiring a response by local police officers. The incidents consisted mostly of fights, noise complaints and assaults. In July, officers were dispatched to the bar in response to a kidnapping report.

 

It went on to state that these incidents “involve multiple violations of law, including the California Penal Code, the Hermosa Beach Municipal Code, the Fire Code, as well as the Conditional Use Permit issued by the city to the business.”

 

The report also states that the Police Department “opposes the license transfer, until or unless additional restrictions are placed with the license.” In other words, the Police Department is not supportive of the establishment's change of ownership, which an officer testified on Oct. 17 was “still in escrow.”

In addition to the Police Department, Capt. James Crawford of the Hermosa Beach Fire Department authored a report detailing violations of various codes related to occupancy and overcrowding. “The business was in violation of Section 2501.16.3 of the Uniform Fire Code,” wrote Crawford. “Overcrowding and admittance of people beyond the approved capacity of a place of assembly is prohibited.”

Local activist Jim Lissner spoke of the perils of running a nightclub not located on the pier plaza. “I think part of their problem is that they're up by themselves so that whatever happens up there can be clearly identified as emanating from them,” said Lissner. “Whereas stuff that happens in the downtown, nobody seems to be able to pinpoint where it's coming from. I guess that's the risk of being in the outlying area.”

 

The owner, Tim Moore, did not attend the commission's meeting earlier this month but did submit a letter to the city, which was included in the staff report. It states that his intention is to establish a “high-end steak and seafood restaurant.” Moore also stated that previous owners of the establishment “failed to grasp” the care necessary when utilizing promoters, adding that “outside promoters” have “brought the wrong type of demographic.” Several messages were left by phone seeking comment from Moore prior to press time but none were returned.

Perhaps in response to the issues faced by the city from establishments like Club 705, the city will consider an item at its first meeting in November dealing with citing local businesses that do not abide by their CUPs.

“The city is contemplating focusing upon citations and adopting an administrative penalties ordinance to allow recovery of code enforcement costs and to avoid sending code enforcement cases to county courts,” said Community Development Director Sol Blumenfeld. “This is a more cost-effective means to get code compliance.”

The public hearing is scheduled for the Planning Commission's meeting in November and is not the first time issues with that particular location have been raised. The city agreed to pay $1.1 million to the former owners of Pointe 705 after allegations of police misconduct were raised by the proprietors and a lawsuit was filed.

 


The Beach Reporter – October 12, 2006

Hermosa Beach News 

Hermosa Pavilion restaurant decision pushed back

It seems like the owner of the multiuse commercial property located at 1601 Pacific Coast Highway, known as the Hermosa Pavilion, just can't win. The Hermosa Beach City Council voted Tuesday night to delay making a final decision on Gene Shook's plan to build a new restaurant in his building for two months. The continuance was urged after a public hearing that saw many residents rise to oppose the project, complaining about noise, traffic and parking.

Shook's journey through the city's planning bureaucracy has been a long one. In July, Shook appeared at a City Council meeting accompanied by his attorney to defend against a Planning Commission recommendation to impose a two-hour free parking requirement at the Hermosa Pavilion. Shortly after that meeting, Shook returned to the Planning Commission as part of an application to amend his property's conditional use permit to build the Stillwater American Contemporary Bistro, an “upscale” and “organic” restaurant. At that meeting, Shook testified that “waiting six months doesn't work.” The commission subsequently continued the matter until its next meeting in August.

Following the continuance, the commission voted to approve the proposal with several conditions, including that the new restaurant close at midnight, have no live entertainment, no TVs, no cover charge and no outside dining. In addition, the commission imposed a six-month review period for the conditional use permit. Following the commission's August approval, the matter moved to the City Council. The council assumed jurisdiction over the proposal at its meeting Sept. 12, leading to Tuesday night's public hearing.

As the applicant, Shook was the first to speak Tuesday night. His argument paralleled that which he presented to the Planning Commission several months earlier. He stressed the need for the restaurant to stay open until midnight, to allow the use of a TV in the bar and offered his results from two “tests” that he conducted from his property.

“I yelled extremely loudly today,” said Shook. “You couldn't hear it at all. It was virtually inaudible.”

Local residents though, were not buying it. Linda Miller spoke against the proposed restaurant, stressing that the city doesn't need a “bar” or “cabaret.” She added that comparisons to the Metlox building in Manhattan Beach or Fleming's Steakhouse in El Segundo are “totally irrelevant” because residential properties are situated much closer to the Hermosa Pavilion than in those instances.

Miller's husband, Ron, brought in perhaps the most damning piece of evidence to the hearing - a photograph of a “Parking Lot Full” sign that was placed at one of the building's two entrances. Shook stressed that parking was still available despite the presence of the sign, and conceded that he needed a “better” sign.

“How is it that you can have a sign that says ‘lot full'?” said Councilman Sam Edgerton.

“It's just absolutely incredible some of the things I've seen,” said Councilman J.R. Reviczky. “The ‘parking lot full' sign ... I think some of these problems are self-inflicted.”

Though Shook testified in July that he didn't want to wait six months, that's exactly what happened. The council is expected to consider the issue again at its meeting Dec. 12.

 


The Beach Reporter – October 12, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

HB Council may revisit entertainment permits

A member of the Hermosa Beach City Council recently proposed implementing a new citywide permit process for businesses that incorporate live entertainment. Councilman J.R. Reviczky aired the proposal at the council's Sept. 12 meeting. According to Reviczky, the proposal seeks to eliminate some of the red tape currently associated with the city's conditional use permit process by providing a faster and smoother mechanism by which local officials can deal with issues arising from local businesses.

“It's a simple mechanism to deal with issues in a timely manner,” said Reviczky. “It takes a long time to get through the (current) process.”

Reviczky envisions a completely separate process from the city's current CUP process. Entertainment permits would not “run with the land” as current CUPs do, but would instead be assigned to a particular business owner.

City Attorney Mike Jenkins explained the difference between CUPs and entertainment permits by phone last Friday. “The difference between business licensing and land use is you're focusing on who the operator is,” said Jenkins. “You're focusing on regulating operational aspects of a business, as distinguished from land use regulations. Land use permits run with the land, so the ownership, the operational aspect, isn't so much a focus.”

Without naming names, Reviczky alluded to several establishments that currently require a sizable amount of attention. If a new entertainment permit process helped to resolve some of the current issues, he would consider the plan a success. “If that makes this go away, then I'd consider it successful,” said Reviczky. “It's certainly not my intent to put everybody under the microscope.”

Reviczky alluded to the case of the Moxie Nightclub in Redondo Beach as a prime example of how the program might work. After a large fight broke out at the club in August, the Redondo Beach City Council revoked the club's permit at a council meeting the following month. The quick turnaround seen in the Moxie case would not be possible if the club did business under Hermosa Beach's current conditional use permit system.

As the director of Redondo Beach's Planning Department, Randy Berler deals with the issue on a regular basis.

“Overall it's been effective with the way to address issues,” said Berler. “Most permits have been pretty routine.” Redondo Beach's entertainment permit ordinance was first established in 1996. Since that time, Berler recalls only three cases in which the city revoked an entertainment permit.

In Redondo Beach's system, anyone wishing to provide live entertainment must apply for either a “Level 1” or “Level 2” entertainment permit. According to Redondo Beach's Municipal Code, a Level 1 permit is required when “the number of persons participating in the entertainment are one to three,” and “the sound is amplified and/or recorded.” A “permit administrator” would be entrusted to make the final decision with respect to Level 1 permits. Such an administrator may deny someone's request if the proposed entertainment interferes with “the quiet enjoyment of neighboring property” and no action could be taken to “ameliorate that interference.”

A Level 2 permit typically deals with issues of security, soundproofing and/or noise. “It depends on the establishment and what issues there have been,” said Berler. One of the more peculiar requirements of granting a Level 2 permit is that the owner of the business must submit fingerprints to the California Department of Justice prior to approval. This type of permit also requires approval by the City Council after a public hearing. Berler explained that one of the grounds for revocation is an undue strain on public resources, as in the case of Club Moxie.

Berler acknowledged that the amount of work necessary to process applications from Redondo Beach's business community is not trivial. “It can be a very time-consuming process,” said Berler. “It certainly takes some city resources.”

Reviczky conceded that a new permit process might put a strain on city officials, but believes the benefits of such a program would outweigh the negatives. “This doesn't get the attorneys involved,” he said.

One establishment that experienced the city's red tape firsthand is the pier plaza restaurant Mediterraneo. After submitting a request to extend its operating hours from midnight to 2 a.m., a final decision by the City Council was not made until Sept. 26, 2006, a full year after the Planning Commission denied its request in 2005. Interestingly, had Reviczky's plan been put in motion prior to the restaurant's application, the matter still would not have fallen under the new permit process because it dealt with an extension of operating hours, which would remain part of the CUP process.

The proposal has garnered the support of at least one member of the community. While speaking at the Sept. 26 council meeting in favor of Mediterraneo's request, the Chamber of Commerce's executive director, Carla Merriman, also voiced her support of implementing an entertainment permit process like the one in Redondo Beach.

Interestingly, last month's request is not the first time Reviczky suggesting implementing a separate permit process for live entertainment. Reviczky raised the issue before in July 1999, but did not have enough support on the council to implement the proposal. The issue never resurfaced again until last month's meeting.

 


The Beach Reporter – October 5, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

HB City Council to consider restaurant CUP

The Hermosa Beach City Council is scheduled to consider an application by the owner of the Hermosa Pavilion to build a new restaurant at his property at 1601 Pacific Coast Highway.

The issue of the multiuse commercial property is sure to attract a sizable number of residents who have been opposed to the owner's vision of his property for some time. Many, like Kammi Howlett, live directly adjacent to the property on the east of PCH and do not appreciate the impacts of the large building on neighborhood streets. In July, Howlett publicly testified at a council meeting that patrons of 24-Hour Fitness (a Pavilion tenant) consistently use her neighborhood as a parking lot and place to change. The council subsequently ordered Shook to grant two free hours of parking at his facility to alleviate the problem. At that meeting, Councilman Sam Edgerton warned Shook that he was in jeopardy of losing the community's support for a proposal to construct a new upscale restaurant on the premises.

In addition to the council's consideration of the impacts of the Pavilion on neighborhood streets, the city's Planning Commission was simultaneously addressing Shook's proposal to construct the Stillwater Contemporary American Bistro, a new 7,038-square-foot restaurant. After hearing a lengthy presentation from Shook and his team of consultants, the Planning Commission continued the issue until its August meeting. At that meeting, the commission voted unanimously to approve Shook's request for an “on-sale” alcohol license along with the creation of the restaurant. After the meeting, Shook commented that he was “pleased” with the outcome.

But his victory was short-lived. At its Sept. 12 meeting, the City Council assumed jurisdiction over the matter, effectively pushing a final decision back by several weeks. During the council's deliberations, City Attorney Mike Jenkins described next week's public hearing as “de novo,” a legal term of art that indicates the issue is to be judged on the merits after starting over from the beginning. The decision marked a striking blow to Shook's plans. In July, Shook testified to the Planning Commission that, “I really want to get the construction done. Waiting six months doesn't work.”

A new restaurant conditional use permit at the Hermosa Pavilion (shown above while being renovated) will be decided on by the City council on Tuesday. (photo by Chris Miller)

 

When reached by phone earlier this week, Shook stated that it wouldn't be appropriate to comment until after the public hearing on Oct. 10. His demeanor is not a surprise given how much is riding on the council's decision. A restaurant designer hired by the developer previously estimated the new project is expected to cost between $3 million to $4 million.

One resident generally against the expansion of the number of businesses that serve alcohol but who is not completely opposed to Shook's proposal is local activist Jim Lissner. He believes the Oct. 10 council meeting is of such importance that he walked door to door on several streets to place reminder notices on local residents' front doors to come to the public hearing. Lissner explained his position earlier this week.

“I think we can live with it if the hours are under control,” said Lissner. “If there was a choice of the license with 2 a.m. hours or nothing at all, I would go with nothing at all.”

 


The Beach Reporter – October 5, 2006

Letters to the Editor

Against PCH restaurant

Our City Council will conduct a public hearing to evaluate the feasibility of a land-use application at 1601 Pacific Coast Highway. The applicant proposes an 8,000-square-foot mega restaurant-bar-liquor store operation in close proximity to residential neighborhoods and school.

This land use will have an occupant capacity estimated to range between 500 and 600 persons. Nuisance conditions will become a chronic problem due to a parking plan that inadequately services the building. In application, when parking strategies and speculative projections fail, irreversible traffic and parking impacts develop. The high-impact restaurant-bar can only sustain itself from attracting a daily influx from outside our community. This generates high traffic volumes and heavy parking demands.

The only alternative is to deny this land-use designation rejecting the high-impact usage in favor of low-impact. Revise and simplify the parking plan to accommodate 100 percent self-parking.

Residents safeguard neighborhood from radiating impact. The public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, in City Council chambers on Valley Drive.

Patty Egerer, Hermosa Beach

 

Against vending machines in parks

Hermosa Beach is accepting donations for the city's centennial in 2007. Most are given without strings attached. Others require a contract to be approved by the City Council for a one-time sponsorship deal such as Kraft Foods' largest beach blanket event.

A particularly disturbing “donation” will be considered by the council Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 7:10 p.m., the Coca-Cola sponsorship contract. The donation requires a contract permitting commercial vending machines to be placed in the city's parks that will dispense $1.50 and $2 canned drinks.

Once these vending machines are installed in the parks, the city's addiction to the token revenue will make them very difficult to be eliminated as were the advertising bus benches 18 years ago and their numbers will likely grow year by year.

This donation is not a revenue-raising method in the people's best interest. The cash revenue will come from the city's own children and their parents visiting the city parks or cash from children walking to and from school, which may be meant for their lunch or other, cash spent for overpriced sodas of dubious value.

Vending machines in the parks will add a policing burden. They're a target for graffiti, break-ins, other problems and an attractive nuisance to be avoided like the plague.

Note the meeting date and notify your elected council members that this is an idea even more far-fetched than the Pier Avenue lanes reduction, which coincidentally will also be discussed during the Oct. 10 council meeting.

Howard Longacre, Hermosa Beach

 

 


The Beach Reporter – September 28, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

HB Pier restaurant denied extended hours

A request by the owner of a pier plaza restaurant fell on deaf ears Tuesday night as the City Council voted unanimously to deny the Mediterraneo restaurant permission to remain open until 2 a.m.

The restaurant's owner, Tommy Short, appeared Tuesday night alongside his attorney to plead his case. When the public hearing began, Short's attorney, Albro Lundy, introduced his client to the council.

Short began by thanking the council for providing “full representation” (the hearing was continued in July due to the applicant's wish to have the matter heard by a full council). He argued his case by comparing his restaurant to other establishments in the area.

“I've been here 12 years, first as Brewski's,” said Short. “Some are good and some don't follow the rules. We have an impeccable record. I have 12 years here with no violations.” Short then pleaded with the council to give him a “fair shot,” adding that he had no intention of changing or selling his business.

 

While several people rose during the public hearing to oppose Mediterraneo's request, the majority of speakers Tuesday night spoke in favor of granting it permission to remain open until 2 a.m. The restaurant's supporters included local residents, other restaurateurs and the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. Many stressed the need for Hermosa Beach to have a restaurant that catered to an older clientele not interested in some of the other pier plaza establishments.

Lundy was the last person to speak and offered a suggestion to the council. “If you want to stop the alcohol problems, there should be a lot more enforcement of drunk in public on the pier plaza,” he said.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting, Short's application to amend his CUP was denied by a 3-2 vote of the Planning Commission at its Sept. 20, 2005, meeting. Short's previous restaurant, Brewski's, was granted an upgrade of its alcohol license from beer and wine to a “general” or “on-site” license in December 2003. Part of the city's approval included a condition that it close at midnight instead of 2 a.m.

Despite the overwhelmingly supportive crowd, the council sided with community members already overwhelmed by the problems associated with other pier plaza establishments.

“We have an impact problem and we're trying to solve it,” said Mayor Sam Edgerton. “I think we're sending a message that we don't want to add people (to the downtown area) between 12 and 2 a.m.” Though not present, Edgerton participated in the meeting via teleconference from his hotel room in Chicago, where he is on business.

Councilman Kit Bobko apologized to Short and looked him straight in the eye as he denied his request. “I have absolutely agonized over this decision,” said Bobko. “We want Hermosa to move back from where it is now. I'm sorry.”

After the meeting, Short was visibly dejected. “Well, we'll continue doing business as usual,” said Short. “We will continue to follow the law as we've always done. We were very, very touched and inspired by the heavy turnout by the people to honor our restaurant and managers and staff.” He added, “We hold our heads high.”

 


The Beach Reporter – August 31, 2006

Hermosa Beach - We Get Letters

Council should protect residents

It is not a day at the beach when one is prevented from enjoying a simple walk. Public intoxication and the party street scene cultivated in Hermosa curtailed many from enjoying a stroll in broad daylight. A taxicab racing westbound along the 500 block of Pier Avenue veered toward the curb. Pedestrians were unprepared for what happened next. As the taxi approached the curb (never stopping), the passenger in the rear seat pitched two open containers out the rear window toward the sidewalk. The large airborne containers missed striking the heads of pedestrians, but the liquid contents splattered everywhere, which included soiling the clothing of a pedestrian. The lunatic who threw the containers fortunately was not drinking from a glass bottle. Glass fragments shattering along the sidewalk would have risked injury to infants in strollers and pedestrians. This pig behavior defiles our community and represents a living nightmare for residents.

In August, despite opposition by residents, the Planning Commission added another watering hole to the pub club circuit in Hermosa. This compounds our nightmare. The commission voted 4-0 to approve the mega-drinking destination at 1601 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Pavilion. This decision undermines the quality of life for residents and fosters a growing perception that the city has adopted an anti-resident attitude.

Council members are invited to attend the next council meeting Sept. 12. Please be prepared to act on behalf of the residential community.

Patty Egerer , Hermosa Beach

 Another Club Moxie disturbance

For the past few years, Redondo Beach residents residing near the pier have been held hostage by violent outbursts and general public disturbances from the patrons of Club Moxie. This past weekend was no exception, as 22 police cars from Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo responded to gunfire and other unknown incident(s) at 12:20 a.m. on Sunday morning, Aug. 27.

The citizens of all these communities should be outraged at the resources frequently needed to contain this one business. Residents and business owners should realize when Club Moxie patrons act up, their communities are left virtually unprotected. Beach city residents should encourage their civic leaders to reconsider the importance of keeping Club Moxie viable.

Mimi Rosicky, Redondo Beach

 


The Beach Reporter – August 17, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

Report finds no problem with use of force

A consulting firm investigating the Hermosa Beach Police Department recently concluded that the agency does not have a systemic problem with respect to the level of force used by its officers. While declining to offer any formal criticism of the department or any individual officers, the firm did issue 27 recommendations in a 60-page report that seeks to improve the agency's internal policies and procedures.

The report was authored by Ron McCarthy and Sgt. Michael Mello. The two are principals with the firm R.M. McCarthy & Associates, a San Clemente-based firm that specializes in law enforcement-related matters.

City Manager Steve Burrell hired the company earlier this year to conduct a formal study of the Police Department's policies and procedures regarding the “use of force/deadly force.”

McCarthy worked previously as a SWAT officer with the Los Angeles Police Department and also appeared as a witness on behalf of the city in a recent lawsuit brought against the department by a man arrested in Hermosa Beach in 2003. A federal jury recently sided with the Police Department and rejected most of the claims brought by 23-year-old Kenneth Agner, who alleged officers violated his civil rights and used excessive force during his arrest.

The report's conclusion exonerates the department, finding that “no pattern of abuse is evident” and that the level of force used by police officers was “almost always reasonable, justified, and in compliance with the law, policy and contemporary practice.”

Prior to its completion, Burrell stated the study was initiated to review department policies in the wake of several incidents involving the use of force that led to formal complaints, as well as to coincide with the transition period following the resignation of the former police chief, Mike Lavin.

While many of the recommendations included in the report are not extremely controversial, several do address areas of concern to the department. For example, some of the provisions in the department's current operating manual that pertain to the use of force are described in the report as “too general and limited in scope as well as necessary specificity.” Currently, the relevant language states that officers may “use whatever force is reasonable to protect themselves or others.” The report recommends that other “less-lethal options” be provided to officers, along with a requisite amount of training.

With respect to the department's deadly-force policy, the report recommends lowering the number of firearms allowed to be carried by officers. Currently, officers are authorized to choose between nine different pistols and 27 different ammo cartridges while on duty. The report states that the department should “select one caliber of pistol and one duty-round for uniform patrol officers,” because liability issues surrounding “a policy this broad Š are significant.”

In addition to the use of force, the report goes on to agree with the department's current policy that microcassette recorders should be used during officers' interactions with “confrontational or uncooperative” individuals. The report states that “mandatory audio-taping will eliminate 90 percent of use-of-force and rudeness complaint allegations.”

With respect to staffing, the department is urged to hire an additional captain and lieutenant to ensure the appropriate administrative oversight and “collection and maintenance of data.” The report states that “there is distrust and tension from the top down and bottom up regarding the department's handling of complaints,” and adding a new captain and lieutenant to the department's command staff would help address these issues.

McCarthy addressed the conclusions of his report in a follow-up conversation by phone on Aug. 11. He was quick to point to the emergence of the Pier Plaza as a potential cause of the complaints lodged against the department alleging misconduct. To emphasize this point, McCarthy's report included a chart comparing crime statistics between 1998 and 2004, with each of the eight categories presented showing signs of increase. When asked whether the department should hire more officers to patrol the city, McCarthy replied, “If your activity increases by two-thirds, that's certainly something that should be discussed and considered.”

 


The Beach Reporter – August 10, 2006

Hermosa Beach News

City officially welcomes new chief

Hermosa Beach officially welcomed new Police Chief Greg Savelli at an event held last weekend in front of City Hall. The ceremony attracted a vast array of community leaders, including City Manager Steve Burrell, City Attorney Mike Jenkins, Councilmen J.R. Reviczky and Kit Bobko, and Mayor Pete Tucker, among others.

Following comments by several speakers, Savelli was sworn in by Hermosa Beach's city clerk, and addressed the department and public with a short speech. He thanked a slew of supporters (several of whom were in the audience) and drew chuckles when he told anyone not mentioned in his speech to “get over it.”

Savelli takes the reins of the department at a precarious time for the city. Several issues remain unresolved that could potentially cause great damage to the city's reputation and/or financial well-being. Foremost among them is a year-old investigation by the federal government stemming from the arrest of an off-duty LAPD officer in 2003. After the Los Angeles field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation last year, the case has since been transferred to the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. A spokesperson with the DOJ would not comment on the investigation, except to say that the matter is still open.

Earlier this week, The Beach Reporter sat down with the new chief to discuss his new job, and to talk about some of the issues he'll be facing in the future.

The Beach Reporter: What are some of the goals you hope to accomplish during your time here as chief?

Greg Savelli: My primary goal right now is to learn what the organization's history and culture have been, how the operation goes today, and then from there my goal would be to work with the command staff to evaluate where we want to be in the future for an organization. The important measure of that is “What does the community need?” So I will be meeting with the community in several public forums to determine how they would like to see the Hermosa Beach Police Department serve their needs. That would be some of the first goals I have for the organization, is just getting to be known in the community and getting to know what the community expects of their police department.

Has anything been scheduled yet?

Yes, I've attended several functions already Š beginning with the ceremony on Saturday. (The ceremony) was an opportunity for the community to come out and see their department - this is their police department. That ceremony was more about the Police Department as an entire organization, not just the fact that I'm their new leader, and so we encourage them to be involved. I've taken several calls from individuals that have interest in the success of this organization and I will be meeting with other individuals. Again, I'll be attending chamber functions, I've attended other functions already this week regarding the community and then I will also host forums myself similar to what Chief Barr did last month. I anticipate after people get to know me and I get to know more about the community, we will be hosting those forums. I'm already meeting with the organizations within the city, employee representative groups and individual employees to listen to their point of view and to understand where they're coming from so that we all can work from a position where we have everything on the table.

 

What have you been told about Hermosa Beach from other officials? What can you tell us that you've been told about Hermosa Beach?

Well, it's been printed in your paper and in others that there are some issues of concern for the community. People are concerned about the lawsuits, people are concerned about employee-management relations. The reviews that were being conducted by Mr. McCarthy and interim chief Barr are being made available to me and the public this week, and we will look at those tools to see what the perceptions are and how we can improve upon them. (R.M. McCarthy & Associates is a training and consulting resource for law enforcement agencies that was hired by the city in March to conduct a review of department operations.)

What is the department's position on how Pier Plaza should be policed? Do you believe the department should increase, decrease or maintain its current size?

The department is committed to providing a safe environment for the city's residents and guests. Our goal is to maintain a balance of enforcement, education and prevention. Our presence should be seen as a deterrent to criminals and unruly behavior, yet serve as a resource to residents, businesses and our visitors. Currently the department staffs the downtown and Pier Plaza based on the activity known and our history of calls of service. This is in addition to staffing officers in each of the department's districts/beats. Some of this staffing is scheduled overtime, primarily for special events. As the new chief, I will certainly evaluate our deployment of officers and form an opinion on staffing needs based on the demands of the community. With the priority being to respond to in-progress emergencies and the time it takes for that response being a primary consideration, we can determine if the city has enough officers. The current average of officers per 1,000 residents in the United States is 2.4 officers, with the West Coast average being far less. For example, the city of Modesto, my former department, has 1.35 officers per thousand in a city of 210,000; currently the city of Hermosa Beach has approximately 1.9 (or two) officers per thousand.

Another concern of some of the residents, while not one of the highest concerns, has been pedestrian safety. A child was run over while riding a scooter on PCH earlier this year. How would the department help to keep pedestrians safe?

The Police Department will help to reduce injuries and accidents through education and enforcement. In fact, prior to my arrival, the department was already working on a concerted effort; the weekend before last, they had a special team out focusing on pedestrian issues to create an environment of compliance, to make sure that residents and motorists know that there is pedestrian traffic. So they conducted an operation where they conducted enforcement using a person in the crosswalk to see if people would yield. Then on the other side, they also enforced bicycles that were violating pedestrians' right of ways and were operating in pedestrian areas. So that was a successful operation conducted two weekends ago. This department is already actively looking at those issues. Traffic in any beach community is always a big concern, and the traffic unit is well aware of their responsibilities and are proactive in responding to that. I spoke just yesterday with Rick Morgan and we discussed the signage on PCH regarding pedestrian crossing currently at the Pavilion with a no-crossing request at 16th, in the middle of the block. The other department heads are bringing me up to speed on what the issues are and what attempts they have made to address those issues. We're always cognizant of the fact that when they add development or commercial, that they will also be adding traffic and the Police Department will participate in the review of those projects, from that perspective.

It was reported a couple weeks ago, before the swearing-in ceremony, that city officials are considering renovations of the current facility, or an entirely whole new complex for the department. Has that been brought up? Was that a correct report?

I didn't see the report, but I know I've had discussions with both the city manager, the interim chief, that there is consideration for improvements in this facility, as well as a vision on the horizon for a new police facility, possibly on city-owned land next door to City Hall. Again it's very preliminary at this point, but that is something that they have spoken to me about. It would be a vision, of course, funding and plans and all that would have to take place. They want to incorporate a parking facility as well so that could help serve downtown. Again, that's a vision at this point, there aren't any hard plans, although the city has acquired some land.

The Justice Department is currently investigating the department. What can you tell the public about this? Have you been briefed on it? Have you spoken with any federal officials about this?

I have not met with any federal officials. I have met with some of the attorneys for the city. I have met with the city manager and I've been provided with some of the reports that are going to be released, if they are not already released to the community. I recognize that these are issues that are of great importance to the city and to the Police Department. The luxury of a new leader in an organization is to take those reports and review them, and compare and contrast to what I see within the organization, so I'm very grateful that the city manager has conducted these investigations, or had the two reports prepared. As far as the issues with the Department of Justice, I have not seen a report from the FBI or the DOJ. Some people have told me that they are being done. I plan to meet in the future with the local representatives from the FBI, find out if and what their issues are with this organization, and work on improving areas that may need improvement.

Welcome to Hermosa Beach, and best of luck in the next few years.

Thank you. I am open to sharing information as long as we can legally share it, and believe in an open-door policy, both with your newspaper and the community.
 

 


The Beach Reporter – August 10, 2006

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. A residence in the 100 block of Sixth Street was reportedly burglarized Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. Three bicycles were allegedly taken from an open garage. A woman employed by the owner was home at the time, but did not investigate when she heard noises in the garage because she believed it was the owner.

 

BATTERY. An employee at an establishment in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly the subject of an assault Aug. 6. The incident allegedly occurred between 8:10 and 8:20 p.m., and involved an altercation between a doorman and another individual. The suspect was reportedly denied entrance into the establishment due to a dress code requiring pants. Upon hearing this, the suspect allegedly used an open right hand to slap the left side of the victim's face.

 

BOMB THREAT. An employee of a business located in the 1500 block of Valley Drive was allegedly the recipient of a bomb threat from one of its customers. The suspect allegedly informed the dispatch person that if an appointment was not kept to restore the customer's cable, the individual would appear in person and “bomb” the business.

 

BATTERY. Someone was the alleged victim of an assault on July 19 at 8:30 a.m. As the victim was walking southbound along the beach, she was approached from behind by another individual who introduced himself as “Corey.” The suspect tried to give the victim a business card, and after she refused he grabbed her by the right arm and pulled her closer to him. The woman was able to pull back and free herself from the suspect.

 

GRAND THEFT. Two Schwinn bicycles were reportedly stolen from the 1000 block of The Strand between 10:15 p.m. July 15 and 7:30 a.m. July 16. Each bicycle was worth approximately $1,000.

 

VANDALISM. A 2003 Chevy Tahoe was allegedly keyed while parked near the intersection of Hermosa Avenue and 10th Street. The incident allegedly occurred between 7 and 10:30 p.m. July 15. 

 


The Beach Reporter – August 3, 2006

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

DEADLY WEAPON ASSAULT. Someone riding a bike on The Strand was allegedly shot with a pellet from an Airsoft pellet gun July 12 at 5:08 p.m. The victim was riding with his friend northbound in the 200 block of The Strand when his friend realized someone standing in the vicinity had shot something at the victim. The suspect did not know the victim, who was not injured by the incident.

 

VEHICLE BURGLARY. A vehicle parked in the garage of an apartment complex in the 400 block of Herondo Street was allegedly burglarized on July 12, at an unspecified time. A cell phone, sunglasses, and yoga bag worth approximately $100 were reportedly stolen from the vehicle.

 

VEHICLE BURGLARY. Several items were reportedly stolen from a vehicle parked in the 1700 block of Monterey Boulevard between 7 p.m. July 14 and 10 a.m. July 15. The victim's California Drivers' License, a handicap placard and the vehicle's stereo were reportedly stolen.

 

VANDALISM. Someone reportedly smashed a victim's car windshield between 9:50 and 11:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. The vehicle was parked in the lower parking lot located at 702 Pier Ave.

 

BATTERY. On Sunday, July 16, at 12:46 a.m., several individuals were involved in an incident at a Pier Plaza establishment that led the citation of two people for misdemeanor battery. As a woman danced with two of her friends in the establishment, a man approached them on the dance floor and asked the woman to dance. After she refused, words were exchanged between the two parties. Each party claims to be the victim of an assault.

 


KCBS-TV Channel 2 News at 5 PM -

Hermosa Beach Police Issue Warning To Women - Broadcast on 7/29/05 at 5pm.

 

Hermosa Beach Police detectives believe the two incidents may be linked to a March 8, 2004, attack on a woman who was dragged into a stairwell and beaten. 

View the CBS-TV Channel 2 news story on the Pier Plaza Assaults . . .  You need Windows Media Player in order get the audio/video of this CBS-TV  news story reported by Paul Dandridge.

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. (CBS) Hermosa Beach police are warning women to avoid walking alone from Pier Plaza nightspots following two attempted assaults possibly committed by the same man who attacked a woman last year.  Detectives told the Daily Breeze that they believe the man -- dubbed the "Late Night Attacker" -- was trying to rape a woman when he grabbed her as she walked on Monterey Avenue in the south end of the city early Sunday.  The victim was walking alone at 2:15 a.m. on a well-lighted sidewalk when a muscular man confronted her. The woman was able to escape by kneeing him in the groin, police said.  On July 8 about 3:30 a.m., a woman was walking home from the downtown area in a dimly lighted alley near 10th Street and Monterey Avenue when a man tried to force her into a car, the Daily Breeze reported.  That woman also managed to escape.  If you have any information related to the incidents, please call Detective Robert Higgins at 310-318-0341.


 

The Beach Reporter - February 3, 2005

 

Hermosa Beach News

 

Annual police report cites 2004 crime stats (2/3)

 

By Whitney Youngs

 

According to Hermosa Beach's annual statistical report for 2004, major crime in most categories exhibited a downward direction compared to 2003, but just like in 2003, there was a continued upward trend in the category of the number of adults arrested. 

 

According to the report, of the major crimes reported - murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft and auto theft - the police documented 714 crimes in 2004 compared to 752 crimes reported in 2003.

 

"It's always been described to me over the years that our crime rate is somewhat flat and I think this year's report is still somewhat characteristic of that," said Hermosa Beach Police Chief Mike Lavin. "We are up in a few categories, we are down in a few others. There are no real significant changes."

 

Police reported no murders this year compared to one last year while sex crimes declined from 11 cases in 2003 to seven cases in 2004.

The murder reported in 2003 was that of Hermosa Beach resident Joel Bues, 25, who was killed in his car at the intersection of Pier Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway in March 2003 at approximately 12:45 a.m.

 

Bues was shot to death while driving his BMW, which he pulled up to a red light at the intersection in the outside left-hand turning lane. Police were never sure if the shooting was a random act of violence or if Bues knew the suspect.

 

According to the report, robbery rose slightly with 20 cases reported in 2004 compared to 13 in 2003.

 

Assaults increased by only three cases from 140 in 2003 to 143 in 2004. On the other hand, burglary reports declined by three cases from 143 in 2003 to 140 in 2004.

 

 

Theft, which includes grand and petty thefts, and auto theft also declined in 2004. In the area of theft, police reported 388 cases in 2003 compared to 359 in 2004; and in auto thefts, police had reported 80 in 2002 and 56 in 2003, which are both up from 2004's 45 reported cases. DUI reports also decreased from 285 in 2003 to 164 in 2004.

 

"I not sure exactly why we have seen a drop in DUIs," said Lavin. "We still participate with the South Bay DUI Task Force which deploys every month. In addition to that, we are still out there doing our own thing."

 

Police continued arresting more people this year with 1,388 adults arrested. The figure continues to grow each year, setting new records in more than a decade. Police arrested 1,315 adults in 2003, which had already constituted the highest number of arrests since 1991.

 

"I think the large number of arrests is a result of the activity downtown," added Lavin. "It brings us an awful lot of business.

 

I'm not sure if we are necessarily seeing larger crowds. My impression is that the size is very much the same over the years. What we are seeing is a very transient crowd - a lot of different people who are circulating through just in the different people we arrest. People who are in the area have heard about Hermosa Beach and want to come check it out."

 

Juvenile arrests in 2004 were reported at 20 compared to 28 in 2003.

 

Police once again reported no fatal traffic accidents in 2004, 2003 or 2002; and reported 60 injury traffic accidents in 2004 compared to 88 in 2003. In the downtown area, the Police Department has had to staff foot patrols in the downtown area virtually every night of the week, which is an indication that the area has become more active during the week as well as the weekends.

 

"It remains busy on the weekends, in particular, but even now during the week it's busy, busy enough where we would never staff foot patrols down there at night we are now staffing them about six nights of the week," explained Lavin.

 

"We almost have to maintain a presence down there to kind of keep things under rein. People get intoxicated and start fighting, and if we weren't down there to stop it, we would see our misdemeanor batteries escalating into felony assaults with deadly weapons.

 

Someone could even go to the point of killing someone else just because they are in a drunken stupor and they're doing something really stupid. So really one of the real basic missions of the officers down there is to try and stop those disturbances from getting out of hand."

 

The number of police calls for service decreased this year from 32,241 to 30,215 while the number of disturbance calls rose from 3,025 to 4,201. The number of parking citations also increased from 46,800 to 51,137.


Hermosa Beach Crime Statistics - 1998 to 2004

                                                                                                                      Criminal        Adult       Total Calls     Disturbance

           Burglary    Robbery      Assaults     DUI       Citations        Arrests     For Service    Calls            

1998 --     113            17                77          150           562               608           19,951            3,199

2004 --     140            20              143          164         1,419            1,388           30,215            4,201

 

Crime Categories That Have Shown an Increase from 1998 thru 2004

                                                                                                Criminal        Adult       Total Calls      Disturbance

             Burglary    Robbery    Assaults      DUI       Citations       Arrests     For Service     Calls               

                Up            Up             Up           Up           Up               Up             Up               Up

              23.9 %   17.6 %       85.7 %     9.3 %    152 %        128 %       51.4 %        31.3 %

 

Source: The Hermosa Beach Police Department Activity Reports

 



 

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