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Belmont Shore Residents Association MINUTES EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING December 13, 2007 The meeting was called to order by President Mike Ruehle at 6:00 pm. The members of the Executive Board present were: Vice President Ron Banner, Nancy Buchanan, John Forstrom, Merodie Gentile, Marvin Jones, Amber Lee, Secretary Jeff Miller, Mark Robinson, President Mike Ruehle, and Treasurer Laura Spence. Executive Board member Jim Lazarus was absent. Forty additional BSRA members and visitors were present. Secretary Jeff Miller reported two membership renewals and three new members, which brings the membership count to 251. A motion to send renewal notices in January to delinquent members and past members, at a cost not to exceed $150 was approved unanimously. Treasurer Laura Spence reported the checking account balance of $2,893.71. Mark Hungerford, Long Beach Community Planner, reported these Planning Department issues related to Belmont Shore: A request for a standards variance of allowed side yard setback of three feet instead of five feet at 4609 East Ocean Blvd. was approved at the Zoning Administrative Hearing on December 10. The un-permitted ATM machine on the outside front wall of Legends must be disconnected. The city zoning code requires two short-term parking spaces be provided for an ATM machine. Belmont Station has announced plans to expand into the space next door. This would add approximately one thousand square feet and trigger a requirement for a new Conditional Use Permit and additional parking. Julie Maleki from Council Member DeLong's office announced the next Third District Joint Council meeting at 11:45 on January 17. She also announced plans to place recycling trash containers on the beach and completion of recent street repairs on The Toledo. In the absence of Belmont Shore Business Association Executive Director Brooke Kennard, BSBA President Gene Rotondo was asked to report the activities of BSBA. Gene noted the good job done by International City Racing in producing the Christmas Parade. He then complained that the BSRA is perceived as being unfriendly to businesses because he is being forced by the City to disconnect Legend’s exterior ATM which is in violation of city code. Additionally, he complained about one Belmont Shore resident’s opposition to the city's purchase of the privately-owned public parking lot on Park Avenue. He said he wants to know "if there will be an additional watchdog" of businesses. He then stated that the BSBA knows which residents do not use their garages to park their cars, and asked how the residents would like it if the City inspected their garages. Gene then departed the meeting. Michael Gavin complained about the unfriendliness of the BSRA because he was not selected to be a member of a committee. Ralph Lepre complained that many residents don't use their garages, and departed the meeting. Bill Lorbeer stated that residents and businesses should communicate directly. LBPD Sgt. Joe Klein announced a reduction in numbers of crime in the area, except for residential burglaries. The department will begin using a "phone tree" to quickly notify businesses of a crime incident. An audience member reported sighting a familiar transient person on Second Street, and asked if this person was one of the individuals prohibited from being there by virtue of a "stay away" order. Recent incidents of graffiti were reported. The police presence today at Bank of America was questioned -- was this a robbery? Sgt. Klein announced the addition of a patrol officer to the area to police an increase in commercial truck traffic on residential streets, which is not permitted. Jeanette Gavin, the BSRA representative on the Parking Commission, announced plans to install new signage prohibiting bicycles and skateboards on the sidewalks. She explained the next step in the process of approval of the Parking Commission bond issue recently approved by City Council is voting by the Second Street businesses to approve the assessment. President Mike Ruehle presented a BSRA Spotlight Award to the Bay Shore Library staff for their service to the community and for their support of BSRA. Accepting the award were Librarian Natalie Beam and staff members Katrina Hanna and Ryan Probasco. President Mike Ruehle introduced a discussion of city plans for a number of beach improvements, based on his recent meeting with Dennis Eschen, Director of the Planning and Development Bureau of the Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department. These include rebuilding the Belmont Plaza swimming pool, reducing the height of the sea wall on Ocean Blvd., constructing handball, basketball, and hockey courts on the beach, demolishing of the handball, basketball, and hockey courts at the corner of 54th Place and Ocean Blvd., constructing a pedestrian beach path adjacent to the beach bicycle path, upgrading Belmont Pier, rebuilding Leeway Sailing Center, replacing beach restrooms, repaving the Granada parking lot, and landscaping Ocean Blvd. Numerous comments were presented and questions raised. There was a consensus that more information is needed and a city-sponsored meeting should be held with Dennis Eschen and other city officials to answer questions and voice opinions. LBPD Sgt. Joe Klein presented updates to questions asked earlier in the meeting: An officer has been dispatched to investigate the presence of the transient person Eddie Tapia. He is not subject to a "stay away" order; however his associate John Belmonte is under order to stay away from the area; the order in effect for two or three years. The Bank of America incident was the accidental engaging of a silent alarm. Secretary Jeff Miller reported the status of the Cabo Cantina property: The Planning Department has received updated plans from the applicant in response to the fourth "Plan Correction List" issued by the city on October 15, which details the changes which must be made before a business license will be issued. All of the required corrections have been addressed: the patio cover will be removed, the sidewalk railing will be removed, and the storage space at the rear of the building will be removed. The service bar will be delineated with a 12 inch tall glass partition to prevent walk-up orders. The roll-up door on the east building wall will remain. The Building Department states it will approve the plans with only minor modifications. The Planning and Zoning Administrator stated she expects the applicant to meet with residents. Vice President Ron Banner reported the results of the recent Zoning Administrative Hearing regarding 4609 Ocean Blvd.: Even though the applicant did not meet the requirement for posting the notice, the Zoning Administrator granted a zoning variance. The notice was posted only three of the fourteen days required, but she stated this was sufficient because the applicant "acted in good faith". Nancy Buchanan named the members of the Membership Committee: Laura Spence, Amber Lee, and Kate Karp. Amber announced plans to produce a flyer to advertise the BSRA. Kate was named the editor of the BSRA newsletter which will be distributed by email in January. Nancy announced plans to have a membership table at the Chocolate Festival on February 2. Amber Lee named the members of the Beach Committee: Laura Spence, Merodie Gentile, and Nancy Buchanan. She asked for ideas from the audience. Mark Robinson described the plans of the Nightclub Committee, including establishing a BSRA Library to store relevant documents and developing procedures to offer advice to residents in dealing with complaints. He named the members of the committee: John Forstrom, Merodie Gentile, Bob O'Connor, and Pat Holley. Marvin Jones named Jim Lazarus and Christine Frumen as the other members of the Parking Committee. The committee met with Cynthia Brannon, a past officer of BSRA, learning about her previous research into parking issues. He explained that residents can request the city to enforce the three day limit for street parking: They will mark the tires and then cite cars after three days. Marvin explained that individual blocks can apply for preferential parking designation. Mike Ruehle stated BSRA will offer advice about preferential parking initiatives by residents, but the association is not stating a position on the issue. Nancy Buchanan mentioned the web site devoted to the Tot Lot: www.totlotcommittee.org. Max Laubscher inquired about the status of the city's zoning ordinance changes; Mike Ruehle said he will be suggesting improvements, such as using the ground elevation rather than a flood plain measurement for height measurements. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm. Submitted by: Jeff Miller, Recording Secretary
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