|
Belmont Shore Residents Association MINUTES EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING January 10, 2008 The meeting was called to order by President Mike Ruehle at 6:00 pm. The members of the Executive Board present were: Nancy Buchanan, John Forstrom, Merodie Gentile, Marvin Jones, Jim Lazarus, Amber Lee, Secretary Jeff Miller, President Mike Ruehle, and Treasurer Laura Spence. Vice President Ron Banner and Executive Board member Mark Robinson were absent. Approximately one hundred additional BSRA members and visitors were present. LBPD Sgt. Joe Klein announced an increase in numbers of property crimes in the area during the holidays. Questions were asked about two recent incidents: an arrest on Second Street of a man with a handgun and a body found on the beach. Public Services Specialist Kymberly Cloughesy announced that she will attend the BSRA meeting every other month, but that Sgt. Klein will no longer attend our meetings, as he is changing work shifts. When asked for clarification, Cloughesy said there will be no police officer or other representative at the intervening meetings. Mark Hungerford, Long Beach Community Planner, reported these Planning Department issues related to Belmont Shore: The appeal of the standards variance of allowed side yard setback of three feet instead of five feet at 4609 East Ocean Blvd. will be heard by the Planning Commission on February 7 at 5 pm. Mr. Hungerford will meet with the BSRA Zoning Committee to discuss changes in zoning regulations for Belmont Shore. Julie Maleki from Council Member DeLong's office announced the next Third District Joint Council meeting at 11:45 on January 17. The Tidelands Fund will be discussed. In the absence of Belmont Shore Business Association Executive Director Brooke Kennard, Joy Starr announced the BSBA Chocolate Festival will be held on February 2. In the absence of Jeanette Gavin, the BSRA representative on the Parking Commission, Joy Starr reported the current activities of the commission are alley repairs and Second Street median landscaping. Two managers from the City's Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine, Mr. Dennis Eschen, Planning and Development Manager, and Mr. Mark Sandoval, Marine Manager, spoke about plans for a multi-million dollar beach development project. 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 near the Granada Ave. launch ramp and Dog Beach, demolishing of the handball, basketball, and hockey courts at the corner of 54th Place and Ocean Blvd. and replacing them with a grassy park, 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 the Ocean Blvd. sidewalk adjacent to the sea wall. One item in the list of projects was discussed in detail - the plan to relocate the basketball, handball, and roller hockey courts from their present location to the beach. Mr. Sandoval said this was proposed because of noise and parking complaints from nearby residents. This was proposed in 2005, when Frank Colonna was the City Council Member for the Third District; Mr. Colonna owns the building adjacent to the courts. Many people voiced opposition to the planned relocation and reasons were cited why locating the courts on the beach would be impractical, such as wind and blowing sand. No one spoke in favor of the plan, and when Mr. Eschen asked if anyone supported the plan, there was no response. Mr. Sandoval said, "We're done here," which was greeted with applause. Improvements to the day care facility adjacent to the courts were requested by involved parents, and Mr. Sandoval said it is not a public use. Several members of the audience explained it is a city facility and is used in the summer for city-sponsored day camps. When several people asked for reassurances that the courts will not be moved, Mr. Sandoval reiterated that it will not happen. These additional components of the plan were discussed: renovation of the swimming pool, improvements to the pier, lowering the sea wall, landscaping Ocean Blvd., replacement of Leeway Sailing Center, and adding a walking path adjacent to the bike path on the beach. Secretary Jeff Miller reported the status of the Cabo Cantina property: The "Belmont Grill" side is open for business, as of January 4. A building permit was issued December 19. The previously noted corrections must still be made: the patio cover must be removed, the sidewalk railing must be removed, the service bar must be delineated with a 12 inch tall glass partition, the storage areas against the rear of the building must be removed, and the storage containers in the parking lot must be removed. A conditional business license was issued January 8, which allows operation of Belmont Grill only, not Cabo Cantina. Council Member Gary Delong has stated the combined alcohol sales cannot exceed 30% of total gross sales. A request for a copy of the business license was denied. The Executive Board requested Mr. Miller to file a written Public Records Act request to obtain a copy of the license. Nancy Buchanan announced the recent email publication of the Shoregram newsletter, edited by Kate Karp and composed by Michelle Manion. Gordana Kajer, from Surfrider Foundation, announced the building of a large sand sculpture scheduled for Saturday. The art work will be built adjacent to the pier and will call attention to beach preservation. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm. Submitted by: Jeff Miller, Recording Secretary
|