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Belmont Shore Residents Association MINUTES GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING June 9, 2011 The meeting was called to order by President Aileen Colon at 6:00 pm. The other members of the Executive Board present were: Elizabeth Borsting, Julie Dean, Vice President Terence Endersen, Marvin Jones, Secretary Jeff Miller, and Treasurer Robert O'Connor. Executive Board members John Forstrom, Adam Hattan, Jim Lazarus, and Heidi Van Horn were absent. Twenty-six additional BSRA members and visitors were present. Youth Services Librarian Chenda Young announced the start of the summer reading programs at the Bay Shore Library. The agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the May 12 meeting were approved. LBPD East Division Commander Lisa Lopez discussed several current law enforcement-related topics related to Belmont Shore: the new LBPD Facebook page, Fourth of July holiday planning, the start of the summer beach patrol, and the closure of Bay Shore Avenue (beginning June 15). She also discussed enforcement activities and arrests related to residential burglaries, auto burglaries, and fumigation burglaries. Concerns mentioned from the audience included bicycles on Second Street sidewalks and jaywalking. President Colon reported these BSBA items: the closing of Pinkberry (to be replaced by the ice cream store "Paradis"), the upcoming Stroll and Savor events, and a golf tournament. Illegal "sandwich board" type signs are still appearing on the sidewalks adjacent to bus stops, which impede pedestrian traffic and interfere with bus riders. She introduced Ray Pok from Citibank, who described plans to occupy the recently vacated Blockbuster site and invited interested persons to attend a community meeting Thursday, June 16 at 7pm at Sweet Jill's. Julie Maleki from Third District Councilman Gary Delong's office reported the status of these items: sidewalk repairs (to begin within a month), the Bay Shore and Claremont beach parking lot work (to begin within a month - they will be combined into one lot), and the Pomona Ave. traffic signal installation (completed). She announced these meetings: the Third District Neighborhood Associations meeting June 23 at noon and the Beach Committee meeting June 16 at 4pm. Also, Tidelands funding will be used to upgrade beach restrooms and replace the Leeway Sailing Center. Responding to the question of how residents can comment on the Second Street bar regulation process, Maleki recommended contacting Planning Administrator Derek Burnham at LB Development Services (derek.burnham@longbeach.gov). Vice President Endersen reported these topics discussed at the May meeting of the Parking Commission: a LB Transit "free ride" program for Second Street employees, and funding for street landscaping and sign renovation. He noted the ruling by the Assistant City Attorney prohibiting the use of Parking Commission funds for the bus pass program. Discussion of the bus pass initiative followed, with comments about the desirability of finding funding for the program, which would make more customer parking available. Secretary Miller reported the enrollment of one new member last month, payment of recent web site fees (domain name $15.00, web site hosting $74.68), and correspondence last month. The letter to the city's Street Tree Committee helped preserve a street tree on Park Avenue that had been under threat of removal at the request of a resident. Treasurer O'Connor reported the bank account balance of $3,678. A motion was approved for payment of the annual PO Box fee, $176. Secretary Miller reported the meeting today of the Web Site Committee. Max Alavi was appointed as a new member of the committee, along with Miller (chair), Terence Endersen, and Julie Dean. The committee discussed plans to upgrade the web site and to investigate initiating a Facebook page for BSRA. Kurt Borsting suggested considering a program to recognize "good neighbor" businesses in the Shore. Chrisjean Klemmer noted the absence of recognition of Gay Pride Week by Belmont Shore. Norm Turley, owner of Dogz, asked for residents' opinions of placing portable toilets in parking lots on July 4. Secretary Miller reported an initiative by the Belmont Heights Community Association to require leaf blowers to be battery powered instead of gasoline powered. Miller also called attention to the Zoning Administrative Hearing on June 13 regarding the request for variances at 20 Pomona Ave. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm. Submitted by: Jeff Miller, Recording Secretary
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