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Belmont Shore Residents Association MINUTES EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING June 14, 2012 The meeting was called to order by President Kurt Borsting at 6:00 pm. The other members of the Executive Board present were: Chrisjeon Clemmer, Aileen Colon, Julie Dean, Vice President Terence Endersen, Marvin Jones, and Secretary Jeff Miller. Executive Board members Max Alavi, John Forstrom, Treasurer Robert O'Connor, and Robert Stropky were absent. Twenty-three additional BSRA members and visitors were present. Librarian Debi Gurley-Vilander spoke briefly about summer events at the library. The agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the May 10 meeting were approved, with thanks to Board Member Julie Dean for recording the May meeting minutes. LBPD East Division Commander Michael Beckman reviewed the details of some of the crimes in Belmont Shore in May, as reported on crimereports.com, the publicly-available web site which receives crime data from the LBPD. Five assaults and a robbery were reported, and an additional two armed robberies have occurred this month. He cited an increase of almost six percent in violent crimes. When questioned about the cause of the increase, he suggested some factors might be the decrease in the number of police officers and the release of state prisoners. This month's guest speaker, Eric Lopez, from the City of Long Beach Department of Community Development, spoke about the planned 3.5 mile pedestrian path on the beach, to be built in the fall. (The existing combination bike/pedestrian path is so popular that it has become too crowded, necessitating a second path). Lopez showed plans for the new path, which will be eleven feet wide, separated from the current path by a space as wide as fifteen feet. The current path is sixteen feet wide; it would be re-striped for bicycles only. There was discussion about the positioning of the path - would it be seaward or on the Ocean Blvd. side of the existing path? - and the width of the intervening space. Lopez committed to sending out layouts of the bike path proposal and keeping BSRA informed of the project. Joy Starr reported the early figures regarding the newly begun Employee Bus Pass Program inaugurated by the Belmont Shore Parking Commission: 884 employees have registered, and 151 of them have already used the passes. Upcoming events planned are a Stroll and Savor event on June 20 and 21 and the Top Chef Tour on June 24. Julie Maleki from Third District Councilman Gary Delong's office reported these items: a reconfiguration of Livingston Drive is planned, the Beach Committee will meet July 26, and there will be no Third District meeting in June. Julie said she would be on maternity leave from July 19th until the end of the year, she said Judi Evangelista would be handling her duties in the 3rd District Field Office. Vice President Endersen reported these items from the last Parking Commission meeting: Second Street tree and sidewalk repairs are delayed until fall and the signal cabinet artwork is nearly complete. President Borsting announced the award received recently by the California Heights Neighborhood Association, and noted their video presentation available on YouTube. He noted the conflict of the July BSRA meeting with the Municipal Band concert. There was a discussion about possibly canceling the July meeting, but a motion to do so was denied. Kurt Borsting encouraged more community participation in BSRA. Secretary Miller also encouraged additional BSRA membership. In Treasurer O'Connor's absence, Miller reported the checking account balance of $2,732. He reminded everyone of the upcoming BSRA election in September. Nancy Buchanan reported a recent DUI incident on Glendora Avenue resulted in five damaged vehicles. The driver was apprehended and detained by residents. There was discussion of Alfredo's, the private business operating at several locations on the beach. Concern was expressed that they are not often open to the public, but use the spaces for private functions. Julie Maleki was requested to send us a copy of their business license and operating permit. Alexis Rabenn noted the extended hours at Quinn's Irish Pub and Grill: midnight on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm. Submitted by: Jeff Miller, Secretary
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