O.1. 20-0933 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CITY'S LOCAL EMERGENCY PERTAINING TO COVID-19
RECEIVE AND FILE THE CITY'S CURRENT SUMMARY OF EMERGENCY ORDERS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION IF NEEDED
I fully support the orders as listed by the City Manager. That said, why are we not enforcing them? For example, the Avenue C stairs are supposed to be closed yet they were open and used all weekend long. The only activities allowed on the beach are those that consist of ACTIVE MOVEMENT, on the SAND or IN THE WATER. The bike-pedestrian path by the sand is only to be used to be CROSSED to get to the SAND or the OCEAN. But all weekend long the lower bike-pedestrian path was filled with walkers, joggers and bikes. Sunbathers gathered with umbrellas and EZ-ups, with apparently no enforcement, even when police and code enforcement units patroled by. Masks weren't being worn by everyone as they were within less than 6 feet of others. Whether or not one agrees with these orders is NOT the point. They're the ORDERS in place that, if not followed and enforced, will lead to Redondo Beach being known as the City where "anything goes" in spite of the public health orders. The rules apply to everyone, be it while enjoying public space or picking up food or necessities from restaurants and other establishments. Selective enforcement of the rules is injurious to those complying, and breeds complacency at a time when we cannot afford to brush off the still unknown risks of Covid-19. There's a reason it's called a pandemic. There's a reason why public health orders are in place. Please ensure the City and its enforcement of measures in place are enacted fully, fairly and equitably, until such time they're no longer needed.
On behalf of the Hook & Plow restaurant, we support O.1 in approving the Riviera Village Association to barricade streets within the Village to allow shopping and dining in a safe outdoor area. We feel it's a great opportunity for small businesses to gradually increase operations once the county gives approval. Most importantly, it will provide a larger area for businesses to operate which in turn creates a safer atmosphere for patrons to dine and shop in. This will allow for safe social distancing to be more easily accomplished. Safety is ours and should be everyone's first concern. This can be done by allowing for the added space in which to operate. Thanks for your time.
Jeff Ginsburg, President of Riviera Village Association
over 4 years ago
This morning we had our Riviera Village Association Board meeting; the RVA submitted a Blue Folder item requesting the Mayor & City Council:
Consider approving the Riviera Village Association to barricade streets within the Riviera Village to allow businesses within the BID to safely offer outdoor shopping, dining/beverage service with tables separated by at least 6 feet to comply with social distancing recommendations subject to higher State/County emergency orders allowing for it.
The reason the RVA is requesting the Mayor/Council approves this today is so when County restrictions are eased then the RVA can get started with this rather than waiting weeks requesting approvals after restrictions ease. The faster we can improve things in the village the better it will be for businesses, residents and the city. The RVA appreciates all you do and request your support on this important matter...thank you :)
I believe some streets in Riviera Village could be closed in the evenings to allow dining tables to be set up with social distancing. Restaurants (and bars) could then resume some level of table service.
Last Friday and Saturday evening 2 out of the 22 restaurants in Riviera Village flagrantly disobeyed the city managers orders regulating take- out food service.
On Friday 5/15/20 at 6:30PM HT Grill in Riviera Village had nearly 30 people packed in close proximity drinking on the patio, most not wearing masks, and many were hugging each other. It appeared to be a full blown happy hour party. According to witnesses RBPD was called and one even noted a patrol vehicle parked across the street that saw this taking place. Nothing was done and the activity was allowed to continue.
On Saturday 5/16/20 at 530PM Rebel Republic had at least 10 patrons ordering drinks served in glasses handed to them by bartenders. They clearly were not picking up take-out food or take-out drink orders, in close proximity, and most were not wearing masks. RBPD was also called at 545pm and from what witnesses reported never showed up.
Why are these two restaurants given a pass when others across the city aren’t?
I’m sure City Manager Hoefgen will come up with some convoluted reason saying they have no authority. In the case of Rebel Republic you do as the city owns this patio and leases it so you do have a say on this behavior.
Before city manager Hoefgen now questions if anyone called PD or some other lame excuse they did. Witnesses have posted this all over social media so check the police call logs on Friday at 635pm and Saturday at 545PM.
City code enforcement is under the control of City Manager Joe Hoefgen and City Attorney Mike Webb. Both are aware of these violations and it appears to others they have specifically chosen to not do anything when it involves any establishment owned by Paul Hennessey. That is not fair to all of the other businesses in the Riviera Village or in Redondo Beach.
The legal term of having a rule or law that you only apply to some and not all in a biased or corrupt manner is called selective enforcement, it’s usually considered legal abuse and a threat to the rule of law.
Please follow the rule of law and if you need pictures proving this behavior they are all over social media and time stamped.
As a Board member of Ten Thousand Villages non profit retail store and a Redondo Beach resident, I would like to voice concern for all of the non-essential businesses in Riviera Village. A vibrant and thriving Riviera Village is reliant on a mix of businesses: restaurants, retail stores, galleries, and professional offices. This proposal seems to consider only the restaurants. While restaurants were never forced to fully close, our retail store has lost two months of sales from COVID closure. Our only allowed revenue source as of May 8th is curbside pickup. However if Catalina Avenue is closed to traffic we and other non-restaurant businesses will be denied the curbside parking that we desperately need for our customers and clients. The triangle parking lot and the small lot at the Palos Verdes Blvd. end of Catalina don’t provide enough spaces to make up for the parking that would be eliminated by a total street closure. One compromise solution might be to utilize the sidewalk and parking spaces in front of each restaurant to provide an outdoor dining area for that restaurant. However, from the Rebel Republic pilot, we know that would require sturdy barricades to protect diners from vehicles. It would be impractical and expensive to erect these barricades for only a portion of each day. Another compromise would be to close the street only on certain days and between specific hours. If a temporary street closure for outdoor dining began at 5 or 6 pm it would minimize the impact on the other businesses. I would not support a permanent closure of Catalina Avenue to create a promenade for the reasons cited above as well as the impact on traffic in the area.
I fully support the orders as listed by the City Manager. That said, why are we not enforcing them? For example, the Avenue C stairs are supposed to be closed yet they were open and used all weekend long. The only activities allowed on the beach are those that consist of ACTIVE MOVEMENT, on the SAND or IN THE WATER. The bike-pedestrian path by the sand is only to be used to be CROSSED to get to the SAND or the OCEAN. But all weekend long the lower bike-pedestrian path was filled with walkers, joggers and bikes. Sunbathers gathered with umbrellas and EZ-ups, with apparently no enforcement, even when police and code enforcement units patroled by. Masks weren't being worn by everyone as they were within less than 6 feet of others. Whether or not one agrees with these orders is NOT the point. They're the ORDERS in place that, if not followed and enforced, will lead to Redondo Beach being known as the City where "anything goes" in spite of the public health orders. The rules apply to everyone, be it while enjoying public space or picking up food or necessities from restaurants and other establishments. Selective enforcement of the rules is injurious to those complying, and breeds complacency at a time when we cannot afford to brush off the still unknown risks of Covid-19. There's a reason it's called a pandemic. There's a reason why public health orders are in place. Please ensure the City and its enforcement of measures in place are enacted fully, fairly and equitably, until such time they're no longer needed.
On behalf of the Hook & Plow restaurant, we support O.1 in approving the Riviera Village Association to barricade streets within the Village to allow shopping and dining in a safe outdoor area. We feel it's a great opportunity for small businesses to gradually increase operations once the county gives approval. Most importantly, it will provide a larger area for businesses to operate which in turn creates a safer atmosphere for patrons to dine and shop in. This will allow for safe social distancing to be more easily accomplished. Safety is ours and should be everyone's first concern. This can be done by allowing for the added space in which to operate. Thanks for your time.
This morning we had our Riviera Village Association Board meeting; the RVA submitted a Blue Folder item requesting the Mayor & City Council:
Consider approving the Riviera Village Association to barricade streets within the Riviera Village to allow businesses within the BID to safely offer outdoor shopping, dining/beverage service with tables separated by at least 6 feet to comply with social distancing recommendations subject to higher State/County emergency orders allowing for it.
The reason the RVA is requesting the Mayor/Council approves this today is so when County restrictions are eased then the RVA can get started with this rather than waiting weeks requesting approvals after restrictions ease. The faster we can improve things in the village the better it will be for businesses, residents and the city. The RVA appreciates all you do and request your support on this important matter...thank you :)
I believe some streets in Riviera Village could be closed in the evenings to allow dining tables to be set up with social distancing. Restaurants (and bars) could then resume some level of table service.
Selective Code Enforcement in Riviera Village
Last Friday and Saturday evening 2 out of the 22 restaurants in Riviera Village flagrantly disobeyed the city managers orders regulating take- out food service.
On Friday 5/15/20 at 6:30PM HT Grill in Riviera Village had nearly 30 people packed in close proximity drinking on the patio, most not wearing masks, and many were hugging each other. It appeared to be a full blown happy hour party. According to witnesses RBPD was called and one even noted a patrol vehicle parked across the street that saw this taking place. Nothing was done and the activity was allowed to continue.
On Saturday 5/16/20 at 530PM Rebel Republic had at least 10 patrons ordering drinks served in glasses handed to them by bartenders. They clearly were not picking up take-out food or take-out drink orders, in close proximity, and most were not wearing masks. RBPD was also called at 545pm and from what witnesses reported never showed up.
Why are these two restaurants given a pass when others across the city aren’t?
I’m sure City Manager Hoefgen will come up with some convoluted reason saying they have no authority. In the case of Rebel Republic you do as the city owns this patio and leases it so you do have a say on this behavior.
Before city manager Hoefgen now questions if anyone called PD or some other lame excuse they did. Witnesses have posted this all over social media so check the police call logs on Friday at 635pm and Saturday at 545PM.
City code enforcement is under the control of City Manager Joe Hoefgen and City Attorney Mike Webb. Both are aware of these violations and it appears to others they have specifically chosen to not do anything when it involves any establishment owned by Paul Hennessey. That is not fair to all of the other businesses in the Riviera Village or in Redondo Beach.
The legal term of having a rule or law that you only apply to some and not all in a biased or corrupt manner is called selective enforcement, it’s usually considered legal abuse and a threat to the rule of law.
Please follow the rule of law and if you need pictures proving this behavior they are all over social media and time stamped.
As a Board member of Ten Thousand Villages non profit retail store and a Redondo Beach resident, I would like to voice concern for all of the non-essential businesses in Riviera Village. A vibrant and thriving Riviera Village is reliant on a mix of businesses: restaurants, retail stores, galleries, and professional offices. This proposal seems to consider only the restaurants. While restaurants were never forced to fully close, our retail store has lost two months of sales from COVID closure. Our only allowed revenue source as of May 8th is curbside pickup. However if Catalina Avenue is closed to traffic we and other non-restaurant businesses will be denied the curbside parking that we desperately need for our customers and clients. The triangle parking lot and the small lot at the Palos Verdes Blvd. end of Catalina don’t provide enough spaces to make up for the parking that would be eliminated by a total street closure. One compromise solution might be to utilize the sidewalk and parking spaces in front of each restaurant to provide an outdoor dining area for that restaurant. However, from the Rebel Republic pilot, we know that would require sturdy barricades to protect diners from vehicles. It would be impractical and expensive to erect these barricades for only a portion of each day. Another compromise would be to close the street only on certain days and between specific hours. If a temporary street closure for outdoor dining began at 5 or 6 pm it would minimize the impact on the other businesses. I would not support a permanent closure of Catalina Avenue to create a promenade for the reasons cited above as well as the impact on traffic in the area.