N.1. 20-1676 DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING PALLET SHELTER TEMPORARY EMERGENCY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, INCLUDING ADOPTION OF CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT EXEMPTIONS
ADOPT BY 4/5 VOTE AND BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2011-087, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING A BUDGET MODIFICATION TO APPROPRIATE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $621,874 TO THE OTHER GOVERNMENTAL GRANTS FUND TO REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR EXPENSES IN PREVENTION, PREPARATION AND RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC
ADOPT BY 4/5 VOTE AND BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2011-088, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, MODIFYING THE FISCAL YEAR 2020-21 BUDGET FOR CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS (CRF) IN THE AMOUNT OF $420,000 AND FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY FOURTH DISTRICT HOMELESS AND HOUSING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $409,000
APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO RECEIVE FUNDS FOR THE EMERGENCY HOUSING PALLET PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $420,000
I want to express support for the development of transitional housing, and ask that the city council work to include unhoused people in the development of policies governing the shelter--both to make the associated policies more helpful and efficient and develop community buy in, and to ensure that those who are most directly influenced by this policy have a say in what that policy looks like. More generally, I think the city council should work with unhoused people to make sure that the measures they pursue provide adequate support and resources in securing stable housing without criminalize being unhoused.
Please vote NO on N1.
1521 Kingsdale is not a suitable location for the planned pallet shelters. This is not industrial area at all! We have kids walking down the street to go to schools (middle school and elementary), park, houses, and Target and other businesses. Why are you building this shelter with no plumbing or running water right next to future transit when you could this better and suitable location with showers and bathrooms already? Homeless people won’t stay inside the shelter and they will be walking around the area where my kids or other kids might be on the way to school or coming home from school. I am really concerned what kind of homeless people; alcohol, mental problem, and drug related abuse...near our kids...
Why don’t you put the money towards getting them into motels/hotels? Or programs assisting with getting them jobs? Or funding school for them? I don’t believe Redondo Beach has an ideal location for housing the homeless, definitely not Kingsdale to say the very least. And if the County will only provide the funds for an actual shelter, you are not required to accept the offer.
And to the gentlemen last time saying 90% of people support housing homeless anywhere it’s just the 10% you hear from, isn’t that obvious? When you are directly affected by a location whether you live, work or have business interests in a prospective site, those are the people you will hear from as they will be effected by it, not the other 90% who have no care as it doesn’t affect them. Those very people will have to deal with any possible repercussions that any “plan” won’t account for so it is apparent that you hear from the 10%.
Friendly reminder that you have been elected to represent the citizens and their concerns.
I am in full support of approving the budget modifications so that the pallet housing project can move forward.
When considering the features of the shelter, it is imperative that you reach out to those who would be living in the shelter. I urge you to look to unhoused folks for suggestions and recommendations in order to make sure the shelter fulfills their needs without restrictions or limiting their autonomy.
I also discourage the city from using the pallet housing as a reason to criminalize folks living on the streets with fines, citations, and jail time, and to remove the police presence when responding to issues regarding homelessness all together.
To place a homeless shelter on Kingsdale is one of the most absurd things you can vote on as a Council. Why on Earth would you house homeless DIRECTLY next to residential homes? Schools? Parks? Construction of transit site? South Bay Galleria? Placing it here is directly effecting individuals from a variety of spectrums. I cannot even believe this is an option from your drawing board.
Residential: Kingsdale, 182nd and Firmona are right next to the proposed site. One on each adjacent side, one directly on the site.
Schools: There are 3 schools, 1 being currently active with children in it that are right next to the proposed site. School may also likely resume session in person within the year. There will be children all over the area walking/biking.
Parks: The park is directly next to it.
Transit site: Construction just started. RIGHT NEXT TO THIS. Directly next to it. Why are you placing homeless on a site where there is active construction going on?
South Bay Galleria: Largest business of the whole City and you are placing a homeless camp right next to it. What an attraction for anyone who wants to come to our only mall, isn’t the goal to revitalize and bring people IN not sway them OUT?
We all know they are already here but what guarantees do you have that placing them somewhere for a year won’t influence them to permanently stay in that exact location that will have the above stated concerns be DIRECTLY affected? It happens in every City, what makes you think Redondo is any different?
You can’t tell me you really think they will be there for a year, no one is that naive.
Thank you Councilmember Gran and Emdee for being the only ones who care for North Redondo and advocated for other locations. And Councilmember Loewenstein for being wise enough to realize this isn’t the right place or time for this.
A homeless shelter at Moonstone Park is a bad idea for the residents and visitors to King Harbor. This will negatively impact our business at Bluewater Grill that currently does not have indoor dining and whose patio is directly in the flow of traffic towards the park. The weather is also terribly cold and wet at night most of the year and there are much better areas for a homeless shelter inland where it is more well protected and warmer. The safety of our guests, staff and the securty of our building will be put a risk by a concentration of homeless in the area.
Just being matter-of-fact here, not from hostility, just frustration. First of all, how can anyone try and speak for us, the residents who actually LIVE here, and try to manipulate us into thinking we don't know they're there. Of COURSE we know they're there. The attempts being made to do that are incredibly patronizing. We can do better than this in our communications.You are speaking about grown ups, homeowners, people with families who live, shop, dine right here. We know who think they're hiding, camping, panhandling, leaving trash in our park and sometimes trespassing on our properties. Even when they keep to themselves, we are aware of them so that narrative has to go.
Secondly, Kingsdale is NOT industrial. There are a couple of buildings with a few small businesses that will be affected. But more of a concern for us is once again, what I said above. We have families, live here. That one block of Kingsdale is the only block that separates us from our groceries, dining and retail. Please think about that fact and put yourselves in our place. You have to come to your senses, hear what you are saying to us through our ears, and then HEAR what we are saying to YOU. This cannot happen. You have to vote it down.
As much as you don't want to admit this is a North vs South Redondo issue, it is. No one wants it in their backyard, the City isn't ready for this. Redondo Beach isn’t spread out like other cities where you can place a shelter at any given location and have it far from schools, parks and homes. Kingsdale is terrible, as it is right next to all three of those. Not to mention recent construction of a transit center.
To rush a location simply because you have free money is negligent. Since when is free money more valuable than the concerns of your citizens and the very people who elected you.
Please vote NO on N1.
1521 Kingsdale is not a suitable location for the planned pallet shelters.
Construction has begun on the new transit center which will expose shelter residents to unsuitable and potentially hazardous environmental conditions including:
Construction noise
Diesel Exhaust
Dust
Fine Particulate Matter
Hazardous construction activity, such as movement of heavy equipment and materials.
Imagine if you are a homeless person and you are offered a bed in a shed, at the edge of a large active construction site. Is this how we want to treat a fellow human being?
Imagine the bad press the city will get when media outlets show the public that our city tries to house its homeless residents adjacent to a large active construction site. Is this what we want our city to be known for?
Imagine the lawsuit the city may face if a shelter resident becomes ill or is injured because the city chose to house it’s homeless at such a hazardous location. Do we really want to deal with another lawsuit?
Locating the homeless shelter at Kingsdale does not support the effort in the city’s strategic plan to revitalize the Galleria area.
The plan is not a good use of available dollars. The city has budgeted $420,000 ( up from $283,473 ) for one time costs. And that is just for startup! The ongoing costs are approximately $5,000 per month. When the shelter is shutdown after 6 months as promised, the cost for each pallet shelter works out to $166 a night. All that for a small shed that has no toilet, no shower, no running water whatsoever. Why in the world does the budget include over $41,000 on “permanent fencing” if the shelter will be moved or shut down in 6 months? All that money would be better spent securing hotel rooms or even renting a building in the area.
The council members from the south, along with the mayor will never agree to move the pallet homes to a location in south Redondo Beach. Their intention has always been to move their homeless problem to the North. Councilman Gran was right, the south will do a “Charlie Brown” to the north. That’s why the reps from the south insist on Kingsdale first.
Unless you can find a location other than Kingsdale for half the time (set in stone, not just proposed) it is not fair just to put all the load in that area for a consecutive year NOR would I want that for any other property. You are elected to represent the whole City, not just the needs of your individual districts and from whoever’s interests (hotels/businesses/harbor) you hear from. Kingsdale can only be viable if you secure another location for half the time so no one area takes the whole load.
The Kingsdale location is arguably actually the worst considering it’s proximity to schools. Placing a homeless camp that close to THREE schools is quite frankly a terrible idea.
How ridiculous that you aren't listening to your constituents in Kingsdale and were okay with that location in a heartbeat and have rejected + listened to EVERY South Redondo location concern that has come before you. Although not thrilled, I'm not opposed to Kingsdale if it works but to place it there for 6 months and then "change locations or halt the shelter if Moonstone doesn't work" is FALSE and you know it. Unless you can confirm a second location OTHER than Kingsdale for the second half, it is ridiculous and irresponsible to place it at Kingsdale. What a shame for you to listen to one side of town and not the other. Both have valid concerns and pros/cons.
As General Partner of Bluewater Grill, we oppose the proposed shelter relocation to Moonstone Park. We are coming up on our 20th anniversary in 2021. In those 20 years we have endured opening one month after 911, two recessions and now the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Pandemic may prove to be the most difficult challenge to overcome. We are operating at maybe 25% capacity trying to keep our team members employed so that they may provide for their families. We have also had 18% of our sales (large party events) "disappear" due to Covid protocols, which we support and follow. It's been our most challenging year as it has been for all our neighbors. Placing a shelter in our "backyard" will only compound the difficulty with more uncertainty!
The idea of putting a homeless shelter right in the middle of our beautiful harbor, which includes the most upscale hotels and restaurants in the city, is a HORRIBLE idea. My entire family is already loosing sleep over this idea.
We use the harbor area for recreation of all kinds, we dine there, and our son takes lessons (Jr Lifeguards swim lessons) at Bay Club. If there were to be a homeless shelter on the same street as the Bay Club, I would worry about his safety-AND, I believe it is against the law to have a homeless shelter near "daycare centers" (which they have) and the such. That being said-I have written previous letters to ALL City Council members to receive no response. In the letter, I told you about the Westchester similar project, MANY years ago. They put a temporary shelter in their nicest park-Westchester Park. After the trial was over, they removed the pallets, yet the homeless stayed-they pitched their tents and are STILL there to this day! No residents can use the park-it is a pocket of gun shots, stabbings, and 911 calls-24/7. Do we want this for our beautiful harbor? Do you have a plan to get them to leave once the 6 months is over? YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE HOMELSS PROBLEM IN THE HARBOR NOW.....I have a good friend that is a manager at Blue Water Grill-he said due to Covid, they are REALLY struggling to stay afloat. Are you going to put a homeless shelter right behind his restaurant?...do you think patrons want to dine on BWG's beautiful deck while homeless people are everywhere, begging and "hanging" in the street next to their tables? And, what about Shade Hotel? They sell wedding packages with the idea of getting married on the point, right on the water, with yachts and the ocean in the background of their photos. Do you think they will still book that property when a homeless encampment is in the background of their photos? NO, NO, NO to the homeless shelter in Moonstone Park. Are you trying to make all of those harbor businesses fail? Bay Club, BWG, Shade Hotel, Cheesecake, Redondo Hotel....Tourists and locals come to the harbor area to see a beautiful clean, harbor. If they want to see a homeless shelter, THEY CAN GO TO DONWNTOWN LA.
I want to express support for the development of transitional housing, and ask that the city council work to include unhoused people in the development of policies governing the shelter--both to make the associated policies more helpful and efficient and develop community buy in, and to ensure that those who are most directly influenced by this policy have a say in what that policy looks like. More generally, I think the city council should work with unhoused people to make sure that the measures they pursue provide adequate support and resources in securing stable housing without criminalize being unhoused.
Please vote NO on N1.
1521 Kingsdale is not a suitable location for the planned pallet shelters. This is not industrial area at all! We have kids walking down the street to go to schools (middle school and elementary), park, houses, and Target and other businesses. Why are you building this shelter with no plumbing or running water right next to future transit when you could this better and suitable location with showers and bathrooms already? Homeless people won’t stay inside the shelter and they will be walking around the area where my kids or other kids might be on the way to school or coming home from school. I am really concerned what kind of homeless people; alcohol, mental problem, and drug related abuse...near our kids...
Why don’t you put the money towards getting them into motels/hotels? Or programs assisting with getting them jobs? Or funding school for them? I don’t believe Redondo Beach has an ideal location for housing the homeless, definitely not Kingsdale to say the very least. And if the County will only provide the funds for an actual shelter, you are not required to accept the offer.
And to the gentlemen last time saying 90% of people support housing homeless anywhere it’s just the 10% you hear from, isn’t that obvious? When you are directly affected by a location whether you live, work or have business interests in a prospective site, those are the people you will hear from as they will be effected by it, not the other 90% who have no care as it doesn’t affect them. Those very people will have to deal with any possible repercussions that any “plan” won’t account for so it is apparent that you hear from the 10%.
Friendly reminder that you have been elected to represent the citizens and their concerns.
Dear council members,
I am in full support of approving the budget modifications so that the pallet housing project can move forward.
When considering the features of the shelter, it is imperative that you reach out to those who would be living in the shelter. I urge you to look to unhoused folks for suggestions and recommendations in order to make sure the shelter fulfills their needs without restrictions or limiting their autonomy.
I also discourage the city from using the pallet housing as a reason to criminalize folks living on the streets with fines, citations, and jail time, and to remove the police presence when responding to issues regarding homelessness all together.
Thank you for your time,
Sam Chlanda
To place a homeless shelter on Kingsdale is one of the most absurd things you can vote on as a Council. Why on Earth would you house homeless DIRECTLY next to residential homes? Schools? Parks? Construction of transit site? South Bay Galleria? Placing it here is directly effecting individuals from a variety of spectrums. I cannot even believe this is an option from your drawing board.
Residential: Kingsdale, 182nd and Firmona are right next to the proposed site. One on each adjacent side, one directly on the site.
Schools: There are 3 schools, 1 being currently active with children in it that are right next to the proposed site. School may also likely resume session in person within the year. There will be children all over the area walking/biking.
Parks: The park is directly next to it.
Transit site: Construction just started. RIGHT NEXT TO THIS. Directly next to it. Why are you placing homeless on a site where there is active construction going on?
South Bay Galleria: Largest business of the whole City and you are placing a homeless camp right next to it. What an attraction for anyone who wants to come to our only mall, isn’t the goal to revitalize and bring people IN not sway them OUT?
We all know they are already here but what guarantees do you have that placing them somewhere for a year won’t influence them to permanently stay in that exact location that will have the above stated concerns be DIRECTLY affected? It happens in every City, what makes you think Redondo is any different?
You can’t tell me you really think they will be there for a year, no one is that naive.
Thank you Councilmember Gran and Emdee for being the only ones who care for North Redondo and advocated for other locations. And Councilmember Loewenstein for being wise enough to realize this isn’t the right place or time for this.
A homeless shelter at Moonstone Park is a bad idea for the residents and visitors to King Harbor. This will negatively impact our business at Bluewater Grill that currently does not have indoor dining and whose patio is directly in the flow of traffic towards the park. The weather is also terribly cold and wet at night most of the year and there are much better areas for a homeless shelter inland where it is more well protected and warmer. The safety of our guests, staff and the securty of our building will be put a risk by a concentration of homeless in the area.
Just being matter-of-fact here, not from hostility, just frustration. First of all, how can anyone try and speak for us, the residents who actually LIVE here, and try to manipulate us into thinking we don't know they're there. Of COURSE we know they're there. The attempts being made to do that are incredibly patronizing. We can do better than this in our communications.You are speaking about grown ups, homeowners, people with families who live, shop, dine right here. We know who think they're hiding, camping, panhandling, leaving trash in our park and sometimes trespassing on our properties. Even when they keep to themselves, we are aware of them so that narrative has to go.
Secondly, Kingsdale is NOT industrial. There are a couple of buildings with a few small businesses that will be affected. But more of a concern for us is once again, what I said above. We have families, live here. That one block of Kingsdale is the only block that separates us from our groceries, dining and retail. Please think about that fact and put yourselves in our place. You have to come to your senses, hear what you are saying to us through our ears, and then HEAR what we are saying to YOU. This cannot happen. You have to vote it down.
As much as you don't want to admit this is a North vs South Redondo issue, it is. No one wants it in their backyard, the City isn't ready for this. Redondo Beach isn’t spread out like other cities where you can place a shelter at any given location and have it far from schools, parks and homes. Kingsdale is terrible, as it is right next to all three of those. Not to mention recent construction of a transit center.
To rush a location simply because you have free money is negligent. Since when is free money more valuable than the concerns of your citizens and the very people who elected you.
Please vote NO on N1.
1521 Kingsdale is not a suitable location for the planned pallet shelters.
Construction has begun on the new transit center which will expose shelter residents to unsuitable and potentially hazardous environmental conditions including:
Construction noise
Diesel Exhaust
Dust
Fine Particulate Matter
Hazardous construction activity, such as movement of heavy equipment and materials.
Imagine if you are a homeless person and you are offered a bed in a shed, at the edge of a large active construction site. Is this how we want to treat a fellow human being?
Imagine the bad press the city will get when media outlets show the public that our city tries to house its homeless residents adjacent to a large active construction site. Is this what we want our city to be known for?
Imagine the lawsuit the city may face if a shelter resident becomes ill or is injured because the city chose to house it’s homeless at such a hazardous location. Do we really want to deal with another lawsuit?
Locating the homeless shelter at Kingsdale does not support the effort in the city’s strategic plan to revitalize the Galleria area.
The plan is not a good use of available dollars. The city has budgeted $420,000 ( up from $283,473 ) for one time costs. And that is just for startup! The ongoing costs are approximately $5,000 per month. When the shelter is shutdown after 6 months as promised, the cost for each pallet shelter works out to $166 a night. All that for a small shed that has no toilet, no shower, no running water whatsoever. Why in the world does the budget include over $41,000 on “permanent fencing” if the shelter will be moved or shut down in 6 months? All that money would be better spent securing hotel rooms or even renting a building in the area.
The council members from the south, along with the mayor will never agree to move the pallet homes to a location in south Redondo Beach. Their intention has always been to move their homeless problem to the North. Councilman Gran was right, the south will do a “Charlie Brown” to the north. That’s why the reps from the south insist on Kingsdale first.
This issue continues to divide the city.
Unless you can find a location other than Kingsdale for half the time (set in stone, not just proposed) it is not fair just to put all the load in that area for a consecutive year NOR would I want that for any other property. You are elected to represent the whole City, not just the needs of your individual districts and from whoever’s interests (hotels/businesses/harbor) you hear from. Kingsdale can only be viable if you secure another location for half the time so no one area takes the whole load.
The Kingsdale location is arguably actually the worst considering it’s proximity to schools. Placing a homeless camp that close to THREE schools is quite frankly a terrible idea.
How ridiculous that you aren't listening to your constituents in Kingsdale and were okay with that location in a heartbeat and have rejected + listened to EVERY South Redondo location concern that has come before you. Although not thrilled, I'm not opposed to Kingsdale if it works but to place it there for 6 months and then "change locations or halt the shelter if Moonstone doesn't work" is FALSE and you know it. Unless you can confirm a second location OTHER than Kingsdale for the second half, it is ridiculous and irresponsible to place it at Kingsdale. What a shame for you to listen to one side of town and not the other. Both have valid concerns and pros/cons.
As General Partner of Bluewater Grill, we oppose the proposed shelter relocation to Moonstone Park. We are coming up on our 20th anniversary in 2021. In those 20 years we have endured opening one month after 911, two recessions and now the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Pandemic may prove to be the most difficult challenge to overcome. We are operating at maybe 25% capacity trying to keep our team members employed so that they may provide for their families. We have also had 18% of our sales (large party events) "disappear" due to Covid protocols, which we support and follow. It's been our most challenging year as it has been for all our neighbors. Placing a shelter in our "backyard" will only compound the difficulty with more uncertainty!
The idea of putting a homeless shelter right in the middle of our beautiful harbor, which includes the most upscale hotels and restaurants in the city, is a HORRIBLE idea. My entire family is already loosing sleep over this idea.
We use the harbor area for recreation of all kinds, we dine there, and our son takes lessons (Jr Lifeguards swim lessons) at Bay Club. If there were to be a homeless shelter on the same street as the Bay Club, I would worry about his safety-AND, I believe it is against the law to have a homeless shelter near "daycare centers" (which they have) and the such. That being said-I have written previous letters to ALL City Council members to receive no response. In the letter, I told you about the Westchester similar project, MANY years ago. They put a temporary shelter in their nicest park-Westchester Park. After the trial was over, they removed the pallets, yet the homeless stayed-they pitched their tents and are STILL there to this day! No residents can use the park-it is a pocket of gun shots, stabbings, and 911 calls-24/7. Do we want this for our beautiful harbor? Do you have a plan to get them to leave once the 6 months is over? YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE HOMELSS PROBLEM IN THE HARBOR NOW.....I have a good friend that is a manager at Blue Water Grill-he said due to Covid, they are REALLY struggling to stay afloat. Are you going to put a homeless shelter right behind his restaurant?...do you think patrons want to dine on BWG's beautiful deck while homeless people are everywhere, begging and "hanging" in the street next to their tables? And, what about Shade Hotel? They sell wedding packages with the idea of getting married on the point, right on the water, with yachts and the ocean in the background of their photos. Do you think they will still book that property when a homeless encampment is in the background of their photos? NO, NO, NO to the homeless shelter in Moonstone Park. Are you trying to make all of those harbor businesses fail? Bay Club, BWG, Shade Hotel, Cheesecake, Redondo Hotel....Tourists and locals come to the harbor area to see a beautiful clean, harbor. If they want to see a homeless shelter, THEY CAN GO TO DONWNTOWN LA.