City Council on 2024-05-21 6:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER Meeting Time: 05-21-24 18:00
eComments Report
Meetings Meeting
Time
Agenda
Items
Comments Support Oppose Neutral
City Council on 2024-05-21 6:00 PM -
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
05-21-24
18:00
78 80 4 72 0
Sentiments for All Meetings
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Overall Sentiment
City Council on 2024-05-21 6:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER 05-21-24 18:00
Agenda Name Comments Support Oppose Neutral
H.9. 24-0858 APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED CUSHIONS ON THE 700 BLOCK OF N JUANITA AVENUE
3 3 0 0
N.1. 24-0713 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE
COMPARATIVE DEPLOYMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS
PREPARED BY CITYGATE ASSOCIATES, LLC. OF THE REDONDO
BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT AS COMPARED TO THE CONSOLIDATED
FIRE DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
77 1 72 0
Sentiments for All Agenda Items
The following graphs display sentiments for comments that have location data. Only locations of users who have commented will be shown.
Overall Sentiment
Agenda Item: eComments for H.9. 24-0858 APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED CUSHIONS ON THE 700 BLOCK OF N
JUANITA AVENUE
Overall Sentiment
Roxanne Mulligan
Location:
Submitted At: 4:20pm 05-21-24
I support the installation of the speed cushion on the 700 block of North Juanita Avenue. Over the past 28 years I have witnessed many vehicles driving at excessive speeds down our block. I believe that the speed cushion is a necessity for the safety of all residents. I would also like to express by gratitude to our neighbor Lynn Attig for spearheading this proposal.
Niki Visosky
Location:
Submitted At: 8:31am 05-21-24
I support the installation of speed cushions on the 700 block of N Juanita Ave. there have been several incidences of cars that seem to accelerate from one stop sign to the other unnecessarily. Our street is also used by the RUHS cross-country team and several children that walk to school daily. I fully support making our block safer for everyone. I appreciate all the work by the city and our community advocate, Lynn Attig. Thank you for your support of this very important safety improvement.
Lynn Attig
Location:
Submitted At: 11:03am 05-20-24
I support the installation of a speed cushion on the 700 block of North Juanita Avenue in order to slow the speeding traffic, which uses our block as a cut-through to PCH. As a 30-year resident of this block, I was pleased to see the overwhelming support of our neighbors, with 81 percent signing the resident petition in favor of this traffic calming measure. I want to personally thank city engineer Ryan Liu and the Public Works and Sustainability Commission for their excellent work in communicating to the residents and putting together the traffic studies that have led us this far. I believe this speed cushion has the potential to save lives, and I thank the City Council for hearing the proposal.
Sincerely,
Lynn Attig,
Resident, 704 North Juanita Avenue
Agenda Item: eComments for N.1. 24-0713 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE COMPARATIVE DEPLOYMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS PREPARED BY CITYGATE ASSOCIATES, LLC. OF THE REDONDO BEACH
FIRE DEPARTMENT AS COMPARED TO THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY Overall Sentiment
Sondra Segall
Location:
Submitted At: 6:42pm 05-21-24
Please vote against outsourcing RBFD! As seen in the Contract Analysis chart on pp 23-24, moving to LAC means higher costs for lower staff. RBFD holds an ISO Public Protection Classification Class 1 rating. If you also read the Phase I study, you know that a move to county would mean losing our Class I rating which LA County doesn’t have, and irrevocably sending our equipment and personnel to a giant bureaucracy from which we could never afford to buy them back. And for what? It doesn't save money. It costs MORE both short term and long term. It doesn't ameliorate our long term pension obligations. The Phase I Study did NOT say that Redondo Beach would benefit. It said that the city’s resources could improve services to the county. “The unincorporated communities of Del Aire, Wiseburn, and El Camino, as well as the cities of Hermosa Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, and Palos Verdes Estates would benefit from the proximity of the two [RBFD] paramedic squads.” That means our paramedics would be spread too thin. Look at a map. There's a big gap in LA County’s coverage area between Hermosa on one side and Hawthorne, Lawndale etc on the other side. LA County wants RBFD to solve THEIR problems – not the other way around.
Long term is even scarier. We would be locked into a 10-year contract, with an annual increase. For the first 5 years, the annual increase would be capped at 5.4%. After five years, the formula gets complicated. Pension, Workers’ Compensation, Unemployment Compensation, and Liability costs and the annual increases thereof all would be tied to the fortunes of the County. Forget about local control to mitigate increases.
We have a very special Fire Department. If we lose this department, we will look back on this as the worst decision EVER made in the history of the City of Redondo Beach. When we have a major earthquake or other disaster, Redondo Beach will be at the bottom of the priority list for service from a County focused on its airports, seaports, and skyscrapers. The residents have told you time and time and time again that we don’t want RBFD outsourced. Fully staff RBFD and give our firefighters the full-time, permanent Chief they deserve! Hanh Archer
Location:
Submitted At: 6:36pm 05-21-24
I am reiterating my opposition to moving Redondo fire services to LA County Fire.
Matthew Kilroy
Location:
Submitted At: 5:55pm 05-21-24
This came up when I was on the City Council. There was no benefit then, and there is no benefit now.
Fortunately, our Council came to the right decision without having to spend $100k. I feel confident that the current members of the Council will also conclude that there is no benefit to be had going to LA County.
Virginia Schalck
Location:
Submitted At: 5:13pm 05-21-24
Consolidating with a larger entity like the Los Angeles County Fire Department could mean less local control over fire services. Residents might prefer to have their fire department run by people who are intimately familiar with the specific needs and challenges of Redondo Beach.
Steven Diels
Location:
Submitted At: 5:08pm 05-21-24
Steve Diels
Relinquishing our independent fire department is not leadership. It something else. Why in the world is this raw deal up for consideration? Residents are not clamoring for increased costs, reduced service and loss of control.
Its a 14 million dollar bad deal. Savvy Redondo Beach homemakers and business people alike oppose any abuse of power and misuse of public funds. Again, why is this up for consideration? If its not good leadership; not a good financial deal; and does not improve service levels, then what is going on? Sadly, the unelected Redondo Beach mayor, the city council members and treasurer, exhibit a history of abuse, and faulty character. The unelected, mayor, Jim Light, engineered scams to fool the public into financing lawsuits so that the City would pay him - personally - hundreds of thousands of city dollars. We have a city councilmember who's California law license is suspended for the misappropriation of client funds. We lost independent oversight from the Treasurer's office to a court-proven dishonest politician who is an apologist for the mayor. One councilmember is actually employed by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He stands to gain financially from this deal. And there's more...So why are these characters proposing to act against the best interests of the residents of Redondo Beach? Given their history of poor character and quid pro quo, history is repeating itself. The Fire Department labor union has paid thousands of dollars and provided free election services to these shills. Make no mistake. This is good old fashioned corruption, pure and simple. Clearly we need need new and honest Redondo Beach residents to represent our city. Stop this sham now
Dan Richmond
Location:
Submitted At: 3:59pm 05-21-24
Keep our RB Fire Dept local!
Laura Petros
Location:
Submitted At: 3:55pm 05-21-24
Please keep our RBFD local!
James Ander
Location:
Submitted At: 3:49pm 05-21-24
Councilmember Kaluderovic must be recused from this discussion.
The major concern to Redondo residents is that her previous public comments about the fire department show she is biased and should be recused from voting on the topic.
Councilmembers are legally required to be objective and not to have decided anything prior to public council discussion. As can be seen in Kaluderovic’s recent appearance on a local podcast, she made it clear she already made up her mind before the latest report on the Fire Department was even released to the public yet alone the council meeting.
People across the city also believe she is against our Fire Department Union as retaliation and to block a welldeserved pay increase (now under contract negotiation). Redondo residents are saying Kaluderovic’s hatred of Redondo Beach First Responders began in March 2023 after they refused to endorse you’re her Council campaign. For those unfamiliar with it here is a link
(https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid06ajPqWbaGdPyCHaXSX74Q6peFV9Ex3AN4BkckJ9 5obunnm7mjkhfrPA9zXgFiYvjl&id=100090242240134) . It details how she begged the Fire Department First Responder Union to reconsider their endorsement, after they already endorsed her opponent. Naturally they turned down the suggestion.
This retaliation and contempt for our First Responders was blatantly clear when at the last council meeting this item came up Kaluderovic tried to embarrass the Fire Union President (See Link https://www.youtube.com/live/h2op8fKbuc8?si=tksM8lk3AfbFHujD&t=13173). All they asked for was more time for its members to review a new report released only a few days earlier.
Rather than take the time to carefully review a document that could impact our city for decades, Kaluderovic wanted to force a vote in just one meeting. All one needs to do is look at the council meeting video where she was upset and waving hands in the air because more time was requested.
NO final decision should be made tonight however its painfully clear councilmember Kaluderovic must be recused from the discussion as she is biased.
Julie Janicki
Location:
Submitted At: 3:42pm 05-21-24
PLEASE Keep our Fire Department local!!!
Gina Kemp
Location:
Submitted At: 3:31pm 05-21-24
Please keep our fire department local!
Raymur Flinn
Location:
Submitted At: 3:28pm 05-21-24
Please keep our fire department local.
Jennifer Embler
Location:
Submitted At: 3:12pm 05-21-24
Please keep our Fire Department local. LA County Fire is too large and impersonal and not run properly for a city like ours. We benefit greatly from having our own department. I recommend we keep our Redondo beach fire department. They do an excellent job of serving our community and keeping us safe. I also recommend dropping this topic as it brings stress to our community and no change is needed.
Christian Horvath
Location:
Submitted At: 3:07pm 05-21-24
Five years ago, we undertook a Phase 1 evaluation regarding this topic. The financial data at that time showed no reason to continue pursuing the topic or entering a Phase 2. There were no savings at a baseline. Nevertheless, it was brought back for discussion post-election in 2021 by CM Obagi. On a 3/2 vote you decided to move forward again. This time, you did the Phase 2 study, and you hired an outside consultant to evaluate the process even further. And still, the financial data does not pan out. Residents have been clear. They do not want the fire department to go County. The self-ordained "resident-centric" Council should listen to your constituents and your consultants and continue making the necessary internal changes as spelled out in Chief Kauffman's report. You should continue making the investments in equipment and training as has been past practice. And you should finally seriously consider an infrastructure bond for our Public Safety buildings/gun range, City Hall and other facilities. Those re-investments into our community will benefit our local departments, employees and in turn our residents for decades to come. While it may not have been popular with some of you, the Major Facilities Reconstruction fund was created by myself and Councilwoman Emdee (ret) as a conduit to start saving money under the assumption that this day was coming where residents would be asked to help out. Now is the time to put this discussion to bed and focus on laying a foundation for the future of our city, Keep the Redondo Fire Department local. Invest in our infrastructure and our employees. As I've said far too many times... this is a no brainer.
Kathy Bebe
Location:
Submitted At: 2:27pm 05-21-24
I oppose! Keep RBFD and DO NOT consolidate with LA Fire Services susan oakley diaz
Location:
Submitted At: 1:55pm 05-21-24
Keep Redondo beach Fire department
in REDONDO
Pamela Regan
Location:
Submitted At: 1:49pm 05-21-24
I attended the meeting last month and think the analysis presented by CityGate Associates, LLC was thorough and informative. The data show that we receive great service with our local fire department, and that although we would also receive great service by outsourcing to LA County, there are additional costs (some of which, such as the pension item that the speaker mentioned, cannot be currently estimated with accuracy) associated with moving to LA County. Bottom line - we have a great thing here. Let's not monkey with it. KEEP RBFD LOCAL.
We do need some upgrades, as was also discussed by the speaker, and this will cost the residents/taxpapers some money, but those upgrades would need to happen anyway.
Please put this issue to rest, once and for all.
chris Colinsky
Location:
Submitted At: 1:36pm 05-21-24
Keep it local, I am opposed to outsourcing / consolidating key local services to LA County.
Steven Oetzell
Location:
Submitted At: 1:32pm 05-21-24
I have lived in Redondo Beach for over 32 years.
The proposal to have the LOS ANGELES COUNTY Fire Department replace the Redondo Beach City Fire Department sounds like a solution in search of a problem. What City Council member(s) proposed and pushed this agenda?
I am opposed to having the LOS ANGELES COUNTY Fire Department replace the Redondo Beach City Fire Department.
Dan Murphy
Location:
Submitted At: 1:26pm 05-21-24
This is a no brainer! Keep the Fire Department local. I heard the argument by Nils last night to get rid of RB Fire and it makes no sense. He said that LA gave a 0% loan to a neighboring city to pay for upgrades but they still had to pay for the upgrades as would we.
The top rating of Redondo Beach FD is huge and we would get less for more money. Imagine what could happen if there was a major catastrophe like an earthquake? Since our FD would be run by LA then do they go where LA tells them? Once we lose this local resource we will NEVER be able to get it back.
Lastly, I spoke with 3 Firefighters during the Christmas/Santa Sleigh event and they were ALL against it and I promised them I would support them and oppose this city council railroad. A huge majority of the city are opposed and the City Council needs to listen to their constituents or we need to vote them out as soon as possible.
Nerissa Malazo
Location:
Submitted At: 1:21pm 05-21-24
KEEP the RBFD LOCAL!!!
Melanie Andrews
Location:
Submitted At: 1:10pm 05-21-24
I am opposed to RB fire department being consolidated with LA fire services.
Tonya McKenzie
Location:
Submitted At: 12:29pm 05-21-24
This agenda item needs to be put to bed. There are several individuals on the current council that like to tout, "The people have spoken." This is one of those issues that residents have stated and voted on. The majority of the residents in this city do not want our Fire Department sent to the county. Stop putting off what needs to happen. Stop blocking revenue-generating developments in this city and invest in our Fire Department. Either way, Redondo Beach will have to pay out. So, we should pay for what the residents want, not what makes it easier on you.
Cyndi Wicks
Location:
Submitted At: 11:55am 05-21-24
Do not move our RB Fire Department to LA County! We are blessed to have a great local department and it will cost us more to give others control. Stop being stupid! Wendy Vinzant
Location:
Submitted At: 11:54am 05-21-24
Please keep our Redondo Beach Fire Department local!
Chris Voisey
Location:
Submitted At: 11:45am 05-21-24
It's time to drop the fiasco and move forward with our local RBFD. I have no idea why we have kicked this can so far down the road and wasted all this money. Perhaps those who should be conflicted are trying to run their future campaigns and promises based on their relationships with County Fire. We have wasted enough time and energy on this. Let's move on to more important things in our City. Why does everything have to be a massive debate??
County will cost us more, and there will be no benefit to the taxpayers of Redondo Beach. The majority have spoken repeatedly. We, the people, have spoken.
Marianne Teola
Location:
Submitted At: 11:36am 05-21-24
My position is that the Redondo Beach Fire Department remain local. Money has been wasted on two independent studies. The residents who are taxpayers have voiced their opinion. This discussion should be over! If there are staff who are so enamored with the County Fire Department, my suggestion is to work for them! Please end this discussion; make a decision and get on with the task of running the city.
GINA RUBOLINO
Location:
Submitted At: 11:31am 05-21-24
it will cost us $14M (which we don’t have) and we will lose our local control.
This is a political “pay to play” - the Councilmember’s who are pushing this we’re given lots of money from the fire department union for their elections. Now they have to “pay” - sell us out! - by signing away our local control.
Phase 2 Fire Study results and analyzing the pros and cons of moving away from our local fire department and contracting with LA County Fire instead. This is a major decision that all residents should be a part of. This is an important meeting where the council can make a single vote to keep our local fire department, or to eliminate it and move to a contract with LA County Fire.
To keep the same level of service we residents have come to expect, it will cost us more than what we are currently paying if we contract with LA County.
The County contract is proposing a reduction of dedicated staff located inside the City. In the proposal some staff will be shared resources with surrounding cities.Find the full report here.
This is a huge decision for our city and any change should be led by the residents. The last time this was discussed there were over 80 resident E-Comments, all in favor of keeping our local Fire Department. I encourage you to attend the meeting and let your voice be heard. If you cannot attend the meeting in person, you can still participate in the following ways.
Alisa Beeli
Location:
Submitted At: 11:26am 05-21-24
My family needed RBFD this week. I made that 3am 911 call with the confidence and reassurance that the response from our Class 1 fire department would be quick, efficient, professional and of the highest caliber, which is what happened. There is no valid reason for Redondo residents to be stripped of the reassurance that we want and deserve where our safety and wellbeing are concerned. Please keep RBFD local. Thank you.
Minh Nguyen
Location:
Submitted At: 11:04am 05-21-24
I oppose moving to LA County. Keep RBPD.
Alex Fineman
Location:
Submitted At: 10:15am 05-21-24
Please keep Redondo Beach's fire services local! Losing control of our local FD would be incredibly shortsighted.
Liisa Hiatt
Location:
Submitted At: 10:10am 05-21-24
Please come to your senses and keep our fire department local! Don't waste our money and make us less safe by selling out.
Ronni Do
Location:
Submitted At: 9:29am 05-21-24
Keep our fire department local!
Candice Gamboa
Location:
Submitted At: 7:17am 05-21-24
This should not be outsourced. This needs to stay in the city.
Karan Millan
Location:
Submitted At: 6:03am 05-21-24
Keep RBFD local
Lisa Rodriguez
Location:
Submitted At: 12:16am 05-21-24
I’m writing for keeping RBFD local!!! Please oppose any and all decisions that would cause us to sell out to LA County. Please stand with Redondo residents, who spoke loudly and unanimously in favor of keeping our own services. Do not let special
Interests diminish our greatness.
Dean Seislove
Location:
Submitted At: 12:15am 05-21-24
Much is being made about the financial ramifications of eliminating our local fire department and replacing it with a county-operated imitation. Saving or spending money at this level can easily be manipulated using accounting tricks to support any political position. For most Redondo Beach residents, I would imagine, budgetary considerations are secondary to the impact of losing such a highly visible and beloved embodiment of our city’s long history. A community is characterized by shared institutions that shape experiences and memories over generations. RBFD staff, stations, and equipment are woven within our civic fabric as deeply and respectfully as our City Hall, Police Station, and Public Libraries. When our local institutions are denuded of any connection to our city’s history, geography, or culture, both city and institutions are diminished in stature and uniqueness. Where does this all lead? Shall we soon be saluting LA County Sheriffs patrolling the Esplanade? Sending our children to their new L.A. County schools where Adams, Parras, and RUHS used to be? Arguing for funding and representation after being assimilated by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors? There’s nothing wrong with exploring ways to streamline services and find money for badly-needed improvements in infrastructure and city employee compensation. Attacking a fire department cherished by the citizenry, however, seems like a misstep.
Frankly, it seems like an ill conceived get rich quick scheme that avoids the fact that we need to develop taxable business entities to help sustain city funding for services. At the very least, removing the time-honored fire department that has (and does) serve us so well does nothing to improve our safety or our finances, but it does reinforce the idea that Redondo needs careful stewardship to avoid having the glory days be relegated to the past.
Daniel Elder
Location:
Submitted At: 10:17pm 05-20-24
Giving up local control of public safety services is not something that can be easily undone and should have very clear benefits to the community. Combining services with neighboring cities might offer a better approach to cost cutting without sacrificing local control and life safety services rather than giving it all up to LA County.
Jim Magnotta
Location:
Submitted At: 9:41pm 05-20-24
I oppose the consolidation of the RBFD into the County Fire Department.
I value the services we are provided and I want to have local control of our services vs centralizing the services at a Country level.
This is another attempt by big government to reduce services and consolidate power.
Michael Do
Location:
Submitted At: 9:14pm 05-20-24
I oppose contracting our fire department to L.A. County.
Any council member(s) with potential conflicts of interest should responsibly recuse themselves.
Jennifer Schreter
Location:
Submitted At: 7:19pm 05-20-24
Keep our fire dept local!
Joseph Schwar
Location:
Submitted At: 5:45pm 05-20-24
This should be a no-brainer: stay with our great RBFD, which is both less expensive and better staffed than the proposed county fire contract. On staffing the report is deceiving - it reports 17 "in City" personnel under the county proposal, but 3 of those would be shared with out-of-City stations, so the"in-City" number is realistically only 14 under the proposed county contract. That would be a 32% reduction in in-City staffing! Also consider that contracting with county fire would result in loss of both control over and accountability of our first responders.
No to the proposed county contract. Yes to keeping our excellent RBFD! Joseph Schwar
Avenue G
Laura Huval
Location:
Submitted At: 5:43pm 05-20-24
I am opposed to moving the RBFD to county! Keep it local! Tracey McMartin
Location:
Submitted At: 5:04pm 05-20-24
Keep RBFD local! From personal experience, Redondo Beach has a professional first-class Fire Department.
I am opposed to moving to LA County.
Elisabeth Diels
Location:
Submitted At: 4:20pm 05-20-24
1000% oppose! We (literally!) can’t afford to lose our first class FD. With a $14M price tag, why are we even discussing this?
Brad Waller
Location:
Submitted At: 4:16pm 05-20-24
You have a straightforward choice to maintain our current fire department based on the findings of the report from Citygate. The report, which cost the city close to $100,000, clearly states what we already knew: (and I quote from the report) “a contract with County Fire is more expensive for fewer personnel on duty in the City limits.” The report also concludes “The City has a strong fire department that does not need a major overhaul. The City also has maximum control over the design and cost of its fire services. The employees have chosen to work for and stay in the City.”
I recently visited Fire Station #1 and spoke with our firefighters, who expressed their pride in serving Redondo Beach. They highlighted the unique aspects of working for our local department and the strong sense of community they feel.
It is essential to maintain local control over our public safety services and continue supporting our Redondo Beach Fire Department. I urge you to listen to the voices of your community and retain local control over all of our public safety services.
Tracy Curreri
Location:
Submitted At: 2:52pm 05-20-24
I'm opposed to using the county Fire Department. One of the best things about Redondo Beach is it services.
RBUSD, RBPD, RBFD are the best! Our local folks are part of the community and know it best, please don't change this!
Sandy Marchese
Location:
Submitted At: 2:18pm 05-20-24
I am opposed to going to County for our Fire Service. Once you go to County you can NEVER go back! You will lose control of the City's Fire Service. In the event of a County wide disaster the County will decide where resources are deployed. Having our own Fire Department our City will decide on where service within our City are deployed.
Cherise H.
Location:
Submitted At: 12:31pm 05-20-24
Are you listening to your constituents? KEEP REDONDO FIRE LOCAL!!! Your own study showed that it will cost MORE to switch to LA County and will cost RB firefighter jobs. Stop the nonsense and use common sense.
Erika Snow Robinson
Location:
Submitted At: 10:40am 05-20-24
STOP the nonsense. RB City Council is not beholden to the Fire Union but to US…the RESIDENTS. FOR ONCE, try and do what’s best for our city and KEEP RBFD LOCAL. The study WE paid $100k for, showed it is of NO benefit to switch to LA County AND in fact will cost us MILLIONS and that’s just the first 10 Years. We all know the BEHEMOTH that is LA County will swallow us whole as we lose our autonomy, are victim to slower response times, suffer under the weight of shouldering the LACo-sized burdens (esp financially!) and at the end of the day, it will have been for what? A few not-so-great councilmembers can be endorsed by the Fire Union? To be re-elected? How shortsighted because really all you’ll be doing is putting another nail in your nonelectable coffin. There won’t be another issue greater than this one to unite residents against all of y’all to ensure you get ousted. Thanks to Paige K who seems to be the only one beating the drum to wake residents up and let us know what’s going on. AND NILS WHO IS EMPLOYED BY LACOUNTY SHOULD RECUSE HIMSELF. OBAGI SHOULD SIMPLY REMOVE HIMSELF FROM COUNCIL DUE TO HIS CURRENT ETHICAL SITCH.
Joanne Galin
Location:
Submitted At: 10:13am 05-20-24
Please keep RBFD local!
Tania Gillespie
Location: 90278, Redondo Beach
Submitted At: 10:09am 05-20-24
Keep our Fire Department and their expertise LOCAL!
Ian Gallardo
Location:
Submitted At: 8:22am 05-20-24
Keep the RBFD. North Redondo deserves an immediate response from fire and ems too. The next closest county station in lawndale is to far. Taxpayers already paid for all these nice fire apparatus in the city. Those apparatus will be dispersed around the county and our local fire station will be stuck with older worn out apparatus . Just take a look at Hermosa Beach ( LACO station 100). Where did their nice new rig go when county took over. A nice yo county makes no sense financially and any council member supporting this move should be investigated , because maybe it benefits them financially . Smells like corrupt politics.
Vicky Oetzell
Location:
Submitted At: 8:08am 05-20-24
I do not want the City of Redondo Beach Fire Department (RBFD) to become the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD). RB would have NO CONTROL over the fire services. We financially don't need to go to LACFD. The cost would be over $14 million more over just the first 10 years. We cannot afford that. The old buildings would still belong to RB, so if they need replacing or updating, we still have that expense. Going to LACFD would not make a difference regarding the buildings and their costs.
LACFD doesn't want RBFD. According to our city manager, LACFD refused to attend our city council meeting on 4/1/24, when they were invited to come and present. They had already made a presentation years ago, and found the cost to be exhorbitant for our city.
We have a first class fire department, so why would we want to get rid of our fire department? County would reduce the number of firefighters, reduce a truck, and we don't know if their response times would be as good as they are now. If you have ever had to call the RBFD, as I have, you know they respond very quickly.
Why are CMs Nehrenheim, Loewenstein and Obagi pushing this agenda? Nehrenheim has worked for the LACFD for over 28 years as a lifeguard and in other areas. Why is he pushing this? He should recuse himself, and the whole city council, mayor and city attorney have ignored this request. Keep our fire department! Do not go to county!
Steve Goldstein
Location:
Submitted At: 6:35am 05-20-24
Keep our Fire Department LOCAL!
Ryan Tucker
Location:
Submitted At: 5:34am 05-20-24
This again?! No. Like the city logo item, there is no compelling reason to change.
Doris Donlou-Richmond
Location:
Submitted At: 10:14pm 05-19-24
Redondo Beach Fire Department has played a critical part in our RB infrastructure since the beginning of Redondo Beach in 1892 - well over 100 years. They have helped countless individuals in our city over the years, including my family who has resided in Redondo since 1936. The speed of assistance and personal care of our local Fire Dept in coming to the aid of my parents and grandparents in their twilight years has quite literally meant the difference between life and death for them time and time again. RBFD are part of the fabric of our Redondo Beach community. Ceding local control by outsourcing to LA County will pose an incredible disservice to our community and its residents. Redondo residents have opposed this proposal time and again and this time is no different. I strongly urge our City Council to stand with the residents and vote No on this matter once and for all so we are not saddled with a poor decision that will negatively affect our community not only now, but for generations to come.
Michael Ude
Location:
Submitted At: 10:04pm 05-19-24
Oppose, and this website makes it easy to accidentally select neutral. We all already opposed this, why is light trying to get money in kickbacks and continuing this nonsense??? Suresh Pillay
Location:
Submitted At: 9:52pm 05-19-24
Pennywise and Pound Foolish! The report has absolutely no compelling reasons to make a change. Keep the RBFD local.
Peter Aziz
Location:
Submitted At: 6:37pm 05-19-24
The public has spoken on this before..we do not agree with the attempts to rid our city's control for political kickbacks. The studies all came back conclusive, our city would be paying more to lose a great service. And by the current leadership y'all have already nearly driven the revenue of our city into the ground with your failure to acknowledge clear judgement. Stop destroying our city. Keep RBFD local.
Marlena Moore
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Submitted At: 5:41pm 05-19-24
The loss of service and civic pride that losing our local fire department would cause is not worth the minimal fiscal savings that may result from contracting with the county. If money is the issue, raise our taxes—even a slight increase would cover the difference and the vast majority of RB citizens would gladly pay it to keep our fire department local. We live right down the street from our local fire station and go to every one of their open houses—we are so proud of them and proud to support them. They are part of what makes our community wonderful and strong—taking them away would be short sighted in the extreme. We strongly oppose contracting with the county for fire services.
Daniel Siegel
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Submitted At: 5:40pm 05-19-24
There's an old axiom: "You get what you pay for."
So, when addressing a potentially life-or-death service like our Fire Department, especially the great service we enjoy as Redondo Beach residents, we should absolutely accept paying a bit more, if necessary to maintain one of the most valuable parts of living in this great city!! Please . . . do not move this to LA County. When you get the service you need in an emergency, you'll be happy to paid a bit more for it.
Paul Moses
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Submitted At: 5:38pm 05-19-24
KEEP THE REDONDO BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT LOCAL! Receive and file agenda item N1 24-0713 and take no further action.
100% of Redondo residents want to keep the Redondo Beach Fire Department local.
Any further discussion of this idiotic idea is a waste of taxpayer time and money.
Any support of contracting our public safety out to County workers cannot be supported by fact, data or reason.
Any Councilman who supports going to county is suspect and is willing to compromise the safety of all Redondo residents.
Karen Reed
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Submitted At: 5:26pm 05-19-24
Keep local Redondo FD!!! Listen to the residents of this City. We want to keep our local fire department. Any contract with the County will cost us more for a decline in service. Strongly oppose!! Sharon McCarthy
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Submitted At: 5:08pm 05-19-24
I oppose any City Council action to eliminate our beloved local fire department.
Randy Morton
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Submitted At: 3:04pm 05-19-24
I oppose RBFD becoming part of LA County FD. Outside audit demonstrates we have an exceptional FD, operating under budget, quality service and response times.
Costs would increase if moved to County, in addition to loss of control.
If some current RBFD employees are desiring a move to County, then they should apply to work at County and leave. The needs and desires of RB citizens come first. They are paid by us to serve us.
Citizens oppose any move to County. Literally zero reason nor benefit to move to County. Only downsides.
Therefore if Council members disregard the desires of its citizens, the citizens it has an ethical duty to represent, it would invite suspicion and inquiry into personal political agendas.
Better for RB Council members to remain loyal to their constituents and ask for their long term political help than play the narrow game and have those constituents work against any future political ambitions Council members may have within or outside of RB.
Mariam Butler
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Submitted At: 2:20pm 05-19-24
I attended the April 16 meeting a few weeks ago to listen to the city gate study presentation.
Based on what was presented the facts show: we already have a top-notch Fire Department with a Class A1 rating (county does not have this rating). We already have excellent retention. We already have hundreds applying for a position (200 people applied for 3 positions recently). Our Fire Department can get to any resident within 5 minutes.
There were more comments than ever on a single agenda item N1 April 16 from residents. 82 comments all opposed to going to county.
There was not a single argument to do anything but keep our own department.
Councilmember Kaluderovic is the only councilmember that was not endorsed by the fire union in her campaign.
Councilmember Kaluderovic motion was to vote to keep our local department and close this discussion, and to also send the analysis of our current department to the various commissions for their thoughts and come back to council to discuss possible changes to our local department. She did not get a second.
Now they will meet May 21 to discuss further. What they are going to discuss? I guess they will get the opinion of the fire union and any feedback they may get from the various committees that they are sending the document to.
However, let it be known that the residents overwhelmingly have said they want to keep our fire department local.
Laura Shute
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Submitted At: 1:53pm 05-19-24
Keep RBFD local! The people of Redondo Beach have spoken loud and clear to keep our Fire Department local - and we won’t give up even if the council keeps pushing this decision down the road. This is the people’s choice and it’s the logical choice.
Dixie Duncan
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Submitted At: 12:16pm 05-19-24
I oppose the change to LA County Fire Department. Keep Redondo Beach Fire Department local. Put this subject to rest!
Maggie Healy
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Submitted At: 9:21am 05-19-24
If, after 150 years of building a Class One fire department, this City Council pushes to contract out to County, then they have completely and utterly failed the residents.
Susan Higgins
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Submitted At: 1:51am 05-19-24
Keep Redondo Beach Fire Department local!
JoAnne Jennings
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Submitted At: 4:33pm 05-18-24
Contracting city services out to the county is a terrible idea. The reason we choose to live in the City of Redondo Beach—as opposed to unincorporated Los Angeles County—is in large part because city services provide a better quality of life.
In the event of a substantial emergency, such as an earthquake, the county is going to send county resources whenever they deem them most needed—without regard for any contractual obligations. That is just how things go in a substantial emergency. But if we have full control over our own fire department, we can ensure that the needs of our community are met.
I would rather pay for local services dedicated to our community than risk our safety for what amounts to minimal savings.
Susan Jones
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Submitted At: 2:29pm 05-18-24
Keep our Redondo Beach Fire Department local . It’s absurd that our city council is still considering this . They have spent hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars on studies that show that moving to LA County Fire Department would not benefit us . Enough already !
Cindy Surls
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Submitted At: 1:29pm 05-18-24
KEEP OUR FD LOCAL. LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING I HERMOSA! PAID ALL THAT MONEY FOR RESPONSE TIMES TO TAKE 2-3X LONGER. WE KNOW THAT WHICHEVER COUNCIL PERSON KEEPS TRYING TO FORCE THIS ON OUR CITY IS IN SOMEONES POCKET! STOP SPENDING OUR TAX MONEY ON THIS!
Cee-Cee Murphy
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Submitted At: 1:10pm 05-18-24
We have spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on TWO studies and been offered a professional presentation on the latest study, all of which produced the same results: farming out our beloved local fire department to LA County would cost more and give us less. No brainer. It’s a bad deal. The fact there were over 80 comments opposed to losing our local FD, two neutral and zero in support last time this was brought to Council should tell you something. The fact there is a sitting Council member who has a conflict of interest as an employee of LA County Fire but refuses to recuse himself and the fact the Fire Union endorsed everyone in the last election EXCEPT Council person Kaluderovic (who wanted to move on from this topic based on the results of the study last time but was bull-rushed) should also tell you something. The People have spoken: we want our FD to remain local and we want more responsible leadership with better financial acumen so this type of problem doesn’t occur again. Please remember you are elected/appointed representatives of the WHOLE City, not just your vested interests. You work for US. If you don’t represent us well then don’t be surprised if residents express their concerns and if you are replaced.
Linda Marr
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Submitted At: 11:13am 05-18-24
Keep RB Fire Department local. I don't even understand why this issue has dragged out for so long. TWO independent studies that RB apparently PAID GOOD MONEY FOR said that it was a bad idea to go to county.
MOST EVERY RB citizen thinks it's a bad idea to go to county. We value our firefighters, but there are a huge number of men and women who would like to be RB Firefighters. We have a terrific Fire Department NOW. We do not need too pay more for less service.
Pam Spear
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Submitted At: 11:05am 05-18-24
Keep the Redondo Beach Fire Department. We have outstanding Fire Department and long history of a city run Fire Department.
Marie Puterbaugh
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Submitted At: 10:02am 05-18-24
I oppose moving the fire department to county and beg council to keep it local. I realize the fire union endorsed many of you and you may feel like you "owe" them by allowing them to move to county, which will indeed financially benefit the firefighters with better pay and benefits versus what Redondo Beach can provide. However, given the cost of going to county is more for the city, the county will not pay for any capital improvements to our fire station, the council should do the responsible thing and make a fiscally responsible decision for the city and residents and keep the Class One department local. Please do the right thing and keep the department local, as evidenced by the number of residents who want you to do so as well.