City Council on 2024-08-06 6:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER Meeting Time: 08-06-24 18:00
eComments Report
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Time
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City Council on 2024-08-06 6:00 PM -
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
08-06-24
18:00
72 15 0 11 3
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City Council on 2024-08-06 6:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER 08-06-24 18:00
Agenda Name Comments Support Oppose Neutral
J.1. 24-1274 For eComments and Emails Received from the Public 1 0 0 1 N.1. 24-0618 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING EBIKE USE IN THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH3 0 0 2 N.3. 24-1314 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO PROVIDE
DIRECTION TO STAFF RELATING TO OPTIONS RELATING TO
INSTANT RUNOFF METHODS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
CONSIDERING CALLING ELECTION TO CONSIDER PLACING A
MEASURE FOR A CHARTER AMENDMENT ARTICLE 18, ELECTIONS,
SECTION 18.4, MAJORITY VOTE; INSTANT RUNOFF ELECTION, AND
TO DISCUSS DRAFT ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY'S
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO INSTANT RUNOFF MODEL AND/OR
PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION.
ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2408-068, A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO
BEACH, CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF HOLDING A
SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY,
NOVEMBER 5, 2024, TO CONSOLIDATE WITH THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY STATEWIDE ELECTION, AND ORDERING THE SUBMISSION
TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF A MEASURE
RELATING TO CHARTER AMENDMENT ARTICLE XVIII ELECTIONS
SECTION 18.4, MAJORITY VOTE: INSTANT RUNOFF ELECTION, AND SETTING PROCEDURAL DETAILS.
11 0 11 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 J.1. 24-1274 For eComments and Emails Received from the Public Overall Sentiment
Brandee Keith
Location:
Submitted At: 1:26pm 08-06-24
On June 7, the South Coast AQMD Governing Board approved new amendments to Rule 1146.2, Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Large Water Heaters, Small Boilers and Process Heaters that will require applicable units in new and existing buildings to transition to zero-emission technologies. • Rule 1146.2 aligns with building standards and technological advancements, facilitating compliance and promoting cleaner air.
o Compliance deadlines are scheduled in a three-phased approach:
_ For smaller units in new buildings: January 1, 2026, and for installations in all buildings after January 1, 2029. _ For larger units and pool heaters in new buildings: January 1, 2028, and for installations in all buildings after January 1, 2031.
_ For high-temperature units in new buildings: January 1, 2029, and for installations in all buildings after January 1, 2033.
• The amended rule will result in a reduction of approximately 5.6 tons per day of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, a significant contributor to smog in our region. • By reducing NOx emissions, we are not only enhancing air quality but also advancing toward attainment of federal air pollution standards by 2037.
• To support our communities and businesses, South Coast AQMD is currently launching the GO Zero Rebate Program, a zero-emission building appliance rebate program. • Funding for the program is expected to be available early 2025 to assist in offsetting costs and promoting the adoption of cleaner technologies.
• It will be on a first come, first served, with a pilot allocation of $21 million with the potential to increase funding five-fold.
• 75% of the rebate funding will be designated for overburdened communities as identified through CalEnviroscreen.
For more information, visit our website at www.aqmd.gov.
Agenda Item: eComments for N.1. 24-0618 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING E-BIKE USE IN THE CITY OF
REDONDO BEACH
Overall Sentiment
Alex Fineman
Location:
Submitted At: 7:28pm 08-06-24
I recently began using my e-bike to pick up my 4-year-old from her preschool in South Redondo Beach and bring her home to our house in North Redondo. She loves the ride, and I appreciate a chance to share a daily activity outdoors in our fantastic weather rather than another commute in traffic. However, we take a winding indirect route through West Torrance because Prospect Ave. doesn't even have the most basic of bike infrastructure.
Especially given RUHS and Parras's locations on Prospect, and the volume of bike traffic those schools generate, Redondo should be prioritizing safe, protected bike infrastructure there (and throughout the city on other arterials). Yes, we should continue bike safety education programs, and we should enforce traffic laws to address irresponsible riding, just as we should address irresponsible driving. However, the most effective way to address the safety of cyclists is to give bikes their own protected space to travel. This would decrease accidents between cyclists and cars, as well as encourage more biking for local trips - a win for our community, the environment, and even local traffic.
Brianna Egan
Location:
Submitted At: 6:13pm 08-06-24
I want to commend the City of Redondo Beach and RBPD for taking a proactive approach with education and community forums around e-bike safety. In contrast, we are seeing Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach take a more punitive approach placing restrictions and fines on bikes and e-bikes. I fear the pendulum has swung too far in the Beach Cities in favor of enforcement and fines instead of building safe bicycle infrastructure to improve safety and decrease incidents or near-misses.
We all know the benefits of bicycles for transportation -- which promote health, sustainability, and joy and relieve traffic on the roads -- and we should do all we can to elevate safety and mobility through infrastructure so that "vulnerable road users" on bikes (including teens and seniors!) are safe, and drivers have greater visibility and separation from bikes.
I'm commenting to urge the city to continue building out safe protected bike infrastructure. Our public works team and city engineer/traffic engineer have already been working hard on this. The goal should be to build a network of safe, protected bike lanes to prioritize the safety of people to safely and sustainably travel throughout the city.
This includes designated safe routes to schools and commercial centers in the city. We can build this quickly and at lower costs than expected; look at the recent success of Santa Monica's protected bike network buildout.
I want to encourage city council and staff to:
- build quick-build protected bike infrastructure using planters, bollards, paint, and concrete barriers - upgrade bike lanes or planned bike lanes to Class IV bike protected routes on major arterial roads like PCH, Torrance Blvd, Artesia, Aviation and Manhattan Beach Blvd - implement traffic calming measures like diverters and pedestrian plazas to separate cars from pedestrians and bikes
- follow and exceed the South Bay Bicycle Master Plan and LA County Bicycle Master Plan Thank you for your proactive and diligent work on this already and let's continue to serve as a model for the rest of the South Bay with our biking infrastructure and approach to bike safety.
Grace Peng
Location:
Submitted At: 5:38pm 08-06-24
I ride an eBike as a primary mode of transportation around the Beach Cities and West Torrance. I see a lot of lawbreaking on the roads, particularly by adult motorists. I do see some teens riding bikes in an unsafe manner, but the majority of them are doing it in a safe and reasonable manner. I think teen education is working. Keep that up.
Please put me down in the column of people who think that people will ride in a safer manner if our infrastructure was more supportive. I don't want to ride on the sidewalk, but I will if the alternative is to ride in the door zone of a truck route. I don't want to run a red light, but sometimes I am forced to do so because the traffic sensor won't recognize me and turn the light green for me. I don't want to weave between cars stopped at a light, but the cars are positioning themselves in the bike lane to make a right turn. The crosswalks are blocked by cars trying to make a right turn on red and not looking in both directions for pedestrians and cyclists.
I can't ride to the far right because people tint their car windows so dark, I can't tell if there is someone about to open the door and knock me into traffic. Once, on the Anza door zone bike lane, a woman opened her door and got out with a dog in her arms and the dog leaped out of her arms at me as I was riding past. If I had jumped sideways, I would have been killed by truck traffic. (Isn't it illegal to drive with a dog in your lap or a cell phone in your hand? Why are half the motorists I see doing that?) Chief Hoffman has shown that CA vehicle codes apply to the bad behavior we see on our roads. We don't need special ordinances specific to our city. We need to enforce ordinances already on the books. We need to build more supportive bicycle infrastructure.
RFK Jr planted an old bicycle next to his roadkill bear expecting people to blame a cyclist instead of a motorist for the death of the bear. He was counting on people scapegoating cyclists because that is normalized in our society.
We should aim higher. This week, I saw a father with a child giggling with joy on the back of his eCargo bike.
More bike joy, please!
Agenda Item: eComments for N.3. 24-1314 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF
RELATING TO OPTIONS RELATING TO INSTANT RUNOFF METHODS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CONSIDERING CALLING ELECTION TO CONSIDER PLACING A MEASURE FOR A CHARTER AMENDMENT ARTICLE 18, ELECTIONS, SECTION 18.4, MAJORITY VOTE; INSTANT RUNOFF ELECTION, AND TO DISCUSS DRAFT ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO INSTANT RUNOFF MODEL AND/OR PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION.
ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2408-068, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO
BEACH, CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF HOLDING A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, TO CONSOLIDATE WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY STATEWIDE ELECTION, AND
ORDERING THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF A MEASURE RELATING TO CHARTER AMENDMENT ARTICLE XVIII ELECTIONS SECTION 18.4, MAJORITY VOTE: INSTANT RUNOFF ELECTION, AND SETTING PROCEDURAL DETAILS.
Overall Sentiment
Diane Silver
Location:
Submitted At: 9:01pm 08-06-24
Dear Councilmembers: The voters have already weighed in on this. Delaying or going to one of the other proposed options simply goes back to the problems that motivated this change in the first place -- non-majority winners or expensive runoffs. Efforts to delay or change course are simply an effort to undermine the change the voters approved. Please stay the course and move forward with implementing the voters' will.
Marcela Miranda-Caballero
Location:
Submitted At: 8:48pm 08-06-24
Good evening, my name is Marcela Miranda-Caballero, I am the Executive Director of the California Ranked Choice Voting Coalition.
Why is the instant runoff better than the current two-round “delayed runoff” system? Former city Councilmember Laura Emdee said it best: "Runoff elections are expensive and have historically been hostile. Runoff elections also tend to have lower voter turnout than the city's March general election. Using instant runoff, Redondo Beach will experience more amicable campaigns at a lower cost." Redondo Beach’s charter commission studied the different electoral methods available and unanimously decided that instant runoff voting aka ranked choice voting is better than the current method for all the reasons cited by Ms. Emdee.
As previously mentioned, in past elections, the voter turnout in the second delayed runoff plummeted by as much as 30%, and winners would often have fewer votes in the delayed runoff than they had in the general election.
The Charter Commission recognized its many defects and recommended ranked-choice voting. 77% of Redondo Beach voters agreed, a strong mandate that should be respected, and the wishes of the voters fulfilled.
Alex Fineman
Location:
Submitted At: 7:36pm 08-06-24
RCV has a proven track record of making elections more efficient, less extreme, and it has the broad support of Redondo Beach voters. 77% of voters in Redondo backed the measure for RCV/IRV - there's absolutely no reason to delay its implementation!
Steven Hill
Location:
Submitted At: 6:47pm 08-06-24
IRV/RCV has been used for 100 years in a range of countries around the world, and in the US for the last 20 years, in a range of locations from large cities like New York and San Francisco to smaller towns like two dozen cities in Utah and several in California, to rural states like Alaska and Maine. So this election method is very well tested and studied by political scientists, with thousands of elections to examine for any unanticipated consequences or possibilities of negative impacts on various communities. The reason why IRV/RCV is the fastest growing political reform in the United States is because it works. It has empowered voters and given them more choice, liberated voters to rank the candidates they want without fear of voting for spoiler candidates, it has saved cities like Redondo Beach that use two-round “delayed” runoffs a lot of tax dollars, the ranked ballots have incentivized candidates to build coalitions and find common ground with other perspectives, and in place after place where it has been used, traditionally under-represented communities have seen their representation increase dramatically.
But one would never know that from the misinformation coming from the STAR Voting advocates, who are attacking IRV/RCV in order to elevate their failed reform. STAR Voting is not used anywhere in the US because it is such a complicated and confusing method. Recently the voters of Eugene OR voted, 35% to 65%, to overwhelmingly reject STAR Voting. The Redondo Beach city council should also reject this brazen attempt by STAR Voting advocates to undermine the will of the 77% Redondo Beach voters who voted for ranked choice voting.
Max Samarov
Location:
Submitted At: 6:21pm 08-06-24
As a Redondo Beach resident in district 3, I support ranked choice voting and urge you to respect the overwhelming majority of who voted for adopting RCV starting in March 2025.
RCV is a much needed reform to avoid unnecessary and costly runoff elections, and make candidates more responsive to the needs and perspectives of all voters.
Please vote down any attempt to repeal or delay this reform, and use RCV for our next election.
Brianna Egan
Location:
Submitted At: 6:18pm 08-06-24
The voters of Redondo Beach approved IRV/RCV as a democratic reform with 77% of the vote. IRV/RCV would improve participation in our low-turnout elections, encourage representative outcomes, reduce negative campaigning, save money, and lower the barrier for entry for more diverse candidates like women and people of color. It's concerning that you are now considering delaying implementation by 10 years or returning to traditional run-offs. Please honor the will of the city’s voters last year who overwhelmingly supported it, and implement IRV/RCV as early as possible. Let's do this!
https://fairvote.org/our-reforms/ranked-choice-voting/
Gordon Tsuji
Location:
Submitted At: 4:52pm 08-06-24
We voters approved Ranked Choice Voting last year because it is the fairest way to make sure that all voters have a voice. As representatives for this city who are elected by those same voters, hopefully you will respect that decision to implement RCV in March 2025.
Ranked choice voting results in elected officials who appeal to the largest majority of citizens, which is how our democracy is supposed to work. It is an idea whose time has come, as seen by its use in elections across the United States, including Alaska, New York, Florida, Texas, Colorado, California, Illinois, and many other states.
We voters of Redondo Beach have made this city a leader in this movement toward more fair elections, and we are asking you to represent our wishes and defeat any attempt to repeal or delay RCV, and use RCV for our next election as was promised.
Melanie Cohen
Location: 90277, Redondo Beach
Submitted At: 3:02pm 08-06-24
Dear Councilmembers, last year, the voters of Redondo Beach overwhelmingly approved moving from our expensive and low-turnout runoff elections to Instant Runoff Voting (aka IRV or RCV). Please respect our choice and work to get IRV implemented to save the city money and get all the well-documented benefits of this better election system. It's a proven voting method used in 50+ other cities and two entire states. In addition to the cost savings, IRV actually enfranchises voters by letting more voters choose the winner in March versus abysmally low turnout (and unrepresentative) runoff elections.
Melanie Cohen Dist 2
Teri Neustaedter
Location:
Submitted At: 2:46pm 08-06-24
The League of Women Voters enthusiastically supported Redondo Beach’s local ballot measure adopting Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) in March of 2023. The measure overwhelmingly passed with 77% of the vote - that’s amazing! While there are various methods of IRV, LWV understood that Ranked Choice Voting would be the one used as it is already in place and certified for RB voting systems. We are also aware that Redondo Beach is in the process of writing “implementation law” that will be used for your March 2025 election, as well as getting materials prepared for voter education.
While more IRV methods may be implemented and added in the future, LWV urges Redondo Beach to create an IRV charter amendment that is broad as it continues the implementation of RCV for its 2025 election. Any delay in implementation would truly be a disservice to your community who so adamantly embraced and voted for this measure in 2023.
Ranked Choice Voting remains a trusted, proven voting method that has been used in major US elections for more than a century. As of the 2022 elections, RCV has been adopted by 62 jurisdictions. And in 2023, RCV continued to gain attention as the fastest-growing nonpartisan election reform in the nation.
By moving forward with IRV/RCV, you are setting the high bar for other jurisdictions and keeping a super majority of your voting constituents happy. Please do not delay - stay the course! Teri Neustaedter. President, League of Women Voters of the Beach Cities Tom Charron
Location:
Submitted At: 2:15pm 08-06-24
Councilmembers, last year, the voters of Redondo Beach overwhelmingly approved moving from expensive and low-turnout runoff elections to Instant Runoff Voting (aka IRV or RCV). Please respect the voters' choice and instruct staff to get IRV implemented rather than waste time and money going back to voters to change things last minute. It's a proven voting method used in dozens of other cities and two entire states. In addition to the cost savings, IRV actually enfranchises voters by letting more voters choose the winner in March versus the city’s former low-turnout (and unrepresentative) runoff elections.
Deborah Verla
Location:
Submitted At: 2:06pm 08-06-24
To councilmembers: I am a Redondo Beach voter and voted to institute RCV. It won by an overwhelming majority.
Please respect our vote and do not remove it now, it will save the city money and provide better campaigns and elections. It's been proven effective in more than 50 other cities. Please move forward and put it into place for the next election. Vote NO on any attempt to repeal or delay RCV.