City Council on 2025-04-15 6:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER Meeting Time: 04-15-25 18:00
eComments Report
Meetings Meeting
Time
Agenda
Items
Comments Support Oppose Neutral
City Council on 2025-04-15 6:00 PM -
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
04-15-25
18:00
79 23 16 6 0
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City Council on 2025-04-15 6:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER 04-15-25 18:00
Agenda Name Comments Support Oppose Neutral
H.16. 25-0522 APPROVE AN AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES
WITH ANASTASIA PAPADAKIS LAW AND ADD THE LAW FIRM OF
ANASTASIA PAPADAKIS LAW TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S APPROVED
LAW FIRM LIST
1 0 1 0
H.17. 25-0475 AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LETTER OF
OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 79, WHICH, IF APPROVED BY THE
STATE, WOULD OVERRIDE LOCAL ZONING AND STRAIN CITY
RESOURCES BY ALLOWING TRANSIT AGENCIES TO DEVELOP
HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS THAT
DO NOT CONFORM TO LOCAL ZONING AND PLANNING
REGULATIONS
5 0 4 0
L.1. 25-0513 PUBLIC HEARING FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLIC
REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT (CDBG) 2025-2030 CONSOLIDATED PLAN
PROCEDURES:
1. Open the public hearing and take testimony regarding the introduction of the proposed CDBG 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan; and
2. Close the public hearing regarding introduction of the Consolidated Plan; and
3. Direct staff to schedule a Public Hearing for consideration of adoption of the Consolidated Plan for May 6, 2025
1 1 0 0
N.1. 25-0521 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING
MODIFICATIONS TO THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE
PERTAINING TO THE PERMITTING AND OPERATION OF
COMMERCIAL SMOKE SHOPS
DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE AN URGENCY ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM ON THE APPROVAL OF NEW
COMMERCIAL SMOKE SHOPS IN THE CITY AND TO SCHEDULE A
PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 6, 2025 TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF
THE URGENCY ORDINANCE
14 13 1 0
N.2. 25-0321 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A
FOLLOW UP REPORT ON E-BIKE USE IN THE CITY OF REDONDO
BEACH
2 2 0 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.16. 25-0522 APPROVE AN AGREEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES WITH ANASTASIA PAPADAKIS
LAW AND ADD THE LAW FIRM OF ANASTASIA PAPADAKIS LAW TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S APPROVED LAW FIRM LIST Overall Sentiment
Jessica Gonzales
Location:
Submitted At: 5:53pm 04-15-25
I am opposed to the legal services agreement between the City of Redondo Beach and of Anastasia Papadakis Robles.
Robles and one of her relatives each donated $250 to the campaign of City Attorney Joy Ford for a total of $500.
This new services agreement being submitted for council approval therefore has the appearance of campaign payback written all over it. The awarding of legal services agreements after campaign donations were made was a regular practice when Mike Webb was attorney. With his departure this should cease.
To avoid the impression of Quid pro quo please vote against this agreement. I am sure there are many other law firms who can provide legal services.
These are the dates of the donations as indicated in the campaign financial reports.
Anastasia Papadakis Robles 11/6/2024 - $250
Tom Papadakis 11/12/2024 - $250
Agenda Item: eComments for H.17. 25-0475 AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 79, WHICH, IF APPROVED BY THE STATE, WOULD OVERRIDE LOCAL ZONING AND STRAIN CITY RESOURCES BY ALLOWING
TRANSIT AGENCIES TO DEVELOP HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO
LOCAL ZONING AND PLANNING REGULATIONS
Overall Sentiment
Brianna Egan
Location:
Submitted At: 6:49pm 04-15-25
SB 79 is a transit-oriented development bill which would streamline production of housing within a half-mile of transit. This applies only to passenger rail, light rail, and BRT stops. So in Redondo it would apply only to the light rail station in North Redondo (Marine), and in the future to the RBTC/Galleria/K Line station with the planned extension. These are both areas already identified by the city as Housing Element opportunity sites for multifamily housing. Transit-oriented development is something the city supports, and SB 79 will reduce barriers to getting such projects approved and built. Streamlining brings benefits to residents by lowering the overall cost to build housing projects (less uncertainty, fees, time, parking requirements) and thus lowering rents on new units. We see this in numerous places throughout the county that have built transit-oriented housing, including in Koreatown, where new transit-oriented apartments have stabilized and lowered rents.
As demonstrated in the city’s CDBG report tonight (Item L.1), the need for housing in the city is significant. The report finds that of the 435 households receiving Section 8 vouchers, 76% are headed by elderly individuals. It also finds a majority of low-income renters are cost-burdened (spend >30% of income on rent). 14% of all households in the city are severely cost-burdened (spend >50% of income on housing costs). Median home sale price has increased by 12% to $1.6 million since last year. The report states the city’s goals are to increase the supply of affordable housing and fair housing. TOD and SB 79 will help the city achieve this. Many older and lowincome residents prefer to live near transit, in addition to younger car-lite folks, and we should embrace opportunities to build more housing near transit.
Furthermore, the bill will open up housing opportunity in El Segundo along their light rail stations, where notably the city of El Segundo has not previously allowed for housing. I’ve heard Mayor Light advocate for housing east of PCH in El Segundo to alleviate housing burden on cities like Redondo, so I hope he would support or at least remain neutral on this bill for that purpose.
Christine Ng
Location:
Submitted At: 5:41pm 04-15-25
I am a Travel Buddy for older adults who cannot drive or prefer not to drive. We travel as a group on public transportation to museums, art shows, restaurants, trade colleges, medical facilities, and other destinations. We make new friends and get to see different venues. Using public transportation lessen the stress of traffic for our seniors and reduce the number of cars on the streets. It's win-win.
Currently, our seniors still need to drive to the train station or have someone pick them up from their house to begin our excursions. It would be easier for everyone if more people can either walk or use their motorized wheelchair to get to the train station. This is only possible if there are more housing close to the stations.
Azeen Khanmalek
Location:
Submitted At: 5:30pm 04-15-25
Members of the Redondo Beach City Council,
Abundant Housing LA would like to express our strong opposition to item H.17, a letter to oppose SB 79 (Wiener).
SB 79 will allow much-needed housing development near transit stops. By doing so, SB 79 will help address the state’s housing shortage while promoting sustainable development, reducing traffic congestion, and supporting public transit systems.
Abundant Housing LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for more housing at all levels of affordability throughout LA County. Our vision is a Los Angeles where every resident can afford a home, in the neighborhood of their choice, without the need to rely on a car. Our message is simple: for too long cities across LA County have made it illegal to build the housing we need through apartment bans and low-density zoning restrictions.
These low-density zoning restrictions have not only directly contributed to our housing crisis, but have also led to urban sprawl which has in turn led to traffic congestion, air pollution, and carbon emissions which have degraded our climate. If we hope to bring down the cost of housing, and get people out of their cars in order to reduce traffic and mitigate climate change, we must build more housing near transit.
Further, LA Metro is in the process of a major expansion of rail transit . As residents of LA County, we are all investing in this expansion through our taxes, and it is imperative that we ensure the long term success of this investment. Transit systems rely on reliable ridership in order to succeed, and a significant source of the ridership comes from the residents of transit-adjacent buildings.
SB 79 will both respond to our housing crisis by facilitating more housing development, and ensure the long term success of our transit investments by allowing transit riders to live near stations. We hope that you will not only oppose this resolution, but that you will support SB 79 as a critical tool to build the housing we desperately need near the transit infrastructure that we are all investing in.
Azeen Khanmalek
Executive Director
Abundant Housing LA
Liam Walsh
Location:
Submitted At: 4:29pm 04-15-25
I oppose this letter of opposition (H.17) and would like to see the City take supportive or at least neutral stance regarding SB 79. In order to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, we should be building more housing near transit stops.
Of all the places in the city to add more housing, near transit stops would result in some of the least congestion as residents would have access to frequent transit and would thus not need to drive everywhere. I don't see how this can be opposed on the basis of creating more congestion. We should support transit-oriented development throughout the South Bay, which is severely lacking at most C/K line stations.
Grace Peng
Location:
Submitted At: 2:52pm 04-15-25
I am writing in opposition to item H.17 on the consent calendar for RBCC on April 15.
I do not think it is appropriate or necessary for the mayor to write a letter in opposition to SB79.
Our housing element, which the mayor co-developed as leader of GPAC, already allows high density housing next to the train stations. In fact, he put most of our city's low income housing right next to the transit center.
Furthermore, this bill only applies to land owned by transit agencies.
Metro does not own land by the existing Redondo Beach station on Marine.
They lease the land for the parking lot from SCE. Therefore, the only housing that can be developed there will be consistent with his own Tech Area Housing Overlay.
Agenda Item: eComments for L.1. 25-0513 PUBLIC HEARING FOR INTRODUCTION AND PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) 2025-2030 CONSOLIDATED PLAN PROCEDURES:
1. Open the public hearing and take testimony regarding the introduction of the proposed CDBG 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan; and
2. Close the public hearing regarding introduction of the Consolidated Plan; and
3. Direct staff to schedule a Public Hearing for consideration of adoption of the Consolidated Plan for May 6, 2025 Overall Sentiment
Brianna Egan
Location:
Submitted At: 7:18pm 04-15-25
I appreciate the data from this report as it allows us to better understand the state of housing needs in the city.
The report finds that of the 435 households receiving Section 8 vouchers, 76% are headed by elderly individuals.
It also finds a majority of low-income renters are cost-burdened (spend >30% of income on rent). And 14% of households in the city are severely cost-burdened (spend >50% of income on housing costs). Median home sale price has increased by 12% to $1.6 million since last year. These statistics support a clear need for housing of all types in the city -- senior housing, affordable housing, and market-rate housing.
I also support the goals identified in this plan, including: Support Development of Decent and Affordable Housing, Provide Services for the Vulnerable Population, Support New Affordable Housing, Provide Housing and Supportive Services for People Experiencing Homelessness, Support Fair Housing Activities. I commend the city for its progress on providing supportive housing and services for homeless individuals. And I hope to see the city council and Planning Commission support new housing projects that come before it, including transit-oriented and affordable projects. The project approved in January on the corner of PCH and Vincent is a good example of infill housing that provides a variety of housing types (affordable and market-rate) to advance the city's goals. I would like to note consistent with pg 91, that the city explores preserving affordable housing at Seasons and Seaside Villa to preserve affordable units for seniors.
Agenda Item: eComments for N.1. 25-0521 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING MODIFICATIONS TO THE
REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO THE PERMITTING AND OPERATION OF COMMERCIAL SMOKE SHOPS
DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE AN URGENCY ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM ON THE APPROVAL OF NEW COMMERCIAL SMOKE SHOPS IN THE CITY AND TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 6, 2025 TO CONSIDER
ADOPTION OF THE URGENCY ORDINANCE
Overall Sentiment
Karen Reed
Location:
Submitted At: 8:49pm 04-15-25
Why has Redondo Beach become the one beach city saturated with smoke and vape shops? Why are these the businesses we are focused on and not bringing in retail and dining to revamp our city? Businesses that the actual residents of the City are excited about. Please consider the moratorium and focus on attracting other types of businesses which will elevate the City and bring in real sustained revenue. The residents can’t be the only ones expected to fund the improvements in our City via taxes.
Maricela Guillermo
Location:
Submitted At: 7:24pm 04-15-25
Thank you for finally addressing this important public health and safety issue. Even a couple of dispensaries, combined with an overabundance of smoke shops, can negatively impact property values and community health.
Residents are paying a lot in property taxes with the expectation of maintaining safe, high-quality neighborhoods — not absorbing the impacts of businesses that neighboring cities have made difficult to permit, too expensive to operate, or have outright banned. The “pause and plan” strategy is a smart, proactive approach that halts new activity while the city develops a responsible and effective way to manage it. A thoughtful ordinance will help prevent the overconcentration of smoke shops anywhere in Redondo Beach, avoiding increased pressure on police resources and ultimately protecting both our neighborhoods and our taxpayers.
Karine Nelson
Location:
Submitted At: 5:57pm 04-15-25
I support and applaud our City Council's efforts to limit and decrease the smoke shops in our city, as well as regulate the existing smoke shops.
Melissa Dechandt
Location:
Submitted At: 4:12pm 04-15-25
I applaud the city’s effort to not only limit the number of new smoke shops in Redondo Beach but also their efforts to regulate existing and new smoke shops. These actions have the potential to greatly impact youth health and safety in a positive way.
I suggest the following additions to this draft ordinance; specifically, include Non-Tobacco Nicotine Products (NTN) in this ordinance. In 2022, Congress gave the FDA the authority to regulate these products in the same manner as tobacco-derived products and synthetic and non-tobacco-derived nicotine products exist due to regulatory loopholes exploited by tobacco companies. The manufacturers of these products use marketing specifically targeted to youth, suggesting that these products are safe, healthy, nonaddictive and do not contain nicotine, leading to a rapid, ongoing increase in youth use and addiction. An estimated 42% of youth cannot correctly identify the source of nicotine, interpret ‘tobacco-free nicotine” or understand nicotine concentration language. These are the products currently sold in legal smoke shops and the only way to protect our youth from these products is to remove them from the shelves, city by city.
Finally, I urge staff and city council to support language that makes this ordinance specific to ALL psychoactive hemp products. The peer-review literature supports that even products deemed “non psychoactive” upon laboratory testing, include intoxicating hemp.
I applaud efforts to limit additional smoke shops and to robustly enforce existing state laws.
J. Clark
Location:
Submitted At: 2:58pm 04-15-25
More regulation of vape and tobacco style shops is greatly needed. The giant signage, neon, and "hang out' lounge feel definitely entices kids to try items being sold there. This stuff is so caustic (just being around it too) and we really have no idea how it will affect people after long use. I don't get it. I work in advertising and see young, beautiful models vaping all the time- It causes wrinkles (!!) - that's your livelihood! I think if people know what it all did to their vanity they would be less likely to try it.
Marie Puterbaugh
Location:
Submitted At: 2:22pm 04-15-25
As a resident in North Redondo, I am disappointed with the number of vape shops on Artesia. To be clear, they are allowed to exist. However, my understanding is that they are given "retail" licenses which I think is less strict.
My understanding is there is no significant regulation, or consequences should they sell products to minors. My father, who was a boxer and a NYPD, started smoking when he was young and was addicted to three packs of cigarettes a day which was horrific for the household. It is time to start seriously regulating these commercial smoke shops and ensure if they are caught not adhering to the rules, they are closed down. Our community deserves that, and it is time to take this seriously. Stop allowing smoke shops to be "retail" and issue significant consequences when they are caught allowing our kids to purchase products.
Cee-Cee Murphy
Location:
Submitted At: 2:19pm 04-15-25
I respectfully support anything and everything the city can do to regulate and limit smoke shops and any other establishment that provides highly addictive products to our citizenry, especially our most vulnerable. We need more family-friendly establishments and less supporters of “bad behaviors”.
Dianna Aneyci
Location:
Submitted At: 10:53am 04-15-25
I am in support of the city council regulating existing smoke shops and for the restriction for more. Redondo Beach currently has an over proportioned number of smoke shops, and further regulation on their presence is needed to maintain the quality of our city. Restricting the number of these businesses will help prevent our community from being surrounded by establishments that are not “family friendly”. I think it’s safe to say that I can speak on behalf of most of my neighbors. We’d prefer our children not be exposed to these smoke shops and would appreciate the city’s support to attract more businesses that we can all use and that align with our values. Thank you for your efforts in addressing this issue in our community and allowing us to share our opinions.
Erika Snow Robinson
Location:
Submitted At: 10:53am 04-15-25
You have no idea how rampant vaping is among our youth (especially those underage) until you've seen it with your own eyes as a parent, or someone in the school system, or a person in the health/wellness community. I urge you to limit the number of these businesses to help prevent our community from becoming saturated with these establishments that really don't serve any great purpose. We already have too many, in my opinion.
Fernando Garcia
Location:
Submitted At: 9:30am 04-15-25
We don't want or need more smoke shops. We want businesses that match the needs of our residents.
Leadership should be focused on making Redondo Beach more amenable to businesses that cater to the wants and needs of the families that live here.
Incidentally, the city council seems to live in perpetual fear of our pier section emulating Venice and Santa Monica. It's quite telling that it's entirely willing to let Artesia Boulevard become the dumping ground for smoke shops and massage parlors. North Redondo residents are no different from those in South Redondo—we also want safe, family-friendly places to spend time and money. The entire city would benefit if the council saw North Redondo as an opportunity to build long-term financial stability.
Brenda Garcia
Location:
Submitted At: 9:18am 04-15-25
I am in support of the city council adopting the city ordinance drafted by staff advising that we place a moratorium on new smoke shops and recommending clearer regulations on current establishments. Redondo Beach has plenty of smoke shops throughout the city and more must be done to enforce regulatory accountability. I will add, please focus on diversifying the businesses on Artesia so it’s not heavy on smoke shops and massage parlors.
Thank you for your attention on this matter.
Theresa Masse
Location:
Submitted At: 7:48am 04-15-25
As a local N. Redondo business owner with a commercial lease and a mom of two kids in N. Redondo schools I'm disgusted at what N. Redondo is turning into. My business was recently pushed out of our space by the landlord after 13 years. I've been touring commercial vacancies in Redondo for the past 2 weeks. I've been trying to focus on staying in N. Redondo, however I did tour a space on PCH in S. Redondo. What I was shocked to hear come directly out of the broker's mouth on that tour, was that he sends all of the "smoke shops" to N.
Redondo. In my experience, the first thing as a potential lessee that is asked by a broker prior to touring a vacancy, is "what is your business?" If they don't like or want your business, they have the ability to turn you away. I have been on both ends of the spectrum in the past 2 weeks.........luckily getting more tours than being turned away. But it's a problem. We need to stop being everyone else's dumping grounds for businesses that they don't want in their area/cities.
AMANDA RILEY
Location:
Submitted At: 8:04pm 04-14-25
Vaping has become a significant issue in our schools. As the mother of an Adams student and a Washington student, I am deeply concerned about the number of smoke shops we already have in North Redondo. Recently I was bringing sponsorship opportunities to business walking distance from my home and I was shocked to discover how many smoke and alcohol shops are in my neighborhood. Prevalence of these shops increase the likelihood students will experiment with these things. For the sake of our children, please consider stricter policy around these shops and their advertising privileges in our city.
Mariam Butler
Location:
Submitted At: 7:45pm 04-14-25
Thank you to our city leadership for addressing the important issue of smoke shops in our community.
Currently, many of these shops display paraphernalia such as bongs, CBD products, vapes, and more in their windows and entryways. This type of advertising is not only unappealing but also raises concerns about the exposure of our youth to smoking and smoke-related products. Additionally, Redondo Beach currently has an excessive number of smoke shops, and further regulation on their presence is crucial to maintain the quality of our city. Limiting the number of these businesses will help prevent our community from becoming saturated with establishments that may not align with the values we want to uphold.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and your ongoing efforts to protect the well-being of our residents.
Agenda Item: eComments for N.2. 25-0321 DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A FOLLOW UP REPORT ON EBIKE USE IN THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH Overall Sentiment
Brianna Egan
Location:
Submitted At: 7:39pm 04-15-25
Thank you to RBPD and city council for following up on e-bike use and safety in the city. I appreciate RBPD's outreach and engagement activities, including the bike rodeo events to teach safe riding to kids. Thanks to city and departmental leadership, I think we are striking the right balance between education, enforcement, and engineering.
I am grateful for the city's progress on engineering for e-bike safety, including the recent implementation of painted Class II bike lanes on Manhattan Beach Blvd, Catalina Ave, Torrance Blvd, and Knob Hill Ave which make biking along these routes much safer. I also strongly support the projects in the pipeline to build protected Class IV bike lanes on Prospect Blvd, Ripley, Grant, and Redondo Beach Blvd. I'm proud to see the city leading the way on high-quality bike infrastructure in the South Bay and I hope other cities follow suit. Biking for transportation reduces car traffic and fits well with our beach climate and lifestyle.
Finally, I encourage the city to advance additional Class IV protected bike lanes in the city for a complete network.
I hope the council can champion the proposal for a corridor study of protected bike lanes on Prospect Ave, which would connect 11 schools and 7,000 students with safer routes to school. I also encourage the city to partner with community partners like SBBC+ and South Bay Forward on bicycle education and community quick-build bike infrastructure projects. Thank you!
Alex Fineman
Location:
Submitted At: 3:24pm 04-15-25
I appreciate the council’s attention to e-bikes as a growing mode of transportation around the city. I encourage the council to focus not only on enforcement and education solutions to issues raised by e-bikes, but on engineering solutions to make e-biking safer to begin with. In particular, the council should fund the class IV lane on Palos Verdes Blvd which has already been recommended by the public works commission, and the council should adopt SBBC+’s proposal of a protected class IV lane along Prospect Blvd. to provide students and families safe bike access to schools along that corridor.