ORDINANCE NO. 3295-25
ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 2-9.602, 2-9.603 and REPEALING ARTICLE 8, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION PAGE 1
ORDINANCE NO. 3295-25
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 2,
CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE 6, SECTIONS 2-9.602 AND 2-9.603
PERTAINING TO THE REDONDO BEACH YOUTH
COMMISSION AND REPEALING IN ITS ENTIRETY TITLE
2, CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE 8 PERTAINING TO THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMISSION
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the importance of engaging youth in civic affairs and values the unique perspectives that student representatives bring to local government; and,
WHEREAS, allowing students to serve multiple terms without restriction, provided they remain enrolled and in good standing, ensures that experienced and committed students can continue to serve their community until graduation; and, WHEREAS, clarifying and formalizing the student selection process, including eligibility criteria, application requirements, and a transparent review procedure, will enhance fairness, accessibility, and community trust in the appointment process; and, WHEREAS, in order to elevate student leadership and streamline adult involvement, the committee will include a single non-voting liaison from the School Board, who will serve in an advisory capacity and assist with the student selection process as needed; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed changes to the Youth Commission reflect the City’s ongoing commitment to inclusive governance and the meaningful involvement of young people in shaping public policy; and,
WHEREAS, the City established the Public Safety Commission around 30 years ago with the intent to provide a forum for resident suggestions for ensuring responsive and efficient public safety services, to review public safety legislation, and when appropriate and directed by the City Council, collaborate on, promote, and support community policing programs; and,
WHEREAS, the nature of public safety work has changed significantly over the past three decades, with increasing complexity in law enforcement and fire service operations, technology, legislative mandates, and required legal standards; and, WHEREAS, modern public safety agencies must navigate a wide range of sensitive and legally protected matters, including personnel issues, tactical protocols, and ongoing investigations, which are subject to strict confidentiality under state and federal law; and,
ORDINANCE NO. 3295-25
ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 2-9.602, 2-9.603 and REPEALING ARTICLE 8, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION PAGE 2
WHEREAS, both the Police Chief and Fire Chief have expressed concerns that substantive discussions of operational issues in a public forum could inadvertently expose the City to legal risk or violate statutory protections related to privacy, labor law, and public records; and,
WHEREAS, the Police and Fire Departments have implemented a number of proactive community engagement programs that provide a variety of opportunities for regular public input; and,
WHEREAS, these community engagement programs have become standard operating procedure for the City’s Public Safety Departments and provide real-time and immediate feedback from residents that is much more effective in maintaining efficient and responsive safety services than a monthly public meeting affords; and, WHEREAS, the City remains committed to transparency, accountability, and community trust in public safety services, and will continue to seek new and innovative ways to interact with the public; and,
WHEREAS, there is significant overlap in the matters typically reviewed by the Public Safety Commission and other standing City Commissions; and, WHEREAS, at the July 1, 2025, Council Meeting, the Redondo Beach City Council considered the above information and whether to amend certain sections of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code related to the Redondo Beach Youth Commission and whether to eliminate the Public Safety Commission; and
WHEREAS, after the City Council discussed the matter, a motion was made to amend certain sections of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code related to the Redondo Beach Youth Commission and to eliminate the Public Safety Commission.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT OF CODE. Title 2, Chapter 9, Article 6, Section 2-9.602 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
Ҥ 2-9.602 Duties and purpose.
The purpose of the Youth Commission is to expose Redondo students to city government processes and proceedings and to represent youth perspectives in city policies and projects. Duties are as follows:
(a) Report to the City Council semi-annually on youth needs and priorities related to city policies and projects;
ORDINANCE NO. 3295-25
ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 2-9.602, 2-9.603 and REPEALING ARTICLE 8, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION PAGE 3
(b) Remain informed on the programs providing youth services to Redondo Beach youth (annual review);
(c) Research, formulate, suggest proposed policies, programs and services designed to meet the needs of Redondo Beach youth;
(d) Review and evaluate requests from the staff liaison, City Manager, or City Council pertaining to youth-related policies/services;
(e) Maintain liaison with the youth organizations in other cities, and/or youth-related agencies, and
(f) Represent the Youth Commission when requested to do so.” SECTION 2. AMENDMENT OF CODE. Title 2, Chapter 9, Article 6, Section 2-9.603 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
Ҥ 2-9.603 Membership.
(a) School Board Representative. The Redondo Beach Unified School District Board of Education shall recommend one member to represent the school board for selection and appointment by the Mayor subject to confirmation by the City Council. If the Mayor and/or the City Council fails to appoint any Redondo Beach Unified School District Board of Education's recommended representative or in the event the office of the recommended representative becomes vacant for any reason, the Redondo Beach Unified School District Board of Education shall recommend another representative for selection and appointment by the Mayor and City Council. The role of this adult member shall be to support recruiting and selection of Youth Commission nominees and to provide advise related to the Youth Commission when required by the City Council, the City Staff Liaison, and/or the Youth Commission. This advisor is not required to attend each meeting. (b) Youth Members. The Youth Commission shall be composed of 15 youth members.
Each youth member shall be over the age of 12 years and under the age of 20 years; residing with his or her parents(s) or guardian(s) within the City; or be a registered attendee of Redondo Unified School District, home-schooled in Redondo Beach, or attending a private school in Redondo Beach. . The youth members shall be entitled to participate in the deliberations of the Commission, and shall be entitled to vote. The term of each youth member shall be two years, and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. Each youth member may serve unlimited terms. A Youth Commissioner term shall terminate when the Commissioner graduates from High School or fails to meet other eligibility requirements.
(c) Selection and Appointment. The City Staff Liaison shall work with the School Board Representative and City Council School Subcommittee to advertise and distribute applications for the Youth Commission each year and as needed to fill vacancies. The City Staff Liaison, School Board Representative, and City Council School Subcommittee ORDINANCE NO. 3295-25
ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 2-9.602, 2-9.603 and REPEALING ARTICLE 8, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION PAGE 4
will then, review applications, interview applicants, and select nominees to the Youth Commission. To the extent practical, the nominees combined with existing Youth Commissioners shall be evenly spread with five Commissioners in grades 7 and 8, five in Grades 9 and 10, and 5 in grades 11 and 12. The Staff Liaison shall then provide the list of nominees to the Mayor for final appointment and approval by the City Council.” SECTION 3. AMENDMENT OF CODE. Title 2, Chapter 9, Article 8 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION is hereby REPEALED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
SECTION 4. Any provisions of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code, or appendices thereto, or any other ordinances of the City inconsistent herewith, to the extent of such inconsistencies and no further, are hereby repealed.
SECTION 5. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. This ordinance shall be published by one insertion in the official newspaper of said city, and same shall go into effect and be in full force and operation from and after thirty (30) days after its final passage and adoption.
ORDINANCE NO. 3295-25
ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 2-9.602, 2-9.603 and REPEALING ARTICLE 8, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION PAGE 5
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 5
th day of August, 2025.
________________________
James A. Light, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:
________________________________ ________________________________ Joy A. Ford, City Attorney Eleanor Manzano, CMC, City Clerk ORDINANCE NO. 3295-25
ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 2-9.602, 2-9.603 and REPEALING ARTICLE 8, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION PAGE 6
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH )
I, Eleanor Manzano, City Clerk of the City of Redondo Beach, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 3295-25 was duly introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 15 th day of
July, 2025, and was duly approved and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting of said City Council held on the 5
th day of August, 2025, by
the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Eleanor Manzano, CMC
City Clerk