CCNI 7/21/26
To: City Council Redondo Beach
From: Larry Genova
Resident Redondo Beach 38 Years
My house backs up to my neighbor on Graham Ave who has
grown massive bamboo for years. The bamboo constantly hangs over my garage. I have endured rubbish that blows and spreads throughout my yard which is nearly impossible to remove from my plants and yard. I have never experienced rats in my garage until the invasion of the bamboo. My neighbor is aware but does not care about the damage to my property caused by his
bamboo.
Also, there is the threat of fire danger. During certain times of the year when the bamboo is dry and the winds are blowing a simple spark could ignite and destroy not only my property but other properties in the neighborhood. It has happened before (Altadena, Malibu & surrounding cities).
Over the years I have tried to reason and compromise with him suggesting that he trim it to a reasonable level with no success. As you can see from the photos that I have provided that he has virtually built a fort around his property.
I believe in an individual's right to privacy and reasonable heights but feel this is pushing the limits. I understand that the ordinance now in place is not being enforced and under consideration to extend the heights. (I don't want to escalate this conflict) but to give the legal right to grow huge bamboo in such a small area to uncontrolled heights I believe to be unfair, unreasonable, dangerous and unhealthy.
If there is a height code I feel that it should be enforced. If the code is changed to raise the height please be fair and not allow hedges including bamboo to reach these enormous heights that encroach and spread trash on another person's property. I am hoping for a comprehensive legal enforceable Hedge Height Code to solve this problem. Please advise me when you have a Code that is actually enforceable.
When meeting for your proposed rule change regarding hedge heights please take into considerations these submitted photos.
Larry Genova
Redondo Beach, CA
Email:
Phone:
has ta-
efore and after at a residence on Clark Avenue in north Redondo Beach. The owner complied with a notice from the city to trim the hedges. hotos courtesy Google Maps and submitted
Hedge heights spur threats of legal action
by Garth Meyer front hedge was 42 inches, it would line of sight, for safety. ate this spring, homeowners in effectively eliminate all privacy for the It's more relevant for properties at to receive notices from the city, North Redondo Beach started front-unit tenants, whose windows and the corners, Tran said, pointing out outdoor living space face the sidewalk. that Redondo Beach today is different saying that they are in violation of a After Tran and his wife received their from when the codes were written. code which bans side hedges over six letter, he contacted District Four City *It's important to have some privacy feet and front-setback hedges over 42 Councilman Zein Obagi, Jr., and Tran when things are so dense," he said. inches. and others affected began to appear at City Councilman Scott Behrendt, The letters were the result of dozens city council meetings to speak about an attorney, said at the June 9 council of complaints purported to be from one the issue. meeting that he is working on revisions person. City Manager Mike Witzansky to the code.
Some of these were on Huntington responded June 9 saying that there will The current rules also limit rear Lane, where Hai Tran has lived in a be no additional enforcement of the hedges to six feet. duplex with his wife since 2020. Res. hedge height limits. *Today, with two-on-a-lots, three- idents in the neighborhood say they •That's the direction I've given to the on-a-lots (there are fewer backyards)." have maintained their hedges at the (police department), given the circum- Tran said. same height for decades without com- stances, ' Witzansky said He lives in the back unit of his plaint. *Our code for these types of things is duplex, and rents out the front.
Those who complied with the letters stale, he continued, referring to laws "The city has been listening," Tran lave seen mature hedges reduced to that go back to the 1960s. said. tumps," Tran said. *We need to make changes to the
For his own property, which The matter is expected to go before dips code." the city council as an agenda item later
clow the level of the sidewalk, if the The codes' intention was to address this summer. ER View of bamboo behind my garage facing
South.
View of bamboo located behind my
garage.
Dried bamboo croppings between my garage
and wall. 5
GRAHAM AVE.
Frontal view of bamboo located in the
front corner, side and rear on the south side
75 Of the house.
A bamboo spite fence generally refers to a tall, maliciously erected barrier built out of' spite to annoy a neighbor. In Redondo Beach, you must ensure any privacy screen, rolled fence, or planted bamboo hedge adheres to city ordinances, which restrict side and rear fences to 6 feet and front yard fences to 42 inches.
Redondo Beach & California Fencing Rules
• Height Restrictions: In Redondo Beach, side and rear yard fences are generally capped at 6 feet. Front yard fences and hedges are strictly restricted to 42 inches (or 36 inches on some corner lots) for visibility and safety. [1, 2]
• The "Spite Fence" Law: Under California Civil Code Section 841.4, any fence (or row of trees) that unnecessarily exceeds 10 feet in height and is built maliciously to annoy a neighbor is considered a private nuisance.
Planting bamboo is often regulated or made illegal by
local municipalities and state governments because it is highly invasive and destructive. "Running" bamboo spreads rapidly via aggressive underground rhizomes. It can easily breach property lines, destroy nearby structures, damage foundations, and ruin natural ecosystems Many homeowners plant bamboo to create a fast-growing privacy screen around their home. Ted Jordan Meredith, author of Bamboo for Gardens, notes that some bamboo species grow more than three feet per day. Bamboo can spread as quickly as it grows, and it doesn't respect fences or
property lines.
Bamboo attracts rats. Dense bamboo thickets create an ideal, undisturbed habitat, while the tender shoots and roots provide a readily available food source.
Furthermore, a bamboo grove planted too close to a house acts as a natural bridge, allowing rodents easy access to roofs and siding.
Why Bamboo Attracts Rats
• Ultimate Shelter: The dense, arching growth and thick layer of fallen leaves (leaf litter) provide a dark, warm, and highly protected space for rats to nest safely from predators.
• Abundant Food: Rats rely on the young shoots and roots as a food source. • Easy Access: Overhanging branches allow rats to bypass traditional ground barriers and find entry points into attics and crawl spaces.
CC NI 7/21|26
POLICE
Redondo Beach Police Department
401 DIAMOND ST | REDONDO BEACH, CA 90277 | P: 310.379.5411 EVENT #260422-156
POLICE EVENT INFORMATION
CLEARED
DATE / TIME INITIATED DATE / TIME RECEIVED DATE / TIME TRANSMITTED FIRST DATE / TIME DISPATCHED
FIRST DATE / TIME ARRIVED
04/22/2026 15:53:25 04/22/2026 16:00:54 04/22/2026 16:00:54 04/22/2026 16:48:19 04/22/2026 16:52:31
FIRST DATE / TIME EN ROUTE LAST DATE / TIME DISPATCHED
LAST DATE / TIME ARRIVED
04/22/2026 16:48:19 COPY
CALLTAKER / ID# DISPATCHER / IDE
C. ARANDA #7253 Neither it nor the information
C. ARANDA #7253
contained hereon is to be furnished
PRIMARY UNIT DISPATCHED BACKUP UNIT(S) DISPATCHED
to any other person or agency except
6L22 las authorized by law.
Redondo Beach Police Dept
LOCATION
TUROTOZO CRE-DONIONHOTES 2604225150
LOCATION NOTES
POLICE D-AREA POLICE AGENCY
POLICE DISTRICT / SECTOR / GRID
RBPD Redondo Beach Police Department 3 / 3-41
POLICE RADIO MERGED RADIO CHANNELS Certain information has been redacted from the responsive records pursuant to the California Public
Records Act, Including Government Code section
CALL FOR SERVICE ADDITIONAL CALLS FOR SERVICE
7922.000 (public interest balancing test) and,
HARASS - HARASS/STALK Rpt (646.9-PC) where applicable, Government Code section 7927.700 RISK PRIORITY (personal privacy).
TYPE ORIGIN
P3 Phone
# DISPATCH TRU
NARRATIVE
"*PD LOBBY** PER RP...ADV ONGOING ISSUES W/ SUBJ TODAY HE WAS 2 BLKS AWAY FROM RP'S RES TAKING PHOTOS OF ANOTHER RESIDENT. WORDS WERE EXCHANGED BTWN THE TWO.....NEIGHBOR STATES RP IS OUT OF CODE. - RP WAS VERY
EMOTIONAL AND SHAKEN UP.
REPORTING PARTIES
HP-1 FIRST NAME MI LAST NAME
PHONE/EXT.
JO DRESSNER
INVOLVEMENT TYPE DATE OF BIRTH
DRIVER LICENSE * DRIVER LICENSE STATE
HEIGHT WEIGHT RACE
SEX EYE COLOR HAIR COLOR
LOCATION
APT/UNIT
NOTES
DATE / TIME ADDED
04/22/2026 16:00:54
DISPOSITIONS
D-1 PRIMARY DISPOSITION ADDITIONAL DISPOSITIONS)
DATE / TIME
01 - ADVISE / ASSIST
04/22/2026 17:07:23
NOTES
USER/ IDE
C. ARANDA #7253
RELATED EVENTS
edondo Beach Police Department 401 DIAMOND ST | REDONDO BEACH, CA 90277 | P: 310.379.5411 *43 CAD Form +2.0 generated by 1 FLORES 85428 On MV 20. 2028 14-48 Pg 1 of 2 •CI NI 7/2126
EVENT# 260422-156 Redondo Beach Police Department Pg 2 of 2 responsive records pursuant to the California Public
Records Act, including Government Code section COPY
7922.000 (public interest balancing test) and, This copy is for the exclusive use of:
ASSISTING AGENCIES where applicable, Government Code section 7927.700 JOANN ELIZABETH DRESNER personar prvacya Neither it nor the information
RESPONDING UNIT INFO contained hereon is to be furnished le-any-ether-pereen-sr-egony-экор!
as authorized by law.
6L22 I CAMPBELL #1419 Redondo Beach Police Dept
7/20/2026 CRB-DOMAINinflores 260422-156
EVENT LOG
C. ARANDA #7253 INITIAL NARRATIVE: **PD LOBBY** PER RP...ADV ONGOING ISSUES W/ 16:00:54 SUBJ TODAY HE WAS 2 BLKS AWAY FROM RP'S RES TAKING PHOTOS OF ANOTHER RESIDENT. WORDS WERE EXCHANGED BTWN THE TWO....NEIGHBOR STATES RP IS OUT OF CODE.
• RP WAS VERY EMOTIONAL AND SHAKEN
UP.
C. ARANDA #7253 added Reporting Party JO DRESSNER 16:00:54 FIRST NAME: JO LAST NAME: DRESSNER
LOC:
PHONE NUMBER:
C. ARANDA #7253 created Event #260422-156 16:00:54
AGENCY TYPE: Police CALL FOR SERVICE: HARASS - HARASS/STALK Rpt (646.9-PC) EVENT INITIATED DATE: 04/22/26 15:53 EVENT ORIGIN: Phone LOC: CLARK LN PATROL AREA: 3 POLICE AGENCY: Redondo Beach Police Department POLICE D-AREA: RBPD PRIORITY: PRI 3 RECEIVED DATE: 04/22/26 16:00 REPORTING DISTRICT: 3-41 TRANSMITTED DATE: 04/22/26 16:00 J. SESTICH #7263: UNA 16:16:57
C. ARANDA #7253 assigned 6L22 as primary 16:48:19
6L22 set status to A 16:52:31
C. ARANDA #7253 cleared event 17:07:24
PRIMARY DISPOSITION: 01 PRIMARY UNIT: 6L22
Redondo Beach Police Department 401 DIAMOND ST | REDONDO BEACH. CA 90277 | P: 310.379.5411 Pg 2 of 2 Mark43 CAD Form v2.0 generaled by N. FLORES #5426 on Jul 20. 2026 14.48.
CCNI 7/21126
April 22, 2026 1:30pm (approximately)
Redondo Beach