August 12, 2024
PamelaChristian
CityClerk
Cityof Richmond
450CivicCenter Plaza
Richmond, CA94804
Dear PamelaChristian,
Subject: Appeal of Encroachment Permit Application#EN23-00843Denial I’mreachingout toappeal therecent denial of our Encroachment Permit Application #EN23-00843. WesubmittedthisapplicationonOctober 24, 2023, andreceivedadenial notice onJuly31, 2024. I’dliketoaddresssomepointsthat I believeareimportant for reconsideration.
1. IncompleteApplication:
Whenwefirst submittedtheapplication, it wasflaggedfor missingthePropertyAddress, EstimatedStart Date, andthenumber of daysworkingintheRight of Way(ROW). Wepromptly uploadedthemissinginformationtoETrakit and, for thenext ninemonths, wedidn’t hear anythingfromtheCityabout further issueswithour application. If wehadbeennotifiedsooner, wewouldhaveimmediatelytakencareof anyadditional requirements. It’sdisappointingthat it tookthislongfor theCitytoprovidefeedback, especiallywhenwecouldhaveaddressed everythinginamuchshorter timeframe.
2. FireCodeCompliance:
I want toassureyouthat thereisNOcombustibleconstructionwithin10feet of our BBQ Smoker. Wetakefiresafetyveryseriouslyandhavealwaysensuredthat wecomplywithall relevant codes.
3. Municipal CodeCompliance:
Our BBQSmoker hasbeenonthesidewalksince2010without anyproblems. It hasnever been labeledascampparaphernaliaor anon-Cityauthorizedcookingfacility. Thesudden interpretationof municipal codestochallengethepresenceof thesmoker seemsinconsistent, especiallysincetheCityhasnot previouslyprovidedalist of what constitutesanon-City authorizedcookingfacility. After 12yearsof noissues, it feelsunfair tohavethisbrought up now.
4. CommunityConcern:
We’veaskedfor publicrecordstoconfirmwhether therearecomplaintsfrommultiple communitymembers, but wehaven’t receivedthemyet. Without theserecords, it’shardto understandthebasisfor theCity’sconcern. We’dappreciateproof that thecomplaintsare indeedfrommorethanonepersonandnot just fromasingleindividual. Giventhetime-sensitive natureof thisappeal, wearesubmittingthisletter beforetherecordsarereleased.
5. PublicRight of WayManagement:
Our BBQSmoker hasbeeninthesamespot for 12years, andwe’vealwaysusedproper signage, barricades, andstorage. Therehaven’t beenanyincidentsor accidentsrelatedtothe smoker whileit’sbeenonthesidewalk. Thislonghistoryof safeandresponsibleuseof the publicright of wayshouldbeconsideredinour appeal.
6. PlanningDivisionComments:
TheCommercial CookingOperationsProgramof theBayAreaAir QualityManagement District's(BAAQMD) doesNOTapplytoour situation. WeareoperatingaBBQSmoker, not a charbroiler. TheguidelinesmentionedintheBAAQMDwebsitespecificallyrefer tothe registrationof charbroilers. Giventhat weutilizeaBBQSmoker, whichoperatesdifferentlyfrom acharbroiler, webelievetheremaybeadistinctionintheapplicableregulations. Furthermore, theguidelinesstatethat registrationisrequiredfor thosewhocookbetween400-800poundsof beef per weekwithacharbroiler. Weonlycookapproximately85poundsof meat per week, well belowthespecifiedthreshold.
7. BuildingDivisionComments:
Our BBQSmoker haspassedall inspectionsbyEnvironmental Health. We’verequestedrecords of theseinspections, but they’vebeenput onholdandsent tocompliance. Thedelayin accessingtheserecordsmakesit challengingtoaddresstheBuildingDivision’sconcernsfully.
I’mhopeful that theCitywill reconsider our applicationafter reviewingthesepoints. We’ve alwaysoperatedresponsiblyandinlinewiththeregulations, andwe’remorethanwillingto provideanyadditional informationneeded.
Thankyoufor your timeandattentiontothismatter.
Best regards,
NathanTrivers
Owner, Up&Under PubandGrill
2WRichmondAve,
Richmond, CA94801
[email protected]
(916) 640- 6239
W. Richmond Ave
Railroad Ave
Patio
Parklet
Planter Boxes
Smoker
Smoker
Proposed Site 1
Smoker
Dimensions: 3’10”
x 8’10”
Proposed Site 2
(1 table to be removed
from patio)
Smoker Dimensions:
3’10” x 8’10”
10ft
C c
5ft
Exhibit A
Proposed Site 1
Proposed Site 2
Patio Area To Be Removed
EXHIBITB
FirecodeCompliance-CaliforniaFireCode§308.1.4whichrestrictstheoperationofopen-flamecooking deviceswithin10feetofcombustibleconstruction.
ThereisnoOPEN-FLAMEcookinghappeningwhenthesmokerisused.Fireiscontainedwithinthefire chamberatall timeswhileit’sinoperation.
ThereisNOcombustiblematerial 10feetfromthefirechamber.Thedistancebetweentheparkletandthe firechamberis12ft.Theclosesttreetothesmokeriswell MOREthan10ftaway.
EXHIBITC
RichmondMunicipal Code§§11.96.030and11.96.040prohibitunauthorizedcookingfacilitiesinpublic spaces.
Chapter 11.96- LOCALCAMPING
11.96.020- Definitions.
Unlesstheparticularprovisionsorthecontextotherwiserequires,thedefinitionscontainedinthissection shall governtheconstruction,meaningandapplicationofwordsandphrasesusedinthisarticle. (a) "Camp"meanstopitch,sleepinoroccupycampfacilitiesortousecampparaphernalia. (b) "Camp facilities" include, but arenot limitedto, tents, huts or temporary shelters, trailers andanyothervehicle.
(c) "Camp paraphernalia" includes, but is not limited to, collapsible shelters, cots, beds, sleepingbags,hammocksornon-Cityauthorizedcookingfacilitiesandsimilarequipment. (d) "Store" means toput asideoraccumulateforusewhenneeded,toputforsafekeeping,to placeorleaveinalocation.
11.96.030- Unlawful camping.
Itshall beunlawful foranypersontocamp,sleepinoroccupycampfacilitiesorusecampparaphernalia inthefollowingareas,exceptasotherwiseprovided:
(1) Anystreet;
(2) Any parkinglot, public areaor openspaces,improvedorunimproved;provided,however, thatnopersonshall beinviolationofthissectionunless:
(A) The person is informed of the whereabouts of homeless shelters in the City of Richmond;
(B) Suchshelterisactuallyavailabletosuchperson;and
(C) Suchpersonwillinglyrefusestostayinsuchshelter.
11.96.040- Storageof personal propertyinpublicplaces.
Itshall beunlawful foranypersontostorepersonal property,includingcampfacilitiesandcamp paraphernalia,inthefollowingareas,exceptasotherwiseprovided:
(a) Anypark;
(b) Anystreet;
(c) Anyparkinglot,publicareaoropenspaces,improvedorunimproved.
OurBBQSmokerhasbeenonthesidewalksince2010withoutanyproblems.Ithasneverbeenlabeled ascampparaphernaliaoranon-Cityauthorizedcookingfacility. Thesuddeninterpretationof municipal codestochallengethepresenceof thesmoker seemsinconsistent, especiallysincethe Cityhasnot previouslyprovidedalist of what constitutesanon-Cityauthorizedcookingfacility.
Afteroveradecadeofnoissues,itfeelsunfairtohavethisbroughtupnow.
EXHIBITD
TheCityreceivedmultiplecomplaintsaboutthesmokerfromcommunitymembers.
Communitycomplaintsarepublicrecords.TheCityshouldbeabletobackitsownclaimsthatMULTIPLE complaintshavebeenreceived.Atthistime,wehaveonlyheardbackfromonedepartmentandthey havenorecordsofcomplaintsagainstthesmoker.
Although,basedonpublicrecords,onePHILIPROSENTHALhasbeenindirectcontactwithCityOfficials personallycomplainingandfollowinguponactionagainstTheUp&Under.Asseenontheemailsbelow heissendingoutthesecomplaintsinhispersonal capacityandasPresidentofPRNC–quitetheabuse ofpowerpickingonONElocal business.
Wedon’tknowhowmanymoreofthesecommunicationshehassenttoCityOfficials,butseebelowwhat wasreleasedaspublicrecordsasofMay2023.HehasmultipleCityOfficialsonemailsandevenuses subjectlineswith:…”youaredeliberatelyallowingustogoonforyears…dosomethingaboutit…” Withthisinlight,WEURGETHECITYTOPRODUCEPROOFTHATCOMPLAINTSHAVEBEEN
RECEIVEDFROMACOMMUNITY,AGROUPOFPEOPLE,MULTIPLEINDIVIDUALS,ANDNOTJUST FROMONEINDIVIDUALwhoisabusinghisposition.
(Emailsincludedbelowonlypertaintothesmoker. Releasedpublicrecordsalsoincludeadditional complaintsof Phillipabout Up&Under onother matterssent toCityOfficials.)
EXHIBITE
TheCityexpressedconcernthatallowingthesmokerwouldcontradictpublicrightofwaymanagement objectivesandexposetheCitytoliability.
OurBBQSmokerhasbeeninthesamespotforadecade,andwe’vealwaysusedpropersignage, barricades,andstorage.Therehaven’tbeenanyincidentsoraccidentsrelatedtothesmokerwhileit’s beenonthesidewalk.Thislonghistoryofsafeandresponsibleuseofthepublicrightofwayshouldbe consideredinourappeal.
Ittakesabout8yearstobecomeaDoctorandabout7yearstobecomealawyer.Wehavebeen operatingthesmokerforOVERADECADEwithNOINCIDENT.Atthispoint,we’reatexpertlevel competenceinoperatingthesmokerSAFELYcanbetagged.Whilethisdoesnotgiveusoverruling powerovermunicipal codes,itshouldbetakenintoconsiderationthatwehaveinfactbeenoperatingthe smokerSAFELYandwithNOINCIDENTforOVERADECADE--Wehavenotdisregardedanysafety measuresandinsteadabidedbythemforthislongtomakesurethesmokerisusedSAFELYinanarea wherethepublichasaccessto.
ThereisalsoENOUGHspaceforpeopletomovefreelyonthesidewalksandpublicrightofwayisnot beingobstructed.
EXHIBITF
Thesmokermaybenon-compliantwithBayAreaAirQualityManagementDistrict(BAAQMD)regulations andtheapplicant’scurrentusepermitsdonotauthorizeBBQequipmentonthesidewalk Wereceivedthisemail fromtheEngineeringDivisionlastyearaboutneedingtobecompliantwithwith BAAQMD’sguidelinesonRegistrationforCommercial CookingOperationsProgram.Specificallyciting theuseofcharbroilers:https://www.baaqmd.gov/permits/register-equipment/charbroiler
Thesectionforcharbroiler,outlinesthefollowing:
WehaverespondedtotheEngineering’sofficewiththisemail andhaveNOTreceivedfurthercomments orguidanceaboutthis.
Wehaveacoupleargumentsagainstthisdenial reason:
1) WEARENOTUSINGACHARBROILER.Smokersandcharbroilersarebothcookingmethods thatcangivefoodasmokyflavor,buttheydifferintheirheatsources,cookingmethods,andthe typesoffoodtheycancook.Asmoker’sheatsourceusesindirectheatfromburningwood,while charbroilersusedirectheatfromgasorcharcoal.
2) WEDONOTSMOKEBETWEEN400-800poundsofbeefperweek.Weonlysmoke approximately85poundsofmeatperweek.
Inaddition,theCityisidentifyingthesmokerasPERSONALCAMPINGEQUIPMENTcitingRMC
11.96.030and11.96.040,nowforthisdenial reasonthesmokerisbeingaskedtoadheretoa COMMERCIALCOOKINGOPERATIONSPROGRAM.
Sothesmokerisnotallowedonthesidewalk/streetbecauseit’sapersonal campingequipmentbutit needstoadheretocommercial cookingguidelines?Arewejustthrowinginrandomcodesandguidelines supportingtheCity’sdenial reasons?
EXHIBITG
Concernswereraisedregardinginsurance,proximitytopublictravel,smokeimpact,andtheneedfor ContraCostaCountyHealthpermits.
OurBBQSmokerhaspassedall inspectionsbyEnvironmental Health.We’verequestedrecordsofthese inspections,butthey’vebeenputonholdandsenttocompliance.Thedelayinaccessingtheserecords makesitchallengingtoaddresstheBuildingDivision’sconcernsfully.
TheCityshouldbeabletoaccessinspectionrecordsbyEnvironmentHealtheasilywithoutthedelay we’recurrentlyexperiencing.ShouldtherehavebeenanyEnvironmental Healthviolations,weshould havereceivedanoticebutNONOTICESHAVEBEENRECEIVEDFORTHEUSEOFTHESMOKER.
Infact,itwasEnvironmental Health’srecommendationtoaddtheadditional temporarybarricade/caution signwhilethesmokerisinuse.
Inourrequestforpublicrecordsforanothermatter,wehavefoundnotesfromALMACAUSEYindicating thatsheinfacthasreachedouttotheHealthDepartmentabouttheoperationofoursmoker.Shenoted:
PERTHECCCHEALTHDEPARTMENTNOADDITIONALPERMITISNEEDEDFORTHEUSAGEOF THEBBQ.
Furtherinthereport,ALMACAUSEYalsonoted:PERCCCHEALTHDEPARTMENT,NO NONCOMPLIANCE(reusageofbarbequegrill thatislocatedthesidewalk).
EXHIBITH
Multiplecodeshavebeenthrownatusoverthecourseof2years.
7/29/2022RMC12.36.160-Theentirewidthofthesidewalksinfrontofthepropertyshall befreeofany obstruction.Removethebarbequegrill beingusedandstoredonthesidewalk. 7/29/2022RMC15.04.203.020-Unpermittedlandusageforcommercial districts-VoidedbecausePER CCCHEALTHDEPARTMENT,NONONCOMPLIANCE(reusageofbarbequegrill thatislocatedthe sidewalk)
12/08/2022RMC12.36.160-Theentirewidthofthesidewalksinfrontofthepropertyshall befreeofany obstruction.Removethebarbequegrill beingusedandstoredonthesidewalk.-Smokerremovedfrom sidewalkandsecuredattheendofourparkletonWRichmondAve.Thereareplantersinthisareaas requestedbytheCitytocreateasafetybarrierbetweenthestreetandparklet.Wepositionedthesmoker tomakesurethatplantersstill servetheirpurposeasabarrier. 02/09/2023RMC12.28.040-Placingofbuildingmaterialsorobstructionsonanystreet,sidewalk,or publicplaceintheCityofRichmondisprohibited.Removethebarbequegrill thatisbeingstoredonthe citystreet.
FromFebruarythroughMay2023,anappeal processhasdraggedoutendingwithaNOTICEOF HEARING-Appeal ofHearingOfficer'sDecision(2ndlevel appeal hearing).Wehavenotreceivedany furhternoticesspecificallyaboutthesmokerbeyondthathearing.
AsadvisedwesubmittedanEncroachmentPermitapplicationonOctober12,2023(EN24-00843).On wereceivedanoticethatourapplicationwasdenied.Inthedenial additional citycodesJul 31, 2024 havenowbeenaddedtothelistthathavenotbeenmentioned2yearsagowhentheissuestarted.
Chapter 11.96- LOCALCAMPING
11.96.020- Definitions.
Unlesstheparticularprovisionsorthecontextotherwiserequires,thedefinitionscontainedinthissection shall governtheconstruction,meaningandapplicationofwordsandphrasesusedinthisarticle. (a) "Camp"meanstopitch,sleepinoroccupycampfacilitiesortousecampparaphernalia. (b) "Camp facilities" include, but arenot limitedto, tents, huts or temporary shelters, trailers andanyothervehicle.
(c) "Camp paraphernalia" includes, but is not limited to, collapsible shelters, cots, beds, sleepingbags,hammocksornon-Cityauthorizedcookingfacilitiesandsimilarequipment. (d) "Store" means toput asideoraccumulateforusewhenneeded,toputforsafekeeping,to placeorleaveinalocation.
11.96.030- Unlawful camping.
Itshall beunlawful foranypersontocamp,sleepinoroccupycampfacilitiesorusecampparaphernalia inthefollowingareas,exceptasotherwiseprovided:
(1) Anystreet;
(2) Any parkinglot, public areaor openspaces,improvedorunimproved;provided,however, thatnopersonshall beinviolationofthissectionunless:
(A) The person is informed of the whereabouts of homeless shelters in the City of Richmond;
(B) Suchshelterisactuallyavailabletosuchperson;and
(C) Suchpersonwillinglyrefusestostayinsuchshelter.
11.96.040- Storageof personal propertyinpublicplaces.
Itshall beunlawful foranypersontostorepersonal property,includingcampfacilitiesandcamp paraphernalia,inthefollowingareas,exceptasotherwiseprovided:
(a) Anypark;
(b) Anystreet;
(c) Anyparkinglot,publicareaoropenspaces,improvedorunimproved.