City Hall  
1315 Valley Drive  
Hermosa Beach, CA  
90254  
City of Hermosa Beach  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
City Council  
Mayor  
Justin Massey  
Mayor Pro Tem  
Dean Francois  
Councilmembers  
Rob Saemann  
Mike Detoy  
Ray Jackson  
Thursday, February 15, 2024  
6:00 PM  
6:00 PM - OPEN SESSION  
1. CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor Massey called the special meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.  
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
James Rosenberger led the Pledge of Allegiance.  
3. ROLL CALL  
City Clerk Myra Maravilla announced a quorum.  
5 -  
Present:  
Absent:  
Mayor Massey, Mayor Pro Tempore Francois, Councilmember Saemann,  
Councilmember Detoy, and Councilmember Jackson  
0
4. ANNOUNCEMENTS - UPCOMING CITY EVENTS  
Councilmember Jackson invited the community to attend a Pet Vaccine  
and Microchip Clinic on Sunday, February 18 at the Redondo Dog Park  
from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  
5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
A motion was made by Councilmember Detoy, seconded by Councilmember  
Jackson to approve the order of the agenda. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
5 - Mayor Massey, Francois, Saemann, Detoy, and Jackson  
0
Aye:  
Absent:  
6. CITY MANAGER REPORT  
Councilmember Detoy asked various questions.  
Director SanClemente provided information.  
Mayor Pro Tem Francois asked various questions.  
City Manager Lowenthal provided information.  
7. PUBLIC COMMENT  
In Person Public Comment:  
James Rosenberger  
8. CITY COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS  
Councilmember Saemann provided an update on his attendance to the  
Independent Cities Association seminar and a session regarding the  
no-bail system.  
Mayor Pro Tem Francois provided an update on his attendance to the Los  
Angeles County Sanitation District Board of Directors meeting, the Santa  
Monica Bay Restoration District meeting and the Cal Water Facility on  
Prospect Avenue.  
Mayor Massey provided information about his attendance to the South Bay  
Council of Government Board of Director's meeting and reported on the C  
Line Extension to Torrance. The Board voted to support the extension, but  
defer to LA Metro on which alignment the extension will take.  
Councilmember Jackson provided an update on his attendance to the  
Independent Cities Association seminar.  
Mayor Pro Tem Francois requested information about the public's ability to  
request a parking permit in person.  
City Manager Lowenthal provided information.  
Councilmember Jackson provided comments.  
9. MUNICIPAL MATTERS  
a)  
REPORT  
24-0063  
CIVIC FACILITIES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN  
(Continued from January 23, 2024)  
(City Manager Suja Lowenthal)  
City Manager Lowenthal introduced the staff report.  
Jeffrey Fullerton, from Fullerton Consulting Partners LLC, spoke.  
Police Chief LeBaron spoke.  
Director SanClemente spoke.  
Director Tai spoke.  
Deputy City Manager Angela Crespi spoke.  
Mayor Pro Tem Francois asked various questions.  
City Manager Lowenthal provided information.  
Jeffrey Fullerton spoke.  
Councilmember Saemann spoke.  
In Person Public Comment:  
Elka Worner  
Jim Rosenberger  
David Grethen  
Virtual Public Comment:  
Anthony Higgins  
Kent Allen  
Matt McCool  
Laura Pena  
The City Council continued to deliberate on this item.  
A motion was made by Councilmember Detoy, seconded by Councilmember  
Jackson to approve a Professional Services Agreement with Fullerton Consulting  
Partners, LLC to provide technical support services for the community  
engagement phase and development services to the City for a term ending  
December 31, 2025 at a not-to-exceed amount of $43,750 and authorize the City  
Manager to execute and the City Clerk to attest to the proposed agreement,  
subject to approval by the City Attorney; and create an informal civic facilities  
community advisory group. The motion carried by the following vote:  
3 - Mayor Massey, Detoy, and Jackson  
Aye:  
No:  
2 - Francois, and Saemann  
0
Absent:  
b)  
REPORT  
24-0064  
CONSIDERATION OF PLACING A LOCAL CONTROL CITY  
SERVICES MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER 5, 2024 GENERAL  
MUNICIPAL ELECTION BALLOT ASKING THE VOTERS TO  
APPROVE A GENERAL TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX (SALES  
TAX or TUT) AT THE RATE OF THREE-QUARTER CENT (3/4ยข)  
(Continued from January 23, 2024)  
(City Manager Suja Lowenthal)  
Mayor Massey called for a recess at 8:08 p.m.  
The City Council reconvened and City Clerk Maravilla announced a  
quorum.  
City Manager Lowenthal provided a presentation.  
Councilmember Saemann asked various questions.  
Mayor Massey asked various questions.  
Mayor Pro Tem Francois asked various questions.  
City Attorney Donegan provided information.  
Director Copeland provided information.  
Councilmember Jackson asked a question.  
Councilmember Detoy asked various questions.  
Virtual Public Comment:  
Kent Allen  
Ray Dussault  
Anthony Higgins  
Matt McCool  
Ann Gotthoffer  
The City Council continued to deliberate on this item.  
A motion was made by Councilmember Detoy, seconded by Councilmember  
Saemann to adopt Resolution for the placement of a locally controlled general  
tax measure on the ballot for the November 5, 2024 General Municipal Election  
for the submission to the qualified voters of an ordinance, to enact a General  
Transactions and Use Tax (Sales Tax or TUT) at the rate of three quarter cent  
(3/4); with a sunset clause 20 years from the effective date and if passed, the  
creation of a community oversight board; and adopt Resolution requesting the  
Board of Supervisors render the election consolidation services for this measure;  
and adopt Resolution setting priorities for filing a written Argument and Rebuttal  
Argument regarding an ordinance to enact a general Transactions and Use Tax  
(Sales Tax or TUT) at the rate of three-quarter cent (3/4) to be submitted to voters  
at the General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, and  
directing the City Attorney to prepare the impartial analysis. The motion carried  
by the following vote:  
4 - Mayor Massey, Saemann, Detoy, and Jackson  
Aye:  
No:  
1 - Francois  
0
Absent:  
c)  
REPORT  
24-0067  
DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FEES FOR CONDITIONAL USE  
PERMITS (CUP) AND AMENDMENTS TO ENTITLEMENTS FOR  
OUTDOOR DINING  
(Continued from January 23, 2024)  
(Community Development Director Carrie Tai)  
Planning Manager Alexis Oropeza provided a presentation.  
Councilmember Saemann asked various questions.  
Director Tai provided comments.  
Mayor Pro Tem Francois asked various questions.  
Councilmember Jackson asked various questions.  
City Attorney Donegan provided information.  
City Manager Lowenthal provided information.  
Virtual Public Comment  
Laura Pena  
The City Council continued deliberations on this item.  
The City Council discussed a consensus of not subsidizing this cost.  
Director Tai clarified that the CUP study will come back in June.  
Various Councilmembers requested the City Attorney review any and all  
options available to permit businesses to continue to temporarily use  
outdoor dining decks on private property while staff reviews alternative  
methods of granting permission, aside from the CUP amendment process,  
and while the Zoning Code update process takes place.  
A motion was made by Councilmember Saemann, seconded by Mayor Pro  
Tempore Francois to direct staff to come back with alternate approval processes  
and associated fees for outdoor dining decks on private property (street-level  
only); and the review of updated CUP fees will be a part of the City's larger fee  
study expected in June.  
Councilmember Jackson provided a friendly amendment to review the option to  
provide a temporary outdoor dining deck extension. Councilmember Saemann  
and Mayor Pro Tem Francois accepted the friendly amendment.  
4 - Francois, Saemann, Detoy, and Jackson  
Aye:  
No:  
1 - Mayor Massey  
0
Absent:  
A motion was made by Councilmember Detoy, seconded by Councilmember Saemann to extend the  
meeting to 11:30 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Councilmember Jackson was not present during roll call.  
4 -  
Present:  
Mayor Massey, Mayor Pro Tempore Francois, Councilmember Saemann, and  
Councilmember Detoy  
1 - Councilmember Jackson  
Absent:  
d)  
REPORT  
24-0065  
DISCUSSION REGARDING THE REGULATION OF  
BICYCLES AND ELECTRIC BICYCLES IN THE CITY  
(Continued from January 23, 2024)  
(City Attorney Patrick Donegan)  
City Attorney Patrick Donegan provided a staff report.  
Mayor Pro Tem Francois asked various questions.  
Councilmember Jackson asked various questions.  
Mayor Massey asked various questions.  
Chief LeBaron provided information.  
City Attorney Donegan provided additional information.  
City Manager Lowenthal provided information.  
In Person Public Comment  
Steve Collins  
The City Council continued deliberations on this item.  
Information to require private businesses to geofence motorized bicycles  
was provided.  
A motion was made by Councilmember Detoy, seconded by Councilmember  
Saemann to receive and file the information and to bring back a discussion to  
review ordinance language with additive rules not found in the vehicle code,  
and explain if redundant rules are needed, and explore the requirement for local  
shops to geofence motorized vehicles and the option for broader prohibition of  
motorized vehicles on the Strand.The motion carried by the following vote:  
4 - Mayor Massey, Francois, Saemann, and Detoy  
1 - Jackson  
Aye:  
Absent:  
A motion was made by Councilmember Jackson, seconded by Councilmember  
Detoy to extend the meeting to 12:15 a.m. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
5 - Mayor Massey, Francois, Saemann, Detoy, and Jackson  
Aye:  
0
Absent:  
e)  
REPORT  
24-0066  
CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE  
RULES OF CONDUCT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND  
SUBSIDIARY CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS  
(Continued from January 23, 2024)  
(City Attorney Patrick Donegan)  
City Attorney Donegan provided a staff report.  
Mayor Pro Tem Francois asked various questions.  
Virtual Public Comment  
Laura Pena  
Councilmember Saemann provided comments.  
Mayor Massey provided comments.  
A motion was made by Councilmember Jackson, seconded by Councilmember  
Detoy to adopt a resolution amending the rules of conduct at City Council  
meetings and making these rules, where feasible, applicable to all subsidiary  
Boards and Commissions in the City.  
Councilmember Saemann made a substitute motion, seconded by Mayor Pro  
Tem Francois to make general public comment three (3) minutes. The substitute  
motion failed, 3-2.  
AYES: Mayor Pro Tem Francois and Councilmember Saemann  
NOES: Mayor Massey, Councilmember Detoy, and Councilmember Jackson  
The original motion was carried by the following vote:  
5 - Mayor Massey, Francois, Saemann, Detoy, and Jackson  
Aye:  
Absent:  
0
10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  
24-0070  
a)  
TENTATIVE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  
Councilmember Jackson requested support for a future agenda item to  
discuss an urgency ordinance to put a moratorium on any new ground  
office space in the City of Hermosa Beach. Councilmember Detoy and  
Councilmember Saemann expressed support. The requested item will  
return as an action item for Council's consideration.  
City Attorney Donegan provided information.  
Councilmember Saemann asked various questions..  
Councilmember Jackson provided comments.  
11. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FROM THE PUBLIC  
There was no public comment.  
12. ADJOURNMENT  
Mayor Massey adjourned the meeting in memory of Bill Brand at 12:18  
a.m.  
Mayor Pro Tem Francois shared a tribute about Bill Brand.  
Councilmember Saemann shared a tribute about Bill Brand.  
Councilmember Detoy shared a tribute about Bill Brand.  
Councilmember Jackson shared memories a tribute about Bill Brand.