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Taxes, term limits and coastal restrictions
Few attend debate on HB ballot measures
by Robb Fulcher
Most of the audience got up and left a pre-election forum when the topic turned to the three ballot initiatives facing Hermosa voters Nov. 6.
At the beginning of the Wednesday forum about 140 people quietly lent their ears to the candidates for city council on the November ballot. But when that portion was over, all but about 35 audience members got up and exited the Clark Building, leaving proponents and supporters of the three measures playing to a small but more vocal crowd.
The measures–which would set term limits for council members, repeal the city’s 6 percent utility users tax and set up new restrictions on some public events in a wide section of coastal Hermosa, are opposed by all five current council members and all seven candidates for city council.
The tax repeal measure also is opposed by the Hermosa Beach Police Officers Association and the Professional and Administration Employees Group of Hermosa Beach.
Coastal debate
Speaking first was Mayor John Bowler, opposing Measure F, which would set new restrictions on public events from the beach to Ardmore Avenue.
"Any events from the high tide line to Ardmore would come under control of this measure," Bowler said. "Hermosa is rare in that we own and control our own beach. This would take that control away and give it to the state."
Bowler said documents tantamount to a full environmental impact report would be required for events such as the Hermosa Valley Halloween carnival and the Women’s Club annual fund-raising pancake breakfast at the Clark Building. He said any two events–such as the pancake breakfast and the annual car show on the Pier Plaza–could not be held simultaneously.
Bowler said the measure would require additional testing of ocean water for bacteria but would "not require anyone to do anything about" any pollution that would be found. He said the city would be required to remove advertising signs on lifeguard towers and beach trashcans, and find other ways to pay for the lifeguard services funded by the ads.
"Measure F is confusing, lengthy and complex. It’s almost identical to the measure recently defeated in Manhattan Beach, which raises the question, if they don’t want it, do we?" Bowler said.
Bowler held aloft the six-page, small print measure.
"Let me tell you, this measure is longer than the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States combined," he said. "We can run the whole country with those documents."
Former Councilman Robert Essertier spoke up for Measure F, saying that "a lot of things going around about it aren’t true."
Essertier said the measure is aimed at huge events such as Mervyn’s Beach Bash, a four-day festival of extreme sports and live music that sprawls across the beach in June.
"Community events like the Sand & Strand run, the pancake breakfast, are not affected by this measure. The reason this measure is necessary is the growth of large commercial events like the Beach Bash. This is what Measure F is meant to control," Essertier said.
"We want to have our beach back like it was 10 years ago. That’s what this is all about," he said.
Essertier said the California Coastal Commission already has "control" of Hermosa Beach, and Measure F would allow residents more say over future large events.
"We’re going to have more public hearings, and more local control," he said. "We’re going to either have this or more commercial events, and larger commercial events."
Countering Bowler, Essertier held aloft a document submitted to the Coastal Commission by the city council seeking more local control over permits for development in the coastal zone west of Ardmore.
"This document is over 100 pages, applying to the Coastal Commission to do the same thing. Ours is five pages, that’s understandable," Essertier said. "I’d like to see a quieter beach."
A voter analysis by City Attorney Michael Jenkins calls the measure "lengthy and complex." The measure would require the city to test ocean water weekly, add "numerous application requirements" for temporary events, mandate "specific conditions for all temporary events" and require "detailed evaluation and analysis by an ‘independent third party,’" Jenkins’ analysis states.
The measure would designate diversion of storm water runoff a "top 10 budget priority," the analysis states. The measure also would require the city to promote at least four beach cleanup days during the summer and require city officials to "prepare and publish in specified formats specific date, transcripts and reports" based in part on various logs, videotapes and photographs, according to the analysis.
Term limits
Bowler also took up the cause against Measure G, which would limit council members to two terms in office unless subsequently elected as a write-in candidate. Otherwise, a two-term candidate would have to wait 16 years before running again. By luck of the draw, Bowler spoke first.
"Voters in Hermosa Beach have never been reluctant to get rid of someone they don’t like," he said.
Only three council members have served a third term in the past 45 years, according to the city clerk’s office.
"This isn’t like state and national politics. When someone has served the community well they can’t run again for 16 years? What are they afraid of?" Bowler said. Turning to the audience, he added, "You should be the ones to decide who runs again."
Bowler said that big money does not influence Hermosa elections. Candidates spend about $5,000 to $10,000 with the biggest spenders often losing, he said.
Todd McCauley, a resident of Monterrey, Calif. and a field representative for U.S. Term Limits, said the limits have been adopted in 19 states.
"It gives citizens the opportunity to keep control over their government," he said.
McCauley said that 90 percent of incumbents win in state, national and local elections, partly because of the power of money, connections with lobbyists and "special interests."
Many potential candidates don’t run because they don’t want to face incumbent officeholders, McCauley said.
"Incumbency is so powerful that people feel it is a lost cause," he said.
Tax measure redux
City Treasurer John Workman spoke against Measure H, which would repeal the city’s 6 percent utility users tax. Two years ago Hermosa voters defeated the same measure by 61 percent to 39 percent.
Workman said Measure H would take away $1.8 million a year that the city needs to fix streets and provide police, fire and paramedic services.
"What it would do to us is devastating," he said.
Workman pointed out that it is the only tax retained entirely by the city. In a recession economy the state government may take more revenues from the cities, as it has with the sales tax, he said.
Workman said the city does not maintain "actual surpluses" in its budget. Money that appears as surplus has been saved up for items such as replacing expensive equipment like fire engines, he said.
"Residual funds go back into the budget the next year," he said.
Kathy Bergstrom, who made an unsuccessful run for a council seat two years ago, spoke in favor of Measure H, and disagreed with Workman’s budget analysis.
"When he said they don’t have surpluses, he would have to defeat his own paperwork," she said.
Bergstrom said the city shows surpluses "that almost consistently equal" the amount the tax brings in.
"They tell you that losing the [tax] would take away street repair, they tell you it would take away paramedics," she said, contending that the city council would find other cuts to make instead. "They don’t talk about the $2 million refurbishing of City Hall."
She held aloft a door-tag flier that read "Warning: passing Measure H could be hazardous to your health and safety!"
"They’re trying to scare you," Bergstrom said.
According to the city’s figures, money from the utility tax is Hermosa’s third largest source of income, making up about 12 percent of the city’s $15.4 million general fund revenues, which can be spent any way the city council chooses. About 60 percent of the general fund money is spent on police, fire and paramedic services.
Future of the pier
Appearing in their second forum before the voters, candidates for three open city council seats expressed caution about placing anything large, like a building, at the end of the Hermosa Beach Pier. The pier has been repaired and refurbished, and the current council has been discussing what, if anything, should be placed on the western end.
"Personally, I like it the way it is," said incumbent JR Reviczky, adding that he wants to "listen to the community" before making any decision. "It’s your pier," he said.
"My feeling about the pier is to leave it as it is…I love the openness," Mary Lou Weiss said.
"More is less in this case," said Ron Pizer, who said perhaps a statue could be added to the end of the pier.
Pete Tucker said he favored benches and a planter with flowers, and added that he does not want a restaurant at the end of the pier, a notion that has been discussed by Mayor John Bowler. "But I will listen to the citizens. It’s not what Pete Tucker wants out there," he added.
Brian Murphy said he liked the idea of benches and flower planters as well.
Michael Keegan said the question should have been decided years ago, before the city launched the extensive refurbishing project. The narrowness of the pier’s terminus and the lack of water and sewer lines running out to it would work against the idea of a building there, he said.
Art Yoon said, "Anything we do should reflect the pride and character of our city." ER