Safety issues for new PCH developments in Long beach CA - focus on disaster preparedness plan

Editor: Eastside Voice asked us to post this email 

From: Eastside Voice
To: district3@longbeach.gov <district3@longbeach.gov>
Cc: Councilmember Mary Zendejas <district1@longbeach.gov>; Councilmember Cindy Allen <district2@longbeach.gov>; Councilman Daryl Supernaw <district4@longbeach.gov>; district5@longbeach.gov <district5@longbeach.gov>; district6@longbeach.gov <district6@longbeach.gov>; district7@longbeach.gov <district7@longbeach.gov>; district8@longbeach.gov <district8@longbeach.gov>; district9@longbeach.gov <district9@longbeach.gov>; mayor@longbeach.gov <mayor@longbeach.gov>; cityclerk@longbeach.gov <cityclerk@longbeach.gov>; citymanager@longbeach.gov <citymanager@longbeach.gov>; Reggie Harrison <reginald.harrison@longbeach.gov>; DENNIS.BUCHANAN@LONGBEACH.GOV <dennis.buchanan@longbeach.gov>; Jeff.Hardin@longbeach.gov <jeff.hardin@longbeach.gov>; Robbie.Grego@longbeach.gov <robbie.grego@longbeach.gov>; Don.Anderson@longbeach.gov <don.anderson@longbeach.gov>; Maura.Ventura@longbeach.gov <maura.ventura@longbeach.gov>; Wally.Hebeish@longbeach.gov <wally.hebeish@longbeach.gov>; Michael.Richens@longbeach.gov <michael.richens@longbeach.gov>; Shaleana.Benson@longbeach.gov <shaleana.benson@longbeach.gov>; Ty.Burford@longbeach.gov <ty.burford@longbeach.gov>; Ruby.Marin-Jordan@longbeach.gov <ruby.marin-jordan@longbeach.gov>; planningcommissioners@longbeach.gov <planningcommissioners@longbeach.gov>
Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 04:34:34 PM PDT
Subject: Safety issues for new PCH developments - focus on disaster preparedness plan
 

Councilmember Duggan,
I attended last week's council meeting to speak on the 6615/6695 PCH development plans (agenda item 17. 23-1076). As there were 12 people on the public speaker list, speaking time was shortened to 90 seconds and I was not able to provide my planned testimony on this very important item. I had made the trip to Council to speak on this item as I have grave concerns for safety in this area in the event of an earthquake or other disaster.
Safety and entrance/egress in that area in the event of an earthquake or other disaster deserves serious consideration and planning. Can the firetrucks and ambulances get in? Can the residents get out? How do residents connect with city instructions? I talked to the Director of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications Reggie Harrison a few weeks ago and didn't find the conversation encouraging.
An EIR would surface the issues. Your comments in the discussion on the appeals were that due diligence had been done when SEASP was going through approvals and the single EIR for the entire SEASP area sufficed. SEASP was approved in 2017. The risks below are approved and pending plans after that EIR was done. These risks were not taken into account in the SEASP EIR.

RISKS INCLUDE
 Over 1000 additional housing units planned on PCH close to 2nd street which would increase traffic at the worst rated intersection in Long Beach - 2nd and PCH. - and turn into gridlock in a disaster. (Appeals to the Planning Commission approval for 6615 and 6695 East Pacific Coast Highway were on this agenda but 2 other large developments are also going through approvals). Building heights and density exceed the SEASP plan.

 Plans for Beach Oil Minerals (BOM) to install 120 drilled wells (70 oil wells and 50 water wells) were approved as part of the WETLANDS LANDSWAP. The plan is to drill the wells and run a large pipe on top of the wetlands.carrying millions of gallons of oil. What happens if an earthquake causes the pipe to crack? Might an oil spill and fire ensue?

 The wetlands sit directly on top of the Newport Inglewood fault and surrounded by additional recently discovered fault lines (see attachment for map and link). It isn't a question of "if" an earthquake event will happen - only "when" it will happen and how serious the damage and human cost.
 The world's largest Lithium Battery storage facility was approved by Council to be constructed in the area. (editor: this is where the lithium ion batter facility is now operating) The danger is considerable - with comparisons that it can be equivalent to 2000 lbs of TNT and accidents have occurred at other facilities. "In the short time large battery storage technology has been developed and deployed, a number of disturbing safety concerns have arisen, including fires, explosions and release of toxic gases. There have been over 40 recent accidents associated with lithium-ion battery facilities in the U.S. alone." (see link in references below)
 2 large powerplants are also nearby.

GRIDLOCK AT PCH & 2ND STREET
 The only way for Belmont Shore/Naples and other residents in the vicinity to travel south to Orange County, East to the 405 and 605 Freeways is via 2nd Street and PCH. That intersection is has delays on any normal day, let alone in the situation of an emergency or disaster.
It took me an hour to get from the Yacht Club Parking lot to 2nd street (about 3 blocks) on July 3rd after the fireworks show. What would happen in an emergency if people were fleeing the area? Reggie Harrison indicated the citizens are not encouraged to leave by car in an emergency situation. Do the citizens know that? He also said Naples has a neighborhood association that has plans for people to leave by boat. Does that include everyone? In an explosion or fire, would everyone else in the vicinity hop on a bicycle? Do they know they need a bicycle? Should they invest in life vests and jump in the water as the survivors did in Maui?
I was in Hawaii (Oahu) recently when Maui/Lahaina burned. It was a sobering experience. It made me think of PCH and 2nd street that is at a vortex of the risks listed above. With plans to bring in over 1000 more housing units in the area, the disaster preparedness plan is crucial and important that the residents are aware of the plan.and what they should do in an emergency.
Note that the law does not require approval of density bonus applications if there is a safety issue. While the development at 6615/6695 PCH has 390 dwelling units, only 17 of those units are for very low income housing. The minor amount of additional affordable housing does not justify the risk of adding an additional floor. [[Also note that while there are members of the public that believe these housing developments help the homeless, they do not.]]
Take heed of what happened in Maui and ensure the safety of Long Beach residents by making solid plans with communication that requires everyone in the vicinity and first responders are trained and know what to do.

Where human safety is concerned, it might be best to err on the side of caution and not be so eager to satisfy a developer's taste for profit. The Council has justification to dial back these developments to at least the limitations of SEASP. 

Respectfully,
Corliss Lee
Eastside Voice

REF: Agenda item 23-1076 Sept 19 2023

New earthquake faults
 
Lithium Battery Storage article

Long Beach Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Long Beach, CA | A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™ | click here to receive LAAG posts by email

Circuit City hanging on in Lakewood

Circuit City Stores Inc. said Monday it is closing about 20 percent of its U.S. stores -- cutting thousands of jobs -- in an effort to return to profitability as it finds consumers reluctant to spend and its vendors less eager to give it credit.

The nation's No. 2 consumer electronics retailer said it will shut 155 of its more than 700 stores and leave at least a dozen markets entirely. It will lay off about 17 percent of its domestic work force, which could affect up to 7,300 people.

Stores in Southern California that will be closed include those in City of Industry, Compton, Escondido, Fontana, Foothill Ranch, Mira Loma, Moreno Valley, Murrietta, Pomona, Riverside, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Vista. The list of store closures can be found here. The Lakewood Center Circuit City store will remain open as will one store in Long Beach, as well as stores in Signal Hill, Norwalk and Seal Beach (in this area). That is good news for Lakewood Center which has already been decimated by the recession. Mervyn's filed for bankruptcy in September and the Macy's / May Co. / Robinsons consolidation racked the retailing world a few years back, drastically effecting Lakewood Center's major anchor tenants. The Costco store required the demolition of a brand new Macy's store which was only open for a few years before closing.

I suspect the recession will put Circuit City into bankruptcy after the dismal Christmas season this year which will likely be a bloodbath. The only bright spot might be flat screen digital TV sales in advance of the looming February 2009 analog TV signal transmission cut off (for those using over the air antennas). But I doubt there are a lot of sales left as most people have cable or satellite and most in Lakewood likely already have digital TV's.

The Costco store opening in Lakewood Center has been delayed by a number of "utility" issues. (It was supposed to open in November 2008) Apparently there is a groundwater problem of some sort. This has not been reported on from what we have seen. It is not slated to open until spring (when the recession is in full swing) and after missing the key holiday purchasing season which will be a big hit on Lakewood.

Lakewood behind cities such as Downey, Carson and Cerritos in sales tax, as only 6 percent of the city is zoned for commercial or industrial uses. The rest of Lakewood comprises homes, schools, parks and other entities.

Given that the city has a lot of work to do as they are wasting the 6% they do have. Look at the South and Bellflower location which lost Vons in the late 1990's and recently lost Bakers Square restaurant. We reported on this intersection over a year ago. Both anchor tenants likely never to be replaced without serious action by the city. That is a prime location being squandered. The city is not stepping up doing what it can to attract businesses. It focuses all its attention on the mall while the rest of the city goes downhill. Soon the loss of these businesses ans well as the home values plummeting will mean more blight and more crime as less desirable residents are attracted, such as renters and those who fail to keep their houses and surrounding property neat and tidy. And this is how the death spiral begins in a city. It takes years for the decay to spread but it does spread.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

Something moving into South and Bellflower?

Looks like there are some changes afoot at the old Vons/Itana Furniture "warehouse" located at South St. and Bellflower Blvd.in Lakewood. (curiously a few months after LAAG complained about the shopping center; see related story here) Most of the old crumbling facade of the Vons store was removed about a week before Christmas leaving and even uglier building underneath. The front of the store is still fenced off as of this posting. Hopefully all the stores in this complex will be updating their facades along with the anchor tenant store (the old Vons). The parking lot needs to be completely resurfaced and re-landscaped. Also all the signage needs to be redone. The city has not confirmed if a new tenant is moving into the old Vons building or not. Once we learn what is going on we will report it here. I suspect that the building had to be upgraded before they could attract a tenant. The Hanalei "Hawaiian eatery" that just opened in December (in the same shopping center) will likely have just as rough a time as the "Asian" type restaurant it replaced. Likely due to the lovely liquor store not 100 feet from its front door. Again very close to homes.

Also on South St. just east of Bellflower Blvd. the old "Gotham Comics" store moved out and the owner (who also owns the "Hideaway" bar next door) is trying to lease and or sell the store as an office building. The place has been painted, gutted inside and new doors and windows installed. The owner is going to have a rough time leasing office space next to a bar unless that appeals to the staff that works in the new office. Quite frankly it would be nice to see the bar gone as it attracts a rather unsavory element and is very close to homes.


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

Zoning nighmare

This is why allowing people to live in converted garages is a bad idea. Take note Lakewood and dont follow Long Beach's path just to accommodate multiple families living at one address. Very bad idea. Using political correctness over safety to make zoning decisions.

UPDATE: LA Times gets the story wrong (below)...it was an illegal conversion per LB Report. Same message above still applies. Allowing resident to cram people into garages or substandard dwellings and trying to accommodate it zoning wise or look the other way is the wrong path to go down.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fatal15dec15,0,1210649.story?coll=la-headlines-california
From the Los Angeles Times
Long Beach fire leaves 2 girls dead, 1 critical
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

7:32 AM PST, December 14, 2007

Two sisters, ages 6 and 10, died this morning in Long Beach and their 7-year-old sister was in critical condition after a fire broke out in the converted garage where they slept, trapping the three in their windowless bedroom, fire officials said.

The girls' 17-year-old sister, who was also sleeping in the detached garage at 1052 1/2 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., awoke to the smell of smoke and ran to a nearby building to call 911 about 2 a.m., said Long Beach Fire Capt. Mike Duree. She then tried to return to the burning building to rescue her sisters, Duree said, but the heat and smoke forced her back.

The 500-square-foot garage, which had been legally converted to living space, did not have smoke detectors or a sprinkler system, Duree said. Although divided into two rooms, only the front area had a window and a door. The fire started in that area, officials believe, blocking the only exit.

"They would have had to go directly through the fire to flee," Duree said.

Firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after the 911 call and fought back the flames, but when they reached the young sisters all were unconscious. The injured sister is being treated at Long Beach Memorial Hospital.

Officials believe the fire started near an outlet in the living room but were still investigating, Duree said. There was no Christmas tree in the room that could have ignited the blaze, he said.

Duree said that although calling for help when a fire erupts is crucial, the first priority should be to get everyone out of the building.

"The first thing you've got to do is take care of yourself and your family. We can rebuild homes but we cannot rebuild lives," he said.

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

Sales tax vs property tax "incentives"

Well sales tax or property tax LAAG really does not like seeing tax dollars used as incentives for mega-wealthy private corporations. If all cities were barred from this practice by state law then there would be an even playing field. In any event since this practice is going on and no one seems willing to stop it, LAAG suggests that some tax money "incentives" be used on the South and Bellflower shopping center.


http://thedistrictweekly.com/wp_dev/daily/investigations/2007/10/22/turns-out-lakewood-gives-away-public-money-too/
TURNS OUT LAKEWOOD GIVES AWAY PUBLIC MONEY, TOO
Dave Wielenga
October 22, 2007

Every time Long Beach offers to rebate sales tax to mega-retailers in an attempt to lure their business to town, some reporter is sure to call Lakewood City Hall for comment. That’s what I do, anyway. Lakewood kinda likes to righteously remind the world that it doesn’t stoop to such self-cheapening tactics.

“Lakewood has never given away sales-tax revenue to induce businesses to come here or to keep them here,” the city’s longtime spokesman D.J. Waldie told me in June–a few days after the Long Beach City Council voted to kick back nearly $1 million in sales tax to Best Buy in hopes of luring the electronics store to the Marina Pacifica Mall.

But it turns out that the Lakewood Redevelopment Agency has found other ways to pay the Macerich Company — the gigantic shopping center development conglomerate that owns the Lakewood Center Mall — approximately $7.9 million during the past seven years. The money has been laid out in a couple of multi-million-dollar lump sums and a curious long-term arrangement to lease parking spaces.

The rationale for the payments — authorized on September 14, 1999 — was to entice Macerich to expand the Lakewood Center Mall, which is the city’s biggest economic engine and provides the bulk of the sales-tax revenue that Lakewood uses to supply services to its residents.

Who are the members of the Lakewood Redevelopment Agency? The very same people who compose the Lakewood City Council–many of whom often receive campaign contributions from Macerich.

Their plan to put money in Macerich’s pockets has two parts:

The first consisted of a pair of $2 million payments to Macerich–one delivered when building permits were issued for the mall’s expansion and the other when the mall’s wing actually opened in 2000.

The second was a 15-year contract that commits the Lakewood Redevelopment Agency to pay Macerich between $450,000 and $750,000 per year to “lease” 1,900 parking spaces at the mall. Since 2002, those lease payments have totalled some $3.9 million. That’s an average of $650,000 per year, although for the past three years — including the most-recent payment in mid September–the outlay has been the maximum $750,000. That translates to $390 per space.

Waldie didn’t flinch when we called him for comment this time, either.

“Our policy is against using sales-tax rebates to attract retailers to a development site,” he specifies. “But this situation is a redevelopment agency spending property tax increment revenue — an increase in property tax revenue within the redevelopment district — which can only be spent within that district. It doesn’t take away money from the general fund.”

But it does make it nice to be Macerich.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

Noise laws and regulations in Lakewood

We get lots of inquiries about "noise" on our site. As is typical of the Lakewood official city website it offers very little specific information so we have had to obtain the information from other sources.

"Ordinary" business and residential noises are acceptable between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. "Construction work" (we suspect this also includes yard and tree maintenance people) is permitted between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sundays. This is governed by Lakewood Municipal codes.

The Lakewood Sheriff’s Station claims that it responds to complaints about loud parties, bands, and similar disturbances. Please call the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station at 562-623-3500, or better yet email them directly so you have a written there is a record of the complaint. There email addresses are on this site or contact us directly. There is no Lakewood Municipal code dealing with "noisy parties". California Penal Code section 415 deals with noise coming from parties and other unlawful gatherings:

Penal code section 415
Any of the following persons shall be punished by imprisonment
in the county jail for a period of not more than 90 days, a fine of
not more than four hundred dollars ($400), or both such imprisonment
and fine:
(1) Any person who unlawfully fights in a public place or
challenges another person in a public place to fight.
(2) Any person who maliciously and willfully disturbs another
person by loud and unreasonable noise.
(3) Any person who uses offensive words in a public place which
are inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction.

Barking Dogs and other Noisy Animals:

When the City contracted with the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority in 1992, they adopted their uniform ordinance. Animal control sections within the municipal code were suspended and Ordinance No. 92-9 now controls. The following section is from that ordinance:

Section 911. NOISY ANIMALS. It is hereby declared to be a nuisance, and no person shall keep, maintain or permit upon any lot or parcel of land within the city under this control, any animal or animals including any fowl or fowls, which by any sound, or cry, shall interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by an individual.

What is Good About A Barking Dog?

* Alerts owners of potential problems.
* Warns owners of a stranger's presence.
* Alerts neighbors of intruders when the owner is not home.
* Indicates an animal in distress.

What Is Bad About A Barking Dog?

* One dog barking usually starts another dog barking.
* Excessive barking is extremely annoying.
* Barking disturbing one's sleep is aggravating.
* Excessive noise disturbs those who are ill, shut-in, etc.
* Citizens can obtain a complaint for this code violation.
* Usually indicates a highly nervous or bored animal.
* Excessive barking can be harmful to dogs.
* Unless stopped, barking may develop into a type of hysteria.

Do You Own A Watchdog Or A Nuisance?
Determine for yourself whether your dog is a good companion and watchdog or a neighborhood noise nuisance by asking yourself these questions:

Does your dog bark excessively.....

* When someone rings your doorbell?
* When garbage collectors, mail carriers, paper carriers, etc. come to, or go by your house?
* When children are playing outside?
* When another animal comes into view?
* When hearing a siren?
* When wanting to get into the house?
* When you leave or get home?
* When left alone and lonely?

If your answer is "yes" to any of these questions, your dog could be a neighborhood nuisance. This disturbance of the peace is one of the quickest and most common ways to become a bad neighbor. Persistent barkers are more likely to be ignored if there is a real emergency since they seem to bark all the time.

What Can You Do About Your Barking Dog?

* Determine what causes the dog to bark.
* Dogs are less inclines to bark if a barrier blocks their view.
* Be alert to stop the barking as soon as it starts.
* Train you dog to respond to a command to be quiet.
* Reward your dog whenever it barks for a watchdog reason.
* Don't leave an animal unattended for long periods of time.
* Train your dog to stay quietly within its quarters when you are away.

Breaking A Bad Habit
The best cure for the barking habit is prevention early in a dog's life. If a dog already has a barking habit, then you must make efforts to correct the situation. Whatever training method you choose, be consistent and persistent with the animal. Simple scolding and punishment may be sufficient.

When left alone in a house, help the loneliness by leaving a radio on. To help either an indoor or outdoor dog with boredom, be sure to have some toys available for amusement. Don't make a big thing out of leaving or returning home; and overly excited dog is more likely to bark and yelp.

You may consider taking the animal to an obedience training school if the dog is too neurotic for an inexperienced trainer.

Your dog will soon learn that his silence pleases you.

Water Training Method
The Humane Society of the Unites States has endorsed a method of breaking the dog of a barking habit that is both inexpensive and humane. The solution is based on animal conditioning and the method is almost 100% effective when properly carried out.

Every time a dog barks unnecessarily, it is sprayed with water from a plant mister. The spray is harmless, but it stops the barking. Usually, a day or two of training is enough, as the dog learns to expect a squirt of water if it barks for the wrong reason. Be ready for an immediate response. Have a plant mister filled with water ready for use when needed. Say "QUIET" and give one or more squirts at the dog while it is barking. Spraying after it stops barking will confuse the dog. Repeat "QUIET" and give one more squirt of water each time the dog barks needlessly.

With this conditioning procedure, your dog will learn to expect a squirt of water when you say "QUIET," for once the dog has made the association you won't need to squirt the animal again, only when he forgets.

Remember to reassure the dog that you are still friends by petting him later when he is quiet.

The Responsibility Is Yours
As a dog owner, you know the companionship, loyalty, love, and fun that your dog adds to your life, but you must also realize your responsibility toward your neighbors. Dog owners are sometimes insensitive to the barking of their own dog. Put yourself in your neighbor's place to see how your dog's habits affect them. Excessive barking can be extremely annoying to neighbors as well as to those who have to live with a noisy dog. The security of knowing you have a real watch dog, as well as enjoying a peaceful and quiet neighborhood, is well worth the effort.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email