On July 10, the Redondo Beach Harbor Commission met for the first of two meetings planned to take public comment with regards to a planned boat ramp at King Harborβs Mole B, a man-made outcropping controlled by the City of Redondo Beach and leased to King Harbor Marina.
Two Harbor Commissioners, Vicki Callahan and Jim Light, were recommended to recuse themselves from that meeting by Acting City Attorney Cheryl Park due to an appeal to the California Coastal Commission fighting the cityβs approval of the boat ramp. Light filed the appeal, while Callahan signed her name in support.
The rampβs location at Mole B places it at one of the busiest corners of King Harbor, near the King Harbor Yacht Club, two outrigger canoe clubs and the mouth of Basin I, which is densely populated with boat slips.
Callahan acquiesced, sitting out the meeting. Though she acceded to the suggested recusal, Callahan said that she didnβt think her involvement in the appeal presented a conflict because she βdid not sign it as a harbor commissioner, but as an individual.β
βItβs not what I wanted to do β I still think I shouldβve sat on the commission meeting,β Callahan said. Throughout the hearings, Callahan was not shy in sharing her opinion: the Mole B boat ramp location is βin a horrible location, and horribly dangerous.β
βI donβt know of many pro boaters or harbor patrolmen who would think [Mole B is] a good idea,β said Callahan, a Coast Guard-licensed 100 ton boat captain.
Light, however, elected to sit in on the meeting, saying that Park advised him to recuse himself on the morning of the meeting.
βShe wasnβt precise [as to why], under what statute or law,β Light said. βIt wasnβt quasi-judicial, it was accepting comments from the audience. I checked with our attorney, Frank Angel, and he didnβt see any reason [to recuse myself].β
A frequent critic of harbor-area development, Light was appointed to the commission by Mayor Bill Brand.
βEveryone opined up thereβ¦why are the people who are perceived to be against the project the ones being singled out to recuse themselves?β Light said.
Park declined to comment on specific matters, citing attorney-client privilege.
Speaking generally, however, Park said that conflicts of interest βdepend on a handful of factors,β including financial conflicts or conduct that may indicate bias.
The Harbor Commission will meet again to discuss alternative boat ramp location on Sept. 11. Light has confirmed that he attend. Callahan is uncertain.
βI havenβt decided yet,β Callahan said. βIβve got to do some soul searching, ethics readings, and get professional opinions.β
