by Garth Meyer
After two hours of discussion, motions, substitute motions and amendments, the Redondo Beach city council voted to move its meeting start times back an hour.
The change – still to be formalized with an ordinance subject to further public comment – was made Aug. 1 in the interest of ending meetings before the late night hours when public participation is less.
The vote was 3-2 with councilmembers Scott Behrendt, Zein Obagi, Jr., and Paige Kaluderovic in favor. Nils Nehrenheim and Todd Loewenstein were opposed.
Mayor Bill Brand began the discussion by saying he thought the meetings should start earlier.
Councilman Behrendt had previously asked that the subject be put on an agenda for discussion.
“I’m a little leary about making the most important decisions of the night, the next morning,” said Behrendt, noting an intention of “fresh minds” for these votes.
Mayor Brand and others commented that it takes an hour or two once the councilmembers get home after a meeting to go to sleep.
Obagi, an attorney, said he wakes up the day after, for a deposition, feeling like he has “the biggest hangover ever” and he’s had “zero alcohol.”
Councilman Nils Nehrenheim proposed a fourth council meeting per month, instead of an earlier start time.
“We are busier than any council in the South Bay,” said. “That will allow more of these items to spread out.”
The discussion continued, with input from Mike Witzansky, city manager.
“A loaded calendar seems to be just about all of the time around here,” he said.
Witzansky stressed that he did not want the council to make any decisions based on concern for late staff hours on meeting nights.
“It’s part of the job, it’s what we signed up for, we’re here to serve; just want to put this on the record,” he said.
Councilman Loewenstein pointed out the demanding work schedules of many of the council, saying he was “very opposed” to a fourth meeting per month, in that it taxes staff and taxes the council in the way of vacation conflicts and quorum issues. By law, at least four councilmembers have to be in attendance to hold a meeting.
Loewenstein talked about the plan he has put in as mayor pro-tem, which started Aug. 8, limiting councilmembers’ comments to five minutes per turn.
“We’ll have plenty of public discourse and make good decisions at a good hour,” he said.
Earlier in the Aug. 1 discussion, Behrendt put forth the idea of a 2 p.m. start. Loewenstein said he would be open to 4 p.m.
“It’s going to look like we’re not trying to get input,” said Loewenstein. “We’re trying to get all we can. I really think it’s about efficiency.”
Councilmember Kaluderovic also opposed the idea of a fourth meeting per month.
“The more time we give ourselves, we’re going to suck up that time,” she said.
Obagi said that he would be open to earlier, or more, Tuesday meetings.
“Tuesday is a wash for me,” he said, stating that his day is already reserved for council study and community input.
City Attorney Mike Webb was asked to weigh in.
“(Public input at city council) is the pinnacle of free speech,” he said. “We have to be careful of abridging free speech.”
He suggested a 4 p.m. start. Mayor Brand spoke in favor of “consistency, whatever we do.”
Nehrenheim said that 4 p.m. goes against what the council is doing.
“It’s not about efficiency, it’s about understanding,” he said.
Witzansky gave more input, noting the previous city practice of closed sessions scheduled after open sessions, and the current practice of closed sessions first, then open.
Effectively, late-night closed session decisions were replaced by late-night open session decisions.
“I never thought I’d see a sunrise coming out of city hall, but we did,” Witzansky said.
Behrendt made a motion to begin open sessions at 4 p.m., instead of 6 p.m. as it is now.
Loewenstein countered with 5:30 p.m.
“I’m very leary of starting at four; you’re going to get a lot of angry people,” Loewenstein said.
A flurry of motions and substitute motions followed, with Mayor Brand sorting it out.
Behrendt had one more substitute motion – for open session to begin at 5 p.m., instead of the usual 6 p.m.
Nehrenheim made a point that the council had been talking about this nearly two hours. Then the vote was taken.
According to a list compiled by Luke Smude, assistant city manager, start times for other Southern California city councils range from 10 a.m. in Los Angeles to 2 p.m. for Santa Barbara and Inglewood, and up to 6 p.m. for most of the beach cities.
Redondo Beach staff will now draft an ordinance that is subject to two city council votes/public hearings, then would take effect in 30 days. ER
