Hermosa Beach About Town
In memoriam: Hermosa Beach City Hall was saddened by the recent passing of the fathers of the police chief and a former Hermosa City Council member.
Richard Savelli, father of Hermosa Beach Police Chief Greg Savelli, passed away. The loss was noted by City Council members who ended their regular meeting Tuesday with an adjournment in Richard Savelli’s honor.
Donald L. Benz, father of former Hermosa Councilman Bob “Burgie” Benz, passed away in Oregon on Friday. He was 87.
He founded Benz Air Engineering Co., which Bob Benz operates, in 1956, and was involved in other businesses and professional groups. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dolores, five children and their spouses, including Bob Benz’ wife Patricia, a sister, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Buried handgun: Workers demolishing the beach bathrooms at Second Street found a buried handgun wrapped in a plastic bag. Police said the gun was very rusty and not in working condition, and appeared to have been buried for a long time.
Bouncing downtown: Spyder Surfboards co-owner Richard O’Reilly will enhance the popular First Thursday with a bounce house for kids 5 to 8 p.m. on the Pier Plaza, as the event moves into the summer season June 2.
Merchants will offer summer specials to participants strolling the downtown area 5 to 9 p.m., and live music is planned as well.
Traffic court: Hermosa Beach City Council on Tuesday mulled a threatened lawsuit by Thomas Brodie, a Hermosan who was denied permission to build a 35-space parking lot on Hermosa Avenue, where the old Classic Burger and Hermosa Beach Donuts buildings once stood near downtown.
City Attorney Michael Jenkins announced at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that attorney William Beverly had sent a letter to officials on Brodie’s behalf.
The Council last month rejected an appeal from Brodie, upholding a previous decision by the city Planning Commission, which denied a precise development plan for the lot. The council vote was 4-1 with Kit Bobko dissenting.
At the time, Brodie cited state antitrust law as he made his case to the council, alleging that city officials have an interest in preserving a “monopolistic” role for fee-based municipal parking lots in the area.
Numerous residential neighbors had complained that they would be disturbed by late-night downtown revelers returning to their vehicles in the lot, while owners of 23 nearby businesses signed a petition supporting the lot.