Steve Shoemaker wants to do things his way. The city of Redondo Beach wants Steve to do things its way. Steve and the city have what most observers would consider a highly dysfunctional relationship.
Like other long-term, contentious relationships, it wouldn’t have endured for 35 years if both parties weren’t getting something out of it. The city gets a solid revenue stream by leasing a portion of the pier to Shoemaker. Steve gets space to operate his Fun Factory arcade and some additional space he can rent to another business.
It might be considered a win/win if it weren’t for the fact Shoemaker and the city often find themselves communicating through lawyers. Some of their differences are settled in court. When that happens, one party usually wins and the other loses. So much for win/win.
Men named Esquire who charge $250 an hour for poorly written letters have stepped “once more unto the breach.” The latest exchange of letters between lawyers for the city and Shoemaker was about signs and bike racks.
According to Steve, he saw some bike racks the city installed in front of Captain Kidd’s and on the adjacent, city-owned plaza. He contacted a city official and asked whether he could get the same bike racks installed between the Fun Factory and Quality Seafood. The city offered the same deal it allegedly gave Captain Kidd’s. They would split the $500 per rack cost with Shoemaker.
Steve found some racks he liked better. He paid the whole cost of purchase and installation. He claims he informed the city of his intention and the city didn’t respond…until the racks were bolted to the sidewalk in front of the Fun Factory.
A city official wrote to Steve and explained that, “…exterior installations of this sort are usually accompanied with plans approved beforehand…” The city of Redondo Beach has asked Steve to answer a few questions.
The city wants, “Verification the installation is within (his) leashold…”
Steve believes he leases the strip of concrete beside the Fun Factory. His insurance company has confirmed it covers that location.
The city wants, “Verification the installation is via an acceptable method…”
Steve oversaw drilling anchor bolts into the concrete.
The city wants, “Verification the bicycle racks meet the City’s architectural standards for the Waterfront.”
Steve claims the only reference to bicycle rack standards in official city documents is found in a March 16, 2010 staff report about a bus stop amenities project. Steve argues references to bike racks in the document are specific to that project and the city has not adopted any other set of standards for the waterfront.
The wheels come off Steve’s argument if the city can prove that the descriptions of acceptable and unacceptable bike racks in that document apply to the waterfront. The staff report contains an illustration of a bike rack that’s nearly identical to the ones Steve installed with a big circle and diagonal line through it, the universal “no way” sign. Steve Shoemaker has vowed to appeal to the city council if city staff demands he remove the bike racks.
At times it seems the city of Redondo Beach takes a “never say yes to Shoemaker” policy. If you look at it another way, you might see Shoemaker taking a “never resist the urge to stick it to Redondo Beach” position. Others might see the whole thing as silly or a waste of energy. You can be pretty sure lawyers see it as a new BMW, vacation home payments or private school tuition.
