by Kevin Cody
Every morning as 10 a.m. approaches, Hermosa Beach surfers rush from the water to their cars. Parking meter enforcement begins at 10 a.m. (except on street sweeping days when enforcement begins at 8 a.m.).
Because the surf generally is blown out by 10 a.m., and the surf shops, where many work, open at 10 a.m., surfers almost welcome the 10 a.m. enforcement.
But the long established equanimity between parking enforcement and surfers may be at an end. At Tuesday night’s council meeting city staff proposed moving up meter enforcement from 10 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Mayor Raymond Jackson spoke in favor of the earlier enforcement.
“Visitors who come early to our city to jog on The Strand, walk their dogs, and play volleyball should be paying,” Jackson said.
Councilmember Rob Saeman agreed with Jackson.
Councilmembers Dean Francois and Mike Detoy opposed the earlier enforcement.
Francois argued that the 10 a.m. enforcement gives visitors who get inebriated and leave their cars downtown overnight more time to find their cars in the morning.
Councilman Mike Detoy said he agreed with Francois, though not with his colleague’s reasoning.
The later enforcement, Detoy argued, encourages residents to stop for their morning coffee at local coffee shops.
“We should reach out to downtown businesses for their opinions before changing the hours,” he said.
After it became apparent the vote was evenly split the council agreed to delay a vote until the next council meeting, when Councilmember Jason Massey will be present. Massey was absent from Tuesday night’s meeting.
Massey is a surfer. ER
Brand protection
In another potential tweak to a local tradition, the council voted unanimously Tuesday night to prohibit unauthorized use of the city’s “insignia.” In 2020, the council approved an ordinance prohibiting unauthorized use of the city’s sunburst logo. Tuesday’s action expands the restriction to include reproduction of the city name using its signature typeface.
“Misuses imply endorsement by the city,” Deputy City Manager Angela Crespi told the council.
Organizations such as the Hermosa Beach Ironman and the Hermosa Beach Little League have long used the city logo and typeface without city authorization.
Mayor Raymond Jackson asked if the Hermosa Little League, whose logo uses the city typeface, will have to change its logo.
City manager Suja Lowenthal responded, “We’ve met with the Little League and they will phase out the use of the city logo.”
“If I print shirts in my garage with the Hermosa Beach sunburst, would you send me a letter,’ Jackson asked.
“Yes, that would be a violation of the municipal code,” Lowenthal responded.
Lowenthal said requests for use of the city logo and insignia will be decided on a case by case basis.
City attorney Patrick Donegan noted public uses of the city logo and insignia are subject to “fair use” exceptions, and would require review on a case by case basis.
Donegan added that use of government logos by electoral candidates is prohibited by state law.
Skechers steps up
Manhattan Beach-based Skechers has agreed to donate shoes to the orphanage in Loreto Mexico, Hermosa Beach’s sister city. Mayor Raymond Jackson requested the shoes after a recent visit to Loreto, when he learned orphanage kids weren’t going to school because they didn’t have shoes.
“Skechers didn’t hesitate to help,” Jackson said. ER
