Thread by @jdmendez

A late start tweeting the #RedondoBeach #CityCouncil meeting, but let's get caught up.

First things, approval of the consent calendar didn't finish until an hour into the meeting. As @BillBrandRB noted, it usually only takes five minutes. At a glance...

Beyond the standard approval of payroll and paychecks, RBCC approved work donations by prospective Eagle Scouts. There was also an item a feasibility report for installing solar energy at the @RedondoBeachPAC (I did miss that for the sake of coffee. My fault there.)

Things took a turn when Council pulled its social host ordinance for a second read. Councilman Loewenstein (@todd4rbcouncil) wasn't present for the first read, and had a few concerns.

His worries included both severe punishments for parents hosting teen drinkers (particularly for costs of $3K to $4K for city to recoup costs for staff/PD time breaking up the party) and pushing parties out of homes.

"I'm worried if this happens, we force kids to gather in cars, park somewhere and get sloshed," Loewenstein said. "That's my biggest fear, not my kid having a beer or getting drunk."

Councilwoman @LauraEmdee saw it differently. "I'm concerned with the adults that are handing kids alcohol, allowing it, because in their mind it's safer in their home than to have kids out on the street drinking."

Public comment included a plea by one resident who related a story of her own teenage years, when a party at her home became a rager after kids snuck booze into the punch. Her mom didn't pour it out after finding it out, but took care of the drunks.

Had that occurred in her day, she said, her mom could have faced six months in jail. City attorney Mike Webb countered by saying, currently, someone must be sentenced to 181+ days in jail to even GO to jail. A lot would have to fall in place during judgement for that to happen.

Loewenstein and Nehrneheim weren't sold. The vote went 3-2, in favor of the ordinance, with Todd and Nils opposed. @BillBrandRB, not expecting much discussion initially, remarked that he has five days to consider a veto and asked for resident input in the meantime.

Good news following that though: Redondo's Fourth of July fireworks will be back on the Fourth of July in 2019. (No more accidental Canada Day celebrations next year.)

The biggest debate was over moving the celebrated @VillageRunner Independence Day fun run so as to not coincide with the July 4 fireworks. The argument there, @LauraEmdee said, was to not give staff (police, fire and public works) 14 hour days working both events.

.@RedondoNils argued that forcing the fun run off of July 4 may kill it. Plus, he argued that there are solutions, including private security and county services, to alleviate pressure on RB public staff.

That argument won out...though @HorvathRbd3 warned that if it doesn't work, they'll need to split the events for 2020. Nils's motion to keep the July 4 run and fireworks on the same day passed 4-1, Emdee against.

OK, dropping from the live tweeting. Despite caffeine, my brain power isn't carrying me over between Twitter and note taking. Check EasyReaderNews.com tomorrow and Thursday for more coverage on the meeting.