HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Manager's Report - Huntington Beach Corner Market Code wnNvMWAIM" c S1AW,-M40A1
City of Huntington Beach
File #: 21-829 MEETING DATE: 11/2/2021
Huntington Beach Comer Market Code Enforcement Update
City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of' Pnnted on 1114/2021
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Moore, Tania
From: Lisa M Serrano-Kelly PMA(r)CPT <lisamkellyl@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2021 8:07 AM
To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org
Subject: The Harassment of the Corner Market
Harassment of a small business ! The Corner Market on 11th and Acacia is being hounded and someone is trying to run
them out of business. This is unacceptable. Having lived downtown on 11th street for many years we would walk by that
place and pray for a good clean well run business to go in there. We finally have one and they are being relentlessly
harassed. In this city which should be doing backflips that a decent business that spreads love and joy through the
community wants to operate here, instead you are listening to some cranky crony who relentlessly complains it is just
not acceptable to those of us who know and love Suzanne and John and their wonderful Business! Stop this Harassment!
Look to the many many other terrible problems that this city has and leave an honest business alone
In Health. Lisa M. Kelly, P.M.A., C.P.T.
SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
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Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 11:29 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: Corner Market
From: William Hennerty Jr.<billhennerty@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday,October 29, 20214:44 PM
To:CITY COUNCIL<city.council@surfcity-hb.org>; Chi,Oliver<oliver.chi@surfcity-hb.org>; Hopkins,Travis
<thopkins@surfcity-hb.org>; Estanislau, Robin<Robin.Estanislau@surfcity-hb.org>
Cc:Gates, Michael<Michael.Gates@surfcity-hb.org>
Subject: Corner Market
Good day Council and Staff.
1 am writing you all today in regards to the ongoing harassment by code enforcement and certain individuals
whom have a problem with this historic building, the owners of the property and the tenants. It has come to light
that a certain city council person is going around showing other small business owners video they took
personally of these so called code violations. Council should consider a investigation to this and expose these
individuals. Personal my wife and I have a similar experience going as far as head of code enforcement filings a
criminal case that was dismissed. He went after my wife's teaching credential. This is the type of leadership that
is allowed. 4 years we have been dealing with similar issues. Historic buildings do not fall under the same
regulations as newer construction. For the city to force entering people's homes with the sole purpose to extort
money for code violations is what is happening. Forcing these owners to sell and make way for another tall and
skinny. There is a lot of frustration in my email but 1 need to make you all aware.
Thank you for your time and service,
William Hennerty
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
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Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 11:31 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: HB Corner Market Bakery
From: natzato@gmail.com<natzato@gmail.com> SUPPLEMEN 1 AL
Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2021 2:3S PM COMMUNICATION
To: Fikes, Cathy<CFikes@surfcity-hb.org>
Subject: HB Corner Market Bakery Mee*V Dab:_ ,aD�� l
,Agenda horn No.: �.�r
1) The HBCM building, located at 601 11 th Street on the comer of Acacia, was built in 1926.
This comer building is, has been, and always will be zoned as commercial property. It is also
now deemed historic. Photos over the years (attached below) show the space in front of the
market and also the patio area being utilized, showing that this use is not new.
2)The city should be proud of and support a small business that encourages healthy
congregation, community participation, and increased neighborhood awareness like the HBCM
does. This small business has brought families and friends together in a way that no other
business in this location ever has. There have never been violations in regards to physical
altercations or drunk and disorderly conduct from the owners or customers since this business
opened in July 2018.
3)The City of HB employs leaders for city management, facilities,administration,etc. Some of
those leaders have displayed behavior in violation of their own standard of conduct compliance.
Some city employees have been on or around the HBCM before/after hours using their powers
inappropriately by employing intimidation tactics and/or threatening language:
While the City formally acknowledges this standard of conduct on an annual basis, it also provides
and requires all elected or appointed officals, City employees, and members of its boards,
commissions, committees, and task forces to participate in ethics training "in general ethics
principles and ethics laws relevant to his or her public service,"every two years to comply with
guidelines brought forth by Assembly Bill 1234 (Salinas) -Compensation and Ethics.
Resolution No. 2018-58, adopted by the City Council on October 15, 2018, amended and reaffirmed
the City's standard of conduct for elected officials, officers, employees, and members of advisory
boards, commissions and committees.
4) The City Council exists to "represent the city throughout the community and the
region," and by meeting the needs of the city as a whole, they should be representing
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their constituents. Many people feel that our city is working against the small businesses
in favor of the larger. higher revenue establishments (possibly the reason our small
downtown area is heavily populated by bars) - we need to implore FIB leaders to value
the special small businesses like FIBCM before they eradicate them all.
5) Anyone who is opposed to the operations of the HBCM should be full\, aware of the
commercial status of this building and should be educated as to what the implications
have been and could be for a different and more unsavory use (i.e. liquor store, etc.) of
this establishment.
6) The City has most likely wasted an inordinate amount of funds responding to petty
and/or bogus violation claims against the HBCM. With each violation, they have to send
employees, process paperwork, and have even sent police vehicles. helicopter. etc., in the
past. Claims such as "nuisance" and "non-conforming uses" have no real basis when
history is shown (i.e., use in front of the store for bistro tables, flowers. use of the patio -
also granted to HBCM by the landlords for use of their private space). The city should
not have to waste taxpayer funds to respond to illegitimate claims.
7) One dissenter. a disgruntled neighbor who was "so unhappy with the market." and who
made his position known to all who dared glance at his home, ended up becoming
gravely ill. Upon his terminal diagnosis, he came into the FIBCM to apologize AND
enjoy his coffee there each morning until he passed. He realized, sadly too late, what a
gem of a business and caring community that he had right in front of him. Let's not let
that happen to anyone else.
8) The FIBCM is considered a neighborhood treasure for many of us from adjacent homes
to nearby cities or beyond. Community has been strengthened, friendships have
flourished, and personal attention has been given to each person who even comes near the
market. The city of 1-IB has always been about great local pride and love for one another.
Please do not let the negative view of very. very few dismantle what the Iacono family
has developed in the HBCM - this business is a benefit to our neighborhood. local
community, and the entire city overall.
Thank You,
Natalia Miyazato
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Moore, Tania
From: Tiffany Abrishami <tiffanyabrishami@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 2, 2021 2:49 PM
To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org
Subject: City council meeting question
Hello City Council
What is Dan Kalmick's involvement with code enforcement? No coucilmen should be stalking or harrassing businesses .
This is regarding hb corner market.
Thank you
Tiffany Abrishami
Sent from my iPhone
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Moore, Tania
From: J Horton <mckane4@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 2, 2021 4:27 PM
To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org
Subject: HB Corner Market council meeting item
Attachments: corner market pdf.pdf
Please submit this to the public record and cc to City Council, City Attorney and City manager. Please also consider
questions contained in the body of this letter to be a public records request .
Jan Horton
516 13th St
HB 92648
714-328-4610
1
Good evening,
Jan Horton, 516 13th St , 6 year resident
I come before you tonight as a concerned resident re the City's
apparent goal of fining the Corner Market out of business and
causing undue stress. As a former council member of my former
City, I do realize there are times the city staff pursue their various
duties without Council involvement. Even if the enforcement of
codes and planning guidelines seem excessive.
To that end, when I heard what was happening, I defended the
Council. The City Manager oversees the City staff and Council gives
direction for variances, sometimes in consultation their various
commissions. It did not appear the Council or City attorney knew of
these aggressive tactics.
I must say I was shocked when on social media the City Attorney
acknowledged he was previously aware of this problem and had
spoken to the individuals involved and would reach out again.
Then I found out, the owners of the Corner Market had spoken in
front of the council previously. So those who were on Council at the
time knew this was happening.
Yesterday another revelation: it became evident a newly sitting
Council Member was spending an inordinate amount of time
observing the Market from his car, taking pictures of the business
and then pressuring code enforcement to continue fining them and
the landowners.
How is this even possible?
Questions:
1 . When Corner Market owners and the landowners spoke before
Council, was any direction given to City staff re code enforcement?
If so, what was it?
2. Was the City Atty ever directed to intervene in handling this
problem with either the Business owner or the landowners? Was
there a report back to the Council on his actions? If so, What was in
the report?
3. Was the individual Council member given the authority to direct
City staff to aggressively enforce codes, some not applicable to a
historic structure, harassing the business owner and landowners? If
not, Will you consider sanctioning this Council member for exceeding
his authority?
When has repeated fining upwards of $6000 a time for cleaning
tables seem reasonable?
This is harassment, the goal appears to be to shut the Corner
Market down. I have seen three businesses occupy this space in the
6 years I have lived here and Corner Market has been the only one
that has been successful. It is sad when City staff, Council and the
City Attorney want to shut down a wonderful place to eat and
gather.
Do the Right Thing. Stop the strong-arm tactics against a small Mom
and Pop business!