HERMOSA BEACH CITY COUNCIL RECAP: December 9

Link to Regular (Council) Post-Meeting HTML Agenda and Timestamped Meeting Video

BELOW ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH’S DECEMBER 9, 2025, CITY COUNCIL MEETING:

🏛️ Adopted 2025 Municipal Building Codes (Video Timestamp: 1:38:20)

Council adopted an Urgency Ordinance aligning Hermosa Beach building codes with the 2025 California Building Standards Code and 2024 International Property Maintenance Code.

Motion Approved: 5-0

Ayes (5): Mayor Saemann, Mayor Pro Tem Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, Councilmember Keegan and Councilmember Francois

Noes (0)

👔 Appointed Steven Napolitano City Manager (Video Timestamp: 2:45:12)

Council appointed Interim City Manager Steven Napolitano to the position of full-time City Manager beginning December 10, 2025, approved a three-year contract and set his annual salary at $270,000 with additional benefits.

Motion Approved: 4-1

Ayes (4): Mayor Saemann, Mayor Pro Tem Detoy, Councilmember Keegan and Councilmember Francois

Noes (1): Councilmember Jackson

📝 Streamlined Local Business License Applications (Video Timestamp: 3:12:19)

Council directed staff to forward proposed Municipal Code amendments for Planning Commission discussion. These changes are designed to streamline the licensing process for commercial and home-based businesses.

Motion Approved: 5-0

Ayes (5): Mayor Saemann, Mayor Pro Tem Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, Councilmember Keegan and Councilmember Francois

Noes (0)

🅿️ Approved Parking Meter Replacement Agreement (Video Timestamp: 3:19:59)

Council approved a contract (not to exceed $400,000) with Flowbird America, Inc. to replace multi-space parking meters in Lots A, B and C.

Motion Approved: 5-0

Ayes (5): Mayor Saemann, Mayor Pro Tem Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, Councilmember Keegan and Councilmember Francois

 Noes (0)

🌳 Approved Tree Replanting Plan for Valley Park & Greenbelt (Video Timestamp: 3:38:35)

Council approved a comprehensive tree replanting plan for both Valley Park and the Greenbelt and authorized an increase of $15,000 to the annual project contingency for landscape maintenance.

Motion Approved: 5-0

Ayes (5): Mayor Saemann, Mayor Pro Tem Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, Councilmember Keegan and Councilmember Francois

 Noes (0)

🚛 Authorized Vehicle Purchases for City Fleet (Video Timestamp: 3:47:13)

Council approved the purchase of three City Fleet vehicles to replace older models:

• One Class C Aerial Bucket truck with service body for streetlight, tree and signage maintenance ($286,826)
• One Ford F-250 with service body for daily Public Works field operations (not to exceed $75,000)
• One Toyota Sienna hybrid to support administrative and community-service functions (not to exceed $57,100)

Motion Approved: 5-0

Ayes (5): Mayor Saemann, Mayor Pro Tem Detoy, Councilmember Jackson, Councilmember Keegan and Councilmember Francois

 Noes (0)

🔄 Reorganized City Council Assignments & Subcommittees (Video Timestamp: 3:58:26)

Council conducted its annual review of delegate/alternate assignments, as well as extending and decommissioning select subcommittees as follows:

Committee List Changes:

🔀 South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG)

• Delegate: Mayor Saemann
• Alternate: Councilmember Francois

🔀 SBCCOG Steering Committee

• Delegate: Mayor Saemann
• Alternate: Councilmember Francois

🔀 Southern California Association of Governments

• Councilmember Francois

Decommissioned Subcommittees:

🛑 Greenbelt Pedestrian Trail Renaming Subcommittee

🛑 Self-Storage Lease Subcommittee

🛑 Joint-Use Park Amenities Subcommittee

🛑 Joint Subcommittee to Explore the Roles and Responsibilities of the Public Works Commission

Extended Subcommittees:

➡️ Finance Subcommittee until December 20, 2027

➡️ Downtown Lighting and Beautification Subcommittee until December 31, 2027

Collective Motions Approved: 3-2

Ayes (3): Mayor Saemann, Councilmember Keegan, and Councilmember Francois

Noes (2): Mayor Pro Tem Detoy, and Councilmember Jackson

📌 Other Council Actions (Full Consent Calendar Video Link & Timestamp: 2:29:02)

• Update by HBPD Chief Phillips regarding November 21, 2025 incident
• Accepted donation for design and installation of Community Center monument signage
• Community reminders: complementary Holiday parking through 12/25; Santa visits Hermosa’s Holiday Movie Night 12/12; Beach Cities Toy Drive through 12/19 and wrapping party on 12/20; local menorah lightings and Kiwanis Club Holiday Tree Lot now open
• Removed Residential Parking Permit Program review (17.b) and EV parking spaces (17.f) items
• Approved revised class specifications for Police Lieutenant, Police Sergeant, Senior Engineer and Equipment Mechanic
• Approved Minutes & Reports

📅 Looking Ahead:

• Bringing back item on renaming Community Resources Department to Parks and Recreation Department
• Approved informational item to discuss the use of contract officers in e-bike enforcement
• Approved informational item to discuss the use of Park Rangers
• Directed staff to review and return findings on Strand and City boundary sign placement
• Receiving information regarding regulatory tools to support e-bike safety and compliance

🕖 Adjournment

The regular Council meeting began at 6:15 p.m. and adjourned at 9:44 p.m. on December 9, 2025.