Huge Election Victories For Stop Oil Candidates in Hermosa Beach

Congratulations to everyone in our stop oil group! Thank you to Nanette Barragan and Hany Fangary for your staunch support of the stop oil movement in Hermosa Beach!  We this movement over a year ago and some major goals were accomplished this week in the election.

I personally have had the best nights of sleep since Bobko announced his oil settlement in the Spring of 2012. Our Stop Oil grassroots movement is a very powerful force that completely influenced the outcome of this election without spending hardly any money. Unfortunately, we have another year to go until November 2014 unless the powers that be can simply make the problem Bobko and Divirgilio created go away. 

Don't Re-Elect Kit Bobko For Hermosa Beach City Council

"The idea that oil drilling is some inherently unsafe activity — I question that" 

- Kit Bobko

Here Are List of Reasons Not To Re-Elect Kit Bobko . . .

1)  Lead Negotiator of Illegal Oil Settlement
2)  Disruptive Behavior & Promotion of Personal Political Agendas

3)  Kit Bobko's Horrendous Public Voting Record

4)  Multiple Brown Act Violations

5)  Kit Bobko is Hiding Oil Related Expenses

6)  Kit Bobko Thinks Hermosa Beach Wastes Money Yet Wants $ By Oil Drilling?

7)  Kit Bobko Bulldozed His Colleagues Into Signing Oil Settlement & Silenced Them

8)  E&B Was Illegally Drilling Under Kit Bobko's Watch

9)  Kit Bobko's Hypocrisy About Transparency

10) Kit Bobko's Long History of Wasting Tax Payer Dollars

11) 15 Ways Kit Bobko's Leadership Is Not Impartial To Oil Drilling

Read these letters to the Easy Reader Editor 

Out with Bobko

Hermosa Beach city councilman Kit Bobko’s affection for the limelight has clouded his judgment over and over. His recent press release to the newspapers about the selection of Police chief was wrong. His judgment and his critical thinking process are way out of whack. He seems to be more interested in his name being published in the paper and heard on radio or TV than performing the duties of his city council post. His ego caused the city to retain a public relations firm to the tune of $10,000 a month and the city council has spent over $200,000 on this public relations firm over the last 20 months. Bobko wastes money further by going outside this highly paid public relations group and issues his own personal press release, touting his Mayors position for his pick for new Police Chief.

In doing so he went against city policy, a code of ethics and the established procedure for this city hire. He misleads the public as though his title of mayor was voted upon, which it was not. His need for media attention superseded all common sense. Worse yet, he does not understand that his actions actually cost his favored selection the job. The city manager would have appeared to be a stooge of Bobko’s had he gone with Bobko’s press release candidate for police chief. The reason the city council does not get involved in the selection of department heads is that it would lead to a poor selection process. Bobko knows this. He is currently serving as ceremonial mayor at the pleasure of his four other council colleagues. In addition to a resolution of censure, he should be voted to be removed by his other councilmembers as the ceremonial mayor as soon as possible.

Hermosa Beach has no use for such self-promotion and abuse of the ceremonial title of mayor. In November, the electorate can elect some less publicity oriented persons onto the dais.

Michael Keegan

Pure poppycock 

Hermosa Beach Councilmember Kit Bobko’s self promotional letter about how he was instrumental in ensuring “that our City was not overrun on the 4th of July” is pure poppycock. First of all, he alone cannot authorize spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for 50-LA County Sheriff’s Deputies, a “35 foot ‘jail bus,’ and mounted horse patrol.” Secondly, the real reason such significant resources are required is because Bobko and his council colleagues have tolerated a party atmosphere with rampant drunkenness and out of control people for years. Moreover, when the city allows July Fourth to begin with the “Iron Man” event that violates Hermosa Beach’s prohibition of alcohol on the beach, it sets the “agenda” for a day of out of control partying and drunkenness. Residents should ask themselves if a more reasonable solution would be to close all our alcohol serving establishments at 6:00 PM on July Fourth and also cancel the illegal “Iron Man.” That would probably stop the city from being “overrun” on July and cost a whole lot less than the city is currently spending on public safety for July Fourth

Fred Huebscher

Here are the people endorsing Kit From His Web Site  . . . 

• South Bay Chapter of the LA County Lincoln Clubs
• Former Congressman Steve Kuykendall
• Don Knabe, Los County Supervisor
• Michael DiVirgilio, Hermosa Beach Mayor Pro Tempore
• Jack Burns, Hermosa Beach School District Board Member
• George Barks, Former City Council Board Member
• Richard Montgomery, Former Manhattan Beach Mayor
• Bob Holmes, Former Manhattan Beach City Council Member
• Art Yoon, Former Hermosa Beach City Council Member
• Greg Breen, Former Board Member, Hermosa Beach School District
• Bill Sigler, Former Parks and Recreation Commission 
• Steve and Susan Blaco
• Danay DiVirgilio
• Doug Gneiser
• Bruce Greenspon
• Dorothy Harley
• Ken Hartley
• Manny Serrano
• Corinne Ybarra

Hermosa Beach Mayor Kit Bobko Offers No Apology & Smart-Ass Response

Bobko Offers No Apology & Smart-Ass Response To His Disruptive Behavior

George Schmeltzer Addresses Bobko Undermining Colleagues & City Manager

Kit Bobko Reprimand By City Council Colleagues For Destructive Behavior 

Kit Bobko Offers Censure Amendment "I Not Believe in the Easter Bunny"

Hermosa Beach City Council Must Agendize Their "Oil Neutrality" Closed Session Agreement To Avoid Brown Act Violations

See Howard Longacre's letter to the City Council received and filed on the June 24 meeting.

Jeff Duclos Says, "E&B Natural Resources Shows A Shocking Level of Management Incompetence"

Hermosa Beach City Council Member Jeff Duclos says we should be upset with E&B Natural Resources and the shocking level of management incompetence. They took no responsibility for the lack of oversight pulling a drilling permit and DID NOT apologize for their error.

Former City Council Member Michael Keegan says, E&B has proven so incompetent they can't even pull a proper drilling permit and why isn't the City Council upset? Why isn't Hermosa Beach looking for a new oil drilling applicant?

Hands Across The Sand Hermosa Beach - Saturday, May 18, 2013

Hands Across The Sand Hermosa Beach

Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 11 am

Here is video from 2010 celebrating an "oil free" town.  

Please take notice that Hermosa City Councilman Jeff Duclos is in this video.  

Jeff Duclos is also an alternate on the Coastal Commission.  

Kit Bobko of Hermosa Beach City Council Violated The Brown Act

Watch Kit Bobko Blatantly Violate The Brown Act in a Public Meeting

This meeting above was the first City Council's first attempt at a public meeting that did not go so well for them.  They tried sneak it onto the agenda of a School Board Meeting that was supposed to be about public safety and it back fired on them.  Preventing discussion of certain issues on the agenda is a Violation of the Brown Act.

Will one of the 5 City Council members crack and break the code of silence by November?  Or will the Citizens revolt and elect 3 responsible Hermosa Beach citizens who work for the Communities best interest not their own. We need to make sure that our elected officials loyalty is not divided by serving on board(s) or organizations where there can be conflicting interest.  We need to make sure that our elected officials are disclosing information, signing legal agreements, hiring reputable companies and City Attorneys that we can trust.

A lawsuit was filed in the town Sanford / Broome County, N.Y., whose town board has blocked discussion of fracking at public meetings.  This is very similar to what is going on in Hermosa Beach and the City Council trying to deflect responsibility to a regulatory process.  This video of Sanford, New York are what future meetings in Hermosa Beach are going to look like if the City Council continue to stand behind their illegal code of silence and not commenting the agreement or oil drilling.

The Natural Resources Defense Council and Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy argue that the board of the town of Sanford violated citizens’ right to free speech (Brown Act) when it voted unanimously to block any further discussion of the controversial natural gas extraction technique during the public comment sections of town board meetings. (See the video above.)

City Council Hypocrisy, Lies, Deception & Intimidation

Video of Hermosa Beach City Council Lies, Deception & Intimidation on Oil Deal

1)  Turn up the volume for City Attorney Michael Jenkins asks for $150,000 from City Manager Steve Burrell appropriation to defend Hermosa Beach for a trial that never happened.  Shouldn't this be investigated and itemized? 

2)  Listen to the entire City Council avoid the public outreach to inform the public of their settlement.  This was held on the day the settlement was announced before the opposition was unleashed.  Michael Divirgilio avoids getting involved with the outreach program because he wants Jeff Duclos to do it.  Listen to Jeff Duclos avoid getting involved with the public forum to discuss the settlement.  There has NOT BEEN ONE PUBLIC to discuss the settlement or ask questions to the City in over a year.  

3)  Listen to the hypocrisy of Michael Divirgilio and Kit Bobko try to intimidate the City Treasurer about doing an RFP when he received 19 proposals.   The oil settlement was the largest deal in the history of the City and the deal was negotiated and personally sourced by Bobko and Divirgilio.  This is hypocrisy at its finest.  

4)  Turn up the volume for George Schmeltzer who rips the City Council a new one for hiding information.  

"E&B Won't Fool Hermosans" - Howard Longacre Letter

The Beach Reporter Letter February 6, 2013

Steve Layton, president of E&B Natural Resources, condescendingly portrayed 12 Hermosa residents who spoke out at a recent meeting as just those “remaining concerned” of E&B’s plan to drill 35 oil wells in city (Jan. 31 Beach Reporter letters).

Those residents and others are again having to give of their own valuable time and expenditures to challenge the insanity of drilling oil wells next to million-dollar homes in tiny Hermosa Beach. Now they’ve received this latest insulting, ignorant, and self-serving Kool-Aid response from Layton.
Why wasn’t Layton personally in attendance at the council/school board meeting when an E&B item was on the agenda? Is The Beach Reporter instead to be printing Layton propaganda responses every time Hermosa residents speak out in a public forum regarding E&B’s less than honorable deal, as made and signed secretly with Hermosa’s City Council?

E&B, with the outrageous secret help of Hermosa Councilman Michael DiVirgilio and Mayor Kit Bobko, and probably a few others behind the woodwork, has slickly weaseled its way into Hermosa Beach, a 21st-century city with stated goals fostering health, being green and carbon-neutral. And now E&B is to be drilling toxic oil wells?

E&B’s pitchman, Layton, has now moved himself into Hermosa Beach to better manipulate its 1.3 square miles of beach, ocean, residents, businesses and home-owners to E&B’s needs. E&B evidently views Hermosa’s electorate as being stupid and easily conned into returning to the 19th-century’s oil-drilling greed and ugliness.

If Layton actually believes Hermosa residents will be fooled into turning backward from a forklift pallet-full of smoke-and-mirrors documents, glossy PR and tempting elixirs to be dumped at their doorsteps and filling their mailboxes, than perhaps he needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Layton’s stuck in a dream and seems to have no clue that what he heard at the Jan. 23 meeting from those residents was merely the tip of the iceberg that E&B has so recklessly navigated into.

Howard Longacre
Beach Reporter Letter

Shame On You Hermosa Beach City Council. 13 Minutes of Shame

Hermosa Beach Wyland Water Challenge "Greenest City" Award?

Hermosa Beach Mayors Whyland Foundation Water Challenge

Hermosa Beach Mayor Peter Tucker and Wyland Foundation VP Steve Creech talked to Dave Gonzales and Sandra Mitchell of CBS News about the water conservation challenge. Pete Tucker had a goal as Mayor to make Hermosa Beach residents understand the value of conserving water in the community.  On October of 2011, Pete Tucker and Jeff Ducklos attend the West Basin Water Harvest Festival.  Hermosa Beach to accept the top honor of conserving water in Southern California.  Hermosa Beach residents made this possible by conserving water for future generations.

One unnamed City Official said off the record, "This is hypocrisy at its highest level and I am disappointed how we have handled it."  "Carbon Neutral", "Green City", "Green Taskforce" sounds kind of ridiculous now that we are considering oil drilling doesn't it?

Its incredible to see hear Pete Tucker discuss how he got all these groups in Hermosa Beach to help win this award by sending out 4000 emails.  Groups like the Green Task Force, Volleyball groups, Ed Foundation, Women's Club (Ace in the Hole), Public Works, Planning Commission.

It strikes me as absurd that the City of Hermosa Beach is evening allowing an oil company to discuss the idea of drilling for oil in our community with the risks it poses on our water supply.  Pete Tucker and Jeff Ducklos need to start acting like responsible Councilmen by defending our safety.

Hermosa Beach council member's have said absolutely nothing on the oil drilling issue because they are bound taken a vow to remain silent during the process.  This is absurd when their primary responsibility is to protect the safety residents.  Not an oil company.

Pumping millions of recycled or reclaimed water into the ground for the purposed of oil drilling is not only risky for the residents but also jeopardizes our drinking water.

Most people don't realize that 40% of Los Angeles drinking water comes from an aquifer underground.  

E&B is going to use a bogus study that says fracking does pose any environmental impacts or contaminate our water which is a complete fraud.  If you want to read more about how this study has been refuted.  Balkwin Hills Fracking Study. 

Hermosa Beach City Council Voting Record

Hermosa Beach City Council Voting Record

Kit Bobko & Michael Divirgilio are the dissenting votes or absent for all of these City Council Meeting votes?  

1)  Voted 3-2 No on Outsourcing Parking Meters

2)  Voted 3-2 Yes Hiring Tom Bakaly as new City Manager

3)  Voted 3-2 Yes to Ban Polystyrene
4)  Voted 4-1 Yes Banning Smoking on Strand & Pier Plaza
5)  Voted 4-0 Yes (Bobko Absent) Banning Smoking on Beaches
6)  Voted 3-2 Yes Approval of Bank of American Banking contract
6)  Voted 3-2 No Suspend City Treasurer Cohn who was a victim of extortion.

Oil Drilling Settlement Negotiations

The City Council seems to have a clear divide on most voting issues in recent months as described above.  However, I often have to scratch my head to understand the logic behind some of the dissenting votes in recent months.  Bobko and Divirgilio are clearly working as a team and it all seemed to culminate immediately after both launched a PR campaign to promote their oil settlement.  The big question is:  Why were the two of these guys negotiating our oil settlement deal together?  Shouldn't they have had Duclos, Fishman or Tucker in the room negotiating? Neither Bobko or Divirgilio own a home in Hermosa Beach.  It would have been impossible for a third City Councilman to participate in the negotiations because it would have been in violation of the Brown Act.  Were the residents represented properly?  I don't think so.  What business, lobbyists or people are motivating these two individuals to make make their voting decisions or press their unpopular agendas?

Outsourcing Parking Meters vs Replacing With Credit Card Machines

I think many residents who are disappointing about the City not even considering outsourcing are missing the point of Duclos, Fishman and Tucker voting no.  However, the City can always outsourcing at any point in time but lets take some baby steps and install credit card machines that we own first.  Some of the high salary and union problems might naturally go away over time.  90% of the problems can be solve by installing credit card machines and that does not require outsourcing.   The City currently collects $2.5M per year from coins and who knows we might be about to double this to $5M simply by putting in credit card machines and managing the price per spot during peak hours.  What if we charge $5 per hour for parking near the pier during peak hours.  Hint, hint . . .  this might control some of the alcohol related problems of people flooding into our city.  Controlling our own meters with credit cards is not that hard and Manhattan Beach has already demonstrated they can do it profitably.

Kit made faulty parallel assumptions that it works for Newport Beach, why not in Hermosa?  His PR was recognized in the national media blaming $100,000 meter maids as the problem?  Why did Kit conveniently leave out that installing credit card machines would have $0 cost to the city and would be profitable immediately.  This does not require outsourcing.  So, what his suggestion to outsource politically motivated or does he have the best interest of our city at heart?  Does he or his law firm RWG have any political ties to the large outsourcing firms that manage parking meters?  Does Kit once again have a conflict of interest he would like to explain?  Was he motivated to get a "deal" in return for some political donations down the road.

Kit routinely makes statements and negotiates deals that are not backed with any financial analysis.  Kit also does not appear to see the big financial picture or have a cohesive fiscal strategy as it relates to the affect on the community.  Kit is not a property owner and has no skin in the game.  He simply seems to look for revenue opportunities or ways to save money to further his political platform.  I wish Kit would simply more rational decision based on what is right for the community and not based a political ideology.  I am a conservative voter and thinker myself, however, I don't agree with much Kit's thinking or ideas as they pertain to what is best for our community.   

Councilmen Howard Fishman said the city should move immediately on replacing coin-operated meters with credit card parking meters to solve 90% of the problems. City Treasurer wrote a memorandum to the council encouraging the installation of credit card-accepting meters as other municipalities have done in order to increase funds and efficiency.  “With credit card meters, revenue goes up overnight,” Pete Tucker said.   Former Police Chief Greg Savelli, who now runs the parking enforcement department of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, also spoke against outsourcing, saying the service the officers provide “goes beyond the balance sheet.”

“What we have now is fantastically expensive,” Kit Bobko said who seems adamant about cutting costs and saving money no matter what the outcome.  Outsourcing to save money or outsourcing to generate (oil drilling) is going to be a common platform for Kit to propel himself to a higher political office.  Kit gave no credible financial arguments justifying his outsourcing position.

Hiring Hermosa Beach City Manager Tom Bakaly

"First, let me say that I think without question that Tom was an impressive dude, and I think that he provides a lot of earned and demonstrated skills that meet our needs and that match quite nicely with our uniqueness," said Councilman Michael DiVirgilio.  Council votes 3-2.

"In Hermosa Beach, we're whistling past the graveyard because we are not having any financial troubles yet,” Bobko said. “We weren't going to stand firm and ask of our leader, the person who is in charge of our city's staff, to do what we want the staff to do, which is to pay for his own first contribution. That is deeply disappointing and I think a failure of leadership for this council…

I don't think either of these guys have much experience running a business or hiring and firing people.  My philosophy has always been to hire the best CEO you can get and pay him top dollar.  There are a lot of problems in the City right now and we need a strong, competent, financially oriented person to do the job.  I am confident Tom Bakaly was a great hire and will help turn the City around that has been neglected in many areas.

Banning Polystyrene in Hermosa Beach

Bobko and Divirgilio have been routinely voting together.  Bobko is a Registered Republican and Divirgilio seems to be a Democrat having worked for Jane Harmon.  However, the two of them seem to be singing to the same song when it comes to local voting matters.  They also don't seem to be able to sway the other 3 council members very often on their views.  Both Bobko and Divirgilio were dissenting votes (3-2_ as well on Hermosa Beach polystyrene ban.   This was shocking since Michael Divirgilio once led the Green Task Force in Hermosa Beach and pounded the table in his campaign about a City that needs to become "carbon neutral".

Banning Smoking on Strand, Pier Plaza & Beaches

It goes without saying who was the lone voter in the 4-1 vote to ban smoking on the Pier and Stand. Kit Bobko does not support banning smoking on the Pier or Strand.  Kit Bobko was also conveniently absent for the 4-0 that banned smoking on the beaches.  Does he have your health at interest or his political views?

Hermosa Beach Renegotiates Banking Contract First Time Ever Recorded

Bank of America has been the Bank of Hermosa Beach for over 40+ years. It would have cost the City over $100,000 to change banks.  Also, Treasurer Cohn renegotiated the current contract for the first time ever and was not touched by John Workman prior Treasurer.   Hermosa Beach was paying $24,000 per year in banking service fees and a $28,000 rebate?

Bobko and Divirgilio Accuse Treasurer Cohn of Sloppy Non-Transparent Work?

Sloppy?  Transparency?  Do Mr. Divirgilio and Mr. Bobko have a personal issue with Treasurer Cohn?  Aren't they being hypocritical about the City Treasurer lacking transparency in the bank bidding process of 12 banks? Correct me if I am wrong but you are the same to 2 councilmen that negotiated a $17.5M settlement with any transparency and 1 oil company? They seem to think the backroom oil deal is justified because of the ongoing litigation but you did brought in a 3rd party without any bidders. Their lack of due diligence and transparency on this deal is appalling and speaks for itself. We are talking about saving money in a banking relationship of $50,000 per year in banking fees vs a $17.5M check they wrote without any bidders while jeopardizing the health and safety of its citizens. I think the two of them have some explaining to do.  Their hypocritical voting record speaks for itself.   E&B loaned the City of HB $30M to settle the lawsuit with Macpherson. How many companies got to bid on this? Only 1 company sourced by Gary Brutsch and Michael Divirgilo and Kit Bobko. Why doesn't the LA Times investigate this?

Former City Manager Steve Burrell Unretires to Manage Oil EIR

Steve Burrell's Retirement Party Two Months Ago April 5, 2012

At the May 22, 2012 City Council Meeting, City Officials are set to approve a Professional Services Agreements with Ed Almanza & Associates and Stephen R. Burrell for consulting services to augment staff in processing land use entitlements and an Environmental Impact Report in connection with an oil drilling project.

Here is a letter to the City Council regarding this consulting agreement from long time resident Barbara Guild who beat oil drilling in 1957.  Barbara Guild has also done an extensive review on the agreement signed by Hermosa Beach and suggest that you read her oil agreement comments here.

Barbara Guild's Letter to City Council of Hermosa Beach

Dear Mayor Duclos, Councilman Fishman, Councilman Tucker, Councilman DiVirgilio, Councilman Bobko,

STOP and THINK before you go forward tonight and inappropriately approve not one, but two of the following items:  “Agreements for Consulting Services to Augment Staff in processing Land Use Entitlements and an Environmental Impact Report in Connection with an Oil Drilling Project.” DO NOT VOTE FOR THESE TWO AGREEMENTS!!! 

I have lived in Hermosa Beach for 64 years, and I am very interested in maintaining the flavor as well as the environment of our city. I actively defeated the Shell Oil Co. in their proposal to drill for oil in our tidelands in 1957. And I spoke to the Council, March13th, following the signing of the current agreement with E & B, where I stated that we are now starting with a clean slate and must realize this fact. 

The people of Hermosa Beach should be allowed to know which firms are bidding for the opportunity of preparing the necessary Environmental Impact Report. It should not be given to the first group that comes along. Allow those of us who are most interested in protecting our environment to come up with suggestions of who to engage. We have many environmental issues that need addressing, and a two-man group from Orange County, with no office on record, only a P. O. Box, should not be signed up without further consideration and public input.

The Settlement Agreement you signed, March 2, 2012, limits, to $50,000, the amount of money E & B will provide to reimburse the City for only these THREE items from (Paragraph 4.4 a):

1) The EIR,

2) The CEQA 

3) The Election to rescind the Oil Drilling Ban.

Former City Manager, Steve Burrell could earn $168,000 for each fiscal year (plus expenses), and the preliminary estimate for Almanza & Associates is $138,000. This would leave nothing to pay for the election, if it’s ever called.   Do you really think that E & B is going to pay for the contracts you might sign tonight? Please seriously consider your vote!

Yours sincerely, Barbara Guild

P.S. Here is Paragraph 4.4 of the March 2, 2012 Agreement the City made with E & B:

4.4 a. E & B’s Obligations Following Closing a. Reimburse City for the cost of preparation of an environmental impact report or supplemental environmental impact report (EIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) based on a Project description provided by E & B, should such an EIR be prepared and the cost of conducting a special election NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 as provided in Paragraph 4.6 (a). (Emphasis added). We are concerned why the city staff would need "assistance with processing the development application and other necessary entitlements" since this is a technical and straightforward procedure that shouldn't require a specialist consultant to accomplish. Unfortunately, Mr. Burrell placed a political cloud over his head by choosing to retire when he did. Had he stayed on longer, this contract would not be necessary. Although the city is not paying for his services, it has the appearance of double-dipping. Those opposing oil development will make hay of this which may very well distract from the serious issues of determining the safety of this project and proposed financial return to the city.

We would like to hear some details on why these people were chosen and what their qualifications and expectations are.  This comes from City Officials like Michael Divirgilio who is sounding the horn on more public transparency which I think is good.  Some questions I have for these individuals:

1) What are the details of this consulting agreement?

2)  How much are they getting paid and by Hermosa Beach?

3)  What is their history with the project, E&B, oil or lawsuit?

4)  What is their professional experience managing processes like this?

5)  Do Steve Burrell or Ed Almanza have any conflicts of interest?

6)  How will this facilitate the promise from City Council about making the EIR process public?

7)  Are any city residents involved in the EIR process?

8) Why are the we, the citizens, paying for this? Why isn't this cost being underwritten by the oil company? Or are we concerned that if they pay for it we won't get legitimate answers?

Please add your comments here.