📬 Brad Waller — District 1 Newsletter — February 23, 2026

Neighbors,

Five topics were discussed at the Independent Cities Association seminar I attended this weekend: coastal regulation, cybersecurity, city revenue, short-term rentals, and the tension between state mandates and local control. Every one of them is directly relevant to Redondo Beach, and I want to walk you through the takeaways while they're fresh.

But first, some tangible progress closer to home: new truck route signage that gives RBPD real enforcement tools, an updated project page for the Avenue A Beach Access Ramp, a rescheduled ribbon cutting you'll want on your calendar, and a college scholarship worth up to $10,000 that I don't want any local student to miss.

🚛 Public Safety: Truck Route Enforcement Gets Teeth

🔹 Torrance has installed new signs on both Sepulveda Boulevard and Palos Verdes Boulevard alerting drivers that the truck route ends ahead. That may sound like a small thing, but it's a big deal for enforcement. RBPD now has clear, posted boundaries to work with, and every enforcement action on that corridor has already produced measurable reductions in illegal truck traffic through our neighborhoods. Watch for future enforcement actions soon.

→ 🎯 Why I'm encouraged: This is the kind of incremental, interagency progress that actually changes daily life for the residents along those routes. Signage, enforcement, and coordination between cities work. I'll keep pushing Torrance to make sure we sustain the momentum.

🏛️ ICA Winter Seminar: What I Learned and Why It Matters

🔹 This weekend, I attended the Independent Cities Association Winter Seminar, a full day of policy sessions with city leaders and state-level experts on the issues shaping local government right now. Here are the takeaways most relevant to us:

→ 🏠 Coastal Commission & Housing: We had a candid session on the California Coastal Act, including the real friction between state housing mandates and coastal access protections. For a beachfront city like ours, these aren't theoretical debates; they directly affect what gets built, where, and under what conditions. Understanding where the legal lines are drawn helps us protect local priorities while staying compliant with Sacramento.

→ 🔒 Cybersecurity: Multiple sessions drove home a point I believe deeply: cities need to harden their systems, train their staff, and build response plans before an attack happens. Cities across California have been hit. The ones that recovered fastest had preparation on their side. I'm confident Redondo Beach is well prepared, but there is always more to be done.

→ 💰 Revenue Without Raising Taxes: A case study from Santa Monica showed how smarter fee structures and operational efficiencies can improve a city's financial health without asking taxpayers for more money. As a business owner who's operated in Redondo Beach since 1994, I appreciate the discipline of finding revenue through better management rather than rate increases. I have a few ideas I’ll be looking into.

→ 🏡 Short-Term Rentals & SB 346: California SB 346 may require updates to our short-term rental ordinance (we prohibit all short-term rentals in the city) to strengthen enforcement. I'll be tracking this legislation closely. If the state changes the rules, we need to be ready to adapt so our neighborhoods remain livable and enforcement stays effective.

→ ⚡ The bigger picture: Local decision-making is increasingly shaped by state law, technology risk, and fiscal discipline. The seminar reinforced that staying ahead of all three isn't optional; it's the job.

🏖️ Avenue A Beach Access Ramp: Project Page Now Live

🔹 LA County has updated the website for the Avenue A Beach Access Ramp project. The page now includes background information, current status, and the construction schedule,  all in one place.

→ 💡 Why this matters: Coastal access improvements affect everyone who uses our beaches, and transparency about timelines and progress helps residents hold the county accountable. If you've been wondering where this project stands, here's your answer.
👉 View the Avenue A Beach Access Ramp project page

🚲 Bike Path Extension: Ribbon Cutting Rescheduled

🔹 Last week's storms forced a postponement of the Bike Path Extension ribbon cutting that was originally scheduled for Thursday, February 19. The new ribbon cutting will be on Thursday, March 5th, at 4 pm. Still at the corner of Felton and Rockefeller.

→ 🎯 Quick refresher: The new segment connects Felton Lane to Inglewood Avenue with a concrete pathway for cyclists and pedestrians, decomposed granite trails, native plantings, and updated irrigation. Funded by LA Metro, it's part of a longer-term vision to extend safe, connected bikeways through North Redondo.

🎓 Cal Water College Scholarship — Apply by March 26

🔹 California Water Service is accepting applications for its 13th annual college scholarship program, and I want to make sure Redondo Beach families know about it. The program is awarding $80,000 this year: four grand-prize scholarships of $10,000 each, plus several additional awards from $2,500 to $5,000.

→ 📊 By the numbers: Cal Water has awarded $839,000 in scholarships statewide since the program began. Applicants must live in a Cal Water service area (that includes us), and plan to enroll full-time at an accredited college, university, or vocational-technical school for 2026–2027. From my years on the school board, I know how much scholarship support can change a student's path. If you know a college-bound student, please pass this along.

→ ⏰ Deadline: Thursday, March 26. Winners announced in late May.
👉 Apply for the Cal Water Scholarship

📅 Coming Up

🔹 Spring Class & Summer Camp Registration — Today, Monday, February 23. Redondo Beach residents get first access to sign up for spring recreation classes and summer camps through Community Services. Non-residents can register starting Monday, March 2.
👉 View classes and activities

🔹 Poppy Talk — Monday, March 2, 8:00–9:30 a.m. First Monday of the month means the local naturalist gathering at Klatch Coffee is back. Bring your questions about native plants, seasonal blooms, or just your curiosity and a coffee order.

🔹 First Saturday Sweep — Saturday, March 7, 9:00 a.m. Keep the Esplanade Beautiful hosts their monthly coastal clean-up. Gloves on, bags out — one hour, visible results. They supply everything you need. Meet at Esplanade & Avenue I.
👉 Join the 1st Saturday Sweep

🔹 Annual Public Safety Open House — Sunday, March 8, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Head to the Civic Center to meet our police, fire, and emergency response teams up close. Demos, displays, and a great family-friendly way to connect with the people who keep us safe.

🔹 Wilderness Park Lower Pond Ribbon Cutting — Thursday, March 19, 2:00 p.m. Wilderness Park continues to get the upgrades it deserves. Mark your calendar for this one.

🔹 Springfest — April 16–19. Redondo Beach's beloved tradition since 1982 returns with carnival rides, live music, food trucks, and family fun at the Performing Arts Center. Admission is free.
👉 Get Springfest details

🔹 BeachLife Festival — May 1–3. Three days of music right on our waterfront. Duran Duran, The Offspring, Joan Jett, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, and more.
👉 Follow BeachLife Festival (Instagram)

🥕 Weekly Markets

Farmers' Market by the Pier (Veterans Park) — Thursdays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. 309 Esplanade.
👉 Read more

Riviera Village Farmers Market — Sundays, 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Triangle Lot, 1801 S. Elena Ave.
👉 Read more

📱 Access Redondo

Do you have a problem or need to report an issue to the city? Use the Access Redondo App.

👉 Download App

I ran for this seat because I believe local government works best when it's transparent, fiscally disciplined, and connected to the people it serves. Weeks like this one — where I can sit in a room with city leaders from across the state, bring insights back, and share them directly with you — are a reminder of why this work matters.

Spring registration opens today, the truck route signage is up, the beach ramp project page is live, and a scholarship deadline is coming that I don't want any family to miss. If any of this raises a question, hit reply — I read every message.

See you around the neighborhood.

"I believe progress isn't one headline — it's how we treat each other at games, how we welcome visitors to our beach, and how we keep showing up for small, unglamorous work. Thanks for doing that work with me. 🤝"

Brad Waller
City Council Member, Redondo Beach
brad.waller@redondo.org