📬 Brad Waller — District 1 Newsletter — November 17, 2025

Hello friends,

Sometimes the best ideas come from watching what works elsewhere. Last week I had the chance to attend Lomita's State of the City celebration, and it was a masterclass in what happens when a city government, chamber of commerce, and community groups truly sync up. Mayor Mark Waronek and City Manager Andrew Vialpando shared an impressive lineup of tech innovations and programs — all while celebrating their 60th anniversary.

The highlight? Cheering on Pilar Gravitte of Little Lemon, named the 2025 National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year. That's Lomita's third national Lemonade Day win in four years, thanks to the Chamber's Heidi Butzine and her team.

Here's the fun part: I may have caught a playful nudge from Mayor Waronek suggesting Redondo Beach should launch our own Lemonade Day program. Challenge accepted — I'm exploring it.

This week also brought our Veterans Day tribute, my District 1 Community Meeting, and a Tuesday night City Council agenda with some policy work that needs your attention. Below is what happened, what's ahead, and how to weigh in.

🛡️ Public Safety & Neighborhood Quality

🔹 Smoke shop ordinance — coming Tuesday
 I've heard your concerns about storefronts near schools and youth routes, and I share them. We need clear, common-sense rules that protect kids and fit neighborhood character. The smoke shop ordinance will be on the November 18th Council agenda. I support thoughtful regulations that prioritize community health and safety while respecting existing businesses. This has been months in the making, and I'm ready to move forward with policy that works for District 1 families.
👉 View the City Council calendar

🔹 Graffiti removal contract — the real story
 At my community meeting last weekend, someone asked about a "$400K graffiti removal contract." Let me clear this up: that's the total cost over all possible contract terms — multiple years. The actual monthly cost is just over $5,600 per month for a licensed contractor who provides quick turnaround, tracking of all services, and consistent neighborhood coverage. We put it out to bid, and the low bidder won.

🏠 Housing & State Compliance

🔹 Housing Element update — state HCD requirements
 The State Housing and Community Development (HCD) department has requested that we adopt a zoning ordinance amendment to provide a formal definition for "permitted by right" and "use by right." This is technical but important — it's about ensuring our local zoning language aligns precisely with state housing law requirements. We're working to get this cleaned up and compliant. Expect this on Tuesday's agenda as well.
👉 View meeting details

🔹 Transient Occupancy Tax discussion
 The Council will discuss potential updates to our Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) structure. This is the tax applied to short-term rentals and hotel stays. Any changes could impact both city revenue and our local hospitality landscape, so I'll be paying close attention to the data and community impact analysis. More details to follow after Tuesday's discussion.

🌊 Environment & Coastal Stewardship

🔹 South Bay Parkland Conservancy (SBPC) — Ongoing restoration across the bluffs and Wilderness Park — great way to connect with local naturalists and neighbors.
👉 Esplanade Bluff Restoration
👉 Wilderness Park Restoration

💼 Regional Collaboration & Economic Development

🔹 Learning from our neighbors
 The Lomita State of the City reminded me why regional collaboration matters. When cities share best practices — whether it's youth entrepreneurship programs, tech infrastructure, or community partnership models — we all benefit. I'm bringing back ideas on everything from digital engagement tools to economic development strategies that could work here in Redondo Beach. Small cities can do mighty things when we learn from each other.

📅 What Happened This Week

🔹 Veterans Day Tribute — Monday, November 11
 I was honored to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at our annual Veterans Day ceremony in Veterans Park. The program featured Tom Lasser, Jim Light, John Gran, Caroline Torrez (who beautifully sang the National Anthem and America the Beautiful), Colonel Andrew Baker, and Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi. It's a meaningful tradition that brings our community together to say thank you to the service members and families who have sacrificed so much. If you missed it this year, please mark your calendar for Memorial Day.

🔹 District 1 Community Meeting — Saturday, November 15
 Thank you to everyone who joined me at the Alta Vista Community Center. We covered the Boat Launch decision, North Branch Express Hours, Holiday Lights and Truck Routes, the Housing Element work, and the smoke shop ordinance. Your questions were thoughtful, your feedback was direct, and the coffee held up. These quarterly meetings help me understand what's working and what needs fixing. For those of you who would like to tell our Torrance counterparts how you feel about trucks on Palos Verdes Blvd, their next meetings are November 18 and December 2 at Torrance City Hall starting at 6:30pm..

📅 Coming Up

🔹 Holiday Music & Tree Lighting — Monday, Dec 9 @ 4:30 p.m.
 A city tradition with student performers (RUHS Jazz Band and choirs) and community partners, hosted by Vera Jimenez. Celebrate on the Civic Center Green as we light the tree and kick off the season.
👉 Read the city news post
👉 View the post (Instagram)

🔹 Next City Council meeting — Tuesday, Nov 18 @ 6:00 p.m.
 Smoke shop ordinance, TOT discussion, and housing compliance items. The calendar updates as agendas are posted.

🥕 Weekly Markets

🔹 Farmers' Market by the Pier (Veterans Park) — Thursdays, 8am–1pm. 309 Esplanade.
👉 Read more

🔹 Riviera Village Farmers Market — Sundays, 8:30am–1pm. 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

Thank you for reading and for the thoughtful questions at last weekend's community meeting. Your input on everything from traffic patterns to housing policy helps me represent District 1 more effectively at City Hall.

My approach is straightforward: explain the data, share the trade-offs, and push for practical solutions that improve daily life. Whether it's clarifying contract costs, learning from neighboring cities, or making sure kids can walk to school safely, I'm focused on no-nonsense problem-solving that respects your time and your tax dollars.

I'll see you around the neighborhood — at the farmers market, the library, or maybe at Tuesday's Council meeting. If you have questions or ideas, just reply to this email. I read every message.

"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