HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmailed comments for Closed Session from Cathy Goldberg1
Gloria Harper
From:Les Johnson
Sent:Saturday, February 06, 2021 12:51 PM
To:Phil Gonshak
Cc:Police Supervisor; Jill Ingram; Patrick Gallegos; Gloria Harper; csteele@rwglaw.com
Subject:Re: Public Comment for Closed Session, Monday 2/8/21: Outdoor Dining Tents
Chief,
Thank you for sharing this correspondence. Wanted to let you know that we previously informed all who have
received outdoor dining permits that should they elect to use a tent that at least two sides had to remain open. It
appears that since the recent reopening of outdoor dining and the cooler temperatures currently being
experienced, some restaurants have closed a third or all four sides.
We will provide email notice on Monday to restaurants with outdoor dining reminding them of this requirement
and subsequently following up with face to face visits, when deemed necessary. We will also remind them of
the social distancing requirements as well.
Les Johnson
Community Development Director
City of Seal Beach
(562) 431-2527
On Feb 6, 2021, at 12:37 PM, Phil Gonshak <pgonshak@sealbeachca.gov> wrote:
BCC: Seal Beach City Council Members
Good Afternoon Supervisors - Please ensure your teams are aware of the information below, as
she is accurate. With that, if called on this topic, please ensure the tents are in compliance.
Thanks,
Phil
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Cathy Goldberg <cathy.goldberg@live.com>
Date: February 6, 2021 at 12:15:10 PM PST
To: Thomas Moore <tmoore@sealbeachca.gov>, Schelly Sustarsic
<ssustarsic@sealbeachca.gov>, Mike Varipapa <MVaripapa@sealbeachca.gov>,
Sandra Massa-Lavitt <SMassaLavitt@sealbeachca.gov>, Joe Kalmick
<jkalmick@sealbeachca.gov>
Cc: Jill Ingram <jingram@sealbeachca.gov>, Gloria Harper
<gharper@sealbeachca.gov>, Charles Kelly <editor2@sunnews.org>, Phil
Gonshak <pgonshak@sealbeachca.gov>
2
Subject: Public Comment for Closed Session, Monday 2/8/21: Outdoor
Dining Tents
Dear Council Members:
I would like to address a major concern I have regarding the reopening of
outdoor dining per State guidelines. While I am happy to see restaurants able to
do business again, it is critical that they follow established rules and regulations
to prevent another surge in COVID cases and resulting hospitalizations and
deaths.
The State requires any structure erected outside the restaurant to have two
sides open and the open sides must be opposite each other (non‐contiguous) to
allow for adequate air flow (see
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID‐19/Use‐of‐
Temporary‐Structures‐for‐Outdoor‐Business‐Operations.aspx). What I am
observing here in town are tents/structures with three sides such that the
structure is almost fully enclosed. There is little or no cross ventilation making it
far more likely viral aerosols can remain suspended and inhaled by maskless
diners sitting for extended periods with others. This is particularly concerning
with the highly transmissible UK variant now present in Southern California.
I did contact one restaurant and spoke to the manager to share my concerns, but
he was not aware of this requirement. I also spoke to a SBPD watch commander
who said he was not aware either, but told me he would look into it.
The restaurant owners and the public believe outdoor dining to be much safer
than indoor ‐ and they are correct if it is done carefully. By not addressing the
enclosures with education and enforcement, we are implicitly telling the public
the current situation is safe when it is not. I fear another "surge" may occur and
then we will have to shut restaurants down again. I want the restaurants to get
through this as much as anyone, so it is in their interest to do this right ‐ simply
raise the side that is opposite the currently open side
I would appreciate hearing discussion of this issue during the open session's
COVID presentation this Monday night. My hope is you will publicly direct SBPD
or others to educate all our restaurants about this requirement and enforce as
necessary. If it is your decision NOT to educate and/or enforce this rule, I would
like to hear the rationale publicly.
Thank you for your service,
Cathy Goldberg