Opponents of Measure “W” and proponents of Measure “V” breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday night after Hermosa Beach voters soundly rejected having the city consider the construction of a separate bike path on the beach, along with approving a program that would give preferential treatment to war veterans applying for civil service positions.

According to unofficial results from the Los Angeles County Registrar/ Recorder’s Office, voters cast 1,835 “no” votes (63 percent) for Measure “W” compared to 1,033 “yes” votes (36 percent) in favor of the initiative authored by former Hermosa Beach Mayor John Bowler.

The advisory measure asked voter opinion on whether the City Council should consider building a separate bike path on the beach.

“I basically promised in 1993 that I would see this question was presented to the voters, but because of all of the legal hassles it took longer than expected,” said Bowler. “The question has been asked and the voters responded, it’s as simple as that.”

The measure’s main opponent, resident Robert Aronoff, formed the committee “Keep the Beach in Reach,” taking a stance against the measure. His fellow supporters included a former mayor, Gary Brutsch; “Stop Oil” activist Rosamond Fogg; professional volleyball player Eric Fonoimoana; resident Katharine Bergstrom; and the president of Friends of the South Bay Bike Path, Dean Francois.

Those in favor of a separate bike path included City Council members J. R. Reviczky and Kathy Dunbabin, former Councilman John Bowler, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Stephen Francis, City Treasurer John Workman and former Councilwoman Julie Oakes.

Proponents claimed a separate bike path would reduce safety concerns related to Hermosa’s current path where bicyclists and skateboarders share the same long stretch of concrete with pedestrians.

Measure opponents asserted building a separate bike path doesn’t necessarily mean a reduction in accidents on The Strand, and further contend the answer to improving safety is through education and enforcement.

“This is a landslide victory and should put an end to any further efforts to develop the beach,” said Aronoff. “Thank you to all who helped defeat this terrible measure.”

The City Council waited to address the matter until the California Appellate Court had an opportunity to interpret Hermosa Beach’s 96-year-old deed as to whether bikes were considered “wheeled conveyances,” which are prohibited on the beach. Since the city owns its own beach – unlike other neighboring cities where the county owns the beach – it must abide by its deed.

In April of 2002, the California Appellate Court agreed with Hermosa Beach officials by ruling that the deed to the beach gives it permission to build a separate bike path on the sand. The issue first became a topic of debate in 1995 when Hermosa Beach officials sought court judgment on the beach’s deed drafted in 1907. The deed includes a clause that sought to prevent cars from driving on The Strand. The decision relieved the city of any restrictions in building a bike path on the beach.

Despite the City Council’s satisfaction on the court ruling at the time — a decision that supported an early Superior Court judgment — it had yet to discuss whether residents would embrace a proposed bike path.

In 1995, the Hermosa Beach City Council agreed to seek a ruling on the beach’s deed prior to any discussion on earmarking public funds for a proposed project.

In 2000, the city filed a motion with the courts seeking declaration that it could build a bike path if it chose to do so. In 2001, the matter came before a trial hearing and the court ruled in favor of the city. The court reviewed the deed’s ambiguous language which cites a ban on what it terms “wheeled conveyance” on The Strand.

The city asserts the deed was written to keep cars and horse carriages off the beach and The Strand. The court agreed with the city, and ultimately granted victory to it, after translating the deed’s wording and concluding that bikes are excluded from such a prohibited use.

Veteran’s credit

Measure “V” received 1,429 votes (53 percent) in favor, compared to the 1,254 votes (46 percent) in opposition of the initiative.

The measure will now provide military veterans with special scoring preference on their competitive employment exams. The ballot measure proposed the adoption of an ordinance that would give veterans a 3-percentage point credit on civil service examinations.

Those in favor of the measure include City Council members J.R. Reviczky, Kathy Dunbabin and Sam Edgerton; Mayor Michael Keegan; and Steven Crecy of the Hermosa Beach Veterans’ Memorial Committee.

A formal committee opposed to the measure never filed any sort of argument with the city clerk’s office or debated the issue during various public forums scheduled last month.

Compelled by numerous requests from dozens of members of the South Bay chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Hermosa Beach City Council agreed to reconsider the proposed program after its Dec. 11, 2002, vote to reject the plan. Reviczky was the only one who voted in favor of it.

According to civil service rules, veterans like anyone else applying for a city job must possess the appropriate skills specific to a position through competency testing before they are awarded any points.

Cities that have already adopted special preference for veterans include El Segundo, Gardena, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance.

The veterans preference program was sponsored by the state of California. Part of the legislation required all city agencies to either adopt the program or a resolution explaining the reasons as to why it won’t implement such a policy by January 2002.

The program is based on civil service employment exams, which are administered to virtually every entry-level city employee, firefighter and police officer.