Hermosa Beach reviews response to Los Angeles wildfires; staff urged to prepare renter protections, temporary permits and support for evacuees

Hermosa Beach City Council on Jan. 14 received an update on regional wildfires that began Jan. 7 and directed staff to bring operational options for helping displaced people — including temporary parking permits for hosts, oversized vehicle allowances and temporary pet‑registration relaxations — while holding broader policy options for later review.

The city manager summarized the city’s immediate response and public-safety actions, saying staff had shut HVAC systems in public buildings as a precaution, distributed K95 masks for outdoor workers and used AlertSouthBay and the city website to share air-quality and safety guidance. “We ask that residents please continue to stay informed through the city and county’s channels, take precautions for your health and safety, and consider contributing to organizations providing aid to those in need,” City Manager Suja said.

Nut graf: The council’s discussion focused on short-term operational measures the city can implement quickly to help wildfire evacuees living temporarily in town, and on what would require formal council action. Staff emphasized that the city’s role is largely supportive of county and state first responders but that there are administrative actions the city can take now to reduce burdens on displaced households.

In his presentation, Emergency Management Coordinator Moe described the regional situation: multiple fast-moving fires driven by strong winds and low humidity produced evacuations and widespread air-quality impacts. The city reported close contact with Los Angeles County Fire and regional partners, said county fire station 100 remained staffed while providing mutual aid, and noted that the South Bay and Los Angeles air‑quality monitors were showing rapidly changing conditions. Staff distributed guidance to city departments and changed operations for outdoor programs; community services programming was moved indoors where feasible.

Council members pressed staff on several operational topics that can be implemented administratively, including: temporary parking accommodations for households hosting evacuees, temporary oversized‑vehicle allowances, and short‑term waivers or exceptions for pet registration when evacuees bring animals registered elsewhere. The city manager said staff could make those administrative changes immediately on a case‑by‑case basis and would return to council if broader policy decisions were needed.

Council also discussed consumer protections during emergencies. City staff reminded members the state has price‑gouging prohibitions that can be enforced in declared emergencies and suggested the council could consider local measures, but noted such actions would require a future ordinance.

The police chief described deployments of Hermosa Beach officers to fire zones after Jan. 8 for security and evacuation support and asked residents to rely on official channels for evacuation guidance. Chief Paul LeBaron also debuted the department’s finding that a widely circulated social‑media accusation about a parking ticket issued to a fire evacuee was false: the vehicle received a written warning and assistance, not a citation.

Ending: Council did not adopt emergency regulations at the meeting but directed staff to implement operational relief measures as described and to return with recommendations on any items requiring formal action, including potential protections for tenants and additional consumer‑protection steps.