Public hearing over boardwalk tables tabled

The Long Beach City Council was expected to set a public hearing regarding the tiff over tables for boardwalk eateries at Tuesday night’s meeting, but instead tabled the discussion for the next meeting, on Jan. 17.

The council voted 4-1 to table the discussion, with only Council President Karen McInnis voted to set a hearing, saying she did so “on advice of the council.”

The issue arose last month when Brian Braddish, the owner of Riptides, the popular boardwalk spot, held a news conference on Dec. 19 denouncing the city, and saying that its move would put him out of business. He received a letter from the city saying his tables must be removed from the boardwalk or the city would remove them.

The other boardwalk spots, Beach Burger, Marvel, Skudin Surf and Shakers and Shuckers all received the letter, though the biggest issue has been with Riptides.

Kevin Braddish, Brian’s father, attended Tuesday night’s meeting and addressed the council, saying “I am somewhat perplexed on the voting on this resolution.” He also complained about the $500 fee that his son pays the city to have his tables on the boards.

Riptides agreed to pay $100 per year per table on the boardwalk, with five total tables.

At the moment, tables and chairs would still be permitted under an awning on Riptides’ premises, which extends a few feet onto the boardwalk, but they would not be allowed to encroach on the northernmost walking lane.

The new lease with the city that Braddish signed last year, includes the $100-per-table fee, expires in September 2025.

Braddish did not attend the meeting, although he did the Dec. 20 meeting, the day after his news conference, telling the council, “I work my ass off. I’m not walking away from this. I will settle. Otherwise, we’ll see a lawsuit.”

At the meeting last month, McInnis acknowledged that “the city could have done a better job of explaining the bigger picture of what we are trying to accomplish here before we sent the letter to all five boardwalk concessionaires.” She explained that city code prohibits tables or chairs anywhere on the boardwalk, and that this had been the rule since 1985.

But, McInnis added, “any exceptions to this rule must be codified for the sake of efficiency and clarity,” which, she said, is why she asked Berrios to prepare a proposed amendment to the city code.

McInnis said she regretted that “the issue has been inflated to such proportion.” She said that an amendment to the code should be added at the next council meeting in January.” That meeting came and is now tabled until the next.