Hermosa Beach reconsiders decision on pier, but architect shows no fear.

A PIER WITHOUT PEERS? Kirkpatrick Associates Architects won Hermosa Beach’s pier design competition in September, but the City Council decided Thursday that it needed to look at the second- and third-place entries, as well as five honorable mentions before crowning the winner.

Undeterred by the council’s decision, Grant Kirkpatrick, president of the winning firm, said that once the council sees the other entries, “They’ll come back to the winning scheme.”

The council hopes that the pier renovation will pave the way for further downtown business revitalization and bring commercial revenues to the financially ailing city.

“The old pier was built in the early ‘60s and is in need of a major face lift,” said Councilman Sam Edgerton. “We want to make it the showpiece for the entire downtown revitalization.”

One of the council’s main concerns with the winning design is that, while it would eliminate the foul-smelling bathroom and bait shop at the end of pier, it offered no new commercial venture on the structure.

Councilman Robert Benz suggested a restaurant or bar while members of the Planning Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Downtown Business Enhancement Commission talked of building a lighthouse or a coffee shop.

The council expects the pier renovation to cost $4 million.

Though initially surprised that his Los Angeles firm won, Kirkpatrick figured his South Bay upbringing provided a competitive edge.

Kirkpatrick grew up in Palos Verdes and now lives in Manhattan Beach. And he jogs by the pier two or three times per week. “I know what bums yell at the wind and what kind of hackeysack gangsters stare you down as you walk by,” he said.

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CRISIS MONEY: 1736 Family Crisis Center, a Redondo Beach-based social service agency providing shelter for battered women and runaway children, has received a $1.7-million federal grant that will allow the center to expand its services.

The 21-year-old center operates two shelters for battered women and another for runaway children, all in the South Bay. Executive director Carol Adelkoff said the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant will allow the center to open two satellite shelters for battered women.

The center operates a shelter for runaways at 1736 Monterey Blvd. in Hermosa Beach. The center has a policy against disclosing the locations of the battered women shelters for fear it would jeopardize victims’ safety.

The grant money will be spread over five years.

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ELECTION FOOTNOTE: During the campaign for Hawthorne municipal offices, City Clerk Richard Mansfield, himself running for reelection, complained about the proliferation of campaign banners “littering” the city’s busiest streets.

He had compared the posting of campaign signs to vandalism, saying that “it’s hypocritical for politicians to speak out against graffiti, and then plaster their signs all over town.”

Mansfield, meanwhile, had discreetly displayed his signs in residential areas, away from the heavy traffic areas.

Turns out those who won office--including Mansfield’s opponent Daniel Juarez--had posted plenty of signs.

Did Mansfield’s environmentalist bent work against him?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Never lost a passenger yet, and I don’t intend to.”

--Nick Nicolary, chief pilot of the Goodyear blimp Eagle, who has been flying airships for 26 years.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Hermosa Beach: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to decide Tuesday whether to withdraw lifeguards from city beaches. The City Council and the county disagree on how much the city should contribute for the service.

Rancho Palos Verdes: The city is seeking applications for the Planning Commission, Public Access Cable TV Advisory Board, and traffic, transit advisory, recreation and parks, and view restoration committees. The posts are non-paying and are open only to city residents. Applications are available at the City Clerk’s office and will be accepted through Dec. 2. Information: (310) 377-0360.

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Redondo Beach: Police officers will receive a 1.5% salary increase and the opportunity to earn merit raises as part of a pay plan approved Tuesday by the City Council. The raise, negotiated by the city and the Redondo Beach Police Officers’ Assn., is the officers’ first salary increase in two years.

Inglewood: The City Council voted Tuesday to amend its zoning code to allow for the sale of antiques and collectibles downtown. Until now, stores that sold used goods had been outlawed because the city was afraid it would be flooded with pawn shops. The amendment, however, is narrowly written to allow the sale of “upscale” used items.