Redondo Beach City Councilman

John F. Gran

You Spoke. I'm Listening.

Focus on North Redondo's Needs
Demand Fiscal Responsibility

Photo Credit: David Mendez, Easy Reader

Photo Credit: David Mendez, Easy Reader

Top Priority: Public Safety
Work Together To Serve Redondo

Photo Credit: The Beach Reporter

Engage to Serve the South Bay
Ensure Redondo Is Well Represented
You Spoke. I'm Listening.
Thank You.
Together, We Can Do Great Things!
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Welcome Neighbor!

Thank you for visiting my website. I am deeply honored to represent North Redondo Beach (District 4) on City Council. 

It’s campaign season, and I Respectfully Ask for Your Vote to Re-Elect me for a Second & Final Term as your City Councilmember. 

Thank you for your confidence, support and your vote. Please mail your ballot before March 2nd, 2021.  

You Spoke. I’m Listening.

As a 22-year resident on Vanderbilt Lane, I love Redondo and it has been good to me, my family, and my businesses.  Four years ago, I stepped up to serve District 4 and give back to our community.  Check out my Video Story: Serving On City Council for a brief look at getting elected and serving in office. It’s been quite an experience.

Redondo Beach is currently addressing multiple, once-in-lifetime opportunities and challenges: $900M Galleria Upgrades, Waterfront Project, AES Power plant and now the COVID-19 Pandemic and its significant budget impacts.  I rely on 15+ years of City engagement and volunteerism coupled with my experience as a Senior Executive and Management Consultant to make the best decisions on your behalf.

We do best when I hear from you.  Please speak up!

Together, we have made significant progress, but there is so much more to do.  Along with stop signs, potholes, and other routine items, I need your input and support to move these North Redondo Projects forward:

  • North Redondo Bike Path – Artesia Landscaping and Extension to Inglewood
  • Grants, Communications and Planning for Recycled Water in North Redondo
  • Artesia Corridor General Plan Update, Signage and “New Look” guidelines
  • $900M Galleria Plan Approval, Extending Bike Path to Galleria

Thank you for electing me as your District 4 City Council member. Your priorities are my priorities. I will listen to your ideas, address your concerns and always be present, prepared, and ready to fight for you. 

Together, we are doing great things!

Please stay healthy and safe.  

Sincerely,

John F. Gran
Redondo Beach City Council, District 4
c) 323-813-5929
e) John.Gran@Redondo.org  (City Business Only)
e) Gran.RBD4@gmail.com    
(Campaign-related)

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John Gran’s Biography

John F. Gran, Redondo Beach City Council, District 4

A South Bay native, John graduated from South Torrance High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in Information and Computer Science at UC Irvine.  In 1999, he bought a home in Redondo Beach and met and married his wife Cynthia soon after.

Currently, John is a healthcare management consultant and an entrepreneur and is currently working with National and Regional Hospital systems to identify and implement value-based care practices, and ultimately lower the total cost of care.

John has founded and consulted for several start-ups, raised $53 million in venture capital, built and operated national departments within Fortune 100 healthcare companies and helped put several struggling companies and departments/products on the path to success.

Although John enjoys reading, playing golf and walking with friends on the strand, his true passion is helping small businesses grow. He is always excited to help friends and colleagues develop novel ideas, start new businesses and expand existing operations.

John and Cynthia love spending time with family, good food, good wine & good friends.  

John's LinkedIn Profile

John's Resume

Giving Back to Our Community

In 2018, John and Cynthia became founding members of Redondo Beach Kiwanis, an International Service Club, who’s sole purpose is to help children in our local community and around the world.

Working closely with the club’s 50 members, they have found a fun and fulfilling way to give back to our local community.  Service. 

In October 2020, John became the Lt. Governor of Kiwanis Division 19, and lead 15 local clubs to support their projects, increase membership and represent Division 19 at the District and International levels. 

Some of Redondo Kiwanis’ projects include:  Feeding Rose Parade Float volunteers, implementing “Kindness Programs” in elementary schools, purchasing PE equipment, reading to students during “Read Across America” day, beach clean ups, fundraisers and many other service programs.

John and Cynthia are also involved in the Club’s primary project “Kiwanis ‘Pay It Forward’ Buddy Bench Program.”  Redondo Beach Kiwanis works with elementary schools to collect plastic bottle caps and recycle them into Buddy Benches (200 pounds per bench).

The benches are then dedicated and installed at the schools to help promote Friendship, Kindness and Recycling!  The project is very popular and the Club’s goal is to install 500 Buddy Benches in 5 years. 

There’s lots to do and the Kids love the Buddy Benches. They really work!   

Redondo Beach Kiwanis meet’s twice per month and is always looking for ways to help kids and our community.  If you have a project idea and/or would like more information on Redondo Beach Kiwanis, please visit the Club’s website or contact John.

Kiwanis – Making friends while giving back!  It’s fun and rewarding! 

Kiwanis International

Check Out Redondo Beach Kiwanis

Buddy Benches

Experience Serving Redondo

Oath of Office, April 7th, 2017

A Leader In the Community

A dedicated community advocate and volunteer, John is driven by his desire to give back to the City that has given so much to him and his family.

That’s why he’s been hard at work for us for years, safeguarding our neighborhoods, advancing the well-being of our residents and improving the health of our business community.

Budget & Finance Commission
Redondo Beach City Council
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce

Serving the City and the Business Community

Since 2006, when John became a Neighborhood Block Captain, he has continued to participate in Redondo’s civil programs, lead local business groups and step up in roles and responsibilities within the City’s appointed and elected offices.   

Click on the Blue Tabs below to see John’s past 15 years of increased participation, growth and experience in serving Redondo Beach residents and businesses.

Redondo Beach City Council, District 4

Term in Office: April 7th, 2017 - 2021 (4-year term)

Public City Council meetings are held the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, at 6pm.  The City Council also holds "Closed Session" meetings (not open to the public) to discuss legal issues, negotiation strategies.  The public City Council meetings usually last 3 - 4 hours and public participation is encouraged. 

Three ways to watch and participate in City Council Meetings: 

  1. In person, City Council Chambers, Redondo Beach City Hall
  2. Cable TV - Spectrum Channel 8 or Frontier Channel 41
  3. Live Streaming Online via Web Browser - Click here for more details.    

John holds monthly community meetings on the 2nd Saturday of each month, 9AM -11am, at the Perry Park Senior Center.  40+ residents attend.  Check out John's Event calendar for dates and times. 

John also represents Redondo Beach on the following Boards & Committees:

 

 

Redondo Beach Budget & Finance Commission

Taking the Oath of Office

Term in Office: 2014 - 2017 

"If you want to understand an organization's priorities, you need to understand how they spend their money." 

In 2014, John became a Budget & Finance Commissioner to understand Redondo Beach's priorities,  experience the budget process and familiarize himself with Redondo Beach's financial details.

He served as Vice Chairman, and facilitated commission meetings when required.

Commission Functions Include: 

  • Meet bi-monthly with Treasurer and City Staff to receive, review, comment and approve mid-year and annual city budgets for City Council approval.
  • Receive, review, comment and approve Redondo Beach City’s investment policies, review the City Treasurer’s quarterly reports.
  • Participate in a joint meeting with the Public Works Commission to review, receive and file the City's CIP budget and workload.

MEMBERSHIP
The Commission shall consists of 7 members appointed by the Mayor, subject to approval by the City Council.

POWERS AND DUTIES

The Commission shall be an advisory commission only. It shall:

  1. Maintain a continuous study of sources of municipal revenue and methods of proper spending of public moneys, and assist the City Manager and City Council in financial planning, and recommend methods of obtaining and financing permanent public improvements in the City as from time to time may be suggested by the City Manager or the City Council; and
  2. Perform such other duties as directed by the City Manager or the City Council. (Ord. 2805 c.s., eff. September 5, 1997)

Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce - Treasurer, Executive Board, Business Member

Treasurer and Executive Board Member: 2015 - 2017
Board Member, North Redondo Representative: 2011 - 2015
Chamber of Commerce Business Member:  2008 - 2018 

The Chamber of Commerce helps local businesses through marketing, networking and providing training programs and supports the local business economy.  

John's local businesses have prospered because of his association with the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce.  

John represented North Redondo Beach businesses on the Board since 2011, and was named to the Finance Chair / Treasurer  and Executive Board in 2015.  

John's Duties as Finance Chair/Treasurer:

  • Reviewed and presented the Chamber’s and Visitors Bureau’s budgets, signed checks, and addressed budget questions from the RBCC Board members.
  • Assisted and reviewed the “true up” of the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) figures that the Redondo Beach City contractually collected and distributed to the Redondo Beach Visitor Bureau.

As an Executive Board member:

  • Reviewed Chamber's contract with the City of Redondo Beach,
  • Reviewed and finalize the Board agenda items.
  • Assisted the Chairperson and CEO with issues that arise
  • Approved projects and resolutions for full vote at the Chamber Board meetings.

John continues to attend and volunteer for various Chamber Events, including the Superbowl 10k, Network Cafés and Annual Mixers.

North Redondo Beach Business Association - President, Treasurer, Member

Term in Office: President - 2015 - 2017, Treasurer - 2011 - 2015

The NRBBA is dedicated to helping local businesses grow.  

In 2014, John was elected President in 2014.  He served as Treasurer since joining in 2011.  As President, he presided over Board Meetings and the budgeting process, and ran the monthly General Meetings with 40+ attendees.  

The NRBBA continues to pursue the following initiatives: 

  1. NRBBA - Helping Businesses Grow!
    SpringFest – City “Featured” event, at the Performing Arts Center, 5,000+ Attendees.
  2. Walk About Redondo - Community event to promote walking and introduce residents and local businesses to encourage local shopping, co-sponsored with the Beach Cities Health District. 400+ Attendees.
  3. Provide 2-3 annual scholarships to Redondo Union High School Seniors interested in becoming small business owners.
  4. Increase NRBBA attendance.  Meetings are networking opportunities and an important source of business and local information.
  5. Engage with City for exploration into starting a B.I.D. (Business Improvement District)

The NRBBA meets the 2nd Thursday of the month, 8:00am at the RB Public Library, North Branch.

For more information, please visit the NRBBA website at www.NRBBA.org

Leadership Redondo - Class of 2012

Project Co-Leader: 2012 - 2013
Class Project:  Raised $17,500 for a CERT Trailer for South Redondo

Leadership Redondo cultivates and trains Redondo's current & future community leaders.

Leadership Redondo, Class of 2012

Leadership Redondo is a program designed to prepare a select group of individuals who live and /or work in Redondo Beach to become future community leaders. It's an 18-month commitment.  

Year one is devoted to intensive study about Redondo Beach’s resources, citywide vital issues and residents.

For the final 6-months, the group completes a class project, to give back to the City of Redondo Beach.

CERT Trailer - South Redondo

Leadership Redondo, Class of 2012:

John served as Co-Project Leader.  He led his 22-person Leadership Class to raise $17,500 for a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trailer for South Redondo.

The project was delivered on time and on budget.

Leadership Redondo, Alumni: 

Inspired by the Leadership Redondo Class of 2004, John took their class project: “Speaking of Redondo” videos - personal testimonials about Redondo Beach - and created a website to present these important videos online.  

Check out  http://SpeakingOfRedondo.Wordpress.com to view these videos. 

Redondo Beach Round Table 

Round Table Member: 2014 - Present 

The Redondo Beach Round Table brings community leaders together to discuss local issues.

Established in the 1960's, the Redondo Beach Round Table is a select group of community leaders, Redondo Beach City Personnel, Redondo Beach City Council members, RBUSD Board Members and business community leaders that meet quarterly to review and discuss significant issues within Redondo Beach.

Discussion Topics Include:

  • New Voting Machines
  • Homelessness In the South Bay
  • Beach Cities Health District Overview
  • AES Powerplant Questions and Answers
  • State of Redondo Beach Schools
  • Elementary School Choir Sings Holiday Songs
  • Waterfront Project Questions and Answers

John was asked to join the RB Round Table in 2014 and regularly attends the quarterly meetings.

Redondo Beach Citizen's Police Academy - 2010 Class

13 week course - Graduated 

"You can't really understand another person's experience until you've walked a mile in their shoes."

The Redondo Beach Citizen Police Academy provides community members with a working knowledge of the police department, along with the roles and responsibilities of its police officers.

The goals of the program are accomplished through lectures, hands-on training, demonstrations and a ride-along with a police officer.

Please click here for more information on the Citizen Police Academy.

Participants meet for three hours, one night per week, for 13 weeks. The information covered includes:

  • Police Training
  • S.W.A.T.
  • Traffic Enforcement
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Police Patrol & Ride-Along
  • K-9 Demonstrations
  • Gangs
  • Vice & Narcotics
  • Crime Scene Investigations
  • Firearms and the Police Range
  • Police Dispatch & Communications
  • Pier & Harbor Patrol
  • The Jail & Justice System

Redondo Beach Community Emergency Response Team (RBCERTAA)

Redondo Beach CERT Class Training: 2009 & 2018 

Redondo Beach Community Emergency Response Team Alumni Association (RBCERTAA) is an all volunteer, non-profit organization created to organize and maintain the skill levels of CERT graduates.

They accomplish this by supporting and attending ongoing emergency preparedness training. Members are encouraged to achieve a high level of preparedness and provide volunteer support to the Redondo Beach Fire Department in the event of a major emergency.

CERT @ Fire Services Day, Fire Station #2

The Redondo Beach Fire Department C.E.R.T. Academy began in April 1996, with overwhelming success. To date, over 1,000 individuals have received training. 

A team of Redondo Beach firefighter instructors provide the training.

Topics Include:
Disaster preparedness
CPR & First Aid
Disaster medical operations
Damage assessment
Extinguisher use
Light search and rescue
Disaster psychology & team organization.

The fee is $40.00 per person for Redondo Beach residents, $100.00 per person for non-residents. The fee includes a designated C.E.R.T. hard hat, CPR & First Aid certification, photo identification card, training manual and graduation certificates.   The registration form can be found here C.E.R.T. Registration Form 2020.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Redondo Beach Fire Captain Curt Mahoney

Visit Redondo Beach CERT Alumni Association to get to more information.

Redondo Beach Neighborhood Watch

We are Watching!

Neighborhood Watch Block Captain: 2006 - Present

Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program which enlists the ACTIVE participation of residents in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities.  “See Something – Say Something”  (310) 379-5411

Neighborhood Watch Involves:

Neighbors getting to know each other and working together in a program of mutual assistance,
Residents trained to RECOGNIZE and REPORT suspicious activity in their neighborhoods; and
Implementation of crime prevention techniques, such as reporting of suspicious activity to RBPD (310) 379-5411 
Home security operation identification
Block Captains receive a training pamphlet and encouraged to speak with other Block Captains 

Neighborhood Watch is an effective way to keep our City safe!

If you are interested becoming a Block Captain and want more information about the program, 
Contact the Community Based Policing Unit Officer Mike Diehr at (310) 379-2477, 1-2493, or by e-mail at mike.diehr@redondo.org

John has been an active Neighborhood Watch Block Captain since 2009.   In 2015, John helped implement a new “business” neighborhood watch program with the NRBBA.

Other Community Groups & Organizations

John is also involved with other community organizations in and around Redondo Beach.

These organizations and groups include:

South Bay Animal Shelter Task Force 
Cynthia and John are animal lovers and are working with group that is investigating funding and operating an animal shelter that will serve the South Bay.  

Community Member of the Redondo Beach Parent & Teachers Association (PTA)
John is a community member of Redondo Beach PTA, even though he does not have kids. 

Member of the TedxRedondoBeach planning committee
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. John has helped with several TedxRedondoBeach events and enjoys attending the talks.

Member of the Walteria Businessmen’s Club (Torrance)
John was a member of the Walteria Businessmen's Club for 2 years.

Business Networking International (BNI)
John was a member of BNI for 5 years and was the Past President of the Manhattan Beach Business Networking Chapter

 

Video Story: Re-Elect John Gran

Oath of Office – April, 2017

A number of my friends and neighbors have asked me why I decided to run for City Council and serve my fellow residents.

Short Answer:
To Give Back to My Community.

I’m running for Re-Election to Serve a Second & Final Term as your City Councilmember for District 4. 

Ultimately, I find serving on the Redondo Beach City Council quite rewarding and I absolutely love to “GSD” for my neighbors and community.  

Thank you for your confidence, support and your vote. 

Please make sure to send in your ballot before March 2nd, 2021! 

Be safe, healthy and Happy New Year!

John F. Gran
Redondo Beach City Council, District 4
323-813-5929
Gran.RBD4@gmail.com