Meeting Date: 10/16/13 06:30 PM

Meeting Type: Regular

Location: International Cinematographers Guild, Local 600 7755 Sunset Blvd (On the corner of Sunset and Genesee Ave) Los Angeles, CA 90046

Details:

International Cinematographers Guild, Local 600

7755 Sunset Blvd 

(On the corner of Sunset and Genesee Ave) 

Los Angeles, CA 90046

 
Directions:  East of N. Fairfax Ave and West of N. La Brea Ave.  Building is accessible.
 
The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the Board on any item of the agenda prior to the Board taking action on an item.  Comments from the public on non-agenda and agenda items will be heard during the Public Comment Period and, within the discretion of the presiding officer of the Board, when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the Agenda that is within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the Public Comment period.  Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker unless waived by the presiding officer of the Board.  Agenda is posted for public review: on bulletin boards at the top and bottom of Runyon Canyon Park, and electronically on the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council website ww.hhwnc.org and on the Department Of Neighborhood Empowerment (www.lacityneighborhoods.com).  As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities.  Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request.  To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting the Neighborhood Council Project Coordinator at 213-485-1360 or e-mail to [email protected].
 
 
ALL ITEMS LISTED ON THIS AGENDA ARE SUBJECT TO:
POSSIBLE ACTION, INCLUDING A BOARD MOTION AND
VOTING ON THE MOTION.
 
PROCESS FOR RECONSIDERATION:  The Board may reconsider and amend its action on items listed on the agenda if that reconsideration takes place immediately following the original action or at the next regular meeting. The Board, on either of these two days, shall: (1) Make a Motion for Reconsideration and, if approved, (2) hear the matter and Take an Action.  If the motion to reconsider an action is to be scheduled at the next meeting following the original action, then two items shall be placed on the agenda for that meeting: (1) A Motion for Reconsideration on the described matter and (2) a Proposed Action should the motion to reconsider be approved.  A motion for reconsideration can only be made by a Board member who has previously voted on the prevailing side of the original action taken. If a motion for reconsideration is not made on the date the action was taken, then a Board member on the prevailing side of the action must submit a memorandum to the Secretary identifying the matter to be reconsidered and a brief description of the reason(s) for requesting reconsideration at the next regular meeting. The aforesaid shall all be in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act.
 
 
AGENDA
 

1. Call to order by President, Anastasia Mann

 

2. Roll call by Secretary Kathy Bañuelos

 

3. Minutes – Review and approve Board minutes from September 18, 2013 meeting (MOTION AND VOTE) (5 minutes)

 

4. President’s Report by Anastasia Mann

 

1. Election of Youth Outreach Committee Chair
   • Candidate Annie Gagen

 

2. Public Official Reports
   • CD13 – Councilman Mitch O’Farrell
   • CD4 –Sharon Shapiro, Field Deputy, Office of Councilmember Tom LaBonge
   • Mayor’s Office, Kimberly Rodriguez, Central Area NC Rep.
   • 43rd Assembly District, Eric Menjivar, Rep. from the Office of Assemblyman Mike Gatto
   • 46th Assembly District, Bill Hacket, Office of Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian
   • 50th Assembly District, Assemblyman Richard Bloom
   • LAPD
   • LAFD
   • DONE – Barry Stone

 

3. HHWNC update from DWP

 

4. Ashley Sanchez, Jive Live Entertainment, Hard Rock Café 5K/Road Closures

 

5. Community business

• Carol M. Chaker, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Presentation re HomeWalk 2013

 

6. Confirm next meeting date: November 20, 2013

 

5. Vice President’s Report by Vice President Orrin Feldman (20 minutes)

 

6. Treasurer’s Report by Michael Meyer (10 minutes)
   1. Vote to approve monthly expenditures report.

 

7. Parliamentarian’s Report by Robert Mott (5 minutes)

 

8. Secretary’s Report (5 minutes)
9.  
9. Committee Reports (40 minutes)

 

1. ISSUE COMMITTEES
   • Plum Committee Report (Orrin Feldman)
     1. 6613 Hollywood Blvd. (formerly known as Lucky Devils, and now doing business at Lucky's Tavern)

 
Proposed Motion:  HHWNC's Board adopts the PLUM Committee's recommendation to withdraw HHWNC's support for additional live entertainment entitlements, and ask the Planning Department to deny the current application for additional live entertainment entitlements and delay any reconsideration for additional live entertainment entitlements by at least one year.
 
HHWNC's PLUM Committee voted 4 in favor (Papes, Geoghan, Kopel, and Feldman) and 1 against (Prange).
 

1. 1824-1840 N. Highland Blvd.  – Discussion of process around Millennium project approval and possible vote to require that California Geological Survey verify safety before any new projects are approved along known or suspected fault lines.  

 
CIM Group's outside counsel, J. Michelle Hickey will present CIM's argument(s) for the board's consideration, which is as follows:
 
The owner of 1800 N. Highland Blvd., 1800 Highland, L.P. (1800 Highland), has filed an appeal with the Central Area Planning Commission, which will be heard at 4:30 P.M. on October 22, 2013 at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012.  1800 Highland is appealing the Planning Director’s May 28, 2013 adoption without holding a public hearing of the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and approval of the Site Plan Review for a six story apartment building on 1824/1840 N. Highland Blvd. (the Project).  Specifically, 1800 Highland asserts the following.  The City should have required the Project to go through the EIR process because of potentially significant impacts with regards to seismic safety, traffic circulation, and impacts on sensitive receptors, including the nearby senior center.   The MND did not reveal or analyze the fact that the Project will be built up against and across one of the numerous known earthquake faults located on the site and in both a Liquefaction Zone and Fault Rapture Study Zone.  The Project’s traffic impacts were also inadequately discussed and analyzed, including the impact to the intersection of Highland and Franklin and the plans to eliminate the jog at this intersection.  CEQA requires that the Project be adequately studied, the public be informed of and have a chance to comment on the potential impacts and the significant impacts be mitigated.  This was not done.  For the above reasons, 1800 Highland requests the PLUM Committee and the HHWNC to submit a letter in support of 1800 Highland’s appeal requesting that an EIR be prepared for the Project.  (Possible motion and vote.)
 

• Emergency Services Committee (Dietrich Nelson)
  1. 1835 N. Cahuenga Blvd.    

 
Proposed Motion:

The Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council recommends and requests that the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) deny any application to grant or to transfer a license to sell beer, wine or alcoholic beverages at 1835-1841 N. Cahuenga Blvd because of past public safety problems with regard to bar and nightclub operations there.

Further, HHWNC urges ABC to consider the views of the Los Angeles Police Department, as well as any elected officials, with regard to how the site should be operated, and asks ABC to circulate any application regarding the site to The City of Los Angeles, including LAPD and HHWNC, with an opportunity to make comments..

2. AREA COMMITTEES

 

3. Reports by other Committee Chairs in attendance (Optional)

 

10. Public Comments – Comments from the public on agenda items and non-agenda items within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction.  Public comments are limited to 2 minutes per speaker.

 

11. Old Business

 

1. Update on Dorothy J and Benjamin B Smith Park Renovation: Discussion of potential community outreach event in the Park.  Potential budget allocation for PR and HHWNC outreach materials.

 

12. New Business

 
13.   Adjournment

International Cinematographers Guild, Local 600

7755 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

 
 1.  Call to order by HHWNC VP Orrin Feldman at 6:30 p.m.  Roll call by Secretary Kathy Bañuelos: Orrin Feldman, Kathy Bañuelos, Michael Meyer, Robert Mott, Jim Geoghan, Joshua Kopel, Mary Prange, Jeffrey Papes, Dietrich Nelson, Jodi Galvan, Paul Darrigo, and Barbara Witkin. Quorum reached with 12 members.
 
2.  Minutes – Review and approve Board minutes from September 18, 2013 meeting. (Papes/Geoghan) moved to accept the minutes as revised. The motion carried.
 
3.  President's Report: None.
 
4.  Election of Youth Outreach Committee Chair: Annie Gagen introduced herself. The board approved Annie's appointment to the board unanimously.
 
5.  Public Official Reports

• 50th Assembly District, Assemblyman Richard Bloom, who served as mayor of Santa Monica for 13 years, talked about his experience in working in the State Assembly with its 500,000 constituents. He talked about budget reform, a change to pension laws, the demographics of his district and various accomplishments his office has put forth.

 

• CD13 – Councilman Mitch O’Farrell helped form the Glassell Park NC. Invited everyone to a clean-up event followed by a picnic at Echo Park Lake. He talked about his motion to get tax breaks for entertainment companies. He talked about his five commitments with the City Council including chair of the Parks & Open Space; Public Safety committee; vice chair of Personnel and Animal Welfare; Innovation, Technology and General Services; and Education & Neighborhoods. He talked about the many improvements he is working for.

 

•  46th Assembly District, Bill Hacket, Office of Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian talked about signing the balanced budget to reduce the overall deficit. They had 6 bills go to the Governor's desk for review – all were signed. Car dealers/consumer protection, the new Affordable Care Act. Will continue working on getting entertainment tax credits, continuing with women's self defense workshops, Nov. 20th is their Holiday Open House from 5 – 8 p.m. with a food and toy drive.

 

• CD4 –Sharon Shapiro, Field Deputy, Office of Councilmember Tom LaBonge mentioned the Yucca Bikeway Project which was dedicated and thanked the board for supporting that project. She announced that Wattles is re-opening, a cleanup at Runyon Canyon.

 

• DONE – Barry Stone made his debut to HHWNC asking for a Budget Rep to be appointed for the October event. March 30 is the date for the HHWNC election. Nov. 2nd is the next training date by DONE.

 
6. Update from DWP: Greg Barts and other DWP spokespersons talked about outages in the Mt. Olympus area, upgrades by Nichols Canyon, and ongoing project for improving trunk lines in the Hollywood area.
 
7.  Road Closure: Hard Rock Café 5K- Orrin alerted the board to the anticipated road closure expected on Sat November 2nd in the Cahuenga Pass.
 
8.  Community business: Carol M. Chaker, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Presentation re: HomeWalk 2013. This 5K Walk takes place on November 23 in Exposition Park to raise money to end homelessness. The Lakers' Kobe Bryant is giving the opening remarks.
 
9.  Meeting Date: Next HHWNC meeting date is November 20, 2013.
 
10. Vice President’s Report by Vice President Orrin Feldman there will be a scoping meeting for the apartment building proposed for the Musso and Frank parking lot at the Durant Public Library, Nov. 5th.
 
11.  Treasurer’s Report by Michael Meyer reported on the expenditures over the last month and year to date. A roll call vote was taken on accepting the Treasurer's Report. The report was approved unanimously. About $36,000 is left in the fiscal year's budget.
 
12. Parliamentarian’s Report by Robert Mott – No report.
 
13. Secretary’s Report by Kathy Bañuelos – No report.
 
14. Committee Reports  
 
ISSUE COMMITTEES:  Plum Committee Report –
 
Lucky's Tavern:  Orrin Feldman did not make the motion, previously planned for the meeting, relating to Lucky's Tavern. This was due to the fact that the Planning Department had already granted condition approval for the business. The owner, Lucky, addressed the board stating that he had made a mistake in not addressing the name change from Lucky Devils to Lucky's Tavern for his business at 6613 Hollywood Blvd.  
 
1824-1840 N. Highland Blvd.:

• Orrin explained that this proposal was for a large, 118-unit apartment building with a swimming pool on two vacant lots at Highland and Franklin. He stated that he was surprised that the Planning Department did not provide notice to HHWNC prior to allowing for public comment on this project. An appeal has been filed by J. Michelle Hickey, the attorney for the CIM Group, which is located on the adjacent property at 1800 Highland.

 

• Michelle then addressed the board pointing out that there are 4 active earthquake faults under the proposed property. Her group is asking that this issue be studied and that input be taken by the Planning Department on the project.

 

• The board discussed the process around the Millennium project approval and wanted to know whether the California Geological Survey could verify its safety before any new projects are approved along known or suspected fault lines. (Meyer/Witkin) moved that HHWNC support the appeal in relation to the seismic activity and traffic issues and that there be public input. The motion carried unanimously.

 
1835-1841 N. Cahuenga Boulevard: Emergency Services Committee:

• Dietrich Nelson presented the discussion about a proposed transfer of license. (Nelson/Witkin) moved, "The Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council does not support the issuance of any ABC license or transfer of a license to sell alcoholic beverages at 1835 -1841 N. Cahuenga Blvd. without strict conditions of use imposed by ABC, the City of Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles Police Department and in-depth detail regarding any proposed establishment and plans of operation at this location. We would like the ABC to consider the views of the LAPD and the elected officials with regard to how this site should be operated, and ask ABC to circulate the application to the City of L.A. including LAPD and our neighborhood council with the opportunity to make comments."

 
Dietrich said the former Wonderland Nightclub has been the subject of many annoyance calls from the apartment building tenants that abut this property. He also pointed out that there is no onsite parking for patrons.
 
The owners of the two properties in question, Loyal Pennings and Milton ____), said that they were willing to accept conditions in order to open their businesses. Mr. Pennings said he wanted to open an Argentinean restaurant at that site. Milton ___, the owner of the coffee shop, Solar, in the front of the property, said they have a good business there now.
 
The board discussed the need for more information, particularly from LAPD on this issue. (Darrigo/Mott) moved to table the motion (Feldman abstained). The motion carried.
 
            Dietrich also reported on The Great American Shake Out and earthquake             awareness at Universal Studios.
 
15.  Public Comments – None.
 
16.  Meeting Adjourned at 8:51 p.m.
 
-Minutes by Pat Kramer, Apple One-