Area 2 Meeting 09/09/04 07:30 PM – Hollywood Hills West

Meeting Date: 09/09/04 07:30 PM

Meeting Type: Regular

Location: VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY 6921 WOODROW WILSON DRIVE (Parking available on school grounds)

Details: MEETING
OF
AREA 2 COMMITTEE
OF
HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL
7:30PM-9:00PM
9 September 2004
Thursday

AGENDA

SIGN-IN, WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

ITEM 1: Update on proposed DS Development of condominiums and houses on Banana Bungalows site on Cahuenga Pass. Possible resolution and vote.

ITEM 2: Review and discussion of impact on Area 2 of multiple Stop sign additions on Outpost Drive over the past five years. Discussion of proposed DOT plan to build traffic islands at numerous stop sign intersections to slow down and discourage traffic even further. Possible resolution and vote.

ITEM 3: Discussion of impact of ‘No U-turn’ and ‘No Left Turn Signs during morning rush hour on Mulholland near Outpost. Possible resolution and vote.

ITEM 4: Discussion of DASH service proposal for elderly and
domestic workers without access to private transportation who are required to walk or hitch-hike up and down Outpost to buy groceries or get to work. Proposed route would start at Hollywood and Fairfax, go up Nichols Canyon to Mulholland, then continue along Mulholland Drive to the Cahuenga Pass. The proposed shuttle would then stop at Hollywood and Highland and continue along Hollywood Blvd. to Fairfax. Such a route would also reduce auto traffice up and down Outpost and Nichols canyons. Possible resolution and vote.

ITEM 5: Pyramid Place Problems including parking of cars
Late at night in illegal spaces. Loud music and alleged illicit activities in the cars. Tagging of retaining walls, etc. Lack of response from LAPD Van Nuys Precinct versus proximity to LAPD Hollywood Precinct.

ITEM 6: Discussion of impact of construction noise in
Residential Hills area from Mulholland to Woodrow Wilson.
Discuss possible resolution to request later start of all construction from 7am to 8am on weekdays and from 8am to 9am on Saturdays. Possible vote.

ITEM 7: Discussion of impact of early City Trash Trucks traffic on Wednesday mornings in residential Hills area from Mulholland to Woodrow Wilson Drives. Trucks occasionally enter area between 6am and 7am for trash removal. Possible resolution and vote requiring trash removal after 8am.

ITEM 8: Discussion of possible Spring Block Party in heart of Area 2 around Oakshire with live music, food and festivities to increase visibility and outreach of Hollywood Hills West NC.

NEXT MEETING TIME/PLACE
Second Thursday of every odd (9,11,1) month.
Next meeting: Thursday 11 November 2004
Time and location to be announced.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Speaker Cards required for public comment or questions.

ADJOURN

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 Agenda items will be heard only 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 3 minutes per speaker unless waived by the presiding officer of the Board. Agenda is posted for public review: Gardner Street Elementary School, Valley View Elementary School, Yucca Community Center, on bulletin boards at the top and bottom of Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles Library: Will and Ariel Durant Branch and electronically on the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council website WWW.HHWNC.org. 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) 485-1588 or e-mail to [email protected].

Preparation note for Chairs – As stated in article IV of the Bylaws, agendas are to be planned to limit the length of each meeting to 1.5 hours if possible.

MEETING OF AREA 2 COMMITTEE OF
HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL
7:30PM-9:00PM
9 September 2004
Thursday

MINUTES

￭ SIGN-IN, WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

In attendance were the Area 2 Chair (Charlie Alvare) and five residents of Area 2 plus five members of the Outpost Estates Homeowners Association. A quorum was met.

￭ ITEM 1: Update on proposed DS Development of condominiums and houses on Banana Bungalows site on Cahuenga Pass. Possible resolution and vote.

After a review by the Chair of several previous meetings regarding the proposed DS/Banana Bungalows, 81-unit development on the Cahuenga Pass was presented, there was an open discussion of the Agenda Item by many of those in attendance. A proposal was introduced by Ralph Pine of Area 2 and seconded by another Area 2 attendee. The proposal was for the Area 2 Chair to issue an advisory comment letter that disagrees with the conclusion of the DS/Banana Bungalows report which claims that there are no mitigating circumstances. The advisory letter, furthermore, requests that a full environmental impact study be undertaken before the development can be considered further. Theresa Larkin of Area 2 suggested that the advisory letter also include concerns about the impact of the proposed development on pedestrian accessibility and pedestrian safety. The proposal carried by unanimous consent. (6-0)

￭ ITEM 2: Review and discussion of impact on Area 2 of multiple Stop sign additions on Outpost Drive over the past five years. Discussion of proposed DOT plan to build traffic islands at numerous stop sign intersections to slow down and discourage traffic even further. Possible resolution and vote.

Item 2 was discussed and commented on in detail by the Chair and all five of the Outpost Estates Homeowners Association (OEHA) members in attendance. All five members objected vigorously to the Agenda Item and claimed that they had spent ten years getting approvals for the proposed traffic islands project from the relevant Los Angeles City agencies including the Department of Transportation (DOT)- LAFD, LAPD, etc. The proposed traffic islands project, as explained by Michael Meyer of OEHA, will be carried out in two phases. Phase One will consist of five traffic islands including one at Outpost and Mulholland drives. Phase Two will consist of five more islands at other intersections on Outpost for an eventual total of ten. The islands will be landscaped and designed in an aesthetically pleasing manner, he added.

One of the other Outpost members claimed that there had been many public meetings and discussions regarding the project over the years. When the Chair asked if there had ever been a public meeting of the project before any organization or body other than the Outpost Estates Homeowners Association, the question was left unanswered. When the Chair asked if he could see a petition of the number of OEHA members who had approved the project, he was shouted down by several OEHA members who wanted to know what right the Chair had to make such a request especially since he is not an Outpost homeowner. The Chair stated that numerous neighbors in Area 2 had voiced concerns over the number of ‘Stop’ signs which had been added to Outpost Drive over the past five years (which now number eight ‘Stop’ signs plus a traffic light at Outpost and Franklin). The Chair also stated that according to the Chief LA Traffic Engineer, the standard for ‘Stop’ signs in residential areas of Los Angeles is one every two blocks, not one on every block as now exists on Outpost Drive. Dr. Laura Fox of OEHA questioned the Chair on that assertion. The Chair responded by stating that at a City of Los Angeles Meeting held at the Hollywood Presbyterian Church on July 22nd, the Chief LA Traffic Engineer had clearly stated that the standard in residential neighborhoods in Los Angeles is one ‘Stop’ sign every two blocks or at every other block, and named a witness. One attendee who is not a member of OEHA made comments in opposition to Item 2. An Area 2 attendee supported the spirit of Item 2 by stating that the multiple ‘Stop’ sign additions on Outpost Drive over the past five years are a nuisance and inconvenience to Hollywood Hills residents who live near Outpost.

Several of the OEHA members asked the Chair to explain his concerns or objections to the proposed traffic islands. In conjunction with the issues of added travel time and inconvenience, the Chair stated that the ‘Stop’ sign additions and proposed traffic islands would cause wear and tear to cars, especially to brakes and clutches, and, on a steep hillside with multiple ‘Stop’ signs, would also add to air pollution and emissions. His comments were not well received.

ITEM 3: Discussion of impact of ‘No U-turn’ and ‘No Left Turn’
Signs during morning rush hour on Mulholland near Outpost.
Possible resolution and vote.

Item 3 was discussed briefly by the Chair and several OEHA members, then dismissed for lack of support from Area 2 attendees.

￭ ITEM 4: Discussion of DASH service proposal for elderly and
domestic workers without access to private transportation who are required to walk or hitch-hike up and down Outpost to buy groceries or get to work. Proposed route would start at Hollywood and Fairfax, go up Nichols Canyon to Mulholland, then continue along Mulholland Drive to the Cahuenga Pass. The proposed shuttle would then stop at Hollywood and Highland and continue along Hollywood Blvd. to Fairfax. Such a route would also reduce auto traffic up and down Outpost and Nichols canyons. Possible resolution and vote.

The Chair introduced Item 4, then opened the floor for discussion. Jim Mead of
Area 2 or 5 voiced his support of the proposed DASH route, but with several reservations. He felt that the DASH route should travel up or down Outpost Drive rather than along the Cahuenga Pass as there is already ample public transportation on Cahuenga West. Mr. Mead also suggested that a DASH route along Outpost would help slow down traffic further as the bus would come to a full stop at each intersection to take on or drop off passengers. Another OEHA member, on the other hand, expressed his concerns that such a bus route might become a problem in a residential neighborhood, due especially to weight and noise issues. He was also of the opinion that if a precedent is set with City bus service in the Hollywood Hills, it might eventually escalate into a full-scale bus and additional bus lines in a residential area. The Chair decided that the Item should be researched further with the relevant agencies of the City of LA and the relevant homeowners associations in the Cahuenga Pass, Outpost, and Nichols Canyon.

— ITEM 5: Pyramid Place Problems including parking of cars
Late at night in illegal spaces. Loud music and alleged illicit activities in the cars. Tagging of retaining walls, etc. Lack of response from LAPD Van Nuys Precinct versus proximity to LAPD Hollywood Precinct.

Ralph Pine of Pyramid Place discussed the problems on his street which occur especially on weekend nights. The issue of weekend noise in the Runyon Park/Mulholland area was also brought up by several other Area 2 residents. Mr. Pine explained that the parking of cars, not from the neighborhood, late at night was partially due to the lack of recent red paint on curbs and intersections along Pyramid Place. There has been a lack of repair of old and deteriorating curbs along the street, he also reported. The Chair offered to call the DOT field engineer in the Hollywood area and the Bureau of Street Services to help remedy the curb and red paint problem for Pyramid Place residents. If DOT or Street Services does not respond effectively by the next Area 2 meeting in November, furthermore, the Chair offered to place the Item on the Agenda again with a proposal for a vote on the matter.

ITEM 6: Discussion of impact of construction noise in
residential Hills area from Mulholland to Woodrow Wilson.
Discuss possible resolution to request later start of all construction from 7am to 8am on weekdays and from 8am to 9am on Saturdays. Possible vote.

Several Area 2 attendees complained about the early schedule of construction allowed by an LA City ordinance. Over the past few years, furthermore, there has been quite an increase in the level of construction activity in the Hollywood Hills, they noted. The noise in especially disruptive and annoying to Area 2 members who work in the evenings on TV and film productions. The Chair, who has looked into local noise issues with the City Council and Building & Safety previously, explained that it would take a door-to-door petition drive with signatures from about 51% of residents to alter or vary the official construction schedule in an effective manner. One Area 2 member also suggested having a direct mail or email marketing campaign. The issue of expenses and time expenditures for such a campaign were also discussed by the participants. Ultimately, it was decided that it would be very difficult to alter the City ordinance without a door-to-door petition drive which would take a considerable amount of time, organization, and effort.

Most Area 2 attendees felt that the early schedule of City Sanitation trucks on their weekly trash removal routes was not a problem. The majority did not recommend changing the schedule.

ITEM 8: Discussion of possible Spring Block Party in heart of Area 2 around Oakshire with live music, food and festivities to increase visibility and outreach of Hollywood Hills West NC.

The discussion of Item 8 centered on the suggestion made by Theresa Larkin to hold several, smaller Block Parties for one’s immediate neighborhood rather than one big, annual celebration for all of Area 2. The issues of expenses, liability insurance, and parking were also brought up and discussed by the Area 2 attendees. The Chair and Ms. Larkin also agreed that Wilson should be involved in discussions regarding entertainment and outreach issues for future Block Party planning. One of the goals of a Block Party would be to increase the visibility and profile of the HHWNC to stakeholders in Area 2. The Item will be revisited at the next meeting.

￭ NEXT MEETING TIME/PLACE
Second Thursday of every odd (9,11,1) month.
Next meeting: Thursday 11 November 2004
Time and location to be announced.

￭ ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 pm.