Meeting Date: 12/04/03 06:30 PM
Meeting Type: Regular
Location: Gardner St School
Details: 6:30 PM
Gardner Street School Auditorium
SPECIAL BYLAWS MEETING AGENDA:
1. Call to Order and Explanation of Procedure to Change Bylaws
2. Suggested Change of Existing Listing of Posting Locations in the Bylaws – Discuss & Stakeholder Vote
Existing: The 30 day Notice shall be posted in a prominent manner at legally allowable sites at but not necessarily limited to the following locations: Gardner Street Elementary School, Valley View Elementary School, on bulletin boards at the top and bottom of Runyon Canyon, Lake Hollywood, Yucca Community Center, Toluca Lake Sports Center. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (7919 Sunset)- Canyon Country Market (Laurel Canyon Blvd.)- Whole Foods Market (7871 Santa Monica Blvd)- Ralphs (7257 Sunset)- Los Angeles Library: Will and Ariel Durant Branch (1403 N. Gardner) , Oakcrest Market (3315 Cahuenga)- Sav-On (1747 N. Cahuenga)- Yucca Market (1815 N. Cahuenga).
Suggested: The 30 day Notice shall be posted in a prominent manner at legally allowable sites at but not necessarily to the limited following locations: 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 HHWNC.org.
3. Suggested Addition to President’s Duties- Discuss & Stakeholder Vote
Addition: Appoint representatives to HHWNC ad hoc committees and to committees outside of HHWNC. All appointments are temporary until approved by the Executive Committee.
Existing: The President shall
– Prepare agendas and preside at all meetings;
– Serve as spokesperson and representative of the Board’s majority position;
– Receive all communications and present them promptly to the Board;
– Lead the delegation to citywide neighborhood council conventions;
– Co-sign checks with the Treasurer;
– Comply with the financial controls stated in these bylaws;
Serve on the Executive Committee
BOARD MEETING TO FOLLOW – BOARD AGENDA:
4. Call to order and roll call.
5. Acceptance of nominations for vacant board/committee positions. Possible appointment of uncontested nominees (vote).
6. Secretary – Review and approve prior minutes (vote).
7. Treasurer – Review and approve treasurer’s report. Presentation of annual budget for year ending February 29, 2004 for board approval (vote).
8. President – Report on 101 freeway Citizens Advisory Committee meetings and request by City Council.
9. Vice President – Report on Hollywood Street Closure committee and Kiosks for Runyon Canyon.
10. Presentation of Yucca Community Center’s Posada plans by Roz Brown (vote).
11. Presentation of a combination of single-family homes and townhouse lofts development at the site where the “Hollywood Bungalows” currently sits. Specifically, the project is separated into two components, for a total of 81 units.
12. Parking recommendations in and surrounding Runyon Canyon Park. Discussion, possible motion(s) and vote(s).
13. Recommendations regarding use of Runyon Canyon Park. Discussion, possible motion(s) and vote(s).
14. Recommendations for improvements to Runyon Canyon Park. Discussion, possible motion(s) and vote(s)
15. General Comments – Comments from board members on non-agenda items.
16. Public Comments – Comments from the public on non-agenda items within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction. Public comments are limited to three minutes per speaker.
17. Adjournment (9PM or earlier).
Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council
Special Bylaws & Board Meeting
December 4, 2003
Gardner Street Elementary School Auditorium
Board members present: Dan Bernstein, Darren Gold, Cindy Gardner, John Connelly, Scott Meyer, Jeff Rouze, Conrad Schoeffter, Paul Woolsey, Paul Ramsey, Anthony Deckoff, Brian Lubocki, Jena Summer, Ellen Sondheim, and Orrin Feldman.
Board members absent: Darryl Self, Mel Remba, Ossie Cohen and Bob Cook
1. Call to Order and Explanation of Procedure to Change Bylaws
Council President Dan Bernstein called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
He explained that the first portion of the meeting would address bylaws changes and the second portion would be the board meeting. All voting would be by show of hands; stakeholders and board members will vote and Brown Act rules will be followed.
2. Suggested Changes of Existing Listing of Posting Locations in the Bylaws.
The current procedure is for a 30-day notice to be posted in a prominent manner at legally allowable sites at/but not necessarily limited to locations read by the President and included in the agenda. The suggestion is to eliminate some of the current posting places. The list indicates the required places, but it does not mean they will be the only places the 30-day notice will be posted. Following a very brief discussion a vote was taken by show of hands.
MOTION: Made by Dan changing existing listing of posting locations in the bylaws to:
The 30 day Notice shall be posted in a prominent manner at legally allowable sites at but not necessarily to the limited following locations: 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 HHWNC.org.
VOTE: A 2/3 majority of the 27 stakeholders present approved, 0 (none) opposed.
3. Suggested Addition to President’s Duties
Additional duties of the president would involve the various ad hoc committees formed outside of the standard council committees. All appointments are temporary, until approved by the Executive Committee. President would make appointments that would be confirmed by the five-member executive committee. This procedure would allow for quick reaction where applicable.
DISCUSSION: This will not affect how board vacancies are filled. The person appointed to the ad hoc committee will report back to the full board that will make final determination.
MOTION: Made by Dan that the President’s duties be:
The President shall
– Prepare agendas and preside at all meetings;
– Serve as spokesperson and representative of the Board’s majority position;
– Receive all communications and present them promptly to the Board;
– Lead the delegation to citywide neighborhood council conventions;
– Co-sign checks with the Treasurer;
– Appoint representatives to HHWNC ad hoc committees and to committees outside of HHWNC. All appointments are temporary until approved by the Executive Committee.
– Comply with the financial controls stated in these bylaws;
Serve on the Executive Committee
VOTE: By show of hands 2/3 majority approved. 3 opposed.
BOARD MEETING
4. Call to Order and roll call.
President Dan Bernstein announced the beginning of the board meeting, and asked for board member roll call.
5. Acceptance of nominations for vacant board/committee positions
Vacant Board positions are:
a) Issue #5 – Housing, Social and Human Services, Religious and Charitable Organizations, Planning and Support
b) Issue #8 – Traffic, Public Transportation and Parking
c) Issue #9 – Youth Development/Education/Recreational Resources
d) Area #2 – Cahuenga Pass/Universal City
e) Area #5 – Outpost/Cahuenga West
There was one stakeholder Board Member Vacancy Candidate Nomination Form submitted for Area 5 by Anastasia Mann, who nominated herself.
MOTION: Made by Dan Bernstein. Appoint Anastasia Mann to the board of Area #5 Outpost Cahuenga West, and second.
DISCUSSION: Anastasia gave a brief summary of her biography and took questions from the audience and council.
VOTE: Unanimous approval.
Richard MacMinn was the other candidate for the vacancy at Cahuenga Pass/Universal City. Dan said he was one of the founders of the Council. A motion was then asked for, made and second to close nominations.
DISCUSSION: Richard gave a brief summary of his biography and took questions from the audience and council.
VOTE: Scott made a motion, which was second by John and approved by all board members to appoint Richard to the board of Cahuenga Pass/Universal City.
6. Minutes of previous meeting
The secretary was absent, so prior minutes of last two meetings were unavailable. However, the board has seen drafts of the minutes.
7. Treasurer’s Report. Presentation and approval of annual budget for year ending February 29, 2004.
The Treasurer, Cindy Gardner explained that D.O.N.E. suggested an annual budget process that coincides with their fiscal year, March 1 through February 28th. There are still monies in the budget unspent, and unspent funds are lost at the end of the fiscal year.
MOTION: Made by John Connelly that the council convert to an annual budget system, and it was second.
DISCUSSION: Cindy would have to seek confirmation as to whether dollars allocated for a project could be carried over to the next fiscal year. Board members have before them an accrual and spent budget based on the quarterly budget that was approved.
VOTE: To transfer to an annual budget was unanimous.
MOTION: Made by Scott to approve actual budget submitted by Treasurer, was second by Brian.
DISCUSSION: Line item “research” was explained by Vice President Darren Gold as funds contributed along with other city and community agencies to help with a City study on street closures and traffic patterns. Cindy again explained the process for a committee requesting and spending money.
VOTE: Approval of budget: unanimous.
8. President’s report on 101 Freeway, and meetings with City Council members.
Area 2 Citizens Advisory Committee, 101 Freeway Task Force held a series of meetings and came up with a list of detailed priorities/suggestions for the freeway project (given to each board member).
City Councilman Tom LaBonge is proposing a motion to transfer a large portion of the responsibility for selection of public works projects to be funded to the City’s certified neighborhood councils. City funds available for projects would be allocation to each neighborhood council based on its share of the City’s population. Each City Council office would retain responsibility for selection of projects on 10% of the funds.
Within Runyon Canyon Park, official HHWNC agendas were removed and replaced with a colored flyer that gives a “we/they” approach regarding HHWNC and the City. Dan alerted the public that the City is investigating this matter to see if it is illegal.
The president said he was sent a follow up e-mail by Danny Huyghue, reporting on the noticeable abatement of drug traffic on Whitley, praising the LAPD for response to this issue.
9. Vice President – Report on Hollywood Street Closures committee and Kiosks for Runyon Canyon.
Vice President, Darren Gold reported that the committee meeting was postponed. He will make a report at the next board meeting. Regarding the kiosks, there is no budget yet, so he will report at the next meeting. Darren said all members should have received an e-mail from him on how they can communicate via e-mail with their committee members without volumes of lists. Contact him with questions/clarification.
10. Presentation of Yucca Community Center’s Las Posada plans by Roz Brown.
Roz and Sonia Young thanked the Neighborhood Council for their $500 support of their very successful Yucca Halloween party, and presented Dan with a thank you card. Roz explained what the Las Posada Christmas event was and how it would embrace a multicultural celebration of all types of holiday observances. Roz requested of the Council $250 to pay for tamales. She informed the group that the Yucca Center does only three major events year: the aforementioned two and an Easter Egg Hunt, for which she would seek another $250 from the Council.
MOTION: Made by Scott, that we allocate the $250 out of the Outreach Budget to Yucca Community Center for their Las Posadas celebration. Second by Darren
VOTE: Unanimous approval.
11. Presentation by Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh, AIA, architects for development of homes on “Hollywood Bungalows” site.
As requested by the President, that this meeting include a project overview with no questions from the floor, Mr. Navy Banvard gave a brief overview, with architectural visuals of the entire project. These conceptual designs included among other things, boundary areas, floor plans, finished renderings of units and an aerial view. The developer is requesting approval to move forward with the project.
Dan asked which members wanted their committees to work on this issue and Areas 1, 3, 5 and 6 responded.
12. Parking recommendations – Runyon Canyon Park area.
MOTION #1: Make by Ellen to oppose building a parking lot in Lower Runyon Canyon unless and until an environmental impact review is conducted, reported and discussed, in respect to damage done by the subway tunneling project in Runyon Canyon. No second.
DISCUSSION: John suggested that an important motion such as this first be written down.
MOTION #2: Made by Ellen to oppose building a parking lot in lower Runyon Canyon, and seconded.
DISCUSSION: There is not enough information on its impact to vote on it yet. There is a parking lot at the upper end of the park at Mulholland. It may be insufficient for visitors, but residents have rights. The vote at the last meeting on the motion to build a parking lot in lower Runyon Canyon did not pass and therefore the Board is opposed to building a parking lot in lower Runyon Canyon. Areas committees 3, 6, 7 and 9 voted against it. Recreation and Parks are now in charge of this issue, which was turned over to them by Tom LaBonge’s office after the Runyon Canyon Park Advisory Committee turned it down as well.
Stakeholder speakers summary: One wanted to conduct a residents’ survey; another suggested that the board avail themselves of further information on the matter before making a decision; another said that she received 500 signatures of people who want a parking lot; an area resident said on his street neighbors want a lot and that “permit parking” will force the city to comply; a home owners association member suggested that the park already experiences heavy use and a parking lot would encourage people from outside the area to use it.
MOTION amended to: To oppose building a parking lot in Runyon Canyon at this time.
VOTE: 10 approved. 3 opposed. 3 abstained.
13. Recommendations for use of Runyon Canyon Park
MOTION: Made by Dan to support a volunteer patrol of uses of Runyon Canyon under the supervision of LA Recreation and Park rangers. Motion was seconded by Scott.
Albert Torres, Senior Park Ranger was introduced. He discussed his function as it relates to parks citywide, explained their 24 hour emergency phone line system, detailed how many rangers are available for response at any given time and spoke about volunteer groups who are trained as guest services in various parks. Some time back there plans were drawn for the lot but there is no budget for a second set of plans. He informed that currently Rec and Parks doesn’t have the manpower to assign a ranger to Runyon Canyon Park, but options could be discussed with the council to get coverage. If a volunteer program were started, then a ranger would have to be involved.
Dan offered that 22 people have signed up who are interested in a volunteer program, and that there is $280 in the budget for uniform apparel of either a t-shirt or cap as well as communications equipment. A gentlemen from the audience requested his name be added to the list.
MOTION: Made by John to close the debate then vote on the question.
VOTE: 12 approved. 1 opposed. 3 abstained.
14. Recommendation for improvements to Runyon Canyon Park.
Dan explained that there is a recommendation to direct the City to speak to the owner of the residence that is in the middle of the park, built by the brother of Frank Lloyd Wright. The owner wants to move and exchange his property with the City. The property would be a great place for a caretaker.
MOTION #1: Made by Dan to recommend to the City that they investigate acquiring this property and was second by Scott
DISCUSSION: It was asked if this recommendation should go back to committee and tabled for the next board meeting, since this is item is being brought before the board for the first time.
MOTION #2: Made by Scott to table Dan’s motion for discussion at the next board meeting, and second by Brian.
VOTE: Unanimous approval.
Jena submitted and summarized her Infrastructure Public & Regulated Services & Resources Committee report regarding proposal for Runyon Canyon Park, dated November 25, 2003.
MOTION: Made by John that council refer report items 7 a, b, c, d. 8, 9a and b to our committees so that they can take it up, report and act on it at the next board meeting. Second by Jena
VOTE: Unanimous approval
15. General Comments from board members on non-agenda items.
Brian: The Council contributed to the Hollywood Partnership Against Drugs’ “Turn On the Lights in Hollywood” parade slated for Dec. 31, 2003 and the Council was listed as a Premier sponsor on their flyers.
Dan: A petition by City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo’s office that schools be open to periodic inspection of their restrooms is available for signatures.
John: Entertainment Industry has set up a board to be sure residents are respected.
Janice: DWP wants more people to participate in their hearings.
Ellen: Construction on Nichols Canyon road was to be started in November, now will be in January
Dan: Wants Council to have a float in next year’s Christmas parade, and a July 4th Independence Day reading of our Declaration of Independence and Bar-b-que in Runyon Canyon Park.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15.
Next meet January 14, 2004
Submitted by Joyce Clarke
PDQ Personnel Temp