Meeting Date: 01/17/06 06:30 PM
Meeting Type: Regular
Location: 1749 North La Brea Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90046
West side of La Brea, between Franklin and Hollywood Blvd. Parking in back (free). Disabled entrance at back door closest to parking area next to disabled parking spot.
Details: HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
BOARD MEETING AGENDA
JANUARY 17, 2006 6:30 PM
Hollywood Women’s Club
1749 North La Brea Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90046
Free parking in back of building; Disabled entrance at back door closest to parking area next to disabled parking spot.
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) 485-1588 or e-mail to [email protected].
1. Call to order and roll call.
2. President’s Report:
a) Discuss Ad Hoc Committee concept
b) Review website email status
c) Public Comments discussion
d) Goals for 2006 – Outreach and community participation
e) Operating procedures for 2006 – Time limits on meetings/Area & Issue Committee roles
f) Other
3. Minutes – Review and approve prior September 15, 2005 minutes (vote) (5 minutes).
4. 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.
5. Treasurer’s Report (Possible votes) (5 minutes).
a) Mayor’s Budget Day – review previous years’ budget priorities:
1.) Street improvement and repairs
2.) Police
3.) Traffic
4.) Homeless
5.) Schools
b) HHWNC budget – Executive Committee will review current fiscal year budget adopted in June 2005 and present any suggested revisions to Board at next meeting. For discussion only.
c) Report on status of unpaid bills
6. Hollywood Regency Project: Update and discuss motion for reconsideration of prior Board approval. (vote) (10 minutes)
7. Area and Issue Committee Reports: reports and goals for 2006 (limited to 5 minutes per report)
a.) Emergency, Fire & Police Issue Committee – Presentation by Los Angeles Fire Department, Battalion Chief Mark Stormes on Red Flag/NPD issue. For information only. (5 minutes)
b.) Area 3
i.) MOTION: To support Metro Core Developers residential development project located at 1802
1816 North Whitley Avenue. (Possible vote)
ii.) MOTION: Request HHWNC Board to take a position in support of the following:
“A presentation regarding the need for adequate security on public parking lots, between La Brea and Vine St. & Santa Monica Blvd. and Franklin Ave.- that are used frequently by nightclub patrons was given by HHWNC Emergency Services, Police, and Fire Issue Committee Chair, Rena Dheming, who then made a motion that all privately and city-owned public parking lots within that radius, be required to employ surveillance cameras, adequate lighting, and security guards on the premises of said parking lots, between the hours of 10 P.M. – 3 A.M.- to provide safety measures for parking patrons and lot employees, and to deter crime and mitigate and discourage trespassing and noisy unlawful assemblies after 2 A.M. Motion passed, 7 for, none against, abstentions.” (Possible vote)
iii) MOTION: Requesting HHWNC to support Area 3’s vote opposing demolition of a structure at 6683 Franklin and construction of 9 unit condo. (Possible vote)
c) OUTREACH – brief discussion of goals for 2006 (5 minutes)
8. Presidential appointments (5 minutes)
a) DWP MOU Representative: President to appoint new representative
b) CD4 Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s Mobility Action Committee/Regional Transportation Committee
9. Hollywood Redevelopment: Presentation by CIM Group regarding on plans for upgrading 1800 Highland Avenue. For information only. (5 minutes)
10. Ad Hoc Committees: establish/appoint
a) Bylaw review/revision
b) October 2006 Elections.
11. Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Congress Charter: Subject tabled from September 15, 2005 meeting. Presentation on pros and cons of the LANC. President may appoint LANC Representative. (Possible vote) (5 minutes)
12. Brown Act for City Attorney Round Table: Discussion and request for comments, recommendations, and questions regarding possible changes to the Brown Act. President may appoint a representative.
13. Board Member Comments: old business/non-agenda items (1 minute per member)
14. Adjournment (8 p.m. or earlier).
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.
HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
Hollywood Women’s Club
1749 North La Brea Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90046
BOARD MEETING
January 17, 2006
APPROVED
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Anastasia Mann, President called the board meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. Jennifer Fitzgerald, Secretary, took roll call.
Present: Anastasia Mann, President; Orrin Feldman, Vice President; Jennifer Fitzgerald, Secretary; Gary Nestra, Treasurer; Ellen Sondheim, Parliamentarian; Issue Committee Chairs: Dennis Lytton, Jarone Johnson, Thor Lee, Claire Guy, Frank DeFoe, Rena Dheming, Anne Marie Lardeau, Jim Meinel; Area Committee Chairs: Paul Ramsey, Joan Luchs, Paul Woolsey, Michael Meyer, Cheryl Holland, Ken Jones, John Pogue
Absent: Theresa Larkin, Conrad Schoeffer, Fred Fichtl
2. MOTION: That the HHWNC Board approve September 15, 2005 Board Minutes (Vote)
MOTION by Frank DeFoe to approve September 15, 2005 Board Minutes.
SECOND: Orrin Feldman
VOTE: Passes unanimously
3. President’s Report
a) Anastasia explained the concept of having Ad Hoc Committees and encouraged Issue and Area Committee chairs to utilize this option for committee issues.
b) Website and email are all updated. We are still waiting on a few headshots from Board members.
c) It was explained we were going to try something new this year and have the Public Comments section be at the beginning of the agenda, not the very end. The public is limited to 2 minutes each.
d) Goals for 2006 – Our Board want to sign up new members this year. We want to expand our outreach.
e) The Board was informed that our goal is to have shorter meetings; our goal is to have meetings which are 1.5 hours long in length, but not exceed 2 hours.
f) The Board should plan on meeting the third Tuesday of every other month at the Hollywood Women’s Club. It may not always happen, but we will try our best.
4. Skipped to Item 7a on the Agenda
A presentation was made by Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Mark Stormes with regard to the Red Flag / No Parking Days issue in the hillsides. Fire Chief Stormes reported that there usually are 4 to7 red flag days a year, and 12 at the most. He described the new no parking signs, explained how stakeholders could find about red flag days through the local news media and/or a LAFD website, and have any streets reviewed by the Fire Department if stakeholders thought no parking signs on their street(s) might be incorrect.
A brief presentation was delivered by Officer Sanchez about security issue in parking lots. Officer Sanchez said surveillance cameras, adequate lighting, and security guards would all help with the safety of people.
5. Rory Fitzpatrick – City Councilmember’s Office
Mr. Fitzpatrick announced that he will try to attend Area meetings if he can. He also updated the Board on the Runyan Canyon parking lot proposal, explaining that no historic areas will be touched by the proposed parking lot construction. He also announces that the Runyan Park Advisory Board would meet at 6:30pm on 1/18 at the Hollywood City Hall.
6. Treasurer’s Report
a) Mayor’s Budget Day is Saturday, January 21. Every Board member was asked to fill out a survey and return it to Gary by the end of the meeting.
b) No other report. Anastasia added that the Exec
Committee would meet to discuss the 2005-06 budget and propose and revisions at the March full board meeting.
7. Hollywood Regency Project: Update and discuss motion for reconsideration of prior Board approval. (Vote)
Frank DeFoe, Housing Chair reported that the Hollywood Regency Project has already gone through complete vetting and is going to happen. Frank reported that the concerns were focused on the tenants not being properly notified of the project in a timely manner and with proper relocation benefits.
Fred Shaffer, GTO Development’s representative, reported that they collected 900 signatures in support of the project since HHWNC had approved the proposed project. He explained that GTO had followed the City’s legal requirements by offering tenants 6 months to vacate and $4,800 per unit in relocation fees, which was beyond the City’s minimum requirements of $3,200 per unit and 4 months notice. The $4,800 and 6 month offer was not accepted.
Sara Takasugi, an attorney representing 43 tenants in the building, said that GTO’s proposal was not satisfactory. The tenants are asking that the Board to reconsider and revoke the Board’s prior resolution approving the project.
A letter endorsing the project from the Hollywood Chamber was submitted to the Board by Syd Daily.
Bonnie Kopp, the Planning Deputy for City Council Member Weiss, reported that the Council Member’s office had not taken a side, and that the decision of the HHWNC Board will have no effect on the land use aspects of the proposed project which were to be taken up at the Planning Department..
Anastasia reported that, under the Brown Act we are not able to take a vote to reconsider the Board’s prior approval after the next Board meeting following that vote. This issue was discussed at the August Board meeting, and any reconsideration would have had to have occurred at the Board’s September meeting.
Ellen Sondheim, Parliamentarian, after meeting with former HHWNC President Dan Bernstein and former Parliamentarian John Connolly to discuss the matter at Anastasia’s request, moved to suspend the rule(s).
There was a MOTION by Ellen Sondheim to suspend the reconsideration rule(s) in light of the new information coming to the Board about the Hollywood Regency Project and permit a vote on the reconsideration motion pending renewed negotiations between developer and the tenants.
SECOND: Jennifer
VOTE: 8 for, 7 opposed, 4 abstain; the reconsideration motion passes and the Board’s prior approval of the Hollywood Regency Project was revoked.
8. Area and Issue Committee Reports: reports and goals for 2006
Area 3:
a.) MOTION by Area 3 that HHWNC support the Metro Core Developers residential development project located at 1802-1816 North Whitley Avenue.
SECOND: Frank
DISCUSSION: Paul Woolsey, Area 3 Chair, explained the details of the project and Area 3 had approved the project after Metro Core had met all their demands. Metro Developers assured that they had notified all tenants and they received 8 months with $8,000 relocation fee.
VOTE: 17 approve, 2 abstain; Motion passes
b.) MOTION by Area 3 to request HHWNC to take a position in support of the following: “A presentation regarding the need for adequate security on public parking lots, between Cahuenga Avenue and La Brea Avenue and Sunset Blvd. and Franklin Avenue, within the HHWNC boundaries, that are used frequently by nightclub patrons was given by HHWNC Emergency Services, Police, and Fire Issue Committee Chair, Rena Dheming, who then made a motion to recommend that all privately and city-owned public parking lots within that radius employ surveillance cameras, adequate lighting, and security guards on the premises of said parking lots, between the hours of 10 P.M. – 3 A.M.- to provide safety measures for parking patrons and lot employees, and to deter crime and mitigate and discourage trespassing and noisy unlawful assemblies after 2 A.M. Motion passed, 7 for, none against, abstentions.”
SECOND: Jim Meinel
VOTE: 16 approve, 1 opposed. Motion passes.
c.) MOTION by Area 3 that HHWNC support Area 3’s vote opposing demolition of a structure at 6683 Franklin and construction of 9 unit condo.
SECOND: Frank
VOTE: Motion fails
Amendment: Motion by Area 3 that HHWNC support Area 3’s vote opposing demolition of a structure at 6683 Franklin and construction of 9 unit condos, pending receipt of renderings and other necessary information to provide information necessary for the community to take an informed position with regard to the proposed project.
SECOND: Rena Dheming
VOTE: Motion passes unanimously
d.) Outreach Issue Committee – tabled.
9. Representative Positions:
a) Anastasia appointed Rena Dheming as DWP MOU Representative.
b) Mr. Fitzpatrick gave brief overview of CD4 Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s Mobility Action Committee/Regional Transportation Committee and Dennis Lytton was appointed to be the representative.
10. Hollywood Redevelopment:
Informational presentation by CIM Group regarding plans for upgrading 1800 Highland Avenue, which is currently a vacant building.
Michael Meyers, Area 5 Chair, voiced the concerns of his committee that the windows not be covered with huge billboards. CIM Group has already heard these concerns and have made adjustments.
11. Ad Hoc Committees: establish/appoint
a) Anastasia asked for volunteers to be on a Bylaw Ad Hoc Committee to review and possibly revise the bylaws. Joan Luchs, Jarone Johnson and Orrin volunteered to serve. Anastasia asked that any other Board members interested should contact her.
b) Anastasia asked that anyone interested in serving on the October 2006 Elections Ad Hoc Committee contact her. Anastasia advised that due to time restrictions she would contact board members directly to appoint them to the ad hoc committees. Other than officer participation she prefers to engage all board members rather than have any single member take on too much responsibility.
12. Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Congress Charter:
Orrin Feldman, Vice President, presented the pros and cons of the LANC. We can send a representative to the LANC meetings without joining. The next meeting is in February.
13. Brown Act for City Attorney Round Table:
Orrin volunteered to be the HHWNC representative for the Brown Act Round Table.
14. Board Member Comments: old business/non-agenda items
No comments
15. Adjournment:
MOTION by Ellen to adjourn the meeting.
SECOND: Dennis
VOTE: Passes unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 8:31pm.
Respectfully submitted-
Jennifer Fitzgerald
HHWNC Secretary