Board of Directors Meeting 01/29/09 06:30 PM

Meeting Date: 01/29/09 06:30 PM

Meeting Type: Regular

Location: Will and Ariel Durant Library, 7140 Sunset Boulevard at Detroit, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Details:

HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

BOARD MEETING AGENDA

January 29, 2009

6:30pm

Will and Ariel Durant Library

7140 Sunset Boulevard at Detroit

Los Angeles, CA 90046

Directions: The Library is generally located on theSouthwest corner of Sunset and Detroit, which is a block west of La Brea Avenue. Accessibility: Building is accessible to the handicapped. Parking: Free off–street parking is available in a lot behind the library building, as well as free parking on street.

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.

AGENDA

1. Call to order by President (Anastasia Mann)

2. Roll call by Secretary (Bruce Gorelick)

3. Minutes – Review and approve prior September 23, 2008 minutes (Please see attached) (Vote) (5 minutes)

4. President’s Report by Anastasia Mann (20 minutes)

a.) Public Official Reports

i.) CD4 – Stacey Marble

ii.) CD5 – Sonia Kwon

iii.) CD 13 – Helen Leung

iv.) Introduction of new representative from Mayor Villaraigosa’s office, Fabiola Vilchez, Central Area Director

v.) Ted Holmquist of Assembly member Mike Feuer’s office (42^nd District) – Presentation and request support for AB 109 (Digital Billboards). (See attachment)

vi). Other

b.) Executive Committee Meeting Update

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

6. Treasurer’s Report by Michael Meyer(5 minutes)

7. DONE Update and presentation by Mark Lewis

a.) Board training requirements including Ethics, etc

8. Universal Studio Development Projects Ad Hoc Committee by Wayne Johansson

a.) Presentation, discussion and possible motion on:

i.) Communities United for Smart Growth proposed alternative (presentation by the organization)

ii.) Peer Review of Applicant’s Traffic Study by KOA Corporation (see attachment)

(Possible Motion and Vote.)

9. Committee Reports (20 minutes)

a.) AREA COMMITTEES

i.) Area 9 (John Pogue)

aa.) The Board is requested to approve up to $2,800 in funds to pay for California native plants, decomposed granite, materials, rocks and irrigation equipment to be used at the public open space at the south east corner of Mulholland Drive and Laurel Canyon.

Laurel Canyon resident, Bob Yothers, has already begun improvements at this corner with the help of Area 9 volunteers, under the auspices of his "Beautiful Laurel Canyon" grant from the city of Los Angeles. The landscaping and maintenance plan for the corner has been approved by neighbors on Woodrow Wilson Drive, the Mulholland Design Review Board and the City of Los Angeles, with all necessary permits obtained. At the August 12, 2008 Area 9 meeting, stakeholders passed a motion requesting these funds from the HHWNC. The motion passed with 55 for,

0 against.

Bob Yothers would submit invoices for materials/plants, etc. used at the site. (Possible Motion and Vote)

bb.) Mitigated Negative Declaration – 424-08-PL: ENV-2007-4125, 7860 W. Torreyson Dr. The Board is requested to acknowledge and support:

i.) The efforts of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to

preserve wildlife corridors and movement throughout Area 9 and the Mulholland Scenic Parkway and Corridor, as outlined in the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan, Ordinance No. 167, 943, and to support mitigation measures that will protect, sustain and promote wildlife corridors and movement with regards to the MND-424-08-PL: ENV-2007-4125, at 7860 W. Torreyson Dr.

ii.) Request that the City of Los Angeles follow its own guidelines with regards to MND-424-08-PL: ENV-2007-4125, 7860 W. Torreyson as outlined in the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan, Ordinance No. 167,943, and Guideline 13, which states: "WILDLIFE. Projects that are near parks and wildlife corridors should be sensitive to preserving wildlife habitats and the ecology of the Scenic Parkway. Fencing should be placed to not interfere with wildlife movement. In some cases, the recording of a Covenant and Agreement affecting wildlife protection may be recommended as a condition of project implementation."

iii.) Acknowledge that various electronic security measures, improvements, devices, cameras, plantings and sprinkler systems have been placed within the Mulholland right-of-way bordering 7860 W. Torreyson Dr. and ask the City of Los Angeles to investigate and require that these electronic security measures, improvements, devices, cameras, plantings and sprinkler systems be removed immediately from public property, as they are not in keeping with Guideline 20 of the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan which states: "Placement of structures, walls, fences, light fixtures, trees, plants or other landscaping and irrigation systems in the right-of-way of Mulholland Drive should be avoided."

iv.) File a comment letter with the Zoning Administrator in the current proceeding with regards to 7860 W. Torreyson and the referenced MND, to go on record urging the Zoning Administrator and the Los Angeles City Planning Department NOT to approve and/or certify the MND unless and until the SMCC’s efforts to have the applicant acknowledge and provide for a wildlife corridor is approved to the SMMC’s satisfaction.

ii.) Area 7 (Cheryl Holland)

aa.) The Board is requested to take a position to approve the proposed development at 1541 N. Vista including all conditions set forth by zoning officer & including further conditions that Developer shall build a 6 ft. masonry wall around the perimeter of the property and that, at Developer’s cost, vines shall be planted along the wall, on Developer’s side of the wall, which will be selected by contiguous neighbor Sharon Peters for Peters’ portion of the wall. Additionally, Developer, at Developer’s cost, shall move the back fence of contiguous neighbor Eric Carr onto Carr’s property line and provide planting for Carr’s property along the contiguous property line on Carr’s side of the fence. (Possible Motion & Vote)

iii.) Area 3 (Paul Woolsey)

aa.) The Board is requested to take a position the proposed residential project at

1850 North Cherokee Blvd. with a variance requested for the "Q" Condition in that the building is to have 39 Units with 2.5 Parking Spaces per unit. Aside from this the support would be for the project as stated. (Possible Motion and Vote.)

bb.) The Board is requested to take a position supporting the application of Mediterranean Fresh Restaurant (Case No.: ZA 2008-4721-CUB, 6669 West Hollywood Blvd. ‘Med Fresh’) to add Full-Line of Alcohol to it’s operations and to have the addition of a D.J. playing background music for the patrons with the following added condition: THE DJ SHALL PLAY ONLY SOFT AMBIENT BACKGROUND MUSIC AT THE CURRENT LEVEL BEING PLAYED BY THE " PIPED-IN " SYSTEM IN USE. In addition there shall be no dancing permitted in this establishment specified in the conditions. (See attachment) (Possible Motion & Vote.)

cc.) The Board is requested to take a position to oppose the proposal to increase parking meter fees to $4 an hour, the limitation of parking to one hour only per meter, the extension of metered time to Midnight, and the increasing practice of towing cars rather than merely ticketing them at all parking meters on Hollywood Blvd., Highland Ave., and all other metered streets within the Hollywood B.I.D. Also the motion asks that a feasibility study be conducted by the City to determine how these proposed changes in metered parking will affect local businesses. (Possible Motion and Vote.)

iv.) Area 2 and Area 5 (Patricia Weber)

aa.) Committee Update on Banana Bungalow Development Project

v.) Other Area Committees

aa.) Reports by Committee Chairs in attendance (Optional)

b.) ISSUE COMMITTEES

i.) Emergency Services, Police & Fire (Valorie Keegan)

aa.) Committee Update.

ii.) Traffic, Public Transportation and Parking (Wayne C. Johansson)

aa.) Committee Update and review of Memorandum of Understanding between Neighborhood Councils and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Presentation to the Board with a recommendation via motion to approve or disapprove. (Possible Motion and Vote.) (See attachment)

bb.) Navigate Hollywood: Green Light on January 29, 2009. Hollywood’s first interactive, way-finding website – ww.navigatehollywood.com – will officially launch today, January 29, 2009. Navigate Hollywood is a dynamic website designed to help all navigate their way to, through and out of Hollywood. It’s the one-stop source of information related to street closures, parking access, public transportation, taxis and bike amenities. (See attachment)

iii.) Community Development and Outreach (Terry Migliaccio)

aa.) Update and presentation on new HHWNC website.

iv.)Other Issue Committees

aa.) Reports by 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

12. New Business

13. Adjournment

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

APPROVED BOARD MEETING MINUTES

January 29, 2009

Will and Ariel Durant Library

7140 Sunset Boulevard at Detroit

Los Angeles, CA 90046

1. Call to order at 6:45 p.m. by Anastasia Mann, HHWNC president.

2. Roll Call by Bruce Gorelick, recording secretary: Present: Anastasia Mann, Orrin Feldman, Bruce Gorelick, Michael Meyer, Jennifer Fitzgerald, Wayne Johansson, Deana Ruggieri, Thor Lee, Paul Ramsey, Valorie Keegan, Wendy Kneedler-Senior, Barbara Witkin, Terry Migliaccio, Daniel Savage, Patricia Weber, Paul Woolsey, Andy Ulloa, Jarone Johnson Jr., Cheryl Holland, Donovan Ryan, and John Pogue.

3. Minutes – (Woolsey/Ramsey) moved to review and approve minutes for last board meeting of Sept. 23, 2008. The motion carried unanimously.

4. President’s Report – Anastasia Mann noted that no meeting was held in November. A Holiday break was taken so last meeting was in September.

a.) Public Official Reports

i.) CD4 – Stacey Marble said the Council Office is participating in a homeless count

of people in the Hollywood district. They also used a helicopter to find encampments

in the hills. As of last March, there were 600 people listed.

ii.) CD5 – Sonia Kwon – no report.

iii.) CD 13 – Helen Leung talked about public safety, parking, the new Navigate Hollywood website, plans for a new parking garage on Vine and Hollywood/Selma.

iv.) Reference to Mayor Villaraigosa’s new rep, Fabiola Vilchez, Central Area Director

v.) Ted Holmquist of Assembly member Mike Feuer’s office (42nd District) is going to

be leaving.

vi.) Mark Lewis, DONE rep. was present.

vii.) Ashley from Team Obama introduced herself.

b.) Executive Committee Meeting Update: Anastasia reviewed the highlights of the previous meeting including Building Art and digital signage. (Ramsey/Savage) moved the Executive Committee motion that recommends that the full board support efforts by the City Council to control the proliferation of commercial signage throughout the whole city.” (Keegan) added a friendly amendment to express concerns about the safety of Super Graphics which wrap buildings. The motion carried unanimously.

Tricia LaBelle, representing bars and nightclubs in Hollywood, informed the board of restrictive conditions that are impeding businesses and asked for support from the community. The board will invite the new police captain to the next board meeting to discuss these concerns.

5. Vice President’s Report by Orrin Feldman – no report.

6. Treasurer’s Report by Michael Meyer distributed the budget update. $122,000 is available in the budget currently. About $9,000 is tied up in commitments. Discussion about difficulties with using online receipts for proof of payment with DONE. Mark from DONE asked that the board work with him directly on large purchases.

7. DONE Update and presentation by Mark Lewis said the Ethics Training is required for all board members. Previous training is good for two years. He also talked about the procedure for working with Council Files. He announced dates and locations for future Town Hall meetings around the city.

8. Universal Studio Development Projects Ad Hoc Committee by Wayne Johansson, Ad Hoc Chair, introduced Krista McMyers of Communities United for Smart Growth presented an alternative to development of a transit model at the MTA site.

Tom Smith, Sr. VP with NBC Universal West Coast Real Estate noted that the Communities United for Smart Growth have not seen the Universal Vision Plan and asked for them to wait on taking action until DEIR is released. Tom spoke about the objectives of the Communities United for Smart Growth plan and stated that the plan was put together without input from NBCU. Anastasia noted that this is an extremely important issue and suggested they hold a future meeting dedicated to discussing this issue only.

Alix Wisner, Thomas Properties Group, developers for the Universal City MTA MetroStation development, also asked that the HHWNC Board wait to take a position and allow them to do a presentation on this site and answer questions.

(Meyer/Savage) suggested language for a motion. However, since Michael sits on the Board of Communities United for Smart Growth (fka “The Working Group”), Mark from DONE suggested Michael Meyer recuse himself from discussion. Michael withdrew his motion. Mark suggested board members with a potential conflict meet with the City Attorney to discuss whether they can be involved. Wayne then clarified that procedure. Mark suggested they hold a meeting with the community and just represent their stakeholders. Anastasia reiterated that a meeting – or two separate meetings – will be organized with input from Wayne, as soon as both sides are ready.

ii.) Peer Review of Applicant’s Traffic Study by KOA Corporation (see attachment)

Wayne explained the purpose of the Peer Review document where a traffic engineer has commented on issues that may be problematic with this study. The point was made that HHWNC had contributed to the Traffic Study and was waiting for the report.

9. Committee Reports

iii.) Community Development and Outreach – Steven Shmerler presented an overview of the new HHWNC website and its functions.

a.) AREA COMMITTEES

i.) Area 9:

aa.) (Pogue/ Feldman) moved that the Board approve up to $2,800 in funds to pay for California native plants, decomposed granite, materials, rocks and irrigation equipment to be used at the public open space at the south east corner of Mulholland Drive and Laurel Canyon. The motion carried 18-1-0.

bb.) Mitigated Negative Declaration – 424-08-PL: ENV-2007-4125, 7860 W. Torreyson Dr. (Pogue/ ____________) moved the following:

i.) that the board acknowledge and support the efforts of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to preserve wildlife corridors and movement throughout Area 9 and the Mulholland Scenic Parkway and Corridor, as outlined in the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan, Ordinance No. 167, 943, and to support mitigation measures that will protect, sustain and promote wildlife corridors and movement with regards to the MND-424-08-PL: ENV-2007-4125, at 7860 W. Torreyson Dr.,

The motion carried 18-0-0 with one recusal (Pogue).

ii.) Area 7: (Cheryl Holland/Woolsey) moved that the Board take a position to approve the proposed development at 1541 N. Vista including all conditions set forth by zoning officer & including further conditions that Developer shall build a 6 ft. masonry wall around the perimeter of the property and that, at Developer’s cost, vines shall be planted along the wall, on Developer’s side of the wall, which will be selected by contiguous neighbor Sharon Peters for Peters’ portion of the wall. Additionally, Developer, at Developer’s cost, shall move the back fence of contiguous neighbor Eric Carr onto Carr’s property line and provide planting for Carr’s property along the contiguous property line on Carr’s side of the fence. The motion carried unanimously.

iii.) Area 3:

aa.) (Paul Woolsey/Feldman) moved that the board take a position the proposed residential project at 1850 North Cherokee Blvd. with a variance requested for the "Q" Condition in that the building is to have 39 Units with 2.5 Parking Spaces per unit. Aside from this the support would be for the project as stated. The motion carried 18-0-0 with one abstention.

bb.) (Woolsey/ ________) moved that the Board is requested to take a position supporting the application of Mediterranean Fresh Restaurant (Case No.: ZA 2008-4721-CUB, 6669 West Hollywood Blvd. ‘Med Fresh’) to add Full-Line of Alcohol to it’s operations and to have the addition of a D.J. playing background music for the patrons with the following added condition: THE DJ SHALL PLAY ONLY SOFT AMBIENT BACKGROUND MUSIC AT THE CURRENT LEVEL BEING PLAYED BY THE "PIPED-IN " SYSTEM IN USE. In addition there shall be no dancing permitted in this establishment specified in the conditions. The motion carried 17-0-0 with two abstentions.

cc.) (Woolsey/_________) moved that the board oppose the proposal to increase parking meter fees to $4 an hour, the limitation of parking to one hour only per meter, the extension of metered time to Midnight, and the increasing practice of towing cars rather than merely ticketing them at all parking meters on Hollywood Blvd., Highland Ave., and all other metered streets within the Hollywood B.I.D. Also the motion asks that a feasibility study be conducted by the City to determine how these proposed changes in metered parking will affect local businesses. The motion carried: 17-2-0.

iv.) Area 2 and Area 5: Patricia Weber gave an update on the Banana Bungalow Development Project.

b.) ISSUE COMMITTEES

i.) Emergency Services, Police & Fire: Valorie Keegan gave an update from her committee.

ii.) Traffic, Public Transportation and Parking: Wayne C. Johansson gave an update on the Memorandum of Understanding between Neighborhood Councils and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

bb.) Navigate Hollywood: Green Light on January 29, 2009. Hollywood’s first interactive, way-finding website – www.navigatehollywood.com officially launch today, January 29, 2009. Navigate Hollywood is a dynamic website designed to help all navigate their way to, through and out of Hollywood. It’s the one-stop source of information related to street closures, parking access, public transportation, taxis and bike amenities. (Previously discussed)

10. Meeting Adjourned (Migliaccio/Lee) moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 p.m. The motion carried unanimously.

– Minutes by Pat Kramer, Apple One –