Meeting Date: 03/10/10 06:30 PM
Meeting Type: Regular
Location: Women’s Club of Hollywood, 1749 N La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90046
Details:
BOARD MEETING AGENDA
March 10, 2010
6:30pm
1749 North La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Directions: South of Franklin and North of Hollywood Blvd. – West side of the street. Accessibility: Building is accessible to the handicapped. Entrance at rear door. Parking: Free Parking is available in the adjacent 5th Christian Science Church parking lot located on 7107 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046. Entrance to parking lot is on La Brea Avenue.
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 January 26, 2010 minutes (see attachment) (Vote) (5 minutes)
4. President’s Report by Anastasia Mann (20 minutes)
a.) Public Official Reports
i.) Mayor’s Office – Fabiola Vilchez, Central Area Director – Budget Survey
ii.) CD4 – Tom LaBonge, request for financial support for Save the Peak. HHWNC will purchase 0.04% of the $12.5 Million purchase price of Cahuenga Peak ($5,000). (Possible Motion and Vote.)
iii.) CD5 – Jeffrey Ebenstein, Field Deputy, Office of Councilmember Paul Koretz
iv.) CD13
v.) Other
b.) Executive Committee Meeting Report
c.) Hollywood Chamber of Commerce – Presentation by Kaylee Keicker
i.) 2010 Visit Hollywood Expo scheduled for April 1, 2010
d.) May 13th – Election Update
e.) Update on Status of D.O.N.E
d.) May 13th – Election Update
e.) Update on Status of D.O.N.E
5. Vice President’s Report by Orrin Feldman (5 minutes)
6. Treasurer’s Report by Michael Meyer (10 minutes)
a.) Budget Status and Update/Regional Budget Day Sat., March 13th
b.) Petty Cash and Update
i.) HHWNC objects to and opposes the City’s decision to eliminate petty cash accounts at Neighborhood Councils as this will cause excessive delays in reimbursement of minor expenses incurred by Neighborhood Council Board members and is likely to increase City costs in reimbursing such expenses with City issued checks. (Possible Motion and Vote.)
7. Committee Reports (20 minutes)
a.) AREA COMMITTEES
i.) Area 5 (Jarone W. Johnson, Jr.)
aa.) The Board is requested to approve the request of the Outpost Homeowners Association to contribute $________ towards the maintenance and restoration of the six islands on Outpost Drive. The funds will be used as follows: $________ to repair and replace irrigation components and $________ to purchase fertilizer and plants for installation where bare ground is showing. (Possible motion and vote)
bb.) Indigo Hotel Project update.
cc.) The Board is requested to approve the request of the Outpost Homeowners Association’s Beautification Committee to contribute $________ towards the cost of incorporating an enhanced decorative stamping of the Crosswalk at the entrance to Outpost Estates (Outpost Drive and Franklin Ave) during the re-pavement of Outpost Drive. (Possible motion and vote)
dd.) The Board is requested to endorse the letter drafted by the Outpost Estates Homeowners Association’s Traffic and Safety Committee calling for a greater enforcement of city ordinances and vehicle code violations to reduce the disruptive activity of the sight seeing tour vans in the residential neighborhoods, the abuse of speeding limits, illegal passing and illegal turns in the residential neighborhoods and a request for the city to consider incorporating speed reduction devices on the curves and long straight-aways when Outpost Drive is repaved with asphalt. (Possible motion and vote)
ee.) The Board is requested to endorse Area 5’s support of the Los Angeles Public Library Children Librarian services. (Possible motion and vote)
ii.) Other Area Committees
aa.) Reports by Committee Chairs in attendance (Optional)
b.) ISSUE COMMITTEES
i.) Community Development & Outreach (Terry Migliaccio)
aa.) Election Outreach plan Update
ii.) Emergency Services, Police & Fire (Valorie Keegan)
aa.) Committee Announcements & Update:
I.) US Census Update – March 15, 2010
II.) LA Marathon Update – March 21, 2010
III.) LAPD Hollywood Division Town Hall Meeting – March 11, 2010
IV.) Mulholland Drive Road Repair Update
iii.) Housing & Human Services, Religious & Charitable Organizations (Paul Ramsey)
aa.) The Board is requested to take a position requesting that any changes to the Hillside Baseline Ordinances include a clause Grand-Fathering in existing residences for the purposes of replacement in case of loss, repairs, and renovations within the current 750 Square Foot Thresh-hold. This motion was passed at the March 2nd joint meeting of this Committee with Area 3 and Business. (Possible Motion and Vote)
iv.) Traffic, Public Transportation and Parking (Wayne C. Johansson)
aa.) The Board is requests that the Metro CEO, Art Leahy, with CC to Tom LaBonge
and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement District, requesting that the Hollywood & Highland Metro Red Line Station be cleaned. The decorative ceiling and walls at the platform level need steam cleaning. The walls are so filthy that people are writing messages in the dirt, as people do on dirty car windows. The architectural treatment on the ceiling is so dirty; you cannot tell it is white anymore. It looks brown. The station needs a steam cleaning. If Metro can’t do it, maybe the BID can use the services of the people who power wash the sidewalks every morning. This station is the entry point to Hollywood for many tourists and it should present a better picture of the state of repair in Hollywood. (Possible Motion and Vote.)
bb.) The Board request that CD4 request a report from LADOT on the operations of the Hollywood & Highland, which does not provide monthly parking permits for potential Metro Red Line riders, yet the garage sits virtually empty during the day on weekdays. HHWNC sees this as a lost opportunity to generate revenue for the City and to potentially take some cars off the road if monthly parking was made available for Hollywood residents who wish to commute on the subway. (Possible Motion and Vote.)
cc.) The Board requests a report from CD4 about the feasibility of converting the underutilized eastbound right-turn-only lane on Franklin Avenue at Highland into a left/through/right lane to create a triple left turn and increase the flow of traffic from Franklin onto Highland to reduce the back-up on Franklin Avenue. At the October 2009 HHWNC Board Meeting, Councilmember Tom LaBonge promised to look into this and we have not heard back anything yet. (Possible Motion and Vote.)
v.) Other Issue Committees
aa.) Reports by Committee Chairs in attendance (Optional)
8. 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.
9. Old Business
10. New Business
11. 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.
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
March 10, 2010
1749 North La Brea Avenue, L. A., CA 90046
1. Call to order by President (Anastasia Mann) at 6:40 p.m.
2. Roll call by Secretary (Bruce Gorelick): Anastasia Mann, Orrin Feldman, Bruce Gorelick, Michael Meyer, Wayne Johansson, Thor Lee, Paul Ramsey, Valorie Keegan, Terry Migliaccio, Patricia Weber, Jarone Johnson Jr., PJ Pesce, Cheryl Holland. Quorum established with 13.
3. Minutes – (Lee/Migliaccio) moved to accept the January 26, 2010 board meeting minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
4. President’s Report/ Executive Committee Meeting Report: Anastasia Mann spoke about the Executive Committee meeting, held prior to the board meeting at which time a grievance was discussed. The grievance was filed by a stakeholder against HHWNC board member Paul Woolsey stating that Paul had asked her to pay a certain amount to him to obtain certain permits for her place of business. While Paul had denied this had occurred, the woman had produced evidence to the contrary. The executive committee decided that Anastasia should speak to Paul about following correct HHWNC board procedures and ask him to expedite a solution with the stakeholder.
a.) Public Official Reports
i.) Mayor’s Office – Fabiola Vilchez, Central Area Director, spoke about the Online Budget Survey.
ii.) CD4 – Councilmember Tom LaBonge spoke to the board about supporting the
“Save the Peak” campaign which is receiving worldwide attention. It has raised close to
$9 million with the purchase date around the corner of April 15, 2010. (Mann/Gorelick)
moved that HHWNC support the purchase of .04% of the $12.5 million purchase price for Cahuenga Peak with a $5,000 donation. The motion carried unanimously.
iii.) Assembly Speaker Karen Bass spoke about her candidacy for seat being vacated by Congress member Diane Watson. All candidates are welcome to come to a board meeting to address the board and stakeholders.
b.) Hollywood Chamber of Commerce – Kaylee Keicker spoke about the “Visit Hollywood Expo” scheduled for April 1, 2010 from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Madame Tussauds on Hollywood Boulevard. A new figure is being added of George Lopez to their full size replicas on exhibit. The event is posted on the www.HHWNC.org website under “Activities.” Michael talked about the new Farmer’s Market on Thursday evenings at Yamashiro’s.
c.) May 13th – Election Update. The filing deadline for candidates for their names to appear on the ballot is March 15, 2010. (Candidate packets were available at the meeting). The filing deadline as a write-in candidate is April 13, 2010. Anastasia gave a status update on the seats open in the election and encouraged participation. Volunteer poll workers are needed for the city’s NC elections. The HHWNC election will be held at the Hollywood Women’s Club.
d.) Update on Status of D.O.N.E.: Anastasia announced that the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (which changed its name to “Empower LA” last year) will be collapsed and combined with the city’s Community Development Department before the end of this fiscal year due to the city’s budget crisis. A general mailbox at DONE is being set up to handle incoming calls.
5. Vice President’s Report by Orrin Feldman – none.
6. Treasurer’s Report by Michael Meyer reported that the budget previously adopted with the rollover funding has been retracted. The city took back $107,000 in uncommitted funding from HHWNC. He said the current fiscal year’s budget has only committed $2,700 (and $5,000 from the previous motion) from the $45,000 the board was given this year. The City is taking back the NC’s petty cash funding and eliminating it altogether at the end of March. Currently there is $1,500 available in the Petty Cash account.
(Meyer/Ramsey) moved that HHWNC object to and oppose the City’s decision to eliminate petty cash accounts as it will cause excessive delays in NC reimbursements for minor expenses incurred by NC board members and is likely to increase City costs with city issued checks.” The motion carried unanimously. The letter will be sent to D.O.N.E.’s GM, Council members La Bonge and Garcetti, Assembly member Paul Koretz, the Mayor and the Community Development Department.
After Petty Cash is eliminated, Michael will need to use his City-issued credit card (as HHWNC Treasurer) to pay for petty cash expenses. The other option is to write up a demand warrant which will take a lot longer to process reimbursements. Anastasia noted that Mr. Kim, D.O.N.E.’s GM, will be resigning at the end of May.
7. Committee Reports
a.) AREA COMMITTEES
i.) Area 5: Jarone W. Johnson, Jr. reported on the Indigo Hotel, a proposed 6-story hotel project at the corner of Franklin and Highland. An overview of the project was discussed.
aa.) (Johnson/Pesce) moved, “That HHWNC be requested to approve the request of the Outpost Homeowners Association to contribute $6,500 towards the maintenance and restoration of the six islands on Outpost Drive. The funds will be used as follows: $3,440 to repair and replace irrigation components and $3,006 to purchase fertilizer and plants for installation where bare ground is showing.”
After discussion, Jarone amended his motion to $3,440 for the repair and replacement of irrigation components.” The motion carried: 6-5-0.
bb.) (Meyer/Lee) moved, “That the Board is requested to approve the request of the Outpost Homeowners Association’s Beautification Committee to contribute $6,480 towards the cost of incorporating an enhanced decorative stamping of the Crosswalk at the entrance to Outpost Estates (Outpost Drive and Franklin Ave) during the repaving of Outpost Drive. The motion failed: 1 -10.
cc.) (Johnson/Holland ) moved, “That HHWNC endorse the letter drafted by the Outpost Estates Homeowners Association’s Traffic and Safety Committee calling for a greater enforcement of city ordinances and vehicle code violations to reduce the disruptive activity of the sight seeing tour vans in the residential neighborhoods, the abuse of speeding limits, illegal passing and illegal turns in the residential neighborhoods and to request the city consider incorporating speed reduction devices on the curves and long straight-aways when Outpost Drive is repaved with asphalt.” The motion carried: 10-2-0.
dd.) The Board is requested to endorse Area 5’s support of the Los Angeles Public Library Children Librarian services. Anastasia suggested the board do this on their own.
b.) ISSUE COMMITTEES
i.) Community Development & Outreach: Terry Migliaccio asked the board to
actively reach out to potential candidates to serve on the new board. He has prepared information for distribution to community members.
ii.) Emergency Services, Police & Fire: Valorie Keegan made the following announcements in her report:
aa.) LAPD’s Hollywood Division will hold a Town Hall Meeting on March 11th at the Presbyterian Church to discuss traffic.
bb.) U.S. Census: The census forms will be arriving by mail by mid March. She urged everyone to fill it out and mail it in and to be aware of bogus census takers.
cc.) An anti-war March will be held in Hollywood Blvd. on Saturday, March 20th at 11 a.m. Hollywood Blvd. will be closed until 4 p.m.
dd.) LA Marathon Update – On Sunday, March 21, 2010, street closures will start at 6 a.m. in Hollywood. HHWNC’s Cultural Chair (Barbara) will set up a cheering section at Ogden & Sunset starting at 7 a.m. Streets should be reopened around 10:45.
ee.) Mulholland Drive road repairs will be going on for 4 – 6 weeks. Bicycles and pedestrians are advised to stay out of the area.
iii.) Housing & Human Services, Religious & Charitable Organizations:
Paul Ramsey updated the Board about the city’s new Hillside Ordinance which would affect older areas and is aimed mostly for new construction.
aa.) (Ramsey/Pesce) moved, “That the Board is requested to take a position requesting that any changes to the Hillside Baseline Ordinances include a clause Grand-Fathering in existing residences for the purposes of replacement in case of loss, repairs, and renovations within the current 750 Square Foot Thresh-hold. This motion was passed at the March 2nd joint meeting of this Committee with Area 3 and Business.”
After discussion, Ramsey amended it to two, separate motions.
“That the Board is requested to take a position requesting that the new Baseline Hillside Ordinance include a provision that would grandfather all permitted existing single family residences with the rights to repair, rebuild in case of damage or loss, and renovate the interior or exterior.” The motion carried unanimously.
“That the Board support that the new Baseline Hillside Ordinance continue the existing 750 square foot Hillside Ordinance addition exemption for 750 square feet of cumulative additions since the original Hillside Ordinance enactment date of 1992.” The motion carried: 8 – 2 – 2.
iv.) Traffic, Public Transportation and Parking: Wayne C. Johansson
introduced the following motions:
aa.) (Johansson/Johnson) moved, “The Board requests that a letter be sent to the Metro CEO Art Leahy with a cc to Councilmember Tom LaBonge and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement District requesting that the Hollywood & Highland Metro Red Line Station be cleaned.” The decorative ceiling and walls at the platform level need steam cleaning. The walls are so filthy that people are writing messages in the dirt, as people do on dirty car windows. The architectural treatment on the ceiling is so dirty; you cannot tell it is white anymore. It looks brown. The station needs a steam cleaning. If Metro can’t do it, maybe the BID can use the services of the people who power wash the sidewalks every morning. This station is the entry point to Hollywood for many tourists and it should present a better picture of the state of repair in Hollywood. The motion carried unanimously.
bb.) (Johansson/Meyer) moved, “The Board request that CD4 instruct LADOT to provide a report on including monthly parking permits for Metroline riders at the Hollywood/Highland city-owned parking structure.” During discussion, it was pointed out that the lot was only rented to those who are tenants at Hollywood & Highland and furthermore, that the ‘empty lot’ is overflowing during special events. Johansson withdrew his motion.
cc.) (Johansson/Johnson) moved, “The Board requests a report from CD4 about the feasibility of converting the underutilized eastbound right-turn-only lane on Franklin Avenue at Highland into a left/through/right lane to create a triple left turn and increase the flow of traffic from Franklin onto Highland to reduce the back-up on Franklin Avenue.” The motion carried unanimously.
8. Public Comments –
-Paul Darrigo spoke about problems with funding for the Reserve Officer program. He will speak
with Valorie to put a motion under Emergency Services for a future agenda.
-Resident Serena Reid noted problems with a valet parking lot for the Laugh Factory at Crescent
Hts/Selma/Laurel Cyn. She said she has been woken up for many years by late night noise and
needed help. She researched the permit and said it was inadequate. The owner is now applying for a new permit to enlarge it. She stated that it is a nuisance problem for neighbors.
Orrin commented that the proposal is for two stories of subterranean parking and 7 – 8 apartments on two floors, one for low income. Anastasia offered to help with communications to the correct authorities.
9. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.
Minutes by Pat Kramer, Kelly Services.