Meeting Date: 10/15/14 06:30 PM

Meeting Type: Regular

Location: Hollywood United Methodist Church, 6817 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles CA 90068

Details:

HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
BOARD MEETING AGENDA
October 15, 2014
6:30 pm
Hollywood United Methodist Church
6817 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90068
 

 
Directions:  On the corner of Franklin Ave and Highland Ave.  Building is accessible and free parking is available.
 
 
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 www.hhwnc.org and on the Department Of Neighborhood Empowerment (www.lacityneighborhoods.com). 
 
In compliance with Government Code section 54957.5, non-exempt writings that are distributed to a majority or all of the board in advance of a meeting, may be viewed at our website by clicking on the following link: , www.hhwnc.org, or at the scheduled meeting. In addition, if you would like a copy of any record related to an item on the agenda, please contact the Board Secretary at [email protected].
 
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.
 
 
 
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.
 
 
AGENDA
 

  1. Call to order by President, Anastasia Mann

 

  1. Roll call by Secretary Kathy Bañuelos

 

  1. Minutes – Review and approve Board minutes from September 17th meeting (MOTION AND VOTE) (5 minutes)

 

  1. Election for Infrastructure Chair

Declared Candidates: 

  • Jeff Papes
  • Mary Prange
  • Casey Maddren

 

  1. President’s Report by Anastasia Mann  (15 minutes)

    1. Public Official Reports
  • CD13 – Dan Halden, Office of Councilman Mitch O’Farrell
  • CD4 –Sharon Shapiro, Field Deputy, Office of Councilmember Tom LaBonge
  • Mayor’s Office, Poonam Narewatt, Central Area NC Rep.
  • 43rd Assembly District, Rep. from the Office of Assemblyman Mike Gatto
  • 46th Assembly District, Bill Hacket, Office of Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian
  • 50th Assembly District, Office of Assemblyman Richard Bloom
  • LAPD
  • LAFD
  • Carolyn Ramsay, Candidate for CD 4

    1. Community Business

 

  1. Confirm next meeting date:  November 19

 

  1. Vice-President’s Report (Cyd Zeigler) (5 minutes)

    1. Updates from the PLUM committee include clarification of the process of handling permit applications moving forward and a review of development issues of most interest as voiced by attendees of the latest PLUM committee meeting, held Oct. 1.
    2. Proposed Motion: WHEREAS maintaining the ability of wildlife to traverse the Santa Monica Mountains is a critical to their livelihood in the HHWNC, and

WHEREAS the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has already undertaken to develop wildlife corridor maps to highlight the paths wildlife take to the Eastern Santa Monica Mountains, and
WHEREAS land development in the HHWNC can infringe on those wildlife corridors, and
WHEREAS the diverse wildlife is an important component to what makes our area special, and
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council supports the motion from City Councilman Paul Koretz, dated April 23, 2014 (Council File 14-0518), with respect to the preservation of wildlife corridors in the Santa Monica Mountains (hillside ordinance zone) and the designation of this area as a regional wildlife habitat linkage zone.  (MOTION AND VOTE)
 

  1. Treasurer’s Report (10 minutes)

    1. Motion and Vote to approve monthly expenditures report
    2. Approve Funding request forms

 
 

  1. Parliamentarian’s Report (Malena Patel) (5 minutes)

    1. Monthly report on committee meetings

 
 

  1. Secretary’s Report (Kathy Bañuelos) (5 minutes)

 

  1. Committee Reports

 

  1. Housing (JoAnn Koplin)

    • Update on Process for identifying Stakeholder priorities
    • Proposed Motion: The Board of Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council (HHWNC) supports the motion from Councilmember Paul Koretz dated May 16, 2014 with respect to amending the city’s Baseline Mansionization Ordinance Amendment and Neighborhood Conservation Initiative.  Additionally, we support the Deputy Director of Planning recommendation to the Planning and Land Use (PLUM) committee to implement a four step approach to address the short-term and long-term effects of this urgent issue as specified in a report dated October 1, 2014. This motion should be submitted as a Community Impact Statement to Council File 14-0656.  (MOTION AND VOTE)

 

  1. Youth (Annie Gagen) – brief committee update
  2.  
  3. Community Outreach (Robin Moreno)

    • Background: Yucca Rec which is a park/community center located in the middle of  Area 3  is asking financial assistance for  refreshments including hot dogs, buns, condiments and drinks for their annual Halloween Party for local kids. Last year they had approximately 200 people participate. In return HHWNC will be listed as a co-sponsor on the flier and have a table at the event.
    • Proposed Motion:  The Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council approves a contribution of $200 to the Yucca Community Center for refreshments for their upcoming Halloween community event, October 30, 2014 at 6671 Yucca Street. (MOTION AND VOTE)

 

  1. Area 7 (Barbara Witkin)

    • Proposed Motion – The Board approves the formation of ad hoc committee to explore updating our web site and making it more user-friendly.  (MOTION AND VOTE)
    • 1339 N. Fuller Ave. Proposed Small Lot Subdivision – Fuller Estates, LLC, seeks to demolish an existing single-family home and replace it with four single-family dwellings under the small-lot ordinance. Case was put into expedited processing. The Planning Department has requested that the Neighborhood Council respond with comments within 90 days of "distribution date". The developers are requesting HHWNC to approve their Preliminary Parcel Map (MOTION AND VOTE)

                                                                                                                                                                

  1. Area 8 & 9 (Sean Benaroya and Orrin Feldman)

    • Pace restaurant – 2100 Laurel Canyon Blvd. – Request for a board vote approving the recommendations made at the Joint Areas 8 & 9 meeting on 10/14 regarding the restaurant's application for a new conditional use permit.  The restaurant has asked for a new CUP to expand from serving beer and wine to serving a full line of alcohol as well as to add (i) new space and more seats, both indoors and outdoors, (ii) disc jockeys and karaoke, and (iii) expand the hours of operation from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on fridays and saturdays. There are only 14 shared valet parking spaces, which are shared with the adjacent market, employees and customers.  (MOTION AND VOTE)
    •  Bulwer Drive – Request for a board vote approving the recommendations made at the Joint Areas 8 & 9 meeting on 10/14 regarding Bulwer Drive, LLC's and the Bureau of Engineering's proposals to pave over the existing dirt roadway. The Board of Public Works' Commissioners voted (3-2) to approve a Bureau of Engineering proposal to allow Bulwer Drive, LLC to build a road on the site of the existing road, grade it and pave it, and grade four additional lots downslope from the existing road and going down to Laurel Canyon Blvd.  On September 15, 2014, the City Council voted (14-0) to veto that approval, which sends the proposed project back to the Board of Public Works for reconsideration. The Board of Public Works is expected to hold its hearing to reconsider the proposed project in November, 2014. (MOTION AND VOTE)

 

  1. 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.

 
 

  1. Old Business

 

  1. New Business

 

  1. Adjournment
HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
DRAFT BOARD MEETING MINUTES
October 15, 2014
Hollywood United Methodist Church
6817 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
 

 

  1. Call to order by President, Anastasia Mann at 6:40 p.m.

 

  1. Roll call by Parliamentarian Malena Patel: Anastasia Mann, Cyd Zeigler, Malena Patel, Jim Geoghan, Annie Gagen, Oren Katz, JoAnn Koplin, Dietrich Nelson, Sunta Izzicupo, Robin Moreno, Rick Cullen, Patricia Weber, Brian Dyer, Grant Wallensky, Barbara Witkin, Sean BenAroya, Orrin Feldman, and Joyce Dyrector. Quorum established with 18 board members.

 

  1. Minutes – (Wallensky/Witkin) moved to approve the September 17, 2014 board meeting minutes as corrected. The motion carried with one abstention (Moreno).

 

  1. Election for Infrastructure Chair: Anastasia explained to stakeholders the definition of “stakeholder status” following the statements made by the three declared candidates:

Jeff Papes, Mary Prange and Casey Maddren. (Dyrector) contested the voting process for stakeholders as there was no way to ascertain if those voting were, in fact, bonified stakeholders. The voting continued and Casey Maddren received the highest vote count and was invited to join the board as Infrastructure Chair. The vote count was as follows:
Casey Maddren – 39
Jeff Papes – 37
Mary Prange – 2
 

  1. President’s Report by Anastasia Mann   

    1. Public Official Reports

CD13 – Dan Halden, Office of Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, reviewed his field report (purple handout) concerning parking restrictions in Hollywood. He talked about a recent training session by the Public Utilities Division for Highway Patrol, Traffic, and other law enforcement agencies. He mentioned parking issues at Orange Court and a renovation for Smith Park. On Saturday, Nov. 8th there will be a 5K race on LaBrea by Western. Street closures to follow. The Councilmember has issued an online survey for business owners to get their input on raise the minimum wage. There will be an upcoming meeting on this to be announced.
 

  • CD4 –Sharon Shapiro, Field Deputy, Office of Councilmember Tom LaBonge. Sharon was not in attendance. The board wished her a happy birthday.
  • Mayor’s Office, Poonam Narewatt, Central Area NC Rep. – Absent.
  • 43rd Assembly District, Office of Assemblyman Mike Gatto Absent.
  • 50th Assembly District, Office of Assemblyman Richard Bloom – Absent.
  • LAPD – Absent.
  • LAFD – Absent.
  • Carolyn Ramsay, Candidate for CD 4 – Absent.

 

  1. Community Business – None.

 

  1. Confirm next meeting date:  November 19 set.

 

  1. Vice-President’s Report: Cyd Zeigler acknowledged the hard work of the different area and committee chairs for their meetings with stakeholders. At the PLUM meeting, there was an open conversation about ways to improve the PLUM committee’s efforts. Stakeholders were concerned about two, large developments and wanted more community forums on developments proposed. They had concerns about density bonuses, the impact of these on infrastructure, compliance policing, and wanted the board to issue more Community Impact Statements as well as a spreadsheet on the website to share information about ongoing issues and projects. These points will be addressed at the next PLUM meeting.

 
(Zeigler/Nelson) moved the PLUM Committee motion, “WHEREAS maintaining the ability of wildlife to traverse the Santa Monica Mountains is a critical to their livelihood in the HHWNC, and WHEREAS the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has already undertaken to develop wildlife corridor maps to highlight the paths wildlife take to the Eastern Santa Monica Mountains, and WHEREAS land development in the HHWNC can infringe on those wildlife corridors, and WHEREAS the diverse wildlife is an important component to what makes our area special, and THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council supports the motion from City Councilman Paul Koretz, dated April 23, 2014 (Council File 14-0518), with respect to the preservation of wildlife corridors in the Santa Monica Mountains (hillside ordinance zone) and the designation of this area as a regional wildlife habitat linkage zone.”  The motion carried unanimously.
 

  1. Treasurer’s Report: Michael was absent. Anastasia requested the board approve four invoices from Apple One for the preparation of board meeting minutes in the amount of $716.10. The motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Motion/Vote to approve monthly expenditures report – Tabled.

 

  1. Parliamentarian’s Report – Malena Patel reviewed what committee meetings met in the previous month.

 

  1. Secretary’s Report (Kathy Bañuelos) – Absent.

 

  1. Committee Reports

Housing – JoAnn Koplin reviewed the method her committee is using to identify stakeholder priorities (she wants position papers on different issues) which will be sent to city and state officials.
 
(Koplin/Nelson) moved, “The Board of Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council (HHWNC) supports the motion from Councilmember Paul Koretz dated May 16, 2014 with respect to amending the city’s Baseline Mansionization Ordinance Amendment and Neighborhood Conservation Initiative.  Additionally, we support the Deputy Director of Planning recommendation to the Planning and Land Use (PLUM) committee to implement a four step approach to address the short-term and long-term effects of this urgent issue as specified in a report dated October 1, 2014. This motion should be submitted as a Community Impact Statement to Council File 14-0656.”
 
(Witkin/Katz) proposed adding to the motion “to strongly urge that it be expedited in a timely manner in 30 days.” The board unanimously approved amending the motion. The board then unanimously approved the amended motion.
 

  1. Youth – Annie Gagen has decided to help the Yucca Community Center with their community outreach efforts. She asked the board to help her with this effort.

 

  1. Community Outreach – Robin Moreno presented a motion. (Moreno/Feldman) moved, “The Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council approves a contribution of $200 to the Yucca Community Center for refreshments for their upcoming Halloween community event, October 30, 2014 at 6671 Yucca Street.”  Sonya Young-Jimenez of YCC stated that they originally asked for funding of $400.00. (Feldman) amended the original motion to $250.00 for the Yucca Community Center. The motion carried unanimously.

 
Area 7 – 1339 N. Fuller Ave. Proposed Small Lot Subdivision: Barbara Witkin introduced a motion relating to this proposed small lot subdivision. The Planning Department has requested that the Neighborhood Council respond with comments within 90 days of "distribution date." The developers are requesting HHWNC to approve their Preliminary Parcel Map.
 
Simon Lazar, representing the owner of Fuller Estates LLC, and Carl Smith, architect for the project at 1339 N. Fuller Ave., said that they had started to reach out to the neighbors about their proposed four home subdivision which would replace an existing townhouse structure. Mr. Smith displayed the neighborhood analysis and went over key information about the project. The board was reticent about giving preliminary approval for the project until they get input from stakeholders in the neighborhood. A Special Meeting has been set on Oct. 30th to further discuss this project.
 
Ad Hoc Committee for Website: Barbara proposed that the Board approves the formation of ad hoc committee to explore updating the HHWNC web site and making it more user-friendly. Anastasia stated that these efforts are already underway. She has requested a proposal from the web master for the services that are deemed needed. Orin Feldman suggested that board members who are interested in this issue attend the Executive Board Meeting.
                                                                                                                                                                 

  1. Area 8 & 9 – Orrin Feldman spoke about his joint meeting with Sean Benaroya.

The main contentious issue they discussed involved a request from Pace restaurant at 2100 Laurel Canyon Blvd. which has asked for a new CUP to expand their serving beer and wine to serving a full line of alcohol, as well as to add (i) new space and more seats, both indoors and outdoors, (ii) disc jockeys and karaoke, and (iii) expand the hours of operation from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Orrin stated that the Area chairs and stakeholders were opposed to granting these conditions.
 
Bulwer Drive – (Feldman/Witkin) moved that the HHWNC board approve the Joint Area meeting 8 & 9 recommendations on 10/14 regarding Bulwer Drive, LLC's and the Bureau of Engineering's proposals to veto paving over the existing dirt roadway. The motion carried 17-1-0. (???)
 
The Board of Public Works is expected to hold its hearing to reconsider the proposed project in November, 2014.
 

  1. Public Comments – None.

 

  1. Old Business:

 
Community: Dietrich Nelson announced the Great American Shakeout event.
 
Traffic: Jim Geoghan talked about his efforts to get the studios to coordinate with the Hollywood Bowl in not closing streets for premieres, however, he was unsuccessful. There is a street closure committee meeting every month that he attends. Anastasia said she has asked the City’s Traffic Committee to stop closing major streets for “For Profit” events.
 

  1. New Business – None.

 

  1. Adjournment at 8:57 p.m.

 
Minutes by Pat Kramer, Apple One –

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