Meeting Date: 01/24/05 06:00 PM

Meeting Type: Regular

Location: Will and Ariel Durant Branch, Los Angeles Public Library
7140 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90046

Details: Agenda
Meeting of the
Environment, Beautification, Preservation and Aesthetics Committee
24 January 2005
Monday, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Will and Ariel Durant Branch, Los Angeles Public Library
7140 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90046

1. Welcome, Sign-in and Introductions 6:00-6:15 p.m.

2. Corrections and Approval of Minutes of Prior (20 September 2004) Meeting.

3. Discussions of Suggestions and Possible Votes Thereon:
a. Discussion of issues and possible solutions related to stakeholder problems caused by the recent heavy rains.
b. Discussion of possible proposals to fund pollution prevention work through the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD).
c. That The City of Los Angeles create a Recycling Center for Hollywood Apartment Dwellers.
d. That The City of Los Angeles initiate a program to encourage use of addresses with cross streets.
e. That The City of Los Angeles Establish a Comprehensive Law Creating Fines for Signs which are Not Taken Down after the Last Day of an Event and Requiring End Dates.
f. That The City of Los Angeles should create An Easy way for Citizens to Require Police to Enforce Regulation Requiring Signage at corners of streets where there is a sidewalk closure, when pedestrians are wrongfully forced to backtrack by paid corporate goons.
g. That The City of Los Angeles Establish A law which requires people Playing Stereos Loudly to Close All Their Windows and Doors While Doing So, and that The City of Los Angeles Recognize Noise Disturbance as an Environmental Violation.
h. That The HHWNC create an instruction manual for new Board members in Portable Document Format (PDF)- as is now done in Many Branches of Government.
i. That all postings for meetings held by HHWNC include directions via public transportation. No meetings should be held further than four blocks from a public transportation stop.
j. That The Environment Committee have a program encouraging areas of Hollywood to participate in composting and Instructing the Benefits Thereof.
k. That The Environment Committee of HHWNC publicize the city’s little-known “311” phone line for bulky trash.
l. That The Environment Committee Address the environmental and Wildlife Displacement Issues of the Banana Bungalows project.
m. Study of Issues Regarding Resolution of some of the Runyan Canyon Environmental Issues Related to Dog Poo.

4. Call for New Suggestions for Action by the Committee. Possible vote/s.

5. Listing of Votes, Resolutions and Recommendations to the Board. All Suggestions Which Are Not Addressed During This Meeting Will Be Tabled until the January Meeting Date.

6. Public Comment.
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 Agenda items will be heard only 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 3 minutes per speaker unless waived by the presiding officer of the Board. Agenda is posted for public review: 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 WWW.HHWNC.org. 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].

7. Adjournment at or prior to 8:00 p.m.

Minutes
Environment, Beautification, Preservation and Aesthetics Committee
Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Association
Will and Ariel Durant Branch, Los Angeles Public Library
24 January 2005

The meeting was brought to order by Chair Vince Vitale at 6:20 p.m. Present were Vince Vitale (Chair)- Mary Prange, Charles Wainberg, Lynne Hendel, Bob Cook, Claire Guy and Marcie Boyles. These notes were taken by the Chair. Claire Guy attended as a visitor and abstained from all voting.

A motion was made by Mary Prange and seconded by Charles Wainberg to approve the minutes from the 20 September 2004 meeting. Motion to approve the minutes was made by Mary Prange and seconded by Charles Wainberg. The committee unanimously approved the minutes.

Discussions and votes on the following suggestions followed:
a. That The City of Los Angeles create a Recycling Center for Hollywood Apartment Dwellers. Motion to vote upon this measure was made by Mary Prange and seconded by Charles Wainberg. Committee unanimously voted to approve this Board Motion.
b. That The City of Los Angeles initiate a program to encourage use of addresses with cross streets. Motion to vote upon this measure was made by Mary Prange and seconded by Charles Wainberg. Committee unanimously voted to approve this Board Motion.
c. That The City of Los Angeles Establish a Comprehensive Law Creating Fines for Signs which are Not Taken Down after the Last Day of an Event and Requiring End Dates. Motion to vote upon this measure was made by Charles Wainberg and seconded by Mary Prange. Committee unanimously voted to approve this Board Motion.
d. That The City of Los Angeles should create An Easy way for Citizens to Require Police to Enforce Regulation Requiring Signage at corners of streets where there is a sidewalk closure, when pedestrians are wrongfully forced to backtrack by paid corporate goons. Tabled for further consideration.
e. That The City of Los Angeles Establish A law which requires people Playing Stereos Loudly to Close All Their Windows and Doors While Doing So, and that The City of Los Angeles Recognize Noise Disturbance as an Environmental Violation. Some discussion followed, indicating members felt the need to delineate more details related to this motion. Even so, Mary Prange said it is an interesting idea to include noise disturbance as an environmental issue. Tabled for further consideration.
f. That The HHWNC create an instruction manual for new Board members in Portable Document Format (PDF)- as is now done in many branches of government. Motion to vote upon this measure was made by Mary Prange and seconded by Charles Wainberg. Committee unanimously voted to approve this Board Motion.
g. That all postings for meetings held by HHWNC include directions via public transportation and that meetings should be held further than four blocks from a public transportation stop. After some discussion, it was agreed that public transportation instructions would certainly be appropriate and consistent in those circumstances where automobile instructions are given. Minus the four-block distance provision, motion to vote upon this measure was made by Marcie Boyles and seconded by Mary Prange. Committee unanimously voted to approve this Board Motion.
h. That The Environment Committee has a program encouraging areas of Hollywood to participate in composting and instructing the benefits thereof. Motion to vote upon this measure was made by Mary Prange and seconded by Charles Wainberg. Committee unanimously voted to approve this Board Motion.
i. That The Environment Committee of HHWNC publicize the city’s little-known “311” phone line for bulky trash. Tabled for further consideration and research.
j. That The Environment Committee Address the environmental and wildlife displacement issues of the Banana Bungalows project. Bob Cook explained some of the issues related to this project. Tabled for further consideration.
k. Study of issues regarding resolution of some of the Runyan Canyon environmental issues related to dog poo. Since member Laura Fox is the major proponent of this motion, and since she could not attend this meeting, this motion was tabled until the March meeting.
l. Discussion of issues and possible solutions related to stakeholder problems caused by the recent heavy rains. A number of issues were mentioned related to the heavy rains. Bob Cook pointed out that the light and electricity grid goes out during rain. Charles Wainberg counted twelve blackouts from this year’s winter rains. A motion was made by Charles Wainberg and seconded by Bob Cook that the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council take a position and ask the City of Los Angeles to update the grid. The committee unanimously voted to approve this motion.
m. Bob Cook also mentioned the runoff problems in extreme rain conditions and how this denudes the land. He pointed out that it has been 20 years since the flood maps have been updated by the City. Cook further pointed out that we need a new study of the erosion problem in the Hollywood Hills. He suggested that limiting the number of building permits issued by the City of Los Angeles could significantly manage and limit the amount of liquefied mud and clog in sewers during harsh weather situations, as we have experienced this winter. A motion was made by Bob Cook and seconded by Charles Wainberg that the Board of Directors of HHWNC suggest to the city that it manage the permits from the city to limit the number of building permits issued per year, with a suggested limit of fifteen (15) within the HHWNC district, so that the sewer system is not plugged and overloaded by runoff. The committee unanimously voted to approve this motion.
n. Also, a motion was made by Charles Wainberg and seconded by Lynne Hendel stating that the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council Board of Directors should demand that the DWP study its delivery of power in Hollywood, particularly in the Hollywood Hills, and that it substantially reduce the number of outages. The committee unanimously voted to approve this motion.
o. Marcie Boyles then made a motion, seconded by Lynn Hendel, that the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council Board of Directors call for a study and survey of the erosion problem caused by extreme weather and construction, and in this year encourage people to plant ground cover on the slopes which are the subject of this erosion. The committee unanimously voted to approve this motion.
p. A discussion arose related to the suggested conversion of the old Durant library at Gardiner and DeLongpre into a sewage treatment plant in a residential neighborhood of Hollywood Hills. A motion was made by Bob Cook and seconded by Charles Wainberg, stating that the Board of Directors oppose bringing a sewage treatment plant into a residential neighborhood, especially in buildings which have architectural and historical significance, and further that the Board of Directors of HHWNC demand an environmental impact study. The committee unanimously voted to approve this motion.
q. Discussion of possible proposals to fund pollution prevention work through the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD). Chair reported that since the EAD had only recently sent him the paperwork for submitting a proposal, and since the deadline for said proposals is 31 January 2005, and since only the Board could make the proposal, that there is no time for the Committee to participate in the proposal process at this time.

The next meeting of the Environment Committee will be:
24 March 2005, Monday, 6-8 p.m.
Will and Ariel Durant Branch, Los Angeles Public Library
7140 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90046

There were neither new suggestions at this meeting, nor were there any public comments.

There being no further business, Chair called for a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn was made by Charles Wainberg and seconded by Bob Cook. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Submitted by:
Vince Vitale
Committee Chair