Return to Index of 2017 Minutes

MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 28th 2017

Voting Members in Attendance:  Maryam Zar, George Wolfberg, Allison Holdorff Polhill, Richard Cohen, Chris Spitz, David Kaplan, Sue Kohl, Reza Akef, Rick Mills, Peter Culhane, Lou Kamer, Barbara Marinacci, Dick Wulliger, Gil Dembo, Rick McGeagh, David Card, Rick Lemmo, Sarah Conner, Richard Blumenberg

Voting Alternates:  Doug McCormick, Marilyn Wexler

Non-voting Advisors and Alternates:  David Peterson

1.    Certification of Quorum.  The Chair, Maryam Zar, called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm and certified that a quorum was present.

2.    Reading of Community Council’s Mission.  Chair read the Mission Statement.

3.    Introduction of the Board and Audience.  The board and audience were introduced.

4.    Approval of Minutes & Upcoming Meetings.  1) Approval of Minutes: Chair deemed the minutes of July 27th, 2017 approved as distributed. 2) Upcoming Meetings: 10/12/17. 1) Sgt. Danny Eun from West LAPD Traffic. 2) Stephanie Cohen, County Supervisor field office Rep. 10/26/17. 1) PTFH enforcement and results report.

5.    Consideration of Agenda.  Maryam announced that the Agenda is as distributed.

6.    Treasurer’s Report.  Richard Cohen reported that PPCC has a bank account balance of $37,873.40. There were no significant transactions since the last meeting.

7.    General Public Comment.

8.    Reports, Announcements and Concerns.

8.1.    From the Chair.

8.1.1.    Report on City Cannabis Location Ordinance.  Discussion regarding buffering sensitive sites, parks, schools and beaches. Brentwood Community Council asked for a 1000 feet buffer zone. City Ordinance will establish 800 feet.

8.1.2.    Appointing new committee and advisors.

  1. Chair suggested Harris Patrick Culhane for Youth Advisor. Announcement will be made soon.
  2. Chair appointed Lindsay Conner as PPCC’s Legal Advisor. There were no objections to this appointment. At the suggestion of the Treasurer, Chair will invite Lindsay to attend the next meeting to be introduced to the Board.

[Note:  Item 8.1.3 not included.]

8.1.4.a.    Winter Gala.  George Wolfberg will chair the Award Selection Committee (ASC); members include: Daphne Gronich, Steve Boyers, Andy Frew, Marie Steckmest.

8.1.4.b.    Peter Culhane will chair the Holiday Dinner and Awards Gala. The event will take place on December 14, 2017 and the venue will be Gladstone’s.

8.1.4.c.    Nominations for Citizen of the Year and Golden Sparkplug awards are now open.  See document attached.

8.1.5.    New Organizational Reps rotating onto the Board for a term beginning October 1 2017 and ending September 30, 2018.  See document attached.

8.1.6.   No announcement made.

8.2.    From Officers.

8.2.1.    Chair Emeritus, Chris Spitz, SB 649 update since Senate vote. PPCC letter urging a veto sent to Governor: https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PPCC-Letter- SB-649-Gov.fin_.pdf. A letter was also sent by WRAC: https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/WRACPosition_SB649CellTower_09181720.pdf.

8.3.    From At-Large and Area Reps.

8.3.1.    Reza Akef (Area 8 Rep) reported that DWP will be installing a 20” x 40’ underground vault in front of his driveway; and announced an accident involving a student at Paul Revere Middle School.

8.4.    From Organizational Reps.

8.4.1.    Rick McGeagh, PAB & PPBA.  Spooktacular announcement, Saturday October 28, 2017, 3 pm to 7 pm at Palisades Recreation Center.

8.4.2.    Sarah Conner, PPRA, reported their position with respect to a single family construction project on Lachman Lane, which has been met with community opposition.

8.5.    From Governmental Representatives.

8.5.1.    Michael Moore – Los Angeles Police Department (“LAPD”) — Not in attendance.

8.5.2.    Lisa Cahill – Office of Councilman Mike Bonin, District Director.

Lisa reported that there is a senior care facility proposed to be constructed in the Highlands. (Chair explained, and Howard Robinson (LUC Chair) confirmed, that he would ask for the comment period on this project to be prolonged so that the PPCC LUC could review the matter and comment, if appropriate.) Coastal Development Permit hearing will be on October 5, 2017 regarding the beach curfew. Comments are due by October 6. Councilman Bonin took action regarding Hepatitis A outbreak allowing for public restrooms to be opened all night. Although “road diets” have been implemented in other areas of CD11, there will not be “road diets” in the Palisades. Speed humps – CD 11 keeps an internal list of requests for speed humps. DOT evaluates 30 projects per year. CD11 residents responding to the call quickly filled the online request interface for speed humps. CD11 keeps a running list, however, and Palisadians can email Lisa with their continued suggestions.

8.6.    From PPCC Advisors.

9.    Reports from Committees.

9.1.    PPCC LUC.

Meeting on 9/28, 5-6:30 pm; report from Chair Howard Robinson.  LUC met and had a discussion regarding policy and procedures; resolved to review the Highlands senior center project; discussed alcohol standards and will continue to work on standardizing CUB review guidelines for PPCC.

10.    Old Business.

10.1.    Update on Caruso Village Project from Caruso.

Michael Gazzano presented a video on the construction progress to date. He discussed new tenants, construction workers taking shuttles and parking well beyond the project and various plans to meet the community’s needs. He was asked several questions. Energy efficient, green technology and sustainable processes for watering and electricity are in the works. There will be between 40 and 45 tenants occupying the premises. There will be eight residential units for rent.

Mr. Gazzano reported that Caruso will be funding landscape architects in drafting plans for harmonizing improvements in the village as part of the project spearheaded by PRIDE with John Padden taking the lead.

11.    New Business.

11.1.    Overnight beach camping ordinance, LAMC 63.44, restricting beach access from midnight to 5 am.

Discussion & motion. (see also https://pacpalicc.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/03/PPCC-letter-re-storage-ords.pdf and https://pacpalicc.org/wp- content/uploads/2017/04/Beach-detail-and-motion.pdf).

Motion passed unanimously: “PPCC supports the Coastal Development Permit which would continue to implement LAMC 63.44 B 14 (b), restricting access to beaches from midnight to 5am, in the interest of public safety, quality of life and environmental considerations that impact residential neighborhoods along the shoreline in Pacific Palisades.”

12.    Adjournment.  Chair adjourned the meeting at 9:00pm.

ATTACHMENT:  ITEM 8.1.4.c. – Awards Nominations Information

Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted from the community for the 2017 Citizen of the Year and Golden Sparkplug Awards, to be presented at the PPCC annual holiday party on December 14, 2017, at Gladstone’s Restaurant (event details to follow). Nominations should be submitted to info@pacpalicc.org (email preferred) or to P.O. Box 1131, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. The deadline for receipt of nominations is midnight on October 28, 2017.

The Citizen of the Year Award honors long term, steady, reliable and continuing outstanding volunteer service as well as a recent extraordinary accomplishment by an individual that resulted in a substantial benefit to the Palisades community at large. The recipient must be an adult resident of the Palisades at the time the accomplishment and long term services were rendered.

The Golden Sparkplug Award honors those citizens who ignite original ideas and projects into community action that benefit Palisadians throughout the community. The project must have been initiated, in progress or completed during the current or prior calendar year. Adults and youth are both eligible, and must either own real property in, reside in or operate a business in the Palisades at the time the services were rendered.

In the case of both Awards, the services, accomplishment or project must have been voluntary and not related to the nominee’s business or occupation. Neither Award can be given to PPCC board members based on services directly related to their responsibilities as board members, although such services may be considered as a qualifying factor in the case of nominees for the Citizen Award. The Award recipients are based on the quality of work and benefits achieved, not the quantity of nominations.

For further information about Award requirements, go to https://pacpalicc.org/index.php/awards-guidelines/, or email info@pacpalicc.org 

ATTACHMENT:  ITEM 8.1.5 – ORGANIZATIONAL REPS, 2017-2018 TERM

Business & Commerce
Chamber of Commerce: Rick Lemmo
Alternate: Susan Payne

Culture, Ethics & Aesthetics
Theatre Palisades, Andy Frew
Alternate: Friends of the Library, Sandy Eddy

Education
Seven Arrows Elementary School, Margarita Pagliai
Alternate: Marquez Charter School, Jenny Hope Cote

Historian
Historical Society: Dick Wulliger
Alternate: Eric Dugdale

Civic Organizations
PRIDE, Bruce Schwartz
Alternate: Civic League, Richard Blumenberg

Recreation
AYSO, Janet Anderson
Alternate: YMCA, Jim Kirtley

Environment
Temescal Canyon Association, Gil Dembo
Alternate: Brenda Theveny

Service Clubs
American Legion, David Card
Alternate: Optimist Club, Jody Margulies

Residents Association
Pacific Palisades Residents Association, Sarah Rena Conner
Alternate: Barbara Kohn

Return to Index of 2017 Minutes