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MINUTES FROM April 28th 2016
Voting Members in Attendance: Chris Spitz, Maryam Zar, Jennifer Malaret, Nancy Niles, Gil Dembo, Stuart Muller, Richard Wulliger, Bruce Schwartz, George Wolfberg, Janet Anderson, Peter Culhane, Sue Kohl, Todd Wadler and Cathy Russell.
Voting Alternates: Brian Deming, Laura Mack, Carol Bruch, Susan Payne and Doug McCormick.
Non-voting Advisors and Alternates: Kevin Niles and Ted Mackie.
Start of Business Meeting
1. Reading of Community Council’s Mission. Maryam Zar read the Mission Statement.
2. Call to Order and Introduction of the Board and Audience. Chris Spitz called the meeting to order at 7:09 pm. The Board and audience were introduced.
3. Certification of Quorum. Chris certified that a quorum was present at 7:11 pm.
4. Adoption of Minutes/Upcoming Meetings. Chris deemed the meeting minutes of April 14, 2016 approved as corrected. Next board meetings 5/12/16 and 5/26/16.
5. Consideration of Agenda. The President considered the agenda.
6. Treasurer’s Report. Chris read Richard Cohen’s report regarding the financial status as of April 28, 2016. The total account balances equal $37,512.94 with no significant transactions in the past two weeks.
7. Reports, Announcements and Concerns.
7.1. Announcements from the President, Chris Spitz.
7.1.1. LADWP Pole-Top Distributing Stations. Chris reported that LADWP is continuing to evaluate community feedback and construction feasibility as to various options.
7.1.2. Village Starbucks CUB. Chris reported that the determination letter is pending.
7.1.3. WRAC Motions Update. Motions passed by PPCC on 4/14/16 (VA/Homeless Veterans Leasing Act; CUB/Alcohol Conditions; Code Enforcement) have been submitted to Councilmember Bonin. See https://pacpalicc.org/index.php/organizations/ and minutes of 4/14/16. See also attached PPCC letter to Rep. Lieu.
7.1.4. Short Term Rentals. For Home Sharing Ordinance details, see: http://planning.lacity.org/Ordinances/ProposedOrdinances.htm. For prior PPCC position letters, see: https://pacpalicc.org/index.php/organizations/. Initial staff hearing 5/21/16.
7.1.5. BMO-BHO Amendments. For details regarding proposed new amendments, see: http://planning.lacity.org/ordinances/docs/baseline/bmo_bho_revised.pdf. For prior PPCC position letter, see: https://pacpalicc.org/index.php/organizations/. Initial staff hearing (Westside) 5/10/16, 7-9pm, Felicia Mahood Multipurpose Center, 11338 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. Comment deadline June 10, 2016.
7.1.6. Airplane Flyover Noise. Sens. Feinstein and Boxer have written to the FAA expressing concern and requesting that the FAA address ongoing flyover impacts. For more information, contact info@pacpalicc.org.
7.1.7. PPCC Meeting/Agenda Process. Chris reported that she distributed to the board, posted to the website and brought copies to the meeting tonight of a Summary regarding this information. Any questions can be directed at any time to Chris.
7.2. Announcements from Governmental Representatives Representatives (Note: Contact information at: http://www.pp90272.org/Governmental%20Reps.pdf).
7.2.1. Los Angeles Police Department (“LAPD”) – SLO Officer Moore — Not in attendance.
7.2.2. Los Angeles City Council, District 11; Councilmember Mike Bonin’s Office. Sharon Shapiro, Field Deputy — Not in attendance.
7.2.3. Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Daniel Tamm, Westside Area Representative, Mayor’s Interfaith Liaison — Not in attendance; however, an email from Daniel Tamm will be forwarded at a later date.
7.2.4. California State Assembly, Office of Assemblymember Richard Bloom. Stephanie Cohen, Field Representative — Not in attendance.
7.2.5. California State Senate, Office of State Senator Ben Allen. Lila Kalaf, District Representative — Not in attendance.
7.2.6. United States Congress, Office of Congressman Ted Lieu. Janet Turner, District Representative — Not in attendance.
7.3. Announcements from Board Members and Advisors.
7.3.1. Officers/Area Representatives.
(1) George Wolfberg (At-Large). George reported that SMCCA is hiring an expert attorney to address the issue of airport noise and is in the process of fundraising. Please contact George with interest or questions. George also reported that 5/10/2016 will be the SMCCA’s annual meeting at Rustic Canyon Recreation Center with Mike Bonin and Maryam Zar as featured speakers.
7.3.2. Organizational Representatives – Report on Behalf of Organizations.
(1) Susan Payne (Chamber) announced that the stores on Swarthmore will be closing soon and having going-out-of-business sales starting next month. The sidewalk sale will be on June 25th to be involved at the end of the sale period; these closing activities do affect funding for the Chamber particularly advertising. The Annual Chamber Expo will be on May 15th from 10-2pm and will feature the antique car show and various booths. The event is free to the public. On June 11th the Annual Food Fest will be at the Women’s Club from 4-7pm. Tickets are $25 per person or $40 for two. (2) Gil Dembo (TCA) reported an increase of dogs off-leash in the State Parks and increases in dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets.
7.3.3. PPCC Advisors — None.
7.3.4. Board Members, Other Reports — None.
8. Reports from Committees.
8.2. VPLUC (David Kaplan, Chair).
Update on status of Village Project land use application/MND. In David’s absence Chris reported that approximately 90 persons attended the CPC hearing on 4/28 and spoke in support of the project. The project was unanimously approved and the appeal by one resident was denied. The matter will be referred to the City Council PLUM Committee with that hearing to take place on a future date, perhaps May 2016. See also attached PPCC letter to the CPC.
9. Old Business.
9.1. Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness (PPTFH) update on ongoing work.
Presentation: Maryam Zar introduced Task Force members present including Sharon Kilbride (enforcement), Doug McCormick (leadership and as liaison to OPCC) and Nina Kidd (education/upcoming play). Sharon Kilbride – Sharon (1) detailed the LAPD patrols taking place in the area. Homeless encampments are being tracked with the idea of outreach and offers for services. Violators are warned and eventually cited where appropriate. Engagement efforts below Corona del Mar were recently successful this month as between LAPD and OPCC. The effort is to engage, offer and then invoke enforcement. Sharon detailed some of the efforts including four encampments and items found inside. LAPD would like to identify areas that have high fire and sanitation risk. Beaches and Harbors have promised to put in new tower signage which will help lifeguards, beach users and law enforcement. Efforts are underway to make recommendations for bike path enforcement and increased patrols to make the beaches safer for all. Sharon encouraged persons who see a homeless person in need to please contact 310-460-2630 and reminded residents to keep their cars locked. Doug McCormick – Doug (1) goals are enforcement, engagement and education. These problems are complex and much work is being done to address each of these areas. Together people are working together to solve the problem rather than pushing the problem from one to another. Doug is hopeful that in June persons from various cities will be getting together and engage in collective dialogue. OPCC and the experts behind them have been doing a great job, working in an unthreatening and communicative manner. Reports are made monthly with numbers. In the first three months, contact with 106 homeless have been made, 48 persons have been engaged and 10 persons have been taken off the streets. Some of the discoveries are that homeless in the Palisades sleep here but leave during the days to find services in Santa Monica or elsewhere. Of the contacts 15% are veterans and slightly over 20% are female. The Palisades model is being looked at as a model for other cities and the Task Force is very proud of that. The Task Force is also working hard to become a 501(c) 3 corporation. Nina Kidd thanked those for helping her in the effort to address homelessness as a long term resident of the Palisades and her related efforts to produce a play called “The Liar’s Punishment,” to take place at Theatre Palisades on May 21 and May 22. There will be a reception after the play with refreshments provided by Bruce Schwartz so that the conversation can continue. While the effort has a long way to go so much success has happened. The play celebrates the accomplishments of what has been done in the effort and to educate the audience on the situation and inspire people (including students) to become involved and invoke new creative ways to assist. Tickets are available at the PPCC meeting tonight at $50 per person. Scholarship tickets are available to students whereby donors can buy tickets and give them to students to see the play and get involved. Nina gave details on the cast and director and thanked the generous participants who are involved with the production. Tickets can also be purchased at theaterpalisades.com. Discussion: (1) Maryam Zar spoke relative to how children internalize homelessness and how outreach efforts are being tailored towards use(?) of various ages. Fundraising ideas are in the works. Maryam thanked Patrick Hart for all he does and encouraged community support for additional bike patrols on the beach path. (2) Would homeless people benefit from seeing this play? Nina felt is was something to consider. (3) What exact services are offered to the homeless? Sharon said temporary housing where available, physical medical care and mental care and the ability to talk to a mental health professional. The term “engagement” means the start of a conversation regarding what services are available and ending with permanent housing. There is a large range of circumstances in between. In the beginning homeless who want services come in quickly and as the process goes on it takes people longer to modify their way of life. (4) What about visible members of the homeless? Progress is being made not to the extent of housing but outreach is continual including having the Department of Mental Health here in the Palisades. Those persons have a support structure in the Palisades by people who give them food, prayers, conversation and other assistance. OPCC has a nurse checking in and is undertaking other outreach efforts. (5) Many Palisades residents, churches and organizations support the homeless. (6) The Downtown Women’s Center is setting up a trip May 30th for people interested in seeing their facility and programs. (6) Can homeless students at local schools be helped in any further way? Maryam stated that discussions are on-going in this regard. For those interested in additional information please contact pacpalihtf@gmail.com or see pptfh.org.
10. New Business.
10.1. Spotlight on Organizations – Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club.
Presenting: Nancy Niles. Q&A, Discussion only. Nancy reported that PPWC originated in 1925 under the original name “The Forum”. In 1926 the club joined the national organization of woman’s clubs. In 1935 the Junior Woman’s Club was organized and land was purchased in 1945 in the Palisades. The Club House on Haverford was dedicated between 1948 and 1951. Administrative changes have been made in more recent years staring in 2007 and withdrew from the national association in favor of converting to a 501(c) 3 corporation and the ability of a unified club (2012) between the juniors and Woman’s Clubs. The club is currently very vibrant and has a motto of “fun, friendship and philanthropy.” Nancy listed a number of annual PPWC events including wine tasting, the Home Tour, and Halloween Painting. Nancy encouraged interested persons to learn more at ppwc.org.
10.2. Paul Revere Fields Use.
Presenting: Janet Anderson, George Wolfberg. Q&A (discussion only). George detailed his involvement in soccer and the history of attempts to maintain the Paul Revere fields. Club teams occupy the fields and space for AYSO groups has become increasingly limited. Janet detailed her involvement with AYSO and terms as Commissioner. Regular season programs have 1,600 – 1,700 players on 200 teams. Paul Revere’s fields have been the heart of the local AYSO program for over 40 years. Practices and games are held at a minimum of once a week. Fields in the local areas are subject to being lost, not available or have had fees increased astronomically over the years. Janet reported that access by AYSO to Paul Revere middle school is being lost, including 50% of the prior access on larger fields that AYSO has historically been occupying. AYSO believes that as a community organization they should have access to fields at the local public schools, particularly versus private clubs from other cities. Discussion: (1) Who makes the field decisions? At the moment it appears to be the principal. (2) Suggestions were to continue discussions with the principal, engage members particularly those with students at local schools and to contact local media outlets.
11. General Public Comment – None.
12. Adjournment. Chris Spitz adjourned the meeting at 8:15 PM.
ATTACHMENTS
ITEM 7.1.3 – LETTER TO REP. LIEU RE HOMELESS VETERANS LEASING ACT
April 19, 2016
Hon. Ted W. Lieu, U.S. Representative, 33rd Congressional District
Attn: Lisa Pinto, District Director
5055 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 310
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Via email to: lisa.pinto@mail.house.gov
Re: Support for the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015/S. 2013 and H.R. 3484 (the “Act”)
Dear Congressman Lieu:
Pacific Palisades Community Council (“PPCC”) is the most broad-based community organization in Pacific Palisades and has been the voice of the community since 1973.
At its regularly scheduled board meeting on April 14, 2016, the PPCC board unanimously passed the following motion in support of the Act:
PPCC supports the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015 (Sen. Diane Feinstein’s bill S. 2013 and the companion House HR 3484 sponsored by Rep. Ted Lieu), to place permanent supportive housing on the WLA VA Campus, conditioned upon the VA continuing to work with the impacted communities of Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Westwood and West Los Angeles during the implementation of the 2016 Master Plan to fully study and adopt reasonable mitigation measures with respect to any material adverse environmental impacts, including traffic impacts, such studies may identify.
Thank you for your continuing exceptional representation of our community.
Sincerely,
Christina Spitz
President
Pacific Palisades Community Council
cc:
Vincent Kane, Special Assistant, Dept. of Veterans Affairs via email: vincent.kane@va.gov
Heidi Marston, Special Assistant, Dept. of Veterans Affairs via email: heidi.marston@va.gov
Hon. Mike Bonin, Los Angeles City Councilmember, CD11 via email: mike.bonin@lacity.org
ITEM 8.1 – LETTER TO CPC RE VILLAGE PROJECT
April 18, 2016
Los Angeles City Planning Commission
City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, Room 272
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Via email to:
James K. Williams, Commission Executive Assistant
james.k.williams@lacity.org; cpc@lacity.org
Re: LETTER IN SUPPORT OF APPROVAL OF CPC-2015-2714-VZC-SP-DRB-SPP and AA-2015-3312-PMLA; 1029-1049 N. Swarthmore Ave.; 1012-1032 N. Swarthmore Ave.; 1023-1055 N. Monument St.; and 15229-15281 W. Sunset Blvd. (collectively, the “Palisades Village Project”); related case: ENV-2015-2715 MND.
Honorable Commissioners:
Introduction
Pacific Palisades Community Council (“PPCC”) is the most broad-based community organization in Pacific Palisades and has been the voice of the community since 1973. PPCC is one of the oldest continuously operating councils of its type in Los Angeles and served as a model for many current neighborhood councils. PPCC holds open elections for 9 board seats representing all Palisades residents and businesses, and includes in its membership all significant community organizations. PPCC conducts open, public board meetings; follows the Brown Act whenever reasonable and possible; and serves the same function as a neighborhood council: to provide a forum for the discussion of issues and to advise government on matters of community concern. As explained by Councilmember Mike Bonin:
“[PPCC’s and Brentwood Community Council’s] role as advisory bodies to local government on issues specific to their communities is identical to that of a certified neighborhood council . . .
They provide the same crucial function in vetting community issues and providing a respected and open forum for evaluating development proposals and land use matters.” [Motion in Council File 13-1625]
PPCC Position
PPCC strongly supports the Palisades Village Project, as set forth in testimony before City Planning and Commission staff on March 24, 2016, and in greater detail in letters submitted on February 29, 2016 and March 14, 2016 (on file in the above-referenced matters and believed to be part of the official administrative record).
For more than a year, the applicant Caruso Affiliated has conducted extensive outreach to the Palisades community, meeting frequently with groups large and small and addressing all reasonable concerns. PPCC held a total of four public forums, attended by hundreds of community members, at which full public discussion took place, including input from Mr. Caruso and public questions, concerns and expressions of support. Through its Executive Committee, PPCC expressed support for adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) (see 2/29/16 PPCC letter). The PPCC board voted overwhelmingly (17-1) to support the Project, specifically the land use entitlement application and parcel map request (see 3/14/16 PPCC letter) – an action that is unprecedented in PPCC’s history. These positions reflect the consensus of the Palisades community.
PPCC urges the City Planning Commission to approve adoption of the above-referenced MND, the land use entitlement application and parcel map request.
Sincerely,
Christina Spitz
President
Pacific Palisades Community Council
cc:
Hon. Mike Bonin, Councilmember, CD11 via email: mike.bonin@lacity.org
Michelle Levy, City Planner via email: michelle.levy@lacity.org