MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 27th 2022
1. Call to Order and Reading of Community Council’s Mission. The Community Council mission was read by Maryam Zar.
2. Roll-call of Board members and Certification of Quorum.
Voting members present: David Card, Maryam Zar, Beth Holden-Garland, Randy Young, Jenny Li, Murray Levy, Steve Cron, Haldis Toppel, Karen Ridgley, Cindy Simon, Rick McGeagh, Chris Spitz, John Padden, Nina Kidd, Greg Heidt, Eric Dugdale, Kevin Niles, Shirley Haggstrom.
Non-voting board members present: Cindi Young, Joanna Spak, Diana Daniele, Nancy Niles, Michael Edlen, Lee Anne Sanderson, Daphne Gronich, Quentin Fleming, Harlan Hogue, Cathy Russell, Mary Mueller, Alisa Wolfson, Genevieve Bostic.
3. Introduction of attendees.
PPCC hosted Lindsay Horvath and Bob Hertzberg for an introduction of themselves as candidates for LA County Supervisor and community Q & A. A recording has been made available online. (https://youtu.be/S-KO1lkTPUA)
4. Approval of Minutes – Approval of Minutes – October 13, 2022 was deferred [approved on 11/10/22]
5. Consideration of Agenda & Upcoming Meeting. The agenda was considered as submitted.
6. Treasurer’s Report. The Treasurer announced that there had been one transaction since the last meeting for 500 dollars sent to the Palisadian Post. The PPCC account balance stands at $54,522.54. The new Treasurer now has checks and a credit card with which to transact PPCC business.
7. General Public Comment. None
8. Reports, Announcements and Concerns.
8.1. From the Chair/Presiding Officer.
8.1.1. The President announced that pursuant to motion passed at the last meeting regarding the Cookies dispensary in Brentwood, this letter was sent: https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Cannabis-Letter-2022.pdf .
8.1.2. The President announced that Captain Tom, Commanding Officer at LAPD West Division, has been promoted to Commander and will be moving to Operation West Bureau headquarters this week. The incoming Commanding Officer at LAPD West will be Captain Craig Heredia.
8.1.3. The President affirmed that a New member orientation for newly affirmed Area and At-large Alternates has successfully been held.
8.1.4. The President reminded the board that the 2022 Awards Selection Committee is still accepting nominees until 9pm on October 31st. See: https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Awards-Nomination-Press-Release-2021.pdf. To nominate someone, email info@pacpalicc.org with details.
8.1.5. The President announced that she had appointed one more person to the 2022 Holiday Gala and Awards Event Committee. The committee, chaired by Haldis Toppel, will now include Genevieve Bostic, PPCC Alternate in the Recreation category representing YMCA.
8.1.6. The President informed the board that WRAC had not elected to send a motion similar to ours and BCC’s, requesting a conditional use permit process for cannabis dispensaries, to WRAC member councils. The WRAC board had instead decided to form an ad hoc committee to examine alternative processes which did not make sense for PPCC to join at the moment. PPCC may form a committee jointly with BCC to discuss and strategize best ways to achieve our goals (e.g. establishing a conditional use review process for any dispensary seeking to operate in our communities).
8.1.7. The President reminded the board that on November 10th, we will host outgoing LAPD West Operations Commanding Officer, Captain Tom, who will give us a report and take questions as he moves on to his new role as West Bureau Operations Commander.
8.2. From Officers
8.3. From At-Large and Area Representatives
8.3.1. Karen Ridgley – made note that the gate along Temescal Canyon road which blocks off park access from the street has been unlocked (the lock has been broken) and tree trunks have been dumped in the park. Karen has sent in a 311 report and also let Noah Fleishman (CD11) know to ask Sanitation to repair and strengthen the lock. Reiterates, this is an ongoing problem that urgently needs to be resolved.
8.3.2. Murray Levy, racing cars and noisy motorcycles are becoming an issue and wants us to keep an eye on traffic violations and increasing traffic enforcement.
8.3.3. Cindy Simon commented on crime and the home break-in Hartzell. Huntington HOA is working with the Alphabet Streets but they are at wits end as to what to do with the “worrisome increase in crime”. What can the PPCC do?
The President said she’d been in touch with LAPD and the residents and also spoke of a community safety meeting she had organized some years ago where all public safety stakeholders came together for a well attended community meeting to discuss policing and public safety as well as the role of all agencies and the community.
She said she intended to hold discussions with this board and LAPD, as well as Commander Tom and new Captain of West LA, Craig Heredia, to strategize what we can do with community involvement to make this community safter. The November meeting presents us with an opportunity to speak about these challenges with both Commandeer and Captain and begin to strategize how the community can collaborate with LAPD and other public safety agencies to develop a set of guidelines and strategies to help make the neighborhoods in our community safer.
8.4. From Organizational RepresentativesNone
8.5. From Government Offices / Representatives
8.5.1. Janet Turner, Office of Congressman Ted Lieu
Anti sematic flyers are very disturbing to the Congressman. He has written to FBI Director, Wray and he is following up on that. As co-Chair of the bipartisan Anti Semitism task force, he is calling on Fed law enforcement officials to address these incidents on not only the Westside of LA, but nationwide.
He also stands in solidarity with Iranians protesting the terrible treatment of women and prisoners in Iran. Cosponsored HR9075 supporting Iranian Political Prisoners and co-sponsored a resolution commending the bravery of Iranian protesters.
Sun Nov 13th: Conversation with military families. Look for the Flyer.
8.5.2. Brian Espin. LAPD Senior Lead Officer for Pacific Palisades
Please see attached report and crime map from SLO Brian Espin. Espin reported that crime was on an uptick (still down 13% from last year, same time) and explained that when the Hartzell break-in on October 17th took place, the one Palisades LAPD car was sent out of the area on another call and for that reason, took 14 minutes to get back to the Palisades. This response time seems alarming but was fast, given how far the car had to travel. There was discussion about the length of the response time and the need to advocate for either more LAPD presence in the Palisades, or an assurance that our car will remain in the area, at all times. The two teenage girls who had faced the break-in at their home spoke about the challenge of waiting nearly 20 minutes. They also mentioned that many of Officer Espin’s suggestions for safety, such as remote cameras, dogs present, and other measures were in play at the scene of the break-in and they did not deter the three suspects who broke in from the back door and gained entry to the house. Once they realized someone was in the house (“hot prowl”), they ran out. Best deterrent is eyes out on the street with perhaps a text chain with neighbors where each alerts others when they see something amiss. The more visible and alert the community is, the less attractive the neighborhood becomes to would be wrongdoers. Officers patrolling the Palisades are looking for teams of young people who are driving in “nicer” rented cars that are in the prowl in our neighborhoods. It helps when neighbors are also on the lookout.
As the suspects were running out, one suspect dropped a knife and LAPD is using that tool to find fingerprints. The President reassured the board and the family whose home had been broken into that we understand the challenges and worry that has set into the community, and we will form a collaborative approach to strategize solutions, in partnership with LAPD and other public safety stakeholders.
8.6. From PPCC Advisors and WRAC Representatives. None
9. Reports from Committees
9.1. Awards Selection Committee. Committee co-Chairs, Nancy and Kevin Niles announced that nominations were still being accepted for PPCC Awards through October 31st and that good nominations had already been made.
10. Old Business. None
11. New Business
11.1. The PPCC board heard a presentation by Gene Oh, the Founder of Tranzito Vector, on STAP program and contract for street furniture. Helped start the Metro Bike Hub program and now helping LADOT with their mobility Hub program.
This project has traditionally been an advertising contract (a concessioner model), where the concessioner takes over the program and gives a share of the profits to the city, but the accountability isn’t there on the part of the city. The current contract is a different program where the city pays for the capital and hiring TV as consultant operators. This is ultimately a mobility project where advertising revenue is a means to an end, not the main goal. The main goal is improved mobility.
Looking at bus stops today and tomorrow’s mobility hubs – central hub for mobility for anyone not driving a car. Streets LA wanted more shelter, shade, safety and comfort. Want to build 3000 bus shelters now (versus 660 that were built in the last 20 years) and have to make this economically feasible, while recognizing that the 3000 shelters will change the aesthetic of the city. So they want to make sure a shelter that exemplifies LA, but gives enough creativity where different neighborhoods can have their own customization.
Other concerns, data security when it comes to digital hubs that will provide real time bus info., real time alerts and city messaging. Can add additional tech sensors, but data privacy is at the forefront of any of these add ons and would have to go to City Council for approval. Wants very much to be collaborative.
Focusing on areas with high ridership, they want to provide better bus shelters to the most disadvantaged areas of the city, and areas where there is a lot of concrete (few trees) and a measurably high heat index. This new bus stop is intended to be at the center of ‘smart cities”, based on equity and environment.
Mobility Hubs: turning the bus shelter into an “infrastructure node”. Emergency city messaging and real time bus info made available through Amazon digital technology. In PP they won’t have digital screens (very little if any) but want to have real time bus and emergency information. Health and safety and public safety is also a priority. Vulnerable riders are also in mind with bilingual messaging.
Design: “California modernism:” A simple, modern look that looks good now as well as 20/30 years from now. They also wanted aesthetically pleasing but minimal. The minimalist look reduces the backing for more public safety and more air flow, as well as increased movement (including for people for disabilities). Lots of light for way finding as well as well-lit shelters that discourage improper use of shelters (like homelessness). They can measure and adjust the light. The smart shelters also can monitor its own good working order. They’ll be installing 5 times as many shelters than in the next 20 years. Big ask – so they plan thoughtful locations – 650 of the shelters will be digital (about 25%) with safeguards like a light max regulation in the contract, refresh rate in 10 seconds, no motion on the digital adds – to reduce digital negative effects but highlight the positive effects to pay for the additional 2241 shelters with standard paper add screens. 100 will have large format static paper ads (mostly downtown and Hollywood). 450 locations will have no adds at all.
Questions:
Q; Zar — Community transparency and open communications: how open are you to interfacing with the community as these fold into the community – for example: adjustments to lighting and material?
Q2: Is Pacific Palisades on your radar (ridership goals as a priority)?
A: Material: perforated metal which is better for air flow and cleanliness – these are functional reasons for the perf-metal. There is no “changeability” on the material, but is its very important to PP, you should bring it up to TV and Streets LA, who is the ultimate arbiter. Color can be changed. The lighting can be minimized. Each location will have “tunability”, so light cam be adjusted, and the marquee will be capped off so light emanates less. Every Council District will get 300 shelters each, in the first year, but where in the district is something that can be discussed with the Council Member.
Brian Stedge: Streets LA and your CM are the key people during the outreach phase, will be the deciding arbiter of where these locations will go. Direct your advocacy there.
Q: Cron – is the seating area conducive to sleeping/lying:
A: Passengers thought the bars were too aggressive, so they designed a seat design that has no rails but have different heights on each bench for accessibility (even the mobility challenged) to sit down.
Q: Spitz – Is PP unlikely to have digital signage at our bus shelters?
A: TV does not have control of that list, based on various “scores”, including heat factor, ridership, equity score and ‘trip generator’ locations, Pacific Palisades does not rank very high on the priority list for digital screens. But this is not our decision, but a decision made in conjunction with Streets LA and the Council District.
Comment: consistency with the mobility element of the specific Plan.
Response: An issue of interpretation and reiterates to take up advocacy with the Council office.
The President thanks the TV team and reiterates that she appreciates the transparency and the willingness to come to PPCC and answer questions. Gene reiterates that he’s happy to come back.
12. Adjournment. Meeting was adjourned at 8:04pm.
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