MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 28th 2023
1. Call to Order and Reading of Community Council’s Mission. The mission of the PPCC was read by Karen Ridgley, Area Four Primary Rep.
2. Roll-call of Board members and Certification of Quorum.
The Chair certified that there was quorum.
Voting members present: Maryam Zar, Dave Card, Beth Holden-Garland, Sue Kohl, Murray Levy, Steve Cron, Haldis Toppel, Karen Ridgley, Kimberly Bloom, Cindy Simon, Julie Silliman, Chris Spitz, John Padden, Nina Kidd, Alisa Wolfson, Barbara Kohn, Genevieve Bostik, Shirley Haggstrom, Bill Skinner, Courtney Macker.
Non-voting members present: Joanna Spak, Michael Edlen, Daphne Gronich, Mary Mueller, Eileen Hough, Ryan Craig, Bruce Schwartz, Jessica Rogers.
3. Introduction of attendees.
West LA Captain, LAPD, Rich Gabaldon was in attendance to support the report by SLO Espin. Sgt Scott Alpert and Officer Jose Bermudez were also present. (See YouTube post for that segment of the meeting.)
4. Approval of Minutes: September 14, 2023 were approved without objection.
5. Consideration of Agenda & Upcoming Meetings.
6. Treasurer’s Report.
See the report sent by Treasurer (absent) and read by President [see Attachment/Item 6]
7. General Public Comment (GPC). There was no GPC
8. Reports, Announcements and Concerns.
8.1. From the Chair/Presiding Officer.
8.1.1. The President reviewed letters written since last meeting and noted that they are posted online.
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Native-plants-letter.pdf and https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FIN-PPCC-EC-Letter-re-BCC-Amicus-Grants-Pass.pdf
8.1.2. The President gave an update on 50th Anniversary Jubilee & Community Celebration and urged everyone to attend.
8.1.3. The President gave an update on Castellammare issues.
a. Tramonto construction/development – she said the LUC was looking again at review or best position at this juncture.
b. SAB center proposal for nonprofit headquarters – she said a new nonprofit has proposed to construct a research headquarters for affordable housing innovations on a site that has apparently been granted to them by the City for this purpose. She reported that she would be referring this matter to the LUC, and finds the suggestion/proposal to be questionably appropriate for the R1 zones sight.
8.2. From Officers and Chair Emeritus. [none]
8.3. From At-Large and Area Representatives.
8.3.1. Karen Ridgley, Area Four Primary Rep., reported that Insp. warren Sutton has been helpful since May and helped cite LA Parks and private property owners who own the slope at Asilomar Blvd to the bottom where Tahitian Terrace lies. Inspections are completed at this point, and brush clearance has largely been done She thanked Andre Branch for his assistance and announced that Tahitian Terrace leadership and residents have been very helpful and proactive in conducting brush clearance.
She also thanked Michael Amster from CD11 for securing a large bin to assist in getting rid of all the debris that was cleared from Asilomar Park and Tahitian Terrace. He also replaced a vandalized sign by elevating it, and she thanked him for his efforts. She asked for more Sunrise to Sunset signs for Asilomar Bluffs Park as well as Potrero. She also mentioned new Graffiti, she was hoping the city would address (Rick Mills, former Area Rep) reported it to 311.)
She also reported that the Asilomar Bluffs project may soon be underway (email from Michael Womack). The President said she’d follow up on that.
The President thanked Karen for her exemplary service as an Area Rep.
8.3.2. Chris Spitz, At-Large Primary Rep., reported on the deteriorating condition of the “History of the Palisades” mural along Temescal Canyon Rd. and gave an update on SB 423 winding its way through the legislature as well as a note on the “Grants Pass” case impacting homelessness, for which we have now sent support for the BCC Amicus Brief. The President said our submitted letter is on our website.
8.3.3. Steve Cron, Area Two Primary reported that he visited the Ciela Elder Care Center and reported that they have built the building in a fire hardened way and have pledged to offer their community room for evacuations or community events. Cron reported that they were eager to be part of the community and while their onset was controversial, they are now here and would like to be good community members. Aileen Hough asked if they have all the right permits (including a CoO) in order to open. She said they had hosted a loud event on their rooftop last week and the neighbors do not sense that these will be good neighbors. They have questions to which they’d like answered. Steve and Maryam, the President, pledged to make sure we invite them to a PPCC meeting and introduce themselves as well as tale questions. Steve said open communications would be crucial in regulating issues and addressing them.
8.4. From Organizational Representatives.
8.4.1. Courtney Macker and Jessica Rogers, PPRA primary and Alternate Reps, alerted the community regarding the increase in, and escalation of, crimes involving the youth in our community. The board held discussion on how best to come together, get involved and talk to our children so that we may get a handle on these new threats and improve public safety for all the Palisades. LAPD Captain, Sgt., SLO and beach detail Officers were on the call to take part in this discussion.
Courtney said we have had an increase in crime in our public paces involving juveniles. She mentioned drag racing, fighting and lighting of fire fireworks in the park. She said as a community, we are at our wits end and need law enforcement to do more to respond to the ongoing issues that are threatening the safety of our public safety and community, at large. Asked for leadership and collaborative effort with LAPD to break the impasse.
The President thanked Courtney and mentioned that both Courtney and Jessica (from PPRA) for their proactive effort to address issues of law enforcement and acknowledged that they often have conversations with LAPD, and reach out to voice their concerns and address ongoing community safety issues.
LAPD, PPCC President and Courtney Macker urged reporting and noted that all crime must be reported, even to the non-emergency number, so that LAPD can investigate, bring charges and have the difficult conversations with parents. (Please see video segment on our PPCC YouTube site: https://youtu.be/-XKsVHmRTog).
8.5. From Government Offices / Representatives.
8.5.1. Edward Feves, [District Representative] Senator Ben Allen, reported they would have a table and a presence at the 50th Anniversary Jubilee on Saturday. He mentioned that the CA Legislature approved $350M for statewide law enforcement agencies to make sure they have the resources they need to address community concerns, such as those which were brought up in this meeting today. Feedback from communities is crucial in this allocation of funding. Advanced surveillance cameras and task forces resource to respond to community public safety concerns are of concern to the State, and the office of State Senator Allen will follow up with us. The Legislature has until October 14th to send bills to the Governor. The Senator championed a series of environmental bills, and they will report back about those that passed in the months to come.
Senator Allen had three environmental bills, including SB 54, getting rid of single use plastic packaging (along with SB665) to create a working group that would address alternative non plastic items that can replace current non-biodegradable plastics. Sen Allen also sponsored SB 867 (two year bill) that would ask for a $15.5B bond that would go toward climate change resiliency projects (like brush clearance, fewer black tops, more shade, etc…). The President thanked Edward and asked him to thank Sen Allen on behalf of the board, since she understood that he would be attending the Jubilee with a commendation and Resolution for PPCC on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary.
8.6. From PPCC Committees, Advisors and WRAC Representatives.
9. Reports from PPCC Committees.
9.1. [Three Chairs Committee] The board elected the nominees presented by the Committee of the Three Chairs (Steve Boyers, David Card, Maryam Zar) for 2nd Alternates for Area Eight & At-Large positions.
Alan Goldsmith was elected to serve as the 2nd Alternate for the At-Large seat.
Andrew Wolfberg was elected to serve as the 2nd Alternate for Area Eight.
10. Old Business – none.
11. New Business.
11.1. WRAC Motion.
The PPCC board voted unanimously to support the WRAC recommended motion to support public park/skateboard facility at West LA Commons.
Motion proposed by Chris Spitz, At-large Rep and WRAC VP, seconded by Sue Kohl, passed as follows:
PPCC requests that the LA City support WLASNC’s request for a public park and skateboard facility, as part of the West L.A. Commons project, that maintains high-density housing and numerous affordable units. This park would serve the 2,500 tenants of the project as well as the 5,000 neighbors who live on the south and don’t have a park (many are low-income households), and visitors from Westwood, Mar Vista, Bel Air-Beverly Crest and Brentwood who visit the Felicia Mahood Senior Center and the West L.A. Municipal Building.
12. Adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:48PM.
[ATTACHMENT – Item 6/Treasurer’s Report:
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Treasurers-Report-9-28-23.pdf]