MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 24th 2024
Voting Members in Attendance: Sue Kohl, Quentin Fleming, Jenny Li, Beth Holden-Garland, Chris Spitz, JoAnna Rodriguez, Carole White, Robert Trinkkeller, Karen Ridgley, Kimberly Bloom, Lorie Cudzil, Sharon Kilbride, Andrew Wolfberg, Eric Dugdale, Courtney Macker, Haldis Toppel, Janet Anderson, John Evans, Richard Blumenberg, Hagop Tchakerian
Non-voting Members and Advisors: Daphne Gronich, LeeAnne Sanderson, Michael Edlen, Cindi Young, Joanna Spak, Rick McGeagh, Cindy Simon, Sharon Garrett, Kevin Niles, Jessica Rogers, Ella Nozar
1. Call to Order and Reading of Community Council’s Mission. The meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. Lorie Cudzil read the Mission Statement.
2. Introductions / Roll Call. The President introduced the members and called the roll.
3. Certification of Quorum. The President certified quorum.
4. Approval of Minutes. The minutes of October 10, 2024, were approved as distributed.
5. Consideration of Agenda & Upcoming Meetings. The agenda was as distributed. Upcoming meetings: November 14, 2024 (announcement of PPCC Awardees); December 12, 2024 (Awards Gala / dinner – presentation of Citizen of the Year, Golden Sparkplug/s and optional Pride of the Palisades honors). (Note: there is one meeting only in November and December; the Awards event in December replaces the regular business meeting.)
6. Treasurer’s Report. The Treasurer reported that the Council’s bank balance is $52,520.76. Donations since the last report: $48.06. Expenses paid since the last report: $54.
7. General Public Comment – None.
8. Reports, Announcements and Concerns.
8.1. From the Chair/Presiding Officer.
8.1.1. Update – Orientation session for new representatives, held 10/16/24. The President reported that the orientation was a great success, with the new PPCC primary and alternate representatives in attendance. A great deal of information was imparted and questions were answered.
8.1.2. Bylaws Committee appointment. The President announced that she has appointed the following members of the Bylaws Committee: Maryam Zar, Chair; Quentin Fleming, David Schwarz, Chris Spitz and Andrew Wolfberg. The Committee may make recommendations for possible future Bylaws amendments.
8.1.3. PPCC position letters written since last meeting (homelessness funding investigations): https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PPCC-Letter-Homeless-Funding-InvestigationsR1a.pdf https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PPCC-Letter-Little-Hoover-Commission.pdf.
The President asked Chris Spitz, At-large Representative, to provide an update. She explained that we have received a response from the Little Hoover Commission’s Executive Director, who advised that our letter has been received and that the Commission may add our request for an investigation by the Commission to their November 7th meeting agenda. She will monitor.
8.1.4. PPCC position letter written since last meeting (unfinished construction): https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PPCC-Letter-Unfinished-Construction.pdf
The At-large Representative noted that Area reps in areas of the Palisades with serious unfinished or abandoned construction projects have reached out to CD 11 for assistance. She deferred to the Area reps to explain the status.
8.2. From Officers/Chair Emeritus – None.
8.3. From At-Large and Area Representatives.
8.3.1. JoAnna Rodriguez (Area One Representative) reported on the status of the large unfinished construction project in the Castellammare area. JoAnna is keeping in contact with City staff, who are looking into the matter of non-compliance with relevant regulations, which she was told has been referred to the City Attorney. She also advised that there is no news to report on the Tramonto project.
8.3.2. Sharon Kilbride (Area Seven Representative) reported on the recent successful hillside task force effort to find and remove homeless encampments in our hillside and canyon areas. The event took place on October 22 and was the third such successful hillside task force. Members of LAPD, LAFD, City park rangers (4), County park rangers, County lifeguards, outreach workers, Exodus (an unarmed crisis response team), PPTFH and other community volunteers (including Sue Kohl) came together and participated. They found and removed evidence of eight encampments, in the Corona del Mar bluffs (2 campsites), the Via de las Olas bluffs (3 campsites), along Temescal Canyon (2 campsites), in Los Leones (1 campsite), as well as RV dwelling in Los Leones (1 RV). A great deal of trash and debris was collected and hauled away by volunteers. No persons were found at the sites, but services would have been offered had they been at any of the campsites. Sharon also stated that she was pleased to report that we have three new officers assigned to the beach detail.
8.3.3. Cindy Simon (Area Six First Alternate) announced that the YMCA is hosting a family friendly “Smashing Pumpkins” event on Saturday, October 26 from 4:30-7pm at Simon Meadow. All are welcome and there is no charge.
8.4. From Organizational Representatives.
8.4.1. Haldis Toppel (Theatre Palisades/TP) announced that opening night of the next TP production, “Private Eyes,” will take place on November 8. The production will run through December 15. On November 20, TP will present a special tribute to the playwright Christopher Durang.
8.5. From Government Offices / Representatives (as available). Contact information for government representatives: https://pacpalicc.org/index.php/government-contacts/.
8.5.1. Brian Espin, LAPD Senior Lead Officer (SLO), Pacific Palisades: SLO Espin reported on crime year to date in the Palisades. He displayed a graphic table on screen, which showed that some types of crimes were down YTD, but burglary is up 13.4% and theft is up 16.4% since last year. The LAPD is attempting to use technology to try and catch criminals when they can, including searching for photos via security cameras, putting trackers on cars and phone tags. However, LAPD’s West LA Division covers 65 square miles which is a large geographic area considering their level of staffing, which is lower than other areas. As explained, the Westside has the least amount of crime in the City and is therefore allocated the least amount of resources. It is not possible for Officer Espin to be in the Palisades 24/7. He is very supportive and encouraging of Neighborhood Watch programs, and he said he would help if anyone in the Palisades wanted to explore forming a Neighborhood Watch group. He emphasized that it is important for neighbors to communicate, to keep an eye on each other, and report burglaries they are seeing to officials, as well as their own community. In response to a question from Kimberly Bloom (Area Five Representative), he stated that there is a national Neighborhood Watch program which distributes signage; visit www.NNWI.org and apply for signs. SLO Espin also announced that a new City pilot program, the “Unarmed Model of Crisis Response / UMCR,” is being launched in West LA and will feature teams of unarmed medical practitioners to respond to 311 calls involving only nonviolent situations.
8.5.2. Michael Amster, Palisades & Brentwood Field Deputy, CD11 (Councilwoman Traci Park): The recent Dog Park community meeting was well-attended and successful. There was a great of input from constituents who had perspectives on grass versus synthetic turf and issues with dangerous and illegal U-turns and parking challenges. CD11 will continue to take new input on the upcoming dog park, for which Michael emphasized they have now secured funding. CD 11 wants to make the park as good as possible with input from the community. He is trying to arrange for another community meeting in a few months. Michael also reported about several stabilization efforts, including on Paseo Miramar (per BOE, the developer will undertake a two-phased approach to stabilization); along Revello Drive in Castellammare (CD 11 staff brought many sand bags with sand from Venice Beach to stabilize the area before the rainy season); on the Asilomar bluffs (they are looking to clean up and also put down K-rails, as well as stabilize loose soil); and a hillside project below 821 Adelaide Drive (slope area along Entrada Drive and down from the 7th Street hill, with a tarp covering the slope area; CD 11 is working with BOE on stabilization of the slope before the rainy season).
8.5.3. Marian Ensley, West Area Field Deputy, Mayor Karen Bass – Not present.
8.5.4. Zac Gaidzik, Coastal & Westside Field Deputy, County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath: The Board of Supervisors has adopted their $49.2 billion dollar budget. They are working on homelessness issues and attempting to address the mental health crisis. The Supervisors have created a centralized command center for homelessness in Los Angeles – the Emergency Centralized Response Center for Homelessness, or “ECRC” — in which all City and County agencies are in the same room and have access to all data bases. The Supervisor’s office has also been working on the issue of RVs parked along PCH between Coastline Drive and Topanga, as they present a danger for fire and other hazards. Tow-away signage has now been posted and they are beginning enforcement. Finally, Zac reported that although he does not have an exact date, the much-needed repair of the beach bike path bridge will now take place by next summer.
8.5.5. Samantha Gallegos, Field Representative, SD 24 (Sen. Ben Allen) – Not present.
8.5.6. Anthony Avila, Field Representative, AD 42 (Asm. Jacqui Irwin) – Not present.
8.6. From PPCC Advisors and Liaisons.
8.6.1. Chris Spitz (WRAC Vice-Chair and PPCC liaison) reported that the WRAC Homelessness Committee (HOC) is holding a special Roundtable event with key elected officials on October 28th in Westwood, to discuss state policies and measures to address the homelessness crisis. Our state Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, together with Assemblymember Rick Zbur, will be guest speakers. The At-large Representative (HOC Vice-Chair), along with Cindi Young (primary PPCC rep to the HOC) and Maryam Zar (2nd Alternate PPCC rep to the HOC) will attend. They will ask the state representatives to request that the Little Hoover Commission study the mismanagement and misuse of funding to address the homelessness crisis. She will report on the Roundtable at the PPCC meeting in November.
8.6.2. Lou Kamer (Transportation Advisor). The President read a report provided by the Transportation Advisor, who could not attend: “LADOT has been slowly repairing many of the 311 requests we have submitted. The big remaining spot is on Sunset between Chautauqua and Brooktree, where the lane markings need to be restriped to help people drive in their own lanes.”
9. Reports from PPCC Committees.
9.1. Awards Selection Committee (Quentin Fleming, Chair). Awards Nominations process update. Committee Chair Fleming announced that the Committee is reviewing nominations for Citizen of the Year and Golden Sparkplug honors, which are coming in and will be accepted until 8pm on October 26, 2024. The Committee has initially met to go over the criteria for each award and will meet again to decide on the awardees after all the nominations are in.
9.2. Awards Event Committee (Co-Chairs Kohl, Holden-Garland, Spitz). Awards Gala event update. The President reported that after considering several potential event venues, the Committee has selected Casa Nostra in the Highlands as the location for the Gala dinner on December 12th. Stay tuned for more event details to be announced at our upcoming meetings.
10. Old Business – None.
11. New Business.
11.1. Neighborhood Watch and Public Safety/Crime Prevention: Presentations by Neighborhood Watch coordinators – Cyndi Hench (Westchester) and Kathy Morgan (Brentwood), and LAPD SLO Brian Espin. (Discussion only). Guest speaker Cyndi Hench from Westchester explained that their Neighborhood Watch has been very effective for the Westchester Area; residents have caught burglars by spotting them and noting what they were wearing, and then being able to call police when the burglars were about to rob another home in the area. They created “What’s App” groups that alarm each other to crime that is being committed in the area, so neighbors are aware in real time. She offered her experience to the Palisades community in setting up our own Neighborhood Watch groups. Guest speaker Kathy Morgan lives in Crestwood Hills in Brentwood, and has been involved in setting up a Neighborhood Watch for the Brentwood community as well. In her area, they were experiencing a high rate of burglaries, so they set up a Neighborhood Watch group, and used What’s App to be able to communicate with a bigger group of people in real time. She recommended that neighbors make note of suspicious people coming into the neighborhood and report them to each other. She said there is power in numbers, and they work with other associations in Brentwood as well, such as the BHOA and BCC. They recently requested a meeting with Karen Bass, the LAPD Chief of Police, CD11 Councilwoman Traci Park, and LAPD Patrols, and they were able to meet them and express their concerns. She was asked if they had NW signs provided in their area, and she said that signs can be purchased. She recommended that residents get active, knock on your neighbor’s doors, and get organized so everyone can communicate with one another. NNWI.org was also mentioned as a resource for signs and merchandize, as well as RYLAN for additional tips and platforms. Cyndi Hench replied, in response to a question from Michael Edlen (At-large 1st Alternate), that there is a program called “Business Watch” for commercial constituents who are interested. Both speakers emphasized the importance of Neighborhood Watch, explaining that forming a NW group fosters community connections and is a critical public safety tool both for crime prevention and disaster preparedness and response, especially given current conditions in which police are understaffed and often unavailable for rapid response. The President thanked the speakers for attending and providing this valuable information.
12. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
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