MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 14th 2024
Voting Members in Attendance: Sue Kohl, Quentin Fleming, Jenny Li, Beth Holden-Garland, Maryam Zar, Chris Spitz, JoAnna Rodriguez, Steve Cron, Julia Nilson, Allison Holdorff, LeeAnne Sanderson, Lorie Cudzil, Sharon Kilbride, Andrew Wolfberg, John Padden, Eric Dugdale, Jessica Rogers, Haldis Toppel, Janet Anderson, James Alexakis, John Evans, Kevin Niles, Hagop Tchakerian
Non-voting Members and Advisors: Diana Daniele, Daphne Gronich, Dave Card, Sharon Garrett, Andy Frew, Michael Edlen, Robert Trinkeller, Cindi Young, Joanna Spak, Valeria Serna, Ella Nozar
1. Call to Order and Reading of Community Council’s Mission. The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. Joanna Spak 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 24, 2024, were approved as distributed.
5. Consideration of Agenda & Upcoming Meetings. The agenda was as distributed. Upcoming meetings: December 12, 2024 (Awards Gala / dinner – presentation of Citizen of the Year, Golden Sparkplug/s and optional Pride of the Palisades honors); January 9, 2025 (first meeting of the new year; topics TBA).
6. Treasurer’s Report. The Treasurer reported that the Council’s bank balance is $52,134.87. She has submitted the required forms for our registration as a charitable trust.
7. General Public Comment.
7.1. Kim Feder (resident) announced that the Castellammare Homeowners Assn. has joined with PPRA in working together to protect the community from the dangerous landslide conditions present on the hillside where the Tramonto-Revello development is proposed.
8. Reports, Announcements and Concerns.
8.1. From the Chair/Presiding Officer.
8.1.1. Oppose Metro TCN Digital Billboards at the 405/10 interchange – Position letter since last meeting: https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PPCC-letter-TCN-billboards.pdf. The President explained that the letter was sent based on PPCC’s past positions against digital billboards.
8.1.2. The President announced that the City Council Planning & Land Use (PLUM) Committee hearing of CEQA appeals related to the Tramonto / Revello residential development project will take place on December 3, 2pm, at LA City Hall, John Ferraro Council Chamber, Rm. 340, 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles. Hearing notice: https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/24-0339_misc_CEQA_11-08-24.pdf.
8.1.3. The President provided an update on the CD 11 breakfast meeting with community leaders which took place on 10/31/24. The President, Chair Emeritus, Chris Spitz (At-large rep) and Sharon Kilbride (Area Seven rep) attended a breakfast meeting with community leaders and City officials at the CD 11 office in Westchester. They were also personally introduced to and spoke with the exceptional new LAPD Chief of Police, Jim McDonnell.
8.1.4. The President also spoke about plans for a possible Fire Safety Fair in the Palisades. She and the Chair Emeritus recently met with MySafe:LA representatives, who propose to schedule a Fire Safety Fair in Pacific Palisades, to take place sometime in late February 2025. We will work with them on locating a possible venue for the Fair, which may be at the Recreation Center – more details to come when the event details have been confirmed.
8.2. From Officers/Chair Emeritus – None.
8.3. From At-Large and Area Representatives.
8.3.1. Lorie Cudzil (Area 6 Representative) thanked Palisades PRIDE and John Padden of PRIDE for responding to the neighborhood and working to landscape a barren median on Earlham and Lombard in Area 6. The median is now beautiful. John explained that this was an exceptional collaboration with the neighboring community, that PRIDE doesn’t have the resources to re-landscape every median in the Palisades and this shouldn’t be seen as setting a precedent, but they were very pleased to be able to assist neighbors in this instance.
8.3.2. Lee Anne Sanderson (Area 4 1st Alternate) reported that the Asilomar project at long last is near completion. The signage has been removed, the street looks great and the neighbors are very pleased. She said that Michael Amster would be able to report on a plan to deal with the drains in the slope along the bluff. Additionally, Daphne Gronich (Area 4 2nd Alternate) reported on the theft of catalytic converters from Prius vehicles in the area. A team of individuals were caught on video taking a converter from one car and then later (the same individuals) were seen trying to remove a converter from another car in the area (but were interrupted and weren’t able to remove it). This has been shared with SLO Espin. The whole community is concerned and watching.
8.3.3. Diana Daniele (Area 2 1st Alternate) asked if anyone knew what caused the recent wildfire in the Highlands. The President stated that firefighters had told her that there is no indication that the fire was caused by a homeless person, although the exact cause seems to be undetermined. Diana also asked about the status of a possible effort to eliminate the VHFHSZ designation. The President responded that this would be a topic for discussion at another time; the At-large Representative also explained that there was legislation introduced in this regard that did not pass in the 2024 session; it’s not an issue now, but we will monitor in the future to see if the bill returns to the legislature in 2025.
8.3.4. JoAnna Rodriguez (Area 1 Representative) reported on a long unfinished construction project on Revello in the Castellammare neighborhood, which was referred to CD 11 for help. CD 11 staff In turn has referred the matter to the Grading Division of LADBS. They are awaiting a response as to what can be done.
8.3.5. Julia Nilsen (Area 3 Representative) also reported on a construction project that has been unfinished for over two years, at 1606 Pequeño. Michael Amster has referred this complaint to LADBS and asked them to study the matter.
8.3.6. Sharon Kilbride (Area 7 Representative) was asked by the President to report on a matter not in Area 7, but in Area 1, that she is familiar with. Sharon explained some of the history of an abandoned property at 17909 Porto Marina, which was taken over by the City but where squatters had been living. The property was boarded up and then a fence was erected, but volunteers from the Task Force on Homelessness at one point observed a person with a truck saying that he was doing improvements and taking down the fence. Neighbors have been asked to call 911 if this person is observed again at the site. SLO Espin is aware, as is Michael Amster, who can speak more about the details. The property is a fire hazard.
8.4. From Organizational Representatives
8.4.1. James Alexakis (Temescal Canyon Association/TCA). TCA will hold a virtual annual meeting on December 10, 2024. Speakers will include Michael Amster and representatives from Will Rogers State Park and the California State Parks Department to speak about fire safety. Email James to obtain the Zoom link.
8.4.2. Valeria Serna (Resilient Palisades/RP). RP is holding a three-part series online on Native Plant Landscaping. The first two in the series have already taken place, but the third, on Native Plants and Winter Gardening, is scheduled for November 21st. She indicated she would provide a link in the chat.
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. The President read the following statement from SLO Espin, who was unable to attend the meeting:
“We conducted a task force on Friday Nov 8th for the ongoing juvenile nuisance issue of kids recklessly riding the electric motorcycles through the neighborhood. We used our undercover Vice and Narcotics Officers to position themselves in the key areas where we have seen the kids riding the electric motorcycles. We had to wait till the bikes were stationary and not moving as the kids would take off and run from us. We were able to issue 4 citations to kids riding regular electric bikes for various traffic violations and impound one of the electric motorcycles.
“Also, just an update from the recent kids shooting off fireworks on the weekend of Friday Nov 1st. I was able to Identify the individual with the help of Palisades High school. A report was made due to the fact we were able to identify the individual. Detectives are reviewing the video and report information and conducting the necessary follow-ups for enforcement. It is something we are taking very seriously.”
8.5.2. Michael Amster, Palisades & Brentwood Field Deputy, CD11 (Councilwoman Traci Park) — Not present.
8.5.3. Marian Ensley, West Area Field Deputy, Mayor Karen Bass. Ms. Ensley reported on several matters: There is a newly revamped community engagement newsletter, from the Mayor’s office of Community Engagement; email Ms. Ensley to be added to her email list to receive a copy (marian.ensley@lacity.org). She reported that the new Chief of Police, Jim McDonnell, was sworn in this morning as the 59th Chief of LAPD. January 11, 2025, is the target date for citywide cleanups in every district of the city; the Mayor’s office is working on locations; email Ms. Ensley if you have suggestions or would like to participate. The Homeless Count for 2025 will take place from Jan. 21-23, 2025; a registration link is on the LAHSA website, count.lahsa.org. The Mayor recently brought together several agencies and entities for a successful “Innovative Housing Construction Expo.” Ms. Ensley looks forward to attending the PPCC Awards Gala on December 12.
8.5.4. Zac Gaidzik – Not present.
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. Allison Holdorf (Education). LAUSD District 4 is holding a school Beautification Day event at Paul Revere Charter High School on November 16, 2024, from 11am – 2pm. Donations and volunteers are welcome. She will speak offline with David Card (PFC) about the possibility of planting trees on campus as part of the event.
8.6.2. Ella Nozar (Youth). She is a member of a youth organization at the Palisades Branch Library called “Teens Leading Change/TLC.” As a service project, TLC will hold a special event for seniors on “Holiday Picture Frame Decorating,” on Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 4-6pm at the Library. All are welcome.
9. Reports from PPCC Committees.
9.1. Awards Selection Committee (Quentin Fleming, Chair). The Committee Chair announced the 2024 PPCC Awards Honorees: Citizen of the Year, Cindi Young; Golden Sparkplugs, Leslie Campbell and Carlos Rodriguez; and Pride of the Palisades, Thomas Hathaway. He then related the accomplishments of each Honoree as described in the following Award Honorees Bios summary:
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PPCC-Awards-Honorees-2024.pdf.
The President thanked the Committee and congratulated all the Honorees.
9.2. Awards Event Committee (Co-Chairs Kohl, Holden-Garland, Spitz). Awards Gala event update. The President reiterated that the event will be held at Casa Nostra Ristorante in the Highlands on December 12th. Chris Spitz provided more details and indicated that invitations with information about how to RSVP will be distributed soon, including in PPPC emails and in social media. The President encouraged everyone who wishes to attend to RSVP soon, as seating will be limited.
10. Old Business – None.
11. New Business – None.
12. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.