MINUTES FROM JUNE 12th 2025
Voting Members in Attendance: Sue Kohl, Quentin Fleming, Jenny Li, Chris Spitz, JoAnna Rodriguez, Steve Cron, Robert Trinkkeller, Kimberly Bloom, Karen Ridgley, Lorie Cudzil, Sharon Kilbride, Andrew Wolfberg, John Padden, Courtney Macker, Dave Card, James Alexakis, Richard Blumenberg, Hagop Tchakerian, Kaye Steinsapir, Janet Anderson, Donna Vaccarino
Non-voting Members and Advisors: Allison Holdorff Polhill, Carole White, Joanna Spak, Michael Edlen, Daphne Gronich,, Kevin Niles, Valeria Serna, Andy Frew, Rob Weber, Lou Kamer
1. Call to Order and Reading of Community Council’s Mission. The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. Sharon Kilbride 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 May 22, 2025, were approved as distributed.
5. Consideration of Agenda & Upcoming Meetings. The agenda was as distributed. June 26, 2025 (LADWP presentation; other topics to be announced). July 10, 2025 (topics to be announced).
6. Treasurer’s Report. The Treasurer reported that the Council’s bank balance is $720,821.30, with a few minor donations and expenses incurred of $49,275 (first installment payment to NORC).
[Note: Item 11.2 was called after Item 6 on the agenda.]
7. General Public Comment:
7.1. Sue Pascoe (resident and CTN editor) stated that a man who lived In the Mt. Holyoke bluff area recently committed suicide. She feels that many residents/fire survivors are suffering and in need of direct donations.
7.2. Residents David and Nicole Howard asked about the Mayor’s hiring of a new consulting firm (ACON) for the rebuild, and wanted more information about this. Lee Ann Daly (resident) noted that Team Palisades is having a meeting the next day at 2:30pm with ACON.
8. Reports, Announcements and Concerns.
8.1. From the Chair/Presiding Officer.
8.1.1. Summer 2025 PPCC meeting dates: July 10, 2025; August 14, 2025 (the Board meets once a month only in July and August; Bylaws, Art. IX.2). The President noted the summer meeting dates.
8.1.2. Vacant PPCC Area Three 2nd Alternate position. Notice and deadline to apply, July 6, 2025: https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PPCC-Area-3-Alt.-App.-Notice-2025.pdf. The President invited eligible residents to apply for this position by the July 6th deadline.
8.1.3. Appointment of Three Chairs Committee (to review applications and make nomination to the Board for the Area Three 2nd Alternate position (Bylaws, Art. VIII.1.D). The President announced the following members of the Committee (all former PPCC Chairs/Presidents): Maryam Zar, Chair, Chris Spitz and David Card.
8.1.4. Donations or grants by PPCC – Discussion/Board opinion/decision sought as to procedure for review and decisions on the award of proposed PPCC donations/grants:
(a) Should the Executive Committee or another PPCC committee be formed for this purpose? The President suggested that the Executive Committee should not be tasked with this role and a separate committee should be formed. There were no objections to the President forming a “grants committee” for this purpose.
(b) Should that committee be authorized to set the criteria for review/approval of proposals (keeping in mind the PPCC Mission, per Art.II.1 of the bylaws: “to protect and improve the quality of life in the Pacific Palisades”)? The President suggested that the grants committee should set the criteria for review/possible approval of proposals. There were no objections to the President’s suggestion.
(c) What should be the scope of the committee’s decision-making authority? Should it be:
(i) authorized to make all final decisions on denial and/or approval of proposed donations/grants? The President suggested that the grants committee should not be authorized to make final decisions on approval; final decisions on approval should be made by the Board. There were no objections to the President’s suggestion.
(ii) authorized to deny proposed donations/grants at its discretion, but required to bring to the Board all those that it recommends for approval? The President suggested that this option was most appropriate; the grants committee should be authorized to deny proposed donations/grants at its discretion, but to make recommendations for approval to the Board, which should be the sole decider on approval of all such proposed donations/grants. There were no objections to the President’s suggestion.
(iii) required to bring all recommendations for denial or approval to the Board? The President suggested that she strongly opposed this option; denial of proposed grants/donations should be made by the grants committee and not be made public; recommendations for approval only should be brought to the Board for public discussion. There were no objections to the President’s suggestion.
PPCC’s legal advisor Rob Weber commented that since PPCC’s bylaws do not address the issue of PPCC making grants or donations, a formal Board vote on the rules regarding proposed grants/donations from PPCC should be taken at an upcoming meeting. He noted that decisions on approval should be based on the purpose of the original donation to PPCC, as expressed by the Riviera Foundation. Chris Spitz (At-large Representative) noted that the approval must also be based on PPCC’s Mission as expressed in the bylaws.
8.1.5. Update: Luncheon for Seniors, June 5th at Rustic Canyon Recreation Center. The President invited Sharon Kilbride (Area Seven Representative) to report on the luncheon. Kilbride reported that the event was well-attended and a great success. Sam Lagana served as M.C. and Jimmy Dunne read a poem for the occasion. Arus Grigoryan (CD 11 Palisades Deputy) was present and worked hard throughout the event; the luncheon was much appreciated by everyone who attended.
8.1.6. The President reminded everyone currently living outside of the Palisades in temporary residences to make certain that their voter registration for next year’s election remains their Pacific Palisades address; visit www.lavote.gov/recovery to ensure that your Palisades address is registered for voting purposes.
8.1.7. The President reminded everyone of the Home Hardening Fair at St. Martin of Tours in Brentwood on Saturday, June 14, from 10am – 12pm.
8.1.8. The President gave a 4th of July reminder: PPCC will participate in the Parade that will take place on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. All of PPCC’s 2024 Honorees will ride in the Parade: Cindi Young, Citizen of the Year; Thomas Hathaway, Pride of the Palisades; and Leslie Campbell and Carlos Rodriguez, Golden Sparkplugs. She invited everyone to attend.
8.2. From Officers/Chair Emeritus – None.
8.3. From At-Large and Area Representatives.
8.3.1. Sharon Kilbride (Area Seven Representative) noted the concerns of Santa Monica Canyon residents that LAPD is not carefully checking passes at checkpoints, and some checkpoints are located where not needed.
8.3.2. Lorie Cudzil (Area Six Representative) reported that residents are seeing very heavy traffic on Chautauqua at certain times; they would like the timing of the traffic lights at PCH and Sunset to be readjusted. Lou Kamer (Transportation Advisor) responded that both agencies involved with that intersection (Caltrans and LADOT) are working on getting the timing readjusted.
8.3.3. Kimberly Bloom (Area Five Representative) also reported on residents’ concern about checkpoints and how long they will be in place. She noted that another concern involves mental health and the difficult emotions that continue to be experienced by residents/fire survivors; there are groups that meet regularly in certain areas such as in the Marina, where many residents meet informally at 8am on Mondays at a Marina restaurant for discussion and for support.
8.4. From Organizational Representatives.
8.4.1. Dave Card (Palisades Forestry Committee/PFC) announced that the PFC will also participate in the Santa Monica Parade on July 4th. The PFC recently worked with students of Seven Arrows Elementary School to plant about a dozen trees in Rustic Canyon.
8.4.2. Daphne Gronich (Area Four 2nd Alternate, reporting on behalf of PAPA), provided additional information about the 4th of July events (5K Run/Walk in Venice, Parade in Santa Monica, evening Celebration sponsored by PAPA at the Paul Revere Middle School athletic field). She explained that the evening event is for residents only and will feature food trucks, entertainment, music and a special drone show. More information about how residents may obtain free tickets will be coming soon.
8.5. From Government Offices / Representatives (as available). Contact information: https://pacpalicc.org/index.php/government-contacts/.
8.5.1. Brian Espin, LAPD Senior Lead Officer (SLO), Pacific Palisades, reported that there were a couple of burglaries on Chautauqua last week. One involved the perpetrator using a “fake” pass from previous work for a construction company. The checkpoints are still holding; he has passed along information to the LAPD Command Post that the officers stationed at the checkpoints need to do a better job of checking passes.
8.5.2. Arus Grigoryan, Palisades Field Deputy, CD 11 (Councilwoman Traci Park), reported on numerous matters. There will be a “Soul Cycling” event (not sponsored by CD 11) on June 14th, with participants bicycling from Venice to Station 69 in the Palisades. BOE representatives will attend the next PPCC meeting to update us on the status of the “pedestrian trail” from the mouth of Potrero Canyon to Temescal Canyon Rd. CD 11 will host an upcoming townhall with LADWP (date TBA). The City will be repairing the asphalt as well as sidewalks and medians along Sunset Blvd. and Temescal Canyon Rd., where LA Sanitation will also inspect and repair catch basins.
8.5.3. Marian Ensley, West Area Representative, Mayor Karen Bass – not present.
8.5.4. Zac Gaidzik, Coastal & Westside Field Deputy, County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath – not present.
8.5.5. Sean Regan, District Representative, Congressman Brad Sherman – not present.
8.5.6. Samantha Gallegos, Field Representative, SD 24 (Sen. Ben Allen) – not present.
8.5.7. Anthony Avila, Field Representative, AD 42 (Asm. Jacqui Irwin) – not present.
8.6. From PPCC Advisors and Liaisons.
8.6.1. Lou Kamer (Transportation Advisor) noted that he is organizing the Palisades “delegation”/ participants in the 4th of July Parade in Santa Monica. He also reminded everyone of the 5K Run/Walk in Venice and the Celebration evening in the evening at Paul Revere Middle School.
8.6.3. Allison Holdorff Polhill (Education Advisor; PPCC Area Five 1st Alternate; and Senior Advisor to LAUSD member Nick Melvoin) reported that the LAUSD Bond Committee has approved a $603M bond for the rebuild of the three LAUSD schools in the Palisades burn area: the high school and the two elementary schools (Marquez Elementary and Palisades Elementary).
9. Reports from PPCC Committees.
9.1. Rebuild Committee (David Schwarz, Chair). Update on status of NORC focus groups. Quentin Fleming (Vice-President) reported that about 300 persons responded to the invitation to express interest in joining one of the NORC focus groups. NORC will be randomly selecting participants for the groups which will represent a cross-section of Palisades residents. The focus groups will meet during the week of June 23nd and will inform the questions for the NORC community survey to come at a later date, to be determined).
9.2. Land Use Committee (LUC/Chris Spitz, Chair). LUC update and recommendation for Board action; proposed motion: Request Funding Mechanisms for Bills that Mandate Housing Density and/or Streamlining. See attached motion text and background, below. LUC Chair Chris Spitz explained the motion, which did not require a second as it was made by a committee of more than one voting member. Following discussion, a vote was taken. Result: the motion passed unanimously.
10. Old Business – None.
11. New Business.
11.1. Election of PPCC Officers for the 2025-26 term (beginning July 1, 2025; Bylaws, Art. VII.4). Since all candidates for officer positions were uncontested, per motion by Chris Spitz the PPCC officers were elected by enthusiastic acclamation of the Board (Sue Kohl, President; Quentin Fleming, Vice-President; Jenny Li, Treasurer; Beth Holden-Garland, Secretary).
11.2. FireAid Grants Update (FireAid team members Chris Wallace and Lisa Cleri Reale). See: https://www.fireaidla.org/grants. [Note: This Item was called after Item 6 on the agenda; the President announced that due to time constraints this would be a brief presentation and only a few Board members would be called on for questions.]
The President welcomed Mr. Wallace of the LA Clippers and Ms. Reale, who is heading up the FireAid team that is handling donations. They provided a great deal of information about the process and about the FireAid donations to date, explaining how they have been working positively with various Palisades organizations. Ms. Reale thanked Chris Spitz for introducing her to many Pacific Palisades nonprofits with whom she has been able to have direct discussions regarding the application process. They welcomed Palisades nonprofits to apply for FireAid grants in the third round this summer/early fall. Interested persons may contact info@pacpalicc.org for Ms. Reale’s email address (which she also placed in the Chat); she will respond to questions submitted to her via email. She and Mr. Wallace also answered questions at the meeting from a few Board members. The President thanked them for attending and presenting information about FireAid to the Board.
11.3. WRAC-recommended motion (request to postpone the Caltrans project to repave the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass); proposed in PPCC by the Executive Committee. See attached motion text and background, below. Chris Spitz (WRAC Vice-Chair and PPCC E.C. member) explained the motion, which did not require a second as it was made by a committee of more than one voting member. Following discussion, a vote was taken. Result: the motion passed unanimously.
12. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 7:39 p.m.
ATTACHMENT – Item 9.2:
LUC Motion Proposed Text:
“The State of California has enacted a series of housing-related bills aimed at increasing residential density
in cities and municipalities statewide, including SB 9, SB 10, and others. While the stated intent of these bills is to address the statewide housing crisis, implementation of these measures often places significant burdens on local government without providing the necessary infrastructure, services, or fiscal support. These mandates frequently override local planning authority, diminish the ability of cities to tailor land use to their unique needs and capacities, and strain existing infrastructure and funding resources.
“Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) therefore:
“1) requests that our elected state officials take steps to initiate a pause on all enacted legislation that provides for statewide housing density and/or streamlining mandates, unless and until clear funding mechanisms are identified and enacted to accompany the legislation, in order to support the resulting impact on infrastructure, public safety, and municipal services; and
“2) opposes any pending and future legislation that proposes statewide housing density and/or streamlining mandates, unless clear funding mechanisms are identified to accompany any such bills, in order to support the resulting impact on infrastructure, public safety, and municipal services.
“The imposition of increased density — without accompanying state funding or resource allocation — exacerbates existing challenges, particularly in areas vulnerable to wildfire, evacuation constraints, and other environmental or geographic hazards, such as the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, Flood Zones or other environmentally sensitive locations as determined by local governments throughout the state.”
Background:
Explained in body of motion; also see letter from City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, opposing SB 79 (Wiener) on similar grounds; SB 79 is also opposed by PPCC, the League of California Cities and others) https://westsidecouncils.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Microsoft-Word-05.23.2025-SB-79-Opposition-Letter-.docx.pdf.
From the C.A.’s letter: “. . . the bill’s provisions impermissibly impose billions of dollars of costs on Los Angeles and other local jurisdictions, undermine local governance, circumvent local decision-making processes, and impose unintended burdens on communities.”
ATTACHMENT – Item 11.3:
Proposed WRAC-Motion Text:
“Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC), a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC), urgently requests that Caltrans delay the I-405 Pavement Rehabilitation Project (https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-7/district-7-projects/d7-405-repave-project) until after:
“1) All lanes of Pacific Coast Highway are reopened, and “2) All Palisades fire debris removal is complete.”
PPCC believes that this delay is reasonable, given that the project is expected to take four years, and we ask that Caltrans accommodate this important request.
“PPCC further requests that Councilmembers representing WRAC member councils (Park, Yaroslavsky, Hutt and/or Raman) bring a resolution in Council to effectuate this request on behalf of the City.”
Background:
WRAC motion webpage: https://westsidecouncils.com/motion/postpone-caltrans-repaving-project-on-the-405/
Note: Since this motion was considered by the WRAC board, Caltrans has advised community leaders that the repaving project will begin sometime in June (with certain 405 lane closures). Although PCH has now reopened to the public, the area is still characterized by CD 11 as a “construction zone,” with ongoing debris removal; some southbound lanes of PCH are also closed at various times.