MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 13th 2025
Voting Members in Attendance: Sue Kohl, Quentin Fleming, Jenny Li, Beth Holden-Garland (partial attendance), Maryam Zar (partial attendance), Chris Spitz, JoAnna Rodriguez, Diana Daniele, Robert Trinkeller, Karen Ridgley, Allison Holdorff, Lorie Cudzil, Sharon Kilbride, Andrew Wolfberg, Rick McGeagh, Valeria Serna, David Card, Richard Blumenberg, Daphne Gronich, Kaye Steinsapir, Courtney Macker, Donna Vaccarino
Non-voting Members and Advisors: Cindi Young, David Schwarz, Rich Wilken, Lee Anne Sanderson, Michael Edlen, Bonnie Burgess, James Alexakis, Fay Vahdani, Alley Michaelson, Jim Kirtley, Jessica Rogers, Ella Nozar, Rob Weber
1. Call to Order and Reading of Community Council’s Mission. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Lee Anne Sanderson 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 23, 2025, were approved as distributed.
5. Consideration of Agenda & Upcoming Meetings. December 11, 2025 (PPCC Awards Gala/Holiday Dinner); January 8, 2026 (presentation by Habitat for Humanity). Note: PPCC holds one meeting only during the months of November and December; the December meeting is the holiday Awards event.
6. Treasurer’s Report. In the Treasurer reported that our balances are as follows:
Balance in US Bank: $ 76,902.40
Balance in Schwab: $345,313.91
We have started paying expenses for the banquet, with a deposit to Spruzzo and an AV payment of $700. We have submitted the fiscal year-end tax information to PPCC’s accountant, and are waiting to receive documents. We have also applied for another FireAid grant for $300,000, but have not yet heard back.
7. General Public Comment – None.
8. Reports, Announcements and Concerns.
8.1. From the Chair/Presiding Officer.
8.1.1. Special PPCC 2025 Commendations, for notable contributions to the community:
Youth Commendations: William Chapin; Julia and Leo Wolfberg.
News Commendation: Sarah Shmerling, Editor, Palisadian Post.
The President announced each of the commendations, described their accomplishments, presented certificates of commendation and congratulated William, Julia, Leo and Sarah for their service to the community [see p. 2, https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PPCC-2025-Awards-Info.pdf].
8.1.2. The President announced the renaming of the PPCC Undergrounding Committee to the PPCC Infrastructure Committee; see webpage and membership:
https://pacpalicc.org/index.php/ppcc-undergrounding-committee/.
8.1.3. The President announced the appointment of an Alternate PPCC rep to the WRAC Mobility & Transportation Committee (MTC): Alan Goldsmith (past PPCC Board member).
8.1.4. The President gave a brief update on the Special PPCC Meeting re Gladstones: October 30, 2025. [See meeting recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Ftx6TBzWU.]
8.1.5. The President gave a brief update on the motion in City Council for Rebuild Permit fee waivers, and referenced a letter recently sent by community leaders to City officials:
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/City-Council-Permit-Fee-Waiver-Ltr10-26-25.pdf.
8.1.6. The President updated the Board on the Temescal Canyon Dog Park meeting hosted by CD 11 which took place on November 6, 2025.
8.1.7. The President reminded everyone of the Temescal Canyon Mural Bubble Bath to take place on November 15-16, 2025 [https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA4AE2FA3F94-59599649-mural#/].
8.1.8. The President noted event postponements due to expected rain this coming weekend: Music in the Park (cancelled this weekend), Soil Testing (cancelled this weekend), Resilient Palisades event and the PaliBu Recovery Expo (both rescheduled for Nov. 23).
8.1.9. The President announced two upcoming holiday events at the Caruso Palisades Village: the Tree Lighting on December 6, 2025, and Menorah Lighting on December 14, 2025.
[Note: Item 11.2 called prior to Item 8.2 below.]
8.2. From Officers/Chair Emeritus – None.
- 3. From At-Large and Area Representatives.
8.3.1. Diana Daniele (Area Two 2nd Alternate) reported on trash and dangerous debris deposited along Palisades Dr.
8.3.2. Sharon Kilbride (Area Seven Rep) announced the closing of Rustic Canyon Park from December 13 through 16, 2025.
8.3.4. Lorie Cudzil (Area Six Rep) spoke about two events at the American Legion.
8.3.5. Robert Trinkeller (Area Three 1st Alternate) reported that the annual MKPOA block party will take place on December 6 from 11am-2pm. Bonnie Burgess (Area Three 2nd Alternate) also reported on thefts taking place at construction sites, including tools stolen; reports should be filed with LAPD.
8.3.6. Allison Holdorff (Area Five 1st Alternate) explained that Team Palisades is hosting an event at West Edge — a three-day design fair at Barker Hanger, Santa Monica Airport, from November 20-22, 2025.
8.4. From Organizational Representatives.
8.4.1. Fay Vahdani (PaliBu Chamber) announced the postponement of the Chamber’s Recovery Expo to Saturday, November 23, 2025, in the Village.
8.4.2. Jim Kirtley (Lowe Family YMCA) noted that the Y’s Thanksgiving Dinner event is nearly sold out. He also announced that the Christmas Tree Lot will open on November 28, 2025, and the Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho will also be coming to Simon Meadow in December.
8.4.3. Dave Card (PFC) announced that PFC members have been planting street trees in Santa Monica Canyon and gave a brief update on the status of the pump station at Temescal Canyon Rd. and PCH.
8.4.4. James Alexakis (TCA) reported that TCA’s annual meeting will take place in early December (date TBA); he briefly updated the Board on the status of trails in Santa Inez Canyon and other areas.
8.4.5. Jessica Rogers (PPRA Alternate) gave an update on Pali LTRG activities, with a recovery pop-up to take place on November 22, 2025.
8.4.6. Valeria Serna (Resilient Palisades) noted that the event planned for this weekend will be postponed; the organization is distributing a petition for signatures opposing artificial turf at the Palisades Recreation Center playing fields.
8.4.7. Kaye Steinsapir (Marquez Elementary) noted that the Molly Steinsapir Foundation is sponsoring a “House to Home” project, making furniture available to fire victims at factory direct prices.
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 – not present.
8.5.2. Arus Grigoryan, Palisades Field Deputy, CD 11 (Councilwoman Traci Park) reported on several matters:
- Permits are needed to cut any trees in the public right of way.
- A new staging site has been established along Palisades Dr. to clear debris from storm drains.
- The dog park meeting hosted by CD 11 can be seen on the Councilwoman’s YouTube channel
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB8ak_DsT3E]. - Emergency road repairs on Posetano Rd. are taking place.
- An LADWP regulator project on Via de la Paz and Sunset is taking place.
- Jim Cragg will be honored as Veteran of the Year at City Hall tomorrow at 10am.
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, but asked the President to announce an emergency preparedness event sponsored by the Supervisor taking place on Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 9am-2pm at the Skirball Museum.
8.5.5. Sean Regan, District Representative, Congressman Brad Sherman – not present.
8.5.6. Sophia Liebman, Field Representative, SD 24 (Sen. Ben Allen) reported that the Senator was in the Palisades last week and that she was happy to answer questions about state legislation (there were none).
8.5.7. Anthony Avila, Field Representative, AD 42 (Asm. Jacqui Irwin) – not present.
8.6. From PPCC Advisors and Liaisons – None.
9. Reports from PPCC Committees.
9.1. Grants Committee (Quentin Fleming, Chair).
1) Grants Committee Statement to the Community:
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/PPCC-Grants-Cmtee-Statement.pdf
2) Conflict of Interest Rules regarding Grants:
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Conflict-of-Interest-Rules-Grants.pdf
3) Committee recommendations for PPCC grants; motion for Board approval of the following grants from donations that PPCC has received, to: (a) Pacific Palisades Historical Society (PPHS); (b) Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club (PPWC); (c) Palisades Elementary Charter School (PECS); (d) Temescal Canyon Mural Project (TCMP); (e) possible additional grant to be recommended by the Committee (see below). Committee Reports:
(a) PPHS: $ 2,100 https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Grant-Recommend-PPHS.1.pdf
(b) PPWC: $10,000 https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Grant-Recommend.PPWC_.pdf
(c) PECS: $10,000 https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Grant-Recommend.PaliElem.pdf
(d) TCMP: $ 5,000 https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Grant-Recommend-Tem-Mural1.pdf
(e) Possible additional grant recommendation; report to be distributed in advance of meeting. Chair Fleming explained that the Committee is making an additional recommendation of a $10,000 grant to the Lowe Family YMCA (LFYMCA); the following report was distributed in advance to the Board: https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Grant-Recommend-YMCA.pdf.
Chair Fleming briefly introduced the above motions and asked all voting members with conflicts of interest related to the recommended grants to announce any conflicts and recuse themselves, pursuant to the Committee’s Conflict of Interest Rules regarding Grants. The following voting members identified themselves as having a conflict of interest and recused themselves accordingly: Lowe Family YMCA: Maryam Zar and Jim Kirtley (Kirtley recused out of an abundance of caution, although not the voting member at this meeting). There were no other recusals.
Chair Fleming then asked for discussion on any of the recommended grants. As to (a), the proposed grant to PPHS, Donna Vaccarino (PPHS President) spoke of the organization’s role in commemorating the one-year anniversary of the fire and asked that the grant proposal be tabled; as a result, the Committee and Board agreed by consensus to table the proposed grant to PPHS. As to (b), the proposed grant to PPWC, Rob Weber (PPCC legal advisor) and others noted that they had seen postings and photos on social media showing that the staircase has been rebuilt; as a result, the Committee and Board agreed by consensus to table the proposed grant to PPWC.
After a further opportunity for discussion on the remaining recommended grants, a vote was called on each recommendation. Result: As to all grants described above (PECS (c), TCMP (d) and LFYMCA (e)), with each grant taken in turn: All grants were approved unanimously.
9.2. Awards Selection Committee (Daphne Gronich, Chair; members Richard Blumenberg, Karen Ridgley, Chris Spitz, Cindi Young; Gronich, Spitz and Young are past Citizens of the Year).
Awards announcements / summary of Honorees’ accomplishments:
Citizen of the Year: Jim Cragg.
Golden Sparkplugs: Jessica Rogers, Maryam Zar.
Pride of the Palisades: Chuck Hart, Team Palisades.
Awesome Advocates:* Sue Pascoe, Spencer Pratt (*special new award in this extraordinary year).
Chair Gronich reported on the accomplishments of Cragg, Rogers and Zar and congratulated each of the Honorees. The President reported on the accomplishments of Hart, Team Palisades, Pascoe and Pratt and congratulated each of the Honorees.
[See their accomplishments at https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PPCC-2025-Awards-Info.pdf].
9.3. Awards Event Committee (Lorie Cudzil, Chair). Awards event update. Chair Cudzil reported that the Event Committee is working hard on preparations for the event, to be held at Spruzzo Restaurant in the Highlands Plaza on December 11th. The invitation and more details will be coming tomorrow morning via Mailchimp and posted on the PPCC website. Seating is limited and we expect to sell out soon, so tickets should be purchased as soon as possible.
9.3. Rebuild Committee (David Schwarz, Chair). NORC-PPCC community survey update. Chair Schwarz provided a brief preview of the survey results and advised that NORC expects to deliver the first report on the results in early December. A second survey and report will follow in about 3-6 months.
9.4. Undergrounding [now Infrastructure] Committee (Reza Akef, Chair). Committee update. Chair Akef explained that the Committee has been working to obtain information from LADWP officials about important infrastructure and undergrounding matters. They expect to have information and to report back to the Board in January. He noted that Justin Skagg is now an advisor (non-voting) to the Committee.
10. Old Business – None.
11. New Business.
11.1. Guest Speaker Jen Goodlin: Rebuild Paradise Foundation Executive Director. Ms. Goodlin gave a presentation on the ongoing recovery of the Paradise community in the aftermath of the massive Camp Fire in 2018. She emphasized the watchwords for high fire hazard areas: “We cannot change the hazard, but we can reduce the risk.” Of particular interest to many community members: how homeowners in the Paradise community are incorporating Zone 0 landscaping in response to insurance company requirements. [See her presentation at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agusIdze0pw.]
11.2. WRAC-recommended Motion: Support Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project (STCP) station on-campus at UCLA Gateway Plaza (sponsored in PPCC by Chris Spitz and Quentin Fleming). See motion text and background information attached below. Chris Spitz introduced the motion, noting that the text was a set forth in the Agenda attachment to Item 11.2, and that a second was not necessary because the motion was made by two voting members. She explained the motion and the background. Steve Sann, President of Westwood Community Council (WCC, a fellow member council of WRAC), was also present and answered questions. After discussion, a vote was called. Result: Unanimous in favor of the motion.
12. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
ATTACHMENT – Item 11.2:
Motion Text:
“Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC), a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC), supports the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project (STCP), including an on-campus UCLA Station located at UCLA Gateway Plaza, near the center of campus, as described in the STCP Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). We do not support changing the location of the UCLA Station to the intersection of Gayley Avenue and Strathmore Drive, at the far west end of campus, or to any other location on the UCLA campus that has not been studied and analyzed by Metro in accordance with CEQA. If Metro considers any change to the location of the UCLA Station other than at UCLA Gateway Plaza, Metro must: 1) prepare an amendment to the DEIR; and 2) in conformance with CEQA conduct outreach to the community for additional public comment on the environmental impacts of this proposed change in location.”
Background Information:
WRAC Motion webpage:
Background Document in WRAC:
https://westsidecouncils.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Background-WRAC-Motion-STCP-UCLA-.pdf
UCLA DEIR Response Letter:
https://westsidecouncils.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ucla_formal_response_letter_stc_deir.pdf
Prior PPCC “Key Points” memo re the STCP DEIR:
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Key-Points-re-Item-11.1R-1.pdf
PPCC DEIR Response Letter:
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/PPCC-Comment-on-STCP-DEIR1.pdf
WRAC DEIR Response Letter:
https://westsidecouncils.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/WRAC-Comment-Letter-STCP-DEIR.pdf