{"id":13054,"date":"2025-04-13T01:03:06","date_gmt":"2025-04-13T01:03:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/?page_id=13054"},"modified":"2025-05-26T14:10:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T14:10:24","slug":"ppcc-minutes-25-04-10","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/index.php\/ppcc-minutes-25-04-10\/","title":{"rendered":"PPCC Minutes — 2025 \/ 04 \/ 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

Return to 2025 Minutes<\/a><\/p>\n

MINUTES FROM APRIL 10th 2025<\/h5>\n

Voting Members in Attendance:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Sue Kohl, Quentin Fleming, Jenny Li, Beth Holden-Garland, Maryam Zar, Chris Spitz, Cindi Young (arrived late)\/Joanna Spak (until Cindi Young\u2019s arrival), Carol White, Julia Nilsen, Kimberly Bloom, \u00a0Karen Ridgley, Lorie Cudzil, Sharon Kilbride, Andrew Wolfberg, Rick McGeagh, John Padden, Courtney Macker, Eric Dugdale, David Card, Kaye Steinsapir, James Alexakis, Richard Blumenberg, Andy Frew, Hagop Tchakerian<\/p>\n

Non-voting Members and Advisors: <\/strong>\u00a0Joanna Spak (after Cindi Young\u2019s arrival), Michael Edlen, Lee Anne Sanderson, Daphne Gronich, Cindy Simon, Jessica Rogers, Barbara Kohn, Kevin Niles, Bruce Schwartz, Rob Weber<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0 Call to Order and Reading of Community Council\u2019s Mission.\u00a0 <\/strong>The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m.\u00a0 Lorie Cudzil read the Mission Statement.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>Introductions \/ Roll Call.\u00a0 <\/strong>The President introduced the members and called the roll.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 \u00a0Certification of Quorum.\u00a0 <\/strong>The President certified quorum.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0 Approval of Minutes. \u00a0<\/strong>The minutes of March 27, 2025, were approved as distributed.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 \u00a0Consideration of Agenda & Upcoming Meetings.<\/strong>\u00a0 The agenda was as distributed. Upcoming meetings: \u00a0April 24, 2025<\/u><\/em> (topics to be announced);\u00a0 May 8, 2025<\/u><\/em> (Nominating Committee to nominate candidates for officers positions, 2025-26 term; nominations from the Board accepted).<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0 Treasurer\u2019s Report.\u00a0 <\/strong>The Treasurer reported that the Council\u2019s bank balance is $113,931.42, with recent regular donations and a donation of $2,000 from the Sonoma & Santa Rosa Fire District.<\/p>\n

[Note:\u00a0 Councilwoman Traci Park gave remarks at the beginning of the meeting in connection with item 11.1, Rebuilding the Palisades, which was taken following the Treasurer\u2019s Report; see item 11.1 below]<\/em><\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0 General Public Comment<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

7.1.\u00a0 Irv Klein<\/u> (DePauw resident) relayed his opinion that LAFD let us down during the fire and there is no faith that they will ever protect us; he believes we won\u2019t be able to proceed with the rebuild unless this issue is addressed.<\/p>\n

7.2.\u00a0 Diane Bleak (Highlands resident) spoke about CHP vehicles backing into driveways of schools from Las Lomas to Palisades Drive.\u00a0 She also mentioned that street lights are still out in the Highlands area, and asked for help in this part of the community.<\/p>\n

7.3.\u00a0 Barbara Bruderlin<\/u> (President, Malibu-Palisades Chamber of Commerce) announced that 15 businesses are now open in the Palisades Village area and 7 businesses are open in Santa Monica Canyon.\u00a0 Businesses are struggling in the Palisades and Malibu and she encouraged everyone to patronize the businesses that have opened, both brick-and-mortar and online.<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u00a0 Reports, Announcements and Concerns. <\/strong><\/p>\n

8.1.\u00a0\u00a0 From the Chair\/Presiding Officer<\/u>.<\/p>\n

8.1.1.\u00a0 The President announced the members of the Nominating Committee, to nominate candidates for PPCC officers for the 2025-26 term:\u00a0 Lorie Cudzil, Chair; Kimberly Bloom, Steve Cron, JoAnna Rodriguez and Chris Spitz.\u00a0 She described the process required under the Bylaws, including the fact that the Committee will announce its candidates on May 8 and the Board also will have an opportunity to nominate other candidates.<\/p>\n

8.1.2. \u00a0The President reported that she has appointed Jessica Rogers, PPRA Alternate, and Reza Akef, long-time past Area 8 Representative and a Palisades builder, to the PPCC Rebuild Committee.<\/p>\n

8.1.3.\u00a0 \u00a0The President announced again that we have received a donation of $2,000 from the Sonoma & Santa Rosa Fire District.\u00a0 A representative of that organization traveled to the Palisades in order to hand the donation personally to the President.\u00a0 She also related that she has been advised that the Riviera Country Club will donate to PPCC $634,846.50 for fire relief efforts.\u00a0 At future meetings the Board will discuss the best use of the donated funds.<\/p>\n

8.2.\u00a0\u00a0 From Officers\/Chair Emeritus<\/u>.<\/p>\n

8.2.1.\u00a0\u00a0 Maryam Zar (Chair Emeritus) \u2013 See item 11.1 below.<\/em><\/p>\n

8.3.\u00a0 \u00a0From At-Large and Area Representatives<\/u>.<\/p>\n

8.3.1.\u00a0 \u00a0Kimberly Bloom (Area 5) spoke about an important bill introduced by Sen. Allen, AB 495 (the Eliminate the List bill),<\/em> which would require insurers to cover the entire cost of replacing household goods lost in the fire without demanding a detailed inventory from the insured. Ms. Bloom remarked that the more the community can attend the Ad Hoc Committee for LA Recovery meetings, the better to comment and voice concerns. \u00a0She said it is so important for us to show up and be heard. \u00a0Arus Grigoryan (CD11 Deputy) commented that she believes the next meeting may be on April 21st at 10 am and they are awaiting confirmation<\/p>\n

8.3.2.\u00a0\u00a0 Chris Spitz (At-large) gave an update on a response to PPCC\u2019s and WRAC\u2019s letters requesting that government officials conduct an examination into the misuse of funds to address homelessness.\u00a0 The U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles has now organized a \u201cHomelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force.\u201d\u00a0 She has written on behalf of the WRAC Homelessness Committee to thank the DOJ and to request a representative to explain the work of the Task Force an upcoming WRAC committee meeting.<\/p>\n

8.4.\u00a0\u00a0 From Organizational Representatives<\/u> \u2013 None.<\/p>\n

8.5.\u00a0\u00a0 From Government Offices \/ Representatives<\/u> (as available). Contact information for government representatives: https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/index.php\/government-contacts\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8.5.1.\u00a0\u00a0 Brian Espin, LAPD Senior Lead Officer (SLO), Pacific Palisades.\u00a0 SLO Espin mentioned that traffic lights are blinking red to help slow traffic down.\u00a0 CHP is there with a presence trying to keep people moving more slowly in the area.\u00a0\u00a0 SLO Espin will be out of town for our next meeting, but invited attendees to email him with any concerns.<\/p>\n

8.5.2.\u00a0\u00a0 Arus Grigoryan, Palisades Field Deputy, CD11 (Councilwoman Traci Park), updated us on several matters, including the Councilmember’s work with the County Assessor.\u00a0Ian May, a\u00a0representative of that office, was on the call and announced a town hall\/Disaster Resource Fair to take place on Sunday, April 27th,\u00a0regarding\u00a0property tax relief\u00a0for those impacted by the fires;\u00a0 this event will be in Westchester at the LAPD Police Training Facility. Ms. Grigoryan also spoke about the work of the Bureau of Street Lighting to repair\u00a0street lights\u00a0in the Palisades, as well as StreetsLA\/Urban Forestry’s efforts\u00a0to restore and maintain the thousands of trees\u00a0located in our public right-of-way areas.<\/p>\n

8.5.3.\u00a0\u00a0 Marian Ensley, West Area Field Deputy, Mayor Karen Bass \u2013 not present.<\/p>\n

8.5.4.\u00a0\u00a0 Zac Gaidzik, West-Coastal Deputy, Sup. Lindsey Horvath reported on the work of the Supervisor and stressed the upcoming ROE deadline, April 15, 2025.\u00a0 He mentioned her motion (which has now passed in the BOS) to create one Homelessness Dept. in the County that will be overseen by the Supervisors. He also noted that fire debris on Will Rogers State Beach will soon be removed.\u00a0The Supervisors are focusing on homes on PCH and getting the ROE forms completed quickly, so the government can go in and clean up, and they want to prevent further waste being dumped into the ocean.\u00a0 The Supervisors have been in contact with the Army Corps of Engineers and they are hoping to have this stretch of PCH cleaned up by June 1st.\u00a0 Their office is working to help clean piles of debris from public beaches, and there was a delay getting paperwork so they can take the waste quickly to landfills.\u00a0 They are co-hosting a beach cleanup with Heal the Bay on April 19, from 10 am to 12 pm at Santa Monica Pier.<\/p>\n

8.5.5.\u00a0\u00a0 Samantha Gallegos, Field Representative, SD 24 (Sen. Ben Allen) reported on several bills introduced in the legislature by Sen. Allen, including SB 495 (the\u00a0“Eliminate the List” bill).\u00a0 <\/em>She advised that the Senator will be speaking with the Recovery Coalition on April 15.<\/p>\n

8.5.6.\u00a0\u00a0 Anthony Avila, Field Representative, AD 42 (Asm. Jacqui Irwin) \u2013 Ryan Valencia, District Director, spoke in Anthony Avila\u2019s absence.\u00a0 He reported on the Assemblymember’s work in the legislature, and expressed appreciation for PPCC’s vote to support AB 238, providing for\u00a0mortgage payment forbearance\u00a0to those suffering financial hardship due to the fire.\u00a0He also noted that Asm. Irwin will hold a “Sidewalk Session” with constituents\u00a0at the end of May in Malibu (date TBA).<\/p>\n

8.6.\u00a0\u00a0 From PPCC Advisors<\/u> and Liaisons<\/u> \u2014 None.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0 Reports from PPCC Committee. <\/strong>
\n9.1.\u00a0\u00a0 PPCC Land Use Committee<\/u> (LUC;\u00a0 Chris Spitz, Chair)<\/u>.\u00a0 Recommendation and introduction of two motions for action by the PPCC Board:
\n(A) Oppose SB 79 \/ Support CF 25-0002-19. See attachment for motion text & background.<\/em><\/p>\n

The LUC Chair introduced and explained the motion on behalf of the LUC.\u00a0 No second was necessary because the motion was made by a committee of more than one voting member.\u00a0 She noted that this was another housing density\/streamlining bill from Sen. Wiener that fails to contain an unconditional exemption for the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), which PPCC has consistently opposed.\u00a0 Discussion was called but there was none.\u00a0 A vote was then called; result:\u00a0 unanimous<\/u> in favor of the motion.
\n<\/em>(B) Support AB 238 \/ Support CF 25-0002-26. See attachment for motion text & background. <\/em><\/p>\n

The LUC Chair introduced and explained the motion on behalf of the LUC.\u00a0 No second was necessary because the motion was made by a committee of more than one voting member.\u00a0 The LUC Chair noted that this bill was non-controversial and had recently passed in the Assembly unanimously; it is now going to the Senate for a vote.\u00a0 Discussion was called but there was none.\u00a0 A vote was then called; result:\u00a0 unanimous<\/u> in favor of the motion.<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0 \u00a0Old Business<\/strong> \u2013 None.<\/p>\n

11.\u00a0\u00a0 New Business.<\/strong><\/p>\n

11.1.\u00a0 \u00a0Rebuilding the Palisades<\/u> [Note: item taken earlier in the meeting, following the Treasurer\u2019s report].<\/em><\/p>\n

Councilwoman Traci Park attended briefly at the beginning of the meeting and described the work her office is doing to assist with the Palisades\u2019 recovery.\u00a0 She was calling in from Hawaii, on the ground in Lahaina (Maui) with the Governor of Hawaii and with FEMA, to learn and observe how they have dealt with the environmental impact in the aftermath of the fire in Lahaina. \u00a0The Councilwoman has visited Santa Rosa, Paradise and other communities that have gone through the same and learned best practices in going forward; she has introduced over two dozen motions based on what she has learned from other communities that have experienced the same issues in the aftermath of fires.\u00a0 CW Park remarked that it was great seeing so many familiar faces from the Palisades, and that Palisadians are bringing positive energy back to their circumstance after January 7th.<\/p>\n

Maryam Zar then spoke on behalf of the Palisades Recovery Coalition, describing in detail how the Coalition was formed and the work it was doing, including developing an initial plan for recovery.\u00a0 She has been working on the project with a great deal of input and engagement from a brain trust of individuals to discuss Palisades recovery. \u00a0She mentioned that they have had very little support other than their own ingenuity and resiliency, when discussing what the rebuild might look like. The Coalition has discussed how to safely allow emergency trucks the ability to come into the area, and how to make construction flow work together with materials and man-power accessible locally to get the much-needed builders on the ground. \u00a0She is working with CD11 Traci Park\u2019s office in sharing the logistics of their discussions.\u00a0 She emphasized that the plan is a beginning effort dealing with logistics, with more work to come.\u00a0 She noted that the Coalition will be meeting next on April 15 at Canyon Square in Santa Monica Canyon, joined by Senator Ben Allen.\u00a0 See the plan at:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/PRC-Plan-to-PPCC-FIN.pdf<\/a>.\u00a0 The meeting was well-attended and numerous questions were asked and answered.<\/p>\n

Next, a representative of Hagerty Consulting, Harrison Newton, attended and provided a slide show which gave general information about Hagerty\u2019s work in the field of emergency management, although non-specific to the conditions in Pacific Palisades.\u00a0 Tracey Philips of Hagerty was expected, but did not attend.\u00a0 Several attendees expressed disappointment that he did not give specifics about Hagerty\u2019s work as it relates to the Palisades.\u00a0 Several questions were asked but Mr. Newton indicated that he would not be able to answer questions at this time.<\/p>\n

12.\u00a0\u00a0 Adjournment.\u00a0 <\/strong>The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 pm.<\/p>\n

___________________<\/p>\n

ATTACHMENT —<\/strong> Item 9.1(A): <\/strong><\/p>\n

Motion text:
\nSee Motions Recommended by the LUC to the PPCC Board \u2013 Oppose SB 79 \/ Support CF 25-0002-19:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/LUC-motions-for-4-10-25.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Background information:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Background-LUC-Motion-SB-79.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n


\nATTACHMENT \u2013 Item 9.1(B): <\/strong><\/p>\n

Motion text:
\nSee Motions Recommended by the LUC to the PPCC Board \u2013 Support AB 238 \/ Support CF 25-0002-26:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/LUC-motions-for-4-10-25.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Background information:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Background-LUC-Motion-AB-238.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Return to 2025 Minutes<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Return to 2025 Minutes MINUTES FROM APRIL 10th 2025 Voting Members in Attendance:\u00a0\u00a0 Sue Kohl, Quentin Fleming, Jenny Li, Beth Holden-Garland, Maryam Zar, Chris Spitz, Cindi Young (arrived late)\/Joanna Spak (until Cindi Young\u2019s arrival), Carol White, Julia Nilsen, Kimberly Bloom, \u00a0Karen Ridgley, Lorie Cudzil, Sharon Kilbride, Andrew Wolfberg, Rick McGeagh, John Padden, Courtney Macker, Eric […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full-width-page-template.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13054","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13054","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13054"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13054\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}