{"id":5213,"date":"2018-08-13T13:36:58","date_gmt":"2018-08-13T13:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/?page_id=5213"},"modified":"2018-10-27T04:07:30","modified_gmt":"2018-10-27T04:07:30","slug":"ppcc-minutes-2018-10-11","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pacpalicc.org\/index.php\/ppcc-minutes-2018-10-11\/","title":{"rendered":"PPCC Minutes – 2018 \/ 10 \/ 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

Return to Index of 2018 Minutes<\/a><\/p>\n

MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 11th 2018<\/h5>\n

Voting Members in Attendance: \u00a0<\/strong>George Wolfberg, Peter Culhane, Chris Spitz, Maryam Zar, Sue Kohl, David Kaplan, Rick Mills, Joanna Spak, Steve Boyers, Reza Akef, Haldis Toppel, Steve Cron, Alan Goldsmith, Dick Wulliger, Brenda Theveny, Bill Bruns, Ellie Jenkins, Jean Spark, Duke Ostendorf, Richard Blumenberg<\/p>\n

Voting Alternates: \u00a0<\/strong>Barbara Kohn<\/p>\n

Non-voting Advisors and Alternates:<\/strong>\u00a0 John Padden, Barbara Marinacci, Amy Baker, Cathi Ruddy<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 \u00a0 Certification of Quorum. \u00a0<\/strong>The Chair George Wolfberg called the meeting to order at 7:00pm and certified that a quorum was present.<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0 Reading of Community Council\u2019s Mission. \u00a0<\/strong>David Kaplan read the Council\u2019s Mission.<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0 \u00a0Introduction of the Board and Audience. \u00a0<\/strong>The board and audience were introduced.<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0 \u00a0Approval of Minutes & Upcoming Meetings.\u00a0<\/strong> 1) Approval of Minutes \u2013<\/em> The minutes of 9\/27\/18 were deemed approved<\/em>. 2) Upcoming Meetings \u2013<\/em> October 25, 2018; topic: briefing from Coalition to Preserve LA on Tree Canopy Protection; the Farmers Market will not<\/em> be a topic. November 8, 2018; topics: 1) announcement of Citizen of the Year and Golden Sparkplugs awardees; 2) proposed beach walk path. December 13, 2018; Holiday Meeting and Awards Gala. Note: There is only one meeting in November and December.<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0 \u00a0Consideration of Agenda. \u00a0<\/strong>The Chair announced that the agenda was as distributed.<\/p>\n

6. \u00a0 \u00a0Treasurer\u2019s Report<\/strong>. \u00a0The Chair explained that Treasurer Richard Cohen is out of town celebrating his anniversary and has informed the Chair that PPCC\u2019s bank balance is $32,022 and there were no significant transactions since the last report.<\/p>\n

7. \u00a0 \u00a0General Public Comment<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

7.1. \u00a0 \u00a0Linda Deacon (resident) requested that a proposed development on Marquette be placed on the LUC meeting agenda for October 25. \u00a0The Chair: The LUC agenda has not yet been set. Rick Mills (Area 4 Rep and LUC member): The developer has been invited to attend the LUC meeting with his support staff and the LUC will have a meeting if the developer is willing to attend. The meeting has not yet been confirmed.<\/p>\n

7.2. \u00a0 \u00a0Marge Gold (resident) reiterated concerns about trash in the Village Green. \u00a0She asked whether Village Green trash pick-up will be addressed by Caruso and requested PPCC support. See item 9.2 below.<\/em><\/p>\n

7.3. \u00a0 \u00a0Terri Simpson (resident) asked about the date for the City Council Transportation Committee hearing regarding the Preferential Parking District for the Alphabet Streets. Lisa Cahill (CD11 Palisades Deputy): October 24, 1pm, City Hall, Rm. 1010. Call Lisa for parking passes.<\/p>\n

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

8.1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0From the Chair George Wolfberg.<\/u><\/p>\n

PPCC uses many acronyms at meetings, which are not meant to confuse people or leave them out of the conversation. New board members will be receiving a cheat list as well as information regarding resources on our website. These will be a part of the new member orientation session in this room next Thursday at 6pm. All board members as well as the public are welcome to attend. See Item 8.1.4 below<\/em>. The Chair encouraged board members to feel free to speak up if they hear an acronym or phrase they do not understand.<\/p>\n

Regarding Palisades Village, the Caruso people have responded to a letter sent by the PPCC Executive Committee stressing the complaints from neighbors regarding employees parking in adjacent neighborhoods as well as confusion regarding parking validation practices. The response stated that default notices will be issued to lessees not parking their employees in the garage and that visitors will now receive one hour free parking without validation. After the first hour the rate is $1 per half hour with<\/strong> validation and $2 per half hour without<\/strong>. See these letters at PPCC Executive Committee letter to Caruso<\/a> and Caruso response letter<\/a><\/p>\n

8.1.1. \u00a0 \u00a02018 Citizen of the Year and Golden Sparkplug Awards.<\/em> \u00a0Awards are presented at PPCC\u2019s big, annual not-to-be-missed Holiday Awards Gala to be held in lieu of our regular December 13 meeting. An Awards Selection Committee chaired by Sue Kohl has been appointed. In addition, the Awards Event Committee is now appointed as follows: Chair Peter Culhane; members: Richard Cohen, Sue Kohl, Mary Mueller, Duke Ostendorf, Bruce Schwartz, Chris Spitz, Haldis Toppel, Maryam Zar. See Item 9.1 below.<\/em> Nominations from the community are being accepted until the deadline for receipt: 9pm on October 27, 2018. See Awards Nominations Press Release<\/a> .<\/p>\n

8.1.2. \u00a0 \u00a0[Land Use Committee.]<\/em> \u00a0The PPCC Land Use Committee (LUC) tentatively will meet at 5pm on Oct. 25 in the library community room prior to next PPCC board meeting. \u00a0There are two or three items in the hopper and an agenda will be sent out prior to the meeting if confirmed.<\/p>\n

8.1.3. \u00a0 \u00a0[New Representatives.]<\/em> \u00a0 The Chair welcomed all newly elected representatives and the organizational representatives. \u00a0Names and contact information for all representatives may be found on the PPCC website, www.pacpalicc.org<\/a> (click on the Leadership tab).<\/p>\n

8.1.4. \u00a0 \u00a0Orientation Session for new representatives:<\/em> \u00a0October 18, 2018 at 6pm in the Palisades branch library. \u00a0All are invited, including veteran board members and interested community members.<\/p>\n

8.1.5. \u00a0 \u00a0Appointment of new organizational member of the Executive Committee<\/em> (Bylaws, Art. 5.3.A). \u00a0The officers and the Chair Emeritus have unanimously appointed John Padden to join the Committee as the representative of organizational members.<\/p>\n

8.1.6. \u00a0 \u00a0Appointment of PPCC Bylaws Committee.<\/em> \u00a0The Committee will be chaired by Richard Cohen and members will be: Reza Akef, David Card, Peter Culhane, David Kaplan, Chris Spitz and Andrew Wolfberg. See Item 9.1, below.<\/em><\/p>\n

8.1.7. \u00a0 \u00a0Forest Management along Palisades Dr.<\/em>\u00a0 The Chair drove to Queen Anne Recreation Center last week to hear the Recreation and Parks (RAP) report. Unfortunately, the report was not ready; they are promising it will be ready for next Wednesday\u2019s RAP board meeting. Peter Culhane has been working hard to get to the bottom of who is in charge. The Chair asked everyone to stand by.<\/p>\n

8.1.8. \u00a0 \u00a0Potrero Canyon Contract<\/em>. \u00a0 As previously announced, the bid for the 14-month grading contract was awarded in June. After bureaucratic processes the now-executed contract is expected to get the green light in the next few weeks. The City has surveyed the park boundaries and found several neighbors have encroached on park property with fences, gazebos and decks. These neighbors have been told to remove these encroachments \u2014 this has delayed the process. See Item 8.5.1, below.<\/em><\/p>\n

8.1.9. \u00a0 \u00a0Forestry Issues in General.<\/em> \u00a0On Saturday, September 15, the Chair attended a sold-out briefing in North Hollywood by a group that is advocating for a healthy Los Angeles Tree Canopy. Among the attendees were David Card, Nancy Freedman (the former Brentwood Community Council Chair), Ileana Wachtel, Jill Stewart and Barbara Broide. It was an invigorating meeting and underscored the pathetic City tree program and the virtually toothless enforcement against scofflaws illegally chopping down trees. Things are happening. Last week the Chair and others met with retired LA City Council Budget Committee Chair Bernie Parks to investigate options for increasing the meager City budget for trees; last Sunday, the WRAC Land Use Committee approved a series of motions dealing with this issue which the Chair expects to be on the next agenda; he is setting up a meeting with the brand new manager of Street Services in the next few days, and Tuesday night the SMCCA Board approved a strongly worded letter to the Mayor pushing for more City resources for tree-related activities. The Chair is happy to share the letter with anyone who is interested. Finally, there will be a briefing from Ileana Wachtel of the Coalition to Preserve LA at our next meeting.<\/p>\n

8.2. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0From Officers<\/u>.<\/p>\n

8.2.1. \u00a0 \u00a0Peter Culhane (Vice-Chair) provided information about property tax assessments. \u00a0He has attended Palisades Alliance for Seniors meetings about this subject and distributed a flyer with important information that could affect your property taxes. He also received an invitation from Santa Monica College Associates regarding a discussion about the homeless situation in this general area, to take place on October 17 from 5:30-8:30pm at SMC. Contact the Vice-Chair for more information.<\/p>\n

8.2.3. \u00a0 \u00a0Maryam Zar (Chair Emeritus) announced that a new film, \u201cThe Advocates,\u201d premiered at the LA Film Festival. \u00a0This is a documentary about homelessness in the City which arose from an earlier film that the director had done about the work of PPTFH in the Palisades. There will be screenings at the Laemmle in Santa Monica, October 19-25.<\/p>\n

8.2.2. \u00a0 \u00a0Chris Spitz (Secretary) reported on the City Planning Commission (CPC) hearing earlier this morning. \u00a01) Processes & Procedures Ordinance: the Secretary had briefly explained this ordinance at the September 27, 2018 board meeting (see minutes of that date). <\/em>The CPC approved the ordinance today and it will now return to PLUM before going to the City Council for an eventual vote. According to the Planning Dept., \u201cthe draft ordinance will improve the way applications and requests are reviewed and acted upon by the City, making those processes and procedures clearer and more accessible for all stakeholders.\u201d 2) Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Ordinance: the CPC decided to continue the hearing until October 25 in order to consider whether to open up hillside areas to ADUs. PPCC has not taken a position on the ordinance but we will continue to monitor.<\/p>\n

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

8<\/u>.3.1. \u00a0 \u00a0Steve Cron (Area 2) reported that a resident has raised the issue of trash and graffiti at a trailhead bathroom in the Highlands. \u00a0It was noted that this has previously been reported at PPCC meetings and in news media. CD11 is aware and has explained that it is a complicated situation involving private property and questions about the propriety of the property transfer and about which government agency now has jurisdiction of the matter. Steve will follow-up.<\/p>\n

8.3.2. \u00a0 \u00a0Alan Goldsmith (At-large) announced that a resident has advised that a group of people driving Lamborghinis and other sports cars meet periodically and race up and down Palisades Drive. \u00a0This has been reported to SLO Michael Moore.<\/p>\n

8.3.3. \u00a0 \u00a0Haldis Toppel (Area 3) informed the board that Marquez merchants recently sponsored a wonderful block party for the Marquez neighborhood.<\/p>\n

8.4. \u00a0 \u00a0From Organizational Representatives<\/u>.<\/p>\n

8.4.1. \u00a0 \u00a0John Padden (PRIDE). \u00a0Update on PRIDE projects.<\/p>\n

John Padden announced that at the last PRIDE board meeting there was changing of the guard. \u00a0Bruce Schwartz, past PRIDE President, did a fine job, and John is now the new PRIDE president. PRIDE\u2019s mission is to listen to the community and consider projects to help the Palisades. Contact John with any questions or suggestions. Projects that PRIDE has either recently completed or is working on:<\/p>\n