Board of Directors Meeting 04/20/11 06:15 PM

Meeting Date: 04/20/11 06:15 PM

Meeting Type: Regular

Location: HHWNC Monthly Board Meeting

Details:

HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

BOARD MEETING AGENDA

April 20, 2011

6:45pm

1749 North La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Directions: South of Franklin and North of Hollywood Blvd. – Accessibility: Building is accessible through entrance at rear door. Parking: Free Parking is available behind the Women’s Club on the upper level of the parking lot.

The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the Board on any item of the agenda prior to the Board taking action on an item. Comments from the public on non-agenda and agenda items will be heard during the Public Comment Period and, within the discretion of the presiding officer of the Board, when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the Agenda that is within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the Public Comment period. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker unless waived by the presiding officer of the Board. Agenda is posted for public review: on bulletin boards at the top and bottom of Runyon Canyon Park, and electronically on the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council website ww.hhwnc.org and on the Department Of Neighborhood Empowerment (www.lacityneighborhoods.com). As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting the Neighborhood Council Project Coordinator at 213-485-1360 or e-mail to [email protected].

ALL ITEMS LISTED ON THIS AGENDA ARE SUBJECT TO:

POSSIBLE ACTION, INCLUDING A BOARD MOTION AND

VOTING ON THE MOTION.

PROCESS FOR RECONSIDERATION: The Board may reconsider and amend its action on items listed on the agenda if that reconsideration takes place immediately following the original action or at the next regular meeting. The Board, on either of these two days, shall: (1) Make a Motion for Reconsideration and, if approved, (2) hear the matter and Take an Action. If the motion to reconsider an action is to be scheduled at the next meeting following the original action, then two items shall be placed on the agenda for that meeting: (1) A Motion for Reconsideration on the described matter and (2) a Proposed Action should the motion to reconsider be approved. A motion for reconsideration can only be made by a Board member who has previously voted on the prevailing side of the original action taken. If a motion for reconsideration is not made on the date the action was taken, then a Board member on the prevailing side of the action must submit a memorandum to the Secretary identifying the matter to be reconsidered and a brief description of the reason(s) for requesting reconsideration at the next regular meeting. The aforesaid shall all be in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act.

AGENDA

Call to order by President, Anastasia Mann

Roll call by Secretary, Khaled Kaawar

Minutes – Review and approve minutes from February 24, 2010 (see attachment) (Vote) (5 minutes)

President’s Report by Anastasia Mann (20 minutes)

Public Official Reports

i.) Mayor’s Office – Fabiola Vilchez, Central Area Director – Budget Survey

ii.) CD4 –Sharon Shapiro, Field Deputy, Office of Councilmember Tom LaBonge

iii.) CD5 – Jeffrey Ebenstein, Field Deputy, Office of Councilmember Paul Koretz

iv.) CD13 – Angela Motta, Field Deputy, Office of Council President Eric Garcetti

Election of Traffic Chair
Hollywood Regency Site, 7930-40 Hollywood Boulevard
Women’s Club Update, Nina Van Tassell

5. Vice President’s Report by Orrin Feldman (10 minutes)

6. Treasurer’s Report by Michael Meyer (10 minutes)

a. Durant Library Grant

7. Parliamentarian, Aaron Rogers

8. Committee Reports (20 minutes)

a. AREA COMMITTEES

i. Area 3 – YUCCA CORRIDOR/WHITLEY HEIGHTS/CAHUENGA EAST – Robin Moreno

§ Master Land Use Application for the property concerning 6523 – 6529 Hollywood Boulevard also known as the Hollywood and Hudson Project.

§ CUB Application for 6542 Hollywood Boulevard with the hearing date of April 25, 2011

§ The property located at Yucca & Las Palmas which was bought out of foreclosure and the current owners are working with CD 4 to get the expired permits renewed to start building a 23 unit Condominium

§ The Haul Route for the 1802 -1810 Whitley Property

§ Update on Eric Garcetti’s LAND Committee

§ Update on Baseline City Ordinance that was signed by the Mayor and goes into effect May 9, 2011

§ Update on Trashcan issue that was tabled at the January meeting

ii. Area 5 – OUTPOST/CAHUENGA WEST – Jarone Johnson, Jr.

§ Motion to support request for height variance for exterior wall at 1822 Outpost Drive: Owner of 1822 is asking for the HHWNC support of his request for a height variance in order to construct a wall similar to the first four houses on Outpost Drive, 1800, 1805, 1818 and 1819. The wall is being built for added security, better utilization of yard space and increased privacy from the tour buses that have been documented stopping in front of the residence in excess of 45 seconds as tour guides are pointing out the residences of several well known celebrities. The Outpost Homeowners Association has voted to not oppose the variance request.

§ Motion to support Outpost Homeowner’s Assoc. request for HHWNC funds to design and install signs throughout the HHWNC area: The Outpost Homeowners Association suggested to the Area 5 committee that HHWNC should design an attractive sign that welcomes people to the HHWNC community but serves a more important safety element to ask the drives to slow down while driving in our neighborhoods. The Outpost HOA has talked to a resident of Cahuenga Pass who owns a sign shop and it will cost between $5,000 to $5,500 to have 50 signs made to be distributed throughout our HHWNC boundaries

§ Background Information: There is a request to the HHWNC to support LAPD enforcement of code violations incurred by the tour buses and vans in the residential neighborhoods and to request that LAPD cite offending tour drivers and/or their companies and other commercial vehicles for violations that are captured on private security cameras that are time stamped and dated. The area 5 chair has received numerous complaints from security personnel of certain celebrities residing in the Outpost Community regarding the total disregard of traffic laws and city ordinances by certain touring companies and their drivers. Several of these homes have private security cameras, and footage has been sent to the Area 5 Chair and LAPD SLO Sanchez showing numerous violations and an actual Hit and Run accident by one of the Vans. As a result, LAPD has stepped up enforcement of vehicle code infractions, noise ordinances, etc., and Area 5 is asking LAPD to work closely with the residents who have the private security systems and establish the requisite parameters that would enable the LAPD to issue citations from actual video footage.

Motion: The HHWNC endorses the enhanced enforcement of vehicle code and municipal ordinance violations within the HHWNC territory and request the specific procedure and requisite specifications for equipment needed in a private security system that could be subsequently utilized by LAPD to issue citations to the commercial vehicles in violation of the law.

iii. Area 7 – Spaulding Square / Hollywood Sunset Flats (Rebecca Arce)

§ Discussion of application (No Motion) by the former “Econo Lodge Hotel” at 7370 Sunset Blvd requesting a Conditional Use permit for the sale and dispensing of beer and wine only for onsite consumption in conjunction within an existing 17,010 sq. ft. two story hotel, with hours of alcohol service to be permitted from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, in conjunction with food service. Requesting the ancillary hotel uses of a Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control [Type 66] license for in-room alcohol access cabinets with a full line of alcoholic beverages in conjunction with the 40 hotel rooms, within a full service hotel, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This includes: a second floor dining area having a total of 52 seats, and; Pursuant to Charter Section 562 and Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.27-B, the applicant requests a variance from Section 12.14-A,l (b)(3) of the Municipal Code to permit a second floor dining area, having 52 seats, in a not completely enclosed building.

§ Discussion of application by Sunset Grill (All Year Food Services, Inc.) for a conditional use permit to sell a full line of alcoholic beverages for on-site sale and consumption at 7439 Sunset Boulevard, which is an existing 1,834 square foot restaurant with seating for 60 patrons and having operating hours from 9am to 2am daily.

iv. Other Area Committees

§ Reports by Committee Chairs in attendance (Optional)

ISSUE COMMITTEES

i. Emergency Services – Valorie Keegan

§ Announcements : Events, Meetings and City Attorney’s Office proposed "Administrative Citation Enforcement" Program (ACE)

ii. Issue 5 – Housing & Human Services, Religious & Charitable Organizations, Planning and Support (Marcello Robinson)

§ Update on Neighborhood Job Fair

§ Update on Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates Progress: Presentations to Mayor and City Council.

§ Update on 2011 N.C. CONGRESS

Other Issue Committees

i. Reports by Committee Chairs in attendance (Optional)

Public Comments – Comments from the public on agenda items and non-agenda items within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction. Public comments are limited to 2 minutes per speaker.

Old Business

New Business

Next Meeting:
1. Wednesday, May 18, 2011.

Adjournment

HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
MONTHLY BOARD MEETING MINUTES

April 20, 2011
Women’s Club of Hollywood – Hospitality House
1749 North La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046

1. Meeting Called to Order at 6:25 p.m. by HHWNC President Anastasia Mann.

2. Roll Call by Parliamentarian Aaron Rogers: Anastasia Mann, Orrin Feldman, Michael Meyer, Aaron Rogers, Maria Rychlicki , Marcello Robinson, Valorie Keegan, Barbara Witkin, Robin Moreno, Joyce Dyrector, Jarone Johnson Jr., Dietrich Nelson, Rebecca Arce, Jonathan Sweet and Brian Johnson (late). Absent: Khaled Kaawar, Terry Migliaccio, Alison Connell, Christopher Kaufman, Daniel Savage, Bryce Lowery and Donovan Ryan.

3. Minutes from February 24, 2011 Special Meeting: The board approved a motion to accept the Feb. 24, 2011 board meeting minutes. The motion carried 14-0-1 (Meyer abstained).

4. Public Officials Reports:

Mayor’s Office: Central Area Director Fabiola Vilchez told the board there will be no more rollover funds from the City. Any unallocated funds will be returned to the General Fund.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s Office: Sharon Shapiro, Field Deputy, reported on current news in the district including the signing of the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, street resurfacing, and upcoming events.
Assemblymember Michael Feuer’s Office: Nicole Carcel announced a Community Job Fair at the Hollywood Women’s Club on May 20, 2011.

Councilmember Eric Garcetti’s Office, Field Deputy Angela Motta spoke about traffic issues, a Tree Planting event, rooftop gardens, pop-up parks, movable art galleries, repairing power lines and neighborhood beautification projects. The office is allocating up to $2,500 to local organizations as matching grants (with a May 5th deadline).

Councilmember Paul Koretz: Jeffrey Ebenstein, Field Deputy, talked about the budget process and implications from that.

LAPD Officer Ralph Sanchez talked about party houses, tour vans, a hit and run incident with a tour van, homeless and transients, and the SLO (Senior Lead Officer) Summit on May 5th.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge saluted Valorie and Dietrich for their efforts in Community Disaster Preparedness. He acknowledged Sharon Shapiro’s promotion and thanked Camilla Blanche from Arts, Culture and Tourism.

5. President’s Report, Anastasia Mann said there is a new vacancy on the board for a Traffic, Transportation and Parking Chair (vacated by Wayne Johansson). Eric Paquette, an executive at Sony Pictures and stakeholder in the community, expressed his interest. He spoke about his involvement in the community. If appointed, he would like to host regular Town Hall Meetings to get input from stakeholders on traffic issues. (Mann) moved for the board to approve the appointment of Eric Paquette as HHWNC Traffic, Transportation and Parking Chair. The motion carried unanimously.
Anastasia asked the board to complete the mandatory Ethics training from DONE. She also informed the board of the resignation of Outreach Chair Christopher Kaufman and asked the board to submit the names of anyone who could be a good candidate for this position.
She then spoke about the need for a Standing Rules Ad Hoc Committee to which Michael, Maria and Marcello volunteered and were then appointed.

6. Hollywood Regency Site, 7930-40 Hollywood Boulevard: Update: Rebecca Arce talked about this vacant property which is proposed for a development of 40 stand-alone homes. The developer is seeking a temporary variance on the easement. The developer, Ken Kagan of California Landmark, said the project was previously approved for 63 units under another developer as a Small Lot subdivision. During the discussion, Sean from Councilmember Koretz’s office invited stakeholders and board members to meet at their office with the developers to ask more questions. A public hearing is coming up for their subdivision approval this month.

Several stakeholders spoke in opposition of this project: Mitzi Mogul, Celia Wyatt-Twiss, Inez Mogul and Michael Grizzi all went on record to oppose the project stating a loss of open space, the impact it would have on residents’ parking on Fairfax, the lack of green landscaping, and a deterioration of Hollywood Boulevard. Mitzi asked on behalf of the neighbors for the board to oppose the project as proposed. (Meyer/Robinson) moved, “HHWNC is opposed to the project as proposed. We do not support the relief from setback requirements and have concerns about the small lot subdivision, even if permissible in an R3 zone. The site needs more open space and less density to be compatible with the neighborhood..” The motion carried: 5-2-5.”

7. Women’s Club Update: Nina Van Tassell, President of the Women’s Club of Hollywood and Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director of the Women’s Club, explained what changes they are proposing for the facility. They want to acquire the lot next door to create a 501C3 to serve as a Hollywood Community Center. They envision the Club becoming a community foundation. They also want to have 41 senior housing units built for people in the entertainment industry who are on a fixed income as well as parking for these units. This would provide an income for the Center serve the greater community. They are being sued by other members of the Women’s Club who don’t share their vision and want to keep things as they are – private and quiet.

8. Vice President’s Report, Orrin Feldman reported that steps are being taken to vacate a 50-60 years old easement at Laurel Canyon and Willow Glen while preserving the bus stop on Laurel Canyon. Regarding new signs, he spoke with Melvin from DONE and learned that if HHWNC pays for signs with City funds then places the signs on private property, title to the object transfers to the private property owner. He talked about the ongoing issue with the $15,000 grant allocated to The Durant Library, which has not been paid by DONE. He stated that the process has morphed from its original intent several times and that has interrupted the completion of the payment.

9. Treasurer’s Report, Michael Meyer stated that April 15th was the deadline for submitting demand warrants to be processed this year. June 15 is the deadline for using the HHWNC credit card for purchases and there is a limit of $5625 per quarter or a maximum of $2500 per individual charge. The new fiscal year budget is due to DONE by July 15th. There is $46,000 remaining in the budget, unallocated. Four items have not been paid although they have been budgeted. The Board confirmed the allocation of $5500 to purchase Welcome signs with the HHWNC logo for posting throughout the HHWNC area, with the details of sign design and posting locations to be determined by future motions. (Nelson/Johnson) moved “That HHWNC accept the current financial report.” The motion carried unanimously. Public comment by a board member of a nearby Hollywood NC suggested that the $5625 quarterly limit can be waived with approval from DONE, so Treasurer Meyer will look into that and report back to the Board.

10. COMMITTEE REPORTS: AREA COMMITTEES

Area 3 – YUCCA CORRIDOR/WHITLEY HEIGHTS/CAHUENGA EAST – Robin Moreno reported on new developments in Area 3:

• A Master Land Use application for the property at 6523 – 6529 Hollywood Boulevard, aka: the Hollywood and Hudson Project, will be a four-story building with businesses, a bar, parking and residences. The owner is looking for a CUB application to extend his outdoor patio over 6542 Hollywood Boulevard with a hearing scheduled for April 25, 2011.

• The property located at Yucca & Las Palmas was bought out of foreclosure and the current owners are working with CD 4 to get the expired permits renewed to start building a 23 unit condo complex.

• Trashcans have been acquired and placement is being considered.

Area 5 – OUTPOST/CAHUENGA WEST – Jarone Johnson, Jr. reported on a request from a homeowner at 1822 Outpost Drive for a height variance on an exterior wall. He recused himself from this motion. The Outpost Homeowners Association has voted to not oppose the variance request. HHWNC supported this but no motion was made.

Slow Down Signage: Jarone presented a request from the Outpost Homeowner’s Assoc to allocate funding of $5,000 – $5,500 for 50 signs for to be allocated to the nine areas of HHWNC welcoming people to the HHWNC community and asking drivers to slow down. The board was receptive to the concept and liked the exposure such signs would give to HHWNC, but felt more research needed to be done on this request, particularly related to the posting of signs on City poles. Robin Moreno volunteered to do outreach on this issue to see if having signage is something residents want.

Code Violations/Tour Buses: Jarone presented a motion regarding support of LAPD’s enforcement of code violations with tour buses and vans in residential neighborhoods. The motion also requests that LAPD cite offending tour drivers and/or their companies and other commercial vehicles for violations that are captured on private security cameras that are time stamped and dated. Jarone and Senior Lead Officer Sanchez talked about a recent hit and run accident by one of the vans which was captured on a private surveillance system. The board discussed looking into this further and tabling a motion until the next board meeting.

Area 7 – SPAULDING SQUARE / HOLLYWOOD SUNSET FLATS, Rebecca Arce asked the board to approve a conditional use permit for the former Econo Lodge Hotel for a for the sale and dispensing of beer and wine only for onsite consumption with hours of alcohol service to be permitted from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, in conjunction with food service [for guests only]. In addition, the existing 17,010 sq. ft. two story hotel is looking to add in-room alcohol access cabinet. The application requests the ancillary hotel uses of a Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control [Type 66] license for in-room alcohol access cabinets with a full line of alcoholic beverages in conjunction with the 40 hotel rooms, within a full service hotel, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They would also be remodeling the facility adding a second floor dining area having a total of 52 seats, and; Pursuant to Charter Section 562 and Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.27-B, the applicant requests a variance from Section 12.14-A,l (b)(3) of the Municipal Code to permit a second floor dining area, having 52 seats, in a not completely enclosed building.” (Arce/Johnson) moved that, “HHWNC support the conditional use permit application for 7370 Sunset Blvd on behalf of Area 7 as written in the agenda.” The motion carried unanimously.

Sunset Grill Application: Rebecca explained that the conditional use permit would be to sell a full line of alcoholic beverages for on-site sale and consumption at 7439 Sunset Boulevard, which is an existing 1,834 square foot restaurant with seating for 60 patrons and having operating hours from 9am to 2am daily. The board took no action on this. The Sunset Grill was scheduled for a hearing the following day.

ISSUE COMMITTEES:

Issue 6-Emergency Services – Valorie Keegan reported that HHWNC’s personalized emergency plan was not granted but HHWNC will participate in a Community Emergency Preparedness Disaster Event . She informed the board of the upcoming LAFD’s Pancake Breakfast, LAPD’s Gun Buy-Back Day, a Town Hall Community Meeting on May 16, Nichols Canyon Job Fair and the City’s ACE proposal (administrative code enforcement) which would allow those written up for municipal code violations to be processed administratively as opposed to the criminally.

Issue 5 – Housing & Human Services, Religious & Charitable Organizations, Planning and Support, Marcello Robinson said the Job Fair is tentatively set for September 3rd. As a Budget Advocate, he chaired the City Attorney’s Committee which advocated for the implementation of the ACE proposal. He’s also working on the next Neighborhood Council Congress scheduled for Sept. 24th. Cindy Cleghorn, STNC Recording Sect. and Chair of the NC Congress, spoke about the Congress of Neighborhood Councils and asked if HHWNC could allocate a minimum of $250.00 toward this event. (Johnson/Nelson) moved that HHWNC approve $500.00 for the NC Congress for Sept. 2011 if it would be applied to the current year’s budget). The motion carried unanimously.

Public Comments – Nina Royal, STNC Safety Chair and North Valley Reporter publisher informed the board that there is a proposal to lay off parole officers creating a lack of follow up on parolees, newly released from prison.

New Business: Anastasia reported that the HHWNC website needs a new host and consequently, a new address.

Meeting Adjourned at: 9:20 p.m.

PDF Download of these approved final minutes

-Minutes by Pat Kramer, Kelly Services-