Meeting Date: 08/04/05 06:30 PM
Meeting Type: Regular
Location: YUCCA COMMUNITY CENTER
6671 Yucca Street
Hollywood, CA 90028
PARKING AVAILABLE IN DIRT LOT ACROSS THE STREET (FREE)
AND IN L.A. CITY PUBLIC LOT ON N. CHEROKEE (NOT FREE)
Details: HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
BOARD MEETING AGENDA
AUGUST 4, 2005 6:30 PM
YUCCA COMMUNITY CENTER
6671 Yucca Street
Hollywood, CA 90028
PARKING AVAILABLE IN DIRT LOT ACROSS THE STREET (FREE)
AND IN L.A. CITY PUBLIC LOT ON N. CHEROKEE (NOT FREE)
Driving directions – From Hollywood & Highland: North on Highland to Franklin Ave (traffic signal)- turn right on Franklin Ave to Cherokee, right on Cherokee to Yucca, right on Yucca to parking lot, left into dirt parking lot across from Yucca Community Center.
From the Barham Bridge over the 101 Freeway: South on Cahuenga Blvd West/Highland to Franklin Ave, turn left on Franklin Ave to Cherokee, right on Cherokee to Yucca, right on Yucca to parking lot, left into dirt parking lot across from Yucca Community Center.
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 Agenda items will be heard only 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 3 minutes per speaker unless waived by the presiding officer of the Board. Agenda is posted for public review: Gardner Street Elementary School, Valley View Elementary School, Yucca Community Center, on bulletin boards at the top and bottom of Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles Library: Will and Ariel Durant Branch and electronically on the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council website WWW.HHWNC.org. 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) 485-1588 or e-mail to [email protected].
1. Call to order and roll call.
2. President’s comments – Board meeting procedures and announcement of vacant board seats (5 minutes)
3. Minutes – Review and approve prior minutes (vote) (5 minutes).
4. Financial Status – Review treasurer’s report and budget. Approve costs to deliver files to 6501 Franklin and any budget issues (vote) (10 minutes).
5. MOTION: That HHWNC donate from $5,000 to $10,000 to Valley View Elementary School (Donation Account #3938) to help defray the costs of the School’s arts enrichment program, educational computer software and licenses, library books and supplies, auditorium sound system improvements, and academic materials for needy students. Motion by Area 2 Committee. (vote) (10 minutes)
6. Area 3 asks that the Board of Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council take a position supporting and sponsoring the Creative Actors Alliance. This group supports the work of developmentally-challenged persons in the arts. On June 21st this group held a charity benefit at the Garden of Eden Nightclub at which many Area 3 Stakeholders were active as volunteers including Chair Paul Woolsey and Rena Dheming. The group will need a monetary sponsorship from the Outreach Budget in an amount yet to be determined and Area 3 requests that Stakeholders all over HHWNC consider donations of volunteer time and materials necessary to the work of this worthwhile group in our community. Motion by Area 3 Committee. (vote) (10 minutes)
7. Update on Vogue Theater appeal hearing. (5 minutes)
8. Projects Update – Hollywood Blvd Nightclub bus system, Runyon Canyon Kiosks raising, and Runyon Canyon Volunteers. (10 minutes)
9. MOTION: That the City Council and the Mayor pass the necessary legislation so that a Recreation and Park’s ranger be present in Runyon Canyon Park during hours of operations. Motion by President (vote) (10 minutes)
10. Project Update – development proposed at 1633 N. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles (5 minutes)
11. MOTION: That the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council support the proposed Hollywood Regency project and its approval of approval of the requested variances. The project site is 7926-7940 Hollywood Boulevard and would replace the 59 existing rental units with 63 luxury, for sale condominiums along with subterranean parking spaces in an amount that fully complies with City code requirements. Motion by Areas 7 & 8, Traffic and Housing Committees. (vote) (20 minutes)
12. Update on October, 2005 board election. (20 minutes)
13. MOTION: That Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Certified Neighborhood Councils and LADWP. Motion by President (vote) (10 minutes)
14. MOTION: That the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council take a position to ask the City of Los Angeles to update the electrical power grid, and that HHWNC demand that the DWP study its delivery of power in Hollywood, particularly in Hollywood Hills, and that it substantially reduce the number of outages. Motion by Environment Committee (vote) (10 minutes)
15. MOTION: That the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council Board of Directors call for a study and survey of the erosion problem caused by extreme weather and construction, and in this year encourage people to plant ground cover on the slopes which may be affected by this erosion. Motion by Environment Committee (vote) (10 minutes)
16. Update on old Duran Library site purchased by LA City Dept. of Sanitation. (5 minutes)
17. MOTION: That the Board of Directors of HHWNC oppose bringing a sewing treatment plant into any residential neighborhood, especially in buildings which have architectural and historical significance, and further that the Board of Directors of HHWNC demand an environmental impact study. Motion by Environment Committee (vote) (10 minutes)
18. MOTION: That HHWNC support the statement “The committee unequivocally rejects the current Hollywood Community Plan with respect to any proposed density or height increases to the existing zoning regulations within Area 7 of the HHWNC.” Motion by Area 7 Committee (vote) (10 minutes)
19. MOTION: That HHWNC support the statement “The committee unequivocally rejects the Hollywood Community Plan as a whole with respect to any density or height increases to the existing zoning in the entire Hollywood area.” Motion by Area 7 Committee (vote) (10 minutes)
20. MOTION: That HHWNC support the statement “The committee demands that the City of Los Angeles promptly undertake thorough measures to correct the existing traffic and transportation problems in Hollywood.” Motion by Area 7 Committee (vote) (10 minutes)
21. The HHWNC shall sponsor a stakeholder meeting on traffic congestion on streets with our area with the Los Angeles City Department of Transportation to present all recommendations currently proposed. Representatives of the Mayor, Los Angeles Police Department, the MTA and Council members Eric Garcetti, Tom La Bonge and Jack Weiss will be invited to participate. Motion by Traffic Committee (vote) (10 minutes)
22. A fully open and public hearing on the impact, construction, and maintenance of median islands on Outpost Drive with members of Area 2 and Area 5 is to be held before ‘Phase II’ of the traffic island project commences. Motion by Area 2 Committee. (vote) (10 minutes)
23. MOTION: That the HHWNC Board submit a comment on the Draft Griffith Park Master Plan requesting that additional off-leash dog walking areas be identified in the Griffith Park Master Plan. For example, the five trails/paths north of the Fern Dell could serve as a good area for off-leash dog walking/exercising because there is an existing parking lot, which could serve such users. Motion by Area 5 Committee (vote) (10 minutes)
24. MOTION: HHWNC Board request that Council members LaBonge and Garcetti work with LADOT to reduce the impacts of Hollywood Boulevard Street Closures through better traffic management, improved advance warning of the closures and directions to alternate routes, limitation on the number and duration of closures, and reduction in number of complete street closures (just close a curb lane for limos). Efforts should be made to siphon traffic off of North-South streets so it does not all end up on Franklin and spillover into neighborhoods. Motion by Traffic Committee and Area 5 Committee (vote) (10 minutes)
25. Area 3 asks that the Board of Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council take a position requesting the City Council and County Board Of Supervisors enhance the definition of public use regarding Eminent Domain in order to protect the community from abuse of condemnation for the benefit of private developers. Area 3 feels that the end user of a taking for public use should always and only be a public agency or institution. Motion by Area 3 Committee. (vote) (10 minutes)
26. MOTION: The HHWNC shall support the implementation of SB 466, to allow the placement of “neighborhood radar” speeding citation devices, where feasible, in an attempt at reducing incidents of speeding in residential neighborhoods, and that letters of support be sent to the Mayor, the Los Angeles City Department of Transportation and Los Angeles Police Department. Motion by Traffic Committee (vote) (10 minutes)
27. Update on a 501(c)(3) foundation. (5 minutes) (Possible motion and vote)
28. General Comments – Comments from board members on non-agenda items. (10 minutes)
29. Public Comments – Comments from the public on non-agenda items within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction. Public comments are limited to three minutes per speaker.
30. Adjournment (9PM or earlier).
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.
HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
Yucca Community Center
6671 Yucca Street
Hollywood, CA 90028
BOARD MEETING
August 4, 2005
APPROVED
1. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Dan Bernstein, President called the board meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
Present: Dan Bernstein, President; Jennifer Alwood, Secretary; Bob Cook, Treasurer; John Connolly, Parliamentarian; Paul Woolsey, Orrin Feldman, Robert Gonzales, Claire Guy, Theresa Larkin, Paul Ramsey, Conrad Schoeffter, Jon Hartmann, Kenneth Jones, Charles Alvare, Anastasia Mann, Jeffrey Rouze and Frank DeFoe.
Absent: Ossie Cohen, Vice President; Vince Vitale, Wilson Bell, Anthony Deckoff (resigned) and Michele Miyakawa.
City Representatives: Eric Sanurjo, Field Deputy for Councilmember LaBonge
2. PRESIDENTS COMMENTS
Dan Bernstein: Anthony Deckoff, Area 7 Chair and Steve Kifer, Area 6 Chair have resigned and we need to have elections for their positions. (Dan will hand out nomination forms.)
3. APPROVAL OF JUNE 9, 2005 MINUTES AND STAKEHOLDER MEETING MINUTES
MOTION by Paul Woolsey to approve the minutes from the June 9, 2005 Board meeting.
SECOND: Ken Jones
VOTE: Passes unanimously
MOTION by Robert Gonzales to approve the minutes from Stakeholder Meeting on June 23, 2005.
SECOND: Ken Jones
VOTE: Passes unanimously
4. TREASURER’S REPORT
Bob: HHWNC received $12,500 from DONE, which the Board has spent $900 and we have another $350 in suspense for reimbursement of Food. Please give Bob receipts from meeting ASAP.
MOTION by Paul Ramsey to approve Financial Status Report.
SECOND: Paul Woolsey
VOTE: Passes unanimously
MOTION by Bob Cook to reimburse Dan Bernstein $105.00 for the cost of delivering 5 file cabinets to 6501 Franklin Avenue office for neighbor councils. The cost to be charge budget line All committee activities and projects.
SECOND: Jennifer Alwood
VOTE: Passes unanimously
5. MOTION by Area 2 Committee: That HHWNC donate from $5,000 to Valley View Elementary School and Gardner Elementary School to help defray the costs of the School’s arts enrichment program, educational computer software and licenses, library books and supplies, auditorium sound system improvements, and academic materials for needy students.
SECOND: No second
DISCUSSION: Ken Jones: I am opposed to this motion because it is not fair to give to one or two schools in our area without donating to all the school our stakeholders have children at. It is not fair.
Jon: I am a volunteer piano teacher at Valley View and see first hand how much that school needs this donation.
MOTION by Charlie Alvare: To donate $7,500 of art supplies to Valley View
SECOND: Jon Hartmann
VOTE: 4 in favor; 9 opposed – Motion fails
6. MOTION by Area 3 Committee: Area 3 asks that the Board of Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council take a position supporting and sponsoring the Creative Actors Alliance. This group supports the work of developmentally-challenged persons in the arts. On June 21st this group held a charity benefit at the Garden of Eden Nightclub at which many Area 3 Stakeholders were active as volunteers including Chair Paul Woolsey and Rena Dheming. The group will need a monetary sponsorship from the Outreach Budget in an amount yet to be determined and Area 3 requests that Stakeholders all over HHWNC consider donations of volunteer time and materials necessary to the work of this worthwhile group in our community.
SECOND: Bob Cook
DISCUSSION: Stakeholder Rena met with the organization and thinks that the Board should vote to support the organization.
VOTE: 14 in favor; 1 opposed – Motion Passes
7. UPDATE ON VOGUE THEATRE
No update.
8. PROJECT UPDATES
a.) Hollywood Blvd Nightclub bus system has not been implemented yet. No update.
b.) Runyon Canyon Kiosks dedication will be happening soon, beginning of September. The Runyon Canyon Volunteers are working very hard and making a difference in the park.
9. MOTION by President: That the City Council and the Mayor pass the necessary legislation so that a Recreation and Park’s ranger be present in Runyon Canyon Park during hours of operations.
SECOND: Jon Hartmann
DISCUSSION: Bob Cook: Have we looked at an alliance with another Neighborhood Council. Dan: Yes, we have. Please work on lobbying others. Stakeholder Shannon: Stakeholders would like NC to support. Bob Cook: Add a “Thank you to the volunteers” in the letter.
VOTE: Passes unanimously
10. Project Update – Presentation of development proposed at 1633 N. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles. Company working with NC and the surrounding residents to prevent traffic problems. There will be no nightclubs in the structure. Stakeholders in the area are for a new building being built in this area, but not as massive as the one opposed and approved by the City Council.
11. MOTION by Area 7 & 8, Traffic and Housing Committees: That the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council support the proposed Hollywood Regency project and its approval of approval of the requested variances. The project site is 7926-7940 Hollywood Boulevard and would replace the 59 existing rental units with 63 luxury, for sale condominiums along with subterranean parking spaces in an amount that fully complies with City code requirements.
SECOND: Robert Gonzales
VOTE: 13 in favor; 1 abstain – Motion Passes
12. Update on October 2005 Board Election – Theresa Larkin resigned as Election Committee Chair because of work schedule and time commitment. Bob Cook is taking over as Chair with Frank DeFoe and Conrad Schoeffter offering to serve on Committee. Bob and the Board thanked Theresa for her hard work as Chair.
13. MOTION by President: That Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Certified Neighborhood Councils and LADWP.
SECOND: Anastasia Mann
DISCUSSION: Jon Hartman nominated Anastasia Mann to represent the Board on this matter and she accepted.
VOTE: Passes unanimously
14. MOTION by Environment Committee: That the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council take a position to ask the City of Los Angeles to update the electrical power grid, and that HHWNC demand that the DWP study its delivery of power in Hollywood, particularly in Hollywood Hills, and that it substantially reduce the number of outages.
SECOND: John Connelly
VOTE: Passes unanimously
15. MOTION by Environment Committee: That the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council Board of Directors call for a study and survey of the erosion problem caused by extreme weather and construction, and in this year encourage people to plant ground cover on the slopes which may be affected by this erosion.
SECOND: Bob Cook
Motion amended – there already is a survey by Grading Building and Safety
VOTE: Motion fails
16. UPDATE on old Duran Library site purchased by LA City Department of Sanitation: Eric Sanurjo, Field Deputy for Councilmember LaBonge told Board that the City has recommended to put a temporary solution in order.
17. MOTION by Environment Committee: That the Board of Directors of HHWNC oppose bringing a sewing treatment plant into any residential neighborhood, especially in buildings which have architectural and historical significance, and further that the Board of Directors of HHWNC demand an environmental impact study.
NO SECOND
MOTION FAILS
18. MOTION by Area 7 Committee: That HHWNC support the statement “The committee unequivocally rejects the current Hollywood Community Plan with respect to any proposed density or height increases to the existing zoning regulations within Area 7 of the HHWNC.”
SECOND: Bob Cook
VOTE: 2 abstain; 18 opposed – Motion fails
19. MOTION by Area 7 Committee: That HHWNC support the statement “The committee unequivocally rejects the Hollywood Community Plan as a whole with respect to any density or height increases to the existing zoning in the entire Hollywood area.”
SECOND: Bob Cook
VOTE: 3 abstain; 19 opposed – Motion fails
20. MOTION by Area 7 Committee: That HHWNC support the statement “The committee demands that the City of Los Angeles promptly undertake thorough measures to correct the existing traffic and transportation problems in Hollywood.”
SECOND: Bob Cook
VOTE: 20 opposed – Motion fails
21. MOTION by Traffic Committee: The HHWNC shall sponsor a stakeholder meeting on traffic congestion on streets with our area with the Los Angeles City Department of Transportation to present all recommendations currently proposed. Representatives of the Mayor, Los Angeles Police Department, the MTA and Council members Eric Garcetti, Tom La Bonge and Jack Weiss will be invited to participate.
SECOND: Ken Jones
DISCUSSION: Need to combine agenda items 20, 21 and 24.
VOTE: Passes unanimously
22. MOTION by Area 2 Committee: A fully open and public hearing on the impact, construction, and maintenance of median islands on Outpost Drive with members of Area 2 and Area 5 is to be held before ‘Phase II’ of the traffic island project commences.
NO SECOND
MOTION DIES
23. MOTION by Area 5 Committee: That the HHWNC Board submit a comment on the Draft Griffith Park Master Plan requesting that additional off-leash dog walking areas be identified in the Griffith Park Master Plan. For example, the five trails/paths north of the Fern Dell could serve as a good area for off-leash dog walking/exercising because there is an existing parking lot, which could serve such users.
SECOND: Bob Cook
VOTE: Passes unanimously
24. MOTION by Traffic Committee: That HHWNC Board request that Council members LaBonge and Garcetti work with LADOT to reduce the impacts of Hollywood Boulevard Street Closures through better traffic management, improved advance warning of the closures and directions to alternate routes, limitation on the number and duration of closures, and reduction in number of complete street closures (just close a curb lane for limos). Efforts should be made to siphon traffic off of North-South streets so it does not all end up on Franklin and spillover into neighborhoods.
Motion combined with Agenda item #20 and #21.
25. MOTION by Area 3 Committee: Area 3 asks that the Board of Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council take a position requesting the City Council and County Board Of Supervisors enhance the definition of public use regarding Eminent Domain in order to protect the community from abuse of condemnation for the benefit of private developers. Area 3 feels that the end user of a taking for public use should always and only be a public agency or institution.
MOTION by Orrin Feldman to table
NO SECOND
MOTION DIES
26. MOTION by Traffic Committee: The HHWNC shall support the implementation of SB 466, to allow the placement of “neighborhood radar” speeding citation devices, where feasible, in an attempt at reducing incidents of speeding in residential neighborhoods, and that letters of support be sent to the Mayor, the Los Angeles City Department of Transportation and Los Angeles Police Department.
MOTION by Bob Cook to table
SECOND: John Connelly
VOTE: Passes unanimously
27. UPDATE on a 501c(3) Foundation:
MOTION by Jennifer Alwood to remove from agenda
SECOND: Robert Gonzales
VOTE: Passes unanimously
28. General Comments – Paul Ramsey: Stakeholders have concerns with tiki torches.
29. Public Comments – Stakeholder Robert: Transportation study needs to speed up.
30. Adjournment:
MOTION by Frank DeFoe to adjourn meeting
SECOND: Robert Gonzales
VOTE: Passes unanimously
Meeting adjourned at 10:00pm.
Respectfully submitted-
Jennifer Alwood
HHWNC Secretary