Meeting Date: 04/25/05 06:00 PM
Meeting Type: Regular
Location: Will & Ariel Durant Branch Library
Conference Room
7140 Sunset Blvd.
parking in rear, off Detroit
Details: Announcement of a Joint Meeting of Three Committees
of the
Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council
Monday, April 25th
6:00 PM
Area 7 Committee: Spaulding Square/Hollywood-Sunset Flats
Issue Committee 6: Housing, Social and Human Services, Religious and Charitable Organizations, Planning and Support
Issue Committee 8: Traffic, Public Transportation and Parking
Will & Ariel Durant Branch Library
Conference Room
7140 Sunset Blvd.
parking in rear, off Detroit
1. Greeting and introductions by Frank DeFoe, housing committee chair.
2. Presentation by Brigg Bunker of the Sares-Regis Group regarding the proposed condominium conversion of the apartment dwelling at 7320 Hawthorn Ave. Questions and discussion to follow. Possible vote.
3. Presentation by GTO Development regarding the proposed construction of a new luxury condominium structure at 7926-7940 Hollywood Blvd. Questions and discussion to follow. Possible vote.
4. General public comment.
5. Adjourn (prior to 8 p.m.).
Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council
Traffic, Public Transportation and Parking Committee
Minutes
Monday, April 25, 2005 6-8pm
Will & Ariel Durant Branch Library
7140 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
Present at the meeting was committee chair Jon Hartmann, HHWNC area residents Robert Sherick, Michael Meyer, Rena Stahr, Drew McCoy, Amy Aquino and HHWNC President, Dan Bernstein. Quorum having been reached, the meeting began shortly after 6:00pm in an informal, roundtable discussion. The impact of street closures on the area was discussed, and participants expressed frustration with the progress of action on recommendations. Chair suggests possibility of lawsuit against City of Los Angeles for maintaining a hazardous situation based on the effect of artificial gridlock on fire, ambulance and police service response. President comments that HHWNC is the City of Los Angeles, and cannot sue itself. Chair responds that when service to HHWNC is completed, such action may be brought as individual or member of a class. Participants remind chair that other less drastic measures remain available. President states that the Kodak Theatre, at the center of the closure issue, is owned by the City of Los Angeles. Comments are made that street closure motions have been tabled due to a logjam of motions, and President Bernstein agrees that the issue should receive prompt attention.
Chair cites article in Los Angeles Times on April 17, 2005, stating that Los Angeles County has nearly reached zero population growth due to market forces relating to the cost of housing and traffic congestion. Amy Aquino proposes that the survey may be in error, and Drew McCoy argues that even if the county experiences population stabilization, the immediate area of HHWNC is seeing greater density. Michael Meyer described Laurel Canyon/Outpost construction and maintenance work that has contributed to gridlock. Participants agreed that 101 corridor needs mitigation; chair suggests expansion of rail service is basic to relieving such congestion. Rena Stahr stated that certain proposed restaurant applicants have made misleading statements during the application process, asking for HHWNC’s approval, only to open and function as nightclubs. Participants recommended that the issue was not the domain of the traffic committee, but rather the Office of the City Attorney, and the Zoning Commission. Stahr made a presentation concerning SB466, the neighborhood radar program. The anti-speeding device was described, and a vote was taken 7-0 in favor of a motion in support of the implementation of the program. Aquino suggested that letters of support be sent to the Mayor, Dept. of Transportation and Police. Participants agreed that speeding in residential streets must be reduced, and this automated ticket-issuing device received unanimous approval by the committee members present. Chair continued a presentation on the campaign against rail, and distributed exhibits from his collection of vintage transit documents. Chair described how the influence of auto/oil money on politics could make elected officials vote against logical, balanced transit funding. Supervisor Pete Schabarum, a foe of rail development, prepared one of the publications displayed by chair. Chair describes him as …”the Mike Antonovich of the 1970’s…”
Participants agreed that a representative of the “Hollywood Trolley” be invited to the next meeting of the committee, to make a presentation and answer questions.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20pm