Meeting Date: 12/12/05 06:30 PM
Meeting Type: Regular
Location: The Women’s Club of Hollywood, 1749 N. La Brea Blvd, west side between Hollywood & Franklin,
driveway south of building, parking in rear
Details: HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL/
AREAS 7 and 8, HOUSING AND TRAFFIC COMMITTEES JOINT MEETING
AGENDA
The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the committees of the meeting on any item of the agenda prior to the committees 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 committees’ 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 chair(s) of the meeting. 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, toll-free at (866) LA HELPS, or e-mail to [email protected].
1. Call to order, introductions and opening remarks from committee chairs.
2. Welcome and general remarks. Review the Neighborhood Council’s advisory role, and the reconsideration process.
3. Summary of proposed Hollywood Regency project at 7926-7940 Hollywood Boulevard between Fairfax and Laurel Avenues. The developer, GTO Hollywood, is planning to demolish the 59 existing apartment units in 2 buildings, and build 63 for sale condo/townhouse units with underground parking. GTO seeks a variance to build in the public right-of-way along the southern edge of Hollywood Boulevard, and a variance for increased building height.
4. Update from The Hollywood Regency Tenant’s Association Chair
5. Update by Council Member Weiss’ representative.
5. Presentation by GTO Hollywood.
6. Public Discussion – Comments from the public are limited to three minutes per speaker.
7. Motions to reconsider previously taken positions, and to consider taking positions with regard to the Hollywood Regency project, including the proposed variances. Motions to make recommendations to the HHWNC board. Possible votes.
8. General Comments – Comments from board members on non-agenda committee related items.
9. Adjournment (8:30 PM or earlier).
PROCESS FOR RECONSIDERATION: The committees may reconsider and amend their action on items listed on the agenda if that reconsideration takes place immediately following the original action or at the next regular meeting. The committees, 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 committee 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 committee member on the prevailing side of the action must submit a memorandum to the committee(s) chair(s) 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.
MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 12TH JOINT MEETING OF AREA 7, AREA 8, AND HOUSING, TRAFFIC COMMITTEES
Monday, 6:30pm, December 12th, 2005
The Women’s Club of Hollywood, 1749 N. La Brea Blvd,
In attendance: HHWNC board members and officers: Cheryl Holland, Area 7 chair; Ken Jones, Area 8 chair; Frank DeFoe, Housing chair; Dennis Lytton, Traffic chair; Paul Ramsey, Area 1 chair; Anastasia Mann, President; Orrin Feldman, Vice President; Anne Marie Lardeau, Beautification chair; Rena Dehming, EMS chair; and Ellen Sondheim; Parliamentarian. Former EMS chair Robert Gonzales also attended.
From the Hollywood Regency Tenants Association: Robert Ellsworth, Kim Serafin, Orest Petrishen, Gwen Wilson, Lincoln Williamson, Rina Meller, Adrian Andress, Lisa Fishman, David Ambroz, Daisy Rodrigues, Helen Devivien, Drew Starlin, Michelle Starlin, Gabriella Starlin, , Marc Godfrey, Edward Maxwel, Yohatan Berkovits, Zina Zegans, Steven Zegans, Marta Sullivan, Erin Sullivan, Sami El Bayan, Donna Stia, Angela Zydek, Mindy Worel, and Bjoern Kommerell, Andrea Andes, Dennis Moulton, Brian Bortillato.
For GTO Development: Syd Dailey, George Minton, Jesse Slansky, Richard Solares, and Fred Shaffer.
For the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce: David Ambrose.
Stakeholders; Yvan Bihon, Martin Mavis
Frank DeFoe called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm.
Frank explained that the reason for having this joint meeting was to reconsider a HHWNC board resolution, dated, August 04, 2005, which approved The Hollywood Regency Project proposal. That resolution provided:
‘That the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council support the proposed Hollywood Regency project and 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’.
Frank explained that the HHWNC was unaware that GTO had not informed its tenants of the proposed project when GTO had presented the project in April, 2005, to the HHWNC Joint Committees Meeting of the Areas 7 and 8, Housing and Traffic Committees. Various questions regarding tenant notification and other tenant rights issues/concerns were not answered fully during that meeting and subsequent committee and board meetings. Unfortunately, this wasn’t apparent until October 21, 2005.
A series of apologies to the tenants were made in statements made by Frank, Ken Jones, Paul Ramsey, Anastasia Mann and others.
Frank described the neighborhood council’s involvement in the project beginning in April 2005, and how it had focused on the design of the project because GTO had assured the neighborhood council that the tenants had been notified about the project and that there were no outstanding tenant related issues, including relocation assistance packages.
Robert Ellsworth, who is the head of the Hollywood Regency tenants’ association, described the history of the building and the tenants’ leases. He described the tenants relationship and dealings with GTO, and how the eviction notices were provided. Ellsworth said tenants received notices in October, 2005 and were initially given 4 months to move out.
GTO later extended the move out time by 2 months to April 30th, 2006.
Robert described GTO’s current relocation/eviction benefits package. It includes $4300 plus a $500 bonus if the tenant moves within the 4 months, an immediate return of any security deposit(s)- and that the tenants can take appliances with them. He also explained how GTO was providing a first right of purchase of a condo/townhouse unit with 100% financing for qualified buyers, but Robert indicated that GTO’s benefits package was not sufficient. Robert summarized the tenants’ demands as needing more time to move out, possibly until September, 2006, more assistance to relocate and more money, perhaps three times the current amount offered. Robert described the shortcomings of the current relocation service, and he asked for a better relocation service to be provided.
Bonnie Kopp, the planning deputy for Council Member Jack Weiss, was not available to attend the meeting. Frank DeFoe read a letter from Bonnie, which stated that the council office has been working with GTO since late 2004, and were also unaware that GTO had not notified the tenants about the Hollywood Regency Project.
George Minton, representing GTO, spoke regarding the Hollywood Regency Project. He stated that the style and design of the project had not changed since the project was approved by the HHWNC Board. He described how the two variances for additional building height and not widening Hollywood Boulevard, would not adversely impact the surrounding neighborhood. He indicated that the Board had given GTO the Board’s letter of support, and that nothing in the project had changed since the letter of support was received in August 2005. He indicated that the reason the tenants had not been notified earlier was because initially GTO was focusing solely on land use and design issues with regard to the Hollywood Regency project. He described the current benefits packaged being offered by GTO [see above]. He stated that this is a matter between GTO, as a landlord, and the tenants.
David Ambrose, from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, indicated the Chamber’s support of GTO’s Hollywood Regency project.
Many tenants who live in the Hollywood Regency discussed their feelings about the building and the eviction process. They described their problems and concerns about GTO’s Hollywood Regency project and GTO’s failure to give them timely notice. Many tenants also described why GTO’s benefits packages were inadequate
Frank DeFoe made a motion, which was seconded by Robert Gonzales, that the HHWNC board should consider a Motion For Reconsideration of the motion which the board passed on August 4, 2005, supporting the proposed Hollywood Regency project and its approval of the requested variances, at the HHWNC board’s next meeting.
VOTE: 13 in favor; 1 abstention. The Motion passed/was approved.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.