Board Attendees: Janice Santos, Parliamentarian; Chris Nevil, President; George
Gross, 1st VP; Wendy Averill, 2d VP; Michelle Rudo, Treasurer; Elizabeth Pollock,
Recording Secretary; Kathy Brier, Director; Casey Anderson, Director/Membership;
Aaron Bernardin, Director; Guy Doeh, Director; Steve Knight, Advisor.
Guests:
Amir Sadeghi; Ken Alpern; Kathryn Frengs (liaison to Councilman Bill Rosendahl);
Officer Heidi Llanes; Scott Malsin
Approval
of Minutes – The minutes of the board meeting of August 1, 2005, were
approved.
Treasurer’s
Report - The treasurer’s report for August 1 – 31, 2005, had been
emailed in advance to the board and was approved. A copy is being kept with
these minutes.
Crime
Report – No meeting, so no report.
Traffic
Committee – Tabled. No meeting with Playa Vista.
Newsletter
– George Gross will write about the agreement with Starbucks. Don Dombrowski
will write about the Marina Sound Wall. Chris Nevil will write about the Del
Rey Park project. Tobyann Mandel will write about Neighborhood Watch programs.
Scott Malkin will write about the development plan for Culver West. Can we get
an article about the production crews that are filming in Del Rey?
Del
Rey Neighborhood Council – Nothing to report. October 13 meeting will
be changed.
Guest Ken Alpern – Longtime member of Friends 4 Expo which advocates a light rail line down the Exposition Blvd. right of way from downtown (Staples Center, USC) to Santa Monica. Member of Mar Vista Neighborhood Council. Also involved with Friends of the Green Line, a group that advocates extending the Green Line to connect with other parts of the MTA system.
When the Metropolitan Transit Authority Board votes on the “Expo Line”
to connect downtown with Santa Monica, DRHNA should express support. Phase I
will be a light rail line from downtown to the intersection of Venice Blvd./Robertson
Blvd. and will cost up to $640 million. It will cost another $600-700 million
to build the continuation from there to Santa Monica. All stations west of Crenshaw
Blvd. will have parking. The line will be “grade separated” (elevated)
at the La Brea Ave. and Centinela Blvd. crossings and should be grade separated
at Venice/Robertson if the line is continued. Phase II of the line would go
one of two ways to the intersection of Sepulveda and Exposition Blvds and then
along the Exposition Blvd. right of way into Santa Monica. The route could go
through Palms and Rancho Park or along Venice Blvd. and then north along Sepulveda
to Exposition. DRHNA is encouraged to support preparation of an Environmental
Impact Report regarding Phase II of the project.
A light rail system costs about $100-$120 million per mile. A grade separation
adds $40 – 60 million per mile. An underground line costs about $300 million
per mile.
There has never been a major investment study about running a light rail line
down Venice Blvd. to the beach (along the old Red Car route).
On June 8, 2004, the Mar Vista Community Council passed a motion expressing
support for the Exposition Light Rail Line using the existing MTA right of way
on Exposition Blvd..
Would DRHNA be willing to pass a similar motion at the October 2005 meeting?
Guest – Heidi Llanes - Senior lead officer for area west of Centinela
to Abbot Kinney, from Washington Blvd. down through Playa Vista. Distributed
flyer re community alert re sexual assault suspect. Have had increase in car
breakins in area. If graffiti is seen, take a digital photo of it, and it will
be posted. Pacific Graffiti Systems, (310) 204-2749, has the contract to paint
over graffiti for the city.
Del Rey Park Task Force (seven members) – The United States Postal Service
refused to stop the auction. The bids will be accepted starting September 16,
2005, and the bidding will close 45 days later. A rally is set for September
16, 2005, 4 – 6 p.m. at the site (corner of Jefferson Blvd. and Alla Rd.).
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; California Assemblyman
Kevin Murray; Congresswoman Jane Harman; Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl
all asked the U.S. Postal Service to delay the auction, but the request was
denied.
Environmental activists Marcia Hanscom and Roy van der Hoek have suggested that
the property be used for athletic fields (eight acres) and parkland (eight acres).
Chris Nevil emphasized the need for a single public vision as to what should
happen to the property. There could be a passive recreation area near Ballona
Creek.
Starbucks – The three nearest neighbors have reached an agreement with
the owner of the property that will be leased to Starbucks (corner of Centinela
Ave. and Jefferson Blvd.). The lowest bid for soundproofing was $17,500, so
the owner will put $20,000 into an escrow account. George Gross will draft an
agreement and request an electronic vote to endorse the proposal before the
October meeting.
The site plan we have is what will be in the application for the conditional
use permit. The soil remediation unit is already in use and is on the property.
The North-South alley that leads to the elementary school must be kept open
as a two way alley, but it will be marked “No Entry” to keep people
from using it.
Membership – Still looking for a good, inexpensive software. Scott Malsin will see if he can identify any good Macintosh compatible membership software. The last membership drive was in October 2004.
Guest – Scott Malsin – Member of the Culver City Planning Agency.
In 2001, there were workshops to plan the future of the west end of Washington
Blvd. – housing and offices from the 405 to Grandview; neighborhood shops
from Grandview to Wade St; commercial development from Wade St. west. The developer
who has a contract with Culver City to build at Washington and Centinela (2-3
stories mixed use) will be making a presentation to the city in late September.
Construction between Moore and Meyer may start in a year.
General Meeting – Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has agreed to
speak on November 1, so Chris Nevil favors having the meeting at Marina del
Rey Middle School, which can accommodate 400 people (vs. 150 people at Juniette).
The meeting will be co-sponsored by DRNC, and we expect to have guests from
Mar Vista as well.
Next board meeting: Monday, October 10, 2005 because Monday, October 3, 2005
is the eve of Rosh Hashanah.
Special election on September 13, 2005, to replace Assemblyman Mike Gordon,
53rd District, who passed away in June 2005. Ted Lieu won a clear majority.