Italicized remarks are post-meeting comments by the Recording Secretary.
Roll Call and Introduction of Guests: Janice Santos, Parliamentarian; Chris
Nevil, President; George Gross, 1st VP and Webmaster; Wendy Averill, 2d VP;
Michelle Rudo, Treasurer; Elizabeth Pollock, Recording Secretary; Tobyann Mandel,
Director; Marlene Savage, Director; Aaron Bernardin, Director; Mary Anderson,
Director.
Guests: Eli Shtrum; Nancee Inouye; Devin Santos; Joseph Atkinson of the Playa
Vista Branch Library; Suzanne Gray, Los Angeles Public Library Western Area
Manager.
Approval
of Minutes: The minutes of the October 9, 2006, board meeting were reviewed
and approved without changes.
Approval
of Treasurer’s Report: Before the meeting, Treasurer Michelle Rudo circulated
the Transaction Detail Report for October and a Budget Summary Report comparing
the actual inflows and outflows with the budgeted amounts. The outflows exceeded
the inflows by a lot, but the report did not reflect 2007 dues payments that
are coming in now. So far, 175 members have renewed, and four households in
the newly annexed outreach area have joined.
Police/Crime
Report: No meeting in October. Pacific Division Open House was the same day
as Del Rey Day (October 28). George Gross went to the open house and enjoyed
the earthquake simulator.
Newsletter:
For the Spring newsletter, each board member should submit a short biography
for a “Meet Your Board” article. We need to choose a consistent
way of printing the organization’s name – with or without apostrophes,
ampersand or and in the middle. We will probably drop the apostrophes and use
an ampersand because it makes layout easier. Editor Mary Anderson will ask Rene
Paonessa (who organized Del Rey Day this year) to write an article about Del
Rey Day. She has an article about the Fall Meeting. George Gross will write
an article about how Starbucks was persuaded to alter its site design to accommodate
the neighbors.
General
Meeting; About 770 invitations went out, and about 125 people attended. At least
three people thought Jonathan Neumann’s presence tilted the presentation
toward the developers. Next time we should include a warning at the start that
our goal is to present different viewpoints. We may also want to advise the
audience that during the question/answer session, only questions (not comments)
will be allowed, and each questioner will be limited to two minutes. Marlene
Savage recommends that we take the “smart growth” principles that
were discussed at the meeting and determine if those principles are being applied
at the development projects in our area.
With the Daniel Freeman emergency room closing, maybe our next General Meeting
should deal with emergency health care services for our area. Maybe Gail Goldberg,
head of the L.A. Planning Commission, could be persuaded to attend and speak
about the General Plan for our area. We could have representatives from Kaiser,
Venice Family Clinic, the private hospitals. Centinela will STILL be under construction,
so maybe there will be some discussion about how that affects emergency response
times.
Membership:
We sent 300 newsletters to nonmembers in the newly annexed area, and we may
send a followup letter. It appears that only four households from that group
have joined DRHNA so far. We need to do more marketing of our group.
Website:
Webmaster George Gross reports that the email system is starting to work. Eli
Shtrum said that by reviewing the past four months’ minutes, he was able
to see that his issue (traffic and oversized vehicles) has been under discussion.
Del
Rey Neighborhood Council: The October 28, 2006, election went well, with 170
ballots cast. (The Argonaut reported it was “more than 130 votes.”)
The DRNC will have installation of officers at its meeting on Thursday, November
9, 2006. Results were: Mark Redick, president; Paul Plotkin, vice president;
Katia D’Amico, second vice president; Jerrianne Neumann, treasurer; Theresa
K. Luo, secretary; Marlene Savage, parliamentarian; Michael H. Stafford, communications
officer.
Culver
City Liaison: We still need someone who can attend meetings that affect Del
Rey.
The Crest House restaurant on Washington Blvd. (north side) has closed. Future
plans for the property are unknown.
Council
District 11 Update: Tabled.
5K Race
to support Del Rey elementary schools: We will have a table at the start/finish
of the race with our banner and a map of our area. We will distribute notepads,
magnets and leftover newsletters. Race is on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006, starting
at 8 a.m.. Website is www.care5K.org. Organizer’s email is ha@playaelementary.org
(Ha Roda).
Del
Rey Day: Beautiful weather, but turnout at Marina del Rey Middle School was
skimpy. No petting zoo this year because the zoo didn’t have a City of
Los Angeles business license. Hot dogs and musicians were excellent. Per Casey
Anderson, it wasn’t oriented to children. Maybe offer face painting next
year?
Los Angeles Public Library, Playa Vista Branch: Have 2600 new members so far. Have circulated 100,000 items. Have excellent DVD collection. Have “Hot Off the Press” program so they get new books at the same time as local bookstores. One can borrow a new book for seven days. P.V. branch offers business seminars that are successful. Has a “Books for Boys” club (next meeting Dec. 4). Friends of the
Playa
Vista Library holds an annual book/gift sale in late fall. They have rotating
art exhibits. One can download ebooks or audio books and order books sent over
from other branches.
By April 2007, they hope to increase their hours of operation from 40 to 52
hours per week. Open 10-8 on Monday and Wednesday; noon – 8 on Tuesday
and Thursday, 10 – 6 on Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday. On Sundays,
the Central Library (downtown) and the West Los Angeles library are open for
four hours.
Traffic
Issues Near Maxella/Lyceum: Eli Shtrum reported a problem on Maxella, between
Alla Road and Beethoven St. There are trailers and boats parked on the street,
which narrows from three lanes to one. Also, the traffic speed is too high.
The Lyceum/Maxella intersection is only one block from Short Avenue Elementary
School.
Mr. Shtrum confirmed Nancee Inouye’s observation that calling 1-800-ABANDON
does not help because people move the trailers and boats when they learn they
might be cited. To get a stop sign, the neighborhood must ask the city to come
out and do a study of the traffic patters. (We recommended that Mr. Shtrum contact
Charlotte DeMeo to find out how they got three stop signs on Mesmer Avenue.)
The Los Angeles Police Department said to call the City of Los Angeles Department
of Transportation to find out what procedure must be followed to get “restricted
parking” signs that prohibit parking of oversized vehicles and/or limit
parking to permitholders from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.. Parking restrictions are needed
all along Maxella between Alla and Beethoven. (We suggested that Mr. Shtrum
call the C.D. 11 field deputy, Nicole Velasquez and the DRNC representative
for Area A, Jonathan Neumann.)
Policy
on Commemorative Gifts/Honoraria: Tabled. Elizabeth Pollock and Tobyann Mandel
will work together to draft language. Issue is not specifically addressed in
tax code, but for a 501(c) (4) organization, a $50 maximum is probably appropriate.
Under Proposition R (adopted November 7, 2006), city officials cannot accept
gifts of any kind.
Pension Protection Act of 2006 -
Even with revenues of less than $25,000, we will need to make some kind of filing
with the Internal Revenue Service starting in 2008. If we do not file, we might
be treated as a taxable business entity. The form to be filed is still undetermined,
and it is unclear if the requirement will begin with tax year 2007 or 2008.
Realtor
Outreach to Have Properties Listed As “Del Rey”:
Chris
Nevil and Steve Knight met with the Los Angeles Times, which is preparing a
“Neighborhood Profile” about Del Rey. Realtors Juanita Tiu and Drew
Butler have agreed to use the “Del Rey” designation rather than
“Marina adjacent.” The editor of the George Chung newsletter will
add the DRNC to his list of neighborhood councils in the area. When the profile
is done, the DRHNA and DRNC may want to send a letter to all realtors in the
area. Chris Nevil will prepare a draft before our next board meeting. We may
want to prepare a “Welcome” package that local realtors can give
to new residents of the area.
Liquor
License for 12740 Culver Blvd. Unit H: This property is by Ronnie’s restaurant.
The “Bus Stop” bar in that complex has closed. It is unclear if
the old bar is expanding, or if a new bar will be opening. Nancee Inouye reported
that in the past, there have been problems with the bar having loud crowds at
two or three a.m.. We suggested that Ms. Inouye call Senior Lead Officer Heidi
Llanes to ask what is planned for the complex. (The police must comment on the
liquor license application.)
Chris Nevil checked http://www.abc.ca.gov/datport/LQSData.asp?ID=2027329987
and found that license no. 447309 is pending. The applicant’s name is
Antoinette Marie.
Public
hearing about affordable housing on Westside: Hearing was set for November 9,
2006, at 8:30 a.m. before the California Planning Commission. Ordinance would
add new Section 12.20.2.2 to the Los Angeles Municipal Code to require that
removed or converted existing affordable housing units be replaced one-for-on
with new affordable units and that condominium conversions and for-sale housing
projects of five or more units provide new affordable units (or pay in-lieu
fees). The ordinance applies to the Coastal Zone, i.e. west of Lincoln Blvd.
Mar Vista Gardens Rumor – Although Mar Vista Gardens is going to be renovated
during the next three years, the complex has not been sold. It belongs to the
City of Los Angeles Housing Department.
Board
“Kick Off the New Year” party in January – Scheduled for Saturday,
January 13, 2007, at Marlene Savage’s house.
NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2006
ADJOURNMENT: 9:10 P.M.
Post
Meeting Events:
It has been determined that that a subdivision project Tract Map No. 067206
has been filed for the church property at 5550 Grosvenor Blvd., Culver City,
CA 90230, assessor’s parcel no. 4211003068. The Los Angeles County planner
for the case is Ramon Cordova of the Land Divisions Section, Land Development
Coordinating Center, Department of Regional Planning. His direct telephone number
is (213) 974-6433. We want to make sure the Quimby Funds for this project are
set aside for use in Del Rey.