1.  CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/QUORUM
Nora Mosqueda, Interim President called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. No quorum at this time.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Nora Mosqueda, Jacqueline Kerr, Ron Weinstein, Joe Cisneros, Philip Gasteier, Merlyn Hernandez, Nyla Arslanian, Rose Marin, Lisa Sergi, Shana Murphy, James Balesh, Jon Kaplan, Charley Mims, Bruce Carroll, Cheryl Johnson. 
ABSENT:  Rosemary DeMonte,  Kerry Hunnewell, Richard Spicer, Molly Rysman. 
CITY REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT:  Rory Fitzpatrick, Chief Field Deputy, CD 4; Matthew Levy, Field Deputy, CD 4. Melvin Canas, DONE Project Coordinator. 
Quorum established at 7:00 pm.

2.  ANNOUNCEMENTS/PUBLIC COMMENTS - none

3.  ORIENTATION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Canas, DONE, explained the items in the notebooks passed out to each member including the history and reason for the establishment of Neighborhood Councils.  Some highlights:

a) Finances
Mosqueda:  Is there some guideline on expenses?  Canas:  The treasurer works with the financial officers and he or she must go through training.  It used to be held once a month, but now will be on a request basis.  Call the department and ask to speak with the funding program to request training for your treasurer.  The treasurer is the second signature along with whomever your by-laws designate as the primary signatory.  Financial disclosure issues are still to be decided.  Look at the website for information.  Only board members can be reimbursed, not stakeholders, unless the stakeholder spends cash and the board member hands in a receipt.

b) Meetings
A general meeting requires 72 hours posted notice.  A special meeting can be called with 24 hour posted notice.  All meetings must be accessible to disabled persons in accordance with the Americans Disability Act. 

c) Conflict of Interest
DONE advised that board members contact the City Attorney for advice on this matter. Call or e-mail Darren Martinez, Deputy City Attorney at 213-978-7000 or dmartinez@mailbox.lacity.org.

d) Public Records Act
In part it says “If a NC Database was generated in a manner that led its participants to believe that their contact information would be used only for neighborhood council purposes, this creates an expectation of privacy that would justify and probably require that the database be protected from disclosure.”  Carroll: I will send the full information out to everyone.  Now our sign in sheets are labeled “confidential” so it is not available to anyone for any reason.

4.  APPROVAL OCTOBER 19 MINUTES
MOTION by Kaplan to accept the minutes as written; SECOND:  Johnson; VOTE:  Consensus

5.  APPROVAL OF NOV 16 MINUTES
Corrections:  In the attendance, James’ first name reads Richard Balesh.  Item #4 – Parks Report the first sentence should read:  There could possibly be designated (delete “senior”) park rangers ...      Item #6, Elections should read that DeMonte said she would co-chair with Mosqueda if Mosqueda was elected to VP Outreach & Communications. 
SECOND:  Mims; VOTE:  Consensus.

6.  PUBLIC COMMENT
Jim McQuiston: For the Planning & Land Use committee, there are 2 notices, one for a condo project on Edgemont and one on W. Finley.  The department wants all the NCs to change their elections so that they are more spread out, because DONE is short handed and backlogged.   Cyrus Kar (stakeholder): I am requesting this board look into putting a traffic signal at the intersection of Finley and Hillhurst.  I ride my bicycle daily and have to cross this intersection.  Today I was almost killed because there is no cross walk.  Mosqueda:  I will pass this information on to James Balesh who heads our Transportation Committee.

7.  ELECTION OF OFFICERS
CANDIATES FOR PRESIDENT are Charley Mims and Joe Cisneros, both spoke for a few minutes about why they wanted to be NC president.
Vote by show of hands- majority.
NEW PRESIDENT – Charley Mims.

At the suggestion of Bruce Carroll it was agreed that Mosqueda would continue to preside over the meeting.

CANDIDATES FOR VICE PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATION ARE Jon Kaplan and Kerry Hunnewell.  Mosqueda informed that Kerry withdrew.  Kaplan spoke for a few minutes.
Vote by show of hands- unanimous
NEW VICE PRESIDENT ADMIN – Jon Kaplan

CANDIDATE FOR VP OUTREACH & COMMUNICATIONS is Nora Mosqueda.
MOTION by Mims that Mosqueda be elected by affirmation.  Motion carries- unanimous.
NEW VP OUTREACH & COMM – Nora Mosqueda

CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER is Lisa Segi, who spoke for a few minutes.
MOTION by Mims that Sergi be elected by affirmation.  Motion carries- unanimous.
NEW TREASURER – Lisa Sergi

CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY are Cheryl Johnson and Jacqueline Kerr.  Johnson withdrew, and Kerr spoke for a few minutes.
MOTION by Mims that Kerr be elected by affirmation.  Motion carries - unanimous.
NEW SECRETARY – Jacqueline Kerr

8.  CRIME REPORT
The LAPD’s Senior Lead Officer Sam Salazer:  Gina Chavon was unable to attend.  We previously reported about persons selling cars on the street, they have since been arrested.  DMV worked with us on a sting to make this happen.  Robberies have shifted from this area to my area around Fountain and Sunset.  Two restaurants were robbed and it seems to be the same suspects.  There has been an increase since the last report on the follow home robberies of the elderly, but then with help from the Explorers we put flyers on everyone’s door and crimes is now negligible.  The new crime update comes out tomorrow and I believe that Officer Chevron has the lowest crime rate in the area.  Sr. Lead Officer “Red” Falconer: While the Explorers were helping us pass out flyers, we noticed many car windows down and there would be some item of value in plain site.  Safeguard your items in the car.  Also as you Christmas shop be aware that you are being watched as you make trips out of the mall to put packages in the car trunk, then go back in.

9.  CRA HOLLYWOOD BLVD. REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
a)  Jim McQuiston:  The idea of putting up signs identifying neighborhoods has finally come up in City Council.  It has been through the committee and there will be a formal way to designate communities and that next step will be with the City Council.  You can’t just go to your Councilmember and get his approval.  We want to eliminate “neighborhoods” because we want inclusiveness in Hollywood.  The City Council is promoting area names (East Hollywood, Los Feliz, etc).  Ron Weinstein:  I mentioned this at our Zoning and Hearing meeting.  Kerr said that the current plan was to designate specific areas, and we thought it would be divisive and instigate a problem that would once again exacerbate into gang warfare that had been prevalent along this part of Hollywood Blvd.  This was brought up at the last Board meeting and I was told to write a letter to the City Council and I did that.  There was opposition to that letter, which we will hear tonight.

b) Chancee Martorell, Executive. Director. Thai Community Development Corporation:  I have a copy of that letter.  We asked for this designation about 10 years ago.  The sign was to develop the area through cultural tourism, like other areas, as well as neighborhood development. On the streetscape project we brought up for discussion the CRA because we thought this would beautify this area (Hollywood/Western and Hollywood/Normandie) with planting and landscaping.  CRA was supportive but wanted us to include a more extensive reach to the Latino and Armenian areas.  That’s how this Neighborhood Council got involved.  They wanted a specific designer and were told they could work with him on the Vermont Triangle.  The streetscape project is on hold right now.  Your Planning & Zoning Committee letter said these signs would lead to gang wars; this phase had no context with it.  Officer Salazar had made a personal statement about gang war and violence; it was not a LAPD position. The community is here to listen to all of you and we want you to validate that statement and offer us the context behind that of putting up a sign that brings on gang violence. 

c) Mims: The discussion we had at the last Board meeting was specifically in terms of designs in the intersection itself.  We did not address monuments or stylized lampposts or any celebrations of ethnic groups.  We just didn’t want markings on the intersection itself.  Carroll:  I attended the meeting with the CRA at the Hollywood Chamber; my recollection may be different as there were two people who presented their designs.  Barrio Designs I felt was marking the turf and it sounded like a bad idea.  I disagree with the statement that our board was alone in supporting Pat Smith, the other designer; it seems everyone supported her.  The designs were more cohesive and better for the community.  Johnson:  I agree I was also at that meeting. Martorellcan you accomplish your objectives without the cultural identification, to avoid the direct ethnic tie?  Chancee:  The idea is to culturally transport people when they come to that area.

d) Kerr:  From talks with Officers Salazar and Chavon, the problem is not with Thai Town.  The concern is with painting ethnic iconology on the pavements in the middle of the intersections; some are Hispanic, some are Armenian.  The concern is with past gang warfare and the police had to do an enormous amount of work to get it under control.  That’s why I brought this up when it applied to the Triangle - that you are defining turf, and it has nothing to do with tourism. 

e) Gasteier: The first I heard about this was the meeting I attended.  This is a diverse community and I would like to see us find a way to accommodate the cultural and economic development, which we need.  I felt this Board wanted to send a positive message.  Chancee:  Those designs were a concept, not firm.  There will be design meetings moving forward. 

f) Carroll: I recommend we stand on our previous statement that we clarified it and there is no need to do anything different.  Weinstein:  I recommend we invite Martorellto attend the next board meeting and be heard.  Balesh:  We have spent time on it today, so I suggest we let it stay in the Neighborhood Improvement Committee and if we need to consider coming back to the Board later, we can.

10.  PARK RANGERS CONSOIDATION WITH GENERAL SERVICES
a) Gary Newton, Police Chief, DGS: [Distributed Powerpoint presentation with current system and proposed changes] The Mayor wanted to look at the feasibility of consolidating city services for cost savings and efficiency.  We will take 75% of the Park Rangers and move them to DGS where they will be merged into the class of armed security officers.  There will be an increased level of safety.  The zoo will be under DGS and work with the officers who will patrol the parks.  Also there is one library within GGPNC boundaries, the Atwater Branch, and that would also fall under the Office of Public Safety.  The Mayor and Chief Bratton support this.  Jason Elias, Local Union 347: We support this plan.  This plan will transfer function of rangers to DGS and allow them to still do the same job.  We support Councilmember LaBonge’s plan to bring in 18 more rangers.  There will be 55 officers from GS to protect the parks. 

b) Joe Tafoya, Local 347: I have been a park ranger since 1988 and over the years the job has evolved with the parks.  The majority of the park rangers are in favor of the consolidation.  Although the uniform may change, their current job duties will not change; that of law enforcement, fire fighting, search and rescue.  The rangers’ move over to GS will have a parks section to monitor and have park programs.  The City does not want armed park rangers.  A dedicated police section will handle those issues.  We support Councilmember LaBonge’s plan.  We are asking this NC to support and accept this idea. Park rangers have had recruitment retention issues and with this GS they can help fill the gaps of the vacancies.

c) Bernadette Soter, Chairperson PROS Committee: This community has not been included in this decision since this issue came up last year.  We asked the City to keep us involved in this issue and we were not.  We heard in September that the consolidation date would be January 9 with outside no input.  We want to work with the City to work out a plan.  Pay is at the bottom of  the Park Rangers retention issue, because park rangers make less money than similar security positions within the City..  Now the library is being affected.  Christine Peters – Echo Park NC, Parks & Public Works Chairperson:  We have been working on this for a year.  Over the last few months we have been able to force some positive change.  If we can get people to attend the Mayor’s next budget meeting to put this in the budget, then it can be worked on.  We support the park rangers 100%, so the Echo Park NC asked for a delay in the decision until all issues are resolved to the satisfaction of everyone.  We were told that consolidation will not happen before March and we hope that all NCs will weigh in as some have already done to support the rangers  I also met with the library police to help them get involved in this issue. The 347 local representative came to all the GS meetings and said that the library police were behind the consolidation but that turned out to not be true. 

d) Officers Martin Smith, LA Public Library officer:   There are 43 officers.  I was not part of the original working group that dealt with this issue.  Local 347 may support it and management may support it, but the workers did not have a vote.  We want this issue to go the public and be discussed by everyone who will be affected; staff of the parks, libraries and patrons.  General Services does not have a citizen’s oversight committee like other areas.  Officer Clarence Helm, LA Public Library officer:   In this consolidation we will be removed from what we do, which is to provide dedicated library coverage.  It will put 5 GS officers to cover 72 branches; but we want to remain dedicated to the libraries.  Soter: Our park rangers perform a number of functions and all that would go away.  Even if the rangers get funded, that money may be cut in the next round of budgets.

e) Mosqueda asked all committees and stakeholders present voice their support:  George Grace, PROS Committee: I am for the park rangers.  Kristin Sabo, PROS Committee: There are 6 issues not nailed down yet. I am not against the consolidation, but some specifics are missing.  Sharon Brewer, Encino NC Parks Rep: We represented the Sepulveda Basin and we didn’t know about it because no one contacted our NC.  I don’t think anything should be done until we are able to participate.  Jeff Gardner, Co-Chair Atwater Village NC: We passed a motion for additional time to discuss it.  We want service to remain the same.  Albert Torres, Interim Chief Park Ranger said he was inn favor because of the delivery of service, but the details must be worked out first.  Ann Wasgerber, stakeholder:  Some upper management, Sr. Park Rangers, are not eligible to go over to GS so we will lose a lot of leadership.  There are a lot of issues that still need to be worked out.  Al Moggia, Sierra Club: I oppose consolidation of the park rangers.  I approve the idea of having dedicated rangers for the larger parks.  Time should be made to study all the ramifications of this.  Luis Alvarado, Mayor of Griffith Park:  You should talk to the people who are well informed about Griffith Park and no one has talked to me and I am the Mayor of Griffith Park.  Lucinda Phillips, PROS committee:  Let’s delay this there are a lot of unresolved issues.  Toby Leaman, PROS committee: Consolidation needs more planning.  The issue is too vague, we have not been told everything.  Bill Murray, founder LA Community Police and NC Citywide Issues Group: This came up in the Issues Group.  I want to hear from the officers and constituents and stakeholders. 

f) Board Member comments:  Kerr: I would like to see Soter put together a list of the problems that people touched on and present to us because so far, the new program and the problems that have been presented tonight have been vague.  Johnson: By putting the park rangers under GS they will be able to fill the gaps and other things; it sounds too good to be true.  Mosqueda:  The PROS committee has asked us for a delay, to not take a position pro or con.  Mims:  I share Kerr’s thoughts, I’d like to see more information about specific concerns and how they are going to be addressed.  Sergi:  I think we have to delay it because we don’t have enough information. 

MOTION by Sergi to ask the City to delay the consolidation until further study, and until such time as the Neighborhood Council receives sufficient information including financial analysis, in order to make an informed decision.  SECOND:  Johnson.  Discussion:  Mims:  Are we proposing an open ended delay?  Kerr:  Where can we get financial information?  Soter, can you get that for us?  Kaplan:  Kerr, please work with Soter on this.  VOTE:  Consensus

11.  ATWATER RANCHO- EQUESTRIAN DISTRICT
Soter:   PROS committee was asked to send a letter to Councilmember LaBonge.  This community wants to lock in their zoning as horse zoning, and then the next step is to get a bridge over the river.  Kaplan:  Have you talked to someone at Demores’ they seem to know about this issue.  I also heard that a bill was passed for killing wild horses and was signed by the governor; have you talked to Demores?   Soter:  We have two equestrians on the PROS committee who might be familiar with this.  Kerr:  Is there anyone in opposition to this zoning request?  Soter:  No.  Jeff Gardner (stakeholder): There is no opposition but with new development coming in, they want the horses driven out.  That’s why we want to solidify the zoning so they are not driven out.  Kaplan:  I support it, but my only concern is if we adopt a letter like this, we would not have heard the other side.  Jeff:  There is no other side.  Mims:  Since no opposition, this is to preserve the amenity as well as to pre-empt future development.  Jeff:  Developers can come in but it is for the buyers who may want to change the zoning and get rid of the horses. 

MOTION by Mims that we support preserving Atwater Rancho and their goal to maintain this unique aspect of Los Angeles for generations to come. Also that we adopt the proffered draft letter as is.  SECOND:  Carroll; VOTE:  Consensus .

12.  TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT
Balesh:  Our next meeting is January 12 at 7 p.m.  At our last meeting we talked about 3 issues that Councilmember LaBonge asked us to consider:  1) traffic enforcement; doubling fines for excessive speeding and running red lights. 2) Parking meters; extending the time to 10 pm.  3)  Transit expansion; MTA subway expansion projects.  I have drafted a letter to the board with our recommendations.  MOTION by James Balesh that the president sign and send it; SECOND:  Philip Gasteier; VOTE: Consensus.

13.  FAITH BASED COMMITTEE
Kaplan: On December 7, Councilmember LaBonge gave us the approval for the Festival of Lights and for short notice we had a good turn out on December 12th.   I want to thank everyone for his or her support.  Several people want to have a real live religious committee and I already have 3 people who are interested. Mims:  Kaplan took pictures and we want to applaud him for the event. 

14.  OTHER BOARD COMMENTS – NO AGENDA
Johnson:  We want to sponsor a New Years Eve Hike on December 31 at 3 p.m.  We would meet at the parking lot observatory.  We are expecting about 100 hikers. For those who will not hike but want to attend we will have transportation up to Mount Hollywood.  I am requesting $50 from the board for soda and salads and announcement flyers.  This is sponsored by Councilmember LaBonge.  MOTION by Kaplan to approve $50 for the New Years Eve Hike for refreshments and flyers; SECOND:  Kerr; VOTE:  Consensus.

15.  PLANNING, ZONING & HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Weinstein:  I attended two zoning hearings.  This Board said to oppose the over height wall and I did that.  Other’s also objected to the wall, Councilmember LaBonge’s office and Los Feliz Improvement Association; and also, on a variance at 4100 Cornwall on an over height building where you gave me discretion to vote.  At the hearing we learned that the building was already in existence.  So after discussing it in our committee, we decided to withdraw the objection and give no recommendation.  Mary Richardson spoke on the Hollywood Community Plan. She said changes will require increased density along corridors and mixed use development.  She wants to come back in January or February either before the committee or this board.  Gasteier:  Do you feel she is at a point where she is ready to come before the board?  Weinstein:  She wasn’t when she came to us. 

16.  NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT
 Kerr: The Myra Underpass Mural.  The money is now coming forward and the artist is beginning his prep work.  Hoover Street stairwell is beginning to look good; the construction and grading is being done.  The artist is working on a “skin” type application that can be adhered to the walls and can be removed if needed.  The Vermont Triangle is beginning to show some movement now.  Matt Levy is putting a meeting together with the architect and traffic consultant and they will study the triangle and look at traffic flow and the bus stop. After we get a report from this meeting as to what is or is not possible we will meet again in January. There is a possible project of giving help to the Los Feliz stairs.

16.  PUBLIC COMMENT
Soter:  I would like to be on the mailing list since I run a committee.  Carroll:  I don’t have a separate list of all stakeholders and the board list is just that.  Kerr:  I would ask that stakeholders like Soter and Ken be added.  Kaplan:  This is a big issue, we should discuss it another time. 

Meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Joyce Clarke, PDQ Careers Temp

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2004
BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEETING MINUTES
Los Feliz Community Police Center
1965 N. Hillhurst, Los Angeles, CA 90027

1.    CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Nora Mosqueda, Interim President called the meeting to order at 7:15  p.m.
Present:  Nora Mosqueda, Jacqueline Kerr, Ron Weinstein, Joe Cisneros, Philip Gasteier, Merlyn Hernandez, Nyla Arslanian, Richard Spicer, Molly Rysman, Rose Marin, Lisa Sergi, Shana Murphy, James Balesh, Jon Kaplan, Rosemary DeMonte, Charley Mims, Bruce Carroll.
Absent: Kerry Hunnewell, Cheryl Johnson.
CITY REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT:  Councilmember Tom LaBonge, CD 4;  Rory Fitzpatrick, Chief Field Deputy, CD 4;  Jeanne Chang, Legislative Deputy, CD 4.
Each new board member and returning board member introduced themselves and the area/committee they represent.

2.    COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 REPORT
a) Councilmember Tom LaBonge: Congratulations to the new board members and to the returning members, thank you for your past service.  Matthew Levy will be your new deputy for this area; Jeanne Chang has been promoted to Legislative Deputy.  The Governor is looking at a proposal to base the city’s gas tax on vehicle mileage.  I want the gas tax to stay as it is because it goes to our transit system, infrastructure, road repair, etc.  The use of subways should be back on the table for discussion. 

b) We need a senior center in this area to serve Silver Lake and Los Feliz.  At the City Council meeting on November 9 I put a motion before the City regarding the “feasibility of using the Griffith Park Observatory construction trailers for a senior facility to be located on Riverside Drive across from the Friendship Auditorium.”  The motion was adopted with an amendment to my suggested name for the Senior Center.  May will be the 75th Anniversary of the Observatory and its grand re-opening.  There was discussion to put Measure A (1/2 cents sales tax to add more police) back on the ballot in March.  Some people in this area voted for it and some against.  If we don’t have the tax Countywide, people will go to other areas, like Glendale to shop.

c) On the ranger issue, I believe we must have rangers assigned to our parks and assigned to a dedicated park.  The zoo is nearing renovation and Ruby the elephant is back in town, looking beautiful?  If we took a piece out of the last golf hole near the zoo it could be used as a reserve for large animals, like Ruby and giraffes, hippos, etc, so they would have a place to roam.  We are addressing some of the traffic concerns near the Greek Theatre.  We are doing a Master Plan for Griffith Park and there will soon be a community meeting that the NCs should be involved in. We want active recreation in the parks, like baseball, or soccer. We are nearing the completion of a new multi purpose field near Los Feliz with artificial turf.  There are no lights at John Marshall High and we don’t need them because no night games, but we should put a football field northwest of the zoo.   I am on the River Committee and we are coming up with a Master Plan to revitalize that area.

d) On the police issue, I am going to propose that we create a Northwest division, which would break the NE division into 2, some time in the future.  A smaller division provides better service.    On Thursday Nov. 18 we are hosting a Community Congress on Neighborhood Beautification and Community Art at Barnsdall, from 6:30 to 8:30.  This is Councilmember Garcetti’s district and he and his constituents have been invited.  Next Tuesday night is the start of DWP’s light show in Griffith Park.  An Arts Reports has just been released and here are two copies for this council (given to Nyla). 

SWEARING IN OF 2005 BOARD
After Councilmember LaBonge swore in all the board members, Nora thanked all of the past board members.   Councilmember LaBonge said that he would like to recognize outgoing board members with a certificate from his office.  Charley will send the list to the Councilmember. 

3.    PUBLIC COMMENT
a) Jim McQuiston (stakeholder)  Councilmember Janice Hahn said that the NCs are coming up for review in 2005 and the City Council has received less than 10 community impact statements from all the NCs combined; she was very disappointed.  Jacqueline:  This NC has generated about 4 or 5 statements alone.  Councilmember LaBonge:  You may have them, but you have to get them to the City Clerk.  My deputy Jeanne Chang will look into this and get back to you.

b) Ms. Ziggy Kruse: Rep for Hollywood Studio District NC:  We are having our first annual mixed holiday party on 12/5 at 3 p.m. at the Louis B. Mayer Building.  We will celebrate Kwanzaa, Chanukah and Christmas.  We are asking Councilmember LaBonge for his support as well as the NCs with money, volunteers and decorations.  We spoke to Hollywood United NC and they are supporting us.  There will be a toy drive by the Fire Department. 

c) Dora Herrera:  Pres. Los Feliz Business Improvement District:  We want to push for a news rack ordinance that would call for color uniformity.  Rosemary on your board has been working on this with me for some time.  The community wants one color, the green that the LA Times uses; it creates less of a visual blight.  Does anyone else want to go to the meeting tomorrow at 10 a.m?  Richard: Is this a final decision?  Rosemary:  Yes, it came out last July.  Shana:  Do you mean throughout the whole city?  Rosemary:  Anywhere there is a streetscape plan it applies.  Councilmember LaBonge:  There have been long discussions and it may end up in court because publishers operate under the first amendment right.

d) Ms. Yodhira DeLeon. Autry National Center:  On October 24 the chamber orchestra under Brian Metcalf debuted; this is the orchestra that you supported with a donation.  There is a January concert and you will be kept informed about it.  We have a new building coming up and we are choosing an architect from the finalists.
Stakeholders introduced themselves and the local organization they represented.

4.    COMMITTEE REPORTS
Parks Report.  Bernadette: There could be designated park rangers for larger regional parks only under RAP and we have Councilmember LaBonge to thank for the compromise.  The Parks committee is asking this Council to approve Councilmember LaBonge’s MOTION and join Echo Park and other councils that are putting out an impact statement.
MOTION by Charley that we create a Park Ranger community impact statement in support of the MOTION, by Councilmembers LaBonge, Hahn and Greuel.  [MOTION (excerpt): Therefore move that the Department of Recreation and Parks in consultation with the Chief Administrative Officer and the Department of General services report back…..a deployment and staffing plan that will result in dedicated deployment of Park rangers at the City’s larger, regional, parks….  SECOND:  Jacqueline

Discussion
Jacqueline:  How many rangers have gone into service?  Charley:  Are you talking about people or position in this MOTION?  Councilmember LaBonge:  I want one ranger to be responsible for an area.  Jon:  This MOTION is very general, it should have more detail.  But I do support it.  Charley:  We could act on the MOTION and if it conflicts with the Brown Act we can agendize it.  Joe:  There are people at the park early in morning all the time, I am wondering if you have thought of getting those people to be the eyes and ears of the park.  Councilmember LaBonge: Yes, I’ve already seen them do that as concerned citizens, but what I am looking at is a ranger at a fixed post who will begin caring about his/her area.  If this NC would tell me what you want and not get bogged down with talk, then perhaps I can help.  Jon:  The bureaucracy of the city gets us bogged down; we do our part, and then they come back to us with more to do or modifications.
VOTE:  Consensus – MOTION passes.

5.    NEW BOARD MEMBER ORIENTATION
Richard:  New members will get a briefing regarding the City’s guidelines and requirements.  We invited Melvis Canas, DONE Project Coordinator to speak tonight, but he said he would put together a package of City Ordinances, the Brown Act and other items and deliver them at the December meeting.  Also on the website is information.

6.    NOMINATIONS FOR  OPEN NC OFFICER POSITIONS
Nominations recorded from 11/8 meeting: 
PRESIDENT:  Charley Mims
VP ADMIN:  Kerry Hunnewell
VP OUTREACH & COMMMUNICATIONS:  Nora Mosqueda
TREASURER:  Lisa Sergi
SECRETARY:  None
Additional nominations from the floor were as follows:
SECRETARY:    Cheryl (nominated by Jon)  Cheryl was absent
        Jacqueline (self nominated)
VP OF ADMIN:  Jon (nominated by Nora)  Jon accepted
 VP of COMM & Outreach: Rosemary (self nominated)  would co-chair with Nora if Nora elected
TREASURER:  Bruce (nominated by Jacqueline)  Bruce declined, then accepted, then said he would formally decline again at the next meeting.
PRESIDENT:  Joe (self-nominated)
MOTION by Jon that nominations be closed.
SECOND: Jacqueline
VOTE:  Consensus-motion passes

7.    BYLAWS REVISIONS
Bruce:  We need a rewrite of the bylaws because the election and designated members show that we have some pitfalls in the process.  Nora:  This item will be on the December or January agenda once we have a new VP. Phil:  I think there should be a committee dedicated to just this.
MOTION by Richard that this item be referred to the Rules Committee. 
Charley:  Can we defer this until after December when we have a new committee installed?
MOTION by Bruce that we request the Rules & Election Committee to make a total review of the bylaws and amend where necessary and to report back to the full board within 4 months. 
SECOND:  Jacqueline
VOTE:  Consensus –motion passes
Charley:  Add that the committee make recommendations back to the board with proposed recommendations for amending the bylaws. 

Jim McQuiston: Someone should call BONC and withdraw the bylaw revisions that are on the table now.

8.    TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
James:  [Submitted his written report and highlighted some of the items as follows:]   (1) The repaving that was done on Franklin came from Federal funds; it was not part of our repaving list. (2)  Councilmember LaBonge wants our committee to come back to him as a group on these transportation issues.  He wants answers by the end of the year.  Charley:  I agree with LaBonge that the ban for no more transit should be taken off the books.  I agree with the increased use of light rail. Maybe we could modify our stand to say we support removing the ban. Ron:  Perhaps James’ committee could draft a motion and bring it back to us at the December meeting.  Phil:  We need to focus on what was said and what we will do. The items are clear but I am not sure what will happen after we get the input to the Councilmember; that is I don’t know what his timetable is.  Charley:  How about if we agree in principal and the chair drafts an impact statement, send it to all of us by e-mail for final adoption at the December 21 meeting. 

Nyla:  On item #3, parking meter hours extended to 10 p.m. maybe not include the part about the other area. [Open discussion on night life of each area, how it would impact parking and parking limitation in other cities.] Richard: Would you and Charley consider adding the DASH service to it?  James:  I will complete an impact statement for the next meeting.  Jim  McQuiston: I am glad you are putting this off until next time.  HUNC took up all three of these items, traffic enforcement, parking meters and transit expansion and opposed them. They said that you can’t read the times on the meters, they are too dim.  Another problem is about the budget.  This money that the fees bring in is supposed to be reserved for parking structures, but the City wants to use it to help balance the budget.  This money is not going to come back to the community.  They will borrow these parking fees indefinitely. 

9.    PROS COMMITTEE
Bernadette:  [Gave information on the equestrian area in Atwater Rancho]  Can we send a support letter to Councilmember LaBonge about Atwater Rancho wanting to preserve their equestrian area?
MOTION by Charley that the PROS Committee prepare a community impact statement and we will circulate it at the next board meeting. SECOND: Richard VOTE: Consensus –motion passes

10.    PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE
a) Variances
Ron:  We are going to visit the Zoning Department to review two applicants who filed for variances.  Our committee has given Ken and myself authority to use our discretion because these hearings are Dec 2 and Dec.6. I want to confirm with this board that we have authority to appear at these hearings and oppose or support at our discretion.  Has this committee ever discussed over-in-height fences/walls before? Rosemary:  We did with an incident in the Franklin Hills area; we did not oppose it we took a “no position” because it didn’t change much of the terrain. Charley: We don’t generally oppose them, but there are exceptions. [He gave some examples]  Ron:  The wall is 8 feet and is already up; the owner did it knowing that the Los Feliz Improvement Association opposed it.  They will be at the hearing.  Bruce:  I think over-in-height walls are terrible for the community.
MOTION by Bruce that we oppose this one and after a review of each case oppose over height walls unless there is good reason not to; this would also apply to high hedges.
SECOND:  Charley
Ken Owen: stakeholder I am co-chair of the zoning committee for the Los Feliz Improvement Association.  The police say they are a security risk; the owners could face a home invasion because the police can’t see any lights.  Making a unified show at the meeting will make a different; perhaps we can work together.  Jim McQuiston:  The Melrose Hills group measures fences.  The Planning Department has a rule they will not notify people anymore.  The only way to be kept in the loop is to oppose them.  I suggest you give the planning committee approval to look into this. 

Ron:  The other property for a variance exceeded the height limit by 5 feet; it is on a sloped area and doesn’t stand out too much. 
Amendment to motion by Bruce that we authorize Ron and Ken to work with these issues and resolve as good judgment dictates. SECOND:  James VOTE:  Consensus – motion passes

b) IZ Task Force
Ron:  There is an Inclusionary Zoning task force being formed and the Chamber of Commerce is spearheading it.  They will focus on all solutions to housing.  Do you want us to continue to participate in this task force?  Kurt Rademaekers, Molly and I attended their Friday meeting.  The next one is Dec. 16.

MOTION by Charley that Ron, Molly and Kurt be our officially designated members on the IZ Task Force formed by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
SECOND:  Richard VOTE: Consensus motion passes

c) Hollywood Plan
Ron:  Richard has invited Molly to discuss the Hollywood Plan. We want all member councils to attend and anyone else, on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.  Richard:  The transportation rep will be there as well.
Charley:  Someone from LAUSD is looking for 18 acres to build a links school – a middle/high school.  They want to do a presentation.  If Ron agrees, perhaps his committee may be a good place for them to start with a presentation.  Ron:  Ok
Ron: Tuesday we will meet with David Keim of Building & Safety to discuss some issues.  Also Jacqueline made a presentation on the triangle at Vermont.  The committee decided to issue a statement [he read it]

11.    NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT
Jacqueline:  The Vermont, Hollywood, Prospect triangle is a CRA project. They came up with a large budget of $800,000 to revamp it. The idea is to make it more comfortable for bus riders. They also want to paint ethnic symbols into the triangle.  Joe:  It is a bad idea to define turf this way. It is better to tie it into the Observatory or what we in Hollywood are about. 
MOTION by Jacqueline recommending that the council empower the chair of the Zoning Committee to send a letter about the motion that was carried by the Planning & Zoning to CRA, stating our opposition to this plan
SECOND:  Bruce
Richard: I thought we already approved something.
MOTION by Charley that the Planning & Zoning Committee put together an impact statement.
SECOND: James
Jacqueline:    It has to be a letter, it is not going before the Council. [MOTION changed to say “letter”]
VOTE:  Consensus – motion passes
Nyla:  This should be looked at like a crime issue; it is about inclusion of all people.  It seems that to have something of good design will reach out to all people.

12.    NEWSLETTER
Rosemary:  It was supposed to go out before the election, but I also had to do things for the election. Is there someone who will volunteer to finish the newsletter?  [Nyla volunteered]. Richard:  We have a template of the layout to make it easy. It will go out to the entire neighborhood.  Rosemary:  This will go to about 10,000 people and will also be inserted in the City Beat. I will e-mail the board what I have so far. 

13.    NEXT MEETING
Nora: The next meeting is December 21.  There will also be a party. If we can plan to start at 6:30 for the party and open at 7 p.m.; we will put the board orientation up front.  If that is not good the second choice for a date is December 14.  Bruce will send out an e-mail asking people which date is better.  Also on the agenda will be the Mayor’s Budget Review.  I posted for tonight’s meeting and the bank took it down.
Jacqueline: What about a Government Affairs committee to study motions that come from the City Council and then prepare community impact statements? 

Meeting adjourned at 10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted
Joyce Clarke, PDQ Careers Temp

A quorum having finally arrived at 8:34pm, VP for Administration Stan Thompson as interim president calls the meeting to order. Thompson then resigns his position as VP Administration and interim president leaving VP of Outreach and Communications Nora Mosqueda as the highest ranking officer. VP Mosqueda defers to Treasurer Kerry Hunnewell to preside because he’s “more up to date” on the matters on the agenda.

Hunnewell explains the prime reason for the meeting is to appoint the designated members of the GGPNC board within the 30 day time frame specified in the by-laws. Because Secretary Andrew Westall is no longer a board member, having chosen not to seek re-election, Hunnewell reports that Bruce Carroll has agreed to be interim secretary.

#1 Hunnewell and Mosqueda report on the actions of the special meeting of the Executive Committee on 11/3/04 regarding the process for nominations of officers. The committee recommends nominations take place at the 11/16 regular board meeting with elections held at the December 21, 2004, board meeting. Charley Mims suggests that nominations be opened at this, 11/8/04, meeting and be held open through the 11/16 Board Meeting to allow newly elected and designated members time to decide if they want to run.

#2 Mims, chair of the ad hoc Committee on the Appointment of Designated Members of the Board, presents the committee’s report and reads the names of its nine recommendations: Jonathon Kaplan–religious, Rosemary DeMonte-business, Nora Mosqueda–business, Richard Spicer–education, Philip Gasteier, Nyla Arslanian–culture & Non-profit, Rose Marin–education & non profit, Merlyn Hernandez, Lisa Sergi–recreation.  Mims notes that all have committed to serve their two year terms.

#3 Mims moves the appointment of the nine nominees and there is a chorus of seconds, followed by consensus approval that the nine nominees named above become Designated Members of the GGPNC Board.

#4 Hunnewell calls for discussion on the report regarding the nomination and election of officers. Jonathon Kaplan moves to adopt the Mims plan (see item #1). Mims seconds, Hunnewell declares consensus.

#5 Hunnewell nominates Carroll as interim secretary to serve until December officer elections so that in the event there is need for an Executive Committee meeting before the formal election of officers there will be the required quorum of 3 members. Carroll accepts and Mims moves, 2nd by Kaplan to appoint Carroll…approved by consensus.

Acting on item # 4 Four nominations were made and seconded during the meeting:
Mims nominated newly designated member Lisa Sergi  for Treasurer
Kaplan nominated Mims for President
Mims nominated Hunnewell for VP Administration
Hunnewell nominated Mosqueda for VP of Outreach & Communication
Aditionally Jacqueline Kerr nominated DeMonte for VP Outreach & Communication…she declined.
There were no nominations made for the office of Secretary

Hunnewell then reminded board members that nominations remain open for further additions at the 11/16/04 meeting. Richard Spicer asked if the outsourced minute taking service would be at the  11/16 and 12/21 meetings…it will be arranged.

Public Comment…Jose Sigala, president of Friends of the LA River and government relations person for the LILA School introduced himself. He thanked GGPNC for past efforts in LA River cleanup. Wants to ask for more support at future meeting, says “You guys have done a tremendous job” Congratulates all board members, saying  “I know it’s a big commitment.”

Kaplan moves for adjournment and it is agreed by consensus at 8:52pm.

Prepared by:
Bruce Carroll, Interim Secretary


1.    CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Stan Thompson, Interim President call the meeting to order at 7:15  p.m.

Present:  Stan Thompson, Interim Pres, Kerry Hunnewell, Treasurer; Andrew Westall, Secretary; Kara Knack, Shana Murphy, Cheryl Johnson, Ron Weinstein, Joe Cisneros, James Balesh, Charley Mims, Bruce Carroll, Rosemary DeMonte, Scott Crawford, Jonathan Kaplan, Jacqueline Kerr, and Molly Rysman

Absent: Bernadette Soter Joe Zefran. Nora Mosqueda

CITY REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT:  Melvin Canas, DONE Project Coordinator; Rory Fitzpatrick, Dir. Of Field Operations, CD 14 City Councilmember Tom LaBonge.

2.    PUBLIC COMMENT
Ann MacKeen announced a meeting on Oct. 21 of the Barnsdall Neighborhood Association.

Kristen Sabo gave an update on the Park Rangers consolidation. There have been meetings held for public comment, but the neighborhood councils are not involved in the process of this plan.  The Mayor received a series of letters from this board, but Kristen wants the board to write another letter reiterating their stand.  Oct 27 is a meeting at Friendship Auditorium.

Kirk Rademaekers, Chair of Ad hoc committee on Inclusionary Zoning.  The Hollywood Chamber is putting together a task force of local businesses and Neighborhood Councils to look at updating the Hollywood Community Plan; a draft should be available in December. The intent is to include IZ into the plan.  If anyone is interested send an e-mail to Ron.

3.    COUNCIL DISTRICT 14 – REPORT
Rory Fitzpatrick:   (a)  There will be a meeting on Oct 27 on the consolidation effort of the Park Rangers; all Neighborhood Councils have been invited.  (b)  There has been an increase in graffiti and now is a high priority on the Councilmember’s list.  Will meet with Captions of the Northeast area on this.  (c)  There was illegal selling of cars along Los Feliz.  LAPD spearheaded a sting operation along with DMV and identified two individuals, one a gypsy ring doing the selling; the “for sale” signs have diminished.

4.    LAPD CRIME REPORT
Gina Chovan, Sr. Lead Officer: (a) We did do a sting on the Los Feliz car sales that was very successful including a day spent undercover, advising legitimate registered owners not to sell on the street just because they saw the gypsies doing it.  (b)  There will be a Town Hall meeting on November 4 at Occidental College to meet and greet the local Police Command Staff. (c) Robberies and car break-ins are up.  We have been handing out these flyers telling people not to leave valuables visible.  Please take a flyer and pass out to your friends and neighbors.  (d) There has been an increase in follow home robberies of the elderly during the day.  They knock the person down and rob them.  Here is a sketch of the suspect, please take some flyers and alert your neighbors.  (e) Elderly distraction burglaries are on the rise.  Two or three persons will say they are from a utility company to check your water, gas, etc and while one person is checking the other suspects are robbing you.  Please take these flyers as well.  (f)  I will soon set up a training day with the detectives and everyone is invited. 

Rory:  The Councilmember’s office has been receiving complaints about graffiti and we will bring it to your captain’s attention, have you received any calls?  Officer Chovan:  No we have not.  Joe:  Are the various crimes on the website?  Mark Marisol (stakeholder)  If you go to the City website and click on teamwork LA, they are putting basic crime stats in there.  Joe:  I am looking for what’s on the crime blotter.  Officer Chovan: I don’t think so, but I can look into it.  Stakeholder:  Are the follow home robberies in a car or walking?  Officer Chovan: One of the victims was unloading her car.  So think about changing your route home, looking in your rear view mirror when going into your automatic garage.

5.    CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION RESULTS
Stan:  We had 179 residents register and cast ballots.  In Jerry Kvasnicka’s final report on behalf of the League of Women Voters,  he said that the election committee consisted of 2 people; this is incorrect, there were more, but I had the most contact with him.

MOTION by Charley that the election results be approved as presented and the new board members be seated.
SECOND:  Cheryl

New Board members are: Ronald Weinstein, District A; Cheryl Lee Johnson (re-elected)  District A;  Jacqueline Kerr (re-elected) and  Kerry Hunnewell  District B;  Joe Paul Cisneros and Shana Murphy, District C; Molly Rysman and James Balesh, District D; Bruce Carroll  and Charley Mims (re-elected) District E.

Jacqueline:  Bernadette, chair of the PROS committee and Andrew our secretary were not re-elected; what do we do?  Andrew:  I will be happy to be secretary until someone is elected, even though I am not a board member. 

Charley:  Any objection to the motion?

VOTE:  full consensus

Stan: Because our bylaws do not specify for seating, we came to an agreement that upon the results being accepted by DONE the winners become new board members.  The bylaws are silent as to when they become an effective voting body. [Stan asked for introductions around the room of all board members]

6.    COMMITTEE REPORTS
PROS.  Kara: We are working on Ferndale, consolidation of Park Rangers and Griffith Park.  Officer Chovan will be at our PROS December meeting.  Three letters were sent asking that the City not proceed without community input on the Park Ranger issue.   Mark Marisol (stakeholder and Supv of Parks): In response to the Park Rangers consolidation this plan has been in the works for more than a year and has been going through the budget process since last April.  [Mark clarified the consolidation plan and what it would look like and what the responsibilities of workers would be.] Both unions are trying to figure out how to get armed response in the park, since we are not getting it from the police.  So by creating an armed unit the park will be covered.  This discussion is still taking place; the City Council vote today was to address the fact that there is a need for rangers in regional parks.  Management wants support from neighborhood councils to go along with the consolidation.  Rangers will keep many of their responsibilities; it is the security function that is at issue. Charley:  So will there be fewer rangers?  Mark:  There will be an unfreeze that will allow for hiring.  The department will retain 19 rangers and 7 senior rangers if there is a consolidation. Charley: Will the people who are consolidated come back as security?  Mark:  If we go to General Services and they give us their officers we are already transferring some of that money over to them.  We will still get security services.  There is a meeting next Wednesday and you are all invited.  Scott: Firestone is a regional park, why isn’t it on the list?  Mark:  Councilman Ludlow wanted it to go back for more detail, there are other parks that are regional and don’t come under this.  We currently do expanded programs in these parks we have identified, so it has to do with the ability to do outreach programs on a regular basis that rangers are already doing.  Cheryl:  Can you update us on the traffic expected at the Observatory.  Mark:  There are a few things that are going on with that.  But we are working on it with DOT and other departments and should hear perhaps next summer about a combination of openings.

7.    NEW S.A.F.E.(Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, Elctronics) CENTER PROGRAM
Fernando Gonzalez, Recycling Program Manager, City of LA Bureau of Sanitation and Heidi Harmon, Project Engineer.
Fernando: [brought samples of solvents.  He handed out a Powerpoint Presentation and discussed recycling of common household materials and how some can be used as energy saving fuel.  Talked about proper disposal and potential risks to families, pets and the environment. ] There are 3 S.A.F.E. Collection Centers around L.A.:  UCLA, Gaffey Street, Hyperion, and in East San Fernando Valley. There is a facility Glendale-Los Angeles in the pre-design stage and we are inviting the NCs for their input before the design is final.  Stan:  How will you go about educating the public about the facility?  Fernando:  Our plan is in its early stages.  Rosemary:  If a can is empty, does it still need to be recycled?  Fernando:  There is always something left in a can and we have a method for recycling that.  Molly.  There is a site in Elysian Valley and the biggest issue is signage, people trying to find it.  Fernando: This one has the most participation.  I will send copies of a fact sheet to all of you but about 60% of what we collect is paint.  For the Glendale facility our hours will be 9-3 on Saturday and Sunday and one day during the week.  Molly:  Any materials destroyed at the site?  Fernando: No.  Kara:  When will it be finished?  Fernando:  Design should be done by next Spring, then it will be built. Scott: Will there be mulch at this site?  Fernando:  I don’t think we will.  Kerry:  Why not suggest to all the NCs that they put your information link on their page.  Fernando: That’s a good idea.  Joe: Do you do presentations in the schools?  Fernando: Yes we partner with other kinds of environmental programs and go with them.

8.    QUORUM
Andrew:  In September I sent a letter to the City Attorney about what constitutes a quorum. He sent me back a response on October 7, saying that meetings can be held but no action can be taken.  Melvin Canas, DONE:  There was a meeting today to review your question to amend the bylaws for a floating quorum, which is 2/3 of whatever the number of board members are present. Other NCs have also asked this.  They have been working on this in the City Council and also DONE, but the department will not support a floating quorum nor the City Attorney.  They will propose language that allows NCs that are missing enough board members to have a quorum to instead hold a special meeting to appoint new board members. If you want to withdraw your request for a floating quorum, we suggest adding this language to your bylaws: 
Vacancy Clause:  “If the Board is unable to establish a quorum due to the number of vacancies then at a regularly noticed meeting the existing board members may fill the vacant seats until a quorum is established.  oN action may be taken until a quorum is established and unless the items have been agendized in compliance with the Brown Act.”  

Melvin: Or instead of a floating quorum you can change your quorum to 10.  Kerry:  Our minimum is 10 so it doesn’t apply and doesn’t satisfy objections you brought up.  Melvin:  The Board and City Attorney will not approve floating quorums.  Cheryl: If someone leaves the meeting early can we still have it, even though we are not making decisions?  Melvin:  If someone leaves the meeting early and you lose the quorum, the meeting is adjourned.  At this point it is being reviewed by the City Attorney.  Andrew:  So our bylaws request has been declined, ours says a quorum never goes below 10.  Our quorum cannot fall below a majority.  We are in line with what the City wants. I suggest support before it goes to (Board of Neighborhood Commissioners) BONC.  Melvin:  It goes to BONC for a vote on October 26.  [Further discussion on floater quorums]  Molly:  Can you get a clear response from them on why they won’t accept it?  Melvin:  Do you want to bring it down to 10 or adopt the language in my letter?  Kerry: What is the next step?  Stan: We go to the BONC meeting.

9.    MAYOR’S BUDGET DAY REPORT
Cheryl Johnson: Nora Mosqueda attended the Budget Day meeting.  We had only 100 surveys and 2 board members turned theirs in.  Nora was elected the regional rep of the Neighborhood Councils to discuss problems with the Mayor.  We chose parking as our priority even though it was not on the survey.  At the next meeting Nora will insist that the form be rewritten, that it be given to us early and that we have the Mayor’s commitment to take action. 

10.    OUTREACH AD HOC COMMITTEE
Stan: The outreach committee met and identified 22 people, then sent out an e-mail to everyone asking if they are interested in running.  We discussed going out and seeking more candidates. The committee feels we should stick with the 22 candidates.  We talked about what do we do to elect them other than the board electing them.  The consensus was to form an ad hoc committee to talk to the candidates.  They would be interviewed and recommendations made to the board.  Rosemary:  We should come up with a fair way to interview people.  Charley: I agree and it should also be flexible; a set of standard questions and a committee to do the interviewing.  Jacqueline:  The last time I did most of the phoning and asking them why they wanted to be on the board and how much time could they devote.  Cheryl:  Do we adopt the outreach committee’s recommendation to stay with 22 candidates or seek more?  Charley: I say stick with it.  We said that people could apply up to the day of the election, so we can’t do anything now.  Kerry:  I say we stay with the 22 and not go though any more formal efforts.  Scott:  Do the candidates have to fulfill the criteria?  Cheryl:  Yes.  Charley:  If we adopt the report it cuts it off.  Cheryl:  No it also includes anyone on the board who wants to run.   Stan:  You also wanted to know how to do the interview process.  We don’t have time for the adhoc committee to go back and do it. 

MOTION by Charley, I move that we appoint a committee to develop a standard set of questions and pose that set of questions to applicants, then come back to the board on November 8 with recommendations which would include summaries of all the candidates. The committee would call the candidates in to meet as a whole, rather than phoning them.

SECOND:  Bruce

Jonathon:  I am in favor of the committee, but I don’t know if we need to give the committee that much direction.  Cheryl:  Some people were calling and not everyone knew this was being done.  Charley:  We have a short time period and to organize an ad hoc committee and call candidates by November 8 is not enough time.   Charley: Take out the last sentence, “The committee would call the candidates in to meet as a whole, rather than phoning them.”  Kerry:  Why not appoint a committee and leave it to them to do the best way for all.  I suggest we don’t need a motion, just appoint a committee.

AMENDED MOTION by Charley, that we appoint a committee to develop a standard set of questions and pose that set of questions to applicants and come back to the board on November 8 with recommendations, which would include summaries of all the candidates. 

VOTE:  Consensus – motion passes.

Ad Hoc Committee members:  Scott, Charley, Jacqueline, Kerry, James and Joe. They will elect their own chairperson. [later in agenda Cheryl is added]

11.    CRA HOLLYWOOD/WESTERN PROJECT:
Kerry: To bring you up to date on the project from last month’s meeting, it will be split into 2 parts; one to develop housing and one for commercial.  Agreements from developers will be back this month and will include a community review until the design is finalized.  Ron:  Administratively, can you meet with the PZHP committee to go over the project?  Kerry: Yes, in person or in writing?  Ron:  Are we going to keep LFIA and other neighborhood groups involved and informed of what’s going on?  Kerry: A LFIA rep was here tonight and will be attending the CRA meetings personally.

12.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

a) TRANSPORTATION: James:  Our next meeting is Oct. 25 at the Citibank building discussing what happened with street pavement recommendations, streetscape for Los Feliz, and other items.  Ron:  Do you plan to attend Councilmember LaBonge’s breakfast on this issue at the Hollywood City Hall?  James:  I am going to try.

b) NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT:  Jacqueline: Our plan to develop the Vermont triangle is more elaborate than what Kipp Rudd (Sr. Engineer on project for CRA) wants.  He said that maybe he should just give us a kiosk and a few plants.  He has been unresponsive to my phone calls.  I turned it over to Jeanne Chang (CD 14, Field Deputy) And Pat from the architectural landscaping firm.  Jeanne will have a traffic study done and see if the triangle can be reconfigured. [Jacqueline talked about the ethnic naming of each section that might lead to a gang warfare; the landscaping issue; the influence of the Barrio Planner and what they wanted to do.]  My next meeting is Friday Oct. 29 at Figaro’s

c) PZHP REPORT: Ron: (Planning Zoning & Historical Preservation Committee).  We have met twice once on IZ to complete the position statement that was approved by this board.  Kurt Rademackeus did a great job on this.  After approval he distributed it to as many offices as possible, and working with Andrew we sent it to other NCs and City staff.  In the second meeting we discussed the failure of Building & Safety to enforce its own laws.  We have contacted  the chief of B&S and we will go down there if we have to.  Scott:  Give us some examples.  Ron:  Over height walls; a residence got a permit to do some work but in the middle it was stopped for 2 years.  He wants to see issues like that looked into.


13.    TREASURER’S REPORT
Kerry: You will see in the hand out that we have unspent, and uncommitted $12,383.  This does not include election invoices. There is approximately $5,700 left on the card; $6,200 in demand warrants and about $366 in our checking account.  We will have to do a budget re-allocation for a $3,000 project.  We have over $20,000 in committed but unspent funds: newsletter costs, etc.  We received funding for 5 quarters and we have 2 additional quarters to go.   I am asking Bruce to post financial reports every quarter on the website and people can download them to view them.  Our bylaws say we must set fees for requests for information and we don’t have them.  I think we have to be low enough but also high enough to discourage people form asking.  Bruce:  Up to 10 cents a page.  Kerry:  People should pay an initial administration fee for hard copy and for an electronic copy, half that fee.  Charley:  The minutes and bylaws are on the website, then if we put the finances on the website, what are we charging them for?  Kerry:  If a person wanted every single receipt expended over the last 18 months and the bylaws say we have to produce that, we will charge them because we don’t want frivolous requests.  Charley:  Bring it up in the executive meeting and come back to us.  Kerry: Technically we are not supposed to have a checking account. They used to pay our checking account fee, but as of today DONE is disallowing payment of our fees; maybe we can use our street fair funds to pay them.  Bruce:  why not change it to a non-fee bank like Washington Mutual?  Kerry:  I will send out our policy and procedures to new members.  I will also distribute them again to everyone and ask that they be adopted.  James:  We talked about an account at Extra Copy is there any information on that?  Kerry:  We can only write checks out of petty cash up to $100.  DONE has a new rule, you have to submit a copy of what was copied.

14.    BOARD COMMENT
Joe:  I am a precinct inspector and am now on the board, is there a conflict of interest?  Rosemary: No because NCs have been asked to be at polling places.  Kara:  I want to thank everyone for my 2 years here.  I will still be a part of the Griffith Observation and will be happy to give a report at any time.  On Dec. 2 there will be the opening of Hollyhock Howe, and in February/March a major opening for the city.  James:  Are the new revised bylaws on the website?  Bruce:  Not all of them have been approved yet?  Stan:  You can get them after Oct. 26th when everything is current.  Charley:  Please add Cheryl to the ad hoc committee, even though she will be out of town.

Meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

1.    CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Mary Rodriguez, President call the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

Present:  Mary Rodriguez, Pres., Nora Mosqueda, Outreach VP; Kerry Hunnewell, Treasurer; Andrew Westall, Secretary; James Balesh, Bernadette Soter, Bruce Carroll, Rosemary DeMonte, Jacqueline Kerr, Kara Knack, Charley Mims, Stan Thompson, AdministrativeVP, and Cheryl Johnson.

Absent:  Jonathon Kaplan, Excused Absence: Scott Crawford
Resigned:  Joe Zefran

GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT:  Melvin Canas, DONE Project Coordinator, Jeanne Chang, CD 14, Field Deputy for Councilmember Tom LaBonge; Michelle Fleenor, Central Area Director, Mayor’s Office of Operations; Leila Sanbar Bell, Interim District Director, Office of Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer, 43rd Assembly District.

2.    APPROVAL OF JULY 20 MINUTES
Corrections:  none
MOTION by Andrew to approve minutes as written
SECOND by Kerry
VOTE: consensus


3.    PUBLIC COMMENT

Juliet Kiperman, LFIA Zoning Committee:  A 350 unit development is going up on the corner of Hollywood and Western that will impact the community and no one was notified. Members of this Neighborhood Council are on the committee that will meet tomorrow to select a developer from the 4 proposed and there has been no community outreach.  Mary:  We cannot have a discussion on this, but we will when we agendize it.  Kerry:  I offered to put it on the agenda and you said no. Mary:  I don’t remember, but we will put it on the meeting agenda for September.

4.    Gina Chovan, new Sr. Lead Officer for Los Feliz/Atwater.  She introduced herself, gave out her contact phone number and asked that she be called with any concerns.  She did not have a crime report, but will be back.  Her goals are to work on the Los Feliz traffic and illegal cells.  Mary invited her to remain at the meeting as long as she could and informed that James Balesh will become chair of the transportation committee and will contact her.

5.    CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
All of these items have been discussed in different committees and we will try to pass all of these items at one time.  Consensus was for the following:
3a - Creating a new transportation committee, James Balesh, Chairperson
3b - Ron Weinstein, Chairperson of the Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Committee
3c - Moved to 5a, Transportation committee Rosalia Rd parking
PROS committee handled separately, moved to 9b


6.    INCLUSIONARY ZONING
Mary thanked Kurt Rademaker and his entire committee for all their work.
KURT: We passed two motions, which stated our position in a Proposed Community Impact Statement.  [Kurt read the position addressed to the GGPNC Board]
Two main positions were that we oppose IZ ordinance as written and opposed mandatory IZ. Also to a certain extent it overrides certain Specific Plans.  The Impact Statement will be attached to the motion when it goes before City Council and they have to read the statement before voting upon it, which should be at the end of this month or beginning of Sept.  I want to continue writing a full position statement for the GGPNC.

MOTION by Kerry to approve the Community Impact Statement and file it with the City Council and other appropriate parties. SECOND:  Andrew
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT by Charley to simplify the final paragraph, second sentence as follows:  “We oppose the mandatory inclusionary zoning because of its one-size fits all approach to addressing this issue throughout the city, etc….”

Discussion
Stan, Jeff Gardner (stakeholder), Jim McQuiston (stakeholder) and Richard Spicer (stakeholder) spoke in agreement with Charley’s suggested change.  Richard further suggested that the letter also be sent to the Mayor, Councilpersons in the GGPNC and the Joint Housing Committee. And also work to find a solution.

VOTE:  consensus on sending the Community Impact Statement to all parties mentioned.

KURT:  Is there anyone else willing to continue on this with me?  [Charley and Bernadette volunteered.]

7.    ROSALIA ROAD PARKING – TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
James:  [Gave some background on the issue, that residents on Rosalia Road have started an application process for permit parking because of the visitors to the Vista Theater.  More than 21 persons, including the Vista Theater owner, Lance attended a meeting.  The Asian Community opened their lot for $3.00 but no one was parking there.]
The committee passed a motion to recommend to the board that we approve the application put before DOT.  Another committee motion was approved to look for alternative parking for the clientele for the businesses in the area.  Residents and Vista were very willing to work together and this committee is also committed to helping them.

MOTION by James that the board supports this recommendation so we can support the residents in that area.
SECOND:

Discussion
Rosemary: I talked to Lance today and he understands that this will snowball into other streets that will want permit parking.  He wants a guarantee that it will stay on one street.  He said he wants to talk some more.  He feels the City should be in this discussion and that their zoning is partly at fault.  Jeanne Chang:  This is going to be a temporary permit situation for 12 months then it will be reviewed.  We met with DOT and we discussed the consequences of how it will impact other streets.  I don’t think it is beneficial to get other streets involved.  We will try it out for a total of 12 months and see if it spreads or what happens.  Karen Schwartzman (stakeholder).  I live on Rosalia.  There are multi-family residents on the block that are being impacted.  Vista Theater is doing a great job in showing first run movies and we are patrons.  However it increases the traffic on the block, there is no lighting on the block and parking far away can be dangerous.  Parking on weekends anytime is difficult because of the moviegoers.  We agree to work with Vista to find solutions. Ken Owen (stakeholder) About 75 people have petitioned DOT for a permit.  Lance did talk about 20 spaces at Vons, although he never made any representation that he did anything to get parking at the Asian Pacific Care Center on Hillhurst.  The Asians put up a sign, but people preferred free street parking.  This council should support the residents’ petition to DOT.  Richard Spicer (stakeholder): I am a member of the committee; the key thing was to help Vista seek alternative parking.  Do that in conjunction with the permit because it takes care of a long-term problem. 

Further discussion by the board touched on the following issues and concerns:  businesses will have client parking problems if more streets get permit parking; parking was the number one item on last year’s survey; get City Council involved; the Vista should post a sign saying there is parking at Pacific Asian Center; suggest that the transportation committee come up with parameters regarding handling future preferential parking; suggest the theater and the Asian center do validated parking- for example raise the ticket price by $1.50 and charge $1.50 parking with validation; people at a nearby church had opened lot but a governmental authority shut it down saying it jeopardized their nonprofit status and now sits empty.
Rosemary:  I want to ask that we demand that the City Council’s office and any other entity help, because the Councilman is the one with the power.

James asked that his motion be amended to look into alternative parking as well. 
MOTION CONSENSUS: All in favor.  Motion carries

8.    ELECTION UPDATE
Stan:  DONE is asking for further changes in the election procedures as follows:
Change commitment that materials will be sent to all addresses as possible.
Change the time of distribution of election materials
Clarify when candidates will receive election materials.
Omit reference to DONE, have it say that NC will do “Walking Man”.  They will pay for it, but will not do distribution.
Change language from mutual 3rd party to Election Administrator, although the mutual 3rd party is their language.
The biggest change is the elimination of absentee ballots, which is not possible now because of our reduced timeline.

Mary:  We were requiring the absentee ballot voters to get the ballots back to us in 4 days, DONE requires at least 10 days to return the ballots, because our new timeline is now much later than anticipated we cannot provide the absentee ballots for this election.  So no absentee ballots this time around.

Discussion on DONE’s reviewing of the procedures, how it has adversely affected timing and absentee ballot accommodation and having the election procedures completed in time for the 9/30 election.

Mary: We have to vote on this tonight.  We need to have revised election procedures tonight and a signed board resolution, which I will pass around now.  This has to be taken to DONE tomorrow and approved immediately in order for us to have the elections on time.

MOTION by Charley that we approve the procedures as described and read by Stan Thompson.
SECOND:  Kerry
VOTE:  Unanimous – motion carries.

9.    CITY REPRESENTATIVE
Michelle Fleenor of the Mayor’s office introduced herself.  She is the field rep for the Mayor.  She used to work with Jeanne in Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s office.  She is here to assist the NC in any way she can.  She has requested that the Bureau of Street Services do an infrastructure street survey of what has already been done in the area – tree trimming, street sweeping, etc.  She will have one done for the NC, which takes about 4 to 6 weeks.  James asked for 30 copies to be given to him for distribution.

10.    ELECTION UPDATE – OUTREACH & TIMELINE
Nora:  Each person has an election packet with flyers and information that should be distributed to friends and neighbors.  In it is a green sheet, which is the application for GGPNC district representative candidates. All items must be handed out by the next meeting and each person will give a written report of where you placed them, problems, etc.  Mary: We gave 10 posters to every board member to hand out to various businesses, schools, churches etc., and Rosemary wants you to sign up to give them out to the businesses.  There are also 4 banners to be hung: one at John Marshall High School and Mother of Good Counsel our polling places, Los Feliz Elementary School on Hollywood Blvd. & Vermont Ave. and/or someplace on the western end of our boundaries.  Rosemary: Change the deadline date on all materials to read Sept. 16 (not Sept. 3). Andrew:  I will place on the western end.  The committee reached a consensus.

11.    i FIVE, Inc. DATABASE
Kerry: iFive was asked to hire outside data entry people because their rate would be cheaper.  They should be finished by the end of the week – will keep everyone posted.  Andrew suggested getting the names of the Rosalia Road permit applicants and stakeholder Richard Spicer said he had only a few, the rest have been submitted, but he does have sign up sheets he can provide.

12.    MAYOR’S BUDGET DAY/SURVEY
Mary:  Also in the election packet is 10 surveys.  The Mayor wants 200 returned to his office noting the top priority issues in the neighborhood.  Deadline is Sept. 30.  Two representatives from each NC will be responsible for turning in the surveys and also attending the Oct. 9 meeting at City Hall where all the NCs from that group elect 2 people to work with the Mayor on this.  Nora and Cheryl volunteered to go to the Oct. 9 meeting.  Andrew:  I can tally them in a few days if everyone will return completed ones to me by Sept. 8th, at the Outreach Committee meeting. I also have extra copies. I added parking and room for the persons name and address to our survey.

Discussion on Survey:
Cheryl suggested leaving some with businesses and picking them up like Daily Donuts; Bernadette said she would take 25. Mary reported that no NCs had input in creating the survey that parking was not listed, and they are due back on the same day as our elections Sept.30th, so we will just do the best that we can under the circumstances but the priority is the elections.  Rosemary will have a table on August 28/29 with election and survey information on it (TBA).  Jim McQuiston (stakeholder) is stapling the survey to election info together, going door-to-door and returning to pick up completed forms.  Cheryl said the survey wording is complex and may yield inconsistent responses, and Kara suggested using the ‘other’ line to write in the park rangers’ transfer.

Opting out of the Survey
Cheryl:  Do we have to do this survey?  Can we say it won’t elicit meaningful information because we didn’t have input in creating it?  Jim McQuiston (stakeholder), It is a charter requirement.  Charley: This is a document to get NCs to buy into the Mayor’s priorities.  According to the charter we are supposed to have input, but this is channeling input.  I agree with Cheryl, but if we take a stand to develop our budget priorities, we could be frozen out of the Mayor’s process. We could go along with this and tweak it the best we can.  Kerry: The charter doesn’t say we have to use this vehicle to do it. They use this as a tool to say we omitted the rangers on the survey, so it must not be important to the NCs.  Cheryl could write a letter to them, saying why we are not going to participate in the process this way

MOTION by Kerry that we not participate in this process in this way because I do think that this is somewhat of a scam and I don’t think it is going to have any influence on the Mayor’s budget and I think it is an inappropriate way to spend our time.
SECOND:  Bruce

Discussion
Cheryl suggested distributing survey from last year.  Bernadette notes this survey asks the same question a few different ways.  Nora suggested personalizing the Mayor’s form, but to use it like all the other NCs because it provides consistency. James said the Mayor is using the NCs as a pawn.  Jacqueline and Cheryl noted that parks and green space and a comment space were not on this year’s survey.  Richard Spicer (stakeholder) suggested filling out the Mayor’s survey then attaching the NC’s own survey sheet.

Mary:  Any consensus on motion not to do the survey this year? 
Response:  No
VOTE:  4 in favor to not use the Mayor’s survey

MOTION by Kerry that we not fulfill the Charter mandate to input into the Mayor’s budget using this vehicle, but we look at using an alternative vehicle that is more appropriate to our neighborhood and more amenable to soliciting those ideas that are germane to us.
SECOND:  Bruce
VOTE:  6 in favor.  6 opposed. 1 abstain- Andrew.

Charley:  Charter says an abstain vote is counted as a “yes” vote, so the motion passes. The Charter trumps the Robert’s Rules of Order.  Mary:  This doesn’t seem fair.  Andrew:  if I had to vote, I would vote yes.
[There was discussion about what the bylaws say, Robert’s and the Charter in terms of voting,]
Jim McQuiston:  If you don’t use the Mayor’s vehicle, it will not count.   Melvin (DONE) explained the Mayor’s position and the NC’s responsibility.

REVOTE:  to not use the Mayor’s survey form. 
VOTE:  5 in favor.  8 opposed. 
Motion fails – the Mayor’s survey will be used.


13.    BUDGET REPORT
Kerry explained that money encumbered in May is not yet paid out and was still in the demand warrant account, so the next quarter funding was being held up. Finally money has been released into petty cash to help fund the election.  Will begin processing demand warrants in the next week or so.  There is about $12,500 in unencumbered funds available.  Jacqueline:  We relinquished our $3,000 mural project money back when we didn’t have all our paperwork.  Now that we have it, will the money be there?  Kerry:  We have to resubmit it back to DONE.

14.    TRANSPORATATION REPORT
Speedbumps
James: Richard Spicer will discuss the motion our committee would like the board to approve.  We approved a set of speed bumps and stop signs on 3 streets Holly Knoll Drive, Lyric Ave. and Monon Street.  About 60% of the residents support this. 

Richard showed a design of the three streets and explained what was proposed.

MOTION: by James to support DOT to do a study and determine the feasibility on the speed bumps and stop signs
SECOND:  Charley

Discussion
Richard addressed the following questions:  He lives on the street and feels it is dangerous because students and parents near the school speed and there are blind corners.  Although Bruce expressed he was against speed bumps, and felt it more of a law enforcement issue, Richard responded that the DOT study opens the possibility of getting something done on these streets, even if it’s not speed bumps.

VOTE:  7 in favor.  1 opposed-Bruce.  Motion carries.

Dash
James: Jeanne Chang has asked us to have a liaison to study the DASH because it is not getting enough rider-ship.  They will contact a consultant the City hired to study a better use of the DASH in this area.  [There followed a discussion on the DASH, the route it travels, and a line that was suspended but will reopen following construction at the Observatory.]  If anyone has any ideas on the DASH for the consultant they can e-mail Ken Owen.

15.    PROS COMMITTEE
Bernadette: The ranger situation is ongoing. We spoke at the August 11 Parks Commission meeting and a letter was sent to the Mayor, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, General Manager of Recreation and Parks John Muckri, and Commission President Mike Roos.  John Muckri said they had proceeded with haste and that they would convene a taskforce and get public input.  I volunteered to be on the taskforce.  Charley:  They will only take the park rangers who want to be peace officers, and the other rangers will remain doing their jobs.  So they can still put some of that money into continued park ranger service.
 Kara: The PROS committee also mentioned that other large parks need rangers because they provide specialized response services that the police are not used to handling.  Bernadette: We also sent a letter in support of keeping the two wildlife officers and it was voted to keep them on a part time basis and try to re-fund them back to full time in January.

PROS Ad Hoc Committee
Bernadette:  PROS wants to form an ad hoc PROS committee comprised of Griffith Park, Hollywood United and Atwater Village Neighborhood Councils.  We deal with a lot of park organizations and a lot of agencies so we could share resources, opinions and the workload.  We want this formalized as DONE supports joint committees of neighboring councils that share large resources such as Griffith Park.  Kara: To date we have been acting autonomously, but we should come together and work with Parks and Rec. as a committee on a number of issues that affect all of us. 

MOTION by Andrew that the GGPNC appoint a task force to propose that the PROS Committee be a joint committee of GGPNC and adjacent Neighborhood Councils.
SECOND: ?
No consensus

Discussion
Jeff Gardner (on Atwater Village NC and PROS Committee):  PROS Committee is doing a great job with the different councils as one committee, and it is working effectively.  Mary:  Has Atwater voted on this yet?  Jeff:  No. But I wanted to have help first. I like the PROS Committee because they talk about the real issues and I don’t have to look for volunteers.  There are no conflicts because the meetings are inclusive.  Charley:  I oppose the motion because the committee is working and it is inclusive. We changed our bylaws to make it clear to say other NCs and stakeholders could join.  In trying to create a new entity you will wind up with a lot of organizational and turf problems if you limit it to 3 NCs and stakeholders for an ad hoc committee. It also freezes out other organizations like the Sierra Club. Cheryl and Kerry echoed Charley on the bylaws and equal rights for all who attend the meetings; Jacqueline felt it unnecessary to change management around and Nora said that PROS is only asking to have a task force to study the feasibility. Mary felt it was two different issues: boundaries and a task force. She did not find the boundaries amendment that was taken up with HUNC in the bylaws; thus it will be taken up with in the Executive Committee but to date it is not an official bylaw change. She agreed with Nora. Rosemary asked if Bernadette and Kara leave the committee who will chair PROS.  They want to find an equitable way that boundaries don’t enter in. The 3 neighborhood councils would chair instead of one committee doing it now. 

VOTE:  5 in favor of task force study.  8 opposed.  Motion fails.

MOTION by Bernadette to set up a task force to find a chairperson
Jacqueline:  It is the responsibility of the NC to find a chairperson.

16.    NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE
Jacqueline:  no report.

17.    OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Nora:  There are two issues; the Silver Lake Film Festival wants help to sponsor their event for $1,000. And the other is about postage. Kerry:  We cannot give a gift of public funds. A representative of the festival told me there is no opportunity for outreach.

MOTION by Kerry that we wish them the best with the festival but it is not an appropriate use of our outreach funds.
SECOND:  Bruce

18.    PUBLIC COMMENTS
Kara:  Would like to have put on the agenda the stakeholder who spoke first Juliet Kiperman, LFIA Zoning Committee regarding the 350-unit development going up on the corner of Hollywood and Western.  I object to the letter and feel that we should not be represented in the meeting tomorrow by the board member whose name is on the letter.
[Open discussion about how this issue came about, whose jurisdiction it is, since it is not in Griffith Park NC’s district.  Who went to the public meeting, explanation by Rosemary who attended the first meeting, and Kerry who was asked to sit on the advisory council for input, how CRA is involved, and that members of this board should not give the implication of NC representation by sitting on an advisory panel without board approval.  It was requested that an extension be asked so it can be further looked into by GGPNC.]

Jim McQuiston: A Middle School will be opening in 2010.  School has 809 seats and will be located where the mud-wrestling place on Western off Hollywood freeway was.  They will take students mostly from LeConte Middle School and a few from Thomas Starr King Middle School.  LAUSD will use any excess money to refurbish Marshall High School. 

Mary:  I have a confirmed report on my street of a person in poor health due to West Nile disease.  Andrew:  I recommend holding a Town Hall meeting to inform the public.  Any suggestions on holding it the same day of the election or afterwards?  Ok, then possibly it will be held after elections.

Kerry:  I did attempt to have the Hollywood/Western Development Project put on the agenda at the Executive Meeting but my request was not approved.  Our only involvement to date was to ensure that councils were consulted on the project.  We have not taken any kind of position, just there for input.

Meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Joyce Clarke, PDQ Careers Temp

1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Mary Rodriguez, President call the meeting to order at 7:20p.m.

Present: Mary Rodriguez, Pres., Nora Mosqueda, Outreach VP; Kerry Hunnewell, Treasurer; James Balesh, Bernadette Soter, Bruce Carroll, Rosemary DeMonte, Jacqueline Kerr, Kara Knack, Charley Mims

Absent: Scott Crawford, Cheryl Johnson, Jonathon Kaplan, Stan Thompson, Andrew Westall, Joe Zefran

GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT: Beatrice Hsu, CD 13, Melvin Canas, DONE Project Coordinator, Damian Carroll, Rep.of Senator Jack Scott’s Office

2. APPROVAL OF JUNE 15 MINUTES – Not Available

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

Ron Weinstein: introduced himself and submitted a statement for position of Chair for the Planning, Zoning, Transportation & Historic Preservation Committee. He has a background in commercial real estate, and served on the Beverlywood Homeowners Association and chair of the Legal Committee of the Los Angeles Conservancy. He and James Balesh have spoken briefly about the possibility of forming a Transportation subcommittee with James as Chair.

Damian Carroll field rep for State Senator Jack Scott introduced himself and offered to "help navigate…government red tape."

Jim McQuiston said NC’s are "over supervised" and there are proposals to fix the system. President Rodriguez to contact McQuiston for more details.

Bob Diaz, the new Greek Theatre representative introduced himself. He’s a former LAPD officer who even patrolled the Los Feliz area and has worked with the Nederlander Organization for 23 years.

4) Nyla Arslanian spoke about the work of the Hollywood Arts Council which she heads. She explained her "very deep roots in this area" The HAC is a membership organization which started the Discover Hollywood magazine but no longer owns it. She said they do maintain a calendar of events, online and in Discover Hollywood magazine. They also have a yearly children’s arts festival that is commercial free, and free to the public. On August 21 there will be a Jazz pilgrimage at the old Pilgrimage Theatre to help raise money for children’s arts programs for the 6 Hollywood area schools we assist. (Los Feliz, Grant, Vine, Alexandria, Selma and one more school.) There is an arts organization roundtable where there is sharing of information among the arts community. Nora: Do you seek funds from the Entertainment Industry Foundation? Nyla: Yes, they gave us funds for our project SOAR. I am looking forward to being involved with the Council’s cultural committee.

5. INCLUSIONARY ZONING UPDATE

Mary: We touched on this item the last two meeting. Beatrice Hsu, CD 13 gave us a detailed overview of what is being proposed in this ordinance. In the last month there have been meetings all over the city to help educate us. Beatrice is here tonight to answer questions. Kurt Rademaeker worked on the Silver Lake statement in response to the IZ ordinance, and it was excellent. It is possible we could adopt it to our needs with a few changes. Everyone has a copy and hopefully you all attended some of the meetings. Let’s take a straw vote; how many board members are thinking that IZ is a good idea and want to move to approve it. Kara: Let’s look at it based on if people have made up their minds, and who is for it and who is against.

VOTE: Made up minds: 4

VOTE: Read the Silver Lake Position paper: majority

VOTE: Believe we could adopt their statement with changes: 5

6. Charley Mims: Is there anyone in LA that does not favor it? Richard Spicer (stakeholder): Here is an article from Zone News on this issue. This ordinance has been around for about 20 years and if it is done right it could provide for low and moderate-income residents. This was presented as a factual piece for the basis of the ordinance. Regarding Silver Lake’s position paper, it applies to the Hillside area, but they do address some areas that our Council is concerned about like density, open space, etc., but some of the language would have to be modified. The City is still having meetings and is waiting for the 90 days to be up before moving on it. Also, Housing and Planning is asking for some documents.

1. Data collection

Beatrice Hsu: I would actually be surprised if there is a vote on it before September (90 days is up in August). They want to collect all the data before the City Council votes. We are getting a wide variety of comments and Councilmembers want to see the range of all of it before they move on anything. Kurt: I understand that the IZ task force is already looking at comments from the community so come August will there already be a revised version or the outline we have here? Beatrice: It is not clear-cut; there would not be a revised proposal until after the 90 days because of the comment gathering process now. There is a city task force and a more formal community task force working on this.

2. Opposition

Kerry: We have not heard the other side of the issue at this point. There was a woman from some Councilmember’s office who gave the opposing position. We have only heard one side. Beatrice: I am not aware of any councilmember in opposition to this ordinance.

3. Ad Hoc Committee formed

Mary: The board will have to decide what we want to do. Do we want to form an ad hoc committee to bring back a motion to the full board next month? Joe Zefran was appointed to run the ad hoc, but he left town for a month. Who wants to be on it? [Volunteers: Jacqueline Kerr, Kurt Rademaeker, Kerry Hunnewell, Meaghan Young, Ron Weinstein, Richard Spicer, and Jeff Gardner. Kurt accepted the position of chairperson] Kerry: This meeting has to be posted at our regular places according to the Brown Act, because voting member