VNC - Neighborhood Committee Minutes
Extra Space Storage, 658 Venice Blvd, Venice, 90291
Monday, February 2, 2009 at 8:30 A.M.
In attendance: Linda L, Renee G, Maxine L, JeffreyF, Robin R, and
Bill B.
Observing: Ivan Spiegel, Kristopher Valentine.
1) Introductions & Welcome - Linda Lucks (8:30AM)
a) Expansion of Committee – Renee Glass- VNC board to vote
2/17. Other neighborhood representatives sought.
b) Recognized and congratulated Ivan’s birthday
2) Approval of outstanding minutes (8:40AM)
a) RG had amendment to item 15 of last month’s agenda to
include that she and LL had further discussion about CPR
training via e-mail.
b) Motion to approve proposed by BB, seconded by JF.
c) Passed unanimously as revised.
3) Announcements (8:50AM)
a) RG announced a meeting of Walk Street Neighborhood
Association scheduled on 2/12 with Arturo Pina of Council
office.
b) February 21st – 12:30-3:30- Venice stakeholder election at the
Venice Library. There are two proposals on the ballot regarding
Overnight Parking Districts. Official wording of proposals can be
found on VNC website. Election Chair needs volunteers to help
behind the table from 12:15PM – 3:30PM on Election Day.
i) Background: Venice stakeholders petitioned for a city law
that allows them to create overnight parking districts if
approved by 2/3 of the block. Those areas restrict parking
from 2:00AM to 6:00PM. Councilman Rosenthal has
proposed and the City of LA approved 5 overnight parking
districts in Venice. The CA Coastal commission to hear
appeals on the matter on 2/4.
c) Nita Patel announced a roundtable discussion on February 12
hosted by VNC Neighborhood Committee / Vera Davis Youth
Center from 12-1:30 to discuss Red Cross training and disaster
relief. The goal is for roundtable that can figure out which parts
of the community are working on emergency preparedness so
that efforts can be better coordinated. LL and RR will attend.
All invited.
d) LL went to a well run SFV Valley Alliance of Emergency
Preparedness meeting facilitated by DONE. With the recent
fires, previous earthquakes, and last year’s train disaster, the
valley has been trying to better prepare. LL found that they had
not been as prepared as she expected but took away some
valuable information and hope for Venice’s emergency
preparedness.
e) On February 26th VNC hosts a town hall meeting with all of the
Westside Neighborhood Councils to discuss the state of the
State budget cuts and how the local communities will be
affected. Three representatives will be coming including
Assemblyman Ted Lieu, LA County Supervisor Zev
Yaroslavsky. Invited but not yet confirmed, LA City Controller,
Laura Chick. Moderator of event TBD. Warren Olney of
KCRW has been invited.
f) RR has a DVD of a meeting from 2007 discussing emergency
preparedness. Goal is to put it on the VNC website.
g) RG went to a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
meeting. Got some helpful information for Venice’s emergency
preparedness. Found out three bills are proposed to amend the
Good Samaritan law
4) Discussion of possible Pacific Avenue Improvements (9:19AM)
a) Bill Boyd made a Power Point presentation for the committee.
Worked on it with JF and NHC. When draft finalized, VNHC will
ask for VNC board approval, before presenting to Greg Asher,
Planning Deputy for Councilman Rosendahl. There is no
timeline approval. (VNC President requested VNHC to become
involved).
b) Premise: Image of Venice Community is largely derived from
the impression of seeing Pacific Avenue.
c) Decided to compare it to other neighborhoods and see if it
meets local needs. Found that it bottlenecks for traffic, has little
parking, and a poor esthetic value.
d) Recommend: Left turn lanes, better installed/marked
crosswalks, underground the overhead utilities, install planters
and pocket parks/parking, and add sidewalks to the Westside of
Pacific Ave.
e) Motion to go forward with concept moved by ML, Seconded by
RR.
f) Passed unanimously.
5) 2009 Community Improvement Fund Program (9:40AM)
a) Review of Time Line – Ivan Spiegel
i) $20,000 is available for 2009 Community Improvement
Projects. All submissions must be postmarked by March 2nd.
i) LL and IS will go through projects to verify viability and
legitimacy.
ii) Technically acceptable projects will go to budget committee
to confirm city will fund.
iii) Sometime in April a public forum will be held where
applicants are invited to propose their projects to
stakeholders.
iv) In May the VNC Neighborhood Committee will rank and pick
projects for 2009.
v) In June the VNC will vote on the Committee’s
recommendation and choose awardees.
b) Update on 2008 Projects
i) On February 14th from 7:00PM – 8:00PM a concert by a flute
quartet will be held at the Venice First Lutheran Church. It is
free to the public.
ii) Five months to go in the current cycle. After June 30th any
funds for 2008’s projects not spent will be rolled over for
2009. Before that any projects that are dropped will have
their money given to underfunded 2008 project.
6) Emergency Preparedness Task Force Report (10:00AM)
a) American Red Cross / VNC Community Partner Training.
Meeting has not occurred. No movement on plan.
b) Regional Emergency Preparedness – Neighborhood Council
Congress of Neighborhoods to use Valley as a pilot program.
They will hold a meeting in April or May. Recommend that all
committee members attend.
c) Committee on the search for anyone in Venice who is licensed
to operate a ham radio.
d) Red Cross may supply emergency bins. No need for
community to spend money and buy them.
e) RG has done research on the California Volunteers website
and found useful information including templates for e.p. letters
and how too talk to children about e.p.
f) Committee is working on a Wallet-sized Emergency Card. RG
and BB working templates. Committee working on finalizing
card so that it can be put in the VNC Newsletter and on their
website.
7) Report from Outreach Committee Liaison (10:20AM)
a) RR, BB & NHC appointed liaisons- meeting this week..
8) Update of Street Furniture (10:25AM)
a) VNC Board to consider VNCH recommendation to rescind a
previous letter in opposition at February 17th meeting. If
rescinded, the VNHC may be asked to work with the Council
office to identify appropriate neighborhood locations, if any, for
placement then recommendation to VNC board. VNHC to
consider formula for effective fund distribution for
recommendation to the VNC board.
9) Neighborhood Community Reports (10:30AM)
a) RR went to ground breaking of skate park. Will write an article
for the VNC Newsletter.
b) RR and IS investigated public complaint made at last meeting
by Theresa Macellaro and Jesse Fernandez against the
residents of the Christian Science Church. Committee is looking
to find a mediator between two parties.
10)
Meeting Adjourned (10:40AM)