PALMS
Neighborhood
Council
Minutes of the 111th Meeting of the
Palms Neighborhood Council (PNC) and its Representative Assembly
General Meeting, Wednesday, May 1, 2013
at the IMAN Center, 3376 Motor Avenue, Palms, California
1. Welcome, Call to Order
Facilitator and President Eli Lipmen welcomed everyone and called the Meeting to order at 7:12 p.m.
2. Roll call
Roll call was taken by Secretary Tanya Leal. Board Members present:
Eli Lipmen, President
Tanya Leal, Secretary
Neal James Anderberg, Community-Based Organizations
Charles Miller, Overland Residential
Andrew Pennington, Exposition Residential
Elise Rothberg, Charnock Ranch Business
Jennifer Tobkin, Palms Depot Business
Seven of the 13 Board Members were present at the beginning of the Meeting. Terry Robinson, Studio
Residential, arrived later. Mr. Lipmen announced that Caroline Carr, Pacific Electric Business; and
Natasha Ericta, Palms West Residential, resigned. Board Members absent: Niall MacMenamin, VicePresident; Jason Buchalter, Treasurer; and Shilpan Patel, Motor Residential. Two Board Seats (Pacific
Electric Business and Palms West Residential) were vacant. Also attending: 11 Stakeholders and
guests. The PNC quorum (the minimum number of Board Members needing to be present to take
binding votes on Agendized Items) is seven, so the Board could take such votes.
3. Public forum
There were no public comments at this time.
4. Presentations – Budget Advocates White Paper & NC Budgets.
[This Agenda Item continued being addressed after Item #5. j.] Jay Handal, Co-Chair, Neighborhood
Council Budget Advocates (www.BudgetAdvocatesLA.com), distributed copies of their White Paper
regarding the City Budget. The 24 volunteer Budget Advocates and 12 Alternates are Board Members
of Neighborhood Councils who are elected by other Board Members and “advise the Mayor and the
City Council.” They meet every two weeks, then around twice a week toward the end of each Fiscal
Year. This was the second year in a row they were invited by the City Council to make a full
presentation. Mr. Handal described recommendations supported by the Mayor to reduce the City
budget deficit, have City employees pay their fair share of benefits and collect fees for medical
services provided to residents. He described the Advocates’ work to maintain the $37,000 in annual
Neighborhood Councils’ funding and to prevent delay in Neighborhood Council elections. He
encouraged comment to the City Council to preserve funding to DONE (the L.A. Dept. of
Neighborhood Empowerment) and avoid a proposed layoff of the DONE Westside NEA
(Neighborhood Empowerment Advocate).
5. Monthly Updates
a) Government Representative Announcements and Reports (City, State and Federal).
[This Agenda Item was addressed after Item #5. d.] Tania Bradkin, Field Deputy for L.A. City
Palms Neighborhood Council
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May 1, 2013
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District Five Councilman Paul Koretz (310-289-0353; Tania.Bradkin@LACity.org), reported that
the City’s proposed Mural Ordinance is being considered by the City Planning Committee. She
distributed copies of a “Proposed Mural Registration Process Flow Chart.” The Watseka Ave.
parking project was approved to re-paint a red zone in the correct place, creating three more parking
spaces. She is working on the Venice Blvd. and Motor Ave. streetlight left-turn signal installation;
it may be installed in June. Woodbine Park work is continuing. She encouraged feedback about
CycLAvia impacts.
b) PNC Representative Reports: Budget Advocates, NC Reform.
Tanya Trumble, PNC Budget Representative, reported on Budget Advocates activity and
Neighborhood Council Plan Review & Reform Initiative progress.
c) President’s Report (Lipmen): PlanCheckLA, WRAC Meeting, Mayoral Debate, EmpowerLA
Awards, DONE, Palms Stakeholder Feedback Tracking System.
Mr. Lipmen encouraged reporting multi-family building code violations. WRAC (the Westside
Regional Alliance of Councils) sponsored a Mayoral Candidates debate that 400 people attended.
Board Member Terry Robinson arrived at this time.
Mr. Lipmen continued that he attended a BONC (L.A. Board of Neighborhood Commissioners)
Meeting and spoke with DONE General Manager Grayce Liu about the Neighborhood Purposes
Grant (NPG) application that had been rejected for the PNC to allocate funds to Charnock Road
Elementary School. A Stakeholder feedback tracking system is in a Google document that can be
shared; 20 submissions were received in the last month.
MOTION (by Mr. Lipmen, seconded by Ms. Rothberg): The Palms Neighborhood Council
appoints Tanya Leal and Jennifer Tobkin to the Bylaws Ad Hoc Committee.
DISCUSSION: Mr. Lipmen noted DONE’s June 1st Bylaws revisions deadline. There will be a
Special Assembly Meeting to vote on proposed revisions.
MOTION to CALL FOR THE QUESTION (by Mr. Lipmen). There were no objections.
MOTION PASSED by a voice vote with no objections.
MOTION (by Mr. Lipmen, seconded by Ms. Robinson): The Palms Neighborhood Council
appoints Willie Bell as the PNC Residential Representative Area A (Palms West).
DISCUSSION: Mr. Lipmen announced that Natasha Ericta resigned because she moved out of the
Palms area and Caroline Carr resigned because of work priorities. Ms. Ericta would like to
continue as Outreach Committee Co-Chair and help organize the Palms Bike Rodeo. The Board
Seat vacancies were posted on the website [www.PalmsLA.org]; five applications were received,
including that of former PNC Board Member Willie Bell. Mr. Lipmen encouraged other applicants
to get involved with PNC activities. Mr. Bell described his participation in the PNC since its
beginning, and other community activism including with the Neighborhood Watch.
MOTION to CALL FOR THE QUESTION (by Mr. Lipmen). There were no objections.
MOTION PASSED by a voice vote with no objections.
Ms. Leal will help set up Mr. Bell with business cards, a nameplate and a PNC e-mail address.
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May 1, 2013
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d) Vice-President’s Report (MacMenamin): Meeting on Woodbine Park with Council District 5 staff.
Mr. Lipmen relayed that Mr. MacMenamin was unable to attend this Meeting and there was no
report.
e) Secretary’s Report (Leal). Approval of Minutes from April 3rd General Assembly and Special
Assembly Meetings.
[This Agenda Item was addressed after Item #5. a.]
MOTION (by Ms. Leal, seconded by Mr. Lipmen): The Palms Neighborhood Council approves the
Minutes of its April 3, 2013 General Assembly Meeting as written.
MOTION PASSED by a voice vote with no objections.
MOTION (by Ms. Leal, seconded by Mr. Lipmen): The Palms Neighborhood Council approves the
Minutes of its April 3, 2013 Special Assembly Meeting as written.
MOTION PASSED by a voice vote with no objections.
f) Treasurer’s Report (Buchalter). Budget Ad Hoc Committee meetings – budget report, NPG process,
review of previous grantees.
Mr. Lipmen relayed that Mr. Buchalter was unable to attend this Meeting. Mr. Lipmen distributed
copies of and reviewed PNC financial documents. He reminded that Demand Warrant requests are
due by May 15th and the Purchase Card use deadline is June [14th].
MOTION (by Mr. Lipmen, seconded by Ms. Robinson): The Palms Neighborhood Council agrees
to consider the following three Motions all together by Consent Calendar.
MOTION PASSED by a voice vote with no objections.
FUNDING MOTION by CONSENT CALENDAR (by Mr. Lipmen, seconded by Mr.
Pennington): The Palms Neighborhood Council Budget Ad Hoc Committee recommends allocating
$2,000 of its FY 2012-13 budget toward the Palms Middle School Campus Beautification project;
$2,000 of its FY 2012-13 budget toward the Palms Elementary School lunch table project; and
$2,000 of its FY 2012-13 budget toward the LA Conservation Corp community clean up project.
DISCUSSION: Mr. Lipmen explained that DONE rejected all three of the PNC’s above
Neighborhood Purpose Grant applications to allocate funding to the Palms Middle School, Palms
Elementary School and the LA Conservation Corp. He also explained the PNC ad hoc Budget
Committee decision-making process in voting to allocate $2,000 to each applicant. Stakeholders
Walter Renzi and Jean Parker encouraged supporting the allocations. Keith Abrahams, Palms
Elementary School Principal (310-838-7337; http://palms-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com), described the
problem of skateboarders moving and damaging tables. Mr. Lipmen added that the Palms Middle
School Beautification project plants will be native.
MOTION to CALL FOR THE QUESTION (by Mr. Lipmen). There were no objections.
FUNDING MOTION by CONSENT CALENDAR PASSED unanimously by a voice vote of all
eight Board Members present.
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May 1, 2013
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FUNDING MOTION (by Mr. Lipmen, seconded by Mr. Miller): The Palms Neighborhood
Council Budget Ad Hoc Committee supports writing a Community Impact Statement in support of
City Council File 11-1020-S1 – the Neighborhood Council (NC) Funding Program that instructs the
City Attorney to begin work on the ordinance language for NC checking accounts and to set up an
account for NCs to transfer funds from this fiscal year to next fiscal year for the NCs
Congress/Budget Advocates with a cap of $100,000.
DISCUSSION: Mr. Handal explained that this is a way for Neighborhood Councils to fund the
NCs Congress with leftover Fiscal Year funds.
MOTION to CALL FOR THE QUESTION (by Mr. Lipmen). There were no objections.
FUNDING MOTION PASSED unanimously by a voice vote of all eight Board Members present.
g) Outreach Report (Ericta): Ms. Leal read for Ms. Ericta the following “CicLAvia report - we had 2
tables on Venice and gave away around 140 PNC bags w/ swag & PNC info. We talked to
approximately 160 folks. Eli was also interviewed by NPR. Pictures taken by Shilpan should be up
on our Facebook page soon. Bike Rodeo - ask Board to start inviting their contacts to the event.
Outreach & Green will be visiting Palms schools to promote the event. Also need volunteers. Set
up for the event starts at 8AM. Please email outreach@palmsla.org if interested in volunteering.
Reminder: Next Coffee w/ the Council on May 7, from 11AM-1PM at Cafe Brasil. Next Outreach
Meeting: May 15, 7pm.” Mr. Anderberg added that the last Coffee with the Council was
successful.
FUNDING MOTION (by Ms. Leal, seconded by Mr. Lipmen): The Palms Neighborhood Council
requests, due to upcoming expenses and advertising needed for the Palms Bike Rodeo on Saturday
May 18, 2013, to increase its current credit card limit for this fiscal quarter. Expenses and vendor
information are detailed below:
Vendor
Palms Cycle
Matt Nickles
Celebration Sensation
Mrs. Garcias
Google / Facebook / Twitter
Anduze
Printex / Westside Printers
Promo World
Athens
Westside Printers
LAUSD
Total
Item
Bikes & Helmets
Photographer
Entertainment
Food
Ads
Band
Brochures
Bike Lights
Composting Bins
Flyer Printing
LAUSD Real Estate Permit
Cost
$3,125
$100
$1,000
$1,062
$120
$600
$1,500
$2,000
$120
$250
$1,000.00
$10,877.00
The PNC also allocates $1,319.74 of the Bike Rodeo budget to Hillcrest Party Rentals for tables,
chairs, pop-up tents and a portable stage.
DISCUSSION: Mr. Lipmen explained that the “LAUSD Real Estate Permit” is for the use of the
Palms Elementary School for the Bike Rodeo. The $10,877.00 of items listed in the above chart
will be paid for using the Purchase Card and are separate from the $1,319.74 mentioned below the
chart. The $10,877.00 exceeds the quarterly funding limit. Hillcrest Party Rentals prefers receiving
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May 1, 2013
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a check for the $1,319.74. Many vendors discounted their charges. Stakeholder Lee Wallach
believed that some of the items could be gotten for much less money.
MOTION to CALL FOR THE QUESTION (by Ms. Leal). There were no objections.
FUNDING MOTION PASSED unanimously by a voice vote of all eight Board Members present.
h) Transportation and Safety Report: Expo Line Station Naming, Emergency Preparedness, Crosswalk
on Palms at Jasmine, CicLAvia. Next meeting: May 27. (Miller).
Mr. Miller announced to applause that the Metro Expo Line Light Rail Project Station at the
Palms/National/Manning intersection will officially be named the “Palms Station.” L.A. County
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas especially helped with this over the years. Venice Blvd. Bridge
work will close part of Venice Blvd.; see www.ExpoVenice.org. Large increases in Expo Line
usage are already happening due to its expansion. Mr. Miller also described CycLAvia business
participation and partnering with the PNC.
i) Green: LA Native Update, Palms Green Certification update, Bike Rodeo Zero Waste. Next
meeting: May 8. (Miller)
Mr. Miller reported that the Committee approved a Green Certification Program logo; he displayed
a sample. A Program Participants list is being built. Ms. Leal will put Program information on the
PNC website. Support is being gathered to influence Metro to use only native plants along the
Crenshaw Light Rail Line.
j) Planning and Land Use: : Stakeholder concerns with Palms Point, 10329 Motor Ave.
Mr. Anderberg reported for Mr. MacMenamin that Woodbine Park Modernization Project work
with City Council District Five and a landscape architect is progressing.
MOTION (by Mr. Anderberg, seconded by Mr. Pennington): The Palms Neighborhood Council
insists that the City of Los Angeles undertake an immediate proper annual assessment of
infrastructure. This directly affects the permitting of future developments on the Westside,
environmental and geopolitical long-term impacts, and a search for funding sources for likely
infrastructure upgrades.
DISCUSSION: Mr. Miller suggested replacing the word “insists” with the word “petitions.” Mr.
Anderberg replied that the Motion is from WRAC. He explained the need and that there’s been no
assessment since 1998. Mr. Handal added that the law requires a City assessment every 10 years,
though they have approved land developments.
MOTION to CALL FOR THE QUESTION (by Mr. Anderberg). There were no objections.
MOTION PASSED by a voice vote with no objections.
6. Assembly Business & Announcements: Agenda postings, Minutes.
[This Agenda Item was addressed after Item #4.] Mr. Lipmen reminded of the need to post PNC
Committee and General Assembly Meeting Agendas by 72 hours before each Meeting. Mr. Miller
clarified Motion amendment procedures. Ms. Rothberg encouraged supporting local vendors,
especially to participate in PNC activities.
7. Adjournment
Mr. Lipmen declared and it was agreed to ADJOURN the Meeting at 8:52 p.m.
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