FRANK T. MARTINEZ CITY OF omceofthe City Clerk CALIFORNIA CITY CLERK Council and Public Services KAREN E. KALFAYAN Room 395, City Hall Executive Officer Los Angeles, CA 90012 Council File Information- (213) 978-1043 General Information - (213) 978-1133 When making inquiries Fax: (213) 978-1040 relative to this matter refer to File No. HELEN GINSBURG ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA Chief, CouncU and PubUc Services Division 05-0002-S109 MAYOR

August 26, 2005

Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor Chief Legislative Analyst City Administrative Officer Councilmember LaBonge Councilmember Garcetti Cultural Affairs Department

RE: SECURING FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FRANK 1924

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the attached report and resolution were adopted by

the Los Angeles City Council at its meeting held on August 17, 2005 and

was transmitted to the Mayor FORTHWITH. The Mayor concurred with the

Council action on August 24, 2005.

City Clerk vdw

cc: 8 Certified copies sent to Sacramento Representatives 8 Certified copies sent to Washington Representatives

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File No. 05-0002-S1 09

TO THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES

Your ARTS, PARKS, HEALTH AND AGING COMMITTEE reports as follows: Yes No Public Comments XX

ARTS, PARKS, HEALTH AND AGING COMMITTEE REPORT and RESOLUTION relative to securing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance for the repair of the 1924 Ennis House.

Recommendation for Council action, as initiated by Resolution (LaBonge - Garcetti), SUBJECT TO THE CONCURRENCE OF THE MAYOR:

ADOPT the accompanying Resolution thereby establishing a position of SUPPORT in the City's 2005- 06 Legislative Program for legislation and/or administrative action to secure FEMA assistance to ensure that the Frank Lloyd Wright 1924 Ennis House, an important historic site, is adequately funded to enable repair of its 1994 Northridge Earthquake damage and that additional time be granted to enable the execution of proper rehabilitation of this site as provided for in the Secretary of State's guidelines for historic preservation. ·

Fiscal Impact Statement: The Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) reports that there is no impact on the General Fund.

Summarv:

In its transmittal dated May 26, 2005, the CLA reports that Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the world's premier architects of the 20th Century, designed his 1924 Ennis house in the Los Feliz District of the City of Los Angeles. Investigations have shown that this architectural masterpiece has been determined to be an important part of our nation's cultural fabric. The Ennis House was declared to be a City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument as well as a State of California Landmark. This house is also on the list of the National Registry of Historic Places and on the America Treasures Property list. ·

Resolution (LaBonge - Garcetti) asserts that the Ennis House was recently listed on the World Monument Funds list of the 100 most endangered culturally important sites in the world. The Ennis House, which is now 80 years old, suffered substantial damage in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The House recently suffered additional damage from the 2005 rains storms that resulted in near record precipitation in Los Angeles. This Cultural Monument is an important piece of the City's history that should be protected and rehabilitated.

The CLA further reports that the non-profit corporation that owns this property is in need of help to finance the rehabilitation of this site and now requires assistance in securing funds to match its FEMA. Approximately $2.5 million will be funded by FEMA, leaving approximately $1 million to be raised by contributions to the Ennis House Foundation to cover the repair project. The Foundation continues to perform rehabilitation work and has secured the services of Eric Lloyd Wright to serve as its primary architect. It is anticipated that all needed preservation efforts will require approximately $12 million dollars. Due to budgetary restraints which makes the use of City funds unavailable for the rehabilitation of the Ennis House, the Resolution recommends that the City recognize the activities of the Ennis House Foundation in soliciting donations of money and services for the purpose of rehabilitating the Ennis House. T )

TheCLA, pursuant to the Resolution, recommends that the City express its support for legislation and/or administrative action to secure FEMA assistance to ensure that the Frank Lloyd Wright 1924 Ennis House, an important historic site, is adequately funded to enable repair of its 1994 Northridge Earthquake damage and that additional time be granted to enable the execution of proper rehabilitation efforts as provided for in the Secretary of State's guidelines for historic preservation.

At its regular meeting held June 7, 2005, the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee discussed this matter with City staff and recommended that Council approve the recommendation of the CLA, as submitted in its report dated May 26, 2005. The Committee further recommended that Council amend the subject Resolution to also reflect that the Ennis House was recently listed on the World Monument Funds List as the 11th most endangered culturally important site in the world. This matter is now forwarded to the Council for its consideration.

Respectfully submitted,

ARTS, PARKS HEALTH AND AGING COMMITTEE

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AUG 1 7 2005 RESOLUTION 1'·1'_·

WHEREAS, Frank Lloyd Wright, one ofthe world's premier architects of the 20th Century, designed his 1924 Ennis House in the Los Feliz District ofthe City of Los Angeles which today still remains an outstanding example of his concepts of organic architecture; and

WHEREAS, investigations have shown that this architectural masterpiece has been determined to be a most important part of our nation's cultural fabric and that in addition to being a City of Los Angeles Cultural Monument this icon has also been placed on the National Registry ofHistoric Places, that it was designated a State of California Landmark, that it is listed as an America Treasures Property;

WHEREAS, this house was recently listed on the World Monument Funds list as the 11th most endangered culturally important sites in the world; and

WHEREAS, the Ennis House which is now 80 years old suffered substantial damage in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake and more recently suffered additional damage from the 2005 rains storms that resulted in near record precipitation in Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, this Cultural Monument is an important piece of our City's history that must be protected and rehabilitated; and

WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles is facing budgetary restraints which makes the use of the City's funds unavailable for rehabilitation of the Ennis House; and

WHEREAS, the City has learned that the non-profit corporation that owns this property is in need ofhelp to finance the rehabilitation of this site and now requires assistance in securing funds to match its FEMA grant that are intended to facilitate the repair of this outstanding example of Mr. Wright's architecture;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that by the adoption of this Resolution, the City of Los Angeles recognizes that the activities of the Ennis House Foundation in soliciting donations of money and services for the purpose of rehabilitating the Frank Lloyd Wright 1924 Ennis House will lessen the burdens on the City of Los Angeles which the City would otherwise incur to pay for this effmi;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, with the concurrence of the Mayor, that by the adoption of this Resolution, the City of Los Angeles hereby includes in its 2005-2006 Federal Legislative Program SUPPORT of legislation and/or administrative action to secure Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance to ensure that the Frank Lloyd Wright 1924 Ennis House, an important historic site, is adequately funded to enable repair of its 1994 Northridge Earthquake damage and that additional time be granted to enable the execution of proper rehabilitation of this site as provided for in the Secretary of State's guidelines for historic preservation. I CERTIFY THAT THE FDREGC:i,JG RESOLUTIOfi WAS f\DOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY Qf LQS llf~~En liT ITS f'ilEETING OF_ lAlJi:i 1J.:2Qll5 BY AMAJORITY OF ALL ITS MEMBE!I::-..:,s=.""""'-- FRiiNK T. MARTiNEZ CITY ~l5Pi< ] 1 BY - .. • l)fPUTYr £f/~ftJ~ i.Ll4i~E!1