Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council
Venice Neighborhood Council
PO Box 550, Venice, CA 90294 / www.VeniceNC.org
Email: / Phone or Fax: 310.606.2015
Board of Officers Meeting Minutes
Westminster Elementary School (Auditorium)
1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, 90291
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 7:00 PM
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
7:15 PM Meeting called to order at Westminster Elementary School Auditorium.
Present: Mike Newhouse, President; DeDe Audet, President Emeritus (non-voting); Joe Murphy; Challis Macpherson; Ira Koslow; Brennan Lindner; Marc Saltzberg; Brooke Soles; Emily Elliott; Cynthia Rogers; Nick Karno; Karen Wolfe; Stewart Oscars; Carolyn Rios; Linda Lucks; Marc Castleman; Kristopher Valentine (selected by board to fill vacant position); Hugh Harrison; Clarence Carter. Parliamentarian: Ivan Spiegel. Absent: Stan Muhammad; Sean Kelly; Nadine Parkos.
Arturo Piña, Venice Field Deputy for City Councilperson Bill Rosendahl, presents Certificate of Distinction and Appreciation to Dexter O'Connell for service to VNC.
2. Approval of the Agenda
3. Approval of any outstanding minutes submitted by the Secretary
August 18, 2009 Board Meeting Minutes
(see http://venicenc.org/files/090818VNCBoardMinutes1.doc)
[Committee Reports are provided in written form when available]
4. Consent Calendar
A From LUPC [Approved except as noted in I below]
I De Minimis Projects [LL remove 619 OFW & 1415 S Lincoln: Postponed to October 12 AdCom]
Challis Macpherson () on behalf of LUPC: Challis Macpherson moves that VNC Board of Officers send the VNC Standing Rule 5A Form Letter, stating No Opinion & No Recommendation Without Prejudice, regarding entitlement applications listed in Exhibit A.
II COMMUNITY IMPACT STATEMENT TO BE ATTACHED TO COUNCIL FILE 09-2171
Challis Macpherson (): We, the Venice Neighborhood Council, object to subject Council File 09-2171 which states: “I move that the order of business of regular meetings of the Council, as listed in Council Rule 22, be amended to move ‘Public Testimony on Non-Agenda Items’ toward the end of the Council meetings just prior to ‘Adjourning Motions:’ with the understanding that the Council President shall retain the discretion to change the order of business for any Council meeting at his discretion and depending on the needs of the day.”
Implementation of this rule will hinder the opportunities of neighborhood activists most. Neighborhood Councils are City Chartered organizations and by this rule their members will be refused the opportunities offered to other Departmental and Agency representatives.
5. Treasurers Report – expenditures for July 2009 See Exhibit D report accepted as presented
6. Scheduled Announcements (no more than 1 minute per report unless otherwise stated)
A Governmental Reports
· EmpowerLA: Deanna Stevenson ()
· LAPD: Officer Peggy Thusing, Senior Lead Officer
· State Assemblyperson Ted Lieu: Jennifer Zivkovic, Field Representative (310-615-3515; )
· Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: Jennifer Badger, West Area Representatives (310-479-3823; )
· City Councilperson Bill Rosendahl: Arturo Piña, Field Deputy
· LADWP: Jeffrey Childers, LADWP Representative (213-367-8693; )
· LADWP/MOU: VNC Representatives DeDe Audet & Challis McPherson
B Ivan Spiegel (310-821-9556; ): Report on Gilbert & Sullivan Sing-Along & announcement of upcoming AK Festival & Children Inside-Out Community Arts event.
C Ethics Training Compliance Update Linda Lucks (): 18 of 21 have complied.
D Mural Funding Available
Elizabeth Jane (818-568-9080; ): There is funding available from $1000-$10,000 for a mural. If interested, contact Elizabeth for brochure and details.
E Mayor’s Budget Day and EmpowerLA Empowerment Congress
Hugh Harrison and Brooke Soles were appointed by the Administrative Committee as the VNC Budget Representatives for the October 10, 2009 Mayor’s Budget Day and EmpowerLA Empowerment Congress.
F 13.1 Los Angeles Half Marathon
Brennan Lindner (): presented by Tom Manning.
G 2010 Election Outreach Planning Session Report Ira Koslow (310-392-0868; ):
[Postponed to Oct 12 AdCom]
7. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda
[15 min, no more than 2 minutes per person – no board member announcements permitted]
Noel Weiss
Yolanda Gonzales
8. Old Business
A1 From LUPC
I LUPC motion regarding 119 Lincoln Blvd, ZA 2008 4919 [CM/CR motion fails 1-12-5]
Challis Macpherson (): Challis Macpherson, on behalf of LUPC, regarding 119 Lincoln Blvd, requests that the VNC Board of Officers accept the LUPC Staff Report recommends that the Board of Officers recommend approval of this project as presented with the addition of the usual LUPC/ABC alcohol related conditions which are appended to all alcohol-related projects recommended by LUPC. Motion passed unanimously. See Exhibit B [Exhibit B replaced by revised materials distributed at the meeting]
A2 Board election of nominee to the vacant Board Community Officer position
Nominees are Andre Bollinger, Jake Kaufman, Kristopher Valentine, Peter Thottam, & Roland Eavey.
The election procedure will be by ballot and will be posted for public review immediately after the completion of the following process: (i) One ballot will be used listing all Board candidates; (ii) Each board member will vote for 1 Board candidate; in the event of a tie between two or more candidates for the one board position, runoff votes will be held between the tied candidates until the position is filled; (iii) Upon completion of the voting process, board members will sign their ballots and the ballots will be immediately posted for public review.
The elected Community Officer will immediately become a voting member of the VNC Board, subject to a subsequent stakeholder ratification election to occur between 30 and 90 days after being elected by the Board.
[Kristopher Valentine selected and seated]
B Community Officers appointment of replacement for vacant Administrative Committee position
[Kristopher Valentine selected by Community Officers]
C Rules & Elections Committee Bylaw Amendment & Standing Rules Motions
Ira Koslow (): See Exhibit E.
[IK/LL motions: I & II passed unanimous, III passed by 15-1-1 vote]
D Board to consider 4 motions originally brought to it by the Homelessness and Vehicular Occupancy Committee and alternatives proposed by Board Members. The HVOC motions as originally presented & related motions affecting these HVOC motions are attached as Exhibit F. The HVOC Committee Report, including the Minority Report, is available online at http://venicenc.org/node/1223. The below Ex F extracts reflect the board motions & votes.
As adopted by the VNC Board at its July 21 Meeting and rescinded at its August 18 Meeting
II Motion to Create VNC Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Committee
Request that the VNC establish a Committee on Affordable Housing to promote the development of affordable housing. [LL/KW motion passed 8-7-2] [LL/KW motion to consider 7/21 versions of IV & VI failed 3-10-3]
Alternatives prepared by Carolyn Rios and Stewart Oscars after the August 18, 2009 Board Meeting
Motion to Explore the Following as Alternatives to HVOC Motions II, IV and VI
Stewart Oscars (310-305-8248; ) and Carolyn Rios (310-821-7922; ): Request that the VNC board explore the following as alternatives to HVOC motions II, IV and VI scheduled to be heard at its September 15, 2009 meeting:
Motion II: Motion to Create VNC Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Committee
Request that the VNC establish a Committee on Affordable Housing to promote the development of affordable housing in Los Angeles. The VNC Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness and Vehicular Occupation Final Report contains a number of ideas in the section on Recommendations to Promote Affordable Housing. The new committee may explore these ideas, among others. [Not considered]
Motion IV: Motion for Limited Zoning Exemption for Permanent Supportive Housing
Request that the VNC recommend to the Councilmember of the District and the Mayor, for the purpose of construction or adaptive reuse to create permanent supportive housing or transitional housing for chronic homeless individuals, that granting zoning exemptions be explored as a way to increase the number of units available on a site. The properties created need to be vested in perpetuity as permanent supportive housing by the project developer, whether publicly or privately developed, and can be located in residential, commercial or manufacturing zones per the recommendations of the VNC Ad Hoc Homelessness and Vehicular Occupation Committee Final Report in the section on Recommendations to Promote Affordable Housing and in residential zoned areas. [IK/SO motion passed as amended: unanimous]
Motion VI: Motion to Create Vehicle-to-Housing Transition Program [MarcS joins in making this motion]
Request that the VNC recommend that the City of Los Angeles establish a program, funded by the City, County and possibly private charitable sources, and operated by a non-profit social service provider, to provide sites and services to assist vehicle dwellers, on a voluntary basis, find affordable housing.
The VNC suggests that most successful programs are flexible in their approaches to homeless individuals and that the initial program be a “Pilot” program. This suggests that the program specifics not be codified by ordinance but rather be determined by any contract the City of Los Angeles concludes with the non-profit social service provider selected to operate the program. The contract should be sensitive and protective of both residents’ and homeless individuals’ needs. It is further suggested that the City of Los Angeles and its contractor explore the ideas contained in the VNC Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness and Vehicular Occupation’s Final Report in the section on the Pilot Vehicle-to-Housing Transition Program. [LL/KW amendment passed 11-4-2]
[SO/MS main motion passed as amended 16-0-1]
As presented by the HVOC at the VNC June 16, 2009 Board Meeting
VIII Motion to extend the Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness Vehicular Occupation to September 18, 2009
Mark Ryavec (310 392 4843; ) & Carolyn Rios (310-821-7922; ) Co-Chairs: To continue the dialogue begun by this Committee with various agencies and officials, to advance the recommendations made by this Committee (or which will be made by this Committee), and to maintain a focus on the needs of the homeless in our community, request that the VNC confirm the decision of the Ad Hoc Committee that it continue to meet until its one-year renewal date on September 18, 2009, on the subject of Homelessness, and the related issues of development of affordable housing in and around Venice, on a once per month basis or as determined by its chair(s), and that it act as the VNC’s interlocutor with homeless serving agencies, both public and private, City agencies such as the LAPD and City Attorney and LAHD, County representatives, and LAHSA. The committee shall also hold meetings with various agencies to gauge progress in assisting Venice’s homeless population gain access to services and housing.
[IK/KW motion to reject: passed 15-1-1]
9. New Business
A From Board Member
I Letter of support of our two appeals of an SB1818 project [Referred to LUPC]
Challis Macpherson () & Karen Wolfe for Jennifer Reed/Sandy Hubbard (818-985-4466 or 818-445-5385 cell; ) on behalf of Valley Village Neighborhood Council: We ask your Venice NC to CONSIDER a MOTION and SEND a LETTER OF SUPPORT to the City Planning Commission (CPC) (and thereby support our Valley Village stakeholders and Neighborhood Council in preventing abuses for our common good against SB1818 inappropriate projects) See Exhibit G for the proposed motion/letter - and please understand that you might additionally choose any of the supporting ideas 1 - 13 if it resonates for YOUR council beyond the barebones of the core motion. We would like to present the project to your NC. We tried to present it to your LUPC but their agenda was full. Challis suggested that I contact you directly to put on the full NC agenda. I will send additional material to the .
B From Environmental Committee
I "Bin Your Butts" Flyer / "Green Screen" Film Festival & Series [Postponed to Oct 12 AdCom]
Nick Karno (323-578-6038; ) & Kristopher Valentine () on behalf of Environmental Committee: The Environmental Committee is currently working on a campaign to reduce the littering of cigarette butt at First Fridays on Abbot Kinney. We are developing a plan with businesses on Abbot Kinney, which includes public awareness, purchasing of bins, and clean up. There is a very good chance funding of the program will come from involved businesses. At this point the Eco Committee requests the endorsement of the VNC so that the campaign can be promoted at the VNC booth and the flyer can use the VNC logo. This litter reduction program is a pilot that if successful will be implemented on Ocean Front Walk and other parts of Venice.
On Thursday September 10th, Nick Karno and Kristopher Valentine met with Joel Shapiro, owner of the Electric Lodge, to discuss plans for a “Green Screen” Environmental Film Festival in November as well as 10 part monthly film series to begin in January 2010. The Eco Committee plans to requests support and funding for the project at next month's meeting.
Motions for the two items will be presented at Tuesday’s board meeting.
C From LUPC
I LUPC motion regarding 600 E. Mildred, ZA 2008 4919 [CM/NK motion failed 4-7-5]
Challis Macpherson (): Challis Macpherson, on behalf of LUPC, regarding 600 E. Mildred, Kim’s Market, requests that the VNC Board of Officers accept the LUPC Staff Report recommends that the Venice Neighborhood Council Board of Officers recommend that the VNC Board of Officers recommend approval of project as presented subject to same conditions LUPC has recommended for other full-line alcohol outlets in Venice. To wit: (list conditions as per as Whole Foods, no minis, price break on single cans, etc). Moved by Jim Murez, seconded by Jed Pauker. Passed 4-1-0. Conditions submitted under separate cover to . See Exhibit C
10. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda
[15 min, no more than 2 minutes per person – no board member announcements permitted]
11. Adjourn (approx 10:00PM)
Exhibit A – LUPC De Minimis Projects
ENTITLEMENT APPLICATIONS FROM 2009-6-21 TO 2009-7-4ZA-2009-1973-ZAA-SPP, ENV 2009-1974 CE / 1 E CATAMARAN ST 90292 / ZAA-AREA HEIGHT YARD AND BUILDING LINE ADJMNTS < 20% (SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS);SPP-SPECIFIC PLAN PROJECT PERMIT COMPLIANCE. CD=categorical exemption / BRYAN / STEVE ROYEA (310)493-2524 / De Minimis Form Letter
ENV-2009-2009-CE / 4089 S LINCOLN BLVD 90292 / CDO=comm design overlay; CE-CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION / KEN PARIS (310)739-2793 / De Minimis Form Letter
DIR-2009-2049-VSO / 225 E LINNIE CL 90291 / VSO-VENICE SIGNOFF / BLAS FERNANDEZ (714)381-1269 / De Minimis Form Letter