VNC Board of Officers Meeting
Westminster Elementary School (Auditorium)
1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, 90291
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 7:00 PM
HIGHLIGHTS
FOOD DRIVE
At this meeting, the 826LA & VNC FOOD DRIVE! will be accepting food and blankets and donations to the Westside Food Bank to help feed the LA hungry. Please read the attached flyer and respond generously by bringing the recommended food and blankets. For further information, contact Tara Nicole Weyr (tnw30@mac.com).
The West Side Food Bank provides food to 65 social service agencies in Los Angeles. In the past six months alone, prior to our recent economic crisis, the Westside Food Bank saw an increase of 25% in those who were turning to food banks for assistance. That’s nearly 20,000 more people than last year. This winter, the number of WORKING poor using food banks will increase even more dramatically given the increased cost of daily expenses such as food, gas, home heating and the shrinking job market. As more people begin to seek food assistance, food banks are receiving fewer donations.
DONATIONS MADE AFTER 11/18 MAY BE MADE AT 826LA WEST.
SPARC Building. 2nd Floor
685 Venice Blvd. Venice, CA 90291
BOARD VOTE TO FILL BOARD & LUPC VACANCIES
Voting Procedure & Candidate Information
At this meeting, the Board will vote to fill 2 vacant Board Community Officer positions and 2 vacant LUPC positions out of the remaining candidates (some of the candidates have asked to be considered for the LUPC positions if they are not appointed to the Board). Nominations were closed at the October 21st Board meeting and will not be considered at this meeting.
The LUPC appointments will be final. The elected Community Officers will immediately become voting members of the VNC Board, subject to a subsequent stakeholder ratification election.
BOARD AGENDA
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
2. Approval of the Agenda
3. Approval of any outstanding minutes submitted by the Secretary
October 21, 2008 Board Meeting Minutes
(see http://venicenc.org/files/081021VNCBoardMinutes.doc)
Committee Reports are provided in written form when available
4. Scheduled Announcements (no more than 1 minute per report unless otherwise stated)
A Mike Newhouse (president@venicenc.org): (i) Reminder of the Westside Food Bank food and clothing collection drive, the location of donation bins brought by Tara Nicole Weyr tnw30@mac.com (perhaps call on her to elaborate on where and how to make further donations); (ii) Recognition of the collection and donation of blankets to the Westside Food Bank by the children of the school attended by Emily Elliot’s children; (iii) Awarding of a Certificate of Appreciation honoring the Other Film Festival.
B DONE, LAPD, and other Governmental Reports
C Linda Lucks (310-745-3240/310-450-2554; Lindalucks@aol.com) regarding Conflict of Interest Training: You may take the required Conflict of Interest Training from the comfort and privacy of your own home! Sit back and listen to the melodious voice of Sec. of State Debra Bowen as you re-fresh your memory about the rules that govern us as NC leaders. Since the City Council is seriously considering putting teeth into this mandate and may also require us to file an annual personal financial disclosure form, I urge those who have not yet complied to do this soon. It makes us look credible to the City and it does help. You can take the training in small bites, or do it at one 2 hour sitting. It is well worth the effort. http://ethics.lacity.org/education/ethics2007/?audience=done
D Linda Lucks (310-745-3240/310-450-2554; Lindalucks@aol.com): Report on The Great Southern California ShakeOut
E Marcia Hanscom (310- 823-7040; wetlandact@earthlink.net): Celebrate Ballona (5 min)
F Mohammad Blorfroshan (310- 823-7040; mo.blorfroshan@lacity.org) of Department of Transportation/Western District Office: Would like to present the Department of Transportation’s proposal to install a “Scramble Crosswalk” Operation at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Windward Avenue in Venice.
G DeDe Audet (310-821-4417; dd1audet@verizon.net): (letter to be provided by DeDe)
H Ivan Spiegel (310-821-9556; ivan13147@verizon.net): Senior Prom
5. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda (15 min, no more than 2 minutes per person) no board announcements
6. Old Business
A From Board Members
I Challis Macpherson (Chair-LUPC@VeniceNC.org) & Joe Murphy (310-895-0344; joedmurphyvnc@ca.rr.com): Motion to adopt the following policy:
POLICY STATEMENT REGARDING PROJECTS REQUESTING SIGNIFICANT VCZSP VARIANCES
To be presented at neighborhood meetings before consideration by LUPC
1. The Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan (VCZSP) sets out guidelines for new development in Venice.
2. Projects requesting significant variances to the VCZSP are subject to additional VCZSP provisions – including but not limited to provisions relating to character and scale – which do not apply to projects that do not request such variances.
3. It is recommended that projects requesting significant variances to the VCZSP be designed in such a way that they address the above additional provisions for presentation and discussion at Neighborhood Meetings and at the LUPC meeting at which the project is to be considered. In this context, participants are encouraged to consult not only the relevant sections and provisions of the VCZSP, but also the concerns of each individual neighborhood which can be found on the LUPC web site section of www.venicenc.org.
7. Treasurers Report (See Exhibit A at p6) accept report as presented
8. New Business
A Mike Newhouse (president@venicenc.org):
I Vote on Board Vacancies: to fill 2 vacant Community Officer positions on the Board.
II Vote on LUPC Vacancies: to fill 2 vacant positions on LUPC.
Voting Procedure & Candidate Information
III Selection of Community Officer: to fill the vacant Community Officer position on the Administrative Committee. Per Bylaws ARTICLE VII A, this position is to be filled by a Community Officer elected by the Community Officers.
IV 10 minute recess to meet with and encourage all candidates to remain active in VNC
V Announce Special Board Retreat Meeting: 12/7/08 from 11am to 3pm (See Exhibit B at p8 for draft agenda)
B From LUPC
I Challis Macpherson (Chair-LUPC@VeniceNC.org) on behalf of LUPC:
Regarding 248 Westminster, Luma Pictures LLC, APCW 2008-2338 SPE SSPP CDP, ENV 2008-2339 EAF, Challis Macpherson moves that the VNC Board of Officers accept the LUPC Staff Report (See Exhibit C at p10) on this project, and recommend approval of this project as presented in accordance with LUPC motion made, seconded and passed 5-0-2 at a regular LUPC meeting October 22, 2008 as follows:
LUPC recommends that the VNC Board of Officers recommend that this project be approved as presented
(see project description in Exhibit C) with the following conditions:
1. That LUPC and the City of Los Angeles must be notified when either church lease is renewed, cancelled or renegotiated;
2. That the applicant be required to send notifications to the neighbors advising of contact information and a brief explanation of what has transpired;
3. That Luma Pictures undergo a 6-month review with the City, further review within 1 year and then 2 years;
4. The exception will terminate, and the building must revert to its original use, if the building owner cannot provide thirty off-site parking spaces;
5. Upon a change of ownership, the new owner must appear before the City within 30 days of the close of escrow, with a plan approval application to renew the conditions and demonstrate that the required parking can be provided;
6. The property owner agrees to cease operations within 5 calendar days if parking is no longer available.
7. The conditions volunteered by the applicant in the 9/12/08 memo from the applicant’s representative shall be included:
a. The conditions of the lease with the First Baptist Church at 685 Westminster Avenue.
• Luma Pictures will lease 50 parking spaces commencing September 1, 2008, Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• The initial lease is for one year and Luma Pictures has the express option of renewing for a second year.
• If the church needs the parking lot for specific functions, it must provide 5 business days notice to the applicant, who will make alternative arrangements.
b. Should the lease be terminated, the applicant shall obtain replacement parking at an alternative location prior to its termination date.
c. Employee manual regulations requiring use of offsite parking spaces provided.
d. Provision of shuttle service between the applicant’s building and offsite parking. A passenger van has been purchased for this purpose.
e. Employee vehicles shall have identifying stickers, so that they may readily be seen by neighboring residents.
g. The applicant will provide written and photographic documentation of lot usage online for random auditing.
h. The applicant is willing to pay for an independent auditor to periodically (and randomly) audit the parking records and actual parking areas.
II Challis Macpherson (Chair-LUPC@VeniceNC.org) on behalf of LUPC: Moves that the VNC Board of Officers accept the LUPC staff report on this project & approve the project as presented with the condition that at the end of the project the roof reverts to a state conforming to the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan. Vote 4-0-1.
(See Exhibit D at p14 for LUPC Staff Report)
This is an innovative rooftop concept incorporating solar panels, hydroponic/greenhouse garden to feed a family of four, a cistern for water run-off, a variety of native plants and trees, and water areas for migrating birds and insects, areas to enjoy the greenroof, entertainment areas and, of course, art and design.
Website and blog: http://leilalevi.com/greenroof/. Architect’s rendering and elevations emailed to LUPC.
This building is 30’high and is under dual jurisdiction, City and Coastal, and can be 35’ high with a varied roofline, which can go 40’ high, with a set back of 5’. The solar shield and panels qualify as “varied” roofline. Note that the zoning is Neighborhood Commercial.
Building & Safety conditioned a 5’6” railing around the perimeter of the roof. Solar shield and panels would be 8’ high.
Applicant is requesting that LUPC recommend that the VNC Board of Officers send a letter of support for this concept to Councilman Rosendahl, City of Los Angeles Planning Dept. and Building and Safety. Draft of letter included.
Case Number: TBA
Address of Project: 18 East North Venice Blvd
Size of Parcel: Calculated 4,982.1 square feet
Size of Project: Roof Top of Condominium Building, built in 1983, with an approximate square footage of 3,450 square feet (50’X69’)
Venice Subarea: North Venice subarea; bounded by LA City line on the North, Washington Blvd on the South, Ocean Front Walk on the West and Hampton Drive on the East, in accordance with Exhibit 3a and 3b maps included with Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan.
Zone: [T]{Q}C1.5-1-O-CA
General Plan Use: Neighborhood Commercial
VCZSP Height: Pager 17, Section F, 3, a:
Permit Application Date: TBA
Date of Planning Report: TBA
Date of End of Appeal Period: TBA
Planning Report Prepared by: TBA
Applicant: Leila Levy
Address: 18 East North Venice Blvd.
III Challis Macpherson (Chair-LUPC@VeniceNC.org) on behalf of LUPC:
LUPC recommends that the VNC Board send a letter to Bill Rosendahl and relevant city departments (including but not limited to Bureau of Engineering) and to the California Coastal Commission requesting that they repeal the utility permit on the installation on a utility pole near the intersection of 7th Avenue and Westminster Avenue and require the immediate cessation construction and the removal of the cellular installation because:
(1) There was improper notification to the surrounding residents and the VNC and lack of follow-through; (2) No Coastal Development Permit was obtained; and (3) Failure to comply with VCZSP, particularly the height requirements for the Oakwood sub-area.Motion made by Jim Murez, seconded by Arnold Springer, and approved unanimously.
C From Board Members
I Linda Lucks (310-745-3240/310-450-2554; Lindalucks@aol.com): Motion to send the following letters to Bill Rosendahl, cc City Council & Board Of Neighborhood Commissioners: (See Exhibit E at p16 for City Report)
1. The VNC does not support a requirement that Neighborhood Council board members sign an annual financial disclosure statement at this time. However, the VNC supports the Board Of Neighborhood Commission recommendation that Neighborhood Council board members who open a Neighborhood Council File (NCF), be required to submit a modified personal financial disclosure document that details information on their current or past employment, and on any real estate holdings or business interests (and those of their spouse or registered domestic partner) that pertain specifically to the Neighborhood Council File in question.
2. The Venice Neighborhood Council supports The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners’ recommendation to implement a system-wide, mandatory conflict of interest ethics training course for all Neighborhood Council members. This should include specific sanctions and consequences for individual board members not in compliance within a time certain of taking office.
D From Neighborhood Committee
I Ivan Spiegel (310-821-9556; ivan13147@verizon.net) on behalf of the Neighborhood Committee regarding Community Improvement Projects: The following request was approved unanimously by the Neighborhood Committee and will be incorporated into the appropriate standing rule if approved by the Board.
Request that the Board approve the following changes to the Neighborhood Committee’s 2009-2010 Community Improvement Project funding cycle:
1- Projects will be funded up to $2000 maximum (changed from $5000). Previously funded applicants will be required to match VNC funds with additional funds on at least a one-to-one basis.
2- More emphasis be placed on community involvement in projects (as opposed to just getting signatures of support).
E From Arts Committee
I Nadine Parkos (310-827-2188; nadineparkos@aol.com) & Paulin Paris (email@paulin-paris.com) & Tania Getty (tsparkly@aol.com): The Department of Cultural Affairs has agreed that the Venice Neighborhood Council may submit in writing a proposal to be considered as the City addresses a “Cultural Master Plan” this month. The Arts Committee requests that the Board of Officers submit the following letter:
The Board of Officers of the Venice Neighborhood Council requests that Los Angeles support the development and integration of Venice as an ongoing “Brand” unique to the City as part of the pending Department of Cultural Affairs Master Plan.
MISSION: The name “Venice” already conveys a seductively unique image of a world-famous arts center. By establishing an “Arts Gateway” to Venice on Venice Boulevard, from Lincoln Boulevard west to the Beach, including Abbot Kinney Boulevard north to Main Street, our mission is to further cultivate this identity. By working more closely with the City of Los Angeles to develop an immediately identifiable Venice “Brand”, Venice will greatly increase its local tourist, and visitor participation and awareness of Venice’s remarkably vital and diverse schedule of cultural and environmental events occurring throughout the year. Not only could this “branding- benefit Venice and Los Angeles by increasing public awareness and City revenues, this could well serve education with a focus directed toward attracting both adults and students.
VISION: To further increase Venice awareness and revenues, we propose to work with the City to build upon Venice’s cultural diversity and environmental consciousness (witness Venice’s highly successful annual Eco-Fests) in order to establish throughout all Southern California annual Venice – Los Angeles generated “Venice – Southern California Arts, Performance, and Education” cultural arts festivals. This will be loosely modeled on Art Basel Miami, however with greater emphasis on the inherent benefit of relating arts exposure to education which will be an integral element (Art Basel Miami presently attracts over 40,000 visitors.)
OBJECTIVE: To further an “Arts Economy” within Venice in order to substantially benefit all of greater Los Angeles. Arts economies have substantially impacted areas throughout the United States. Among other benefits, they serve to increase tourism, create jobs, and help to reverse urban blight. Numerous studies are available on the benefits of arts economies throughout the United States.
GOAL: To enable Venice to house diversified arts facilities. Permanent facilities with sufficient flexibility to house an art museum, heritage museum, civic auditorium, repertory theater, music center, resident dance company, and, of course provide the necessary infrastructure, such as adequate parking, to accommodate them would create a thriving arts community that will significantly financially benefit all of Los Angeles.
FUNDING: A Special Assessment District municipal bond offering overlaying Venice and adjacent areas: Such bonds do not require a general vote, only the approval of real estate owners within such a district. Annual “Venice – Southern California Arts Performance and Education” cultural weeks, while drawing support from major sponsors, could generate substantial revenues for the City, for example by incorporating a Pan-Pacific exhibition at the L A Convention Center. (Though many arts festivals in the U.S. address Europe and Latin America, Los Angeles is in a unique position to focus on the thriving arts interest in Asia, Australia and the Western U.S.).
F From Outreach Committee
I Marc Saltzberg (310-305-9660; outreach@VeniceNC.org) & Christopher Shaw (323-632-4894; cshawbytheseasha@sbcglobal.net) in conjunction with Tania Getty (tsparkly@aol.com) & Pacific Resident Theatre, Venice Library, & Youth Theatre Program: Request that the Venice Neighborhood Council approve funding from the Board’s Discretionary Funds for the proposed SECOND Young Adults Theatre FALL Program as presented in proposal, in an amount not to exceed $2290.00, pursuant to the proposed Budget submitted herewith and at http://venicenc.org/files/081118ExhibitFofItem8FI-PRTYATheatreProgramApp….
(See Exhibit F at p16 for Application)
G From Budget Committee
I Hugh Harrison (310-487-2533; chezhaha@aol.com) on behalf of Budget Committee: Motion to approve expenditure not to exceed $1000 for recycling and trash can stickers identifying the VNC as the sponsor.
II Hugh Harrison (310-487-2533; chezhaha@aol.com) on behalf of Budget Committee: Motion to approve expenditure for a scanner in an amount not to exceed $500.
9. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda (15 min, no more than 2 minutes per person)
10. Adjourn (approx 10:00PM)
Exhibit A – Treasurer’s Report
(See Below Attachment)
Exhibit B – Draft of Special Board Retreat Meeting Agenda
(See Below Attachment)
Beachwood Restaurant
822 Washington Boulevard, Venice, 90291 (310-448-8884)
Sunday, December 7, 2007 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Exhibit C – FINAL LUPC STAFF REPORT – 248 E Westminster
(See Below Attachment)
Exhibit D – FINAL LUPC STAFF REPORT – 10 19th Avenue
Date: October 6, 2008
Project Address: 10 19th Avenue
Case Number: APCW-2007-2429-SPE-SPP-CDP-MEL – ENV 2007-2430-MND
Applicant: Glen and Jane Hickerson, Sonoma, CA; email: GHickerson@JetWorks.aero; phone: (415) 568-4822
Applicant’s Representative: Steve Kaali, Windrich Group, Canoga Park, CA; email: askaaliman@gmail.com; phone: (818) 795-7697
Size of parcel: two adjacent lots of equal size totaling 5,279 square feet, as per ZIMAS; 60’ x 88’, on the southwest corner of 19th Avenue and Speedway. 19th Avenue is a walk street, and there is alley access from the south side of the property and on Speedway.
Size of project: Existing 7,600 square foot 10-unit apartment building constructed in 1971 (as per ZIMAS); approximately 41’ tall (as per City Planning Recommendation Report); 16 parking spaces inside closed garages, 12 tandem, 4 standard
Parking:
Unit mix/parking: 2 2-bedroom units, 1 tandem parking space per unit
2 1-bedroom + loft units, 1 tandem parking space per unit
4 1-bedroom units, 1 standard parking space per unit
2 singles, tenants share a tandem parking space
The Manager’s unit (existing illegal 11th unit) uses the remaining tandem space for parking and for himself and for vendor/maintenance/repair person parking
The Manager reports that no tenants park on the street, and there is no guest parking.
The project is located in the Beach Impact Zone as defined in Section 5.D. of the VCZSP, and the Beach Impact Zone parking requirement is “One parking space for each 640 square feet of floor area of the Ground Floor,” as that term is defined in Section 5.M. of the VCZSP. The only Ground Floor area is the lobby and the Manager’s unit which are less than 640 square feet, which would require 1 BIZ parking space.
The VCZSP Parking Requirement Table bases parking for multiple dwelling units on the width of a lot. If the two lots are considered as one, the width is 60’, and two parking spaces are required per unit, plus .25 guest parking spaces per unit, rounded up. The total number of parking spaces which would be required if this project was built today, 24 parking spaces would be required, whereas the building currently has 16 parking spaces.
Zoning: R3-1-O
General Plan Land Use: Medium Residential
Venice Subarea: North Venice, VCZSP Section 10.F.
Department of City Planning Recommendation Report: recommends that the application be denied in its entirety.
West L.A. Area Planning Commission Hearing Date: September 17, 2008
Nature of Application: A previous owner converted a storage area into an illegal unit which has been occupied by the building manager for the last 16 years. The Applicant is requesting a Specific Plan Exception, Project Permit Compliance review, and a Coastal Development Permit (as per the City Planning Recommendation Report) as follows:
1. Pursuant to Section 11.5.7 F of the Municipal Code, an Exception from the following Sections of the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan:
A. Section 10.F.2 to permit density to be calculated by permitting one unit for each 479 square feet of lot area in lieu of the required 1,500 square feet per unit as specified by the Specific Plan.
B. Section 13.D to permit the requested 11th unit to provide only one parking space in lieu of two (2) parking spaces per dwelling unit and one guest parking space as is otherwise required..
2. Pursuant to section 8.B. of the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan and Section 11.5.7 of the Municipal Code, a Project Permit Compliance determination.
3. Coastal Development Permit for the above.
ISSUES AND ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR AND AGAINST:
Parking:
Adding a new parking space as proposed by the Applicant in the front yard of the site will result in a loss of outdoor common area and will require the removal of landscaping.
Each tenant has a parking space, but there is no guest parking for this 10-unit building.
The building manager who resides in the illegal unit has a tandem parking space for himself and for parking by vendor/maintenance/repair persons. If this 10-unit apartment building could be built today,
Density:
The combined square footage of the two lots is 5,279 square feet. If a new project were built there today, a total of 4 units could be built on the two lots. The existing apartment building is 10 units.
Creating/Preserving Affordable Housing:
In an effort to create and preserve affordable housing, the LUPC has sometimes recommended that the VNC Board recommend approval of the continued use of an illegal unit, so long as it is maintained as an affordable unit.
MOTION PASSED BY LUPC:
On September 10, 2008, the LUPC passed a Motion recommending that the Board of the VNC recommend that the City approve the Specific Plan Exception as requested, on the condition that a unit in the building other than the manager’s unit be designated as an affordable unit for the life of the project, at the level of “very low” income, with a covenant duly executed between the City and the Applicant, and that the fence in the front yard be brought down to 3 ½ feet, with no additional parking space.
EXPRESS REASONING UNDERLYING LUPC’S MOTION
The LUPC felt that the designation of an affordable unit at the level of “very low” income was such a significant benefit to the community that no new parking space should be required, particularly because adding a new parking space would take away a landscaped common area.
The LUPC felt that the unit designated as affordable should not be the manager’s unit because the manager might not qualify for the “very low” income level and would have to vacate the unit, and because even if the manager qualified, the Applicant might already give the manager a reduced rent, and designation of that unit as “affordable” would be subsidizing the owner’s payment to the manager in the form of reduced rent.
Exhibit E – City Ethics Commission – NC Financial Disclosure
Commission Re-Affirms Support for Limited Neighborhood Council Financial Disclosure
As policy discussions about the appropriate role of personal financial disclosure for neighborhood council board members continue in the city, the City Ethics Commission re-affirmed its support for limited disclosure tied to the creation of neighborhood council files, or NCFs. At its meeting on September 5, the Ethics Commission considered an alternative proposal requested by the City Council’s Education and Neighborhoods Committee to require annual disclosure. The staff report proposed to modify the Ethics Commission’s Form 52, which was first transmitted to the Council in March 2008. The Commission’s special meeting was called to enable the ethics panel to consider the issue and then share its views with Education and Neighborhoods Committee members at their meeting on September 9th.
After hearing from neighborhood council activists and others, the Ethics Commission concluded that the twin goals of transparency and enhanced citizen participation for neighborhood councils would be most appropriately balanced at this time by periodic disclosure tied only to the creation of an NCF. On a 4-1 vote, the Commission restated its continuing strong belief that the financial disclosure required of neighborhood council board members should reflect their advisory role and should not rise to the level and scope of disclosure required by state Form 700.
This issue first arose in January 2008, when the City Council approved a two-year pilot project authorizing neighborhood councils to create NCFs. As part of the pilot project, the City Council added a requirement that neighborhood council board members who participate in creating an NCF file a Form 700 relating to that NCF. Under City law, however, neighborhood councils are currently exempt from filing Form 700. If that exemption were eliminated, neighborhood council board members would be permanently subject to filing Form 700 on an annual basis and would also be subject to other City laws.
In response to requests for input from several councilmembers, the Ethics Commission observed that neighborhood councils are advisory bodies and, in its opinion, should not be required to file financial disclosure statements regarding matters over which they have no ultimate authority, such as NCFs. However, acknowledging the potential for conflicts of interests under state law, as well as the City Council’s stated desire for financial disclosure, the Commission adopted Form 52 as an alternative to Form 700 for neighborhood council board members. Form 52 asks for disclosure regarding key financial interests, such as employers, real estate interests, and business interests. It also asks for disclosure regarding other financial issues that could be affected by the particular NCF that triggered the filing. Only those neighborhood council board members who vote on an NCF would be required to file Form 52.
Exhibit F – PRT Young Adults Theatre Fall Program Funding Application
(See Below Attachment)
Location(s)
- Calendar
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