Westminster Elementary School (Auditorium)
1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, 90291
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 7:00 PM

Venice Neighborhood Council Board Meeting

Key Agenda Items:

• Referral of all Street Furniture proposals to the Land Use and Planning Committee and (in the Coastal Zone) the Coastal Commissions.
• Vote on Recommendations of the Fences and Hedges Task Force
• Proposed display of “Non Violence,” the knotted gun sculpture, in Venice

The Board of the Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) will hold its February Meeting on Tuesday, February 19th, 2008. The meeting will be held at the Westminster Elementary School Auditorium, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd (parking and auditorium entrance on Westminister, 1/2 block west, Venice, 90291) from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

The agenda includes referral of street furniture installations (bus shelters, “information” kiosks and automated public toilets) on Ocean Front Walk and other areas of Venice to LUPC for approval and requires that they receive necessary permits (in the Coastal Zone) from the Coastal Commission. The agenda also includes public comment and votes on two motions relating to Fences and Hedges. One motion would expand the membership and scope of the current taskforce, making it into a “Working Committee” comprised of Venice NC Stakeholders, Venice NC Board representatives, and staff from Council District 11 office, City Attorney’s Office, Dept of Bldg & Safety, and City Planning. The working committee would hold open meetings and report back in 6 months with recommended revisions to ordinances that regulate fences and hedges. The second motion would be on whether to accept the current task force recommendations on enforcement of fence and hedge ordinances. Other Items on the agenda include the resignation of Richard Myers, Communications Officer; several Arts committee proposals including the public display in Venice of one of the “Non Violence” sculptures (the well-known knotted gun sculpture) by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, and openings on the Land Use and Planning and Neighborhood Committee

Snacks and coffee will be provided.

There is no charge for this event. It is open to all Venice stakeholders and public comments are encouraged.

For additional information, please contact Marc Saltzberg, Outreach Officer at outreach@VeniceNC.org or call 310-606-2015.

What: Venice Neighborhood Council Board Meeting

Where: Westminster Elementary School Auditorium, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd (parking and auditorium entrance on Westminister, 1/2 block west of Abbot Kinney)

When: Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Time: 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM

Agenda:

1. Call to Order 7PM and Roll Call

Present:
Absent:

2. Approval of the Agenda

3. Approval of any outstanding minutes submitted by the Secretary

VNC Board Meeting Minutes: 10/17/07; 10/21/07; 10/29/01; 11/5/07; 11/20/07; 12/18/07; 1/15/08

4. Committee Reports (no more than 1 minute per report)

5. Scheduled Announcements (no more than 2 minutes per announcement unless otherwise noted)

A DONE, LAPD, Mayor and Council Office Reports

B Yolanda Gonzalez (310-902-8690; firstmateyo@yahoo.com): She is taking on organizational task to set up and secure volunteers for VNC First Friday table.

C Neighborhood Committee (i) Ivan Spiegel: report on Community Impact Funding Grants deadline for submission & discuss/set date for Town Hall public presentation of approved projects; and (2) Robin Rudasill: report on Emergency Response-Disaster Preparedness Task Force proposal including presentation of draft document for review. [5 minutes]

D Dennis Hathaway (310-399-3523; venicedd@gmail.com) on behalf of Big City Mountaineers/Summit-for-Someone: Fund-Raising Climb of Mt. Shasta June 13, 2008 to raise funds for Big City Mountaineers, a non-profit organization that provides adult-mentored wilderness trips for urban at-risk youth. [4 minutes]

See Supporting Documents below (or at http://grvnc.org/node/883)

E Richard Myers (richard.myers@venicenc.org): Web page updated to 5.7 of drupal; also announces resignation.

F James Birkelund: Resignation Announcement

G Mike Newhouse: Collection of DONE Self-Assessment Surveys

6. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda (15 min, no more than 2 minutes per person)

7. Old Business

A From LUPC

I Inspection of billboard supporting structures in Venice: Motion to urge Councilperson Rosendahl to take all necessary steps to initiate immediate, emergency inspection of all billboard supporting structures in Venice, including but not limited to repair, demolition, permit status search and further action as may be necessary to provide adequate protection for people and property in the community.

See Supporting Documents below (or at http://grvnc.org/node/883)

8. Treasurers Report

9. New Business: (approx. 8:00 PM)

A From President

I Board Vacancy: Vote to open nominations for to fill vacant Communications Officer position.

II Conflict Resolution Committee (CRC) : Vote to confirm members of CRC nominated by President:

Rush Gomez (Chair)
Oji Nwankwo
Pam Pressley
Jon Richardson
James Schley

B From LUPC

I Industrial Land Use Policy: Motion to recommend that the VNC Board of Officers issue a Community Impact Statement supporting the city planning department’s Industrial Land Use Policy establishing guidelines limiting the rezoning of industrial-zoned land for commercial and residential uses in order to protect manufacturing jobs and the city’s tax base.

See Supporting Documents below (or at http://grvnc.org/node/883)

II Street Furniture: Motion to request that CD11 office refer all future sitings of street furniture – bus shelters, kiosks, automated toilets and other such amenities on public property – to LUPC and the VNC board for their input as per the city’s street furniture contract, and to the proper authority for Coastal Development Permits.

See Supporting Documents below (or at http://grvnc.org/node/883)

III Consideration of Alternative Motion re: Fences and Hedges Recommendations: Alternative motion to expand Fences and Hedges Task Force into a Fences and Hedges Working Group (7-10 people) comprised of stakeholders, representatives from the VNC, Councilman Rosendahl’s office, the City Attorney’s office, LA City Planning department and the LA Department of Building and Safety. The Working Group would spend 6 months further evaluating this issue, and develop recommended revisions to the existing 27 year old ordinance to ensure that it is crafted and enforced in a manner that considers the diversity of neighborhoods in Venice. [PUBLIC COMMENT LIMITED TO 30 MINUTES].

IV Consideration of Fences and Hedges Task Force Recommendations: [IF Item 9(B)(III) DOES NOT PASS] Motion to adopt recommendations presented by Fences and Hedges Task Force.

See Supporting Documents below (or at http://grvnc.org/node/883)

V 635 Washington: September 13, 2006, LUPC made the following motion which was never brought before the VNC Board of Officers. This will resolve that mistake.

Brett Miller moved to approve the project as presented, support the variance request for two parking spaces per home, in appreciation of the fact that the developer is returning two parking spaces by eliminating a curb cut, and to recommend to the City Engineer that Harbor Court not be widened to 50 feet; Pam Anderson seconded. VOTE: Unanimous in favor. The motion passed.

VI 225 South Lincoln Boulevard (Whole Foods): Recommend Board approve, with conditions, issuance of a conditional use permit to allow the off-site sale of a full-line of alcoholic beverages from 7a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days per week and sale of wine for on-site consumption in conjunction with a wine tasting room.

See Supporting Documents below (or at http://grvnc.org/node/883)

VII LUPC vacancy: Initiate LUPC application process to replace Susan Papadakis who has resigned.

C From Arts Committee

I Arts Committee recommends: That the pending gift of the Nobel Non-Violence Gun Sculpture be accepted to be installed in Venice in a site to be determined by the City (engineers/police/cultural affairs) together with representatives of the VNC Arts Committee, subject to agreement of neighboring businesses or residents and a representative of the donor organization.

Initial placement will be for a renewable period of 5 years. At the discretion of the Venice NC Arts Committee the replacement or removal prior to the expiration of the initial term may be considered at any time, should public sentiment call for such a review. All costs of the sculpture, its installation, maintenance and removal are to be paid by the private donor, as described in its proposal. No public monies have been requested nor are to be authorized at this time.

II Arts Committee recommends: That the City of Los Angeles enter into a 15 year master lease with Venice Arts for use of the Westminster Senior Center with all current functions, including the dog park, to continue.

III Arts Committee recommends: That the VNC recommend to the City that lighting and completion of installation of public sculpture including the Graham Torso, the diSuvero and the Reuterswald Non-Violence sculpture be considered priorities.

D From Board Members

I Stewart Oscars (310-305-8248; stewart.oscars@gmail.com): request the VNC board to send a letter reiterating the letter sent November 1, 2006, to councilmember Rosendahl requesting a construction moratorium of large scale projects on Lincoln avenue.

See Supporting Documents below (or at http://grvnc.org/node/883)

II Challis Macpherson (310-822-1729; challis.macpherson@verizon.net): To City Clerk about SB1818, affordable housing density measure in front of city council.

III DeDe Audet (310-821-4417; ddaudet@ca.rr.com) on behalf of the LANCC LADWP Oversight Committee (OSC): request the VNC board support the LANCC LADWP Oversight Committee resolution as follows:

BE IT RESOLVED that the NC/LADWP Oversight Committee requests that the City Council ensure the expeditious completion of said IEA [Industrial, Economic and Administrative] Survey AND that the City Council not approve any LADWP rate increase actions until the information and recommendations of the IEA Survey can be considered by the Mayor, Controller, City Council and general public so as to allow all to make informed decisions.

See Supporting Documents below (or at http://grvnc.org/node/883)

E From Stakeholders

I Dennis Hathaway: The City of Los Angeles has asked Neighborhood Councils to participate in discussion workshops focusing on the viability of full public financing for City Elections. Motion that the VNC supports this input process and participate in such a workshop (along with neighboring Neighborhood Councils) to be organized by Dennis Hathaway in March or April.

See Supporting Documents below (or at http://grvnc.org/node/883)

10. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda (15 min, no more than 2 minutes per person)

11. Adjourn (approx 10:00PM)

Supporting Documents

AGENDA

Location(s)

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps

Attachment	Size
5D-Flyer.doc	32 KB
7AI-Fallen Billboard-Venice.jpg	40.28 KB
9BIa-Staff Directive on Industrial Land Use.pdf	92.15 KB
9BIb-Motion Prohibiting Implementation.pdf	105.45 KB
9BIIa-Street Furniture Program-FAQ.pdf	95.98 KB
9BIIb-Street Furniture Program.pdf	1.19 MB
9BIVa-070606LUPC-FHTFCurrentPolicyReportFinal.pdf	97.55 KB
9BIVb-071112LUPC-FHTFDRAFTEnfRec.pdf	18.48 KB
9DIa-LincolnMoratorium-061017LUPC&VNCmotions.doc	34 KB
9DIb-LincolnMoratorium-061101Letter-DeDeAudet.jpg	1.91 MB
9DIc-LincolnMoratorium-080206DraftLetterMikeNewhouse.doc	49 KB
9DIII-LADWPOSCResolution020108.jpg	340.27 KB
9E-PublicFunding-DONELetter.pdf	135.03 KB
9BVI-080219LUPCWholeFoodsStaffReport.doc	105 KB