VNC Administrative Committee Meeting Agenda
Extra Space Storage, Presidents Row Room
658 South Venice Blvd,
Venice, California 90291
Note: (i) The Administrative Committee does not address or consider the merits of proposed agenda items. Its function is to determine whether a proposed agenda item will be placed on the next Board meeting agenda, postponed, referred to a specific committee for review and recommendation, treated as an announcement, or considered and resolved as a non-Board administrative matter. (ii) The Administrative Committee has the discretion to reorder consideration of matters on the agenda to accommodate stakeholders or for other reasons. (iii) Unless otherwise noted, the President abstains on all votes.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
2. Approval of the AdCom Agenda
3. Approval of any outstanding Administrative Committee minutes submitted by the Secretary
May 11, 2009 Administrative Committee Meeting Minutes
(see http://venicenc.org/files/090511VNCAdComMinutesRev.doc)
4. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda
(15 min, no more than 2 minutes per person)
5. Old AdCom Business
A James Murez (murez@venice.net) & Jed Pauker (310-839-9209; jed@jed.net): Presentation of a case tracking system for LUPC (15 min) – See AdCom Exhibit A [LUPC to report 60 days after Murez initiates system as pilot]
6. New AdCom Business
A Mike Newhouse (president@venicenc.org):
B Administrative matters:
o Town Hall for all present & past VNC Board Members – Roast?
o Post audio rather than transcripts of LUPC/Board Meetings due to cost
C Swine flu outbreat DO NOT PANIC take preventive steps (10 min) [Postponed to next AdCom mtg]
Yolanda Gonzalez (310-902-8690; firstmateyo@yahoo.com): Just got back from Mexico DF. I was actually in Cuernavaca, Morelos alll the time and was there through this outbreak of the flu. Would like to request 15 minute presentation of what we went through and learned. What measures we took AND DO NOT PANIC. Pass out some information I adquired and maybe have a Dr, do a little presentation (quick.) Request 15. mins.of the boards Time. But should be taken seriously. Interesting views of peoples reaction in Mexico.
D Motion to strike hardship exemption regarding marijuana dispensaries (10 min) [Removed]
Yolanda Gonzalez (310-902-8690; firstmateyo@yahoo.com): On April 29,2009, Council Rp. Huizar, Zine & Labonge made a presentation on the mariguana dispensaries floating around our city and their abuse of prescriptions not being hardship, for extreme medical cases. After the big stink I made before City Council of this abuse. A motion is to be presented. Probably Arturo Pina will do a little presentation, no more that 10 mins. The motion is that the City Attorney, with the assitance of the Planning Department be requested to prepare an ordinanace to amend the Medical Marijuana Dispensaries ICO (Ordinance 179027) to strike the hardship exemtion provision from the ordinance. The admendment should not alter the expiration date of the ICO nor modify it in any other way. (This is in support to have Bill Rosendahl vote on it at city Council).
E Report on ‘The Delta’ (15 min)
Yolanda Gonzalez (310-902-8690; firstmateyo@yahoo.com): Dede, Chalis & myself will be going up to The Delta this weekened & will have a report. Would like to request no more than 15 mins. That is if the girls have not requested it yet.
F Let’s build a park on September 18th – Park(ing) Day Linda Lucks (VicePresident@VeniceNC.org) on behalf of DLANC: This yearly event puts the focus on the need for urban green space and maintained parks. This year the event is on Friday September 18th. Last year with very little money and even less time DLANC closed down a street and transformed it into a city park for the day. The idea is for all neighborhood councils to put on this event all across the city and take a moment to show the softer side of the NC’s. The need for green-space in LA is widespread – and this is an opportunity for NCs to hold an event that is neither confrontational nor argumentative.
G Consideration of DRAFT June 16, 2009 Board Agenda (see below)
7. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda (15 min, no more than 2 minutes per person)
8. Adjourn
Draft – Board of Officers Meeting Agenda
Westminster Elementary School (Auditorium)
1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, 90291
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 7:00 PM
1. Call to Order and Roll Call.
2. Approval of the Agenda
3. Approval of any outstanding minutes submitted by the Secretary
May 19, 2009 Board Meeting Minutes
(see http://venicenc.org/files/090519VNCBoardMinutes.doc)
Committee Reports are provided in written form when available
4. Consent Calendar
A
5. Treasurers Report (expenditures thru 5/31/09 & amended Jan-Apr 09 reports) accept reports as presented (See treasurers report attached below)
6. Scheduled Announcements (no more than 1 minute per report unless otherwise stated)
A Mike Newhouse (president@venicenc.org): Abbot Kinney Festival Association Community Grants Program (see flyer attached below)
B Governmental Reports
• DONE: Deanna Stevenson
• LAPD: Officer Peggy Thusing, Senior Lead Officer
• State Assemblyperson Ted Lieu: Melissa S. Ramoso, Field Representative (310-615-3515; Melissa.ramoso@asm.ca.gov)
• Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: Jennifer Badger, West Area Representatives (310-479-3823; jennifer.badger@lacity.org)
• City Councilperson Bill Rosendahl: Arturo Piña, Field Deputy
• LADWP: VNC Representatives DeDe Audet & Challis McPherson
C Linda Lucks (VicePresident@VeniceNC.org): Ethics Training Update: Brooke Soles has submitted a certificate of completion for the City mandated Ethics Training. Congratulations Brooke.
D Possible Partner and Grant for LAFLA’s DV Shelter in Courthouse
Karla Barrow (323-801-7967; kbarrow@lafla.org) Managing attorney for Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles:
The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles would like to propose the idea of a partnership with VNC and grant funds for the Domestice Violence Clinic housed in the Santa Monica Courthouse. The clinic is open every morning of the Court week and provides free services ranging from legal advice, representation with family law matters, and emergency restraining order petitions. It is staffed by an attorney, a paralegal, and several volunteers. The clinic serves low income clients from the Westside, including many Venice residents. We request your ideas and suggestions to facilitate a collaboration.
7. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda
(15 min, no more than 2 minutes per person – no board member announcements permitted)
8. Old Business
A Mike Newhouse (president@venicenc.org): Still need new chair of OFW Committee – Ira Koslow has stepped down.
B From the Rules & Elections Committee
I Standing Rule mandating Ethics Training for new Board members
Ira Koslow (310-392-0868; ira.koslow@venicenc.org): Request board adopt the following:
Any Board member who has not received a certificate of completion for the mandated ethics training will be prohibited from voting on any land use issues or financial expenditures of any city funds.
II Standing Rule limiting repeat bylaw elections following defeat
Ira Koslow (310-392-0868; ira.koslow@venicenc.org): Request board adopt the following standing rule regarding election time limits for scheduling stakeholder ratifications of by-laws elections that do not meet minimum requirements for passage or defeat:
The Board cannot hold a stakeholder ratification for the same bylaw amendment or an amendment that addresses substantially the same issue in any six month period.
III Bylaw amendment limiting occurrence of petition elections
Ira Koslow (310-392-0868; ira.koslow@venicenc.org): Request board adopt the following amendment to VNC Bylaw VA1:
Receipt of this completed petition by the Secretary shall trigger this item being scheduled as an action item on the Agenda at a separate Election Meeting to be held not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) two hundred and ten (210) days following receipt of the completed petition. Notice of the Initiative, including the outline paragraph of fifty (50) words or less, shall be made in all public meeting notices and announcements for the upcoming meeting at which the Initiative shall be voted on. This time limit may be waived by a majority vote of the VNC Board if there is evidence of a time sensitive matter.
C From the CIP
I Approval of 2009-2020 Community Improvement Projects
Ivan Spiegel (310-821-9556; ivan13147@verizon.net): As per Standing Rule 4, the Board must allocate the funds for the Community Improvement Projects for the upcoming fiscal year (2009-2010) at its June meeting. The applicants will be invited to make a 2 minute statement about their project (11 applicants-appx 25 minutes).
II Request for a 3 month extension for the Oakwood Basketball Tournament
Ivan Spiegel (310-821-9556; ivan13147@verizon.net): Venice 2000 is requesting a 3 month extension for the Oakwood Basketball Tournament. It was supposed to be completed by June 30 and they are unable to do it in that time. There is no precedent for dealing with this so I am submitting it to AdCom. Should the granting (or not granting) an extension be made by the Program Administrator and Treasurer, Budget Committee, AdCom, or the full Board? If AdCom’s decision is to send it to the Board, then it should be agendized for the June meeting.
D From Stakeholders
Ia Motion to Create Windward Circle Park and Community/Arts Center
Erin Sullivan (310-962-8513; tusker1_98@yahoo.com) on behalf of Windward Circle Park Committee: That the Venice Neighborhood Council recommend to Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilman Rosendahl that the City purchase, through current and/or future park bond funds and/or federal grants, the Postal Annex at Windward Circle and convert it to a park with the existing structure adapted to use as an eco-friendly multi-purpose community center offering space for an art, photograph and sculpture gallery, rehearsal, performance and dance facilities, a small screening room, community meeting room(s) and related facilities such as restrooms and kitchen. The facility is to be fenced and closed at night. (See motion and petition signatures attached below)
Ib Motion to acquire and use postal annex on Windward Circle for Venice Community Purposes
Carolyn Rios (310-821-7922; crlynrios@ca.rr.com): Request that the VNC consider the following in its discussion of the sale of the postal annex on Windward Circle in addition to the above motion:
What Should Be Done With The Postal Annex? FEBRUARY 1, 2009
Postal Annex on Windward Circle is up for sale.
This is the last available site in Venice that could solve our two biggest problems – parking and homelessness. The Postal Annex is the perfect site for:
1. Ground-level parking, desperately needed in Venice due to severe overdevelopment and use of “grandfathered” parking spots. This lot is conveniently located close to both the beach and the Abbot Kinney business district. Parking fines and fees have been put aside for years that could help fund this proposal.
2. Transitional housing on the 2nd and 3rd stories, with full services, for 30 people, possibly modeled after the highly successful OPCC Turning Point Program in Santa Monica, which has moved 60 homeless people into permanent housing.
The postal annex is located on four major bus lines so clients can easily get to jobs, services, schools in Santa Monica, Culver City and Los Angeles.
There is funding available from both the city, and county, and probably federal government to provide these desperately needed services.
We need to identify these sources and ACT NOW before private developers get in the way.
3. This could be a model “green” building with rooftop gardens and all, possibly opening up additional funding.
The site is large enough that the building itself could be set back 20 – 30 feet with landscaped parking to provide both beauty and privacy. Each story can be set back further with gardens on the balconies and roof.
Government officials must immediately stop any idea of selling this to private developers.
Imagine 50 or more additional parking spots between Abbot Kinney and the beach, just where they are needed the most. Imagine taking 30 homeless people each year off the beach. Imagine !!!
However the community decides to use this lot, it is vital that the community get this property for local needs.
E From Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness and Vehicular Occupation
I Motion for Creation of Single Room Occupancy Facility
Mark Ryavec (310 392 4843; delphiassociates@ca.rr.com): Request that the VNC ask the Councilman of the District and the Mayor to support the creation a new Single Room Occupancy project in Venice to house the most critically at risk homeless as soon as possible, through either master leasing or purchasing an existing structure as opposed to new development, and to this end recommend that the the Council Office, the Mayor and the Los Angeles Housing Department consider the sites below as examples of appropriate sites for such housing:
585 E. Venice Boulevard (former Samy’s Camera), Zoning: M1-1
4096 South Glencoe, Zoning: CM-2D (storage use)
4230 S. Del Rey Avenue, Zoning: CM-2D (storage use)
as explained in detail in the Ad Hoc Committee’s report.
The Ad Hoc Committee Report is attached below and available online at
http://venicenc.org/files/090507AHHomeless&VecOccCmteReport&Recommendati…
II Motion to Create VNC Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Committee
Mark Ryavec (310 392 4843; delphiassociates@ca.rr.com): Request that That the VNC establish a Committee on Affordable Housing to promote the development of affordable housing and that said committee consider the following incentives:
• voluntary inclusionary zoning to allow an additional small affordable unit(s) (400 to 600 sq. ft.) per lot where lot size is adequate (i.e., those which now are allowed two or more units by right).
• selective re-zoning along major thorough-fares to allow owners ability to build more & smaller units/acre.
• Historical Preservation variances that create incentives to retain existing non-conforming affordable housing stock (not to include legalization of garage conversions unless code-required parking is provided.)
• the reduction – but not elimination – of required care-provider staff parking and occupant parking for facilities which house the previously homeless, including Single Room Occupancy (SRO) projects, and very low to low income projects. (For example, instead of the current requirement of one parking space per unit in an SRO project, the City might only require .5 spaces per unit, recognizing that individuals at this income level frequently do not have automobiles.)
III Motion for LAPD to Create Homeless Liaison Team
Mark Ryavec (310 392 4843; delphiassociates@ca.rr.com): Request that the VNC request the LAPD to develop a team of officers with special training and primary responsibility for outreach to, and liaison with, the homeless in Venice and CD 11 and local social services providers, per the report and recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness and Vehicular Living.
IV Motion for Limited Zoning Exemption for Permanent Supportive Housing
Mark Ryavec (310 392 4843; delphiassociates@ca.rr.com): Request that the VNC recommend to the Councilman of the District and Mayor that, for the purpose of construction or adaptive reuse to create permanent supportive housing or transitional housing for chronic homeless individuals only, that a zoning exemption be granted to increase the number of units per acre (while maintaining height limits) beyond City code and the Venice Specific Plan, if the units created are vested in perpetuity as affordable by the project developer, whether publicly or privately developed, and located in commercial or manufacturing zones only, per the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee.
V Motion for Greater City Subsidies for Affordable Housing
Mark Ryavec (310 392 4843; delphiassociates@ca.rr.com): Request that the VNC recommend to the Councilman of the District and the Mayor that the City of Los Angeles factor in the high cost of land in the development of affordable housing and provide greater subsidies for areas of the City with high land costs where there are significant concentrations of homeless individuals, such as Venice, to allow the purchase of sites in, or adjacent to, these areas.
VIa Motion to Create Vehicle-to-Housing Transition Program
Mark Ryavec (310 392 4843; delphiassociates@ca.rr.com): 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 first responders and off-street sites and services to assist vehicular dwellers, on a voluntary basis, find affordable housing, per the program outline and conditional use permit contained in the Ad Committee’s report and recommendations.
VIb Motion to Amend Motion to Create Vehicle-to-Housing Transition Program
Carolyn Rios (310-821-7922; crlynrios@ca.rr.com) by Linda Lucks & Karen Wolfe: I move to amend the AdHoc committee on Homeless & Vehicular Living’s Pilot Vehicle-to-Housing Program to rescind any distance restriction, to allow up to 6RV’s on a lot depending on specific lot, & to allow permits to be renewed after 3 months as the social service agency sees fit.
The Ad Hoc Committee Minority Report is attached below and available online at
http://venicenc.org/files/090507AHHomeless&VecOccCmteMinorityReport.doc
VII Motion to Create CD 11-wide Homeless Task Force
Mark Ryavec (310 392 4843; delphiassociates@ca.rr.com): To assure that homelessness on the Westside is addressed as the regional issue that it is, request that that the VNC recommend that the Councilman of the District establish a CD 11-wide Homeless Task Force with two representatives of each neighborhood council and also representatives of residents associations to meet monthly with the Council Office, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, representatives of adjoining cities, service providers, representatives of appropriate county supervisors and county departments (County Mental Health, etc.), LA Housing Department, LAPD, LA City Attorney, etc., with the purpose of coordinating homeless services, educating the public about the solutions to homelessness, supporting increased private and public funding for services and housing for the homeless and reaching consensus on the siting of transition and permanent supportive affordable housing for the homeless.
VIII Motion to extend the Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness & Vehicular Occupation to September 18, 2009
Mark Ryavec (310 392 4843; delphiassociates@ca.rr.com): 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.
9. New Business
A From LUPC
I LUPC recommended motion regarding 1020 Venice Blvd
Challis Macpherson (Chair-LUPC@VeniceNC.org): Regarding 1020 Venice Blvd: Challis Macpherson, LUPC Chair, moves that the VNC Board of Officers accept the LUPC staff report, and that the VNC Board of Officers recommend DENIAL of the application’s request for a zone change and any exceptions to the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan regarding height, density, parking and set-backs; and further, that the VNC strongly recommend that the City mandate that any exceptions granted under density bonuses or density bonus incentives granted within the boundaries of the VCZSP be in compliance with VCZSP. [6-0-2 & 1 recusal]
II Motion to approve 415 Ocean Front Walk, Cadallic Hotel
Challis Macpherson (Chair-LUPC@VeniceNC.org): Regarding 415 Ocean Front Walk, Cadillac Hotel: Challis Macpherson, LUPC Chair, moves that the VNC Board of Officers accept the LUPC staff report, and approve the requested upgrade in their CUB as presented.
B From the Rules & Elections Committee
I Clarification of Factual Basis Stakeholder definition
Joe Murphy (Secretary@venicenc.org): REC recommends (2-1-0) that Board amend SR 17 as follows:
[DELETE]
17. Definition of Factual Basis Stakeholder under LA City Ordinance 179680
A Factual Basis Stakeholder is defined for all Venice Neighborhood Council purposes as an individual who lives, works, or owns property within the Venice Neighborhood Council boundaries.
[END DELETE]
[ADD]
17. Definition of Stakeholder
As used in this Standing Rule 17:
(i) A Charter Stakeholder is a person who lives, works, or owns property within the Venice Neighborhood Council boundaries as defined in Article IX Sec. 906 (a)(2) of the Los Angeles City Charter and used in the October 23, 2008 VNC Bylaws and is qualified for all purposes specified in the Bylaws.
(ii) A Non-Charter Stakeholder is a person who does not live, work, or own property within the Venice Neighborhood Council boundaries but who may nonetheless qualify as a Factual Basis Stakeholder, as that term is used in LA City Ordinance 179680, for the limited purpose of running or voting for the board position of Secretary in elections required to be conducted by the LA City Clerk.
In conducting VNC Board elections, the City Clerk alone is responsible for determining whether an individual qualifies as a Non-Charter Stakeholder.
[END ADD]
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)
AdCom Exhibit A – Neighborhood Council – Case Tracking System Pilot Overview V1.0, September 6, 2008 (Murez)
The Land Use and Planning Committee (LUPC) has matured over the past several years. It has evolved from one meeting every couple of months with only one or two projects on the agenda to now responding to a Memorandum of Understanding with the City to submit a written determination report on every permit issued within the VNC geographic region. The committee has become more educated about the planning process and is now working towards a 2010 target of revising the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan.
Along with these growing responsibilities, the workload of the committee has increased from one or two projects being calendared every few months to the present level of hearing three to five projects twice a month. On average, what does this mean to each of the eight volunteer members that make up this committee, a workload that includes preparing 27 staff reports per month.
The process to analyze and prepare a project for hearing is fairly simple; contact the applicant, convince them to submit their plans for review, research the variances sought and flush out any that were not realized, organize their information and post it to the LUPC website, engage the potentially impacted neighbors and prepare a synopsis to post for Brown Act notification. Now multiply this process for one project 27 fold and the amount of information gathered and disseminated through this eight member volunteer committee becomes massive. What started out as a simple endeavor has now grown into a complex task with time sensitive details that must be accurately managed.
Automation to the rescue… with this sort of workload, managing details calls for a computerized case tracking system. What is needed is a centralized system that all committee members can access when they have volunteer time to give, that can reduce or eliminate many of the mundane tasks, and that will help engage the general public in the process. The system needs to enforce the policy rules of the VNC Board and the committee, while ensuring Brown Act laws are adhered. And, finally, the system must be available to all Venice Stakeholders and the City at large.
A pilot proof-of-concept system is being developed to address many of these needs. The system is being designed as a collaboration tool that will be managed over the internet. System access will be regulated through User Accounts that are grouped into security levels, starting with the general public then moving up the access ladder to project applicant, followed by registered stakeholder, committee staff member, committee chair, system administrator and program developers. Each higher group will be granted more access to functionality and system capabilities.
The system will track information by assigning case numbers to each project. The project or case files will be stored in a database and accessed through their respective case numbers. The routines that extract and modify the stored information will vary based on the individual access rights. The system will offer read-only reports to the general public while allowing stakeholders the rights to post feedback about issues they might have with any given project. Applicants will be assigned temporary access to upload their information and respond to feedback. LUPC staff members will be able to monitor all aspects of the cases, including being able to publish their findings, track correspondence and write recommendations (tentative motions) for the VNC Board to approve. Search and mapping functionality along with tracking key indicators will enable statistical analysis of accumulative impacts to be graphically generated. The VNC Board members, besides inheriting all the rights of the lower groups, will be able to post their final motion decisions and generate reports required by the City.
In addition, the audio meeting minutes that are digitally recorded will be divided into segments that correspond to the each project and posted into the case file along with any other archives.
In a nutshell, the LUPC Case Tracking system will automate the flow of information through the Neighborhood Council in a consistent, easy to understand format, while relieving a lot of the tedious tasks volunteers must perform at present. (follow up with PowerPoint overview and system demonstration.)
Location(s)
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