At the outset of the meeting Officer Llanes relayed new format guidelines for our meetings. In the future, the Community Based Police Meeting, held on Wednesday evenings, will be known as the 14A49 Advisory Council Meeting.
Residents on Campbell are awaiting a reply to a letter they wrote Building and
Safety to register a complaint against residents on Campbell Drive who are repairing
cars in their yards and on the street. Officer Llanes reported the police went
out to the site and did not see any activity. He also commented that one of
the residents, about whom they are complaining, has a license to do mobile auto
repairs. The Campbell residents were advised to work with Building and Safety
as this matter falls under their jurisdiction. Also, a complaint that car parts
and oil are being dumped on the property at the end of Campbell Drive was reported.
A ceremony noting
the construction of the new Los Angeles Fire Station 62 at 11970 Venice Blvd.
is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 17th.
Kathryn Frengs, Field
Deputy and Nancy Aguilar of Bill Rosendahl’s office, introduced themselves.
They encouraged meeting attendees to call the field office regarding matters
that fall under their jurisdiction or those to be addressed at a future 14A49
Advisory Council meeting.
A meeting attendee
stated that in the last four to five years there have been complaints about
uplifted and broken sidewalks across the street from the field office as well
as other areas of the city that are not being repaired. He was advised that
here is a lack of funds. Each field office is only allowed three miles of sidewalks
to be done every year. In the meantime, repairs are made with asphalt.
However, for residents who don’t want to wait, there is a 50/50 city sidewalk
repair program available for broken up and uplifted sidewalks whereby the homeowner
picks up half of the expense and the other half is paid by the city. In this
program, when the resident agrees to share in the cost, the sidewalk repair
goes to the top of the priority list.
A question concerning how often the trees are trimmed was brought up. The frequency
of trimming is approximately every nine years.
It was reported that David Stephen is no longer on probation or under restriction
and is starting to complain to the police about his neighbors again.
The lack of street parking and the number of boats and recreational vehicles
parked on the street for days was mentioned. Officer Llanes acknowledged it
is a problem that is difficult to remedy. For example, some motor home vehicle
owners cover up the odometer preventing the police from being able to read it
and monitor how long the vehicle has been parked there, thus not allowing them
to write a ticket.
There was a homicide on Gilmore, west of Centinela. The shooting of the 20 year
old Culver City resident may be gang related. The victim was sitting in his
car talking to someone when he was shot and killed by an unknown assailant.
A meeting attendee inquired about shots fired at Allin and Inglewood. Officer
Llanes replied that there was no report of someone being shot at or shots fired.
It was reported that someone is firing a pellet gun in the wash near Ballona
Creek and Culver Drive just outside of the Mar Vista Gardens.
Plants are being
taken from the community garden at Mesmer and Beatrice. In the near future,
motion lights will be installed in the garden to deter theft.
It was reported that Albertsons shopping carts are being stolen by the homeless
and illegals. Albertsons purchased approximately 150 shopping carts, at an estimated
cost of $300.00 each. Within a few weeks the supply of carts dwindled to approximately
15.
There was a discussion concerning the shortage of Pacific Division police officers resulting in criminals being attracted back into our area. Officer Llanes reported that last year we lost sixty officers to other divisions. And the remaining officers were asked to task force work once a week in another area. To protect the city we should have 15,000 officers however we only have 9,000. Officer Llanes suggested we E-mail our councilperson and mayor.
Officer Llanes commented that not all senior lead officers have a supportive
group like the meeting attendees.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Brier