Italicized remarks are post-meeting comments by the Recording Secretary.
Roll Call and Introduction of Guests: Janice Santos, Parliamentarian; Chris
Nevil, President; George Gross, 1st VP and Webmaster; Elizabeth Pollock, Recording
Secretary; Tobyann Mandel, Director; Marlene Savage, Director; Mary Anderson,
Director; Aaron Bernardin, Director; Steve Knight, Advisor
Guests: Donald Dombrowski; Gail Sharp of Venice Japanese Community Center
Approval
of Minutes: The minutes of the December 4, 2006, board meeting were reviewed
and approved with changes.
Approval of Treasurer’s Report: Before the meeting, Treasurer Michelle Rudo circulated the Transaction Detail Report for December and a Budget Summary Report comparing the actual inflows and outflows with the budgeted amounts, and these reports were approved. The balance of $12,650.22 did not include certain dues checks that were delivered to the post office box during December. These checks will be given to
Membership
Chairman Casey Anderson for processing.
Police/Crime
Report: Pete Llanes has been promoted to Sergeant and has been reassigned to
Wilshire Division. Senior Lead Officer Heidi Llanes will handle his duties (as
well as her own) until a new Senior Lead Officer is selected.
Traffic Meeting: Casey Anderson circulated a report on the Wednesday, Dec. 13,
2006, meeting. Don Dombrowski also attended and reported: (1) The discussion
emphasized the closures of the 90 Freeway off-ramps. (2) Currently, the left
turn pocket on Centinela Ave. and Short Avenue can only accommodate four cars.
A traffic survey can be done, but meanwhile, additional cars should line up
in the median of Centinela Ave..(3) The Clippers will be breaking ground shortly,
and when they do, the $350,000 designated for mitigation of the parking problems
on Jefferson Blvd. at Inglewood Blvd. and Centinela Ave. will be deposited with
the City’s Department of Transportation and will remain there until the
DRHNA and DRNC decide how the money should be used. Don Dombrowski will be distributing
flyers on Jefferson Blvd. and Juniette St. between Mesmer Ave. and Inglewood
Blvd. to find out how the residents think the parking problem should be mitigated.
Permit parking?
Steve Knight reported that when Condition 125 was inserted into the Playa Vista
permit application, DRHNA had no input as to its terms. The Condition has no
provision for a change in the amount, and no money is due until construction
starts in Area F of the Playa Vista development. Although the condition did
not impose any kind of duty on Playa Vista regarding the $350,000, Steve Knight
has recommended that we write a strong letter to Playa Vista advising them that
their duty was to mitigate the effects of their activities on the local parking
situation, and although $350,000 might have been sufficient when the condition
was written (1993), it is insufficient now and should be augmented. Elizabeth
Pollock would recommend that we decide what we want and how much it will cost
and then negotiate.
(4) If 67 per cent of the residents in an area sign a petition, the City of
Los Angeles will impose overnight parking restrictions. Nicole Velasquez, the
Del Rey field deputy for Councilman Bill Rosendahl, has templates for the petitions.
(5) There was no discussion of the Culver Blvd./Slauson Avenue intersection.
(6) The curb at the Montessori school near there will be painted to create a
“kiss and drop” zone for parents dropping off/picking up their children.
(7) The former gas station site at the Culver/Slauson intersection is slated
to become an auto repair/machine shop. (8) There was no discussion of the plans
for a left turn arrow at Inglewood Blvd. southbound at Jefferson Blvd..
Mary Anderson will be chairing the DRNC’s traffic and transportation committee.
Newsletter:
Should be published and mailed at least 15 days before the next general meeting.
Editor Mary Anderson has an article from Tobyann Mandel, who also will write
an article about the meals that were provided to the Pacific Division officers
that were working on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Elizabeth Pollock
will send information so we can run a photograph from the November 2006 5K school
fundraiser. Mary Anderson will write articles about the Venice Japanese Community
Center, about former Senior Lead Officer Pete Llanes and about the persistent,
untrue rumor that Mar Vista Gardens will be closing. Chris Nevil will write
a “farewell address.” The board member biographies will be written
as candidates’ statements.
General
Meeting: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 has been chosen as the tentative meeting
date. The topic will be: “Getting Squeezed? What Are the Neighbors Doing
to Del Rey?” The focus will be on how growth in Culver City and Marina
del Rey is affecting Del Rey. The planning committee will have its first meeting
on Thursday, January 11, 2007, at 7 p.m. at Marlene Savage’s house. Other
ideas were: (a) emergency services in Del Rey; and (b)“How to Play in
Del Rey” regarding recreational opportunities in Del Rey; (c) LAUSD Superintendent
Brewer regarding the local schools.
Membership:
Tabled.
Website:
The November and December 2006 minutes will be posted. Are there any upcoming
local events that should be mentioned on the website? George Gross wants to
keep the website content current.
Del
Rey Neighborhood Council (“DRNC”): Next meeting is Thursday, January
11, 2007, at 7 p.m. at Marina del Rey Middle School. The board will be discussing
an enclosed dog park for Glen Alla Park and regulation of overnight parking.
Culver
City Liaison: We still need someone to volunteer to monitor activities in Culver
City.
Council
District 11 Update: Tabled.
Pacific
Division Update: Steve Knight will look for the certificates that we have given
in the past when public servants have left Del Rey. We would like to present
a certificate to former Senior Lead Officer Pete Llanes.
Board
“Kick Off the New Year” party in January – Scheduled for Saturday,
January 13, 2007, 5 p.m., at Marlene Savage’s house. As several members
of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council will be in attendance, DRNC business should
not be discussed at this social gathering. To do so would be a violation of
the Brown Act (open meeting law).
Policy
on Commemorative Gifts/Honoraria: A revised policy was circulated, discussed
and approved with revisions. The policy as adopted will be distributed at the
February 2007 board meeting for inclusion in the board members’ notebooks.
Holiday
Support for Police: Tobyann Mandel spearheaded this effort. The Pacific Division
only needed 15 – 20 meals on Sunday, December 24, 2006, but 45-50 meals
were needed for Sunday, December 31, 2006 because all officers were expected
to work. Roberto Soofiani of Roberto’s (now Bellagio) at Mesmer Ave. and
Jefferson Blvd. provided all of the meals – two kinds of pasta, Caesar
salad, garlic bread. Wendy Averill and Merilee French prepared signs advising
that Roberto’s had contributed the meals. A Girl Scout troop from Westchester
baked cookies for the police. The restaurants on Centinela Ave. did not contribute;
they have lost revenues because of the road widening project this year.
Quimby Funds letters: Elizabeth Pollock circulated revised letters to the City
and County parks and recreation departments. The letters were approved, signed
by Chris Nevil and were mailed on Tuesday, January 9, 2007. These letters ask
that Quimby funds generated in Del Rey be spent in Del Rey.
Officer
Election Preparation: Each officer will be asked if s/he wishes to continue
for another two year term (April 1, 2007 – March 31, 2009). We will need
to fill the offices of President and Corresponding Secretary, and if no one
runs for President, the First Vice President will need to perform the President’s
duties until a President is found. We have had co-directors in the past, so
it seems likely that we could have co-presidents, if two people wished to do
the job.
Contribution
to Venice Japanese Community Center: The board moved and approved a contribution
of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250) to the VJCC, which does not charge us to
use one of their classrooms for our monthly board meetings
NEXT
MEETING: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2007
ADJOURNMENT: 9:00 P.M.