Board Attendees: Janice Santos, Parliamentarian; Chris Nevil, President; George
Gross, 1st VP; Wendy Averill, 2d VP; Michelle Rudo, Treasurer; Elizabeth Pollock,
Recording Secretary; Casey Anderson, Director/Membership; Tobyann Mandel; Director;
Lillian Jenkins, Advisor.
Guests: Kelly Kennedy; Fieron Santos; Marlene Savage, all local residents.
Approval
of Minutes – The minutes of the December 6, 2005, meeting with Mayor Villaraigosa
were reviewed. The minutes of the December 5, 2005 board meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s
Report - The treasurer’s report for December 1 through December 31, 2005
and a comparison of 2004 and 2005 revenues and expenses were submitted by email
before the meeting, together with a detailed explanation of certain of the expenses.
Copies will be archived with these minutes. The December 2005 report was reviewed
and approved by the board. The comparison report was discussed in connection
with the proposed budget for 2006. (See below.)
Crime
Report – The December 14, 2005 meeting was a potluck rather than a business
meeting. On January 3, 2006, there was a drive-by shooting on Redwood at Birch.
Traffic
Committee – Tabled. Next meeting is February 1, 2006.
Newsletter
– Steve Knight not present, but before the next board meeting we should
have a list of articles, and the entire newsletter should be ready for the printer
by late February. Article ideas: How our dues are used (Casey Anderson); Update
on Mar Vista Gardens status (C. Routier); Developments in the loft area of Del
Rey (Marlene Savage); Article about Ballona Task Force project (Jeanette Vosburg?);
Article on 501(c)(4) status (Elizabeth Pollock); Article on difference between
DRHNA and DRNC (DRHNA represents residents; DRNC represents all stakeholders
and is treated as a part of city government); Ask members if they’d like
to be notified by email of developments in the area/meetings.
General
Meeting -- Next general meeting tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 29,
2006, so we can have our elections before the terms expire April 1. Also, if
we want to change the bylaws, the notice will need to go out in early March,
and we will need to have at least 10 per cent of our members (about 50 people)
at the general meeting.
Our theme will be Emergency Preparedness. Will try to get speakers from Fire
Station 62 (our fire station even though Playa Vista has one) to discuss the
paramedic arrangements. Will try to have someone from the City’s Office
of Emergency Preparedness and a Gas Co. representative to discuss plans to handle
floods/dam breaks, gas leaks, earthquakes, airport catastrophes. Chris Nevil
can discuss the CERT program. What specific plans exist for Del Rey?
Membership
– Thank yous letters went to the six people who contributed $100 or more.
Cards went to those who contributed $25 or $50. No decision on software yet.
Website
– We had 1760 hits in December, about 600 more for the month than we had
been getting.
Our annual website maintenance fee may be coming due.
DRNC
- Next meeting is Thurs., Jan. 12. Elections are Saturday, January 21. Lillian
Jenkins is supporting Mary Anderson for Area H and urges support from those
of us in Area H.
Del
Rey Day on December 10 had about 200 attendees. Janice Santos manned the DRHNA
table the entire time. Petting zoo, drumming circle, hot dogs. Next year will
be earlier in the year, but weather was not a problem.
Del
Rey Park Task Force – No bidder selected yet.
OLD/CONTINUING
BUSINESS:
501(c) (4) status: See below.
Motion
Regarding Expo Line: Tabled. Should we send a letter supporting extension of
the Expo Line to Santa Monica, and if so, what route would be best for Del Rey?
Draft of Letter Re Police Staffing –Text was circulated. The board moved
and approved sending the letter, which asks for staffing levels to be restored
to 2004 levels. Fieron Santos and Kelly Kennedy suggested that the text of the
letter be posted on the website and included in the newsletter so that Del Rey
residents can send copies to L.A.P.D. Chief Bratton.
Ballona
Creek Parkway Support Letter – Tabled.
NEW
BUSINESS
Proposed By-Law Change To Allow for Increased Dues - Tabled. Will people donate
more if the dues remain low? Do we need to raise the dues, given that we have
a reserve?
Report
on LAPD Pacific Division Meal Effort -- Tobyann Mandel, Chris Nevil and Kathy
Brier were able to organize a contribution of food for the police officers on
duty on Christmas and New Year’s. DRHNA did purchase beverages, napkins,
plates, etc. within the authorized amount.
Next year we should make our requests sooner and contact more restaurants. Roberto’s,
Tacomiendo and Taqueria Sanchez all contributed. Chris Nevil is sending thank
you notes to the contributors, and the donors will be listed in the Spring newsletter.
Proposal
to Send Letter Appealing Rejection of Our Request for Nonprofit Postal Rates
- U.S. Postal Service denied our application for the nonprofit postage rate
on the grounds that we are a 501(c)(6) organization, which we are not. The board
reviewed and approved a letter of appeal that resubmitted a copy of our IRS
qualification letter. Letter went out by facsimile and mail on January 10, 2006.
Copy is in the archives. Deadline to appeal was January 12.
2006
Budget – Michelle Rudo combined expenses for 2004 and 2005 by category,
divided each sum by two and then added 15 per cent. Before the next board meeting
she will refine some of the category names. For example, the scholarships ($100
each) will be listed separately from the gifts (plaques, flowers) given to speakers
and the Community Service donations (the holiday police meals, contribution
to funeral expenses for indigent Del Rey family).
Michelle Rudo will also try to identify the company that was supposed to be
providing us with answering machine service on our telephone number.
Condo
Conversions - Do we want to advise the membership, perhaps by email, about proposed
condo conversions in the area, e.g. on McLaughlin between Washington Blvd. and
Washington Place (eight units)? This may be the start of a trend, and by law,
only nearby neighbors must be given notice.
Annual
Donation – The board moved and approved a donation of $200 to the Venice
Japanese Community Center in return for their allowing us to use their facility
for our monthly board meetings.
New
Del Rey Resident – Congratulations to board member Aaron Bernardin and
his wife Lalima, upon the birth of their first child. Devin Anwar Bernardin
joined the Del Rey community on January 2, 2006.
Next
board meeting: Monday, February 6, 2006.