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; Wendy Averill, 2d VP;
Elizabeth Pollock, Recording Secretary; Marlene Savage, Director; Casey Anderson,
Director & Membership Chair; Aaron Bernardin, Director
Guests: Donald Dombrowski; Gail Sharp of Venice Japanese Community Center; Nicole
Velasquez, field deputy for City Councilman Bill Rosendahl; Gentaro Saito (branch
manager) and Tom Kawamoto (commercial lending) from Union Bank of California
at Venice Blvd. and Centinela Ave.; Hitoshi Shimizu, Venice Japanese Community
Center (“VJCC”); Marc Schoeplein of Lewis/Schoeplein Architects;
Paul Davis.
Approval
of Minutes: The minutes of the January 8, 2007, board meeting were reviewed
and approved with no changes.
Approval
of Treasurer’s Report: Before the meeting, Treasurer Michelle Rudo circulated
the Transaction Detail Report and Budget Summary Report for January 2007. There
were no transactions during January. We need to decide what budget figures to
use for 2007 and to confirm that the Treasurer has made the contribution to
the Venice Japanese Community Center that was approved at the January 2007 board
meeting.
Police/Crime
Report: Tabled. The Public Safety Committee of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council
(“DRNC”) is urging: (1) that a petition be sent asking for more
police officers to be assigned to Del Rey; (2) that a “two star light”
be placed at McConnell. Such a light costs about $5000 and can be moved around.
It broadcasts, “This is the L.A.P.D. Step away from the wall.” if
movement is sensed in the lighted area, e.g. because taggers are there. In addition,
residents are requesting that a security camera (costs $10,000) be installed
at the dead end of Slauson Ave.
VJCC
Facility Expansion
The VJCC is planning to expand from 16,950 to 22,900 sq. ft. of building space.
The parking spaces will be increased from 104 to 131, of which five will be
handicapped spaces. If the VJCC were in constant use, it should have 159 parking
spaces. The current classroom building will become a two story building, 23
feet tall at the eaves, 28 feet tall at the peak. The architects have been working
with the Los Angeles City Planning Department and the neighbors. The VJCC is
75 years old. The gymnasium was built in 1970. The senior nutrition program
that provides 200 meals/week will operate out of the new multipurpose room that
will be built next to the gym. The design does not include exterior lighting
at this time. The Planning and Land Use Management hearing will be in about
six months, and construction will begin about one year after that.
The VJCC has asked us to write a letter in support of their plan. In principle,
we are willing to do so, but we will wait until the PLUM hearing has been scheduled
so that we can be sure that our approval pertains to the plans as they were
presented to us on February 5, 2007.
Newsletter: We have requested permission to reprint the profile about Del Rey
that appeared in The Los Angeles Times. Members of the board are asked again
to prepare their biographies/candidate’s statements for the newsletter.
General
Meeting:. Scheduled for March 28, 2007 at 7 p.m. at Playa del Rey Elementary
School. Nicole Velasquez will attend and will ask Councilman Rosendahl’s
planning deputy, Grieg Asher, to attend.
Membership:
Tabled.
Website:
Los Angeles Times profile of Del Rey has been posted. Agendas and minutes must
be updated.
Del
Rey Neighborhood Council (“DRNC”): Next meeting is Thursday, February
8, 2007, at 7 p.m. at Marina del Rey Middle School. The Department of Neighborhood
Empowerment (DONE) wants the councils to spend their money on: (1) outreach;
(2) beautification; and (3) administrative expenses. Any administrative staff
must be hired through a designated temporary agency. DRNC has paid for: $1K
awards to Marina del Rey Middle School; Stoner Elementary’s Outdoor Service
School; $7K for the newletter; $5K for the website; $2500 for a laptop computer;
$500 for a printer; $500 for DRNC cell phones.
Street
Lights on Centinela: Exel Paving said the lights could be powered on in November
2006. Paul Davis expressed concern that the lights are still not on. Tom McKrohn
of DWP has not committed to a date when the power will be on. If the lights
are not on by February 14, Nicole Velasquez will contact Ron Deaton, DWP’s
general manager.
Culver
City Liaison: We still need someone to volunteer to monitor activities in Culver
City.
Council
District 11 Update: Nicole Velasquez reported: (1) A contractor is being selected
to install a gate across the service road near Centinela and the 90 Freeway,
with the work to be completed within 30 days of January 22, 2007.; (2) A traffic
study of the need for a left turn signal at Centinela and Short Avenues will
be done when the Centinela Avenue renovation is complete.; (3) C.D. 11 will
be meeting with the Department of Recreation and Parks in March 2007 to discuss
Quimby Funds allocations for Del Rey.; (4) Home Depot is making the 20 acre
post office property available for sale but has said that five acres of the
property will be retained for the City of Los Angeles.; (5) There will be a
hearing on Thursday, February 8, 2007, at 9 a.m. at 1645 Corinth Ave. to discuss
the plans for 12470 Culver Blvd. (bar owned by Marie Antoinette).; (6) On February
28, 2007, at 6 p.m. at the municipal office in Westchester, CalTrans will be
holding a meeting to discuss the future of Lincoln Blvd.
Election
Preparation: The committee that is planning the March 28 general meeting also
will serve as a nominating committee. George Gross (1st V.P.) said he is willing
to be bumped into the presidency if no other candidate runs. We need to confirm
whether Michelle Rudo is willing to continue as Treasurer.
Playa
Vista Parking Trust (Condition 125): The Clippers have broken ground on their
training facility, so we need to check whether the parking fund money has been
transferred to the City’s Department of Transportation. We need to decide
how the parking problem on Jefferson Blvd. should be resolved. (1) Nicole Velasquex
will ask Pauline Chan of the Neighborhood Traffic Management program for suggestions.
(2) We should ask the attendees at the general meeting for their suggestions.
(3) We should have an article in the newsletter about the problem. (4) If DRHNA
will decide on the format, Don Dombrowski is willing to contact people that
live near Jefferson between Mesmer and Centinela Avenues to ask for their suggestions.
Next
meeting: We hope that a DWP representative can attend to explain the reasons
for the recent spate of power outages in Del Rey. Claudia Martin, our “neighborhood
prosecutor” may attend.
NEXT
MEETING: MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2007
ADJOURNMENT: 9:00 P.M.