MINUTES

Meeting called to order by President Ernie Sanchez.

Roll Call: All were present but Eliot Sekular, excused. Unexcused were Diane Grigsby and Sara Lopez.

Public Comments:

Raymond Yu. 4/29 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. 18th Fiesta Broadway, 600 S. Broadway, Los Angeles
5/4-6 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Olvera Street.

Bill Murray announced 6/3 Lummis Day, lummisday.org. Benefit happens on 5/5, Cinco de Mayo, at 6:30 p.m. at Heritage Square Museum. ASNC has been a sponsor.

RuthAnne Tarletz added that Lummis Day benefit tickets for sale for $35. She asked for contributions for silent auction.

Jack Fenn talked about L.A. Times article mentioning native gardens. Two gardens mentioned are Rancho Santa Ana Botanic garden , and Sam Malouf's gardens near Rancho Cucamonga . Theodore Payne Foundation is having a California native garden tour and plant sale this weekend, 4/28-29, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Denise Campos (denise.campos@lacity.org) of the Fourteenth district, Field Deputy in Councilmember Huizar's office, passed out flyers for:

Mike Fong (Mike.Fong@lacity.org) of the First Council District, Field Deputy in Councilmember Reyes' office, introduced himself. Sat. 5/19 at Lincoln Park , 3501 Valley Blvd. , Los Angeles , 2007 Toy gun exchange of toy guns for books and health and safety fair, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Rogelio Rodriguez ( rogelio.rodriguez@lacity.org ) of the First Council District, Field Deputy in Councilmember Reyes' office, introduced himself.

Board Discussion/Action Items:

1. Minutes approved second time with correction of date.

2.  Treasurer's report. Meeting to review past encumbrances will be called.
Discussion: Jerry Schneider asked if money could be allocated in advance for future fiscal year's budget. Pat Griffith felt this is appropriate as this is the same board. Next years' spending will be limited to $50,000. Darlene Roker asked for clarification on three separate listing of Lummis Day listings on spending spreadsheets. Lummis Day Revisited is from 2006. Some council members' did not receive attachments to their emails. Zara Scoville has not seen copies of applications from Planning Commission. Maggie Barto offered to get what was picked up recently from the mailbox.

3. Motion that t he ASNC should request that the City Attorney begin targeted prosecution, under Los Angeles Municipal Code para. 28.04, the placement of commercial signs on public property within the Arroyo Seco communities by developers and commercial real estate sales ventures is made by Joe Riser. (Note: Suggestions for repeat offenders within the ASNC boundaries can be made available upon request).

Discussion: Joe Riser mentions illegality of handbills and signs in public places with respect to developers' signs. He hopes to have ASNC be a test market to legally fine developers to put up signs. Jack Fenn asked if it applied to person waving signs on the street corner. Joe Riser did not think it did. Darlene Roker asked if other neighborhoods have approached the problem through the city attorney. Joe Riser did not know of neighborhoods that have. Denise Campos' office has received calls and worked through Street Services in the Department of Public Works to fine the sign placers. Mike Hughes, stakeholder, showed a picture of N bound 2 freeway entrance with a developer's sign on it. He said it violates business and professions codes ( § 17200 and 17500), and is unfair competition. He notes that often the signs advertise illegal businesses or they are ads for pyramid schemes. He adds his support for the council to prosecute this. It would be best to write to the LA city attorney's Consumer Section, headed by Don Kass, 1600 City Hall East, 200 N. Main Street , Los Angeles , CA 90012 , which could get an injunction against a business for unfair business practices. Also, the ASNC can co-refer the motion to both councilmembers' offices and the neighborhood city attorney. The county's consumer section is headed by Tom Papageorge, but matters affecting areas directly in the city of Los Angeles would not be handled by the county. Jack Fenn wondered if it could be treated similar to graffiti. Would there be teens who would like to be hired to retrieve the signs for bounty? Joe Riser mentioned being yelled at by a developer that he could be sued for taking down a sign. However, that is not true. Darlene Roker expressed concern that hiring children under 18 could put them in danger of being harassed by companies in this manner. She wondered whether businesses could plead ignorance should they be prosecuted, that they hired independent contractors to place signs, and it's not their fault that the signs ended up in illegal places. Mr. Fong mentioned fines of $100/sign plus additional fine for additional signs. Joe mentioned that deterrence would be acceptable. Scott Folsom mentioned the signs are blight and intolerable. He notes that graffiti is increasing on Caltrans property because of lack of enforcement. He notes that garage sale signs are taken down the next day. RuthAnne Tarletz says taking down the signs does not solve the problem and it should be an enforcement problem. Denise Campos' mentions their offices being willing to work with Joe's community on this. Pat Griffith asked what the board's specific action will be, whether the board could use it as an outreach issue to the community? Jack Fenn agreed it is a form of graffiti. Zara Scoville wonders if we should be clear about what is or isn't acceptable and limit the culpability to commercial enterprises.

Motion is made and seconded.

Discussion: Zara Scoville asks to make a correction “of” be added to above notion (before “the placement of commercial signs on public property within the Arroyo Seco communities”).

The ASNC should request that the City Attorney begin targeted prosecution of, under Los Angeles Municipal Code para. 28.04, the placement of commercial signs on public property within the Arroyo Seco communities by developers and commercial real estate sales ventures.  (Note: Suggestions for repeat offenders within the ASNC boundaries can be made available upon request). Corrected m otion is made and seconded.

4. Move that the ASNC purchase one bench and one trash can for a memorial project in Elyria Canyon to remember both Lucille Lemmon and Pat Sampson.  Total requested: $1280.  Project has already received contributions from Highland Park Heritage Trust and Mt. Washington Association and will beautify the Elyria entrance to Elyria Canyon with two benches and significant volunteer labor.

Discussion: Lynnette Kampe spoke about memorial benches for Pat Sampson, local historian, and Lucille Lemmon, activist. Upbeat would be the company that makes the recycled plastic benches for Elyria Canyon Park . Funds already pledged from Highland Park Heritage Trust and Mt. Washington Association. Denise Sampson asked who would pick up the trash. MRCA would pick up the trash. Jack Fenn asked if $1280 was being requested of this body. It is. Darlene Roker wondered if she is asking for volunteer labor commitment. Lynnette is not, but would love getting the volunteers. Time for clean up is not set, but would be sometime in the fall. Ernie asked if we have the money? Pat Griffith said there is $4000+ for community projects.

Darlene Roker moved that the ASNC purchase one bench and one trash can for a memorial project in Elyria Canyon to remember both Lucille Lemmon and Pat Sampson.  Total requested: $1280.  Project has already received contributions from Highland Park Heritage Trust and Mt. Washington Association and will beautify the Elyria entrance to Elyria Canyon with two benches and significant volunteer labor. Motion seconded and approved.

Discussion: Josef Bray-Ali asked about the grading of the site. Jerry Schneider said other benches have been placed in this park and grading has not been a problem. Motion approved.

5.  Ernie Sanchez spoke on reviewing existing committees and liaisons.

Public Comment: Bill Murray has seen some committee and liaison head names for a long time via the website. He himself is out of town a lot and can do website maintenance but being a liaison could be problematic for him. Joe Riser and RuthAnne Tarletz recalled that an annual review was mentioned about this time last year. Zara Scoville asked if we should not contact each person to ask if they are still interested in serving. David Brunk mentioned the party for the Mount Washington Elementary School Jack & Denny Smith Library and Community Center all day Saturday, June 2, 12:00 p.m. -9:30 p.m., featuring music, dance, theatre, art and food all from the local communities.

Bill Murray mentioned not to forget to contact people on the website not listed on the agenda.

6.  New DONE (Department of Neighborhood Empowerment) bylaws were approved and are on the website. Naheed Qureshi absent.

Reports

7  Committee Reports

a. Local Issues

b. Recreation, Arts & Culture: RuthAnne Tarletz speaks about contributions for Lummis Day silent auction and benefit on 5/5 for Lummis Day 6/3. Requests artwork, (Rockrose Gallery will donate art), certificates for services if you own a business, restaurant certificates. RuthAnne will do art workshops. Performance/dance/music available. Multipurpose room 6/2. RuthAnne will be resigning 6/7/2007 because she will be leaving for Hawaii . She would like to continue doing the newsletter. She would like volunteers for the workshops for Lummis Day. Bill Murray mentioned she could continue being committee head. Pat Griffith mentioned what a phenomenal job RuthAnne has done as Communications and Outreach committee head.

c. Budget and finance – Pat Griffith - new budget meeting to be announced.

d. Public Safety-Bill Murray. Wants to suggest another person to head this committee. New senior lead officer at Hollenbeck is John Pedroza. Same cell phone number as Rich Rodriguez. Hollenbeck has a new captain. Committee is Neighborhood Watch that meets 2 nd Wed. 7:00 p.m. at Senior Citizen Center.

8.  Report from Liaisons

a. Planning Dept-Zara Scoville needs to hold a committee meeting.

b. NE Transportation Corridor- Congress of Neighborhood Councils has a transportation committee that may supersede this committee.

c. Congress of Neighborhood Councils - Bill Murray (re: planning committee) resolution that neighborhood councils don't have the legal right to appeal permits. The Congress wants the municipal code to be amended so that neighborhood councils do have a voice. Check website regarding transportation committee's recommendation that a study be done similar to one being done in San Pedro. Department of Neighborhood Empowerment's printing budget greatly reduced. Pat Griffith mentions expensive item: election mailing ($13,000 + postage).

9. Future meeting dates and location – Ernie Sanchez

Move next meeting up one week in advance due to the Memorial Day holiday, to May 22nd. Location will be the Montecito Heights Senior Center.

10. General Comments

Pat Griffith said we still do not have administrative assistant—do we advertise more? Ernie Sanchez agreed.

Jack Fenn mentioned receiving emails that use the official Bank of America and Wells Fargo logo, an issue of identity fraud.