| MINUTES
Meeting called to order by President Ernie Sanchez.
Roll Call: All were present but Darlene Roker, excused, and Sara Lopez, unexcused, and Scott Folsom, unexcused.
Public Comments:
DONE -- Meeting July 9 th . Million Trees Project – encourage participation in either new trees or helping existing trees. DONE is also working on changes in election procedures.
Discussion: Ernie Sanchez says mail is still being received at the old address.
Jerry Schneider returned from Europe and visited public spaces. Came home to find tree wells near Marmion Way (S. Gold Line station) are being poured with foundation for lights and their conduits. Pedestrian linkages to Southwest Museum do not include tree funding.
Discussion: Pat Griffith said Million Trees would pay for trees but not for drilling holes in concrete. Jerry recommends decomposed granite instead of concrete along Marmion Way .
Wendi Riser absent due to illness. “AESOP” specific overlay plan presentation tabled until next meeting.
Leslie Chan presented regarding the Northeast Los Angeles Open Space project. End of August letters regarding project plan to be sent to property owners of vacant lots within the project boundaries. Open space opportunities exist in Ascot Hills, Paradise Hill, Mount Washington, Walnut Canyon , Mount Olympus and Elephant Hill (147 acres).
Discussion: Jack Fenn mentions that DWP owns land between Debs Park and an area of interest. Leslie Chan says they will not use eminent domain to acquire parcels. Open space generally increases property value. Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Attn: Leslie Chan, 570 W. Ave. 26 Suite 100 , Los Angeles , CA 90065 . Fax 323-221-8937. Email: planning@smmc.ca.gov.
Pam Hannah, Director of Operations at Southwest Museum was at a booth at Lummis Day. Many had thought Southwest Museum was closed, which disheartened her. Southwest Museum is the recipient of FEMA funding from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, and the California Cultural and Historic Endowment fund. In addition, Casa de Adobe repairs from 2004-2005 are underway, including steel frame for the kitchen stove. SW Museum is closed during the week but open on the weekends. Las Posadas in December has run since the 1930s. SW Museum store is open by appointment during the week. Southern California Institute for Architects (SCI-Arc) students' exhibit is on display through the summer, “Sonic Bloom.” October 21, 12 noon to 4 p.m. is the SW Museum's Centennial Celebration.
Board Discussion/Action Items:
1. Approval of minutes from meetings of April, 2007 tabled as the minutes are not in the package. Joe Riser moved to approve, Scott Rubel seconded. Minutes from May, 2007 approved.
2. a.
MOTION:
| 1) [A letter] restating ASNC support of the Coalition's continued work; to provide a viable museum destination for the public at the original historic site. 2) Specific support for the conceptual plan, dubbed the “Alternative Plan” or win-win vision, that illustrate the community's vision for an enhanced museum combined with the stated needs of Autry (education and cultural center). The main points are revitalizing the historic museum for museum display of the SW Collection (via the sound plans of Brenda Levin) and adding new exhibition space that addresses the space deficiencies stated by Autry, the parking deficiencies as stated by Autry, and adding economic and attendance generators like the restaurant.
3) Opposition to the Autry expansion proposal in Griffith Park because it removes the Southwest Museum collection from the Arroyo Seco and unnecessarily negatively impacts public parkland and increases commercial activity in public parkland. SEE HANDOUT. Discussion on issuing a new statement of ASNC's position regarding the Southwest Museum and the Friends of SW Museum Coalition, Scott Rubel. |
Discussion: Ann Walnum speaks in support for FriendsOfTheSouthwestMuseum.com.
Heinrich Keifer speaks in support of the Coalition.
Carol Jacquez passed out a handout in support of continued negotiations with the Autry Museum .
Eliot Sekuler does not think it fair to choose 2 out of 5 proposed speakers on this issue.
Pat Griffith proposed that each following speaker be limited to 2 minutes. Ernie Sanchez agrees to that.
Bill Rumbel, president of Northeast Democrats speaks in support of the original vision of the Southwest Museum coalition and asks for non-support of Scott Rubel's proposal.
Natalie Seaman, Mount Washington Association, has met with the stakeholders and wants to save the building, but wants to agree with Bill Rumbel and
Grayson Cook, past president of Mount Washington Association, agrees with Bill Rumbel and proposes a vote against the proposal by Scott Rubel.
Anna Carpenter, former volunteer for the neighborhood council, spoke in favor of a balanced, rational view of things. She speaks against the Coalition. Her mother, an archeologist, saw neglect on the Autry's part towards the collection when she went into the tower several years ago.
Carol Jacquez wants to work together to support the Autry in its efforts for artifact preservation and education programming for diverse cultures.
Nicole Possert supports Scott Rubel's position.
Olga Hall states that current children's programming is not hands-on, but boring to the children, some of whom come from far away. Why did the Autry close the Tribal Marketplace? Why did the Autry reject the offer of the mayor for a Blue Ribbon committee to help them keep the Tribal Marketplace here? She says the Autry does not want to keep the SW Museum here because the community is poor.
Eliot Sekuler proposes an amendment to the motion: that the ASNC reiterate its original position on the
Pat Griffith seconds the amendment to the motion.
Joe Riser says we have a couple of motions on this issue, one of which was stated last year.
Josef Bray-Ali asks for a copy of the original amendment. Zara Scoville states she would support the goals of the coalition before she support the coalition due to the m.o. of the coalition.
Josef Bray-Ali asks what the effect is of voting for the amendment that Eliot proposed.
Joe Riser says our elected officials needs the ASNC's clarified position to know what the people want.
Jack Fenn asks if Eliot's amendment replaces the original motion proposed by Scott Rubel. Eliot Sekuler states it does. Jack Fenn asks if an ad hoc committee should be formed consisting of Eliot, Scott, and someone else clarifying what has been done up to this point on this issue.
Ida Simms asks if the ASNC voted to support the issue twice, why the ASNC doesn't table the discussion until clarification can be made as to what proposal was approved.
Bill Murray offers to read the motion from July 6, 2006.
Joe Riser says that Scott Rubel's proposal is more in line with what was approved in July 2006.
Zara Scoville asks how the facts have changed since the proposal was approved in July 2006.
Eliot Sekuler does not think Councilmember
Ida Simms states the ASNC should reaffirm the original position from July 2006.
Pat Griffith states the July 2006 proposal was to ask Mayor Villaraigosa to support the SW Museum as the primary museum in the Arroyo Seco and to request the EIR in Griffith Park . The EIR is underway.
Josef Bray-Ali asks why vote for the non-support of the Southwest Coalition?
Zara Scoville does not think we are voting for non-support, but for clarification of which goals the ASNC supports.
Bill Murray thinks we should not back away from supporting the Southwest Museum as an entity.
Heinrich encourages a NO vote on the amendment.
Joe Riser asks for procedural clarification regarding voting for or against the amendment.
Eliot Sekuler re-reads his proposed amendment.
Ernie asks for votes for the amendment. Five in favor. Six against, Ida Simms abstains.
Joe Riser suggests to amend Scott's proposal with Part 1 stricken.
Ida Simms seconds this.
Joe Riser withdraws his suggestion.
Nicole Possert says the original 100-150 million was for both sites, but both sites are no longer in the plans for the capital campaign.
Joe Riser mentions the Southwest Museum as a “destination.” He says where the collection is housed makes a difference as to whether the Southwest Museum continues to be a destination.
Zara Scoville asks where the research library will go. The library will go to Griffith Park .
Call for vote on Scott's motion: six voted for.
Pat, Eliot, Maggie vote against.
Bill Murray states that this motion as worded |
2. b. Review of the position of Liaison to the Coalition and possible need to name a replacement. Eliot states that signing a confidentiality agreement is in conflict of interest with the council's work as a public entity. Joe Riser proposed to table this review. Tabling the motion seconded and approved.
3. Election to fill vacancy in the Board office of Registrar.
Joe Riser volunteers to be acting registrar.
Pat Griffith seconds it.
4. Treasurer's report – Pat Griffith. Total amount about $9,000 available for community projects. Arroyo Seco Science Magnet School commitment was for a previous time commitment. $1,800.00 available for outreach.
Joe Riser asks if there are outgoing commitments for outreach that the board is unaware of? Pat Griffith does not think so.
Treasurer's report available on the website: (http://asnc.us/2007-archives/06-Jun/062507-Income_Expense.htm, http://asnc.us/2007-archives/06-Jun/062507-Spending.htm).
5. Presentation/approval of annual budget for July 2007-June 2008 – Pat Griffith – Budget & Finance (http://asnc.us/2007-archives/06-Jun/2007-ASNC_Annual_Budget.htm). No plans for an office, but plans for a storage space. Meeting budget, outreach/communication budget the same, $8000/year for stakeholder communications above the website.
Joe Riser requests an amendment to the budget: he would like to move an item to a different part of the budget. Amendment: during 2007-2008 reduce webmaster’s service funds in Q3, Q4 amount spent on the website from $1800/quarter to $1200/quarter. He states that growth occurred last year from meetings and mail.
Eliot Sekuler disagrees with the amendment.
Heinrich says the Highland Park neighborhood council spends $500/year.
Lincoln Heights neighborhood council is still constructing the website and has spent a lot of money to construct the website thus far.
Josef Bray-Ali states the cost is high, but asks the board to consider what will be spent on labor if the current website providers do not continue.
Joe Riser says there may be too many documents on the website.
Ernie Sanchez asks if there is a counter on the website.
Josef Bray-Ali second the amendment.
Jack Fenn states we are getting a good value for the webmaster’s service.
Bill Murray asks what needs to be reduced? He stays that storing documents is not an additional cost to the web service.
Pat Griffith points out that this is a budget, and states we can change what we budget in the future.
Joe Riser thinks the website is not a outreach tool.
Bill Murray disagrees.
Ida Simms calls for the question.
Joe Riser and Josef Bray-Ali vote for the amendment. Amendment is defeated.
Jack Fenn moves to approve the budget. Motion passed to approve the budget.
Pat Griffith asks for her daughter who is registered with Apple One to help with bookkeeping assistant tasks, about 4 hours.
Joe Riser seconded it. He asks if there is a budget for this position? It would be under other meeting expernse.
Scott Rubel asks if we can still vote on the motion?
Motion passes.
Discussion: Ernie Sanchez says we are only allowed in this meeting place until 10 p.m. Rachel and Sky ask to speak about building a home in the Mt. Washington area. Jerry Schneider invites them to the Mt. Washington committee meeting.
6. Candidate search to fill three open board seats (at-large Community non-profits, at-large Recreation, Culture & Arts, Sycamore Grove representative.)
Pat Griffith says the standing rule state that runners-up for positions can be asked to fill vacant positions. Runner up for David Brunk’s seat is Louis Wong whose mail comes back. Barbara Lopez is the logical person to ask for that seat.
Joe Riser recommends sending an email for filling these positions.
a. Possible vacation of seat(s) for non-attendance (Monterey Hills Representative)
Ida Simms does not think the Monterey Hills position can be appointed by the Board.
Joe Riser disagrees.
Ida Simms says there are no local issues committee meetings.
Pat Griffith asks if we are replacing Sara Lopez?
Ernie asks how the by-laws read?
Pat Griffith says it reads three unexcused absences and you are out.
Jerry Schneider moves that the determination of whether Sara Lopez is terminated and who should be the representative to replace her be moved to the Monterey Hills Federation meeting.
Joe Rise says it is a violation of the standing rules of the board.
Pat Griffith seconds the motion.
Ernie Sanchez believes the rule should be followed. If three meeting are missed, a vote should be had. Sara will still have an opportunity to attend the meeting before a vote is taken.
Bill Murray reads the by-laws about 4 absences dictating a vacancy of a seat.
Ernie Sanchez says no vote is therefore necessary. Sara Lopez is removed from the seat.
Anyone from Monterey Hills, including Sara Lopez, can run for the seat at the next meeting. |
7. Presentation/approval of 2007 election procedures, timeline, and mailer – Eliot Sekuler, Chair – Rule & Elections
Issues outstanding: do numbering of ballots compromise the secrecy of the ballots? Amendment of voting locations.
Motion to accept rules as written by Eliot Sekuler. See http://asnc.us/Elections-2007/070107-ASNCElectionsProcs-FINAL2007.doc for supporting documentation.
Jack Fenn seconds the motion.
Motion approved.
8. Per suggestion from D.O.N.E., the ASNC should update and add the list of its official posting locations for agendas to the Board’s Standing Rules – Eliot Sekuler, Rules & Elections.
Motion seconded.
Motion approved.
Pat asks if there are emergency items to be dealt with in view of the fact that there are 8 minutes left at this meeting place.
Joe Riser asks to remove item 9. Ernie approves.
10. Lummis Day Recap – Eliot Sekuler
a. Three thousand, five hundred people attended, double the number of attendees of last year. TV coverage on channels 11, 5, and 52. Comprehensive education program was implemented with the participation of teachers who took courses on the history of the Arroyo Seco.
b. Presentation of preliminary budget for 3rd annual Lummis Day program and request for financial commitment from ASNC 2007-08 fiscal year funds, in the amount of $4000 to cover educational programs, production, printing, and advertising expenses.
Motion seconded and approved. |
11. The ASNC should withdraw from membership in the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Congress (LANCC), a private organization not affiliated with or recognized by the city. LANCC’s charter has been deemed by the City Attorney as not being within the scope of the mission of city certified NCs. See opinion letter, portion attached. (Note: Some 40 of the 90 city NCs have joined this organization and ASNC has sent a non-board member as its liaison for two years.) - Joe Riser.
Pablo Lopez seconds the motion.
Zara Scoville asks what is the harm in belonging.
Joe Riser says it is a distraction from ASNCs purpose.
Bill Murray states this comes out of being involved with other neighborhood councils.
Joe Riser votes in favor. Motion denied.
Eliot Sekuler asks to renew interest in this organization and vote for Bill Murray as ASNCs representative. Vote to table items 12, 13 and 14 until the next meeting. Approved.
Reports
15. Committee Reports – tabled until next meeting due to lack of time.
16. Report from Liaisons - tabled until next meeting due to lack of time.
17. Comments from Board on subject matters within the Board’s jurisdiction, and suggestions for future agenda items – tabled until next meeting due to lack of time.
18. Future meeting dates and location – Ernie Sanchez
Next meeting is Monday, July 23rd at 7 p.m. at the Jack and Denny Smith Library and Community Center, Mt. Washington Elementary School, 3981 San Rafael Avenue Los Angeles, CA, 90065.
19. Adjournment |