MINUTES

Meeting called to order by President Ernie Sanchez.

Roll Call: All were present except Pablo Lopez, unexcused, Josef Bray-Ali, unexcused, Jeremy Dillard, unexcused, Sylvia Robledo, excused, and J. Michael Walker, excused.

Public Comments:

Raymond Yu announced the Chinatown Moon Festival, Saturday, September 29, 2007, from 4-9 p.m., Chinatown Central Plaza, 943 N. Broadway, L.A. See http://www.lachinesechamber.org/

He also announced the L.A. City Community Budget Day, Fiscal Year 2008 – 2009, Saturday, October 13, 2007, City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 at John Ferraro Council Chambers, Third Floor. 8am-12pm. (213) 485-1360 or 3-1-1, e-Mail: done.budgetday@lacity.org

He also announced AIDS Walk Los Angeles 2007 taking place on Sunday, October 21, 2007. Sign up at www.aidswalk.net

He also announced the Congress of Neighborhoods Building on Success to be held October 27, 2007 at the L.A. Convention Center. Contact: Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, 213-473-4656, http://www.lacityneighborhoods.com/CongressInfo2.htm

A request was made that item 11 (agenda) be moved up to the top of the meeting. No objections.

Mike French introduced himself. He is running for the Monterey Hills neighborhood council seat.

Jack Fenn received a letter of response from a developer that worked on top of Montecito Heights, Flattop, 10-12 acres. The letter defends the developer’s work near the church. Jack says the response does not address the introduction of non-native plants to the hillside, among other issues.

Helene Schpak, Glassell Park commented on H.S. 13 and Taylor Yard. H.S. 13 support group has formed.

Zara Scoville suggests an appreciation award in conjunction with Highland Park Neighborhood Council for a business which will close their doors within 30 days. Highland Park Chamber of Commerce is on board as well.

Board Discussion/Action Items:

1. Darlene Roker (Healthcare at-large rep.) could only verify three absences for Ida Simms. She wants to consider the initial motion moot at this point. Discrepancy noted between website and written minutes.

2. Darlene Roker asked if in #17, “this” referred to Action Committee? Darlene read that the Action Committee is not an entity covered under the Brown Act. #15 September 29, not September 9th. “Draft” should be capitalized. Minutes from August 2007 approved with corrections.

3. Treasurer’s Report – Pat Griffith. The report is on the website. Budget has $45,500 for community projects with $24,000 already committed.

4. Election of a new Registrar – Ernie Sanchez asked if it is necessary for a board member to be Registrar? Eliot Sekuler says with elections upon us, the outreach function of the Registrar is vital. Pat Griffith went over the duties of the Registrar. Zara Scoville volunteers. Eliot Sekuler moves to accept Zara’s offer, and Maggie Barto seconds. Motion approved.

5. Erika Soto from the community of Hermon, applied to be the Admin. Assistant for the ASNC board. She was asked to be prepared to come and tell the board why she’d like the PT job. She’s also trained as an interpreter and can use the translation equipment we’re purchasing, at Local Issues and board meetings, as part of her duties (possible increase in the number of hours). Motion tabled until Erika Soto is present.

6. Peter Parrish presented the LADWP proposed rate increases. Eight page packet available from LADWP containing proposed water and power rate increases over a 3-year period. The Oversight Committee has put together a series of responses, recommending a rejection of these rate increases due to the fact that neighborhood councils have not been given adequate time (120 days) to study these documents. Among other things, the Oversight Committee recommends that the DWP should reduce overtime to less than 10 percent, and should hire a rate payers’ advocate at city expense. Peter Parrish recommends not approving the rate increases at this time. Eliot Sekuler agrees with delaying approval, but wishes to know what percentage of the rate increase belongs to wages for labor. Darlene Roker wishes to move the action on page 6 of the packet. Jerry Schneider would like the first bolded statement on page 1 of the packet be given as the reason for delaying approval.

MOTION: The OSC does not recommend any Water and Power base rate increases, reliability or deferred maintenance adjustments, surcharges or pass through increases at this time because it has not been given the full 120 day notification as provided in the MOU; further, the OSC recommends that the Neighborhood Councils support that the 120 day NC review period should begin upon the date of the first Huron Presentation, August 18, 2007.

Vote is taken. Motion passes.

7. Brian Sheridan, Director of Development at Heritage Square requests:

Phase I on Homer Street was completed with the joint efforts of ASNC and Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council. Impact was even beyond the specific improvements: painted church, new roof, and hopefully 100 gallons of paint donated for painting Mt. Pleasant House.

He is requesting further (Phase II) funding now.

Ann Walnum moves that the ASNC fund up to $7,500 to support the Heritage Square Community Beautification Grant to continue replacing the barbed wire around the property with beautiful Victorian-era wrought iron, red brick masonry columns, new planters and greenery, and possible additional lighting. Pat Griffith would like to amend the grant to $5,000 because $7,500 would be is one third of the remaining funds. Jack Fenn seconds the amended motion. All in favor of motion amended to $5,000. Joe Riser speaks that the ASNC has less money to spend than other Neighborhood Councils, and a more realistic effort to help more organizations and different organizations could be achieved by contributing $2,500. Joe opposes the amended motion. Darlene Roker asks if the upper limit is $5,000, who decides what the final amount will be? It seems that the recipient could request up to the upper limit. Pat Griffith states that there is $18,000 in the outreach portion of the budget, perhaps half of that is for the website. Ann Walnum supports the motion as amended. Motion passes. Halloween & Mourning tours offered at Heritage Square, October 27-28, 12-4 p.m. Halloween & Mourning Movie Night, Saturday, October 27th at 7 p.m.

8. Alexia Teran, from the County Commission on Disabilities, requests funding of $500 to purchase a table at the 16th Annual Access Awards Luncheon to be held Monday, October 15, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. at the New Otani Hotel, 120 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. http://laccod.org/cms1_065037.pdf The tickets could be used by ASNC members, stakeholders or for disabled residents of the Northeast who otherwise could not afford to attend. Police officers who have been disabled are to be honored at the luncheon. The number that the table accommodates will be eight. Joe Riser moves to accept this motion. Darlene Roker would like to amend the motion that disabled residents be allowed to take advantage of this table if possible. Joe Riser accepts the amendment. Scott Folsom suggests that the five young people from the council’s district be offered the seats at the ASNC table. Alexia says that one of the young people is a hemophiliac. Zara asks how long it takes for a check to be cut, and it could be two weeks to six months. David Brunk congratulates Gloria Molina on her choice of Alexia Teran for her position on the County Commission on Disabilities. Joe asks for the amended motion to be approved. Motion passes.

9. From Eliot Sekuler, restating a possibly earlier than 2005 motion calling for the renaming of Avenue 43 as Lummis Drive. Pat Griffith thought Josef Bray-Ali had taken it on a few meetings ago. Ann Walnum would like to ask for volunteers to obtain signatures and for Brian Sheridan (Heritage Square) to be involved. Jack Fenn recalls a meeting where Mike Fong was in discussion with Montecito Heights Improvement Association about getting the issue addressed. Zara Scoville points out that someone should keep asking Council’s office to take a role in renaming taking place. Ernie states the motion, and it passes. Rogelio Rodriguez of CD 1 office says they are working on the draft letter to residents and property owners to gauge community support for the name change to Lummis Drive.

10. Request from Bradley (or a representative) of the GPNC to co-sponsor the Diversity Forum (November 3rd) by showing the ASNC Logo on the Diversity Flyer in support of positive efforts on education and understanding in our respective communities. Helene Schpak questioned why ASNC is listed as a co-sponsor to the Diversity Forum when the forum has not been discussed by the Board. Vote to table the motion due to absence of Bradley or a representative of the GPNC.

11. From the Hermon Local Issues meeting (requested by Joe Riser)

12. From Mount Washington Local Issues (Requested by Jerry Schneider), October 17th deadline.

Jerry Schneider makes the motion for a letter of support and authorization of matching funding in the amount of $6,000 by the ASNC for the Marmion Way Beautification Project. The funding will be conditional, subject to the project being successful in application for a 2008 Community Beautification Grant. This project has already been presented at the meetings of the Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance and the Mount Washington Association this month, and has received approval for support and significant (over 300 years) volunteer commitments. Ann Walnum asks to amend the grant to $5,000. Jerry accepts that. Zara Scoville does not think the tree should be cut out of the project, but that the stone wall project should be held off on. David Brunk mentions that river rock walls that are brown from exhaust will be cleaned. Clean Green Team monthly cleanups will also be part of the project. Motion passes.

13. Suggestion for location of the October, December and January Board meetings. No November meeting scheduled due to the election. December meeting date needs to be scheduled. Zara Scoville suggests that the October meeting be at the Jack and Denny Smith Library and Community Center. David Brunk suggests that all meetings be scheduled here for the following year. Scott Folsom suggests that Local Issues committees meet in their areas. Joe Riser states that Clifford Moseley has offered their high school campus as a meeting place for January. The board agrees.

14. Review need for MW Elementary School Multipurpose Room Liaison the Controller Chick NC Liaison, and NELA NC Federation Liaison positions. Issue tabled.

Reports

15. Committee Reports.

16. Report from Liaisons.

17. Comments from Board on subject matters within the Board’s jurisdiction, and suggestions for future agenda items.

Zara Scoville asks how to proceed in terms of the appreciation award for the storeowners she had mentioned earlier. When she contacted Jose Huizar’s office they said they needed a date and location (October 22nd at Jack and Denny Smith Library and Community Center.)

Maggie Barto suggests there be a barrel for recyclables placed in the community room.

Eliot Sekuler suggests that since there are banners in Atwater on Glendale Blvd. reminding people to vote in their elections, the ASNC would benefit as well if banners about the upcoming election were to be placed on streets. Zara Scoville agrees there is too much paper given out at every meeting.

David Brunk mentions that ASNC has the right to name people to use this Community and Library Center.

18. Future meeting dates and location – Ernie Sanchez
October 22nd, 7:00p.m., Jack and Denny Smith Library and Community Center.

19. Adjournment