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MINUTES
Meeting called to order by President Ernie Sanchez.
Roll Call: All were present except for Eliot Sekuler (excused) and Scott Rubel (excused).
Approval of minutes from December 2007 meeting tabled until the next meeting.
Public Comments:
Raymond Yu made an announcement of upcoming events: Thursday, February 7 Chinese New Year of the Rat 4706. Saturday, February 9
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., 109th Annual Golden Dragon Parade, Los Angeles Chinatown. Also from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Lunar New Year Festival, Chinatown - Broadway & Caesar Chavez Ave. http://lachinesechamber.org/calendar.html, 30th Annual Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker 5k/10k Run, Kiddie Run / Fun Walk on Sunday, February 10, 2008, http://firecracker10k.org/.
Jerry Schneider made an announcement about the second Zero Waste Citywide Conference held February 2nd at the LA Convention Center to reduce amount of waste going to landfills. He also said grant that was written for the Marmion Way community beautification project has been granted. ASNC is matching $5,000 from the budget.
Naheed Qureshi,
naheed.qureshi@lacity.org, 213-473-5391, Project Coordinator from DONE, reports on re-voting process in Mt. Washington. Mayor’s Budget Day is coming up again on February 23rd. Two representatives can be sent per neighborhood council to the meeting. From that group two may be selected to meet with the mayor about a month later. If two could be selected by February 8th that would be ideal. Please fill out the online survey on budgets and spending.
Joe Riser announces if you live, work, or have a child who attends a school within the council’s boundaries, you can be a stakeholder.
Scott Folsom, outgoing Youth and Education chair, mentions High School 13, Taylor Yard High School, is going forward. The school where this meeting is being held, LA International High School, is a great school. Glassell Park early education center meets with the architect 6 p.m. Glassell Park Elementary School Thursday, Jan 31st.
Zara Scoville thanks anyone involved with the fabulous meal and entertainment provided by LA International High School.
Comments by the President: Ernie Sanchez thanks everyone at the LA International High School for the food and the hospitality. Councilman Huizar was present but left for a family emergency. His representative, Deputy Chief of Staff, Community Affairs, Henry Casas and Field Deputy Mike Fong of Councilman Reyes’ office presented certificates to outgoing board members.
New board members: Education & Youth, Clifford Moseley, Hermon; Environment, Marybelle C. Ang, Hermon; Faith-Based Organizations, AJ Mora, Hermon; Retail, Wholesale & Service Business, Efren Chepi, Sycamore Grove; Secretary Tina Zabala, Montecito Heights; Sycamore Grove (2 seats), Sylvia Robledo ('08-'09); Healthcare & Seniors, Amado Machorro (excused, ill), Hermon; Monterey Hills, Jeremy Dillard ('07-'08); Recreation, Cultural & the Arts, J. Michael Walker, Montecito Heights. (http://asnc.us/)
Board Discussion/Action Items:
1. First reading of two proposed bylaws amendments form Rules and Elections Committee meeting of Jan. 12, 2008:
a. Amend the following sentence form Article VII, para. 3 of the ASNC Bylaws (Elections): “Each candidate who wishes to be included on a pre-printed ballot must submit a statement of intent 60 days prior to the date of the election.” Change final portion to read “…30 days prior to the date of the election.” (Note: This is for read only.)
b. Amend the following sentence (removing listed items A-H entirely) – from Article IX, para. 1 of the ASNC Bylaws (Meetings), “Announcements of meetings and other events of the Neighborhood Council shall be posted on the ASNC’s official website and in the following locations:” Change final portion to read “and in the physical locations listed in the council’s Standing Rules.” (Note: This is for read only). |
2. Election of new Board officers. (According to the ASNC bylaws: “At the first meeting in January, as the first order of business, the Board shall elect by voice vote the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Registrar.”). Item tabled. Alternate motion made and passed for interim appointments of essential positions of secretary and treasurer.
Joe Riser asks for a friendly amendment for an interim treasurer, and suggests that Jack Fenn (who has done the treasurer’s training) be the interim treasurer. Pat mentions you need at least two on the board with the treasurer’s training. Jeremy Dillard will take the treasurer’s training. Darlene Roker makes the motion. All vote in favor of the friendly amendment.
Pat Griffith mentions the post office box is about to expire.
Tina Zabala volunteers to be the secretary.
Maggie Barto mentions that some people may have mail box keys that need to be turned in.
3. Treasurer’s report – Pat Griffith
Hard copies of the budget are available. DONE funding has lost their key staff, so a lawnmower that needs to be paid for cannot be paid for at this time.
Joe Riser moves that we move to item number 8.
8. Review of school project in Montecito Heights. Katharine Parra, landscape designer and certified horticulturist, will discuss time frame and updates for school project and update on other projects she has previously headed in the Montecito Heights area, Latona Avenue Elementary. She asks that the $2500 that was previously approved for the project be available again for this project now that it has been renewed. J. Michael Walker thinks it is Paula Sirola wonders if half could be spent this year and half spent from next year’s budget. Joe Riser thinks Paula’s suggestion makes sense. Katharine agrees to doing the project in two phases. Scott Folsom mentions that the part the school district needs to approve will not be done until June. Joe Riser makes the motion to reactivate half of the original funding La Tona Avenue project in the amount of $1250 with the remaining to be paid out in June. All in favor. Jack Fenn moves that other commitment items be restored to Community Project budget: $384 be removed from Montecito Heights Beautification (other commitments), $302 be removed from MHAPPA easement beautification, $650 be removed from detailed Hermon Map, and $252 be removed from translation equipment. Joe Riser mentions that for all projects deleted, funding could be reconsidered within the fiscal year. All approve Jack’s motion.
4. Discussion and possible action regarding the filing of board seats vacated by resignation:
a. Unexpired term of Sycamore Grove Geographic Rep. Josef Bray Ali
Sylvia Robledo moves that the vacant position be advertised through the ASNC Alert. Josef’s term lasts until 2008. All vote in favor of the motion.
b. Extended (due to election challenge) term of Mt. Washington Geographic Rep. Eliot Sekuler.
Ernie says Eliot Sekuler sent a formal resignation. Jerry mentioned that at the Mt. Washington local issues meeting a consensus for the need for an interim representative was reached. Joe moves that Hank Shaeffer be elected the interim representative. Sylvia Robledo seconds the motion. Jack Fenn asks that either Ann or Scott Folsom express their views. Ann does not agree that Hank Shaeffer would have been first in an election where people voted for two. Paula Sirola thinks it would be appropriate to ask the candidates who ran and who are here to serve as interim representative. Motion passes.
c. Extended (due to election challenge) term of Mt. Washington Geographic Rep. Pat Griffith. |
5. Discussion and possible action re: reducing the portion of the ASNC budget now spent on administrative services and fees (now more than 50%) in order to leave more funds for community projects:
a. Identify any board members willing and able to take on any of the duties of the paid positions, as volunteers.
b. Recruit board member volunteer(s) willing to research the amounts that nearby neighborhood councils are spending for the Website maintenance and report back at the February 2008 meeting. |
6. Motion that the recruiting and advertising for Bookkeeper, Minutetaker, Administrative Assistant and Website Maintenance services be handles by the Board member of officer these positions report to or work with most closely.
7. Motion regarding Minute Taker position:
Move that this position not be reviewed until full new board is seated.
Joe Riser moves to table 5, 6 and 7 until the next month. Paula seconds the motion. All vote in favor.
9. Update on status of Mt. Washington re-vote – Joseph Riser
a. Vote on addendum to previously approved 2007 Election Procedures reflecting the re-vote timetable with changes to be submitted to DONE. To facilitate this, the ASNC Board will meet at the Mt. Washington Multipurpose room at the March meeting. (DONE representative may be available to offer further explanation of next steps in the process.) Vote to authorize payment of any revote mailing/printing expenses that DONE will not cover from ASNC budgeted “stakeholder communication” line item. Sylvia Robledo seconds the motion. All vote in favor.
b. Vote to authorize expenditure of additional $225.00 for purchase of postage stamps for return envelopes for revote ballots. Joe Riser moves, Zara Scoville seconds the motion. Sylvia Robledo disagrees. Zara Scoville asks that the ballot be proofread. Darlene Roker asks what the return was on the percentage of mail ballots, and if it would be more cost effective to have the envelopes be a prepaid return. Paula Sirola thinks it is a good gesture. Ernie calls the question, and all are in favor of voting. 10 vote in favor, motion passes. |
10. Motion submitted by Hermon Local Issues Committee:
Request for ASNC funding in the amount of $1350.00 for nine “neighborhood captain” kits for volunteers being trained to oversee the major sections of the Hermon community in the event of a significant disaster – Mark Legassie (for Hermon Emergency Preparedness)
Emergency Preparedness Plan on hermon.org. Nine zones are drawn out, eight to nine neighborhood captains are established, and he is looking for funding for nine kits for the neighborhood captains. Captains have to take CERT emergency preparedness training. A.J. Mora moves that we accept the motion. Zara Scoville asks if we should buy more than nine, perhaps for all the communities. Jack Fenn does not think a community should move beyond their plan, that other communities should emulate Hermon’s preparedness plan. He also asks if there is a way to get matching money from local businesses. Mark states he has a number of donations committed from local businesses already. Vote is taken, all vote in favor of funding.
11. Motion submitted by Jerry Schneider:
Request that the ASNC provide funding in the amount of $1,500 for North East Trees to continue with clearing invasive weeds from hiking trails in Debs Park. (This is necessary to keep the trails passable and to continue the restoration of natural landscapes along the trails started under funding in 2005 and the Community Beautification grant in 2006. Additional funding in the same amount is being sought from each of the neighborhood councils that share Debs Park within their boundaries.)
Jerry Schneider shows before and after pictures of City View Trail. Paula Sirola moves to approve the $1500. Item is seconded. Jack Fenn asks how many people are hired by North East Trees. Jerry states that a request that North East Trees hire at risk youth to fulfill this request. Jack Fenn mentions this might be best done before May given the early growing season. He asks if an accounting of hours is given by North East Trees. Jerry states he is involved with checking the work of North East Trees. Vote is taken, motion passes.
12. Motion submitted by Joseph Riser:
The ASNC board should submit a community impact statement (CIS) in support of City Council Motion 07-4130 (Smith-LaBonge, 12/19/07): “That the City Attorney … prepare an ordinance which would require metal recyclers to record identification information of people selling scrap metals in the City.” (Citywide, the theft of such metal from utilities, etc. has resulted in losses of over $1 million. Locally, public areas in Montecito Heights and Hermon have been left without lighting after dark.)
Motion tabled.
13. From Mt. Washington Local issues:
a. A letter from ASNC to CD14 requesting a study to improve the safety of Ave. 45 by smoothing over asphalt buckles in the road. Such study should take care not to harm the adjacent carob trees in the process of improving the road.
b. A letter from ASNC to CD 14 requesting action be taken to eliminate the puddling of water in front of Mt. Washington Elementary School, at the intersection of San Rafael and Glenalbyn Streets.
Paula Sirola makes the two motions, Jeremy Dillard seconds the motions. All vote in favor.
c. That the ASNC Board appoint 2 interim representatives for Mt. Washington to fill the vacancies left by the resignations of Eliot Sekuler and Pat Griffith. These 2 interim representatives would remain until the Mt. Washington re-vote takes place. Bill Murray mentions that voting for the one interim representative does not take into consideration Mt. Washington’s votes to have two interim representatives. Also, the discussion did not include those who attended Mt. Washington’s Local Issues meeting tonight, as well as the LAPD.
Paula Sirola withdraws the motion. |
Reports:
14. Committee Reports
a. Local Issues-
i. Hermon
ii. Montecito Heights-no report
iii. Monterey Hills-no report
iv. Mount Washington Meeting – Paula Sirola
She comments about the abandonment of construction projects. Eliot Sekuler is going to bring it up with the Neighborhood Prosecutor. Sylvia Robledo mentions that it used to happen on the hillsides of El Sereno, too. Jerry Schneider mentions that it has been addressed by the Board before and there has not been much action on the part of the City.
v. Sycamore Grove-no report |
b. Rules and Elections.
Bill Murray asks if a Vice President has been chosen. Ernie took a consensus regarding the need for an interim VP and none is needed until the full board is seated.
Motion to table Committee reports. Motion passes.
15. Report from Liaisons (requested at least once per quarter and may be in writing):
c. Friends of Southwest Coalition – Ann Walnum
Ann mentions asking at a previous ASNC meeting for $1500 for a traffic study in relation to the SW Museum. It is unnecessary.
d. Los Angeles Congress of Neighborhood Councils – Bill Murray
The next meeting of the LANC Congress Senate is Saturday February 2 at 10 a.m. at the Department of Water and Power building. There may be a more town hall atmosphere to the meetings. See directions on the website. Free parking. http://lancissues.org/
16. Comments from the board on subject matters within the Board’s jurisdiction, and suggestions for future agenda items.
Joe Riser mentions receipt of translation equipment and graffiti wipes.
17. Future meeting dates and location – President -
TBD
18. Adjournment |