ARROYO SECO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

New Ordinance re:
Red Flag Day parking in Mt. Washington


New Ordinance re:
Red Flag Day parking in Mt. Washington


February 1, 2008

Great News!!!!

Amy Yeager, Senior Policy Liaison to Councilmember Jose Huizar, has just advised that the Councilman introduced a motion to Council today to fund the Mt. Washington weather station that will more accurately identify the weather conditions by geographic region instead of Citywide. If this is funded, it will probably mean that there will probably be fewer RFD declared on Mt. Washington.

They also received confirmation that the Ordinance that will permit residents to park in the parking lots at C.G. Smith Rec Center, Ramona Hall, and the bandshell at Sycamore Grove Park has been waived from Committee and should be on the February 5th Council Agenda. Your support would be appreciated.

Christopher Howard, the new Alliance V.P. of Action will now be working on the RFD issues. There are two important issues remaining: How to transport residents to and from the parking lots on RFD, and how to quickly evacuate them in case of fire since they would be without their own vehicles. I know Chris will be working with residents, the City Council and Departments to resolve these two important issues.

I want to thank the Councilman and Amy for all their work on our behalf.

Sincerely,

Arline DeSanctis, Director
MWHA
ArlineDeSanctis@ aol.com

DRAFT ORDINANCE

ADDING SECTION 86.08 TO THE LOS ANGELES MUNICIPAL CODE
TO ALLOW PARKING AT THREE RECREATION AND PARKS FACILITIES
IN MOUNT WASHINGTON ON RED FLAG DAYS

ORDINANCE NO.

An ordinance adding Section 86.08 to Division "R" of Chapter Viii of the Los Angeles Municipal Code to allow residents to park in certain areas of specific Recreation and Parks facilities on Red Flag days.

WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles is committed to maintaining the safety of residents on Red Flag days, which are declared by the Los Angeles Fire Department when weather conditions for a fast-moving brush fire are extremely high;

WHEREAS, the implementation of Red Flag days is an important safety measure for hillside communities in order to protect residents from the potential hazards associated with a fast-moving brush fire;

WHEREAS, as a result of Red Flag days it is extremely problematic for the residents in the densely-populated area of Mt. Washington to find off-street parking; and

WHEREAS, the Mt. Washington area contains neighborhoods comprised of narrow roads and key intersections that, if not cleared, would create a chokepoint,

NOW THEREFORE,

THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. A new Section 86.08 is added to Division "R" of Chapter ViII of the Los Angeles Municipal Code to read:

SEC. 86.08. RED FLAG DAY PARKING.

(a) Upon declaration of a Red Flag day and issuance of Red Flag restrictions in the Mt. Washington area by the Los Angeles Fire Department, residents shall be permitted to park in the parking lots of the following Recreation and Parks facilities:

(1) the Carlin G. Smith Recreation Center (in designated "Red Flag Day" parking spaces only);

(2) Ramona Hall;

(3) the Sycamore Grove Bandshell

(b) During the period of Red Flag restrictions, residents shall be permitted to enter the parking lots of the Recreation and Park facilities listed in Subsection (a) in order to access their vehicles.

(c) Parking restrictions and enforcement at the parking lots of the Recreation and Parks facilities listed in Subsection (a) shall resume at the regular closing time of the facilities one day after the Los Angeles Fire Department declares that Red Flag conditions in the Mt. Washington area have ceased and the Red Flag restrictions are lifted.