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ARROYO SECO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL (ASNC)
A G E N D A

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2009 -- 07:00PM TO 09:30PM

MONTEREY ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE CENTER

5926 Monterey Road (at Avenue 60 in Hermon), Los Angeles CA 90042

Supporting documentation for this meeting can be found at:

http://www.asnc.us/2009-archives/10-Oct/_1009archives.htm

I.      CALL TO ORDER.   Roll call. Chair's Comments (Hank Shaeffer, 5 minutes)

1.  The Value of Punctuality

2.  Agenda – Departure from Standard Order of Items

II.     SECRETARYÕS REPORT.

1.     Request that visitors provide names/business cards to secretary.

2.     Approval of Minutes of October 5, 2009 Meeting.

3.   Record keeping:  Need to establish an online archive of correspondence, position papers, etc., emanating from the Board.

III.   NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANT POSTIONS

1.      Recreation, Culture and the Arts

                  -- DAVID BRUNK  (Mount Washington)

                  -- GINTARAS VALIULIS  (Mount Washington)

                  -- MARTHA BENEDICT  (Montecito Heights)

IV.   PUBLIC COMMENT. Comments from stakeholders, the public and the Board on non-agenda items within the BoardÕs jurisdiction (limited to two minutes per speaker/ sign speaker card before meeting.)

V.    COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES

1. CD-1

2. CD-14

3. OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

4. OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS

5. DONE/BONC/ (BongHwan Kim)

VI.   TREASURERÕS REPORT. (Mark S. Legassie)

VII. ACTION ITEMS. Funding Requests.

1.   a) Way Finding Signage Project - $3,000 - Motion that ASNC provide funding in the amount of $2,500 for a Way Finding Signage Project under a Community Beautification Grant. Funding is contingent upon award to the Community Beautification Grant for the fiscal year 2009 – 2010. This project has been under discussion for the last two months in the ASNC Environment Committee, and the committee recommends the project. The project would provide directional way finding signage to assist pedestrians find their way to various cultural, historical, and recreational destinations (such as Audubon Center, Debs Park, Heritage Square, and Lummis Home) from the Metro Rail Gold Line Southwest Museum Station. [Request Originator: Jerry Schneider]  (Postponed from Oct 5th Meeting)

      b) SIGNAGE PROJECT Associated Motion: to send a letter to Office of Community Beatification in support of the ASNC Way Finding Signage Project as part of the Community Beautification Grant application.  (Postponed from Oct 5th Meeting)

2.   Watering of 20 trees between 2900-4978 Figueroa - $2000 [Category: Env & Beautification]  Motion to allocate up to $2000 in community project funds to the non-profit organization Northeast Trees to water 20 trees for one year at locations on Figueroa Ave from 3900 to 4978 Figueroa (which borders the HHPNC).    [Request Originator:  Aaron Thomas, Northeast Trees

VII  ACTION ITEMS. Non-Finance Related.

1    710 Freeway discussion

a)  Consideration of and Possible Adoption of Statement as per unanimous recommendation of the BoardÕs 710 Working Group [Tom Marble]

      Text of Statement is Attached.

b)  Motion that the ASNC file a Community Impact Statement in support of L.A. City Council File #09-0002-s189 (Garcetti/Huizar/ Reyes, submitted Sept. 30, 2009), a resolution whereby the City would oppose any extension of the 710 Freeway via tunnel through Zones 1 and 2, while calling for any portal opening for such a tunnel in Zone 3 to be south of Valley Blvd. (Zones as defined by the Caltrans/MTA SR-710 Tunnel Technical Study). The full text of City Council's proposed resolution may be downloaded here: http://clkrep. lacity.org/ onlinedocs/ 2009/09-0002- s189_mot_ 9-30-09.pdf

            Suggested ÒCISÓ text (limited to < 100 words)

The Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council supports this action insofar as the resolution opposes as impractical and costly any completion of the 710 Freeway underneath our ASNC communities, contained almost completely in Caltrans ÒZones 1 and 2." As good neighbors in the City NC system, ASNC defers to the LA32 Council, representing El Sereno, regarding any construction there. Within Los Angeles City, LA32's area would bear the major portion of any potential negative effects from a possible tunnel extension through "Zone 3."

2.   ROSE HILLS COMMUNITY SIGN(S)  Request for a Board resolution indicating that the ASNC has no objection to the placement of a ÒRose HillsÓ community sign on Monterey Road adjacent to (but not within) the ASNCÕs boundaries.

3.   VOTING BY ASNC PRESIDENT.  Amend Standing Rules or Bylaws, as determined by Rules and Elections Committee, to enable the President to take part in board votes  (Joe Riser)

4.   FOOD DRIVE.  Proposal for ASNC to sponsor a food drive for needy families in all ASNC communities.  [Roy Payan, Montecito Heights Improvement Association] 

5.   PROPOSED ASNC COMMENT ON BICYCLE PLAN.  The CityÕs new bicycle plan requests that mountain biking be permitted on one dirt trail in Debs Park. It is currently allowed on the paved roads.  Mountain biking on any dirt trail in Debs Park is inconsistent with the Debs Park Framework Plan, a city ordinance. It is requested that the ASNC oppose the bicycle plan insofar as it permits mountain biking in Debs Park.  [Martha Benedict

VIII.          COMMITTEE REPORTS.

1.     Local Issues.

(a)      Hermon

(b)      Montecito Heights

(c)      Monterey Hills

(d)      Mount Washington

(e)      Sycamore Grove

2.     Communications and Outreach (Joseph Riser)

3.     Budget and Finance (Mark Legassie)

4.     Environment (Jerry Schneider)

5.     Community Garden (Paula Sirola)

6.     Public Safety (Mark Legassie)

IX.   REPORTS FROM LIAISONS. (10 minutes)

1.     LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS COALITION (Ann Walnum)

2.     MW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MULTIPURPOSE ROOM (Ann Walnum)

3.     FRIENDS OF SOUTHWEST MUSEUM (Ann Walnum)

4.     DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL WELFARE (Lezle Stein, thedogtrainer@hotmail.com, 323-225-6700)

5.     DWP (Peter Parrish)

X.    NEW BUSINESS (Committee referrals and/or future Board agenda items). (10 minutes)

1.     Comments from the Board on subject matters within its jurisdiction, and suggestions for future agenda items.

2.     Future meeting dates and locations (Hank Shaeffer)

Next meeting date: NOVEMBER 23, 2009 at 07:00PM, Monterey Adult Day Health Care Center.

XI.   ADJOURNMENT.

Funding requests: Unless otherwise stated in the approved motion, any funds appropriated for community projects as a result of this meetingÕs actions: (1) will be drawn from the 2009-10 ASNC budget; and, (2) under ASNC standing rules, expenditure of any such funds must begin within 6 months or the appropriation will automatically lapse.

The public is requested to fill out a ÒSpeaker CardÓ to address the Board on any item of the agenda prior to the Board taking action on an item. Comments from the public on Agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the Agenda that is within the BoardÕs subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the Public Comment period. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker, unless waived or adjusted in the interest of fairness, by the presiding officer of the Board. The agenda is posted for public review at Mount Washington Elementary School Bulletin Board, Carlin G. Smith Recreation Center, supermarket at Avenue 45 and Figueroa Street, art gallery at 4108 N. Figueroa Street, Montecito Heights Senior Center, Montecito Heights Recreation Center; adult day healthcare center at Avenue 60 and Monterey Road, as well as the ASNCÕs official Website at www.ASNC.us, and distributed via the ASNCalert Yahoo Group (opt-in E-mail listserv). As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting Naheed Qureshi, Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment Project Coordinator, at (213) 473-5391.

Process for Reconsideration: The Board may reconsider and amend its actions on items listed on the agenda in accordance with RobertÕs Rules of Order.

In compliance with Government Code section 54957.5, non-exempt writings that are distributed to a majority or all members the Board of Representatives in advance of a meeting may be viewed at the neighborhood council Website by clicking on/visiting the link at the top of the agenda, or at the scheduled meeting.

 

PROPOSED 710 STATEMENT

The Los Angeles city-certified Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council (ASNC) represents the historic and unique Northeast communities of Hermon, Monterey Hills, Mount Washington, Montecito Heights, and Sycamore Grove in land use and other local governmental issues.  The ASNC is opposed to any form of an extension to the 710 Freeway through the ASNC area that will result in: 

¥           The loss of homes, businesses, or any existing amenities in our communities;

¥           devastation or diminished use of any remaining open areas or green space enjoyed by ASNC stakeholders within our boundaries;

¥           any compromise of the geological stability of our area;

¥           further delays in the realization of improved public transportation options for ASNC stakeholders;

¥           increased traffic on our communities' primary feeder streets as a result of any such extension, whether after any proposed construction or for extended periods during construction;

¥           more congestion on existing freeways that serve our area's residents, workers, etc;

¥           heightened noise levels related to re-configured traffic flows;

¥           placement of ventilation devices that deface the landscape or concentrate pollutants in any of our communities, negatively affecting constituent health;

¥           or, any other environmental or aesthetic degradation that cannot be mitigated successfully.

Further, the ASNC urges a consideration of alternatives to the 710 Ògap closureÓ that address more precisely the current and future needs of our constituents as well as the rest of Southern California – reducing congestion, improving air quality, increasing connectivity for pedestrians, making our cities more livable – such as:

            ¥           Trip Reduction and Transportation Demand Management for autos;

            ¥           low-build options to facilitate traffic movement within Òthe gapÓ;

¥           a more comprehensive transit network, providing seamless connectivity;

¥           heavy rail taking freight to more remote hubs for transfer to trucks.

The ASNC keeps its constituency informed through its website: http://www.asnc.us/ as well as its group email: asncalert@yahoogroups.com.  As the 710 issue evolves, the ASNC will host public forums to present all sides of the debate and offer a venue for all concerned constituents to become involved.