PPCC Library Integration Test

1. Introduction of Board and Audience. Chairperson Harry Sondheim called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and read the purpose of the PPCC according to the bylaws. Members of the Board and audience introduced themselves.

The Chair, Board and audience congratulated Randy Young, Pacific Palisades Citizen of the Year. 2\. Adoption of Minutes. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted with the following changes: The correct phone number of Theater Palisades is (310) 454-1970 Under section 4.1, the word consideration is changed to consider. 3\. _Announcements and Concerns_. 3.1 Treasurer's Report. There is $6,356.27 in the Council's checking account and $4,727.52 in the Council'ss savings account. 3.2 Appointment of Golden Sparkplug Award Committee. Nominations for this award are due by Friday, March 9, 2001. The Chair distributed guidelines for the award and appointed the following persons to the committee: Larry Niles (chair), Jack Allen, and Isabel Kayser. 3.3 Report from Bylaws Committee. Randy Young reported that the committee had met again a couple of days ago and that they are quite far along in their review of the Bylaws. At the Board's second meeting in March 2001, the committee will have a draft of the proposed revised Bylaws along with the committee's comments. 3.4 Alternate for Area 4. Frank Wilson, chair of the Area Alternate committee, proposed, after committee review, that resident Robert Baker be elected as the Alternate for Area 4. Mr. Baker is a 30-year resident of the Palisades and is a Molecular Biologist at USC. Marguerite Perkins Mautner moved that Mr. Baker be elected as the Area 4 Alternate and the Motion passed unanimously. 3.5 Getty Opposition to Award of Attorneys Fees. The Chair announced that Getty has opposed an award of attorneys fees to the Petitioners in the Getty Villa litigation, contending, in part, that the PPCC, “allegedly a public interest group,” had dismissed its claim in the case and that the dismissal was because “the PPCC’s claims have no merit.” The Chair provided Mr. John Murdock, attorney for Petitioners, a copy of the Board’s minutes which state that the Board's dismissal of the lawsuit did not in anyway reflect the Board's longstanding position in opposition to the expansion of the Getty Villa. 3.6 Bel Air Bay Club - Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration. The Chair announced that he received a copy of this document and initially believed it required consideration by the Board. After further review, it was determined that the Mitigated Negative Declaration is simply a republication of an earlier announcement which had to be re-sent because of issues of sufficient notice to those concerned. 3.7 222 Coperto. The owner of this property, through his attorney, Mr. Benjamin Reznik, provided materials to the Board to review prior to the next Board meeting, including the EIR. A copy of the materials are attached to the minutes. [Note: attachment not included/unavailable.] 4\. _Old Business_. 4.1 Further consideration of motion made at the 2/8/01 meeting of the Board to oppose any expansion of the field lights at Palisades High School based on the information presented at that time, with the Board reserving the right to consider at future meetings all issues regarding the use of the fields and the lights. The Chair hopes that additional information will be forthcoming from both the proponents of the expansion of the field lights, as well as from the administration at Palisades High School. Much of the Board's prior meeting was consumed with comments of the proponents and the opponents of the baseball field lighting. The Chair explained that he had abstained from voting on the above motion (1) to allow the proponents of the lighting to present to the Board additional information on the project in light of some questions which were raised by Board members and (2) because he believed this might be an opportunity to mitigate the impact upon the neighborhood of the existing lights on the football field. The following written materials are attached to the minutes: 1) PPRA member Robert L. Cavage's letter to the Chair dated February 22, 2001 expressing opposition of the field lighting, 2) AYSO representative Debbie Held's February 22, 2001 letter to the Board supporting the field lighting, which was supplemented by Mrs. Held’s oral presentation at the meeting, 3) AYSO Region 69 commissioner Emeritus George Wolfberg's February 13, 2001 letter to the Palisades High School Governance Council. Additionally, Board members Stuart Muller and Larry Jacobs e-mailed the secretary a copy of their comments at the Board meeting and requested that their comments be attached to the minutes. These comments are therefore also attached to these minutes. The contents of the above materials were reviewed at the Board meeting and will therefore not be repeated in the body of the minutes. [Note: attachments not included/unavailable.] Board Members Barry Kurtz and Larry Niles reported that they had viewed the lighting at the UCLA field which is similar to that proposed for Palisades High School, noting that they the lighting did not extend beyond the baseball field but if you are beyond the field and looking at it you will see the lights. (Later in the meeting a representative of Musco Sports Lighting, Inc. stated that no direct light within the reflectors of the light fixtures would be visible outside the school property boundaries and showed the Board a reflector of the type that would be used at Pali High.) The lights at UCLA have two times the number of lights that the proposed Pali High lights will have. Both Larry Niles and Barry Kurtz weighed the pros and cons of the lighting and found that the minor impact to residents is outweighed by the benefit to the children. Barbara Kohn reported that she saw the balloons at the Pali High field and found that it was not a scientific approach to determining how high the light standards would be and was not satisfied with the experiment. The wind had blown some of the balloons in the trees and a couple of the balloons were higher than the steeple on the Methodist Church. Lynette Guy noted that she was concerned about the geology of the area and that the lights shining from the football field already present a danger to drivers on Sunset. Ernie Meadows brought up what he called an oblique point, in that the issue is a contractual one. He asked whether or not the High School could enter into a contract with AYSO concerning the lighting and permits for use of the field. Both Debbie Held and Ken Camp, representative of Valerie Fields of the Los Angeles School Board, stated that the schools are prohibited from entering into these kinds of contracts. Permits are issued for use of the field every four months. Kurt Toppel noted that his area of concern was recreation and that is was not fair that the Highlands did not have a fair share of programs. He was involved in the AYSO program in many capacities through the years and his son, who is now a superb athlete at Stanford, participated in the AYSO program. Many of the skills his son learned were through participation in the AYSO program. Kurt agreed that the need for recreation outweighed any potential nuisance. Jack Allen noted that the lights on the football field and the lights on the baseball field are two separate issues and that the Board should vote in favor of the lights for the children. Ted Mackie, Marguerite Perkins Mautner and Lisa Maki all expressed their support of the lights. Isabel Kayser noted that at Theatre Palisades, many new residents complain about the Theater even though it has been there for ten years. She believes it is better to keep the kids in the neighborhood. Patty Detroit noted that Larry Jacobs' comments were good, and that the residents need to have recourse if things go wrong. Sharon Hays expressed her support for the lights. Bob Cavage and some other audience members expressed their upset at the meeting, stating that those opposed to the lighting were not given equal time to speak and express their opinions at the meeting. Randy Young noted that the Board had inappropriately taken a position concerning the lights prior to hearing all of the community input. The Chair responded that there was a long discussion at the Board's prior meeting and that Randy was not present at that meeting. Randy also stated that there is a park that can be used in the Highlands and that no public funds should be spent without a public benefit. Barbara Kohn made a motion to postpone a vote on the lighting which was seconded by Stuart Muller. The motion failed. Another motion was made by Stuart Muller and seconded by Lynette Guy, that the lighting be disapproved as proposed because of insufficient information and lack of a lighting management plan. The Motion failed. A third Motion was made by Marguerite Perkins Mautner and seconded. The motion is, we support the installation of the lights on the baseball field at Palisades High School upon the condition that they be turned off no later than 9:30 p.m. and that they be master controlled so that the lights can be turned on and off without local assistance. The motion passed. 4.2 Consideration of what issues the Board wishes to focus on in its consideration of whether the PPCC should become a Neighborhood Council pursuant to the City draft plan for neighborhood councils. Each member of the Board is expected to have read the City draft plan and to be prepared to designate the issues which the Board should study. (If anyone needs a copy of the City's draft plan, he or she should contact the Chair.) After input from the Board and the audience on the selection of issues, Board members will be assigned issues to report upon at the first meeting in May. The Board was asked to review the list. If any Board member believes that other issues should be discussed, the member should send his or her written comments to the Chair on or before Monday, March 5, 2001. A copy of the proposed list of issues is attached to the minutes. [Note: attachment not included/unavailable.] On June 14, 2001, the Board will host a forum which will be attended by representatives of the Board of Neighborhood Empowerment Commissioners and the Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment. The following persons were appointed to serve on the forum committee: Jack Allen, Isabel Kayser, Larry Jacobs, Ernie Meadows and Kurt Toppel. Adjournment. [Adjournment time not recorded.] The next meeting is on 3/8/01 at 7:00 p.m. in the Oak Room of Mort's Deli. Minutes submitted by Lisa Maki, Secretary _________________________ [Return to top of page](https://pacpalicc.org/index.php/minutes-from-2001/)****
---

##### MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 8th 2001

Board Members Present: Ted Mackie, Lisa Maki, Harry Sondheim, Larry Jacobs, Barry Kurtz, Ernie Meadows, Stuart Muller, Larry Niles, Frank Wilson, Lorraine Oshins, Barbara Kohn, Laura Tam, Gilbert Dembo, Patti Post, Jack Allen Chairperson Harry Sondheim called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and read the purpose of the PPCC according to the bylaws. 1\. Members of the Board and audience introduced themselves. 2\. Adoption of Minutes. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted with the following changes: 3.4 - From “Flood Plan” to “Floodplain,” also, “The Chair announced that he received notice of a meeting regarding the above plan.…” 3.7 First sentence revised, “Larry Jacobs reported that there is a governance council meeting” The second to last sentence had two periods, one was deleted. The following was added to the last sentence, “in order for more information to be provided in writing by the proponents of the lighting.” 4.1 - In the 8th sentence from the end of the paragraph, the word “would” was deleted and replaced by the word “what.” 3\. Announcements and Concerns. 3.1 Treasurer’s Report. There is $6,536.27 in the Council’s checking account and $4,723.35 in the Council’s savings account. 3.2 Public Hearing regarding the Draft General Management/Environmental Impact Statement for the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. Jack Allen attended the February 6, 2001 meeting concerning this Plan and announced that there will be 5 hearings on this Plan and EIS. The Plan has five approaches for the Recreation Area: 1) That no action be taken, 2) The Preferred Plan is a compromise between the Preservation and Recreation Plans, 3) The Recreation Plan opens the mountains to allow access to a maximum number of persons, 4) The Preservation Plan cuts off access in the mountains, and, 5) Education Plan. 2) The Plan does not discuss the controversial issue of mountain bikers vs. hikers. Jack noted that it is more important for the Board to issue comments concerning the Plan, not to attend the hearings. Patti Post made a motion to establish a committee to review the Plan and prepare comments to the Plan. The Motion was passed unanimously. The committee will be headed up by Jack Allen. The other committee members are Gilbert Dembo and Lisa Maki. The issue will be put on the agenda for the Board’s first meeting in March 2001. 3.3 Golden Sparkplug Award Nominations. Nomination letters for this award are due to the Council by Friday, March 9, 2001. Letters must be send to the PPCC at PO BOX 1131. The award was established to recognize residents who "Ignite ideas and projects into community action that makes life easier and more enjoyable for all of us” in the previous calendar year. 3.4 Sav-On Cargo Container. Stuart Muller noted that the large cargo container blocking the Clearwater Mural remains despite the fact that it has been empty and unused since 1/3/01. A Motion was made by Barbara Kohn that the Board write a letter to Sav-On management to have the container removed. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Stuart Muller made a second Motion, that the Board ask the Design Review Board to investigate the use and placement of cargo containers within the areas covered by the Specific Plan. The Motion passed with two abstentions. 3.5 Communications Committee. Larry Jacobs reported that the committee met and discussed the use of the PPCC Website and ways that more communication could take place between residents and the Board. Stuart Muller made a Motion that the communications committee look into developing greater means of communication between the Board and the community. The Motion was seconded and passed with one abstention. 3.6 Getty Villa Lawsuit. The Chair announced that the PPCC is officially out of the Getty Villa Lawsuit. 3.7 Neighborhood Council Plan and Meeting. The Chair announced that complete copies of the Plan have been sent out and extra copies were distributed to Board Members. The Chair reminded Board members to review the Plan for discussion at the next Council Meeting. If anyone is interested in obtaining a copy of the Plan, they may call 213-485-1360. The Chair also announced that there will be a kick off meeting for the Plan with community leaders to discuss organization of Neighborhood Councils, crime, youth leadership and funding on February 24, 2001 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Chair, Larry Jacobs, Ernie Meadows and Stuart Muller agreed to attend. 3.8 Citizen of the Year Award. The Chair announced that the Post will be selecting a person for its Citizen of the Year Award. Harry Sondheim has served on the committee for the last four years and again volunteered to serve on the committee. 4\. Old Business. 4.1 Consideration of the Motion made at the 1/25/01 meeting of the Council to oppose lights for the baseball field at Palisades High School, absent the Council being provided with additional information which it had previously requested. Even if additional information were provided, the Council would still need to consider the merits of the matter. The Chair began the discussion on this issue by distributing relevant portions of the Board’s May 11, 2000 minutes concerning the issue of lighting of the field. At that meeting the Chair had requested that "the lighting proponents came back to the Council with a model of the baseball field and proposed light standards.” The Chair also distributed a copy of the Board’s June 20, 2000 letter to Mr. Don Savarese, Principal of Palisades High School, concerning the actions of the Board at the May 11, 2000 meeting. A copy of this letter is attached to the minutes. [Note: attachment not included/unavailable.] The lighting proponents distributed a memorandum dated February 6, 2001, addressed to Larry Jacobs and the PPCC which outlines information on the lighting. It is also attached to the minutes. [Note: attachment not included/unavailable.] Proponents of the lighting, Dick and Debbie Held, and a representative of Musco lighting were present to discuss why they want the Board to support their proposal. The lights will allow AYSO soccer to have practices at the field from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. from August to the middle of December. Also present was Palisades High School Vice Principal, Charlotte Atlas, who noted that there were no funds at the school level to help with the project. She also indicated she had no knowledge of why the Board did not receive the written statement from the Principal which was noted in the May 11 minutes nor of any efforts that had been made to obtain funding to update the football field lights as requested in the Board’s June 20 letter. The cost of the lights is $140,000.00 and $70,000.00 has been secured by Dick Held from Proposition BB funds. Debbie Held stated that the gym was used by YMCA, Boy Scouts, aerobics and volleyball. An audience member noted that this was different because the use of the gym is an indoor activity and did not disrupt the neighborhood. The Musco lighting representative stated that the lights that the proponents want to install are also currently being used at Santa Monica High School baseball and football fields and Beverly Hills High School and that he would arrange to notify the Board and the public as to where and when they could view the lights in use. The Chair and others commented that the lights are 80 feet high and this violates the Palisades height restriction of 35 feet. Barbara Kohn asked that the proponents of the lighting put up poles or balloons so that the public could see how high the lights would go above the trees on Sunset. She also recommended a field trip to view existing lighting and wanted to know the purpose of Proposition BB. Barbara also asked why there couldn’t be a field and lighting in the Highlands. Proponents of the lighting stated that the poles could be painted green or brown to blend in with the surroundings. Many persons complained about the fact that the lights on the football field are left on until late into the night without anyone being present or using the field. Apparently, the principal of Palisades High School has not allowed anyone to turn the lights off as of four years ago when the school took over complete control of the lighting box and keys to access the lights. The Musco lighting representative stated that the lights for the baseball field could be turned on or off by using the telephone but it was not clear who would be able to access the system. Many Board members and audience members expressed their opposition to the lighting. Stuart Muller stated that the proposed lights are an assault on the senses. Ted Mackie noted that there is $140,000.00 in funds available for the baseball field lighting but no funds to fix the switch for the football field lighting. Others noted that the principal has not lived up to prior guarantees concerning lighting. Many noted the importance of having a place for children to play but others were not happy about the prospect of more lighting on the field. PPRA also opposed the fixed installation of lighting and submitted a letter dated 2/8/01 which is attached to the minutes. [Note: attachment not included/unavailable.] Bob Cavage of PPRA noted that the use of the high school is already excessive and this will only add to the burden, noise level and inconvenience to the neighborhood. Other audience members stated their support for the proposed lights since it would allow children (including women) an opportunity to participate in a sport instead of doing other things which are not deemed appropriate. The view also had support on the Board. Stuart Muller made a motion that, Based on the information presented to date, the Council opposes any expansion of the field lights at Palisades High School. The Council reserves the right to consider all issues regarding the use of the fields and the lights at future meetings. The motion was seconded by Barbara Kohn. At the time this motion was voted upon, one voting Board member had left the meeting. Seven members voted in favor of the motion, one member voted against the motion and four members, including the Chair, abstained, which meant that the Motion did not have the requisite 2/3 approval of the Board to pass. The Chair abstained from voting after Dick Held agreed to request a postponement if the vote at the high school’s Governance Council meeting so the Community Council Board could consider the motion at another meeting. 4.2 Consideration of the Mansionization report made at the 1/11/01 meeting of the Council and determination of what action the Council wishes to take in regard thereto. Mr. Mellinger, an arborist, discussed his interest in the committee and also various ordinances concerning trees and views. He was concerned with the topping of trees which often kills them and sometimes causes them to topple. It was determined that the committee, which is headed by Frank Wilson, would continue to explore the issue of controlling mansionization, but, at this time, not the issue of protecting views in the community. Adjournment. [Adjournment time not recorded.] The next meeting is on 2/22/01 at 7:00 p.m. in the Oak Room of Mort’s Deli. Minutes submitted by Lisa Maki, Secretary _________________________ [Return to top of page ](https://pacpalicc.org/index.php/minutes-from-2001/)

##### [MINUTES FOR JANUARY 2001 unavailable]

_________________________
---