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**Voting Members in Attendance:** George Wolfberg, Peter F. Culhane, Richard G. Cohen, Chris Spitz, Rick - Item 8.1.1

Document type
Minutes
Published date
April 12, 2019
Language
EN
Topics

This document does not have a linked original file.

Document text

**Voting Members in Attendance:** George Wolfberg, Peter F. Culhane, Richard G. Cohen, Chris Spitz, Rick Mills, Joanna Spak, Steve Boyers, Sue Kohl, Haldis Toppel, Alan Goldsmith, Bill Bruns, Dick Wulliger, Richard Blumenberg, Duke Ostendorf, Sarah Conner, Jean Sharp, Brenda Theveny, Ellie Jenkins
**Voting Alternates:** Melanie Bouer, Niloo Kia, Susan Orenstein, Jason Sklar
**Non-voting Advisors and Alternates:** Barbara Marinacci, David Card, Jan Ostendorf, Sharla Steinman (following appointment; see item 8.1.1 below) 1.**Certification of Quorum.** The Chair George Wolfberg called the meeting to order at 7:00pm and certified that a quorum was present. 2.**Reading of Community Council’s Mission.** Jason Sklar read the Council’s Mission. 3.**Introduction of the Board and Audience**. The board and audience were introduced. 4.**Approval of Minutes & Upcoming Meetings. ** _1) Approval of Minutes – the minutes of 4/25/19 were deemed approved. 2) Upcoming Meetings –_
May 23, 2019: (1) close of Board nominations of officers; (2) update on wildfire safety by PPCC Wildfire Advisor Miriam Schulman; tentative discussion of parking meter revenues.
June 13, 2019: (1) candidates forum (if needed) and Board election of PPCC officers for the 2019-2020 term; (2) LAX Landside Modernization Plan update.
June 27, 2019: Guest speaker Councilmember Mike Bonin; Q&A about matters of community concern. Additional topics to be announced. One meeting only in July and August; dates to be announced. 5.**Consideration of Agenda.** The Chair announced that the agenda is as distributed. 6.**Treasurer’s Report**. Treasurer Richard Cohen reported that the Council’s bank balance is $40,982.
66. Significant transactions this month included a payment of $140 to renew our P.O. box for the year and a $500 check as a refundable deposit to reserve the community room at Palisades Village for a tentative June LUC meeting (the library being unavailable). The Treasurer will credit the refund of the deposit back to the account balance when the check is returned or voided. **7\. General Public Comment** \-- None. 8.******Reports, Announcements and Concerns**. 8.1.****_From the Chair_. The Chair began by announcing that the first Board member to open the agenda was Sarah Knauer (Chamber of Commerce Representative); in her absence, the Secretary presented a gift of treats to Sue Kohl (Area 5 Representative), who will arrange to deliver the gift.
8.
1.
1. _Approval of additional PPCC Youth Advisor, Sharla Steinman (Bylaws_ _,__Art. XIV_ _)._ Pali High junior and member of the Pali Ambassadors Sharla Steinman was appointed as the second PPCC Youth Advisor, with the approval of the Board. 8.1.2.****_Appointment of Street Tree Policy Committee_. The following persons were appointed to the new Street Tree Policy Committee, to research and present recommendations to the PPCC Board about a possible Street Tree Policy for the Palisades: David Card, Chair [At-large 1st Alternate, landscape designer]; Kelly Comras [Area 1 2nd Alternate, landscape architect/FASLA], Jo Ann Bright [Garden Club], Bill Bruns [Friends of the Library Representative], Libby Motika [journalist, Master Gardener], Jan Ostendorf [Area 4 2nd Alternate] and Michael G. Terry [Palisades Beautiful, landscape designer].
8.
1.
3. _Update on Chautauqua Blvd. repaving._ The long-awaited repaving happened last weekend.
The City did a good job and the lines are in. 8.1.4.****_Update on recent racist hate speech & threats; see [PPCC Statement](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/PPCC-Statement.pdf). _ The Chair joined the well-attended service last Sunday at the Lutheran Church which the community attended in solidarity with Pastor Davis and his family. PPCC’s statement condemning the vile racist hate threats was widely distributed, including on social media.
The Chair received a private response to PPCC’s post on Nextdoor, from a resident who worked up the courage to write to us after seeing the posts about the incident involving the Davis family.
She sadly related another incident of racism in the Palisades.
He read aloud the resident’s entire message to PPCC and expressed dismay that this continues to occur in our society _[see attachment for text of message]._ 8.1.5._15245 W.
De Pauw St. (Potrero Canyon rim construction); see[PPCC Position Letter](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DIR-15425-W-De-Pauw-2.pdf). _The contractor had received a building permit which was not authorized by the existing CDP.
The owner is now seeking retroactive permission to continue to build a large, obtrusive structure along the Canyon rim, despite the Zoning Information guidelines.
Because of the timing (Planning Dept. hearing last Monday), the Executive Committee unanimously approved the letter linked above. 8.1.6.****_LADWP Information; see[2019 LA Aqueduct-Owens Valley Tours](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-Owens-Valley-Tour-Package.pdf); [Mylar Balloon Safety](https://www.ladwpnews.com/ladwp-reminds-customers-to-keep-mylar-balloons-away-from-power-lines/)_.
Those interested in the tour should click on the link and RSVP as soon as possible (first tour is on May 17-18).
8.
1.
7. _Fire Service Day May 11 at Station 69; see[Fire Service Day Flyer](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_6397.pdf). _This is one of three terrific events on Saturday. Festivities are from 10am-4pm. Bruce Schwartz (past Citizen of the Year and Area 2 2nd Alternate) will receive Honorary Fire Chief honors. 8.1.8._Palisades Beautiful Tree Walk May 11; see[Tree Walk Flyer](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Tree-Walk_Flyer-1.pdf)_. This is the third of the three “Super Saturday” events on May 11 _[see item 8.6.1 below for the second event]._ The walk will take place from 3-4:30pm and begins at the giant Moreton Bay Fig Tree at the entrance to the Recreation Center.
8.
1.
9. _Parking meter revenue return pilot program._ This is a program for the Business Improvement District (BID) to manage parking meter revenue returns for streetscape projects in the BID area. PPCC strongly advocated that the City include the BID in the current experimental program. There are Brown Act hoops that the BID must jump through in order to run this program. The Chair and Vice-Chair Peter F. Culhane attended this week’s BID meeting to offer PPCC’s assistance in implementing the program. Our offer was well received. Stand by for more information.
8.
1.
10. _Aircraft noise update._ The Chair just received a message from Geoff Thompson, Councilmember Mike Bonin’s airport liaison, stating that last night the LAX Community Noise Roundtable took action to address the noise we are experiencing in Santa Monica Canyon and Pacific Palisades. By working this issue on behalf of our community via the Ad Hoc Metroplex/Wide Area Committee that Geoff Thompson chairs, the full Roundtable membership voted to send a letter to the FAA asking that the JUUSE Waypoint just off the coast – which is crossed-over by jets landing at LAX from the north -- be moved approximately one mile south / southwest. _[See_[ _JUUSE Waypoint Map_](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/waypoints.pdf) _.]_ Geoff Thompson believes this alignment may be acceptable to the FAA and could reduce noise in our area, since jets will be farther off the coastline. Stand by, but do not hold your breath. Kudos to Golden Sparkplug award winner Debbie Warfel for continuing to follow up on the aircraft noise issue. 8.2.****_From Officers_.
8.
2.
1. Chris Spitz (Secretary) gave an update on SB 50 (Wiener). The bill will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 13 and if it passes will then go on to the full Senate. New amendments include exemptions for small cities (under 50,000 in population) that are located in the Coastal zone, and for sites designated as High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (HFHSZ) where “fire hazard mitigation measures” haven’t been adopted. What exactly constitutes mitigation measures isn’t clear under the bill. Since Pacific Palisades is not itself a city it does not fall within the exemption for “small cities in the Coastal zone.” However, virtually all areas of the Palisades are in the HFHSZ and presumably will therefore be exempt, although which sites, if any, have adopted fire mitigation measures such that they would lose the exemption under the bill remain to be determined. _See PPCC’s_ _[Position Letter](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/More-SB50-comments.pdf) _ _submitted to the Appropriations Committee on
May 8, 2019._
8.
3. ****_From At-Large and Area Representatives_.
8.
3.
1. Kelly Comras (Area 1 2nd Alternate). (Tentative) report on City of LA “Tree Summit” – _not in attendance._
8.
4. _From Organizational Representatives_.
8.
4.
1. Jean Sharp (Optimists) announced that a Kids’ Track Meet will take place on May 19, 11am-2:30pm at the Pali High track. The event is sponsored by the Optimists and the YMCA. Information can be found on the YMCA website. _[See_[ _Track Meet_](https://apm.activecommunities.com/ymcala/Activity_Search/47th-annual-track-meet/178227) _]_
8.
4.
2. Dick Wulliger (PP Historical Society) reminded members of the Society’s May 13th program, 7pm at Theatre Palisades: The Sun and her Stars: Salka Viertel and Hitler’s Exiles in the Golden Age of Hollywood. He distributed flyers. _[See_[ _Sun & Stars Flyer_](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PPHS-Flyer.pdf) _]_
8.
4.
3. Susan Orenstein (TCA) announced the start of the Spring/Summer weekly Tuesday evening hikes this Tuesday, May14 (exploring Will Rogers Park). _[See_[ _TCA Hikes_](https://temcanyon.org/hikes/) _]_
8.
4.
4. Duke Ostendorf (YMCA) reported that the Y’s Healthy Kids Day event was a success. Over 120 families attended and the Simon Meadow was crushed with kids.
8.
5. _From Government Offices / Representatives_ – _None._
8.
6. _From PPCC Advisors_.
8.
6.
1. Sharla Steinman (Youth Advisor) presented information about the Pali High Campus Gardening/Beautification Day to take place from 11am-1pm on May 11 _[see[Ambassadors Flyer](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/thumbnail_image001-1.pdf)]_. The Chair remarked that this is the second of the three events to take place on Saturday. Secretary Chris Spitz announced that the first person who attends all three events on Saturday and sends in selfies to show they were there will receive a free dessert courtesy Marissa Hermer (Chamber of Commerce Alternate) and The Draycott! The Youth Advisor also announced that a “Friday Night Live” event will take place at Pali next Friday May 17 at 7pm and 9pm. There is a review system on Google to give ratings to the Ambassadors. Responding to a question about the status of work at the corner of Bowdoin & Temescal, the Youth Advisor explained that this will be a landscaped seating area. 9.**Reports from Committees**.
9.
1. _Nominating Committee_ (Richard Blumenberg, Chair; Sue Kohl, Joanna Spak).
Committee Chair Richard Blumenberg announced the Committee’s candidates for officers for the 2019-2020 term, as follows: Chair: George Wolfberg Vice-Chair: David Card Treasurer: Richard Cohen Secretary: Chris Spitz Committee Chair Blumenberg related that David Card has lived in the Palisades since childhood and is a long-time community leader, serving on the American Legion, the Rotary, the Potrero Canyon Community Advisory Committee and the PPCC Board for several years.
He is currently the PPCC At-large 1st Alternate and served as Chair of last year's Election Committee. A former bankruptcy lawyer for many years, David is also a trained landscape designer and received a Golden Sparkplug Award for his work on Potrero Canyon and for landscaping the area around the pumping station at the corner of Temescal Canyon & PCH.
The Chair thanked the Committee for its work in selecting the nominees and then opened nominations to the Board.
There were no nominations by Board members.
The Chair explained that nominations from the Board will be open until 15 minutes before the scheduled close of the next meeting on May
23. _[See item 12 below for statement by the current Vice-Chair.]_
9.
2. _Bylaws Committee_ (Richard G.
Cohen, Chair).
Second Distribution of proposed amendments to the PPCC Bylaws recommended by the Committee (pertaining primarily to the Code of Conduct, disciplinary procedures and clarification of Board membership).
See 1) [Committee Report](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Bylaws-Cmte-Report-April-May-2019.pdf) and 2) [“Redline”](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/PROPOSED-PPCC-BYLAWS-undated-redline3.0.pdf)plus [“Clean”](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/PROPOSED-PPCC-BYLAWS-undated-clean-3.0.R2.pdf) draft of proposed amendments, distributed concurrently with the meeting agenda via PPCC email and posted on the PPCC website (“Amendments”).
Committee Chair Cohen again explained the proposed Amendments and the various categories of revisions and voting requirements (parts A, B, C and D of the motion, as set forth below).
He introduced the motion on behalf of the Committee for adoption of the proposed Amendments [no second was required as the motion was made by a committee of more than one voting member].
The Chair then invited discussion from the Board.
There were no questions or comments. A vote was then taken on each of the following parts of the motion:

Summary

The Pacific Palisades Community Council held a meeting with 18 voting members present to address various community matters including treasurer's report showing a balance of $40,982.66, appointment of a Street Tree Policy Committee, updates on Chautauqua Boulevard repaving and aircraft noise issues, and nomination of officers for the 2019-2020 term. The council also discussed SB 50 legislation, upcoming community events including Fire Service Day and a tree walk on May 11, and responses to recent racist hate speech incidents in the community.