PPCC Library Integration Test

2. Motion by the Bylaws Committee to Adopt the Proposed (Redline/Clean) Amendments.A second was not necessary because the motion was made by a committee of more than one voting member. Committee Chair Richard G. Cohen explained the proposed amendments; after discussion a vote was taken. Vote: Passed by unanimous vote of board members present.

Richard Cohen also reported that the Bylaws Committee has met and will be proposing extensive revisions of Bylaws provisions related to the Area and At-large Representative elections, with the First Distribution of the redline amendments to occur in connection with our next meeting on March 14. He further advised that the Executive Committee has unanimously approved a Bylaws Committee recommendation to correct certain minor typographical errors and “informalities” (capitalization and nomenclature) in Appendix B of the Bylaws (area boundaries). These errors will therefore be corrected without the necessity of a board vote [Bylaws Appendix C, SR-8]. 10.**Old Business** – None. 11.**New Business**. 11.1. _Adel H. Hagekhalil, Executive Director & General Manager, Bureau of Street Services_ (Street Services information and Q&A). Mr. Hagekhalil provided information on his background and goals for the Bureau of Street Services (BSS). He was worked for the City for 30 years but was recently recruited to the position of BSS General Manager. The new nomenclature of BSS is “Streets LA.” He wants to transform the streets, trees & sidewalks to be safe, mobile and sustainable. He intends to work with everyone so that Los Angeles will have a “world class” streetscape. The City has not invested in our streetscape for some time and he is advocating for change. The former policy was simply to do what was necessary to keep “good” streets in shape and to neglect “failed” streets. He is making a shift in the policy and intends to do advance planning using innovation, technology & data to keep our streets safe. He has a team with him who are working on these plans. He has requested significant new budgetary resources from the City for BSS operations. A new “street damage restoration” fee is being imposed on utilities who make utility cuts causing streets to be compromised. New paving material is being developed to replace the use of asphalt; it is 10 times stronger and also cheaper and more environmentally sustainable than asphalt. The City also needs to invest in street trees. His team is working toward scheduled-tree trimming, instead of simply responding to emergencies. BSS is also paying attention to tree removal; they want to be sure the tree actually needs to be removed and if so, that an equivalent replacement tree will be planted. Regarding street furniture: He wants to make sure that 75% of ridership on the transit system will have shade shelters at transit stops; he would like to install “smart” shelters. Mr. Hagekhalil introduced his team in attendance: Stehanie Clements, Chief Financial Officer; Veronica Maxwell, Community Liaison; Aida Valencia, Repaving & Resurfacing; Elvin Galindo, Enforcement; and Steven Duprey and David Miranda, Urban Forestry. Mr. Miranda stated that Urban Forestry will work with the community on updating our street trees plan. Q&A then ensued. Reza Akef (Area Eight Representative): Do you make utility companies contract with the City to make sure their work is up to par when trenching or cutting into streets? Response (Galindo): Yes. His investigators will come out and inspect to make sure utility companies are properly doing the work. Reza challenged this and stated that in his experience as a builder, he sees utility companies frequently tearing up streets and inadequately covering excavations which leads to decay and cracking. He believes the new restoration fee is not sufficient. Response (Hagekhalil): He hears the concern and will consider it. Peter Culhane: He has mapped out over 25 miles of street curbing in the Palisades that could be swept. We are looking for street sweepers. Response (Hagekahlil): The City has long had specific routes for sweeping but this hasn’t been updated for a long time. He is committed to revamping the entire program. The first step will be to address streets that have lots of trash, such as commercial areas/traffic corridors. Richard Cohen: Regarding street furniture, we have a Specific Plan which the community contends applies to street furniture in the PROW. In the past PPCC has hired an attorney to assert our position to the City. We don’t want our beautiful street furniture, which was paid for and installed by one of our own community groups, to be replaced with furniture not of our choice, and further, we don’t want commercial advertising and digital signs in the PROW. Response (Hagekhalil): He understands and will work with us in the future on street furniture and signage in the PROW. Alan Goldsmith (At-large Representative): Asked about BSS funding in terms of real dollars. Response (Hagekhalil): We have various funding sources, including taxes and the restoration fee fund. He is proposing to make investments in failed streets, to make sidewalks safe, to reduce liability for claims, and to plan for the future. The BSS budget was $168 million last year and his proposal to the Mayor this year is over $300 million. Sarah Conner: Will BSS be looking at withdrawn streets? Response (Hagekhalil): The City Council has voted to bring back previously withdrawn streets and they will look at these. Q: What does he mean about bringing in equivalent trees to replace trees that are removed? Response: We have a “tree summit” coming up on April 26 to look at best practices in replacing trees. Patti Post (Transportation Advisor): Suggested that BSS work on coordinating all of its divisions. An example of one of the issues: A street will be re-slurried, but the re-striping then doesn’t occur for months afterwards. This is a safety issue. Response (Hagekhalil): We now have monthly meetings to deal with these issues and we will be looking at better coordination. Haldis Toppel (Area Three Representative): Raised an issue about fixing a small problem on her street that could become a big problem as this is in a slide area. Krishna Thangavelu (resident): Urged that no highly flammable street trees be planted as we are a high fire hazard area. Response (Miranda): We will work on an appropriate street tree list for the Palisades. John Padden (PRIDE): We are working on a plan to revitalize and revamp the streetscape in our commercial area. We will need to raise funds and also work with the City. How can we work with you to be proactive, and are there funds available for some of this work? Response (Hagekhalil): Indicated he could not help with funding but suggested that he and Veronica Maxwell (Community Liaison) can help with streamlining the permit process. He can also help with the Sanitation Dept. in terms of servicing trash cans. Sue Pascoe (resident): Can BSS look at conditions on Temescal Canyon Road? Response (Hagekhalil): Yes. David Card (At-large 1st Alternate): Expressed concern about protecting the urban forest and urged Urban Forestry to consider at the April summit not only getting action on a preferable street tree list but also trying to get street trees treated as infrastructure. Chris Spitz: Asked for an update on the status of Chautauqua repaving. Response (Hagekhalil & Valencia): The repaving had been scheduled twice in the past but had to be pushed back due to construction and trenching. Right now, there is a hold on repaving until April 19. BSS has penciled-in the work for April 27-28. The repaving will be from Sunset Blvd. to PCH. David Kaplan (Area 6 Representative): A contractor for AT&T will be doing trenching on Chautauqua at some point in the future (exact date unknown); he will follow up with BSS. Mr. Hagekhalil reiterated the intention of BSS to work with the community and assist us with our streetscape needs and concerns. 11.2. _CD 11 Transportation Deputy Eric Bruins_ (Bonin motion re electric scooters, LADOT “Vision Zero” report & new pilot program to return parking meter revenues to the Palisades). **Dockless electric scooters** : There has been no change legislatively since his first report to the PPCC board. The full program will kick in during in the first week of March. Patti Post (Transportation Advisor) asked about fees and enforcement. Response: The City hasn’t allocated any money yet as permit fees are just starting to be collected. There be evaluation and outreach. LADOT is hosting workshops on the program, with one on March 20 at 7pm in Mar Vista [Disability Community Resource Center, 12901 Venice Blvd., LA 90066]. Bill Bruns: Are there limits on the number of permitted devices? Response: There are different allocations depending on areas. Each operator can receive permits for a maximum of 3,000 devices. Some are applying only for small fleets (100) and some are applying for the full program. Most of the concentration is in other areas. They have not seen active interest in placing these devices in the Palisades (likely due to topography). So far there have been seven or eight conditional permits issued; eleven have applied for the full program. The program covers electric bikes as well as scooters. **Vision Zero:** In December the City approved priority corridors and intersections for attention in 2019. They are prioritized according to the rate of severe and fatal accidents. Number One on the list is the PCH & Temescal Canyon intersection, with the PCH & Sunset intersection also included. The discussion will be about redesigning the intersections. Timeline: Over the next several months the City and Caltrans will talk about what they want to do about modifications to the intersections. There won’t be radical design changes. They will be looking at signal timing (giving pedestrians a head start) and intersection tightening (cars being required to turn more at a right angle/decreasing turning radius). Patti Post: When is your best guess when there might be a plan for these intersections? Response: We will likely have a plan in 5-6 months. CD 11 is also working to fund a signalized left turn phase at the Sunset & Chautauqua intersection (although that intersection is not on the Vision Zero list). **Parking Meter Funds Return Program:** The program was approved a month ago. The Palisades BID is one of three pilot areas. Chris Spitz: How much of the revenues will be returned to the Palisades? Response: Fifteen percent (15%) of all meter revenues in the BID area will be earmarked and the BID is in charge of outreach to the community for input on streetscape improvements. He expects around $65,000 annually to go to the BID. 11.3. _Pastor Kenneth Davis, Palisades Lutheran Church_ (Feed My Starving Children program). Pastor Davis briefly explained that this is a community wide event to support efforts to eradicate hunger world-wide, one child at a time, through the distribution of meal packets. They had the first packing event in 2017 in which 88,000 meal packets were packed and then distributed to 70 countries. The packing event in 2019 is being hosted at Corpus Christi Church and sponsored by Palisades Lutheran Church. It will take place on Thursday, June 20; different shifts will be available in the evening, and all ages can participate, including children as young as 4 years old up as well as adults. The goal is to pack 100,000 meal packets this year. The Pali High Ambassadors have committed to help. The Chair encouraged participation by PPCC members, noting that June 20 is not a PPCC meeting date. Information will be posted on the Palisades Lutheran Church website [[PLC-FMSC](https://www.plc.cc/events-1/feed-my-starving-children-palisades-packing-event)]. 12\. **Adjournment.** The Chair adjourned the meeting at 9:05 pm.

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##### MINUTES FOR MARCH 14th 2019