Regular Meeting of 05/09/2001
The meeting was called to order at 7:09 p.m. by Jane Fanganiello. There were about 42 people in attendance. Lloyd Hitt led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chairmanâs Comments
Jane Fanganiello welcomed the newcomers to the meeting and gave some background information about the Neighborhood Council. Copies of the Newcomer Information sheet were handed out.
In response to Megan Jonesâ earlier comments about the respect we have for one another on the Council, Jane read a poem composed by Marlene Hitt entitled ãThe Gift.ä
Minutes
The minutes of the April 11 meeting were approved as printed.
Treasurerâs Report
The balance as of May 9, 2001 is $1,134.97. The profit from the Easter Carnival was $421.00.
Communication
Brenda McAlpine reported that she received a copy of a newsletter called ãCityWatch LA,ä and a copy of the April 30 edition of the Plan for a Citywide System of Neighborhood Councils. Interested parties should contact her for a copy of either document.
Chairmanâs Comments
Jane Fanganiello reported that membership applications will be available for members to acquire membership cards, per our bylaws. The bylaws will most likely be ratified at the July meeting, with changes submitted at the June meeting.
Program
Megan Jones is the Valley Regional Project Coordinator for the Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE). She gave a presentation on the Neighborhood Councils Plan. On May 8, the City Council voted to accept the DONE Plan as amended by the City Councilâs Governmental Efficiency Committee. The amended Plan is subject to the mayorâs approval. The start date for certification of neighborhood councils (NCs) is October 1, 2001.
A few of the City Councilâs changes to the Plan include the following:a) overlapping boundaries are discouraged, except for public spaces and/or major thoroughfares; b) NCs must gather signatures (not necessarily a petition) from multiple groups in the community, to prove that the NC is not being exclusive.
There are competing philosophies about how NCs should be funded. Some people favor direct funding of NCs, while others propose establishing ãaccess centersä for NCs to use computers and office equipment. The mayorâs proposed budget funds 25 access centers for the first year, and $1.5 million in matching grants. The budget also includes funding for 11 new project coordinators and $142,000 for the Early Notification System.
Updated information about the Neighborhood Councils system can be found www.lacityneighborhoods.com.
Reports
Congress of Neighborhood Councils:Ken McAlpine reported on the first Congress of Neighborhood Councils, held on April 28 and sponsored by the Hollywood Neighborhood Council. It was very interactive, similar to our town hall meetings. He hadnât heard about the new amended Plan until he attended the Congress. The Congress should prove to be a valuable venue for working with other NCs to lobby the City Council.
SunlandTujunga.org:Ken McAlpine gave some background information on the project, and reported that the site is in quality assurance mode, with a full launch on July 4.
4th of July:Brenda McAlpine reported that we still need help for the 4th of July Parade float. She passed out a signup sheet.
Honorary Mayor:Jane Fanganiello reported that she is selling $1 tickets for her campaign for Honorary Mayor. She will be having a rummage sale this Saturday, and needs stuff to sell, hands to help, and customers to buy items. She will also be hosting a party on Saturday, June 2, with a live band and spaghetti dinner.
Sunland Park:Roberta Cole reported on the latest park committee meeting. The focus was on skateboard facilities, and a group of high school students were present at the meeting. A committee was formed to draw up plans for a skate park. The three upcoming improvement projects ö senior parking lot paving, irrigation and bathrooms ö will be funded with Prop. K monies, not Quimby funds. The next meeting is on Thursday, May 31 at 7 pm at the Rec. Center.
Elaine Brown reported that she is pursuing a grant for the City to purchase nine acres of land on Oro Vista Avenue, near the wash. The park would be a ãpassive parkä for now, but the hope is to turn it into a youth center, with a skateboard area and fields for other sports and activities.
Valley VOTE:Elaine Brown reported that the latest meeting was held today at the United Chambers of Commerce.
Hansen Dam Baseball Academy:Elaine Brown reported that the City Council passed a motion yesterday to support the establishment of a baseball academy, sponsored by Major League Baseball, at Hansen Dam. Most of the Hansen Dam Recreation Area is in Alex Padillaâs council district. The academy will be a public/private partnership and will utilize 21 acres of passive park space. The academy will be used by 150 inner-city kids, four times a year.
Safety:Nina Royal reported that the CERT class was cancelled due to low turnout. Another class was being held in La Tuna Canyon at the same time, and only ten people attended last nightâs class. The Sunland-Tujunga class will be combined with the LTC class.
Nina also reported that she attended the Fire Department fair last Sunday and got lots of information.
The new Senior Lead Officer is Jay Roberts. A dinner honoring outgoing SLOs Harrold Egger and Don Muniz is being planned. Tickets are $12 in advance, and $15 at the door. Nina has tickets for sale. The evening will be informal, with a business casual dress code. The officers will not be in uniform.
Planning:(reported by Penny Blackwell)
Goodwill:Tracy Powers, Vice-President of Retail Operations for Goodwill Industries, gave a presentation on Goodwillâs new 8,000-square-foot store at 6545 Foothill Blvd., next to Smart & Final. Goodwill is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides job training and other services to people with barriers to employment, such as physical disabilities. Nearly 70% of their operating revenue comes from a mix of donors and customers.
The store is not open yet, because Building & Safety says that the store does not meet the requirements of the Foothill Corridor Specific Plan. The staff has been hired, and most of them are locals. They are on the payroll working in other stores until the issue is resolved.
Mr. Powers stated that during the lease negotiations, Goodwill told the City at least three times that the store would be retail. They got a permit to remodel the store in January, spending $80,000 in remodeling costs. At the end of February, Building and Safety told them that the store was not allowed under the Specific Plan. The store will not be selling major appliances, and everything will be indoors. Goodwill is requesting letters of support from the community.
Dale Thrush added that Building & Safety did not send the original request to the Planning Dept. for review. The question is one of interpretation of the Specific Plan, not exemption from it. An exemption would require amendment of the Specific Plan.
Penny Blackwell moved that the Neighborhood Council write Councilman Wachs in support of the project, since it follows the spirit of the Specific Plan, and the fault is not with Goodwill Industries. Seconded. Passed.
Arco:The architect is revising some of the elevation drawings.
Borg Tire Co.:Penny has asked Rita Schack for comments on whether the business meets the Specific Plan requirements.
PanGenomics:Penny has asked Rita Schack for comments on whether the business meets the Specific Plan requirements.
Edwards Theater:The property is being converted to a night club serving the Armenian population.
Classic Auto:The auto repair facility at 6901 Foothill (corner of Marcus and Foothill) is getting new construction.
Kmart:The store is planning to add 56,000 sq. ft., adding an outdoor garden section and operating 24 hours a day. The store has applied for a liquor license.
1-800-Autopsy:There will be a Planning and Land Use Commission (PLUM) hearing on May 15 at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall, Room 316. This hearing is important, because the PLUM Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council to either approve or deny the applicant. A group will be carpooling from the Elks Lodge, and anyone else can call Dale Thrush the day before the hearing to arrange for free parking downtown. The hearing before the City Councilwill be held on May 23.
7514 Foothill:A new 2,000-square-foot office building is planned for the property.
10130 Commerce:A new 10-unit, two-story apartment complex is planned for the property.
10240 Pinewood:A 4-unit condominium complex is planned for the property.
Wixsonâs Antiques:Jane reported that she is trying to sell Mr. Wixsonâs store on Commerce, but the business that would replace it, a collections agency, is not 70% retail, as the Specific Plan demands. A discussion ensued over the Specific Planâs requirements and their administration by the Planning Department.
Mekhitarist Fathersâ School:Jane reported that the school has applied for permits, but the permits are not for the grading that has been done on the property.
Cell Towers:Michelle Sahfran reported that Sprint agreed to meet with her group and look at alternative sites for the cell towers. The company is going forward with a fake-tree-style cell tower. The area in question is located at Airlie and