AGENDA - PACIFIC PALISADES COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Palisades Branch Library, Community Room; Pacific Palisades, CA90272
email:
Start of Business Meeting January 28, 2016, 7:00 PM
1. Reading of Community Council’s Mission - The purpose of the Pacific Palisades Community Council shall be to (1) be a forum for the discussion of community issues, (2) be an advocate for the Pacific Palisades to government and private agencies upon those issues where there is broad community agreement, as reflected by two-thirds majority vote of the Board Members present, excluding abstentions, and (3) assist other organizations in the Palisades which want help in accomplishing their objectives or projects and which the Council desires to support. (Bylaws, Art. II, Sec. 1;
2. Introduction of the Board and Audience.
3. Certification of Quorum.
4. Approval of Minutes/Upcoming Meetings. Approval of the January 14, 2016 minutes. Upcoming meetings: 2/11/16. Further presentation / discussion re Village Starbucks Proposed CUB (onsite beer and wine sales). 2/25/16.(Tentative)VPLUC update/report supplement/Board discussion re Village Project land use application(see VPLUC Preliminary Report, and PPCC minutes of 1/14/16; expected public release of MND / traffic study: mid-February). ** Topics noticed in advance may change.
5. Consideration of Agenda.
6. Treasurer’s Report.
7. Reports, Announcements and Concerns from the President
7.1. Announcements from the President, Chris Spitz
7.1.1Meeting Ground Rules. 1) Due to library rules, the meeting must end promptly at 9 pm; as needed, the President will stay after the meeting to answer questions. 2) The President conducts meeting order and may rearrange order of discussion at her discretion. 3) Board members and audience shall only speak when called upon by the President; there shall be no interruptions except to make a point of order. 4) The President’s role in maintaining meeting order shall be honored. 5) All discussion shall be civil, respectful and courteous. (PPCC Bylaws
7.1.2PPCC Communications Committee. Maryam Zar (Chair), Michael Soneff,George Wolfberg, Brian Deming, Janet Andersonand Chris Spitz (ex officio), members. Committee focus: launch and maintenance of new PPCC website (in progress); potential e-newsletter; ongoing messaging/outreach.
7.1.4Short Term Rentals (STRs) Update. Awaiting distribution and transmittal by the City Planning Dept. of draft ordinance to legalize STRs currently illegal in residential zones (draft expected by mid-February). PPCC position: opposed to permitting STRs in residential zones (see PPCC minutes of 9/24/15, 10/8/15, 10/22/15, 11/12/15 and attached letters).
7.1.5BMO/BHO Amendment Update. See letter attached to PPCC minutes of 1/14/16.
7.1.6Sunset Blvd. Traffic Solutions Community Charrette/Workshop, sponsored by Councilmember Mike Bonin. February 6, 2016, 8:30am – 1:30pm. This will be an interactive discussion with experts on ideas to address Sunset traffic problems. To RSVP go to:
7.1.7 Update on aircraft noise/support for MVCC motion. See attached letter and PPCC
minutes of 1/14/16.
7.1.8 Update on Proposed Village Starbucks CUB. Hearing date 1/26/16. It is expected
(as of agenda distribution) that per requests of the applicant and PPCC, the file will be
kept open for comment by PPCC after further presentation to the board on 2/11/16.
7.2. Announcements from Governmental Representatives (Note: Contact information at:
7.2.1Los Angeles Police Department (“LAPD”) – SLO Officer Michael Moore.
7.2.2Los Angeles City Council, District 11; Councilmember Mike Bonin’s Office. Sharon Shapiro, Field Deputy.
7.2.3Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Daniel Tamm, Westside Area Representative, Mayor’s Interfaith Liaison.
7.2.4California State Assembly, Office of Assemblymember Richard Bloom. Stephanie Cohen, Field Representative.
7.2.5 California State Senate, Office of State Senator Ben Allen. Lila Kalaf, District Representative.
7.2.6United States Congress, Office of Congressman Ted Lieu. Janet Turner, District Representative.
7.3. Announcements from Board Members and Advisors
7.3.1Officers/Area Representatives. 1) Maryam Zar, Vice-President. PPTFH update
(1/28/16 Homeless Countand recent OPCC outreach).
7.3.2Organizational Representatives – Report on Behalf of Organizations.
7.3.3PPCC Advisors.
7.3.4Board Members, Other Reports.
8. Reports From Committees
8.1Bylaws Committee (Richard Cohen and Jennifer Malaret, Co-Chairs). Report on joint meeting of the Bylaws and Executive Committees, January 22, 2016. Topic: drafting of proposed bylaws amendments relative to electedArea and At-large representatives, election procedures and a minor adjustment to Area 3 and Area 4 boundaries (Bylaws Art. VIII.1.B and D; Appendix B and Attachment A). In consideration of the upcoming (July-September 2016) election process for Area and At-large representatives, and in consideration of the advice of both the Bylaws and Executive Committees, the Chair directed the Bylaws Committee to discuss and draft amendment language to:
1.Voting: With the goal of getting as many total votes as possible, the bylaws should enable the PPCC to conduct voting by any one or more of the following methods: U.S. mail, in-person at the Farmer’s Market (or other comparable public venue), and on-line (if available).
2.Area Representative Candidate Application: Any person desiring to be a candidate election or re-election shall sign a Candidate Qualification Form that will, at minimum, include: (A) certification of address of that person’s “principal” residence as defined by the Los Angeles County Assessor, i.e., “(1) where you are registered to vote; (2) the home address on your automobile registration, and (3) where you normally return after work. If after considering these criteria you are still uncertain, choose the place at which you have spent the major portion of your time this year.”; (B) certification of the date on which the dwelling began to be occupied as the candidate’s principal residence;and (C) notice to the candidate of the obligation, if elected, to immediately inform PPCC of a change in principal residence.
3.At-large Candidate Application: A Candidate Qualification Form similar to that detailed in #2 above shall be required and include a comparable certifications relative to principal residence, ownership of real property or operation of a business in Pacific Palisades.
4.Area Representative Boundaries: to clarify descriptions and with the agreement of the current Area 3 and Area 4 representatives, the Area Representative Boundaries shall be modified such that both sides of Las Casas are included in Area 3 and any property with a Grenola street address shall be included in Area 4.
5.Area and At-large Representatives: should an Area Representative no longer maintain his or her principal residence within Area Representative Boundary for which he or she is serving then the seat shall be deemed vacant. Comparable language to be drafted relative to an At-large Representative.
6.General Amendments: Newsletter and posting requirements shall be updated and modernized to reflect current practices, along with other amendments to Bylaws Art. VIII.1.B and D; Appendix B and Attachment A that the Bylaws Committee may recommend.
9. Old Business
9.1Above Ground Facilities (AGF) Ordinance. 1) Background: A revised draft ordinance
regulating cell towers and other structures in the public right of way (PROW) was transmitted by the City Attorney on 12/8/15 to City Council committees (hearingTBD). Revisions include: removal of the existing exemption for utility-pole mounted antennas (in certain circumstances); expansion of notice for cell towers in the PROW; and (limited) enhancement of aesthetic criteria. Contact President Chris Spitz for a more detailed summary (). 2) MOTIONby the Executive Committee:That PPCC support the AGF Ordinance revised as of December 8, 2015, butwith a request that "Community Councils" be included among the organizations entitled to receive notice under LAMC Sections 62.08.VII.D.1(e) and 2(e).
10. New Business
10.1LADWP presentation re proposed temporary (pole-mounted) facilities to increase power capacity due to overloaded circuits in the Palisades; at a minimum, it is expected that the installations may affect and/or be located in PPCC Areas 3 (Marquez) and 5 (Village/Alphabet Streets) potentially near existing LADWP properties,although also possible in other locations (note: the proposed DS-104/substation location will NOT be a topic of discussion). Presenting: Jack Waizenegger, Assistant Director, Power Systems Engineering Division, LADWP.
11. General Public Comment.
12. Adjournment.
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For additional information about the PPCC, see or e-mail . Your Community Council meets at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. Exception: Only one meeting is held in July and August (on either the 2nd or 4th Thursday) and in November and December (on the 2nd Thursday).
ITEM 7.1.7– PPCC LETTER RE AIRCRAFT NOISE/SUPPORT FOR MVCC MOTION
January 15, 2016
Honorable Mike Bonin, Los Angeles City Councilmember (CD 11)
Honorable Herb J. Wesson, Jr., Los Angeles City Council President and Councilmember (CD 10)
All other Los Angeles City Councilmembers (Hon. Blumenfield, Buscaino, Cedillo, Englander, Fuentes, Harris-Dawson, Huizar, Koretz, Krekorian, Martinez, Price, O’Farrell and Ryu)
Via email to all Councilmembers
Hon. Councilmembers Bonin and Wesson and all other members of the Los Angeles City Council:
Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) has been the voice of the community for more than forty years. The recent increase in noise from low-flying commercial aircraft has resulted in complaints from residents in Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica Canyon as well as in West Los Angeles, Mar Vista, Santa Monica and adjacent areas. Last night our board was briefed by the FAA on the proposed Metroplex program with additional attention given to the current complaints. The PPCC board takes notice of our residents’ concerns regarding the increased noise from commercial flight operations over our community. We have reviewed the attached motion unanimously passed by the Mar Vista Community Council on January 12, 2016. We note that the airplanes flying over Mar Vista appear to be the same craft that have flown over our community. The MVCC motion supports flight operations into LAX over neighborhoods, specifically including Pacific Palisades, that offer a reduction of noise impacts.
After the FAA briefing, the PPCC board unanimously approved a motion to concur with and support the MVCC motion.
In the brief time it has taken to prepare this document around 6:00 AM, four aircraft have flown low over my house. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Christina Spitz, President
Pacific Palisades Community Council
Encl. (MVCC Motion)
cc (via email):
Honorable Barbara Boxer, U.S. Senator for California
Honorable Diane Feinstein, U.S. Senator for California
Honorable Ted Lieu, U.S. Congressman (33rd District California)
Honorable Karen Bass, U.S. Congresswoman (37th District California)
Honorable Eric Garcetti, Mayor, City of Los Angeles
Honorable Tony Vazquez, Mayor, City of Santa Monica
Kathryn Pantoja, Environmental Affairs Officer (Noise Management), LAWA
Omar Pulido, LAX Community Liaison, CD11
MVCC Motion passed unanimously – January 12. 2016
WHEREAS, the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) is an official neighborhood organization of the City of Los Angeles;
WHEREAS, beginning no later than October 2015, residents of Mar Vista have observed and experienced significant overhead changes to arrival patterns of commercial passenger airplanes into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX);
WHEREAS these airplanes fly over Mar Vista every 1-2 minutes, beginning before dawn and continuing through the day into the evening, at altitudes lower than they did prior to October 2015, emitting noise at higher levels than they did prior to October 2015;
WHEREAS, residents of the Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, Culver City, and other parts of the City of Los Angeles have reported similar observations regarding changes to approach paths to LAX since at least October 2015;
WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for flight approaches and departures relating to LAX;
WHEREAS, the FAA is in the process of implementing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), with the goal of transforming the country’s air traffic control system from a ground-based system to a satellite-based system in order to increase efficiency, safety, and predictability to flights throughout the United States;
WHEREAS, on October 8, 2015, the FAA concluded a public comment period relating to its implementation of NextGen technology for LAX and other Southern California airports;
WHEREAS, representatives of the FAA have not explained the reason for the observed changes to flight approaches into LAX over Mar Vista but have denied that they are associated with NextGen implementation;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the MVCC requests and supports efforts by the Los Angeles City Council to request information from the FAA regarding the reason for the observed changes to flight approaches into LAX over Mar Vista.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the MVCC supports flight approaches into LAX over the neighborhoods noted above that would offer a reduction of noise impacts.