Brentwood Community Council

November 6, 2007 Meeting Highlights

Dec 27, 2007

STATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER MIKE FEUER ADDRESSES BCC ?– Mike Feuer, State Assemblymember 42nd District spoke to members of the BCC about his position on a wide range of issues. As Chairman of the Budget Subcommittee on Information Technology and Transportation, he expressed a ?“special sense of urgency.?” He spoke of the need for creativity and innovation ?“to advance an agenda in a year when there is no discretionary spending.?” Looking toward the future, however, he stressed the ?“need to fund public transit in a big way.?” He said that he had played a key role in getting funding for the 405 freeway expansion. Assemblymember Feuer said that he wants the northbound High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane completed and does not want any homes taken or neighborhoods disrupted in the process. He is concerned about Valley Vista on the west side of the 405 in the Valley, where homes are at risk. He does not favor the southbound piece because of cost and other problems. He noted the importance of providing a median of sufficient width to plan for a potential public transit line in the future. He is optimistic that Caltrans will adopt the north bound approach, and added that the matching federal funds earmarked for the project will be lost if not used.

As Vice Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, the Assemblymember was pleased to report that Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 1471, the Crime Gun Identification Act, which he authored. The legislation requires that beginning in 2010, each new model of semiautomatic handgun be microstamped with its make, model, and identification number. This legislation will enable law enforcement to identify guns used in crimes. A New York Times article recommended it as a national model.

On education reform, the Assemblymember said that ?“we must close the achievement gap; half of all children in the Los Angeles Unified School District do not graduate, and we all have a stake in the outcome. We need to provide incentives to middle class parents to come back to LAUSD.?” He said that this year was slated for big reforms in education, but unfortunately, the budget deficit will make that unlikely.

The Assemblymember, who was appointed by the Governor to a special committee to address water resources, sees a crisis looming in the state water system. He spoke of progress in water conservation over the last twenty years, saying that the amount of water currently used in Los Angeles is equal to the amount used in 1987 ?– despite the increase in the population by one million. However, in his view, we need to reach ?“the next iteration?” in water conservation.

BCC Chairwoman Wendy-Sue Rosen spoke of Assemblymember Feuer?’s responsiveness to the community on issues from brush clearance and fire safety to stream protection and water conservation.

RISE IN CRIME ?– Crime on the Westside has increased by 20% over last year, according to Senior Lead Officer Phillip Enbody. At the November 6, 2007 meeting of the Brentwood Community Council (BCC), he noted that Burglary Theft from Motor Vehicles continues to be the most prevalent crime in our neighborhoods and urged residents to lock vehicles and set alarms.

STATE VETERANS HOME ?– Bob Sleppy Chief, Environmental Services Section, State of California, Department of General Services, provided an update on the project. The foundation will be laid after the soil is compacted. Some dirt runoff down Bringham Ave. will be unavoidable and noise will result from the kind of equipment used for compacting soil. Eventually, a webcam will be installed so visitors may view the construction.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 11 UPDATE- Andrea Epstein, Field Deputy to Councilman Rosendahl reported on various CD 11 issues. The project slated for the northeast corner of Wilshire and Barrington is scheduled to start on January 4, 2008. Whitney Blumenfeld is the Councilman?’s new Assistant Planning Deputy. CD 11 staff met with Gregory KeKahuna, the new Director of Barrington Park, and others working on plans for a new park facility there. Approximately fifty people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony recently held to celebrate the completion of improvements at and around Sunset Boulevard and Mandeville Canyon Road. Ms. Epstein also noted a positive negotiation between Archer School and the community facilitated by the Council Office regarding the school?’s request for changes to its conditional use permit.

BCC BY-LAWS REVIEW ?– Ray Klein, Chairman of the By-Laws Committee read the revised draft BCC By-Laws in their entirety. Discussion followed. The Council recommended that the draft By-Laws be re-circulated by e-mail to BCC Councilmembers to read and comment on prior to the December meeting.

NEXT BCC MEETING ON DECEMBER 4, 2007 ?– The next BCC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4, 2007 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The meeting agenda will include By-Laws review and adoption, new committee formations, and a presentation from a representative of the City?’s Department of Parks and Recreation. No BCC meeting is planned for January. The BCC meets regularly on the first Tuesday of each month at the Brentwood Kaufman Library. The BCC agenda is posted at the Brentwood Kaufman Library one week prior to the meeting date. To receive the BCC?’s monthly agenda by e-mail, contact http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/la/brentwoodcc.