South-Mar Neighborhood Association

MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 2007 MEETING

MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 2007 MEETING

Minutes for Thursday, December 13th, 2007

Meeting held at Mar Vista Library, 12006 Venice Blvd. Corner of Venice Blvd. and Inglewood Blvd, Mar Vista.

Board members present: Steve Wallace, President, Chris McKinnon, Treasurer, Julia Jones, Newsletter Editor, Beccy Scheffe, Secretary.

Neighbors and Members present: Martha of Mitchell Ave, Pat of North Park Ave, Michael of South Park Ave, Steven of East, Michelle. and Jim of East Blvd.

Meeting called to order by President, Steve Wallace at 6:40 pm.

Introduction and Public Comments

• Beccy reports that the minutes for the last 7 meetings are available on the South Mar Vista website:
http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/la/southmar/main.html.

• Steve suggests creating an MVCC Report. This would contain news and ideas from the MVCC Meetings that effect us all. The Report could be added to Newsletters for Zone 5 offering another opportunity for the larger community to stay informed.
Some initial suggestions would be information on the latest rules and regulations regarding the new dog park. The City of Santa Monica now requires all dogs visiting the park to be licensed in Santa Monica. It would be helpful to inform our neighbors in Mar Vista of the cost and where the licenses and tags can be purchased. The West Los Angeles Animal Shelter has moved locations.

• Steve reports that Culver City have reached agreement on an elevated Light Rail Transit Stop. From there Rapid Transit Buses will travel Venice Blvd taking passengers all the way out to the beach through Mar Vista.
Development plans and beautification ideas for the area are in planning. Attracting new businesses, and carefully considering the extra parking requirements necessary is extremely important in creating the kind of neighborhood we all want to live and work in. Neighborhood input is strongly encouraged.

• Steve wants to display the boards and information showing beautification plans in the library room, with a comment box for the general public to access.

• Steve reports on the latest Verizon/mobile boxes installed on Little Palms Blvd. The company dug into the median and the 50yr old trees there to place the large box and pipes. No effort has made to disguise the installation and the neighbors say they were not notified.

Treasurer's Report:

• SoMar Neighborhood Association currently has a total of $1344.52 and 92 members.

• The Newsletter costs came to $200. We have finally received a reimbursement of $550 of Newsletter space from MVCC. $380 is still outstanding here.

• For the first time SoMar has come out ahead with $99. As was hoped for and planned, advertising is paying for the costs of the producing the Newsletter. Congratulations!

Traffic Report:

• Steve, standing in for Linda Guagliano, raised concerns over possible spill over traffic from the new one-way system traffic diversion planned for Olympic Blvd and Pico Blvd. Venice Blvd is becoming increasingly more congested. Pat mentioned that she had travelled the 3.1mile route from Centinela Ave to National Blvd along Venice Blvd twice on the same week day at different times. Firstly at 3pm the journey had taken her 15mins. Having to retrace her steps at 5pm it took her 1hr to travel the same 3.1miles.

• Someone asked if the lights were timed correctly. Most people agreed however, that it was simply the sheer volume of near grid-locked traffic that seems to be causing the problem.

• Steve mentioned that notice should be given for Inglewood Blvd closures to traffic ahead of the new Fire Station open day January 5th.


Safety and Security:

• Pat Karasick standing in for Senior Lead Officer Drake Madison informed everyone that property crime is still a problem for this area. She said the situation was raised at the latest Police Commission meeting and once again neighbors are reminded to be aware of securing property, including motor vehicles, and take a moment to properly stow valuables out of sight.
Don't leave laptops, phones, small change, or Holiday shopping on view.

Pat informed everyone that she is now CoChair of the CPAB (Community Police Advisory Board) which provides community members with a voice in the policing of their communities. Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.

She reports that in a Los Angeles overview report there were 50,000 less victims of major crimes and 8,400 quality of life SARA projects which is LAPD's model for proactively solving community problems using (Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment)
She encourages us to report all crimes to further help the SARA process.
There were 400 less homicides to date.

• Pat reports that Culver City Police called in a helicopter and successfully caught suspects attempting to break into parked vehicles near Coolidge Ave and Venice Blvd on Thanksgiving weekend.

Old Business:

• Martha reports on the Sunbay Motel at Washington Blvd and Beethoven St. Neighbors are protesting plans to use this facility as short term accomodation for single parent families. Part of the Upward Bound for Homeless families project which has received positive reviews for it's work.

• Michael reports on the success of the neighborhood regarding placement of a large electric sign. There were four appeals made for this project and due to pressure from the neighbors the appeals were denied saving us all from the distraction and visual blight of the things.

• Chris reports on the apartment developments at Beethoven St and Washington Blvd. The developers are working with neighbors here.

• Chris notes that membership renewal time is here. Our dues and due at $15 per household. For current members there is still an offer of the 'Introduce a Member' scheme where you can be reimbursed $5 per new member introduced by you.

• Jim reports on the building permit required for closing off the alleyways at the northern end of East Blvd. They have been advised that it could take up to a year before the permits are looked at.

• Steve reports on the LAPD toy drive. The gifts are really wonderful and are very gratefully received. However, although they are some really quality gifts this year there is a shortage at the present time. More gifts are needed please.
Santa will be at the station at 5pm December 15th

• Unfortunately the RV parking problem has been growing steadily worse. If the vans move just two feet in a week they are within the laws for parking. There have been a few concerns raised over the proximity of the seemingly permanently parked RVs and a special needs school in the area.
It was suggested that we need a car park for the homeless here in Los Angeles. Heavier restrictions in the Venice and Santa Monica areas are now pushing the problem into Mar Vista.
It was suggested we get the curbs in front of the schools painted red to prevent this kind of parking.

• Pat reports on the CERT training plans. So far there are eleven interested participants for a class beginning March 5th
We need 25 to sign up before the class can go forward. It will be for 7 consecutive weeks 5.30pm - 8pm however, it is easy to make up a class if you miss one. The trainers will provide everything. It is a wonderful thing to do for the community, for your families and yourself.

• Steve reports on behalf of Rob Kadota that there is a housing request for International students attending UCLA for a semester. Apparently it has been quite a successful experience for everyone in the past. There is a small financial reimbursement for the room, or for room and board.

• Call for volunteers for the Mayors Day of Service, January 26th 2008. There are five proposed projects for Mar Vista and we are looking for more. This is a great opportunity for Mar Vista to receive some serious help from the City and City Services.

• New Fire Station 62 Opening January 5th 10am - 2pm Bring the family for helicopter flyovers, jumpers, face painting, old fire engines, a live band, fire fighter demonstrations, hot dogs, cake and so much more.

• There is an October deadline for proposals on next years beautification grant. We need ideas for beautification and volunteers to help make it happen. The city matches us with $10,000.

New Business:

• Julia requests articles and ideas of interest for the January Newsletter.
Steve suggests mentioning the sign up for CERT classes and a reminder for membership renewal.

• Steve reports that they are looking for somewhere to publically display the Venice Blvd beautification plans for up to a month.
We have been promised a Rapid Transit system in two years so plans for development and beautification should be considered immediately.

• Chris reports planning for Zone 5 board elections next year. Information should be included in the Newsletter.

Public Comment:

• Steven reports that the police were called out to a home on East Blvd on the 8th December due to complaints of noise during a party. The house has recently been rented and there are concerns over the activity taking place there.

• Meeting Adjourned 7:55 pm