South-Mar Neighborhood Association

MINUTES FROM JULY 2007 MEETING

MINUTES FROM JULY 2007 MEETING

SoMar Neighborhood Association Meeting

Minutes for Thursday, July 12th, 2007

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

Board members present: Chris McKinnon, Treasurer, Beccy Scheffe, Secretary.

Neighbors and Members present: Linda of Beethoven St, Michael of South Park Ave, Pat of North Park Ave, Kathleen of Barbara Ave, Martha and Joe of Mitchell Ave, Kathleen of Marcasel.

Meeting called to order by Treasurer Chris McKinnon at 6:30 pm.

Chris noted for the record that SoMar's Secretary is Beccy Scheffe, and minutes are available from the last three meetings on the SoMar website: www.neighborhoodlink.com/la/southmar/

Items on the Agenda:

Traffic Report:
• Linda Guagliano reports that the Bi-Monthly MVCC transportation sub-committee met Wednesday 11th July.
• Six out of the ten meeting agenda items actually related to the traffic problems in South Mar Vista.
• There are concerns about the crossing light at Grandview Blvd and Washington Pl. being too short. The area is within Culver City limits and the committee is hoping to meet with them to discuss this problem.
• Among other problems with traffic around the Post Office, the committee noted that both the driveways for exiting and entering the parking lot are too small. No modifications were made to the previously existing driveways when the Post Office was built. The Committee plans to make reports for the Councilman's office and LADOT.
• Plans have been approved for the left turn signal to be installed on Sawtelle Blvd. It's hoped this will ease congestion heading southbound on Sawtelle Blvd and turning east onto Venice Blvd. The work is pending permits from CALTRANS. Installation of a turn signal northbound on Sawtelle Blvd would mean reconstructing the street. Funding has been applied for, the committee is awaiting a response.
• A left turn arrow has also been proposed and approved for southbound Centinela Ave turning east onto Venice Blvd. Traffic gets heavily congested here. This item has now been placed on the DOT construction list pending an agreed budget with the Councilman.
• The committee would like to see more enforcement of the weight limits for trucks over 6,000 lbs.
• Due to the large increase in new development throughout Culver City and the Marina, there are many more heavy vehicles illegally using the neighborhood streets as a cut-through. The weight restriction signs heading south through Mar Vista are being ignored, and Culver City has not posted weight limit signs like these in the opposite direction. The committee hopes to remedy this.
• Next meeting for this group will be 12th September. All new items for the agenda should be forwarded to Linda Guagliano at lindaguag@netzero.net

New Development:
• Martha reports on a public hearing being held on July 25th 2007 at 7pm. This Culver City hearing is to request a change in zoning for the construction of a 4-story, 41,802 square foot building. The structure will have ground floor retail and three stories of office, to subdivide the building into 30 commercial condominium units, and allow the use of tandem parking spaces. Location of the project is 12402 Washington Place (cross street: Centinela Avenue).
• The hearing will be held at City Hall, Mike Balkman Council Chambers 9770 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
• This is very much a concern for Mar Vista. It is an ambitious project, bringing many more people to one of our busiest intersections.
• Linda reports on the Sun Bay Motel, 12841 W Washington Blvd. A Santa Monica group, working with Culver City, have been approved for placement of 18 homeless families in the motel. By rights, everyone within 500 ft of the property must be notified, and that includes Mar Vista residents. Linda voiced her concerns, shared by many of the neighbors, for the number of children, including teenagers, that will be placed on such a busy street, with no provisions for open space, green space, nor recreation facilities of any kind.

Crime Report
• Pat Karasick standing in for Senior Lead Officer Drake Madison, reports that she just came from the farewell party for Captain Williams. He has been assigned to Commercial Crimes Division.
• Our new Area Captain will be Captain Hiltner, joining us from the airport area.
• Captain Eisenberg will be our new Patrol Captain. He is joining us from the bomb squad.
• Crime report remains the same. Fortunately, this is a pretty good area. Burglary is the most prevalent form of crime in the neighborhood.
• Officer Madison strongly encourages the neighbors to be proactive, especially during the summer months. Keep windows secure or closed. Keep your valuables out of sight. Even small amounts of loose change left visible in a car can be an incentive for crime.
• Don't leave stuff on view in your cars!
• Report everything! Even stolen loose change, or a break-in where nothing appears stolen, should be reported.
• Pat reminded us to secure all screen doors and windows open for ventilation during the summer. When the property is vacant, all windows and doors should be securely closed and locked.
• Pat congratulated the new Block Captains for South Park Ave., Michael and Beccy Scheffe. The first Neighborhood Watch meeting was organized on Tuesday 10th July and approximately 35 neighbors attended. The meeting went well. Officer Madison spoke with the group and was actually able to deter a crime while in attendance. That's the value of a strong neighborhood community. A follow-up meeting is planned for the near future.
• Pat reiterated the information dealing with taggers and their graffiti:
If anyone sees a tagger in action, they are encouraged to phone the police immediately.
DO NOT CONFRONT THE TAGGER PERSONALLY.
If the tagger is caught still at the scene and convicted, there is a $1000 reward available.
For more information go to: www.lapdonline.org
• Pat encourages everyone to take photographs of graffiti. When taggers are caught, if there is sufficient photographic evidence of their other work, it can change the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony crime.
• It seems that the frequency and noise of fireworks this year has been a city wide problem. The possession of fireworks within Los Angeles is illegal. The Deputy Chief has said that next year they will try to target the suppliers of fireworks. Signs will be erected and flyers sent out reminding everyone that fireworks are illegal.

Treasurer Chris McKinnon reported that:
• SoMar Neighborhood Association currently has 83 members. Most have renewed their membership.
• Membership dues will be going up to $15 next year.
• SoMar Neighborhood Association currently has about $900 after the printing of latest Newsletter.

Reports:
• Linda reminded the group of the interview with Senior Lead Officer Drake Madison appearing in the next MVCC Newsletter.
She wants to make sure he gets a copy.
• Chris informed the group about the funding available from the Councilman's office for beautification projects around Mar Vista.
Funding requests are graded, and the grants are given out in order.
There is a Beautification Workshop coming up in August, where ideas and planning can be written up for submission.
A grant of $10,000 is available for a beautification project.
• Chris suggested we organize an Alleyway cleanup for Inglewood/Grandview. We could get a dumpster and ask for donations of water or food to help the workers.
• Pat reminded everyone that with Senior Lead Officer Madison's coordination, we can arrange a sanitation crew and leaflet ahead of time.
• We need at least 20 days notice to coordinate with everyone so it is possible we could arrange the date for the end of August, or possibly September.
• We would need at least 30 neighborhood volunteers to make an effective cleanup force.
• Joe suggested we display a sign up sheet for volunteers at the SoMar booth during "Mar Vista Celebrates" the neighborhood's 80th birthday celebration, August 5th.
• Chris requested volunteers, who are needed to staff the booth between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm that day.
• The Firestation, the Post Office and the Library all need regular weeding and litter removal.
• Pat pointed out that some of the new planting along the alleyway behind the Firestation is not getting adequate water. Trash seems to accumulate along the west side of the Station.
• Many in the group felt that the City should be taking care of these problems.
• Chris says there is a proposal for the Alleyway behind the Post Office to become one-way.
• A number of those present felt this would be a terrible idea.
• Pat suggested handing out flyers to the property owners along the alleyways, suggesting repaving. LADOT are also studying the suggestion for lockable dumpsters.
• Pat advised that the first Tuesday in August is "National Night Out." Residents, especially those living in crime-ridden neighborhoods, are encouraged to make their presence felt out on the streets. According to their website - http://www.nationalnightout.org/nno/ - some of the goals of the program are to:
• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

• Meeting Adjourned 7:35 pm