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Issues Committee Report for August, 2004Inclusionary Zoning John spoke at Planning Commission Meeting and asked for additional time for Neighborhood Councils to study the proposed ordinance and formulate positions. He also raised some concerns about how it would be implemented. Central Neighborhood Council is sponsoring a community forum on Inclusionary Zoning. It will be held on Thursday, Aug. 19 at the Croation Cultural Center. Beautification of N. Pacific The Port has updated the plan for beautification of N. Pacific/Harbor Blvd to show the plants to be used. The proposed 2.5 acre, $700,000 passive park includes a walking path and seating areas. Plan will be presented to PCAC for approval. Work could begin as soon as October. The Issues committee recommends approval of the following motion: The Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council re-affirms its support of Phase I of the N. Pacific/ Harbor Beautification and requests that the Port acquire the parcel of land previously occupied by the Carson Bail Bonds and incorporate it into the greenbelt. Furthermore, in order to adequately beautify the area, we request that the Port underground the utilities on N. Pacific/Harbor Blvd immediately adjacent to the greenbelt. Peck Park Furniture is scheduled to be delivered August 16. Ron Berkowitz, Regional Director for Rec & Parks has agreed to install a Q Star camera at a location selected by the Neighborhood Council. After consulting with Park Staff, we have selected the patio of the child care center. They have been experiencing a problem with teens climbing over the fence into the patio to ride their skateboards and leaving behind graffiti and etching into the glass. The suggestion is to leave the camera in that location for 6 – 8 weeks, evaluate its effectiveness, and then perhaps move it to another location. The Issues Committee recommends approval of the following motion: The Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council requests that the Department of Recreation and Parks acquire a Q-Star Camera for Peck Park and that it initially be placed in the child care area for a period of 6-8 weeks. At the end of this time its effectiveness should be evaluated and consideration given to moving it to other locations within the park. AmeriGas Forum was held. Notes from forum are posted on our website along with a summary of the feedback forms. At the Issues Committee meeting, the e Fire Dept. Battalion Chief for the Harbor Area discussed the facility on North Gaffey. The Fire Prevention Bureau regulates the fire prevention system in the facility and indicated that they have met all of the requirements. The only problem that has ever occurred was a slight leak that was quickly handled. Since Sept 11, there has been a dedicated Hazardous Material Squad and Task Force located in the Fire Station at 16th & Grand. If there was a major leak, at the AmeriGas facility, there would be a coordinated response with other agencies such as the LAPD and homes be evacuated. The “worst case scenario” would be an aircraft slamming into the tanks. This would create a huge fireball and explosion. Blast overpressures would pose a serious danger from flying glass in east facing classrooms at Taper Avenue School and at nearby business and residences. People in close proximity to the blast would be severely injured or killed. It would be a very grim situation. When any vessel comes within 125 miles of the Port, it is picked up on radar by the Marine Exchange. When they get within 25 miles, voice contact is established. The Coast Guard looks at where a ship has been, who is on the ship, and the ownership to determine if they need to inspect it. Since the Sansenia blew up all tanker ships are inspected. LPG ships are not allowed in the port at the same time as cruise ships. When the ship comes in, divers inspect both the dock and the ship. Members remarked about the contrast between the heightened security when an LPG vessel comes into port, and the condition of the fence surrounding the Amerigas facility that is falling down in at least one place. The Chief said that the fire department would investigate this condition. The Issues Committee recommends approval of the attached resolution. Exemption of Neighborhood Councils from Conflict of Interest Forms Councilwoman Janice Hahn has introduced a motion to exempt members of Neighborhood Councils from the Conflict of Interest Forms required of other City Officials. Recently, the Education & Neighborhoods Committee requested that the City Attorney review various state and federal laws, and take a second look at how these laws apply to neighborhood councils. The rationale behind this decision was to encourage and empower neighborhood councils by lessening the burdens imposed on a volunteer corps of stakeholders, and hopefully encourage neighborhood participation in the city's policymaking process. The City Attorney indicated that the City Council is also statutorily authorized under state law to create an exemption for neighborhood councils from having to comply with the Conflict of Interest Forms. At the same time, it is necessary to acknowledge the importance of ensuring that conflicts of interest do not influence the functioning of neighborhood councils, and therefore neighborhood councils should be given the flexibility to adopt their own disclosure requirements for board members. The motion asks the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, along with the City Attorney and the City Ethics Commission to submit recommendations on possible alternatives for disclosure options that neighborhood councils may adopt in order to ensure that conflicts of interest do not improperly influence neighborhood council decisions. Proposed Motion: The Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council supports CF 02-2794-S1 NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS / POLITICAL REFORM ACT and applauds Councilwoman Hahn for seeking ways to simplify the Conflict of Interest Filing Requirements for neighborhood council members. Buses The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) is conducting the Community DASH Need Assessment Study, a project that will develop a methodology for evaluation of potential new routes and that will ultimately develop a prioritized list of proposed Community DASH routes for future implementation, as funding permits. It will be held August 10, 2004, 6:00p – 8:00p Boys & Girls Club of San Pedro 100 W. 5th Street (Liberty Plaza) Additional info is available at www.tmdinc.net/clients/ladot Speeding on First Above Western LAPD trailer was placed on First Street to collect monitor speed. Additionally, we asked the Council Office to meet with residents to explore the possibility of parking restrictions. Committee Workplan Attached is the list of the issues that the committee is tracking along with a brief status and tentative follow-up dates. Next Meeting Next Meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm August 18 at the San Pedro City Hall, 4th floor.
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