Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council

Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council
Governing Board Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2006, 6:30 p.m. - Peck Park

1. The meeting was called to order at 6:40pm by President Diana Nave.

2. Roll Call of Board Members: The following board members were present: Andrea Adleman, Bonnie Easley, John Greenwood, Jody James, John Mavar, Diana Nave, Philip Nicolay, Ray Patricio, Capt. George Thompson, Allie Tolliver, Daniel Dixon, Sanni Wehbe, Esther Ek and Hoshang Pavri. John Vladovic Patricia Polcuch, and Chris Wickers were excused.

3. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the January 9, 2005 Meeting were approved as presented.

4. Report from Public Officials

a. Council Office: Ana Bosic gave a report from the Council woman’s office. She commented that a grocery store named Henry’s Market is bidding on the vacancy created by the closing of the Vons market at Park Plaza). She also commented on the trees on Dodson Avenue which have been marked for removal because they are diseased. Neighbors signed a Petition to stop the removal of the trees and the councilwoman stated that no trees will be removed until after a public meeting sometime in March.

b. Board of Neighborhood Commissioners: Commissioner Diane Middleton from the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners introduced herself and made a comment that she had heard a lot about the NW San Pedro Neighborhood Council and that the council should “keep up the great work.”

c. LAPD. Officer Steve Muirhead, Senior Lead Officer of Harbor Division gave an update on the community commenting that crime is down 13% for the first part of year. He was asked about the recent rise in graffiti in the community and commented that they believe it is an isolated incident but are working on it. He suggested that citizens finding graffiti on their property you can take pictures and email them to him. He provided his direct line of 310-869-2067. He also gave an update on the condition of the officers involved in a serious traffic accident on Pacific Avenue stating that they were doing well but not expected to come back to work anytime soon.

5. Public Comment

a. Community Event: Diane Middleton, founding member of the Harry Bridges Institute, invited everyone to an upcoming event at the Warner Grand on Feb. 15th, called an Evening with Luis J. Rodriguez, author of Always Running.

b. Objection to new roadway. Chuck Hart, representative of SPPHU, talked about the proposed new roadway entrance which would affect Harbor Highlands Park and make a portion of the park unusable and create a possible haven for the homeless. NWSPNC will look into this situation at the Land Use Committee.

c. Matthew I. Villamer, a community member, voiced his support of the Ponte Vista Project.

6. Presentation on Port of LA Air Quality Sampling Program and Data – Shokoufe Marashi, representing this program through the Port of Los Angeles first introduced herself and gave her background in sampling and analysis, quality control etc. She has been working close to two years on the air monitoring program. She explained the meaning of Particulate Matter (PM) and went on to discuss the goals of the program. However, it will take some time before enough data is collected to make the final analysis and comparison with Federal and State Standards. They expect their report will be published some time in mid 2006. Check website for more information. www.aqmd.gov.

7. Planning and Land Use Committee – Dan Dixon gave report with comments by Diana Nave and John Greenwood. John Greenwood talked about a process for community consensus for the Ponte Vista Project. He stressed the importance of the following:

a. Need for coordination of Ponte Vista with the projects of the recipients of the rest of the former Navy site
b. Communication with LA Unified.
c. Make sure the neighborhood councils have some kind of role as this moves forward.

There was a Motion on the agenda regarding the Specific Plan for Ponte Vista however it was withdrawn and no action was taken.

8. Issues and Traffic Committee – John Mavar

a. A Motion was presented to support the MOU with the Department of Transportation entitled “Intra-City Memorandum of Understanding Between Participating Neighborhood Councils and The Los Angeles Department of Transportation” and have the NWSPNC President sign it on behalf of the NWSPNC. The Motion was passed by a unanimous vote of all board members present.

b. A Motion relating to connecting the former Navy Property to Gaffey via a new road was postponed by John Greenwood. Lt. Col. John Ramer gave his comments that the Military would not be giving any right of way or easements on this property containing a military fuel depot. Chuck Hart also gave his opposition as a representative of the San Pedro Peninsula Homeowners United Inc. and the San Pedro Homeowners Coalition. Comments were also heard from Bonnie Christenson in opposition and Pat Nave who stated that it was unfair of the Navy to sell the property and not provide access to Gaffey.

9. Port Committee - Instructions to PCAC Representative re PCAC Motions:

PCAC MOTIONS:

A. Motion regarding outside independent consultants for PCAC

MOTION RE: OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS FOR PCAC

The EIR/Aesthetic Mitigation Subcommittee recommends to PCAC that PCAC recommend to the Board of Harbor Commission that PCAC be provided outside independent consultants in order to carry out its advisory responsibilities to the Board of Harbor Commission. NWSPNC recommends a yes vote. Motion passed unanimously.

B. Motion regarding adoption of the Air Quality Mitigation Proposals

MOTION RE: ADOPTION OF AIR QUALITY MITIGATION PROPOSALS

The Air Quality Subcommittee recommends adoption of the following Air Quality Mitigation Proposals as recommended by the Technical Advisory Committee as attached. NWSPNC recommends a yes vote. Motion passed unanimously

C. Motion regarding pollution control measures for all “Line-Haul” locomotives

MOTION RE: POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES
FOR ALL “LINE-HAUL” LOCOMOTIVES

WHEREAS, the Traffic Subcommittee applauds and supports the initiative of the Board of Harbor Commissioners (BHC) to require alternative fuel or electric trucks to move containers to and from the proposed new intermodal rail yard in east Wilmington, and;

WHEREAS, according to the projections in the Port’s “No Net Increase” (NNI)
Plan railroad locomotives will shortly surpass trucks as sources of diesel particulate air pollution in the South Coast Air Basin, and;

WHEREAS, the proposed new intermodal rail yard facility in Wilmington borders
on a large population center in east Wilmington and west Long Beach, including several schools,

THEREFORE, Be it Resolved, that the Traffic Subcommittee recommends to the PCAC
that PCAC recommend to the Board of Harbor Commissioners that it require similar pollution control measures for all “Line-Haul” locomotives utilizing the proposed facility. This may include, but not be limited to, immediate use of lower sulfur diesel fuel per measure 9 of the “NNI” Plan, and the earliest possible introduction of electric locomotives as envisioned in the Port’s Clean Air Program as presented at the November 21, 2005 meeting of the BHC.

Esther abstained; all other board members present voted yes. Motion was passed.

D. Motion regarding property for the ILWU

PCAC MOTION REGARDING PROPERTY FOR THE ILWU

WHEREAS, the unprecedented growth in cargo in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has caused a tremendous growth in membership to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 13, and;
WHEREAS, the current joint Longshore Dispatch Hall is limited to 800 occupants by the Los Angeles Fire Department code, while as many as 1500 jobs are dispatched through the hall on any given day, and;
WHEREAS, this precipitates a dire need for a new joint Longshore Dispatch Hall, and;
WHEREAS, a centrally located joint Longshore Dispatch Hall is necessary to the timely dispatch of labor to the tenants of both Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and;
WHEREAS, an agreement to seek out a new location for a joint Longshore Dispatch
Hall has been in existence since February 13, 1998 between the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association, and;
WHEREAS, in this agreement the Pacific Maritime Association agreed to purchase the property and cover all construction costs for a new building, and;
WHEREAS, the property located at the Southeast corner of Anaheim and Alameda, is the most centrally located property that fits the needs of the Union for a new dispatch hall, and;
WHEREAS, not only is this property centrally located for dispatch purposes, it also
ensures that all of ILWU Local 13’s dispatch functions will take place in areas designated for industrial use,
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Wilmington Waterfront Development
Subcommittee recommends to the Port Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) that PCAC recommend to the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners that the Port of Los Angeles set aside the property located at the Southeast corner of Anaheim and Alameda to be used as the site for an ILWU office building and a new joint Longshore Dispatch Hall.

The Board did not take a position on the motion but rather to leave it up to our PCAC representative as they hear the discussion to vote as they think best.

Phil Nicolay also gave a handout showing another alternate plan for the Bridge to Breakwater Project. Then gave an update from the Port Committee Report covering the following topics (for full details see Port Committee Report to Full Board):

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