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NORTHWEST SAN PEDRO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

MEETING MINUTES - March 14, 2005

1. The meeting was called to order at 6:47 PM by President John Greenwood. 

2. Roll Call of Board Members:  The following board members were present:  John Greenwood, Diana Nave, Andrea Adleman, Guillermo Villagran, Marisa Trutanich, Philip Nicolay, Bill Upchurch, Carlos Garcia, Jody James, Margaret Moilov, Ray Patricio, Patricia Polcuch, Capt. George Thompson, John Vladovich, Sanni Wehbe, Chris Wickers.  Esther Espinoza-Ek was excused.

3. Approval of Minutes:  The minutes of the January 10, 2005 and February 14, 2005 meetings were approved by the council.

4. Report from Councilwoman’s office.  Caroline Brady-Sinco, Community Advocate for the office of Janice Hahn, gave an update on recent issues and talked about an upcoming discussion meeting.  Regarding the Enrose Avenue Traffic Issue, the Dept of Transportation met with the Councilwoman’s office and the city is working on all transportation problems.  Ms. Brady-Sinco closed by commenting that the Council office is supportive of the Peck Park issues. 

5. LAPD report.  Officer Muirhead began by talking about a recent increase of car break-ins and suggests the community be careful about leaving items in their vehicles.  He gave an update on the ATV program.  The ATV’s have been delivered and officers are being trained right now.  They have been deployed at Cabrillo Beach and in other areas and arrests have already been made.  He feels that this will be a very successful program for the community.  The ATV’s are being fitted with sirens and lights to make them look more like police vehicles.  Officer Muirhead then introduced Lieutenant Marcella Piersol who has been assigned to the Harbor Area.

6. Public comment: 

1. The Development Director of Shakespeare by the Sea talked about their evening program.  Pre-production for new shows are picked by previous audiences.  The season opens June 16.  The show tours to 11 different locations but San Pedro is their home base.  They are currently in need of raising $90,000 in funds and are asking for Neighborhood Council support.

2. Alan Johnson of the Cabrillo Beach Park Advisory Board talked about programs at the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse.  He was joined by Gary Dwight.  They are reaching out to get the youth of San Pedro back to the beach and are planning several events including a Battle of the Beach and Beach Sports Day.  To get involved with the Cabrillo Beach Boosters, contact the Bathhouse at 310-548-7554.

7. Peck Park Conceptual Plan presented by Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI).  Representative from LANI first recognized the members of the Steering Committee who work on making improvements to the canyon.  The purpose of the presentation today was to secure an endorsement of the plan by the council.   Approval from the Park Advisory Committee, the Community and the Councilwoman’s office is important in order to implement the plan.  A handout was provided showing the Concept Plan. Main issue discussed during the presentation was the creation of a trail system through a natural area that would give people a sense of safety.  It was stressed that maintenance and safety are the first issues.  They also talked about Peck Park being a critical component in the run off of water from Palos Verdes and explained the brush clearing program using goats, possibly beginning the program at the Hernandez Ranch area.  The presentation ended and public comments were heard.  Diana Nave made comments on a Peck Park Committee that is being formed and Margaret Moilov talked about Peck Park cleanup.  She attended the PAB Board meeting made up of community members who offered to assist in the cleanup.  A Peck Park Cleanup Event is scheduled for May 21st (Saturday 8:30 a.m.-noon).  Teams will be assigned to specific areas.  She suggests that community groups come out to help.  The following Motion was made:  That the NWSPNC endorse the Peck Park Plan with the addition of a barrier at the end of Patton and the instruction to continue discussion of the proposed restroom on the Summerland side of the park.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

8.   Committee Reports

A.     ELECTION COMMITTEE.  Capt. George Thompson talked about the proposed changes to neighborhood council election procedures and provided handouts.  Procedures were updated to remove all references to the initial election and timeframes established specifically for that election; Establishes 14 as the minimum age for both candidates and voters.  The current procedures have no minimum age; Changes requirement for letter for non-governmental organization from “stating that they have been authorized to represent the organization” to “stating that they are a member of the organization;” Adds a provision for candidates to submit written statements to be made available to voters; and, adds language to make explicit the practice of how to fill a seat when there are no candidates for that seat by the filing deadline.  In that case, they would allow a candidate, where there are multiple candidates competing for a single seat, to shift to compete for the uncontested seat provided they are eligible in that category.   Elections are currently planned for June 13th, 1pm to 8pm. 

A motion was made to approve the amended copy of the procedures.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously after the following change was added:  Section V Candidates, paragraph 3 (changes shown in bold)...If there is not a least one nomination per vacant seat, the election committee may, at their discretion, query all candidates to determine, (1) eligibility for this seat, and (2) offer eligible candidates the opportunity to change the category in which they are running in time to appear on the printed ballot.

B.     PORT COMMITTEE.  Phil Nicolay talked about the Motion related to Bridge to Breakwater.  There was an extensive discussion on the wording of the Motion by members of the Board, Sal Zambrano, representative from the Port, and also Pat Nave of the Port Subcommittee.  The following 3-Page Resolution was proposed, seconded and passed unanimously:

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BRIDGE TO BREAKWATER CONSENSUS RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the September 7th and 21st resolutions of the Coordinated Plan Subcommittee and the PCAC requested the Board of Harbor Commissioners to include the community stakeholder groups and PCAC in the drafting of the Bridge to Breakwater project description; and

WHEREAS, in considering the PCAC resolution, the Board of Harbor Commissioners on January 25, 2005, adopted the staff report that included the following language:

“Since September 29, 2004, Port staff has been meeting with the various community groups and stakeholders in developing the detailed Project Description for the appropriate environmental document consistent with the recommendations in PCAC Motion No. 32 and as directed by the Board of Harbor Commissioners. The community groups assisting in developing the Project Description include the PCAC Coordinated Plan Subcommittee, the CRA Pacific Avenue Corridor CAC, the Downtown Waterfront Task Force, the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council, the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council, and the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council. The Port will continue to work with the above groups and to outreach to all stakeholders to develop the Project Description and throughout the entire environmental process.”

WHEREAS, the developments proposed for the next ten years are generally acceptable and should be built, including the additions to the existing cruise center, an additional cruise center, maritime exposition center facilities, reconstructed and possibly relocated Catalina Terminal, additional Port’s O’Call facilities, 22nd Street and other open space development as well as related parking; and

WHEREAS, the Project Objectives listed in the Port staff Project Summary dated March 1, 2005, may conflict with some of the development descriptions suggested by the Neighborhood Councils and may thereby reduce the probability that those suggestions will be adequately considered; and

WHEREAS, the Harbor Department invited comments from San Pedro’s Neighborhood Councils, and each has responded with comments that the draft Project Description describing a thirty year program includes more commercial and residential development, and less open space, than desired for the San Pedro waterfront from the bridge to the breakwater, does not connect well with the Downtown business district and adversely affects the character of the community; and WHEREAS, the Port Community Advisory Committee’s (PCAC’s) Coordinated Plan Subcommittee (CPS) has agreed with the thrust of these comments, and has resolved that the current project description is not consistent with the vision, spirit, and key elements of the San Pedro Waterfront Framework Plan, already adopted by the PCAC and the Board of Harbor Commissioners (BOHC), and

WHEREAS, the Coordinated Plan Subcommittee suggested that the Neighborhood Councils develop a joint alternative Project Description that focuses on providing more open space for public use and less commercial and residential development with their related infrastructure needs, connect the waterfront with the downtown business district and preserve the character of the community; and

WHEREAS, it is the sense of our Neighborhood Council that we want to bequeath to those that follow in San Pedro and Los Angeles a landmark open space/green space setting, with appropriate commercial development and amenities, to compensate for the aesthetic blight, traffic and health hazards that unfortunately result from living near one of the busiest ports in the world; and

WHEREAS, a largely open space waterfront promenade, plaza, and urban park environment with family friendly active and passive recreational opportunities-- with appropriate commercial development opportunities that complement the revitalization of existing commercial districts in Downtown San Pedro and Pacific Avenue, as well as the adjacent residential neighborhoods  -- better preserves the authentic character of San Pedro.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,

--         That the Project Description for Bridge to Breakwater Development provide more usable open space and less commercial development in a way that is consistent with the Project Objectives of the Bridge to Breakwater project, and that the modifications  listed on the attached appendix be incorporated in the Project Description;

---        That the Project Description submitted for preparation of an assessment under CEQA and NEPA include Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Port’s project description with Phase 3 activities requiring a separate CEQA analysis before proceeding, and incorporating the modifications as suggested in the attached Appendix as the primary project description, in order to secure the character of the entire project and provide the context for ample and suitable commercial development that may evolve in the future along with a revitalized downtown San Pedro;

--         That the Project Objectives contained in the Project Summary be modified to so that they do not conflict with the Project Description agreed upon among the stakeholder groups and the Port;

Appendix

The 12 project modifications listed below to the project description would provide more open space for active and passive recreation opportunities, and appropriate new commercial development opportunities that complement the exiting and planned development of downtown San Pedro, in a grand urban park setting.

1.      Keeping the Catalina Terminal where it is presently located or at the proposed new North Harbor, but no further south than 5th Street.

2.      Providing no open space park area under the Vincent Thomas Bridge, but instead relocating the Red Car Museum/Maintenance building and parking structure to this area. 

3.      Not realigning or widening Harbor Blvd as currently planned.

4.      Opening the entire 22nd Street site as a passive park.

5.      Not relocating or redesigning 22nd Street.

6.      Eliminate residential and modify the locations of hotel development as currently planned, in order to open 22nd Street area as open space/recreational use area.

7.      Providing more open space (plazas and expanded Point Park) and less commercial development at Ports O' Call.

8.      Providing a deep-water cruise ship berth and new terminal building, no more than 150,000 sq. ft, at Berth 69-71 with related remote parking.

9.      Including Outer Harbor (Kaiser Point) area in the long term as part of the proposed Outer Harbor Park where both active and passive recreational opportunities will be provided with limited commercial amenities, and where occasional use of the deep-water berth is acceptable.

10.  Extending the Red Car line to Outer Harbor (Kaiser Point) first, before a Cabrillo Beach extension.

11.  Designing and constructing other commercial development to a maximum of 500,000 square feet with related parking, [not including a new terminal at Berth 69-71], and to 30 feet in height.

12.  Expanding the Cabrillo nature preserve from 3.5 to 10 acres, and relocating the Cabrillo Beach boat ramp for motorized boats.

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C.    EDUCATION COMMITTEE:  Regarding the Service Awards, Patricia Polcuch gave her report and she currently has five applications.  Due to time constraints, a more detailed report was postponed.

D.    ISSUES COMMITTEE:  Diana Nave provided a 2 page Issues Committee Report handout and talked about the proposed MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). Representatives of a number of Neighborhood Councils met with the Department of Water and Power and developed the MOU.  The Neighborhood Council/DWP MOU provides for:

•         Early notification and input on matters such as changes in delivery of services, rate increases, short and long term planning, and significant improvement projects

•         DWP regional liaisons to work directly with Neighborhood Councils

•         Participation in the DWP budget process, including budget training workshops

•         Education and training regarding the organization and operation of DWP

•         The ability to monitor the delivery services to our neighborhood

•         Annual meetings in each of the 7 Neighborhood Council areas where stakeholders can bring matters of concern directly to the attention of the DWP management.

The MOU would be a two-year document, subject to review at the end of that time.  All Neighborhood Councils are being given the opportunity to sign it.  A committee will be established to provide oversight to the implementation of the MOU.  The following Motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously by the Board:  Motion:  That the NWSPNC support the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Neighborhood Councils and the LA Department of Water and Power and authorize the President, John Greenwood, to sign such an agreement provided it is basically as outlined herein.

E.     ISSUES COMMITTEE CONTINUED.  Chris Wicker talked about Neighborhood Matching Grants and specifically mentioned that the Taper Avenue mural project grant was approved.   

F.     OUTREACH COMMITTEE:  Guillermo Villagran talked about the NWSPNC Newsletter for spring 2005.  He announced a deadline of Tuesday March 22nd and requests information and articles from all committees. 

G.    TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE:  Marissa Trutanich announced that the next Transportation meeting will be March 29th.

9. President’s Report:  Pres. Greenwood announced the Election Committee members:  George Thompson, John Vladovich, Diana Nave, Patricia Polcuch and Dave Rivera. 

10.  Special Announcement:  Ray Patricio is being honored by the Harry Bridges Institute on March 26th , Dalmatia American Club:  Tickets are $50/person.  RSVP 831-2397.

11.  Next meeting.  April 11, 2005, 6:30 P.M.

12.  Meeting adjoined at 9:19 pm.