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NORTHWEST SAN PEDRO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

MEETING MINUTES

November 10, 2003

1. Meeting called to order and roll call taken.

Present: Margaret Moilov, Jeff Callender, Ray Patricio, David L. Rivera, John Greenwood, Esther Espinosa-Ek, Emily Rochte, Shannon Day, Guillermo Villagran, Phillip Nicolay, Diana Nave

Excused Absence: William Upchurch, Shari Hill. Other Absences: Michael Nizetich, Marisa Trutanich

2. Minutes of October 13, 2003 meeting approved with the following changes:

a. Committee Reports – Service Awards amended to say “Scholarships courtesy of Conoco/Phillips and Bay Cities Bank were presented through the Rotary Club…”
b. Issues Committee item A4, amount should read “$10,000.”
c. President’s Report. Change “southern census tract” to “census tract number 2970.”

3. Election of Representative to fill remainder of Craig Byrnes’ term for Census Tract 2970.
There were two candidates: Esther Espinosa-Ek and James Hansen. Esther was elected and was seated immediately after the announcement of the election results.

4. President’s Report, John Greenwood

- John reviewed the goals that were set in 2003 and progress towards meeting those goals.

- John reported on the City-wide Congress of Neighborhood Councils that he and Bill Upchurch attended. Thw Workshop on Assets Based Community Development was particularly useful. The differences between community organizations and coroporate boatds were discussed and it was suggested that Neighbohood Councils should organize themselves more like community organizations with an emphasis no stakeholder participation in the meetings.

- John and Bill met with representatives of the other Harbor Area Councils and developed a consensus around the top five budget priorities for our area:

- Police
- Environmental Concerns
- Streets and sidewalks
- Park Maintenance
- Housing

John noted that the first four were also our Council’s priorities. Instead of  Housing, however, we had selected Fire and Emergency services. John and a representative from the Harbor City NC were selected to participate in the Citywide prioritization process.

5. Public Comment:

a. Tank Farm Odor
Cheryl Porter spoke on behalf of a group of residents who live near the Tank Farm on North Gaffey. They have been complaining to AQMD regarding the odors that occur on an almost daily basis and which they think have negative hearlth affects such as headaches.

The issue was referred to the Issues Committee with the suggestion that Kinder Morgan (the company responsible for the tanks) be invited to a meeting; that the Councilwoman be contacted, and that Jeff Callender and John Greeenwood would speak to the AQMD staff about the problem.

b. Cathy Bouregard Covit
-Suggested that NWSPNC consider joining with the other San Pedro Neighborhood Councils to employ Beacon House to regularly clean up the community.
- Asked the Council to consider taking a position regarding the proposed closure of the boat ramp behind the Boy Scout facility.

c. Esther Espinosa-Ek announced a public forum on the Terminal Island Renewable Energy Project to be held on Novebmer 20th.

d. Park Linkages Project – Frank O’Brien distributed a written report.

6.      Update on MTA Grant for Improving North Gaffey Street

Lance Oishi, Bureau of Street Services, discussed the $2.1 million proposal that was submitted to MTA. Due to fiscal constraints, MTA has again delayed their announcement to January or February, 2004. If we are awarded a grant, the funds will not be available until sometime between 2006 and 2009.

Lance presented some preliminary diagrams of the improvements which would include planting of a median strip and a formal bike lane. If the grant application is successful there would be a series of community input meetings before the design is finalized.

Lance noted that the next cycle for submitting proposals for these funds is 2005. Any suggestions should be forwarded to the Council Offices in the summer of 2004. The Council may want to consider an application for Western Avenue.

Lance will forward information about other grant opportunities.

7.      Update on Bridge to Breakwater (Port of L.A.)

a.      Phase I Waterfront Gateway (Vincent Thomas Bridge to Fire Station, Harbor Blvd. to Water)
- Groundbreaking February 20th, 2004.
- EDWA is consultant
- Reports to Downtown Waterfront Task Force and PCAC Coordinated Plan Sub-Committee
- “Grand Entry”
- Promenade out to Lane Victory
- Developing contractor specifications for the boardwalk and Gateway.
- In design phase for streetscape and linear promenade.
- December 17th next public presentation at the Sheraton.

b.      Balance of Area – Fire Station to Breakwater
- Moffett and Nichols, EDAW and EEK
- Just starting creative analysis
- First step is developing design principles, options and vision for the Plaza area downtown
- Community meetings every three weeks on Thursdays
- www.SPWaterFront.com for updates.

c.      PCAC Coordinated Plan Committee – June Smith, Chair
- Hired SMWM to do the initial framework that the consultants must now follow
- Anticipate issuing a final report on the initial framework soon
- Committee meets Thursday, Nov. 13th at 5 PM at the Brown Brothers Bldg.

8.      Port Committee – Phil Nicolay

a.      China Shipping Mitigation Funds
-PCAC now intends to issue a Notice of Availability of Funds with a 45 day response time. Then proposals must go to State Lands Commission for review and then back to PCAC.
- PCAC has not yet determined process for review – Phil may propose a process to them
- 18 proposals have already been submitted – Why can’t the port begin reviewing the feasibility and cost of these proposals?
- Will keep pushing for expedited review process.

b.      China Shipping EIR – won’t be out until next January.

c.      PCAC received 36 suggestions for re-organization – Jamie Wilson is categorizing them; not an open process; as member of re-org committee, Shannon has not seen the suggestions; others were kept out of the meeting when this was discussed.

9. Issues Committee – Written Report Attached

a.      Motion carried to approve up to $5,000 for new furniture for the Peck Park Club House entrance area (Nave/Garcia).

b.      Motion carried to sponsor a community forum to obtain additional community input prior to taking a position on the proposed operation of the Youth Facility at Cabrillo Beach and to ask other Councils to join as co-sponsors. (Nave/Day) – Ek abstained, Cathy Beauregard-Covits indicated an interest in assisting.

c.      Motion related to United Food and Commercial Workers, carried with one opposing vote (see attached for wording). (Nave/Day)

10. Written Report on Citywide Alliance of Neighborhood Councils prepared by Shannon Day.

11. Appointments
a. Need a representative for the Fire Station Public Art Committee.

b. Emily’s mother will act as recording secretary. Although she was willing to do this as a volunteer, it was suggested that we pay her.

c. Vice-Chair for Issues – Esther Espinoza-Ek

d.      Representative to Citywide Alliance of Neighborhood Councils – Shannon is looking for a replacement, preferably someone with an interest in the city budget.

12. Next meeting was set for January 12, 2004.