Neighborhood Council - Minutes for April 18, 2009

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Santa Monica Neighborhood Council

April 18, 2009 --- 10 AM

Ken Edwards Center

MINUTES

The meeting was chaired by Jeanne Dodson.

Calendar review: The next NC meeting is scheduled for May 16.

1. State Senator Fran Pavley has opened a District Office at 2716
Ocean Park Blvd., #3308. Phone: 310-314-5214. FAX: 310-324-4823. Her
Field Representative is Stephanie Molen, who can be contacted at
Stephan...@sen.ca.gov

2. Neighborhood updates

a. Ocean Park Association - Mary Marlow stated that the OPA Board
had sent two letters to City Council, one supporting the "greening" of
Ocean Park Blvd., and one opposing the extension of the LMSD/M1
ordinance that allows development agreements in those districts. Mary
also reported on a meeting of neighborhood organization heads with
Councilmember Gleam Davis to discuss neighborhood and citywide issues.
The consensus was that we should continue to meet Councilmembers.

b. Friends of Sunset Park - Zina Josephs stated that the FOSP Board
also sent a letter to the Council opposing the extension of the LMSD/
M1 ordinance. Regarding the S.M. Airport and the FAA, post-hearing
briefs have been filed by the City and by the FOSP Board. Sunset Park
events in May will include the Santa Monica Festival in Clover Park on
May 9th, Fire Station "Open Houses" on the afternoon of May 9th, and
the FOSP Annual General Membership Meeting on May 30th.

c. Pico Neighborhood Association - Wes Thompson announced a compost
give-away at the City Yards on May 16th. Wes and Zina met with the
website developer regarding www.sm4residents.net

d. Wilshire-Montana Neighborhood Coalition - Jeanne Dodson stated
that Darrell Clarke will give their board an update on the Expo Light
Rail. Their Annual Meeting will be on June 20th at the Main Library.
There's a schedule conflict with the NC meeting on June 20th, so Zina
will ask KEC if we can switch the NC meeting to June 13th.

e. Mid-City -- Former Mid-City Neighbors Vice President Donna Block
and former Mid-City board member Linda Lancaster spoke about the
history of that organization. They are looking into re-activating the
group.

3. July 4th parade - Mary announced that the 3rd annual parade will
begin at 9:30 AM and the route will again be on Main Street from City
Hall to Marine (the city border). Last year about 100 groups
participated (about 1,000 total participants). As the parade will be
on a Saturday this year, more police will be required. Funds are
needed, as well as volunteers to help with publicity, manning the
traffic barricades, working the sign-in booth, acting as wranglers,
maintaining communication along the route with walkie-talkies, etc.

4. Earthquake study - A graduate student from England is asking for
our help with a questionnaire evaluating the effectiveness of
earthquake safety materials. Mary will get more information.

5. CUP's - Zina asked whether other neighborhood organizations are
notified when someone applies for a CUP in their neighborhoods.
Catherine will inquire as to what kinds of projects/permits require
notification, and what type of notification is required.

6. LUCE - Catherine passed out copies of the "Integrated Planning
Process" schedule and stated that the city will hold workshops in June
regarding Neighborhood Preservation and Workforce Housing. The April
1st Council meeting discussion focused on possible expenditures of
Redevelopment funds for capital improvements in the Civic Center,
capping the 10 freeway, and Memorial Park.

A July 2007 Planning Department map showed the location of all planned
developments in the city, but it has not been updated, with the result
that projects are evaluated on a piecemeal basis. Jeanne stated that
with Google Earth, we can see "before and after" aerial photos of the
city. Donna suggested that developing overlay transparencies showing
the past, present, and future would make this transition even
clearer.

7. Development agreements - Mary stated that five large hotels
(Sheraton, Doubletree, Loew's, Shutters, and Casa del Mar) were
required, as part of their development agreements, to partially fund
the Tide Ride at about $50,000 each annually. Since 1995, it has been
routed past the Promenade, the hotels, along Barnard Way, Marine,
Main, Bicknell, 4th, the Main Library, and Wilshire. BBB had planned
to end the service due to low ridership. The position of the OPA Board
is that the current schedule doesn't serve residents well as it only
runs from noon to 8 PM (10 PM on the weekends), so Ocean Park
residents can't use it to go to the Farmer's Market on Sunday morning
or to a movie in the evening on the Promenade.

8. Minutes from the March Neighborhood Council meeting were approved
as presented.