Neighborhood Council - Minutes for July 2009 meeting

[Z]

Santa Monica Neighborhood Council

July 18, 2009 --- 10 AM

Ken Edwards Center

MINUTES

The meeting was chaired by Jeanne Dodson.

Calendar review: Future NC meetings are scheduled for Aug 15, Sept 26,
Oct 17, Nov 21, Dec 19

1. Helen Bottomley, from University College-London, working on her
master's in geophysical hazards (natural disasters), is reviewing
materials for the annual "Great Southern California Shake Out Drill."
The Drill last year was on November 13th, and 5.5 million people
signed up to participate. This year's drill will be held all across
California on October 15th at 10 AM (www.ShakeOut.org). Helen is
looking at the effectiveness of three visuals in the public education
materials. The online survey she designed takes about 20 minutes and
includes a 4 1/2 minute video.

2. Minutes from the May 16th meeting were approved.

3. Citywide issues

a. Jonathan Club lease extension -- The Council continued the
agenda item to a later meeting.

b. National Night Out Against Crime - scheduled for August 4th, 6
to 8 PM.

c. St. John's nurses and the California Nurses Association - The
FOSP Board took a position in support of a fair process that would
allow nurses to organize if they wish to do so.

d. SMMUSD -- The deadline to apply for the Measure R parcel tax
"senior exemption" is July 31st.

e. Expo Line maintenance facility - The latest proposal is to put
the washing and storage facilities
on the Verizon site and put the heavy-duty mechanics on city-
owned property west of Stewart St.

4. Neighborhood updates

a. PNA - Re the Expo Line, the group is considering using an
"environmental justice" argument to oppose locating the maintenance
facility in Pico neighborhood, focusing on diesel emissions and train
horns exceeding federal noise standards.

b. Wilmont - The annual meeting was held on June 20th. It included
votes on four resolutions and a panel discussion moderated by Planning
Commissioner Jay Johnson. The panelists included Eileen Fogarty, Frank
Gruber, Kevin McKeown, and Ted Winterer. Attendees voted to oppose the
proposed activity center at Wilshire and 14th, as well as the proposed
hotel development at 710 Wilshire. The meeting was written up in local
newspapers.

c. FOSP - Current issues are the CCSM affordable housing project at
Pico and 28th (many residents oppose the 4-story height), the city's
attempt to ban Category C and D planes at S.M. Airport (the FAA issued
another ruling against the ban on July 8th), and crime (residential
and auto burglaries).

5. Land use and circulation issues

a. Bundy Village and Medical Park - This proposed development at
Bundy and Olympic will have more than 3,000 parking spaces, at an
intersection that is already gridlocked during rush hour.

b. 2802 Pico CCSM project - This could set a 4-story precedent for
Pico Blvd.

c. July 7th LUCE meeting - "Taking Charge of Our future" - public
benefits - "existing" heights limits per the General Plan or the
zoning ordinance? Discussion included that the limit on Wilshire Blvd.
is 4 stories and 2.5 FAR, but 6 stories is possible with site review,
and that any developer can now add height if he/she includes
affordable housing.

d. FAME Senior Apartment Building proposal - 1800 block Euclid
(between Pico and Michigan) - tearing down existing housing in order
to build.

e. "Unbundling" parking - It was suggested that this leads to
greater density -- examples are the building at Olympic and 20th and
the proposed surf shop redevelopment project at Ocean Park Blvd. and
Main.