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PVNA Minutes: Apr 8

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April 8, 2019
Picfair Village Neighborhood Association General Meeting

Kick-off by PVNA president, Michael Plante

Public Comments:

  • Chris Burton – Informed and urged us to attend:  CAT, Community + Art + Talk, an event presented by Art Active and Pico NC.  May 11th, 11am-2pm.  A collaborate art project/experience followed by a professionally led discussion on inclusion and belonging during this time of deepening tribalism.
  • Chris also shared that he hosts “Mindfulness Mondays” on Mondays from 7-7:30PM at Brainworks – 5364 W Pico Blvd.
  • Hydee Feldstein discussed state senate bills 4 and 50:
  • SB50 – results in zero zoning rules within ½ mile of a transit stop or ‘jobs rich area”, does not define bus corridors.  Jobs-rich area definition is vague.
  • Opposition is due by April 17
  • Meeting regarding this on April 30 – 7:30 pm at Temple Beth Am Synagogue – 1039 S La Cienega Blvd.

Update from Treasurer – Valerie Woodson

  • As of March 31, 2019, PVNA has funds of $969.14.
  • Mentioned that some of this money would be used for updating meeting notice signs.

Parking:  resident concerns

  • Concern voiced over gardening/landscaping business company trucks parking on 1500 block of Curson.  Have been up to 6 trucks parked.  Legality of this parking?  Noticed that the business logo/phone # info on sides of trucks have been covered up while parked.
  • Advised that Western Parking Enforcement can mark the business trucks.
  • Question on 1800 block of Genesee getting preferential parking – heavy traffic from 18th and Fairfax, DOT survey?
  • Concern on camper parking along Venice.
  • Liz Carlin – deputy for Herb Wesson’s office answered some questions:
  • Regarding campers/vans – it is legal to live in these vehicles based on the homelessness issue in LA.  They have to obey posted street signs.
  • In order to change parking rules, 75% of the residents of the block(s) affected need to approve.  The 75% do not need to be owners, just residents.   If owner lives off-site, their tenant would be the signature needed.
  • For permit parking to be adopted, need to be in 6 block or more segments.
  • Average of 3 year wait for preferential/permit parking applications.  This process requires gathering signatures.
  • Apartment residents (renters) and single family home owners can buy parking permits for the preferential parking blocks they live on.
  • Question on whether an existing preferential parking area could be expanded and if that would speed the application process – example of 1400 block.
  • A neighbor who could not attend the meeting had a general comment that permit parking is not good.  No elaboration given.
  • Concern voiced over RV explosion near the Kaiser Permanente (outside of Picfair Village) and safety of these vehicles.
  • There are new signs posted by the DOT on parts of Venice stating no vehicles over 22 feet allowed to park.
  • Concern raised about residents walking dogs off-leash.   Response that one can call Animal Services or LAPD
  • Animal Services does not provide free signs regarding municipal codes regarding leash laws.
  • Concern was raised about large construction projects and if these could be better communicated to neighbors in advance.  “Respectful Neighborship”
  • Call out that there is still a 30% tax credit to install solar.
  • Question on if there was any update regarding adding a stop sign at the corner of Ellsmere and Saturn.  A neighbor from previous meeting had asked how to go about requesting one from the city.  No update.
  • Concern raised over a notice of more homeless people in the area.
  • Question on measure HHH and how are those funds being directed to help the homelessness issue.  Bridge housing projects?
  • Recommendation that neighbors reach out to their government representatives demanding they address the homelessness problem.
  • Concern raised over Air BnB’s  / VRBO’s in the neighborhood.
  • ADU’s (accessory dwelling unit) cannot be used for Air BnB’s or VRBO’s.

Events coming up:

  • Lookin’ Good – Feelin’ Better, pop-up clinic Saturday April 13th 11am-3pm 3717 S La Brea. (Free STI/HIV testing and outreach)
  • Taste of Soul Family Festival – $500 Taste of Soul scholarships – Bakewell Media’s Taste of Soul is awarding $20-$500 scholarships to select high school students.    If interested, please apply at tasteofsoul.org/scholarship
  • St Elmo Village – 50th anniversary celebration, May 25 & 26th (memorial day weekend), 4830 St Elmo Drive.

Reminder to attend the update from CERT on disaster preparedness.  Meeting on April 27th at 9:30am.  Location to be announced. 

Call to bring neighbors and increase turnout and involvement in future PVNA meetings.

 

Meeting adjourned.

PVNA Special Meeting Minutes, March 25, 2019 – and VOTE!

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PVNA held a Special Meeting on March 25, 201.  You can view the meeting minutes below. Also, just a reminder to GET OUT AND VOTE on Sunday, March 31st for your Picfair Village Representative to the P.I.C.O. Neighborhood Council.

Voting takes place between 10 AM and 4 PM at the Claude Pepper Senior Citizens Center (1762 La Cienega Blvd, between 18th & Airdrome, Los Angeles, CA 90035)

Please note that at Neighborhood Council elections, voters always fill out a short registration form at the polls before casting their ballots. You are not pre-registered to vote even if you are already registered to vote in national elections – or even if you’ve voted in a Neighborhood Council election previously.

MEET THE CANDIDATES https://clerkappsele.lacity.org/nccandidates/index.html?ncid=51

ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL ELECTIONS P.I.C.O

Neighborhood Council is your community’s voice at City Hall. Together, LA’s 99 Neighborhood Councils form the grassroots level of the Los Angeles city government. Unlike other municipal, state, or federal elections, Neighborhood Council elections are open to anyone who is part of the fabric of daily life in a community. A Council’s stakeholders include those who live, work, or own property or a business there. Also included are “community interest stakeholders,” who have another type of ongoing, substantial involvement within a Council’s boundaries, such as students (or parents of students) at a school, or members of a church. Voters and board members need not be US citizens or legal residents to qualify. Participation is also open to the formerly incarcerated.

Learn more about Neighborhood Council elections at http://EmpowerLA.org/elections

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

March 25, 2019
Picfair Village Neighborhood Association –  Special Meeting;  Meet the Candidates
Michael Plante – president PVNA kicked off the meeting, introducing the Pico Neighborhood
Council Picfair Village representative candidates Sylvester Robinson and Hydee Feldstein.
Sylvester Robinson (incumbent Pico NC PV representative) – opening statements:
“Moving from present to future.”
Focus and passion for education.
Community relationships with schools
3 reasons to vote for Sylvester:
– passion is education
– value diversity and transparency
– work collaboratively with the board
Hydee Feldstein – opening statements:
Clarifying the difference between PICO NC and PVNA.
land use focus
at large member of PICO NC
co-chair of the PICO  NC land use committee
has worked across PICO NC to challenge over-development, inappropriate development.
retired lawyer – has offered assistance to residents when challenging development.
Q & A:
– How the candidates would represent Picfair Village vs their personal interests.
– How to increase neighborhood involvement in PVNA / PICO NC.
– Parking – larger issue for future meeting.
– To get permitted parking (currently the 1400 blocks of PV and 1 block north of Venice, 75% of residents need to approve.
– Sylvester discussed what his next steps would be with the area schools.
– Hydee discussed what the next 2 years will look like for PV and Pico neighborhoods in terms of new development.
– Question on affordable housing and access to it.
– Hydee explained that HCIDLA determines allocation of affordable housing units.
How it’s enforced?  She would like a 311 system for the affordable housing topic/issues.
– Question on homeless population and HHH fund usage:
– Sylvester explained that shipping containers were converted to homeless housing units.- 32 units in downtown LA.
– Question on involvement in development in PV, zoning, TOC.
– Current hot button issues for PV –  development, affordability.
– Question on making PV a more walking community.   How would the candidates bring local businesses together.
– Sylvester and Hydee discussed emergency preparedness, earthquake response – generators, emergency supply replenishment services.
– Both were asked how they interpreted the responsibility of the Pico NC PV representative role:
– Sylvester – communication – Next Door, Pico NC – 100% transparency.
– Hydee – filed to run on Jan 4th, concerned about Abundant Housing LA taking over neighborhood councils, cares about the neighborhood and wants to work to activated the neighborhood and strengthen community.
**Call to alert neighbors to vote on March 31 – 10am – 4pm
Claude Pepper Senior Center, 1762 S La Cienega Blvd (between Airdrome & 18th).
Meeting closed.

PVNA Minutes: Jan 7

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January 7, 2019
Picfair Village Neighborhood Association General Meeting

Public Comment:
– Question about camper vans parked on neighborhood streets.  Recommendations to call police and call officer who covers Picfair Village – Sgt Torres 310-312-3516.
– Cars cannot be parked in one location on street for more than 72 hours.
– Question on how to dispose of Christmas trees;  Call 311, use the 311 app or place in green yard waste bin.
– Question on getting updated PVNA general meeting signs; Resident Angie Cibis (graphic designer) offered to help research.
– Comments on the purple painted street ‘bump-outs’ on Pico.  The city will be putting planters on these bump-outs. Residents are encouraged to submit feedback via the Pico Great Street Facebook page.
Update from Treasurer:
– Balance as of December 31, 2018  $969.14 and $73 in petty cash.
Update from Tania Missad on the South Orange Grove development:
– The residents lost the public appeal 5-1, but it’s unusual that 1 planning commissioner voted against the developer.
– The environmental impact study (EIS) was done and Tania will be sending an email with the results.
– The Missads and their neighbors filed a lawsuit with the city of Los Angeles against this development. They decided to proceed with the lawsuit after having 3 meetings with the developer where no concessions were made on the side of the developer.  Herb Wesson’s office has been mediating these meetings.
– On January 10th they took part in another meeting with the city to determine what both sides will accept regarding the development.
– This is the first lawsuit brought against a TOC (transit oriented community) project.  Timeline of the lawsuit is expected to be between 6 – 18 months.
– There will be one more appeal hearing on the results of the EIS.  Date/time to be advised.
– The Missads and their neighbors who are part of the lawsuit are seeking fundraising for legal fees.
– Feedback given that the size of the development being a zoning issue.
– Feedback given regarding resources to seek out for information regarding applying for affordable housing.
Update on PVNA Initiatives:
– Spring Social Event – to be advised.
– ‘Welcome’ for new residents – Michael Plante working with Tia Hughes on this initiative.
– Emergency preparedness / CERT update, meetings with team on RYLAN
– Feedback given on new city-developed app – ShakeAlertLA earthquake alerts sent to your phone.
**Meeting adjourned.