**Voting Members in Attendance:** George Wolfberg, Peter F. Culhane, Richard G. Cohen, Chris Spitz, David Kaplan, Rick Mills, Joanna Spak, Steve Cron, Alan Goldsmith, Reza Akef, Haldis Toppel, Richard Blumenberg, Bill Bruns, Brenda Theveny, Jean Sharp, Sarah Knauer, Sarah Conner, Richard Wulliger, Duke Ostendorf
**Voting Alternates:** Marilyn Wexler, Steve Lantz
**Non-voting Advisors and Alternates:** Mary Mueller, David Card, Patti Post, Barbara Marinacci, Cathi Ruddy, Eli Safaie-Kia _[see Item 8.1.1 below]_ 1.**Certification of Quorum.** The Chair George Wolfberg called the meeting to order at 7:00pm and certified that a quorum was present. 2.**Reading of Community Council’s Mission.** ­­­­­­­Patti Post read the Council’s Mission. 3.**Introduction of the Board and Audience**. The board and audience were introduced. 4\. **Approval of Minutes & Upcoming Meetings. ** _1) Approval of Minutes –_ the minutes of 2/14/19 were deemed approved as corrected _.__2) Upcoming Meetings –_
March 14, 2019: 1) Capt. III Vic Davalos, Commanding Officer, LAPD West Area; 2) other topics to be announced.
March 28, 2019: Topics to be announced. 5.**Consideration of Agenda.** The Chair announced that the agenda is as distributed with the exception of Pastor Davis’ report _(see Sec. 11.3, below)_ which will be moved up to allow the pastor to attend another meeting. 6.**Treasurer’s Report**. Treasurer Richard Cohen reported that the Council’s bank balance is $42,430.
58. He also reported that since the last meeting PPCC has received about $600 of tribute revenue and the refund of a small erroneous charge by Gladstone's, bringing PPCC’s net positive cash flow from the Gala to about $8,780 with about $250 left to collect. This excellent result is the Council’s best ever Gala performance. The Treasurer again thanked all who worked so hard to make it a success.There were no other significant transactions this period. 7.**General Public Comment****.**
7.
1. Michael Terry (President, Palisades Beautiful) provided information about street tree policy and selection. He advised that the Palisades has no viable street tree policy in place. There is an old document that lists approved street trees, but he has learned after consulting with Urban Forestry that 59% of tree species on the old list are no longer permitted. If anyone wishes to see it, he has a marked-up copy of the list. He has tried but has not been able to find a connection between the list and the Brentwood-Pacific Palisades Community Plan. Palisades Beautiful has no official policy on street tree species selection. 8.******Reports, Announcements and Concerns**.
8.
1. ****_From the Chair_.
8.
1.
1. _Approval of Youth Advisors._ The Chair nominated and introduced Eli Safaie-Kia as PPCC Youth Advisor. Eli is President of the Palisades Charter High School Ambassadors. The board approved his appointment as PPCC Youth Advisor [Bylaws Art. XIV]. 8.1.2 _. Zoning Code Workshop 3/30/19_. Save the date for this important event sponsored by PPCC and BCC, which will take place on March 30 at 10:30am at Gilbert Hall, Palisades Charter High School. Expert speakers will provide information on how to access the new revised Zoning Code. Click on links and/or buttons on our website and in PPCC email messages for more information.
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3. _WRAC Leadership Update._ The Chair and Secretary Chris Spitzattended last week’s Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC) leadership meeting. There have been thirteen member-councils of WRAC for many years. At the meeting, WRAC leaders welcomed a fourteenth council, North Westwood Neighborhood Council, which was recently certified by the City as a neighborhood council representing the North Westwood/UCLA area.
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4. _Board Member Opening of Agenda._ The Chair again honored the first board member to open the agenda of the last meeting with a special hand-crafted gift from the Wolfberg kitchen: David Kaplan. Board members are reminded that the agenda may be accessed by clicking on the link and/or button that is always provided within the message distributing the agenda.
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5. The Chair welcomed new Chamber of Commerce representatives to the PPCC board: Sarah Knauer (Chamber Chair-elect), primary (in attendance), and Marissa Hermer (owner of The Draycott), alternate (not in attendance). He also thanked past Chamber primary representative Rick Lemmo for his service to PPCC.
8.
2. ****_From Officers_.
8.
2.
1. Chris Spitz (Secretary) announced that the PPCC position letter regarding SB 50 has been sent to Councilmember Mike Bonin and other elected officials, including Councilmember Paul Koretz. The letter is posted on the PPCC website [[SB 50 Letter](https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/PPCC-Letter-re-SB50.1.pdf)]. She noted that we learned today that Councilmember Koretz has introduced an important resolution, as requested in our letter, for the Los Angeles City Council to oppose SB
50. This is a significant development, since if the resolution passes it will likely have an impact on the progress of this bill.
8.
3. ****_From At-Large and Area Representatives_.
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3.
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Steve Cron (Area Two Representative).
On Tuesday, he and Lisa Cahill met with four members of the Dept. of Recreation & Parks and three members of LAFD to look at conditions involving brush and downed trees along Palisades Dr.
The City’s policy provides that downed trees more than 10 ft. from a roadway or 200 ft. from residences are not removed.
There are no residences along most of the lower portion of Palisades Dr.
Two or three dead trees have fallen over, but all but one of these trees are more than 10 ft. from the roadway and will have to remain where they fell.
One downed tree is on the edge of the roadway, so it was cut into pieces and will be cleared away when the City begins doing brush clearance along Palisades Dr. in May or June. A Highlands Fire Safety community meeting has been scheduled for March 19, 7-9pm at Calvary Christian Church.
Speakers will include Fire Chiefs Armando Hogan and Orin Saunders.
All are welcome, although the meeting orientation will be the Highlands.
Peter Culhane (Vice-Chair) was instrumental in getting permission to use Calvary’s facilities.
The meeting will be recorded and posted if feasible so that people who can’t attend will be able to view the recording.
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2. Marilyn Wexler (Area Seven 2nd Alternate). A female cougar (mountain lion) has been hanging out at Rustic Canyon park. Neighbors are nervous and uncertain about what can be done. LAPD SLO Michael Moore: He is aware of the situation. This is a state issue; the City’s Animal Services Dept. won’t take action unless the animal displays aggression. The official state agency is the Dept. of Fish & Wildlife; SLO Moore will try to follow-up.
8.
4. _From Organizational Representatives_.
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4.
1. Sarah Conner (PPRA). PPRA has heard from Barbara Marinacci on the important issue of street tree selection. Sarah announced that Kelly Comras will be leading a PPRA committee to work on this issue.
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2. Richard Wulliger (Historical Society). On Tuesday, the Society sponsored an interesting talk at Theatre Palisades with historian Eric Wannamaker on the role of Native Americans in making movies at Inceville. There was a great deal of interest and the event was well-attended.
8.
5. _From Government Offices / Representatives_.
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5.
1. LAPD SLO Michael Moore.
Since the beginning of year there have been eleven reported stolen vehicles.
Eight cars were recovered and all eight had key fobs in them.
The owners reported that they had not left keys in the car but may not have remembered that extra fobs could have been in the glove box.
Officer Moore advises the community to make sure there are no keys left in cars, which in some cases allow the car door to be opened.
Criminals are now trying handles first to see if the cars open.
Reza Akef (Area Eight Representative) asked if any of the stolen cars were particular model years of Ford products which he asserted would not lock if the key fob is in the car.
Officer Moore did not know.
He said that residents should call police services if they see someone trying to open car doors.
Bill Bruns (Friends of the Library) asked about better traffic enforcement at the Chautauqua & Sunset intersection.
Officer Moore will speak with the motor officer in charge, Officer Ryan Basaker, about obtaining more enforcement at that intersection.
Richard Cohen (Treasurer) commented that these issues have come up at C-PAB meetings which he attends.
He noted that doors won’t lock with most modern cars if the key fob is still in the car.
This could be an issue of valet keys being left in glove boxes, which allows criminals simply to push the start button.
Regarding traffic enforcement, the Treasurer has been told that there are only six motor officers for the entire West Traffic area and under new policy directives from LAPD Chief Moore they have been pulled away to do traffic accident reports, in order to free up other officers to fight crime.
This has resulted in officers being removed from traffic enforcement, and there are no longer officers sitting on Sunset or San Vicente with laser guns checking speed.
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2.
Zac Gaidzik (West-Metro LA Field Deputy, Supervisor Sheila Kuehl).
The Board of Supervisors (BOS) unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Kuehl to phase out the use of pepper spray in all juvenile facilities.
The Supervisor is thrilled that BOS passed a series of motions to fund 1600 affordable housing units throughout the southland in the coming fiscal year, and also passed a motion by Supervisor Kuehl to preserve the emergency tenant assistance fund. BOS additionally voted to support the Hope for the Coast vision to protect our coast line. A Nextgen Bus Study is being sponsored by Metro in order to overhaul the entire bus system; a Bus Study workshop will take place on Mar. 5, 4-7pm at the Felicia Mahood Senior Center, 11338 Santa Monica Blvd., WLA.
The County is now offering beach wheelchairs in some locations on a first-come first-served basis.
Motorized wheelchairs are available at Perry’s at Santa Monica beach.
David Card (At-large 1st Alternate) raised a question about BOS taking over the 50 miles of the LA River.
Response: BOS passed a motion co-sponsored by Supervisor Kuehl to initiate a study to start the process of updating the Master Plan for the River.
Sarah Knauer (Chamber Representative): What is the process for getting better traffic signage on Channel Rd. & Chautauqua regarding lane turns?
Response: LADOT is in charge and knows about the sign issue at this location, as does Councilmember Bonin’s office.
They will need a push.
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3. Janet Turner (District Representative, Congressman Ted Lieu). The Congressman has been very busy sponsoring bills that have just been introduced in Congress. He has sponsored HR976 – the Air Traffic Noise Pollution Act. It is a first step calling for a study of noise and pollution impacts of air traffic. Questions were asked whether the bill addresses the impacts from general aviation and freight drones; she will bring back answers. She also described other legislation that Congressman Lieu has sponsored or co-sponsored, including the “Rebuild America’s Schools Act,” which would provide for infrastructure and safety improvements for schools; a bill to provide tax credits to employers for providing educational loans to employees; and a “Medicare for All” bill.
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2. Eric Bruins (CD 11 Transportation Deputy). Regarding environmental issues: LADWP will not reinvest in natural gas and will look to replace this energy source with renewable energy. The Hyperion water treatment plant will be recycling 100% of waste water. This will be used for non-potable purposes (e.g., irrigation) or will be recycled back into the aquifer and kept in storage. _See also additional report in Item 11.2 below._
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6. _From PPCC Advisors_.
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1. Eli Safaie-Kia (Youth Advisor) reported that “Game Night” will take place this Friday, March 1 at 6:30pm in Mercer Hall at Pali High. The event is open to everyone. All proceeds will go to support the Pali High Ambassadors. 9.**Reports from Committees**.
9.
1. _Bylaws Committee_ (Richard G. Cohen, Chair).