Brentwood Community Council

October 3, 2006 Meeting Highlights

Nov 06, 2006

CRIME UPDATE ?– Bette Harris, Public Safety Representative delivered the Crime Report on behalf of Senior Lead Officer Phillip Enbody, who was unable to attend the meeting. Construction burglaries are on the rise. Police are seeing cases, where tools have been stolen from utility closets in some apartment buildings. Thefts from unlocked motor vehicles north of Sunset have been reported with increasing frequency. All victims of crime are urged to make police reports.

The Senior Lead Officer Summit will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple, 11661 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90064 at Barrington Boulevard. Crime trends, crime prevention techniques, and community issues will be discussed. For more information, contact Officer Friedlander at (310) 444-0742.

The West Los Angeles Police Station is hosting an Open House on October 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT ?– Members of the community expressed concern regarding notices that the Westside Shepherd of the Hills Church would be holding services at the Wardsworth Theater on the WLA VA campus on October 8th. The Church claims a membership of 6,000. Council District 11 Field Deputy Andrea Epstein is looking into the matter.

Another complaint was registered regarding the need for tree trimming, particularly palm trees shedding large fronds. In one case heavy falling fronds damaged a car. Ms. Epstein indicated that Jim Horowitz of the Council Office is working on this problem.

CITY COUNCIL 11 UPDATE ?– Andrea Epstein reported that no start date has been established for the Left-Turn Lane from Sunset Blvd. to Mandeville Canyon Road, however work is expected to start in approximately one month. Ms. Epstein indicated that ground has been broken, however, water laterals were not of sufficient depth.

Ms. Epstein provided an update on the Hotel Angeleno situation, saying that the City Attorney has informed the Hotel that September 22 was the compliance date regarding display of proper signage and lighting. A hearing with the Department of Building and Safety will follow.

According to Ms. Epstein, permits have been issued for the Rotary?’s monuments for the ?“Gateway to Brentwood?” on San Vicente Boulevard.

Ms. Epstein spoke about Councilman Rosendahl?’s motion for a moratorium on condominium conversion in Council District 11 and asked for the community?’s support. She discussed the Councilman?’s motion in response to Ken Mark?’s complaint that some developers build apartment complexes in Brentwood to avoid the street-widening requirement in connection with condo construction, only to convert later to condominiums. Chairwoman Rosen requested a meeting with Ms. Epstein and Ken Marks to further discuss this subject.

MOUNTAINGATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ?– Frans Bigelow, Mountaingate Development Project Manager, and Tom Freeman, President, Canyon Back Alliance, discussed the recently-settled dispute over public access to the Canyonback and Mt. St. Mary?’s trails in the Santa Monica Mountains in Brentwood, which have long been used for public recreational purposes. The Mountaingate development project, as planned, would have terminated public access on the Mt. St. Mary?’s Trail and impaired public access on the Canyonback Trail (also known as the Kenter Fire Road Trail). After lawsuits were filed by Canyon Back Alliance, the parties reached a settlement when developer Castle & Cooke agreed to (1) redesign one of its two planned residential enclaves in order to keep the Canyonback Trail outside the enclave?’s gated parameters and (2) fund a new trail, to be built by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, that will connect the Mt. St. Mary?’s Trail directly to the Canyonback Trail ?– wholly outside the developer?’s other proposed residential enclave.

Tom Freeman praised Castle & Cooke?’s willingness to compromise and said that the amicable resolution conferred on the public an even greater benefit than could have been obtained through the litigation process. Chairwoman Rosen thanked the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for its role and Norm Kulla of the Council Office in absencia for bringing together all parties involved to reach a mutually beneficial solution.

UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE PROJECT ?– Jeff Kaufman, Executive Director of University Synagogue gave an update on the Synagogue?’s renovation project. To deflect glare from vehicle headlights, solid columns will be built at an angle within the property line on the side facing Sunset Boulevard. A security fence and manned guard gate will step up security on the campus. Nine to ten spaces for unsecured parking will minimize on-street overflow of cars. Architects developed a detailed plan to prevent lighting pollution. Signage will not exceed 30 sq.-ft. An 18 sq.-ft. bulletin board will also be added. Plans also include a 6-ft. security wall and 10-ft. water feature. Mr. Kaufman stated that plans would be presented to the Brentwood Homeowners Association. Chairwoman Rosen expressed concern regarding landscape, signage, and lighting and requested that the BCC committee address these areas at a meeting with the Synagogue and its representatives. Chairwoman Rosen thanked the Synagogue for its responsiveness to the community?’s concerns.

NEXT BCC MEETING: TUESDAY, November 7, 2006 ?– The next BCC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2006 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Brentwood Kaufman Library. The agenda will include a presentation on the Brentwood School?’s development plans. The BCC meets regularly on the first Tuesday of each month. Meetings are usually held in the Community Room of the Brentwood Kaufman Library. The BCC agenda is posted at the library one week prior to the meeting date. To receive the BCC?’s monthly agenda by e-mail, contact Chairwoman Wendy-Sue Rosen at RosenFree@aol.com or visit the BCC website: http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/la/brentwoodcc.

(Bette Harris serves as Recording Secretary and Public Safety Representative on the Brentwood Community Council)