Brentwood Community Council

May 2, 2006 Meeting Highlights

Jun 01, 2006

PRESENTATION OF BRENTWOOD YOUTH CITIZEN AWARDS
At the May 2nd Brentwood Community Council meeting, Loretta Ditlow, Bette Harris, and Tim Byk recognized the deserving youths who earned the Brentwood Youth Citizen Awards for the year 2006:

-Marisa Guterman, a senior at Archer School for Girls, President of the Student Body, and sports team leader, for helping with ?“Habitat for Humanity,?” and also for her work helping victims of Hurricane Katrina.

-The students of the Eighth Grade class at St. Martin of Tours School for their commitment and leadership in assisting the preschool students at St. Brigid?’s School in South Los Angeles. Student Body President Spencer Murphy and Chair of Religious Affairs, Sasha Elkin accepted the award on behalf of the students.

-Samantha Rosenbaum, a 7th Grade student at Paul Revere Middle School for creating a community service project, ACT. She raised money and started a school-wide campaign to donate supplies and give them to organizations helping abandoned animals needing care. She also organized a dog walk to raise money to find a cure for childhood cancer.

-Sabrina Giglio, a 7th Grade student at Paul Revere Middle School, who organized a school-wide sale and donated proceeds to the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief. Sabrina also encouraged students to run the Los Angeles Marathon to raise money for D.R.E.A.M.S., a youth scholarship organization.

-Mr. Justin Koretz, Physical Education Teacher at Paul Revere Middle School, was recognized in absencia for his dedication and leadership as Student Community Service Sponsor and for his contribution to the community.

CRIME UPDATE
Senior Lead Officer Phil Enbody gave a brief crime update, noting a rise in burglaries of tools and building materials at construction sites. He urged locking up tools and machinery after hours. Officer Enbody reported that a number of residential burglaries have taken place, including a recent hillside burglary on Norman Place when the residents were away. He recommended recording serial numbers of electronic and computer equipment. Dial 3-1-1 for removal of graffiti. Overall, however, crime is down on the Westside.

WLA FEDERAL LAND USE ISSUES
BCC Chairwoman Wendy-Sue Rosen provided background information on the various issues related to all the WLA federal land, which includes the VA property, the FBI building, and the Army Reserve property. Chairwoman Rosen stated that the next step in the CARES (Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services) process is the response from Secretary Nicholson regarding the options proposed by the Local Advisory Panel for the WLA campus of the Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Flora Gil Krisiloff and Cindy Miscikowski are appointees on the committee.

Chairwoman Rosen stated that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) had been issued in connection with the proposed FBI building. The BCC had opposed the flawed DEIS, and recommended a Master Plan for all the federal land. Chairwoman Rosen said that a third property was under attack. Plans are underway for a land swap involving ten acres at the site of the Army Reserve at the corner of Federal and Wilshire.

Vincent Jones, Field Representative for U.S. State Senator Barbara Boxer, reported that the Senator had recently sent letters to Morris Angell, of the General Services Administration (GSA), to Secretary Nicholson of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and to General Helmly, Office of the Chief, Army Reserve. Vincent pointed out that the land used by the Army Reserve was part of the land originally deeded to the federal government to benefit veterans. Senator Boxer would like to see that the original deed is honored and that the mandated VA land use master plan be implemented and expanded to include the FBI and Army Reserve properties. Vincent said that Senator Boxer will wait to see how the Agencies respond to her written requests to stop the auction, stop the expansion of the Federal Building site, honor the Congressional mandate for a VA land use master plan and expand that mandate for all federal land.

Flora Gil Krisiloff said that Brentwood has always been at the forefront of protecting the VA federal land from being sold or commercially developed. Senior Westside Deputy to County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Ms. Krisiloff stated that Supervisor Yaroslavsky is fighting hard to protect all the federal land and supports a Master Plan to cover the federal land, as opposed to a piecemeal approach to projects. Ms. Krisiloff said that there are three agencies involved -- VA, GSA, and Department of Defense (DOD), but it appears that there is no coordination between them. Ms. Krisiloff said that a few years ago, Supervisor Yaroslavsky rezoned the property to be open space north of Wilshire Boulevard and for institutional use south of Wilshire. The property is situated in County unincorporated territory. In the event of privatization, the land will fall under county jurisdiction. Any uses in the institutional zone will be subject to a County conditional use permit. No permitted uses will be ?“by right.?” These are disincentives for potential buyers to develop the land. She provided a web address to review the County code: http://ordlink.com/codes/lacounty/index.htm. (Go to Title 22, Chapter 22.40, Part 14).

Ms. Krisiloff said that the Army Reserve does have the authority to exchange properties, but has never conducted an on-line auction property exchange. The auction will start on June 12 and end on June 23. The website: www.westlarpx.com provides more information. Supervisor Yaroslavsky has directed County?’s Counsel to research all strategic options.

In response to a question from Chairwoman Rosen about Mayor Villaraigosa?’s position on the issue, John Brady, the Mayor?’s Westside Deputy said that Mayor Villaraigosa had submitted a letter in connection with the DEIS process supportive of having the FBI headquarters in Los Angeles, but opposed to having it located on the West Los Angeles site. The Mayor is willing to assist in looking for an alternative site. He has not yet taken a stated position regarding the Army Reserve?’s proposed land swap.

Lake and Jackie Freedman, Co-Chairs, Federal Building Coalition, said that time is critical in the effort to stop the sale/swap of federal land, and are considering every legal recourse that may be necessary. They distributed pre-printed postcards to the Director of the Army Reserve Division and to Senator Feinstein, asking that the land at 1250 Federal Avenue be returned to the Veterans Administration if the Army no longer needs it. They asked that the community distribute and send these postcards. They also urged attendance at the rally on May 3rd protesting the sale of the Army Reserve property, where Zev Yaroslavsky, Councilman Rosendahl, and others will be speaking.

The BCC unanimously passed a motion that Chairwoman Rosen send a letter on behalf of Council to the Director of the Army Reserve Division and to Senator Dianne Feinstein opposing the federal land sale/swap.

HOTEL ANGELENO?’S CONTROVERSIAL LIGHTING AND SIGNAGE
Greg Perlman spoke about the $12 million renovation his company has undertaken to transform the former Holiday Inn from what he termed ?“an eyesore?” to an iconic building. The grand opening is planned for mid-June. At issue is the hotel?’s colored illumination and oversized signage, and the owner?’s failure to bring his proposal to the community as promised and go through the proper approval process.

In response to criticism that the flashy, multi-colored lighting was not in keeping with the residential nature of the community, Mr. Perlman responded that the hotel has never fit in with the surrounding community. The point was made that the nearby Getty Center has neither illumination nor signage and has complied with numerous conditions imposed upon it. Also, the adjacent Luxe Summit Hotel worked with the community to ensure that the final result was approved by a community committee and consistent with the neighborhood. Its signage is 30-ft, the maximum allowed by zoning.

Roy Marshall reminded Mr. Perlman that last year, the BCC supported him in his bid to modify the property?’s conditional use permit to allow the restaurant to serve customers, who were not hotel guests. Mr. Marshall recalled at that time an agreement to present plans for signage and lighting to the community at a later date. He said that did not happen. Rather, large banners were hung from the hotel last fall, and later, he was ?“shocked?” to see a rendering of an excessively large ?“Angeleno?” sign etched onto the glass sound wall.

Flora Gil Krisiloff indicated that the Brentwood community has a history of opposing oversized signage, instead preferring that which is more subtle, lower profile, and consistent with the surrounding community. The BCC has worked together with the Brentwood Homeowners Association and other homeowners groups on such issues.

Chairwoman Rosen said the issue of illumination and signage would not be solved that evening, and she would create a committee to meet and pursue the matter. Flora Gil Krisiloff, Roy Marshall, Ray Keller, and Evelyn Stern volunteered to serve on the committee. Chairwoman asked that others, who also wish to join, notify her at Rosenfree@aol.com.

CD 11 SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR SERVICE CABINET
Andrea Epstein, Westside field deputy to Councilman Rosendahl reported that a Brentwood representative is needed to serve on the Councilman?’s Service Cabinet, which will take a ?“nuts and bolts approach?” to solving various problems involving public works, Department of Water and Power, etc. Interested applicants may e-mail Chairwoman Rosen at Rosenfree@aol.com.

NEXT BCC MEETING: TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2006
The next BCC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6, 2006 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Brentwood Kaufman Library. 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 Public Safety Chair and Recording Secretary on the BCC).