Brentwood Community Council

April 1, 2008 Meeting Highlights

May 04, 2008

Public Safety ?– Phil Enbody, Lead Officer LAPD

?• Crime is down 13% in Brentwood

?• We still have vehicle-related crimes. Do not leave a valet key in your car as burglars use it to steal cars.

?• Special Olympics ?– Worldwide, police departments partner with the Special Olympics on several projects. Every year there is a torch run. The torch run will be on June 12, 2008, from Beverly Hills to Santa Monica.

?• Additional donations may be sent, via checks made out to the Special Olympics, and mailed c/o Officer Enbody, LAPD 1663 Butler Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025. All checks will be forwarded to the Special Olympics Office, which will send a thank you letter and a tax deductible receipt.


Councilmember Bill Rosendahl - CD 11

Chairwoman Rosen introduced City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, praising his hard work and tremendous dedication to the community. Brentwood Community Council members and the audience introduced themselves to the Councilman. Councilman Rosendahl addressed the following issues:

?• The Councilman gave an overview of the four components of his responsibilities: policy making; constituent services; land use issues; and accessibility. In our area, he puts a special emphasis on land use issues. In particular, he believes that ?“character and scale of a development are as important as ?‘by right?’ laws in developments.?”

?• The Planning Department has refused to provide Development Project Packages to the BCC and Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC), as they are required to do with Certified Neighborhood Councils. The Councilman is working with the Planning Department to address this inequity. Until the issue is resolved, Jennifer Rivera, CD-11 Field Deputy, will provide the information to the BCC on all projects within its jurisdiction.

?• Street Furniture ?–Several years ago the City negotiated a deal with a company to provide covered Bus Shelters, Pillars and Public Amenity Kiosks (PAKs) for neighborhoods in the City. The company would sell advertising space on the structures and provide the City with a portion of the revenue. The bulk of the structures must be installed in the 4th, 5th and 11th Council Districts, yet the revenue will be divided evenly among the 15 Council Districts. The Councilman has asked the Contractor to reallocate the locations in a more equitable manner.

?• The Veterans Administration ?–The Councilman is working with Bobby Shriver to ensure that 3 vacant buildings on the West LA VA campus will be converted into housing with supportive services for homeless Vets. His American Legion Post 283 donated over $2 million to kick-start the first Fisher House containing 21 suites on the Campus. Residents in Brentwood contributed between $500 and $600,000 toward the project. The Fisher House will be utilized by families visiting Vets hospitalized on the grounds.

?• Homeless issues are a major concern on the Westside. The Councilman is spearheading several projects. He is working with the City, the Housing Trust Fund and the County (funds from Proposition 63 that must be used for mental health purposes) to build a 50-room facility with supportive services for homeless at the former Animal Shelter off of Bundy and Olympic Boulevards.

?• Councilman Rosendahl spoke briefly about ?‘Bundy Village?’, a 12-acre parcel north of Martin Cadillac and fronting on Bundy Avenue. The owner is hoping to build 300-400 residential units in a multi-story park-like setting for seniors. The Councilman is hoping the developer will include about 25% low income or affordable units. The developer has only agreed to include approximately 15%. The Councilman doesn?’t think this is enough. Initial plans include a 13-story building and a 7-story medical building plus park space. While the property is not technically in Brentwood, the Councilman would like the BCC and other neighboring Councils?’ Land Use Committees to get involved in the planning process.

?• Transportation issues continue to plague the Westside. The Councilman has secured $11 million to pay for 34 left turn lanes and synchronizing of signals to provide immediate improvements to traffic flow. He is a big fan of buses as a short-term solution. He is working to ensure that a dedicated bus lane is installed on Wilshire Blvd. The Councilman has secured $200,000 from the City, which will be added to $200,000 secured by MTA to fund an EIR study. The City has also secured $23 million from the Federal Government for the project. ?“Everyone is on board for the bus lane from Centinela Avenue to downtown.?”

?• Developers are charged QUIMBY fees when they build residential units. The fee per unit is over $6,900.00. These funds are to be used for public parks within approximately two miles of the project. Chairwoman Rosen asked how the BCC could find out how much money is in this fund for use in Brentwood. Parks in Brentwood that have or will receive Quimby funds are the Crestwood Hills Recreation Center remodel ($467,000) and Barrington Recreation Center remodel ($1.3 million). Currently, $4-5 million of private money needs to be raised for use in a public/private partnership for Barrington Park East. Jennifer Rivera will collect more information on Quimby fees available to Brentwood.

?• In applying creative thinking to address the area?’s housing shortage for teachers and police/fire responders, the Councilman is hoping that public schools will partner with developers to build housing on LAUSD property. This is being done in one area of Bill?’s District and he hopes it will serve as a model for others.

?• Councilman Rosendahl agreed with constituent complaints that many streets are in great need of repair. Deputy Rivera will have a report on the status of the streets in Brentwood in the next couple of weeks. The City ranks streets from 1 ?– 5 (5 is the in the worst condition). The cost to repair a class 5 street is $7.00 per square foot. The cost to repair a class 1 or 2 street is about $1.00 per square foot. But there are insufficient funds to repair the streets. For that reason, the Councilman will be proposing a $2.3 million bond measure for the 2010 ballot to repair all City streets over a ten-year period. Voters can then decide if street repair is a priority.

?• The DWP is seeking a rate increase in order to update its infrastructure equipment. With this increase, there will be oversight by a Committee of members appointed by each Council District.


Public Safety ?– Ray Klein, Chair

The West Los Angeles Police Department is looking for volunteers to staff desks at the station so that more officers can be out on the street. Contact Ray Klein at rklein@earthlink.net if you are interested in volunteering or for more information.


Community Council Comment

?• Andrea Epstein announced the availability of free packaging and postage for recycling of ink cartridges, electronics, digital cameras, etc. The Barrington Post Office is participating in a 10-city pilot program. Please utilize this offer so the program is successful.

?• Dennis Hinman announced that the Brentwood Garden tour hosted by the Brentwood Historical Society will be held on May 4, 2008.


Chair Announcements ?– Wendy-Sue Rosen

?• Members of South Brentwood Homeowners Association, San Vicente Design Review Board, BCC Chairwoman and Council Office Reps met with a representative from Wachovia Bank to request the dimming of the giant Wachovia sign facing directly into the community and asked that the sign be turned off in the evening. The Rep from Wachovia was very defensive and did not act in a way that this Community would expect a service provider to respond. She will get back to the Council Office after she has had a chance to speak with the sign company.

?• Bryan Gordon of the BCC Land Use Committee has agreed to be the liaison from the BCC to the San Vicente Design Review Board.


Next BCC Meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Future meeting agendas over the coming months will include Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation presentation on Lateral Root Notification Program, San Vicente Design Review Board update, proposed Brentwood School expansion, the 405 HOV Lane project impacts on Brentwood, Stream Ordinance, and a future update on the Barry Building project. The BCC meets regularly on the first Tuesday of each month at the Brentwood Kaufman Library. The BCC agenda is posted at the Brentwood Kaufman 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.

(Sue Casamassima serves as Recording Secretary and Representative of Zone 8 ?– Brentwood Glen)