Brentwood Community Council

June 6, 2006 Meeting Highlights

Jul 26, 2006

CRIME UPDATE
At the Brentwood Community Council meeting on June 6, 2006, BCC Public Safety Alternate Dennis Hinman delivered the Crime Report on behalf of Sr. Lead Officer Phil Enbody. Crime is up 54% over the previous month, a net increase of only four crimes. The ?“Hillside Burglar?” is still active. Brentwood had one burglary north of Sunset attributed to that perpetrator. Brentwood still has only one police car for a total of sixteen hours a day. Local residents must continue to be the eyes and ears of the community.

BCC SUPPORTS A ?“NO PARKING?” ZONE ON SAN VICENTE ADJACENT TO THE VETERANS NATIONAL PARK ?–The BCC voted to write to County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky stating Council?’s support to look into the possibility of a ?“no parking?” zone on San Vicente from Wilshire Boulevard to Eisenhower, in front of Los Angeles National Veterans Park. The VA land is situated on County unincorporated property. The Council took action after hearing a presentation by Veterans Park Conservancy Executive Director Sue Young about the visual blight created by recreational vehicles and campers parked on San Vicente Boulevard in front of the newly improved park. Ms. Young requested the ?“no parking?” zone for aesthetic reasons, so that the public would have an unobscured view of the National Veterans Park site in a dignified setting befitting the landmark property. The construction of the new, stately, exterior fencing cost $2.3 million, much of which was privately funded through Veterans Park Conservancy. Jay Handal, President, Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce (GWLACC) agreed that the sight of campers and other over-sized vehicles detracted from the gateway to Brentwood.

Concerns were raised about the impact this action would have on residents and business patrons, who park their cars on that stretch of San Vicente Boulevard. Sue Young indicated that Chuck Dorman, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System at the Veterans Administration had agreed to provide parking on VA land nearby.

BCC SUPPORTS SUSPENDING BUS-ONLY LANE ON WILSHIRE
The BCC moved to support the suspension of the Bus-only lane on Wilshire Boulevard until other jurisdictions also implement the Bus-only lane from downtown Los Angeles to the ocean. Jay Handal, President, Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce stated that approximately 27 months ago, the City and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) decided on a 6-month pilot test to eliminate on-street parking on Wilshire Boulevard from the Santa Monica border to Federal, allowing a bus-only lane there. The purpose was to demonstrate that people in buses could be moved faster with a dedicated bus-only lane. Mr. Handal said that the concept of a Bus-only lane was based on the premise that such a lane would eventually run from the ocean to Figueroa in downtown Los Angeles. However, the lane has not been extended as originally planned due to lack of participation by adjacent cities and Council District 5. He indicated other problems including the portion of Wilshire Boulevard that runs on County unincorporated land, which first requires a $6 million improvement, and the stretch near the Miracle Mile, which needs a $20 million capping improvement, before the bus-only lane can be implemented in these areas. Mr. Handal indicated that the West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council had voted to request that the City suspend the Bus-only lane until all improvements have been made and the other jurisdictions have come aboard, thereby making an ocean to Figueroa bus-only lane a reality.

Susan Bok of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) said that she was part of the team that worked on developing the Wilshire Bus-only lane. After delivering a brief report, she said that LADOT continues to evaluate the project. If the Bus-only lane is suspended, the lane will be opened up as a traffic lane during peak traffic periods.

Jody Litvak, Community Relations Manager, Metro Westside, also delivered a report on the Wilshire Bus-only lane, indicating that Metro is focused on moving people rather than vehicles; peak period bus lanes carry more people, with less delay than mixed-flow lanes, the subway extension on Wilshire is more than a decade away; and larger, ?“articulated?” buses are planned for Wilshire this year. She also pointed out that even if the Wilshire Bus-Only lane was suspended, parking would not be reinstated.

Andrea Epstein, Field Deputy to Councilman Bill Rosendahl said that the Councilman supports the Wilshire Bus-only lane when it can function as a full transit corridor from the ocean to downtown Los Angeles.

MOUNTAINGATE TRAIL ACCESS
In a presentation before the BCC, Tom Freeman, President, Canyon Back Alliance spoke about the Canyonback Trail. The developers of Mountaingate are building new homes on the south end of Canyonback Road. One house is actually plotted on top of the Canyonback Trail itself. In order to preserve access and prevent problems between trail users and future residents, the trail must remain outside of the development. The developer, Castle and Cooke, has proposed re-routing trail users off the historic ridgeline trail and into the private gated enclave.

Tom Freeman summarized the objections of Canyon Back Alliance, stating that allowing the trail to run through the private, gated community would degrade the quality of the trail, and create future problems as trail users travel into a private community. He also said that the trail is part of a larger trail system, is well used by the public, and must be accessible 24/7. He stated that the matter would go before the City?’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee on June 27th. The BCC previously passed a motion supporting that a supplemental EIR be prepared and circulated addressing the project?’s adverse impacts on the public?’s recreational use of the Canyonback Trail. More information is available at www.canyonback.org.

NEW BCC REPRESENTATIVES
The BCC approved the Representation Committee?’s recommendation for Stacy Marks as Private Schools Representative and Sloane Berrent as Private Schools Alternate. The BCC also approved Josh Stephens as Multi-Family Housing Alternate. Beth Allred now represents Crestwood Hills and Bob Kaminsky is the Alternate.

NO BCC MEETING IN JULY. NEXT BCC MEETING: TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2006 - The next BCC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 1, 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).