Mar Vista Community Forum

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski November 2003 E-News

Nov 23, 2003

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski's
E-News Monthly November Edition

November 21, 2003

The holidays are quickly approaching us, so let me wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving. To celebrate the holidays, for the second year in a row, a city-wide lighting ceremony with live broadcasts of Eagle Rock City Hall, Los Angeles City Hall, San Pedro City Hall, Marvin Braude Center in Van Nuys and Venice City Hall, will take place on December 4th. Please join me at Venice City Hall for this special occasion!

As of this past Monday, we officially have our 38th governor, and with that comes a tough challenge for local municipalities with the repeal of the vehicle license fee tax. The City is in tough economic times and the Council is looking at ways to reduce our expenditures, one of which is looking for places to cut our own office budgets, and unfortunately this will most likely mean cuts in vital city services.

I am happy to announce that a new version of the Adult Entertainment Ordinance was adopted in City Council today. I want to thank all of those constituents who have continued to come to Council and committee meetings on this issue. Because the original ordinance was met with such opposition, garnering enough signatures to be put on a future ballot, the Council decided to repeal the original ordinance to avoid the cost of putting this issue on the ballot, and in hopes of coming to a City- Industry compromise with some of the ordinance's language.

Calendar Items:

Monday, December 1st, 7pm- Del Rey Homeowners and Neighbors Association Board of Directors Meeting, Venice Japanese Community Center.

Tuesday, December 2nd, 6:30pm - Westchester/Playa del Rey Neighborhood Council meeting, to be held at LMU. For more information, please visit www.ncwpdr.org.

Tuesday, December 2nd, 7pm- Brentwood Community Council meeting, at the Brentwood Kaufman Branch Library, 11820 San Vicente Blvd.

Thursday, December 4th, 6pm- Mar Vista Community Council Urban Planning Committee, Mar Vista Library.

Tuesday, December 9th, 7pm- Mar Vista Community Council Meeting, Mar Vista Recreation Center.

Thursday, December 11th, 6pm- Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association, at the Westchester Municipal Building.

Thursday, December 11th, 7pm- Pacific Palisades Community Council Meeting, Stewart Hall, Temescal Gateway Park.

Tuesday, December 16th, 6:30pm- Palms Neighborhood Council, Iman Center.

News You Can Use:

Adult Entertainment Ordinance- On November 21st, 2003 the Council considered two options relative to the adult entertainment ordinance. 1) to repeal the original ordinance or 2) to send the issue to the voters at the City election scheduled for March 2005. The Council voted 10-1 to repeal the original ordinance and receive and file the ballot referendum. The Council then adopted an alternative ordinance that resulted from City - Industry negotiations. The vote to approve was a unanimous 11 so the ordinance will be back before Council for a second reading next week, which requires 8 votes for approval. It will then be sent to the Mayor's office for signature and then published for 30 days before becoming law.

The replacement ordinance does not include most of the conduct regulations or the criminal provisions, however it does prohibit VIP rooms or private booths or cubicles of any kind, it prohibits beds on the premises and restricts physical contact with certain unclothed or clothed body parts. In addition, we have included requirements for security, maintenance and clean-up of the business premises and surrounding area, appropriate lighting and other safety and infrastructure requirements. The ordinance also revises the administrative process for permitting that creates an annual renewal of the permit and gives the police permit panel the ability to revoke, suspend or deny renewal of the business owner's permit when the ordinance is violated.

The City Attorney and Police Commission are going to work together to create guidelines, rules and regulations for the implementation and enforcement of the new ordinance so that it is used effectively. In order to monitor implementation of the new permit process and regulations, Councilmember Miscikowski has requested that the Police Commission report to public safety committee in six months to review the effectiveness of the ordinance and discuss any future amendments that may be necessary.

Vehicle seizure ordinances- The City Council recently passed two ordinances that allow the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to seize vehicles used for soliciting prostitution or used in drug transactions. The ordinances declare that any vehicle used to solicit, agree to, or engage in an act of prostitution, or to illegally acquire any controlled substances are a public nuisance and are subject to seizure. Under the ordinances, LAPD officers are allowed to seize a vehicle while making an arrest or during the execution of a search warrant. The City Attorney may order forfeiture of the vehicle within 90 days of a seizure of the vehicle. If a person claims an interest in the seized vehicle they must do so within 10 days of the seizure and are entitled to a hearing no more than 30 days after the claim is made. The City of Los Angeles is allowed to sell or dispose of the vehicle with proceeds distributed between any sales vendor, mortgagee or lien holder and the city. Proceeds distributed to the city will be deposited in a special trust fund established for this purpose. California cities including Oakland, Sacramento and Stockton have adopted similar measures that have been successful in reducing crimes related to solicitation, pandering and controlled substances.

LADWP Water Surcharge Increase- The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is proposing a new security surcharge and an increase in the current water quality surcharge for all LADWP customers to cover the costs of critical security, safety and quality upgrades, as well as to maintain the financial viability of the system. Additionally, LADWP will be making a technical change to how water rates are calculated to include the cost of water pumping in water purchase costs. The increase needs to be approved by both the Board of Water and Power Commission and the City Council, it is expected that this will go before the board in December and before Council in January 2004. With the events of September 11th there has been a critical need for change in the way we secure the City's water system to ensure its protection from every potential threat. The increased charges, if approved, will amount to an 11 percent increase to water bills in 2004 and 7 percent in 2005- which for residents will represent about $2.40 of an average monthly bill in '04 and $1.75 in '05. For more information on frequently asked questions

LADWP Sponsors Fall Teacher Workshops on Water, Energy and Environmental Subjects- For more than 20 years, LADWP has sponsored teacher workshops emphasizing science and the environment. This fall 18 workshop sessions covering water, energy and environmental subjects will be held October 9 to November 24 at four LAUSD Math, Science and Technology Centers with one session at LADWP headquarters. Workshops are open to teachers serving in LAUSD schools or private/parochial schools in the City of Los Angeles (including the city portion of the San Fernando Valley) and pre-enrollment is required. The workshop, including lesson materials and refreshments, will be provided at no cost to teachers.

LADWP Kicks Off Annual Holiday Light Festival at Griffith Park- On November 21, LADWP will flip the switch and kick off the City of Los Angeles' signature holiday event - the 2003 LADWP Light Festival in Griffith Park. The LADWP along with the Department of Recreation and Parks, wishes to make the holiday season brighter with this spectacular lighting extravaganza along a 1-mile stretch of Crystal Springs Drive. The festival is free and will continue nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. through December 28. Visitors will enjoy significantly less wait time and traffic congestion during weekdays (Monday through Thursday).

LADWP Can Help You Save Energy At Home- Last month's unseasonably warm temperatures have pushed energy demand up, marking a record for the second half of October. Save energy at home by using the LADWP's free Home Energy Analyzer, a customized home energy audit available online and via mail. The Home Energy Analyzer provides homeowners with a complete analysis of their energy use and specific recommendations for energy efficiency opportunities. For more information, call 1-800-GREEN LA (800-473-3652). For more information check out www.LADWP.com!

Airport Update: Community Reminder -- My office occasionally receives complaints about noise impact from airplanes overhead, and constituents often ask what they can do. It is important to bear in mind that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ultimate jurisdiction over the skies and the City's authority is limited. However, there are some steps you can take.

1. If you feel that a plane overhead is unusually loud or flying in an area not commonly used, you may phone it in to the FAA or a local airport. Be sure to note the date and time it occurred, plus the size of aircraft and the direction it is headed. Here are some phone numbers you can call so that the plane's presence is noted:
* LAX: (310)64-NOISE. For most commercial aircraft.
* Santa Monica Airport Noise HOTLINE: (310)458-8692. This is for many, but not all, smaller planes and corporate jets that fly over the district.
* FAA Noise Hotline: (310)725-3638. For all aircraft.

2. Attend the LAX Community Noise Roundtable. The Roundtable typically meets once a month on Wednesday evenings at LAX. Community members, LAX officials and FAA officials attend, and it is a good source of dialogue about noise impacts in our area.

3. If you live in the Westchester area, you may be eligible for noise soundproofing done by the airport. To get more information on the LAX Soundproofing program, call (310)646-7444.

For more information about airplane noise, please contact David Kissinger in my Westchester Field Office at (310)568-8772.

Household Hazardous Waste Roundup- The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County have scheduled a free household hazardous waste and e-waste round up in Malibu on Saturday, December 13th from 9am-3pm. The Round Up will be held at the Civic Center, Rear Parking lot, 23519 W. Civic Center Way, Malibu. Examples of items that will be accepted are brake fluid, paint, paint thinner, turpentine, cleaners with acid or lye, pesticides or herbicides, household batteries or car batteries, pool chemicals, motor oil, oil filters and expired pharmaceuticals. Household electronic waste which includes- computer monitors, televisions, computer CPUs, keyboards, printers, cellular phones, etc. will also be accepted. For more information please contact 888-CLEAN-LA or www.888CleanLA.com or 800-238-0172 or www.lacsd.org

L.A. Animal Services Thanksgiving Reminder- Although Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, it is unhealthy to share holiday meal leftovers with companion animals. Veterinarians experience an increased number of office calls due to digestive problems after the holidays because humans invite their animals to celebrate with high fat meals (ham, gravy, turkey skin), chocolates, bones, etc. Turkey bones are hollow and can easily break and splinter into sharp pieces, causing blockage and perforation of the intestinal tract. A pet that has a turkey bone lodged in the digestive system may not exhibit any symptoms for one or two days. However, when they do occur, symptoms include loss of appetite, depression, vomiting or diarrhea. Companion animals that are given leftover turkey to eat can also suffer from salmonella food poisoning. Salmonella is an organism that lives in the turkey's intestinal tract. Meat that sits out at room temperature for too long can cause salmonella organisms to multiply and cause contamination. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, a high temperature, loss of appetite and listlessness. Consult a veterinarian immediately should a companion animal exhibit any symptoms for salmonella poisoning or turkey bone ingestion. The City of Los Angeles' six Animal Care and Control Centers will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The Shelters will reopen at 8:00 AM on Saturday, November 29th. Although shelters will be closed, service for emergencies will be available and animals will be accepted 24-hours-a-day. For additional information or to reach any of the city's six shelters, the public may call 1-888-4LA-PET1/1-888-452-7381 (TTY-Hearing Impaired: 877-875-8205) or visit the Department's website: www.LAAnimalServices.com

New Feature on Web- Google has implemented a new feature wherein you can type someone's telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and then you will be given a map to their house. To test whether your phone number is mapped, go to: Google. If you want to BLOCK this information, simply click on the telephone icon next to your phone number.

Sepulveda Blvd. Reversible Lane Project- The City's Department of Transportation has been looking for ways to reduce peak hour congestion on Sepulveda Blvd. in the Sepulveda Pass for years. For those of you who have been stuck on that road in a traffic jam, you know why. Various methods have been tried to alleviate the problems but until now the City has not had much success. However, the City has recently been awarded a grant from the MTA to construct a permanent reversible lane, complete with signage, roadway improvements, an additional center lane and sufficient width for bicycles. The project is currently in design, and details are being worked out. For additional information, please visit Sepulveda's website at: http://www.lacity.org/ladot/Sep_Reversible/SEPULVEDA%20HOME.htm .

Helpful Website- "Healthy City", released by the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, the Advancement Project, the Center for Nonprofit Management, InfoLine of Los Angeles, and UCLA's Advanced Policy Institute is available online at http://www.healthycity.org This interactive website allows you to create maps and find data on 18,000 services, programs and resources in Los Angeles County that can be used to access services and assess community needs. You can search for services by category, sub-category, address, zip code, city, Service Planning Area (SPA), County Supervisorial District or City Council District. To view prior Institute information service emails (archive) or to subscribe/unsubscribe, visit http://www.weingart.org/institute/resource/email/index.html

Del Rey Homeowners and Neighbors Association- has completed their website. It can be accessed through http://www.delreyhome.org/.

LAUSD School Construction Meeting- On December 2, the Los Angeles Unified School District will be holding a community meeting for their new school construction program. The meeting will be held at Webster Middle School's multipurpose room, 11330 W. Graham Place, LA 90064. Discussion items will be on Phase I projects in Local District D as well as explaining how Phase II projects will help end involuntary busing by reducing overcrowding in neighboring schools. For more information, please call Genetha Eddins of LAUSD Community Outreach at 213-633-3468.

Holiday Lighting Ceremony at Venice City Hall - please join me as I ring in the holiday season at a city-wide lighting ceremony December 4th. A reception with local entertainment and refreshments will begin at 5pm, and the televised simulcast will begin at 6pm with ceremonies lighting Eagle Rock City Hall, Los Angeles City Hall, San Pedro City Hall, and the Marvin Braude Center in Van Nuys. Entertainment will continue throughout the evening, and I hope you'll join me! Venice City Hall is located at 681 Venice Blvd.

Welcome New Staff- Please join us in welcoming Andrea Epstein to our West LA office. As a Council Aide, Andrea is mainly responsible for constituent calls and requests, including some special events and occasional special projects. Andrea has great experience, having worked in both former Councilmember Nick Pacheco's office and Councilmember Wendy Greuel's office. Welcome Andrea!

Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association - a vision for the future of Sepulveda. Led by dedicated community members, this group has held two highly successful charettes to gather community input and suggestions for beautifying Sepulveda both through the business district and the residential corridor. Do you want to become involved? If so, please contact Sharon Sandow of my Westchester office at (310) 568-8772.

Mountains Recreations and Conservation Authority Tax Assessment- In the Summer of 2002 68.1 percent of property owners approved two assessments in a mailed ballot. One assessment will be used to acquire open space the other would cover maintenance and administrative costs associated with that space. Last week residents in the Santa Monica Mountains (District 2) ( west of the 405 freeway, north of Sunset , south of the Ventura Freeway and east of Topanga State Park) received notice of this assessment.

Those who do not wish to pre pay the entire assessment should disregard the notice and simply pay their 2003 property tax bill, since this bill includes the $40 MRCA assessment. For more information please visit www.smmc.ca.gov and then click MRCA or call 310-589-3200.

Neighborhood Prosecutor Awards- I want to congratulate two of my constituents for receiving honors from City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo for their assistance in helping to resolve neighborhood problems. Joel Shields, Venice resident, has been actively involved with the Boardwalk Task Force, which focuses on improving safety, maintenance and other issues for this very popular tourist attraction. Vickie Casas, from West Los Angeles, played a major role in creating the adult entertainment ordinance and is a strong voice for her community.

Arden Energy Run, December 7th - Come join your friends and neighbors in the 5K or 10K run to be held on Sunday, December 7th in Westchester! Thanks to the exemplary efforts of Captain Hillman at Pacific Division, the run was recently redesigned to move off of residential streets and onto Sepulveda. This will reduce the impact to residents in the area and will make the run safer and more accessible. The run starts at 7:30am at the Howard Hughes Center, so come on out and join the fun!

Playa Vista Phase II DEIR- The Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Village at Playa Vista has been released and the new deadline for comment is December 21st. This extension has put the deadline for comment at a very busy time for most people, so those who have written to my office should not wait until the last minute. Please use the 120 days to review the document and prepare your responses prior to the deadline; preferably by the end of November or early December. Please send your written comments to: Los Angeles City Planning Department, Environmental Review Section, Attn: Maya Zaitzevsky, 200 N. Spring Street Room 763, MA 395, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

########################
I hope you have enjoyed this update. As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on making this monthly newsletter more interesting, informative and useful to you. If you like what you see and weren't an original recipient, e-mail your "subscription requests" to miscikow@c11.ci.la.ca.us. Our regular readership has grown continuously. If you have friends or neighbors you think might like to receive this monthly update, please refer them to us. Thanks for your interest! Also e-mail us if you don't want to receive this newsletter, and we'll take you off the list.

Cindy