Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association

Board Activities

Feb 28, 2003

The SMCCA is governed by a volunteer Board that meets the first Tuesday of most months at 7 pm in the Gallery Room at the Park, with exceptions for election days and holidays. Our Agendas are posted on our web site and all members are welcome. Since the last Newsletter, there is much to report. At our last annual meeting the membership approved bylaw revisions allowing voting for board members to take place at the annual meeting rather than by mail. Other changes were made to introduce modern terminology to the text.
Support of Zoning and Building Codes. Your board has monitored and/or commented on proposed remodeling at several locations. The Board has supported neighbors in advocating application of appropriate zoning and building regulations and opposed over height and out of character construction. The Board also urged the City not to approve projects that would impair beach access.
Chevron Appeal. The SMCCA Board appealed the approval of improvements to the Chevron Station, seeking elimination of dangerous traffic conditions at the Entrada Driveway, replacement of the large pole sign and improved pedestrian access. The station owner volunteered to widen the sidewalk along PCH, move a retaining wall and remove the pole sign?to be replaced by a monument sign. This was a very neighborhood-friendly action by the station owner as the pole sign could have remained forever since it predates the local plan that severly restricts signs. The Pacific Palisades Design Review Board approved the plans on January 22, 2003. Approval of new signs will be the subject of a future DRB hearing. We are awaiting the City?s recommendations for the driveway.
Actions for a Cleaner Ocean. We supported the project to divert our dry weather urban runoff to the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant to help upgrade our beach from a Heal the Bay grade of ?F? to grade ?A.? The Board urged the City to promptly resurface West Channel Road upon completion of excavation. In addition, the City has been requested to implement diversion year-round [except during rainy weather] instead of the originally planned mid-April to October timing. We have followed up with the City?s Watershed Protection Division and the Board of Public Works to force this desirable change.
Traffic Issues. Traffic is a continuing source of complaints. Commuters want to quickly navigate favorite shortcuts. Residents need to exit their driveways safely. To reach a consensus, the Association with the assistance of Councilwoman Misckowski?s staff, created a neighborhood traffic study committee. Twenty-two persons met to share ideas and after a two and one-half month process created a mutually agreed upon Statement of Goals for a canyon-wide traffic study to be conducted by the neighborhood traffic studies group in the City Department of Transportation [DOT]. To view a copy of this statement, please go to our web site, www.smcca.org. Unfortunately, the group fell victim to budgetary cuts and is not staffed to complete our study. Letters to Mayor Hahn and the City Council might help get our study back on track. Using existing staff, DOT designed the edge line project recently implemented on Entrada between the Santa Monica City Line and East Channel Road. The purpose of this project is to reduce traffic speed. The SMCCA Board opposed a separate proposal to allow parking on Entrada from near Stassi Lane to the Santa Monica City limits.
Rustic Canyon Park Tree Removal. Tree removals and trimming at Rustic Canyon Park were another hot button issue. After discussions between the community, represented by an ad hoc committee that looked at each tree slated for removal, the number of trees to be removed was sharply reduced. With backing from three arborists, including local arborist Carl Mellinger, the Recreation and Parks Department agreed that only dead, immediately dangerous, or, in one case, a tree that was being strangled by an adjacent tree, would be removed. The Department further agreed to cooperate with the community to perform a sensitive trimming of some trees that needed to be re-duced in volume. [See "Renewing the Urban Forest"].
State Beach Liquor Store. The SMCCA board, with the support of every one of our local and state elected officials, opposed the Liquor License Transfer of the State Beach Liquors based, in part, on reports from LAPD of problems and license violations by the prior management. The state liquor control agency transferred the license anyway. The new owners have been good citizens according to Senior Lead Officer Chris Ragsdale and there has been only one minor complaint received to date.
Beach Bike Path Improvements. A project to extend the beach bike path to the L.A. City limits at Coastline Drive and another project to provide an alternative to riding on Fiji Way in the Marina are being supported by your Board. Funding these projects is a challenge.
Will Rogers Beach Improvement Project. The County Department of Beaches and Harbors is completing plans for a refurbishment of restroom and concession buildings and replacement of Lifeguard Towers. Improved wheelchair access is planned and provision is made for the extension of the beach bike path. The plan has been approved by the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Coastal Commission and state Fish and Game. The County briefed the SMCCA Board. Completion of plans is now estimated to occur in April with a contract awarded in August and project completion in May 2004.
Citizen Police Academy. Two Board members, Babs Warden Lebowsky and Cynthia Winter attended the LAPD Citizen Police Academy which included classes held weekly over an 11 week periiod. The attendees agreed this was an excellent introduction to various activities of the Police Department.
Trash Can Talk. A reminder from the Public Works Department. Trash Cans should be placed at the curb after 6:00 pm on Monday and should be returned to private property by 8:00 am on Wednesday morning. Leaving trash cans out at other times is a violation of the municipal code and may interfere with street cleaning activity.