Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association

October 1, 2002 Minutes

President?s Report / Amalfi stairs deterioration

The President announced that an LAPD Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for 7 PM on October 3 at University Synagogue. Also, the Design Review Board last week considered a proposed new art gallery to be constructed at 169 West Channel Road by Frank Langen. The Community Council on October 10 will consider the ?sand? replenishment program at the beach West of Gladstone?s. Jeannie Gold is the new Area Representative to the Community Council and volunteers are needed to perform the duties of Alternate Representative.
5. [Babs Lebowsky, Cynthia Winter] Cynthia Winter gave a brief presentation. She and Babs Lebowsky attended. Classes were once a week over a 11 week period at various locations including the Police Academy. Seemed geared to good PR for Police Department. It was an excellent introduction to various activities of the Department.


8. Old Business
· Website--Our new web site link is up at www.smcca.org. We had well over 400 ?hits? during September. Cost is $19.95 per year and we have received several emails through the site.
· 909 Greentree?Still awaiting decision from hearing.
· Rustic Canyon Park Trees update?Tree trimming ongoing with recommendations made by local arborist Carl Mellinger. Mainly will cut out dead and split or dangerous branches.
· Channel Diversion Update?The President testified at yesterday?s meeting of the Board of Public Works. Issues brought up included the need to divert drainage waters throughout the year, rather than only during the ?dry? season as defined by City law. Also, the need to obtain public input early in the process when minor changes can be to plans for the benefit of the neighborhood at minimal or no cost.
· Beach Improvement update?John Spicher. No report in absence of Mr. Spicher.
9. Other Business
· Barbara Archibald brought up the condition of the Amalfi Stairway that passes through Stassi Lane. Debris from previous repairs litters the right of way, some treads and support members are severely deteriorated and quite dangerous to unsuspecting walkers and there are some exposed nails and the stairs are unpainted. George will email the complaint line to all Board members and Barbara will file a report and then email the report work order number and some digital photos to the Council Office.
·

Report on Citizen Police Academy/Committee Assignments

[Babs Lebowsky, Cynthia Winter] Cynthia Winter gave a brief presentation. She and Babs Lebowsky attended. Classes were once a week over a 11 week period at various locations including the Police Academy. Seemed geared to good PR for Police Department. It was an excellent introduction to various activities of the Department. The Board approved creation of a new committee to monitor the condition and use of stairways. Members include Barbara Archibald, Judy Golden, Leslie Hope, Alex Man.

New VNOC Update / Amalfi construction project

New VNOC for Rustic Canyon Park Improvements. The new VNOC Committee is in formation with an anticipated 7 members including a youth, a senior, a person connected with the nursery school, an arborist, engineer and architect, and a person from the last VNOC having been suggested to Councilmember Miscikowsky for appointment. Budget is expected to be approximately $500,000 and must include some irrigation work . The bid must be awarded by June 30. City Engineer is researching Historic Structure designation.
Lisa Bittan, an association member who lives adjacent to 216 Amalfi Drive, brought up the proposed construction at 216. A previous slide in the area closed Amalfi for an extended period. There are plans to build a nearly 4,000 square foot structure on the lot which is about 8,000 square feet in size and very steep requiring installation of 13 caissons to support the structure. The area is subject to liquefaction according to a City map and there was severe damage in the 1991 earthquake. The house is being build within the entitlements of the property and no zoning exceptions are needed. Only a Coastal Development Permit is required a process continued twice by the City Planning Department because of faulty posting of a required notice. Issues include the fact that Amalfi is effectively a one lane road at the property which is on a blind curve; heavy commuting traffic on the street including children to the adjacent Canyon Charter Elementary School, need for grading which may exceed the amount claimed by the owners. Need to store earth to facilitate the caissons and grading to recompact the site, lack of room for off-site earth storage and for parking of trucks, earthmoving equipment and other construction-related vehicles, air pollution from idling diesel engines, and anticipated dust and debris from construction. Ms. Bittan indicated that every neighbor has signed a petition voicing concerns and objecting to the project. Upon motion of Barbara Archibald, as amended by Alex Man and Mike Deasy, the board unanimously agreed to send letters regarding the project to Councilmember Miscikowsky, The Building and Safety Department and Commission and to the Assistant Zoning Administrator, Lourdes Green