Ven-Mar Neighborhood Association

Ven-Mar Meeting held on Tuesday, January 15, 2002

Feb 06, 2002

This meeting was held in the Auditorium building of Walgrove Avenue Elementary School. The Auditorium had been secured in anticipation of our holding a Forum on Playa Vista, the impact of that project on traffic in our area and on Playa Vista's effect on the Ballona Wetlands. Unfortunately, Playa Vista Development group withdrew a few days prior to the date. In place of the expected large crowd, we had a small attendance of 20 or fewer people. With everyone participating in the discussion, time went fast.
Two motions were carried:
(1) It is proposed that the Playa Vista Development group be invited back to speak at a meeting sponsored by the Ven-Mar Neighborhood Association at a future date on the condition that they share the podium with representatives of differing opinions, such as the Ballona Wetlands Trust, and with the facilitation of a neutral moderator.
(2) It is proposed that the Association By-Laws be ratified at the regularly scheduled Association meeting in February, the meeting with Playa Vista be held on Wednesday, March 6 and that Association elections be held on April 2nd.
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MINUTES
Venue of Meeting: Walgrove Avenue Elementary School, Mar Vista, on January 15, 2002
(Note: These Minutes were approved at the Association Meeting on February 5, 2002.)
The January meeting of the Ven-Mar Neighborhood Association was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Acting Chairperson, Alex Utas. The planned agenda, a presentation by the Playa Vista Development group, was cancelled by them. The reason given was that the group felt there was undue publicity about the meeting and that they chose not to respond to opponents of the development that may attend the meeting. The group also indicated that they were not prepared to discuss the traffic issues related to the development, which was to be a major topic at the presentation.

Association participants at the meeting held a lengthy discussion regarding Play Vista's decision not to present. The program's organizers, Rosemarie de la Pena and Shiela Bernard, explained that they had passed out flyers in the community to advertise the meeting. In addition, notices were placed in community newspapers to inform those living in the area about the presentation. Participants felt that it was important to hear both sides of the issue regarding the Playa Vista development. Consequently, the following motion was proposed, seconded and approved by meeting participants:

"It is proposed that the Playa Vista Development group be invited back to speak at a meeting sponsored by the Ven-Mar Neighborhood Association at a future date on the condition that they share the podium with representatives of differing opinions, such as the Ballona Wetlands Trust, and with the facilitation of a neutral moderator."

The next item discussed were the proposed Association By-Laws as presented by Evelyn Dravecky and Alex Utas. It was noted that there are currently no provisions in the draft for Ad Hoc Committees, or absentee voting. Copies of the By-Laws draft were distributed for review and comments.
It was felt that the Association should approve the By-Laws and hold leadership elections as soon as possible so that we can plan for representation on the two Neighborhood Councils in Venice and Mar Vista which are in the process of preparing for city certification.

On the basis of the previous discussion, the following motion was proposed, seconded and approved by meeting participants:

"It is proposed that the Association By-Laws be ratified at the regularly scheduled Association meeting in February, the meeting with Playa Vista be held on Wednesday, March 6 and that Association elections be held on April 2nd. "