Wilmington Neighborhood Council

Meeting Minutes

September 27, 2006

 

1. Meeting called to order by Chair, Jack Babbitt, at 6:10 PM.  Jack announced Brown Act rules, needs surveys, speaker cards and process of meeting.  Roll call confirmed quorum.  Board members present: Jack Babbitt, Skip Baldwin, Lucy Mejia, Gary Kern, Don Compton, Tony Rigor, Helen Mora, Nell and Hank Osterhousdt, Donna Ethington, Marisela Caraballo, Cecilia Moreno and Patrick Wilson.

 

2. SLO Ron Johnson reintroduced the new SLO’s for Wilmington as well as the new District Lieutenant for Wilmington.  He reported on two recent homicides in Wilmington. Q&A followed.

 

3. Public comment included:

*       Aida Morales from  So Cal Wolfs Girls Softball Team, requested financial support for the team’s PFX-Tour ASA 2006 Nationals in Oklahoma

*       Art Hernandez spoke against LAUSD Site F

*       Roberta Jones from LAUSD announced the next outreach meeting regarding Site F, scheduled for 10/12 at Gulf Avenue Elementary at 6 PM and the ribbon cutting ceremony for Banning 1 School for 10/11 at 10 AM at the school located at 500 N. Island Avenue

*       Katharine Moore with the USC Civil/Engineering Dept., announced the need for volunteer homes to place air monitors for a CARB year-long study

*       Ken Melendez and Kathy Padilla announced the upcoming Wilmington Waterfront Community Workshop #3 on 10/24 from 6-8 PM at the Wilmington Senior Center

*       Soledad Garcia spoke about encouraging the WNC Pubic Works Committee to submit a motion to the WNC to participate in the MOU with DWP

*       Don Compton introduced Neal Kleiner, candidate for LAUSD Board

 

4.     Elected Officials

ü      Vanessa Aramayo from Congresswoman Harman’s Office introduced herself; she is the new Harbor Area Representative.  Her contact number is 310-548-8282.

ü      Ricardo Hong from Mayor Villaraigosa’s Office introduced himself; he is the new Harbor Area Representative.  He can be reached at 310-732-4630.

ü      Jacob Haik from Councilwoman Hahn’s Office announced that the Wilmington Veteran’s Park Dedication has been delayed until November.  A specific date has not been set.  He also invited the Board and the public to participate in the “exclusive sneak preview of the newly remodeled Griffith Observatory prior to the official re-grand opening.”  Information was distributed.

 

5. Dan Davis from ACTA provided an update on the SR 47 and Henry Ford traffic signal being complete.

 

6. Presentations

  • Patricia Cruz from the Bureau of Sanitation presented on the future utilization of the Terminal Island Treatment Plant.
  • Deborah Edgar Fox from TreePeople presented on the partnership with the City of Los Angeles to plant 300,000 trees within the City.  There will be a demonstration event at Harbor Regional Park on 10/14 from 9 AM to 1 PM and the public is being invited to participate.
  • Linda Aparicio with the Department of Public Works presented on the department’s plan to meet the City’s growing infrastructure needs and associated costs.

 

7. Informational Items

a.     Pat Wilson attended the NC Liaison meeting with the City’s Controller’s Office.  They discussed the upcoming DONE audit which includes a financial and performance piece and will take place in late Oct/Nov.  There is a NC questionnaire which was due this past week.  Pat and Jack will complete it on behalf of the WNC.  There were many questions raised at this meeting concerning the election process.

b.     There wasn’t an update at this time regarding the Website Management.

c.     Toni O’Donnell had to step down from the 912 Commission and John Mavar was recently appointed by Councilwoman Hahn to replace Toni.  We should be hearing of upcoming public meetings and the topics shortly.

d.     No on Prop R – there wasn’t an update and as information becomes available it will be shared.

e.     Traffic Committee informational item included the letter drafted by the Committee for Councilwoman Hahn.  Deadline to submit comments to WNC by 10/18.

f.      Gail Goldberg meeting update – John Fisher from the Office of Transport Operations and Gail Goldberg from the Dept. of Planning are scheduled to meet with the community on Nov. 4th on 10/12.

g.     City of LA Planning Dept. Survey Participation –  WNC members are encouraged to complete the confidential survey for the Planning Dept. 

h.    Hawaiian Avenue funding request.  Information item for consideration by the financial committee.

i.       LAPD Holiday Gift Program funding request.  Informational item for consideration.

 

8. DONE Report: Gabriela introduced Rosa Arcadia, new Project Coordinator with DONE and Gabriela’s replacement.  Mark Lewis reported on the City Council wanting DONE to take on Public Service Grants for the City but that raises workload issues.  This item is still being considered.  DONE is interested in helping the WNC celebrate our 5th Anniversary in December.  Mark suggested we form a committee to plan the 5th Anniversary celebration.  Discussed the Budget Survey.  The budget survey is available online or can request a hard copy from DONE.  Completed survey’s can be dropped off at the WNC office, M-F from 8-12.  They are due by 11/15.  WNC needs to choose budget representatives to attend budget meetings.  This will be addressed in the October meeting.

 

9. Report from Officers:

  1. Jack reported on the two funding proposals to be considered.  The By-laws should be coming before the WNC soon, once we’ve made certain to cover all of the items raised by DONE.  He thanked the members of the WNC for everyone’s continued participation.
  2. Nothing to report from the Co-Chair
  3. No report from the Secretary.  Reviewed August WNC meeting minutes.  Motion my Lucy to approve with a second from Hank.  Minutes approved without changes, 12-0-0.
  4. Pat provided written report which reflects WNC financial activity dating back to 12/2002.  We are nearing the $100,000 spent and/or allocated funds.  We are still waiting for the LAPD to submit invoice for $2,500 for the vehicle.  SLO Johnson did bring an invoice, but it reflected the entire cost of the car, but we need an invoice specific to the WNC for $2,500.

 

10. Report by Standing Committees:

  1. The By-laws amendments will be submitted as an action item for the October WNC meeting.  Marisela will compare the amendments with the July 26th DONE letter to the WNC to make certain all of the items identified have been addressed.  The next meeting of the By-laws committee is the second Monday of the month at 3:30 PM at the Municipal Building.
  2. Nothing to cover from the executive board
  3. Nothing more to cover from the finance committee
  4. Next Gateway Beautification Committee meeting is scheduled for 10/3 at 12 Noon at the Municipal Building.  The committee had a community clean-up at the Bonds & Avalon gateway on 9/6 where at least 30 bags of trash were collected.
  5. Skip reported on the response from community members to the City Zoning Administrator against Mariscos Puerto Escondidos’ application for beer and wine license.  Cecilia also provided input on this item. 
  6. Next Public Works Committee meeting is on the second Wednesday at 12 Noon at the Municipal Building.
  7. No report from the Publicity & Communications Committee.  Jack requested that the committee provide the WNC a recommendation to resolve the web master situation.
  8. Donna, the PCAC representative for the WNC, requested a Special Meeting of the WNC to address the upcoming PCAC motion concerning Anchorage Road soil storage site and dredging.  There was discussion about the motion.  A special meeting was scheduled for 10/11 at 12 Noon in the Municipal Building to address this item as well as the By-law Amendments.  Jack stressed to the WNC members that we needed a quorum in order for these items to be addressed.   For Special Meetings, a 24 hour Agenda Posting will take place.
  9. Transportation Committee requested that the WNC members review the draft letter and submit any comments or concerns to Donna before October 18th.

 

11. Unfinished Business: DONE will provide the WNC with the City Attorney’s outline of how NC can spend their dollars, called Gift of Public Funds.

 

12. No New Business

 

13. Caucus Groups – Oct. 25th meeting at 12 Noon at the Municipal Building.

 

14. No Members at Large report

 

15. Public Comment from Glennda Sands regarding Warren P&E not keeping to their promise of maintaining their property on Eubank and Anaheim Streets.  Also, monopole placed on top of the Public Storage site at Frigate and PCH was not what was promised.   Art Hernandez also made a public comment regarding the historical Red Car.

16. Meeting Adjourned at 9:22 PM

 

 

Minutes taken and submitted by Cecilia Moreno