VNC Board Meeting Agenda
Board of Officers Meeting Agenda
Westminster Elementary School (Auditorium)
1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, 90291
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 7:00 PM
BOARD MEETINGS: The Venice Neighborhood Council holds its regular meetings on the third Tuesday of the month and may also call any additional required special meetings in accordance with its Bylaws and the Brown Act. All are welcome to attend.
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POSTING: The agenda and non-exempt writings that are distributed to a majority or all of the board members in advance of regular and special meetings may be viewed at Groundworks Coffee (671 Rose Ave Venice, CA 90291), Abbots Habit (1401 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA 90291), the Venice Library (501 South Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291), Oakwood Recreation Center (767 California St. Venice, CA 90291), the VNC website (http://www.venicenc.org), or at the scheduled meeting. For a copy of any record related to an item on the agenda, please contact the VNC secretary at secretary@venicenc.org.
PUBLIC COMMENT: The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the Board on any Old or New Business item on the agenda and the Treasurer’s Report. Comments from the public on these agenda items will be heard only when that item is being considered. Comments from the public on other agenda matters or on matters not appearing on the agenda but within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the Public Comment period. Public comment is limited to two (2) minutes per speaker, unless modified by the presiding officer of the Board.
DISABILITY POLICY: The Venice Neighborhood Council complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and does not discriminate on the basis of any disability. Upon request, the Venice Neighborhood Council will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request.
1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Approval of the Agenda
3. Approval of outstanding minutes
July 20, 2010 Board Meeting Minutes
(see http://venicenc.org/files/100720VNCBoardMinutes.doc)
5. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda [10 min, no more than 2 minutes per person – no board member announcements permitted]
6. Treasurers Report (10 min) See Exhibit A
Hugh Harrison (310-487-2533; chezhaha@aol.com) on behalf of the Budget Committee:
Discussion and possible action regarding items 1 & 2 below
1. Motion to approve and adopt: (i) the attached report on expenditures for July 2010; and (ii) the copy of the monthly purchase card billing for the VNC with notations as to the purpose for each expenditure available at http://venicenc.org/files/July%202010.pdf.
2. The Budget Committee voted unanimously to submit the following motion: The Venice Neighborhood Council approves the attached budget in conformity with the DONE template.
3. DONE has mandated that all Neighborhood Councils adopt a budget within a specific template or framework. The budget previously adopted by the Council for 2010-2011. The budget committee has proposed a budget that basically takes the previously approved budget and reassigns the amounts allocated in the categories established by the template. Changes to the budget based on this new format are:
a. The already approved budget “assumed” a roll-over of $25,000. DONE has established the actual roll-over at $24,259.35.
b. As last year’s retreat occurred in this fiscal year, the amount expended in July for the retreat has been added to the budget for this year’s retreat.
c. The differences from both of these changes are reflected in the amount of funds available for community improvement projects.
7. Scheduled Announcements (no more than 1 minute per report unless otherwise stated)
A VNC Announcements (3 min)
• President: Linda Lucks (310-505-4220; president@venicenc.org)
• Vice President: Carolyn Rios (310-821-7922; VP@venicenc.org)
B Governmental Reports (15 min)
• State Assemblyperson Ted Lieu: Jennifer Zivkovic, Field Representative (310-615-3515; Jennifer.zivkovic@asm.ca.gov)
• Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: Jennifer Badger, West Area Representatives (310-479-3823; jennifer.badger@lacity.org)
• City Councilperson Bill Rosendahl: Arturo Piña, Field Deputy (310-568-8772; arturo.pina@lacity.org)
• LAPD: Officer Peggy Thusing, Senior Lead Officer (310-622-3968; 25120@lapd.lacity.org)
• Western Regional Alliance of Councils: Mike Newhouse (310-795-3768; mnewhouse@newhouseseroussi.com)
• PlancheckLA: VNC Rep Challis Macpherson (310-822-1729; Challis.Macpherson@Verizon.net)
• LA Dept of Water & Power/Memoranda of Understanding: VNC Rep DeDe Audet (310-251-1054; daudet@ca.rr.com)
• Community Improvement Projects: Ivan Spiegel (310-821-9556; ivan13147@verizon.net)
8. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda
[10 min, no more than 2 minutes per person – no board member announcements permitted]9. Old Business
Discussion and possible action regarding the following matters
A Parking – Food Truck and related issues See Exhibit B Jed Pauker, Robin Rudisill (310.827.0144; gojednet-parkingAbK@yahoo.com): Whereas our community’s first priority is the safety of our residents and visitors, Be it resolved that the VNC Board of Officers make the following recommendations: Request our CD11 representative by letter [Exhibit _, attached] to direct the City Attorney to present to the City Council forthwith an Ordinance per Council File 09-0206 (http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrec…), establishing a valet permit parking program in the City of Los Angeles.
B REC Motion to replace Standing Rule 7 See Exhibit C
Ira Koslow (310-392-0868; ira.koslow@venicenc.org) on behalf of REC
10. New Business
Discussion and possible action regarding the following matters
A Approve formation of Ad Hoc Public Safety Committee
Statement::The Public Safety committee researches, develops and shares information and ideas on how Venice residents can increase safety within their communities. It will work to provide education and tools to support the creation of neighborhood-led action groups and will help work with city and law enforcement officials to advise and aid in crime prevention. The committee will also coordinate with city, county and state organizations to gather and share information on how Venice residents can stay safer in the event of a natural disaster. The Board liaisons are Mariana Aguilar and alternative Daffodil Tyminski. Co-chairs appointed by President: Heidi Roberts & Nic Hippisley-Coxe hippisley@earthlink.net (310-869-7880; heidiroberts@mac.com)
B Motion In Opposition to Residential Sidewalk Liability Ordinance
Mike Newhouse (310-795-3768; mnewhouse@newhouseseroussi.com) on behalf of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC): For the committee’s information, more info on the ordinance can be found at
http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrec….
Motion
Whereas nearly half of all sidewalks in the City of Los Angeles are in need of repair, and these sidewalks cause injury to those who walk on the sidewalks and subjects the city to liability, and
Whereas the City of Los Angeles is facing a serious budget shortfall, and
Whereas, an Ordinance has been drafted (CF 05-1383-S1) that would Amend Subsection (e) of Section 62.104 of the LAMC to transfer liability and responsibility to property owners for repair of curbs, driveways and sidewalks due to tree root damage; and
Whereas the City does not allow the adjoining property owners to remove the root cause of the sidewalk damage, i.e. the offending trees, and
Whereas the Venice Neighborhood Council (“VNC”) is desirous of promoting both tree-lined streets and safe sidewalks;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the VNC:
1. Opposes the proposed ordinance as it is currently written.
2. Opposes any transfer of liability for slip and fall accidents on the sidewalk to the adjoining property owner.
3. Requests that there be adequate time for review and comment by Neighborhood and Community Councils.
4. Sends a letter to Councilman Rosendahl and the Mayor’s office memorializing passage of this motion.
5. Files a Community Impact Statement memorializing this motion.
6. Requests that the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (“WRAC”) votes to also support this motion at its next general meeting.
Letter
Dear Councilman Rosendahl:
The following motion was passed by the Venice Neighborhood Council (“VNC”), by a vote of ________ at its regularly noticed meeting on August 17, 2010.
“Whereas nearly half of all sidewalks in the City of Los Angeles are in need of repair, and these sidewalks cause injury to those who walk on the sidewalks and subjects the city to liability, and
Whereas the City of Los Angeles is facing a serious budget shortfall, and
Whereas, an Ordinance has been drafted (CF 05-1383-S1) that would Amend Subsection (e) of Section 62.104 of the LAMC to transfer liability and responsibility to property owners for repair of curbs, driveways and sidewalks due to tree root damage; and
Whereas the City does not allow the adjoining property owners to remove the root cause of the sidewalk damage, i.e. the offending trees, and
Whereas the Venice Neighborhood Council (“VNC”) is desirous of promoting both tree-lined streets and safe sidewalks;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the VNC:
1. Opposes the proposed ordinance as it is currently written.
2. Opposes any transfer of liability for slip and fall accidents on the sidewalk to the adjoining property owner.
3. Requests that there be adequate time for review and comment by Neighborhood and Community Councils.
4. Sends a letter to Councilman Rosendahl and the Mayor’s office memorializing passage of this motion.
5. Files a Community Impact Statement memorializing this motion.
6. Requests that the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (“WRAC”) votes to also support this motion at its next general meeting.
We hope that we can count on you strong opposition to Ordinance CF 05-1383-S1.
Sincerely,
Linda Lucks, President
Venice Neighborhood Council
Community Impact Statement
Ordinance CF 05-1383-S1 would Amend Subsection (e) of Section 62.104 of the LAMC to transfer liability and responsibility to property owners for repair of curbs, driveways and sidewalks due to tree root damage. The Venice Neighborhood Council:
1. Opposes the proposed ordinance as it is currently written.
2. Opposes any transfer of liability for slip and fall accidents on the sidewalk to the adjoining property owner.
3. Requests that there be adequate time for review and comment by Neighborhood and Community Councils.
C. Turning “Trash Talk” into Action
Carolyn Rios (310-821-7922 crlynrios@ca.rr.com) VNC Vice-president:
Whereas: Many of us are receiving many and more complaints, and our neighborhoods have become trashier – Rose Ave. Venice Blvd, Lincoln, Windward, Washington, AK BLvd, OFW, etc
Whereas: Problem is exacerbated now by mandatory city furloughs affecting trash pick-up.
Whereas: We need a coordinated solution from everyone, business, artists, environmental activists, students, residents
Question: What can we do??
Answer: A Clean-up Campaign:
I move that the Administrative Committee & Board mandate that all pertinent committees start work on a Venice Clean-up Campaign.
The Environmental Committee can start a campaign relating trash to pollution, health, oceans, whatever works, The Arts Committee can get artists, students, neighborhoods to make Trash Bins a noticeable piece of art. Not sure how to pay for more trash bins. The Neighborhoods and Business coordinator can get neighbors, schools, businesses to be more willing to empty the trash into their own bin more often. We can encourage residents to clean up their own sidewalk and street.
The Venice Neighborhood Council can coordinate one big, or many smaller monthly clean-ups, coordinating with Whole Foods who already do this, CD 11 who will work with us, Neighborhood Associations, and Business communities.
If the VNC coordinates “cleaning up Venice” in six months there will be a noticeable difference. People will start to be more careful. It’s frustrating to realize that most of this trash is generated by inconsiderate tourists, homeless, or in my area, people who come to use the park, but WE LIVE HERE, so in the end, if we don’t like it we need to work together.
Carolyn Rios
Vice-President
Venice Neighborhood Council
D1 Mechanical Parking Lifts – Request to Amend City Ordinance
John Henning (323-655-6171; jhenning@planninglawgroup.com) on behalf of 1311 A.K. Properties LLC for LUPC and Board Action: A Venice restaurateur is proposing three 4-level, 30-foot tall outdoor mechanical parking lifts to satisfy the parking requirements for a new restaurant on a small parcel on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, which is across the street from residences. This project highlights the urgent need to
amend an existing city ordinance that allows such lifts. Presently, the ordinance does not contain any specifications for such lifts, and does not provide any other requirements for such lifts, such as that they be staffed by trained operators or with sufficient valets, or have sufficient room on-site to move cars in and out of the lifts, and does not require that neighbors be protected from the noise and visual effects of lifts. The proposed motion would request that the City adopt an amendment to the ordinance imposing these requirements, and subjecting all proposals for such lifts to a discretionary review by the Zoning Administrator, and further that the City adopt a one-year moratorium on such lifts in Venice in order to allow for the drafting of the amended ordinance. (See http://venicenc.org/files/ABBneighbnotice&petition7-24-10final.pdf for Outdoor Parking Lifts Bulletin)
Motion
Moved, that the Venice Neighborhood Council request that the City of Los Angeles immediately take the following actions:
A. Adopt, as an urgency ordinance, an amendment to Section 12.21.A.5.m of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, requiring that all proposals for mechanical automobile lifts used for required parking be subject to a discretionary review by the Zoning Administrator, with a public hearing and notice to a 500-foot radius, and specifying standards to ensure that the lifts actually operate to provide the required parking, and that neighbors are protected from the negative impacts of such lifts. The standards shall include: (1) physical specifications for the lifts themselves, demonstrating that all levels of the lifts are adequate to accommodate passenger cars of all sizes; (2) an affidavit requiring the property owner to provide trained operators for the lifts and sufficient valet parking attendants to simultaneously operate all vehicles removed from the lifts or adjoining spaces; (3) sufficient room on-site for all vehicles removed from the lifts to wait while other cars are removed from the lifts; (4) minimum distance from residences and residential neighborhoods, to protect against noise impacts; (5) a maximum height of three levels for outdoor lifts; (6) a maximum height of two levels when the lift is visible from any public right-of-way or residence, in order to mitigate visual impacts; (7) for high-turnover uses such as restaurants, a maximum height of two levels, with no obstruction by surface parking spaces; (8) an affidavit requiring the property owner to cease the approved use during any time when the lifts cease to operate; (9) a one-year review and public hearing by the Zoning Administrator to ensure the lifts are operating properly and without adverse impacts on the neighborhood, at which additional conditions may be imposed or the grant revoked.
B. Adopt a moratorium on the approval by the City of any mechanical parking lift in the Venice neighborhood for one year, to allow for the drafting and passage of the above urgency ordinance.
Community Impact Statement
The motion would have a positive impact on the community. It would protect neighbors and the neighborhood from a rapid intensification of uses that would otherwise result from unregulated use of such parking lifts to satisfy parking requirements. It would also protect neighbors from the visual and noise impacts of such lifts.
Opposition Rationales
This issue has not been addressed by the VNC. We are unaware of any specific opposition rationale. However, undoubtedly individual property owners seeking to intensify the use on their properties, such as to
allow new restaurants, stand to benefit economically from the absence of standards and discretionary review for mechanical parking lifts, because this would facilitate their projects.
D2 LUPC offers the Following Motion: Jake Kaufman, LUPC Chair (310-463-0299; chair-LUPC@Venicenc.org In order to protect Venice neighborhoods from visual, noise and traffic impacts, and rapid intensification of uses that would otherwise result from the use of parking lifts by right to satisfy parking requirements, the LUPC recommends that the VNC request of the Council Office and CCC, that there be an immediate discretionary review, requiring a public hearing by the ZA or Planning Commission of each project seeking use of LAMC Sect. 12.21.A.5(m) (Mechanical Automobile Lifts and Robotic Parking Structures) within Venice. Motion made by Jay Goldberg motioned, Seconded by Karen Wolfe. Date of Motion, 8.11,10 Motion Passed (8-0-0). (Letter to be submitted)see below Special Meeting Notice – Addendum to Board of Officers Meeting Agenda for replacement of the following motion 10E
E. LUPC Staff Report regarding Café Windward at 22-28 Windward (ZA 2010-510 PAB SPP CUB)
Jake Kaufman, LUPC Chair (310-463-0299; Chair-LUPC@VeniceNC.org) on behalf of LUPC: Motion to recommend the project as presented noting:
An increase in hours – M-W 11:30a-11:30p, Thurs-Sat 930a-2am and Sunday 9:30a-12am
An increase in seating from 70-84,
That the project meet BMP, See Exhibit D
And no exemptions or variances for parking.
Approved (7-0-0)
Date of Motion: July 14, 2010
Dear _____________________
The Venice Neighborhood Council Board supports the position that all planes departing from Santa Monica Airport fly over Santa Monica rather than Venice. This would relieve the Venice and Mar Vista communities of the problems of noise pollution, toxic air pollution, and other dangers associated with having Santa Monica Airport send its aircrafts over highly populated areas of Los Angeles. It would also force the City of Santa Monica, and the FAA, to finally begin dealing seriously with the realities of this Airport in the 21st Century.
There is no safety advantage for departing over flying planes to fly over Venice and Mar Vista as opposed to Santa Monica. There are a number of important reasons to change the flight path, but fundamentally, it is an issue such as one of fairness: ; a good neighbor does not dump what it doesn’t want onto its neighbor. The city of Santa Monica has moved all of its impacts over these Los Angeles communities and yet receives whatever benefits accrue from having the Santa Monica Airport.
Secondly, flights delays out of LAX due to coordination of the jets at LAX with the jets and slower IFR props out of Santa Monica would not be an issue if all those aircrafts flew over Santa Monica toward the Santa Monica Pier, thus insuring the proper separation from the flight paths out of LAX.
We also strongly feel that the student and training operations out of Santa Monica airport place an unfair burden for the many school children (over 11 public schools from elementary through high school) that are impacted by the small planes flying over the Venice and Mar Vista Communities. There is documented evidence that learning problems are associated with noise pollution associated with aircraft noise decibels. (See the UCLA pediatric report under Health Effects of Noise Pollution) http://www.hiaguide.org/hia/santa-monica-airport-health-impact-assessmen…
The elderly and young are at highest risks from aircraft sound pollution, but the entire area suffers from many health, and associated problems living under the constant barrage of noise pollution from these Santa Monica departures and practice trainings.
We seek your immediate attention to these matters and need your cooperation and help in the alleviation of these problems caused by the use of the sky over Venice and Mar Vista as the path for aircrafts out of the Santa Monica Airport.
We look forward to hearing from you on this matter and working with your staff.
Best,
Linda Lucks
President
Contact list of elected and others
William C. Withycombe
Western-Pacific Region Regional Administrator
FAA Western Pacific Region
P.O. Box 92007
Los Angeles, CA 90009
Office of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3553
Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl
200 N. Spring Street
Rm 415
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 473-7011
(213) 473-6926 Fax
U.S. Representative Henry Waxman
2400 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Senator Dianne Feinstein,
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Congresswoman Jane Harman
2400 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
11. Announcements & Public Comment on items not on the Agenda
[10 min, no more than 2 minutes per person – no board member announcements permitted]12. Board Member Comments on subject matters within the VNC jurisdiction.
[10 min, no more than 1 minutes per person]13. Adjourn (approx 10:00PM)
Exhibit A – Treasurer’s report and budget – see links below
Exhibit B – Report: Parking-Food Truck and related issues
In pursuing our assignment to investigate, report and recommend on the issues of food trucks and valet parking, we focused on the following questions:
o Do our recommendations enhance the mission of the VNC?
o To what extent, and for how many stakeholders, can our work improve the quality of life?
o What City resources are likely to be readily available, and for what resources may we have to petition?
o What VNC resources, both technical and human, does our work require?
o How much public meeting time is our presentation likely to require?
o How soon must the Board act in order to move forward most effectively?
Our Neighborhood Council is, first and foremost, the messenger of our community’s voice to the City. Recommendations on these issues are designed to speak as broadly and directly as possible for the benefit of all Venice stakeholders, whether homeowner, renter, entrepreneur or visitor. We must speak to the City mindful of its current financial destitution, as well as its mandate, in any case, to represent our community’s will. Understanding that this is a time of transition to a new VNC Board, we planned our work to use the least possible personnel resources while making the best use of available technical tools. We expect to require no more than twenty minutes of Board meeting time to present our findings and recommendations, and for Board consideration. Because these issues are as rapidly-moving as are their proponents and regulators, promising benefits that far outweigh current detriments, we recommend that the Board act with all due haste.
To date, our work has included: Research on recent local food truck and valet parking history; outreach to CD11 and CD4 staff, LAPD, the Fire Marshall, LADOT, local food truck vendors and their representative, local residents and entrepreneurs for direction, information and general issue discussion; research on the food truck industry’s nationwide emergence; analysis of valet parking issues and existing models; and, finally, First Friday field work on Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
Based on this work, we request that the VNC Board consider each of the following resolutions in the name of public safety, convenience and coastal amenities:
Request our CD11 representative by letter [Exhibit _, attached] to direct the City Attorney to present to the City Council forthwith an Ordinance per Council File 09-0206 (http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrec…), establishing a valet permit parking program in the City of Los Angeles.
Request our CD11 representative to forward [Exhibit _, attached] the April 2010, VNC Parking Committee report to LADOT with the direction to evaluate and provide recommendations for City Council action.
Exhibit B1 – Councilman Rosendahl re: Valet permit parking ordinance
July 21, 2010
Councilman Bill Rosendahl
City Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Dear Bill,
The Venice Neighborhood Council passed a resolution at its meeting on July 20, 2010, asking your office to direct the City Attorney to expedite completion of work to draft an ordinance pursuant to Council File 09-0206, to establish a valet parking permit program for the City of Los Angeles.
As you know, Los Angeles lacks a centralized valet parking program, leading to valet practices including cordoning off zones which may not belong to their clients, and negatively affecting already-congested residential parking areas in Venice’s Coastal Zone. In contrast, many adjacent and nearby cities enjoy regulated valet parking services, with predictable and enforceable operating rules and permit requirements.
On October 28, 2009, the City Council Public Safety Committee’s Chief Legislative Analyst recommended that the City Council request the City Attorney, with the assistance and cooperation of the Board of Police Commissioners; the Departments of City Planning and Transportation; and the Office of Finance, to prepare and present an ordinance to establish a valet parking permit program in the City of Los Angeles, as set forth in the report.
On December 16, 2009, the City Council adopted the report of the Public Safety Committee and requested the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance to establish a valet parking permit program, as recommended by the Chief Legislative Analyst.
Bill, as the summer season attracts millions more visitors to Venice’s Coastal Zone, the need for dependable, enforceable valet parking regulations increases. Please communicate to the City Attorney the urgency and value of completing work on the aforementioned ordinance.
Thank you in advance for your expeditious response to your community.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Lucks
President
Venice Neighborhood Council
Exhibit B2 – Councilman Rosendahl re: Parking Committee report
July 21, 2010
Councilman Bill Rosendahl
City Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Dear Bill,
The Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) passed a resolution at its meeting on July 20, 2010, asking your office to forward to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) the April 2010 VNC Parking Committee report and recommendations regarding parking conditions in the Venice Coastal Zone.
The VNC Parking Committee report has been forwarded to your office. As you know, existing parking conditions are exceedingly congested throughout the Venice Coastal Zone. To accommodate the influx of new businesses and visitors, these conditions require dedicated evaluation and relief.
Please expedite forwarding of the report to LADOT, with a request to evaluate and provide recommendations for City Council action.
Thank you in advance for your expeditious response to your community.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Lucks
President
Venice Neighborhood Council
Attachment: Venice Parking Report
Cc: Rita Robinson, GM, LA Department of Transportation Mo Blorfroshan, LADOT
Exhibit B3 parking Report
Venice Neighborhood Council
Parking Subcommittee Report 2009-2010 (4/20)
Chair: James Murez ( murez@venice.net )
Meetings Conducted: Mercedes Bar and Grill, 14 Washington Bl., @ 3:00 PM
Recommendations: The Parking Committee should continue so long as individuals want
to help make progress in this area. A lot of what is required at present has to do with
compiling data that can be turned over to the City to act on.
Additionally, the creation of an Abbot Kinney parking lot will allow the City the leeway
to enforce the present violators and offer a solution that will not require putting anyone
out of business for lack of parking. This is going to be a major political battle if the VNC
wants to have the City enforce the rules without having a viable solution such as this
one. At the same time, creating a parking option of this type for property owners will
result in a significant property value increase as all commercial uses along this corridor
are allowed to buy into an offsite solution.
Issues Reviewed
1976 Vs. Present Inventory: One of the great mysteries of parking in Venice is what
existed when the LAMC created the requirement to provide on-site parking. In the
following year, the California Coastal Act became empowered and the requirement
ratio in coastal zones increased. This point in time is what sets the standards for
“Grandfather Rights” because anything that did not comply was allowed to continue
to exist so long as there was no change of use which caused an intensification of use.
On the flip side, newly created spaces since this point in time that are not required by a
new project are considered unrestricted and may be used to offset other requirements.
Many of these parking spaces exist as a result of the BIZ (Beach Impact Zone)
requirement in the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan. Assuming an inventory of these
spaces can be created with the help of the City, a preferential parking zone could be
created at a one-to-one ratio to those which were identified as above the requirement.
Red curbs: There are many painted red curbs that create restrictions that don’t appear
to make any sense of the street uses that exist today. These restrictions, after surveying
several of the sites in question, will require the Dept. of Trans. to correct.
Sightseeing Bus Zones: There are several of these special zones in the Windward Ave.
and Pacific Ave. region of Venice. These zones are very space consuming and the
restrictions are posted 24/7. Several residents and business owners in the areas of these
zones feel it is unfair for these zones to remove the street parking in front of their
properties. This is especially bad in the early evening and overnight, when people
coming home from work have no place to park even though the sightseeing buses
have already gone because Ocean Front Walk is closed. In addition, I heard several
complaints about these buses leaving their engines idling because they need to keep
the interior air conditioners running so the customers return to a cool bus – but what
they don’t seem to understand is that they are idling outside of someone’s window and
the exhaust from the diesel engines is very unpleasant. (Existing signage reminding bus
drivers, nor asking them nicely, to stop their engines does not seem help solve this
ongoing problem.)
Diagonal Parking Streets: Several of the original Venice Cannels which are now streets
are wide enough to be used in a different configuration that might include creating a
median strip with parallel parking, perpendicular parking, diagonal parking or some
combination of these. These street alterations could create as many as 1000 additional
parking spaces in the area East of Main Street on the west and West of Abbot Kinney on
the east and North of Venice Blvd. including Rivera, Market, Windward, San Juan and
Grand. However, the residents on these streets are very concerned with changing their
neighborhoods and making them into a visitor parking lot or, worse yet, making up the
shortcoming in the Abbot Kinney business district. However, these concerns might be
addressed by creating a preferential parking zone. In early conversations with the
Coastal Commission, under these conditions where new stalls would be created, such a
zone change would be allowed at a one-to-one ratio.
Abbot Kinney District
Parking Structure: About a year ago, I proposed the construction of a parking
structure at Westminster Elementary School and, since then, the Council Office has held
a few preliminary meetings to test the water with LAUSD. The lot is proposed to be
constructed on the northern end of the campus and early estimates suggest the lot size
might create as many as 500 new parking stalls. In one of the early meetings, LAUSD
made it clear something might be possible along these lines of a joint project with the
City to create and operate the lot. However, the local school must buy into any project
and they have several reservations about keeping the funds generated by the lot at
their school. Later this month, I plan to meet with these folks at the school to get a first
hand understanding of their concerns and see if their needs can be addressed.
Code Enforcement: This is the single biggest issue affecting this business district.
Several of the meetings this committee held were focused on this topic. Between the
buildings that have been built in recent years as Artist-In-Residences but which are
being used as full retail without appropriate parking and all the old houses that have
been converted into retail stores again without parking, an already horrible condition
has turned into an even worse one.
Valets: Another condition that is causing the parking conditions to be so bad are
valets. When these guys start coning off public spaces on the street and rotating their
cars into and out of them, no one that wants to visit can do so without paying their
hefty fees. In this case, there are two legal Valet Zones on AK, one in front of Hal’s and
the other in front of Joe’s restaurant. Although they are not creating more cars, these
services are taking away public parking by parking the cars on the street and not in off
street private lots. Enforcement here might include LAPD requiring the valet services to
remove their cones from the street, as clearly this is a violation.
Restricted Access: A few of the buildings on AK have parking lots that were
intended to serve the retail portion of the building. However, they are kept locked and
not available to the general public. In addition, some of the businesses on AK are
required to provide parking as a condition of their permit and, for whatever reason,
they don’t. It should be easy for the City to correct both of these conditions, and it is
clear that without their involvement, the property owners will not do it on their own.
Stakeholder Participation
Daytime meetings seem hard for most residents and business owners to
participate in. Nights meetings, although easier to attend, don’t allow site visits where
issues can be reviewed first hand between the group members. Parking issues are very
site specific in many cases, and everyone seems to have a special set of conditions
that need to be addressed.
My Maps: The Certified Neighborhood Council Tracking system allows
Stakeholders to create a personal profile. Once created, they can go to the My Maps
tab and enter a push pin on a map of the area. The push pin will describe a parking
condition they feel needs further investigation by the VNC Parking Committee. These
maps will then be compiled and turned over to the Council Office and LA City
Department of Transportation for their review.
StakeholerParking.com: This website was developed as a possible solution for
landlords who have an extra parking space or more and want to rent them out to
individuals in the community. The system allows individuals to create an account, look
up a parking lot, and purchase a parking pass that they can then print and hang in
their car window.
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Background
In pursuing our assignment to investigate, report and recommend on the issues of food trucks and valet parking, we focused on the following questions:
o Do our recommendations enhance the mission of the VNC?
o To what extent, and for how many stakeholders, can our work improve the quality of life?
o What City resources are likely to be readily available, and for what resources may we have to petition?
o What VNC resources, both technical and human, does our work require?
o How much public meeting time is our presentation likely to require?
o How soon must the Board act in order to move forward most effectively?
Our Neighborhood Council is, first and foremost, the messenger of our community’s voice to the City. Recommendations on these issues are designed to speak as broadly and directly as possible for the benefit of all Venice stakeholders, whether homeowner, renter, entrepreneur or visitor. We must speak to the City mindful of its current financial destitution, as well as its mandate, in any case, to represent our community’s will. Understanding that this is a time of transition to a new VNC Board, we planned our work to use the least possible personnel resources while making the best use of available technical tools. We expect to require no more than twenty minutes of Board meeting time to present our findings and recommendations, and for Board consideration. Because these issues are as rapidly-moving as are their proponents and regulators, promising benefits that far outweigh current detriments, we recommend that the Board act with all due haste.
To date, our work has included: Research on recent local food truck and valet parking history; outreach to CD11 and CD4 staff, LAPD, the Fire Marshall, LADOT, local food truck vendors and their representative, local residents and entrepreneurs for direction, information and general issue discussion; research on the food truck industry’s nationwide emergence; analysis of valet parking issues and existing models; and, finally, First Friday field work on Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
Research materials are posted here: http://venicenc.org/parking-abbotkinney. The community continues to provide survey input.
Update
Input received since mid-July includes more surveys returned, recommendations from meetings with, and visits from, City and local business representatives and residents, and one report from a local group that commissioned a parking study for Lincoln Boulevard.
VNC residential survey results showed that nearby residents had mixed opinions about both food trucks and valet parking, with the valet parking situation receiving lower grades. The Abbot Kinney business survey pertained strictly to food trucks, and to the July 2 First Friday. As such, valet parking opinions were not available from the Abbot Kinney business survey. While the vast majority of Abbot Kinney business operators were critical of the presence and some practices of food truck operators, many comments showed both tolerance and business benefits.
Self-regulation was mentioned by one survey respondent. Discussions with representatives of Abbot Kinney vendors and food truck operators yielded numerous initiatives, which could simultaneously improve community relations and obviate the need for immediate regulation. These initiatives include, but are not limited to, locating food trucks in low-impact areas, designating specific areas for multiple trucks and partnering between food truck and business operators to provide incentives to residents.
While the surveys show respondents’ opinions, they do not address resolving the fundamental problem: automotive congestion.
The 2009 Lincoln Boulevard study attempted to do just that. Two graduate students from UCLA’s Department of Urban Planning, under Professor Donald Shoup, studied parking along Lincoln Boulevard between Machado Drive and Venice Boulevard. The study’s recommendations were “intended to foster a less auto-dependent and more pedestrian-, bike-, and transit-friendly Lincoln Boulevard.”
The study included summaries of results in other cities that have pursued parking congestion-relieving initiatives.
Abbot Kinney’s parking issues are unique to its surroundings. This report is not to promote the Lincoln Boulevard study per se, but rather to recommend inclusion of its planning model among VNC’s recommendations to address Abbot Kinney’s valet parking and food truck issues, to wit:
1) Promote a consolidated valet parking program for the Abbot Kinney area.
2) Promote continued communications among involved entities to produce mutually-beneficial initiatives.
3) Promote consideration of a parking study to address current and future needs for Abbot Kinney and its surrounding area.
Community Impact Statement
Venice Coastal Zone parking is at an ever-increasing premium for residents, businesses and visitors alike. Multiple short- and long-term parking restrictions continue to prove insufficient in achieving their collective goal to ease automotive congestion and the inevitable neighbor-to-neighbor tensions it creates. Lack of adequate enforcement of existing regulations combines with the failure of existing regulations to address our changing environment. Only with comprehensive and carefully-crafted initiatives designed to create space where none seems to exist can our community members and visitors hope to regain the full enjoyment of our uniquely diverse and walkable community which was intended by its founder.
Exhibit C – REC Motion to replace Standing Rule 7PROPOSED VNC Standing Rule 7
Motion to replace Standing Rule 7 with the following (current version on next page):
7. Agenda Request Procedures & Posting of Minutes
The VNC Secretary is responsible for producing accurate minutes of Stakeholder, Board of Officers and Administrative Committee meetings. The VNC Standing & Ad Hoc Committee chairs are responsible for producing accurate minutes of committee meetings and for web posting a draft of the minutes no later than seven (7) days after the meeting at which the minutes were taken. Minutes must be web posted no later than seven (7) days after the meeting at which they are approved.
A. Administrative Committee
All agenda requests & supporting documents must be submitted to the Secretary no later than 7:00PM two (2) days prior to the posting deadline for the Administrative Committee meeting (five days prior to said meeting). Any request not received by the Secretary as indicated above will not be considered and will be held until the next meeting. Please email supporting documents in digital format with the item title in the subject line.
• Board Members & Committees must use the Online Agenda Request Form.
• An Online Agenda Request Form must include contact information, item title, and fully drafted motions/letters. Incomplete or confusing motions or letters will result in the rejection of the item by the Secretary with notice to the person submitting the request & to the President.
Any letter requests shall include the names and addresses of proposed recipients. Proponents of the letter shall prepare it as decided by the board and email it to the President for review, edit and signature. The President shall return the approved version by email to the proponents with a copy to the Secretary for VNC records. Proponents of the letter shall then copy and send the approved letter.
The chair of the Administrative Committee may supersede this rule.
B. Standing & Ad Hoc Committees
It is recommended that all agenda requests & supporting documents be submitted to the chair of the Committee no later than 7:00PM two (2) days prior to the posting deadline for the Committee meeting (five days prior to said meeting). Any request not received by the chair of the committee in time to prepare and post the agenda prior to the 72 hour will not be considered and will be held until the next meeting
• An Agenda Request Form must include contact information, item title, and fully drafted motions/letters. Incomplete or confusing motions or letters will result in the rejection of the item by the chair with notice to the person submitting the request.
Any letter requests shall include the names and addresses of proposed recipients. If submitted to the Board by the chair of the Committee on its behalf, the chair shall prepare it as decided by the Board and email it to the President for review, edit and signature. The President shall return the approved version by email to the chair of the Committee with a copy to the Secretary for VNC records. The chair of the Committee shall then copy and send the approved letter.
AGENDA REQUEST FORM CAN BE FOUND AT: http://www.venicenc.org/Agenda
CURRENT VNC Standing Rule 7
7. Administrative Committee Amended 091020
All agenda requests & supporting documents must be submitted to the Secretary no later than 7:00PM two (2) days prior to the posting deadline for the Administrative Committee meeting (five days prior to said meeting). Any request not received by the Secretary as indicated above will not be considered and will be held until the next meeting. Please email supporting documents in digital format with the item title in the subject line.
• Board Members & Committees must use the Online Agenda Request Form.
• An Online Agenda Request Form must include contact information, item title, and fully drafted motions/letters. Incomplete or confusing motions or letters will result in the rejection of the item by the Secretary with notice to the person submitting the request & to the President.
Any letter requests shall include the names and addresses of proposed recipients. Proponents of the letter shall prepare it as decided by the board and email it to the President for review, edit and signature. The President shall return the approved version by email to the proponents with a copy to the Secretary for VNC records. Proponents of the letter shall then copy and send the approved letter.
The chair of the Administrative Committee may supersede this rule.
Exhibit D – (see below Special Meeting Notice – Addendum to Board of Officers Meeting Agenda for replacement of Board Agenda Item 10E)
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