NOVEMBER FULL BOARD MEETING

WHWCNC FULL BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 – 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
American Legion Hall
5320 Fallbrook Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Click For Agenda

Supporting Document:  Proposed Speed Limit Changes Summary

OCTOBER FULL BOARD MINUTES

6140 Variel PLUM Case Report

 

 

AGENDA – WHWCNC FULL BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 – 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

American Legion Hall

5320 Fallbrook Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

 

*PUBLIC INPUT AT NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETINGS – The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the Board on any agenda item before the Board takes an action on an item. Comments from the public on agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the agenda that are within the Board’s jurisdiction will be heard during the General Public Comment period.   Please note that under the Brown Act, the Board is prevented from acting on a matter that you bring to its attention during the General Public Comment period; however, the issue raised by a member of the public may become the subject of a future Board meeting.

 

Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker, unless adjusted by the presiding officer of the Board.

 

Comments from Stakeholders and the Public on Agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments within the Board’s subject matter jurisdiction on other matters not appearing on the Agenda will be heard during the Public Comment period. Public Comment is limited to 20 minutes.

 

The opinions, positions or actions taken by the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council do not represent or imply similar opinions held by the Owner, Landlord, L.A.U.S.D, or representatives of any venue hosting a meeting of the Neighborhood Council Board, or affiliated committees.

 

AGENDA

 

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

 

Approval of Minutes:   Board Meeting – October 10, 2018

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

1. Organization, Operation, Policies, & Procedures:

 

Public Announcements:

LAPD Topanga Division

Office of Councilman Bob Blumenfield

Empower LA representative for WHWCNC – Gibson Nyambura

 

Office of other Local and State Officials and Other Public Announcements and Presentations

 

Public Comment Period (on items not on the agenda): (2) minutes per speaker

 

Organization, Operation, Policies, & Procedures, Officer Reports

 

President – Joyce Fletcher

WHWCNC Annual Holiday Party – Friday, December 14^th ?

            Committee Funding and Expenditures for fiscal year 2018/2019 and schedule Budget Committee Meeting

Vice-President – Sheppard Kaufman

 

Treasurer – Paul Lawler

Secretary – Linda Kouy-Ghadosh – Assistant Secretary, Karen DiBiase

Parliamentarian – Don Patterson

________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Items for Board discussion and possible action:

 

Item No. (1) Joyce Fletcher, President

(18-092) Treasurer Board Action Certification (BAC)  and NC Funding Program Letter of Acknowledgement

Board Verification for Treasurer Paul Lawler

 

Motion to verify that Board member Paul Lawler was elected Treasurer by the Board of the WHWCNC at the October 10, 2018 WHWCNC Board Meeting by a vote of:          Yes: 20            No: 0                Abstain: 0

 

Roll Call Vote for Board Action Certification (BAC) and NC Funding Program Letter of Acknowledgement

 

Item No. (2) PLUM Committee – Don Patterson and Lauren Coffman Co-Chairs

(18-093) Case No. DIR-2018-3018-SP

6160 N. Variel Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91367

 

Discussion and possible action:

 

MOTION: As pertaining to Case DIR-2018-3018-SPP, having held (two) public meetings for the application filed by the applicant/owner, California Home Builders, requesting to demolish three existing one-story buildings for the construction of a seven-story mixed-use podium building with up to 269 residential units (289,877 SF), 51,684 SF of non-residential uses, and 493 parking spaces over three levels, the Planning, Land Use, and Mobility Committee hereby finds that:

 

WHEREAS, the PLUM Committee opines the project is generally compliant with the Warner Center Specific Plan 2035; and

 

WHEREAS, the project includes a significant architectural feature at the activity node at the intersection of Erwin Street and Variel Avenue; and

 

WHEREAS, the applicant has made minor modifications to the building design to address PLUM Committee input; and

 

WHEREAS, the proposed project is consistent with the existing or proposed developments in the immediate areas.

 

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee, for the findings and conditions stated herein, finds that the submitted applications and plans for the project at 6140 and 6160 Variel Avenue receive the support of the Board of the Woodland Hills -Warner Center Neighborhood Council for the requested actions contingent upon the following conditions:

 

Conditions:

 

1. All plans presented to the Board of the Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council on November 14, 2018 shall be dated as such and re-submitted to Planning as an updated project application submittal.

 

1. The applicant will not submit any significant, further updated plans without presenting them to the WHWCNC for support.

 

1. The applicant will explore options for additional signage for live-work units to attract additional pedestrian traffic to the pathway between the Q on Erwin and the Q on DeSoto.

 

1. All conditions herein shall be printed on one of the project summary pages as a commitment to and acceptance of these conditions.

 

The Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee recommends that the Board of the Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council advise the city of Los Angeles Planning Department and Council District 3 Councilmember Bob Blumenfield of its findings and supporting recommendation to APPROVE these applications as presented on November 14, 2018.

 

Item No. (3) PLUM Committee – Lauren Coffman and Don Patterson, Co-Chairs

(18-094) DIR-2015-4099-SPP 

22425 Del Valle Street 

 

Discussion and possible action:

 

MOTION: As pertaining to Case DIR-2015-4099-SPP, a project located at 22425 Del Valle Street, which during the Planning Review Phase, was a project compliance to demolish an existing 3-unit, one story apartment building for construction of a new 5-unit two story apartment building with two stories of subterranean parking. The project is located in the Ventura-Cahuenga Corridor Specific Plan area. The project was reviewed and approved by the WHWCNC PLUM committee previously. The Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee hereby finds that:

 

WHEREAS, The owner/builder, Russ Azma of SMSB Properties, LLC, obtained the building permit and thereafter, due to field conditions, a supplemental permit #15050-20004-03233, which was not required to be reviewed by Planning, because the owner said there were no  changes to the exterior; and

 

WHEREAS, the project is currently under construction, and the building inspector, Daniel Duran, has required that the building owner/builder return to WHWCNC PLUM because the exterior materials are not as per approved plans; and

 

WHEREAS, the Letter of Determination, dated April 8, 2016 requires all project changes to be submitted to Planning for review and approval; and

 

WHEREAS, the building is in its final stages of construction; and

 

WHEREAS, PLUM has reviewed the photographs presented by the owner at a PLUM meeting on September 20, 2018; and

 

WHEREAS, PLUM took a vote to accept the new materials and their new locations on the building and the vote failed; and

 

WHEREAS, the planner, Sarah Hounsell, planner for the Ventura – Cahuenga Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan Area has requested that the owner/builder be required to resubmit the supplemental permit #15050-20004-03233 plans to building safety with the requirement to be reviewed by Planning;

 

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee, for the findings and conditions stated herein, finds that the building presented in the photograph of the “As Is” conditions submitted by  Russ Azma of SMSB Properties, LLC  not receive the support of the Board of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council for the requested actions, and be required to resubmit to Building Safety and Planning the supplemental permit #15050-20004-03233, due to a change in the previously approved building elevations, for final determination.

 

Item No. (4) ) PLUM Committee – Don Patterson and Lauren Coffman, Co-Chairs

(18-095) AA-2018-939-PMLA and ZA-2018-940

 

Discussion and possible action:

 

MOTION: As pertaining to Cases AA-2018-939-PMLA and ZA-2018-940, having held (two) public meetings for the application filed by the applicant/owner, Zion Mizrahi,, requesting to subdivide the lot at 22858 Burbank Blvd. Woodland Hills, California into 2 lots, and construct a single family dwelling on the new created rear lot, the Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee hereby finds that:

 

WHEREAS, the proposed lot subdivision will result in 2 legal size R1-1 zoned lots; and,

 

WHEREAS, the rear flag lot configuration created is consistent with adjacent flag lots, and the R1-1 zoned community populated with several other flag lots, and,

 

WHEREAS, the applicant has agreed to locate the partial second story of the new house on the east end of the structure to minimize impact to the west adjoining neighbor. There are trees shielding the view to the vacant back portion of the adjoining lot to the east, and,

 

WHEREAS, the existing single family dwelling exterior has not been expanded or modified, and will remain in the current location; and,

 

WHEREAS, the existing approved detached living unit, carport, and swimming pool will remain in their current location, and,

 

WHEREAS, the front yard setback adjustment requested involves reduced front yard setback, below current requirements, that was created by the City widening of Burbank Boulevard before the turn of the century; and,

 

WHEREAS, the new proposed 20 foot wide driveway, with space at the rear for firefighting equipment turn around, will provide access to the rear dwelling;

 

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee, for the findings and conditions stated herein, finds that the submitted applications and plans for the project at 22848. Burbank Blvd. receive the support of the Board of the Woodland Hills -Warner Center Neighborhood Council for the requested actions contingent upon the following conditions:

 

Conditions:

 

1. The applicant shall redo the existing curb and gutter west of the front house, and obtain necessary approvals when the new house is added on the back lot.
2. Any second story addition to the new rear house shall be confined to east of the lot center line.
3. All plans presented on November 14 at the Board Meeting of Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council shall be dated as such and re-submitted to Planning as an (updated) project application submittal.
4. The applicant will not submit any significant, further updated plans without presenting them to the WHWCNC for support.
5. Additionally, all conditions herein shall be printed on one of the Project Summary pages as commitment to and acceptance of these conditions.

 

The Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee recommends that the Board of the Woodland Hills – Warner Center Neighborhood Council advise the city of Los Angeles Planning Department and Council District 3 Councilmember Bob Blumenfield of its findings and supporting recommendation to APPROVE these applications presented on November 14, 2018.

 

Item No (5) Homelessness Committee – Ray Cole, Chair

(18-096) West Valley Neighborhood Alliance on Homelessness

 

Discussion and possible action:

 

Motion for the Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council to join the West Valley Neighborhood Alliance on Homelessness and appoint WHWCNC liaisons.

 

The West Valley Neighborhood Alliance on Homelessness is a group of Neighborhood Councils, Homelessness Liaisons,  and Community Organizations that have come together to help combat homelessness in the West Valley.  One of the initial tasks is creating education fairs for stakeholders informing them about what is being done to end homelessness in the West Valley.  They will have quarterly education fairs, with the first one being in Woodland Hills on December 1, 2018.

Item No. (6) Public Safety Committee – Sheppard Kaufman, Chair

(18-097)  DOT Letter File 506.4 – WHWCNC Safety Committee, Community Impact Statement                                                                                                                                 PROPOSED SPEED LIMITS ON VICTORY BOULEVARD BETWEEN SHOUP AVENUE AND VALLEY CIRCLE BOULEVARD  

Discussion and possible action:

 

For the LAPD to enforce speed limits on surface streets using radar technology, those streets must have a traffic speed survey that was conducted by LADOT within the past seven years. If the speed survey expires, LAPD can no longer enforce the speed limit. California Vehicle Code Section 21400 mandates the use of the 85th-percentile rule for setting speed limits, whereby the speed limit on a road reflects the speed of approximately 85 percent of the vehicles traveling on that road, determined by surveying the speeds at least 100 cars.

 

As a result of this state mandated law, LADOT is recommending the following proposed speed limit revision so that radar enforcement may be used: 

Revise the speed limit on Victory Boulevard between Shoup Avenue and Valley Circle Boulevard from 40 miles per hour to 45 miles per hour.

 

Motion for the Board of the WHWCNC to approve the following Community Impact Statement:

Whereas,  we feel the updated speed limit accurately represents actual speeds on these street segments, and

Whereas, we believe the benefits of radar enforcement outweigh the risks in the increased speed limit,

Therefore, The WHWC NC Public Safety Committee recommends that the board of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council notify the CD3 Office, DOT and appropriate Council Committees that the NC supports the proposed if accompanied by an increase in traffic officer staffing regularly assigned to the Topanga Division area.

Further, we support the expedient review of the 85% rule as outlined in AB2363.

Item No. (7) Public Safety Committee – Sheppard Kaufman, Chair

(18-098) DOT Letter File 444 – WHWCNC Safety Committee, Community Impact Statement

PROPOSED SPEED LIMITS ON SHOUP AVENUE BETWEEN ROSCOE BOULEVARD AND VENTURA BOULEVARD 

Discussion and possible action:

 

LADOT is recommending the following proposed speed limit revision so that radar enforcement may be used: 

Revise the speed limit on Shoup Boulevard between Roscoe Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard from 35 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour. 

 

Motion for the Board of the WHWCNC to approve the following Community Impact Statement:

Whereas, we feel the updated speed limit accurately represents actual speeds on these street segments, and

Whereas, we believe the potential benefits of radar enforcement outweigh the risks in the increased speed limit, and

Whereas, there are existing excessive speed issues on Shoup Boulevard,

Therefore, The WHWC NC Public Safety Committee recommends that the board of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council notify the CD3 Office, DOT and appropriate Council Committees that the NC supports the proposed speed limit change the above referenced segments ONLY if it is accompanied by the following:

1. Additional safety features at Shoup Ave and Miranda Street (Woodland Hills Recreation Center)
2. Safety upgrades at Shoup Blvd and Collins St. (schools)
3. An increase in traffic officer staffing regularly assigned to the Topanga Division area

Further, we support the expedient review of the 85% rule as outlined in AB2363.

Item No. (8) Safety Committee, Sheppard Kaufman, Chair

(18-099) DOT Letter File 153.4 – WHWCNC Safety Committee, Community Impact Statement

PROPOSED SPEED LIMITS ON CORBIN AVENUE BETWEEN ROSCOE BOULEVARD AND VENTURA BOULEVARD 

Discussion and possible action:

 

LADOT is recommending the following proposed speed limit revision so that radar enforcement may be used: 

Revise the speed limit on Corbin Avenue between Roscoe Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard from 35 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour. 

 

Motion for the Board of the WHWCNC to approve the following Community Impact Statement:

Whereas, we feel the updated speed limit accurately represents actual speeds on these street segments, and

Whereas, we believe the potential benefits of radar enforcement outweigh the risks in the increased speed limit,

Therefore, The WHWC NC Public Safety Committee recommends that the board of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council notify the CD3 Office, DOT and appropriate Council Committees that the NC supports the proposed speed limit change the above referenced segments if accompanied by the following:

1. Additional safety features for the school crosswalk at Corbin & Calvert – including but not limited to establishing a 25MPH school speed limit near the crosswalk and the addition of flashers or other visual warnings to notify drivers of pedestrians in the crosswalk.
2. An increase in traffic officer staffing regularly assigned to the Topanga Division area

Further, we support the expedient review of the 85% rule as outlined in AB2363 and the re-evaluation of streets with the additional Vision Zero considerations

Item No. (9) Safety Committee, Sheppard Kaufman, Chair

(18-100) DOT Letter File 376.2 – WHWCNC Safety Committee – Community Impact Statement

PROPOSED SPEED LIMITS ON OXNARD STREET BETWEEN DE SOTO AVENUE AND SHOUP AVENUE

 

Discussion and possible action:

 

LADOT is recommending the following proposed speed limit revision so that radar enforcement may be used: 

Revise the speed limit on Oxnard Street between De Soto Avenue and Shoup Avenue from 35 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour.  

 

Motion for the Board of the WHWCNC to approve the following Community Impact Statement:

Whereas, there are concerns about the increased speed limit on portions of these street segments which are a) supposed to be part of a live-work pedestrian friendly environment; and b) areas undergoing substantial residential development

Therefore, The WHWC NC Public Safety Committee recommends that the board of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council notify the CD3 Office, DOT and appropriate Council Committees that the NC withholds its support of the proposed speed limit change to the above referenced segments until:

1. Further clarification can be provided regarding the options for downward revisions to the radar-rated speed limit prior to the next radar expiration date due to an increase in residential and commercial population planned for the area.
2. Information can be provided regarding any changes scheduled for the Variel & Oxnard intersection currently governed by a four-way stop sign.

Item No. (10) Safety Committee, Sheppard Kaufman, Chair

(18-101) DOT Letter File 341.1 – WHWCNC Safety Committee, Community Impact Statement

PROPOSED SPEED LIMITS ON MULHOLLAND DRIVE BETWEEN TOPANGA CANYON BOULEVARD AND SAN FELICIANO DRIVE 

 

LADOT is recommending the following proposed speed limit revision so that radar enforcement may be used: 

Revise the speed limit on Mulholland Drive between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and San Feliciano Drive from 35 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour. 

 

Motion for the Board of the WHWCNC to approve the following Community Impact Statement:

While the WHWC NC recognizes that the proposed speed change to the above referenced segments is an accurate reflection of current speeds, and

While we support the idea of radar use to improve safety on these and other street segments;

However, there are substantial concerns about the proposed increase in speed due to a number of factors including: 1) the frequency of accidents in the area; 2) road conditions & topography on portions of Mulholland Dr., 3) pedestrian safety; and; 4) a lack of speed control features;

Therefore, The WHWC NC Public Safety Committee recommends that the board of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council notify the CD3 Office, DOT and appropriate Council Committees that the NC withholds its support of the proposed speed limit change to the above referenced segments until:

1. Further clarification can be provided by DOT on any plans to address these concerns prior to the upgraded speed limit.
2. Clarification from LAPD on when regular traffic enforcement resources will be available to support the updated radar ratings.

Item No.(11) Joyce Fletcher, President

(18-102) WHWCNC Board Election Ad-hoc Committee

 

The WHWCNC in-person voting Election will be held on June 20, 2019.                                                                     Online voting will be held from May 31, 2019 to June 13, 2019.

Motion to appoint the following Board members to the WHWCNC Ad-hoc Election Committee as requested by EmpowerLa.

Election Committee: Don Patterson, Peter Fletcher, Ray Cole, Karen DiBiase, Paul Lawler, Sheppard Kaufman, Joyce Fletcher

All interested Board members are invited to join the committee. This committee will meet regularly and will be publicly noticed.

 

 

 

 

4. Board Member Area Reports:

 

Area 1 – Karen DiBiase, Linda Kouy-Ghadosh, Tamara Johnson

Area 2 – Sean McCarthy, Raymond Cole, Brian Drapkin, Paul Lawler

Area 3 – Nancy McLean, Herbert Madsen, Martin Lipkin

Area 4 – Don Patterson, Bill Anderson

Area 5 – Dorothy Strackbein, Mercy Alpert

Area 6 – Pat Patton, Heath Kline, Gilbert Yablon, Lauren Coffman

Area 7 – Aaron Williams, Joyce Fletcher, Peter Fletcher, Marie Pierre

At Large – Sheppard Kaufman, Gina Thornburg

Youth Member- Ved Kulkarni

 

5. Committee Reports:

 

Beautification Committee – Sean McCarthy, Chair

Budget Committee – Paul Lawler and Joyce Fletcher, Co-Chairs

Community Outreach Committee – Ray Cole, Chair – Peter Fletcher, Vice Chair

Community Services Committee  – Mercy Alpert and Joyce Fletcher, Co-Chairs

Education Committee – Bill Anderson, Chair

Environment Committee – Karen DiBiase and Gina Thornburg, Co-Chairs

Governance Committee – Don Patterson, Chair

Homelessness Committee  – Ray Cole, Chair

PLUM Committee – Don Patterson and Lauren Coffman, Co-Chairs

Public Safety Committee – Sheppard Kaufman, Chair

WHIP Committee – August Steurer, Chair

Ad-hoc Westfield Promenade 2035 Project – Joyce Fletcher, Chair

Ad-hoc SSFL Committee – Karen DiBiase, Chair

 

Announcements: The next Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

 

Meeting dates for or the upcoming 2018/2019 year; the proposed Board meeting dates are: TBD (Date, Time, location subject to change or cancellation. Please check the www.whcouncil.org website calendar page for any changes.

 

Adjournment of meeting:

 

*THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT – As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with

Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices and other auxiliary aids and/or services, may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting Joyce Fletcher, at (818-340-6554 or email j.fletcher@whcouncil.org or the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment at (213) 978-1551 EmpowerLa@LACity.org

 

*PUBLIC ACCESS OF RECORDS – In compliance with Government Code section 54957.5, non-exempt writings

that are distributed to a majority or all of the board in advance of a meeting may be viewed at our website: www.whcouncil.org or at the scheduled meeting.  In addition, if you would like a copy of any record related to an item

on the agenda, please contact Joyce Fletcher at (818) 340-6554 or email j.fletcher@whcouncil.org

 

*PUBLIC POSTING OF AGENDAS – agendas are posted for public review as follows:

• www.whcouncil.org – go to the website Calendar page and click on the date – Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. Check the calendar for any change of meeting date.
• You can also receive our agendas via email by subscribing to L.A. City’s Early Notification System at https://www.lacity.org/subscriptions

 

*RECONSIDERATION AND GRIEVANCE PROCESS –  For information on the WHWCNC process for board action reconsideration, stakeholder grievance policy, or any other procedural matters related to this Council, please consult the WHWCNC Bylaws. The Bylaws are available at our Board meetings and our website at www.whcouncil.org