PALMS
Neighborhood
Council Minutes of the forty-fifth meeting of the
Palms Neighborhood Council (PNC) and its Representative Assembly
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
IMAN Center, 3376 Motor Avenue, Palms, California, U.S.A.
1. Call to order and welcome
George Garrigues welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m.
2. Roll call
Roll call was taken by Secretary Dee Olomajeye.
Members present:
Mr. George Garrigues, President, Ms. M. Dee Olomajeye, Secretary, Mr. Neal James Anderberg,
Palms Depot Business, Ms. Lori Donahoo, Palms West Residential, Mr. Mate “Matt” Gaspar,
Overland Residential, Ms. Ingeborg Prochazka, Exposition Residential, Mr. John Riordan, Pacific
Electric Business, Ms. Terry Robinson, Non-Profits, Mr. Todd Robinson, Vice-President, Ms. Sandy
Varga, Charnock Ranch Business Representative
Members absent:
Mr. Jason Buchalter, Treasurer; Mr. Charles Buffa, Studio Residential; and Mr. Bijan Esfandiari,
Motor Residential.
Also present were ten Stakeholders and guests.
3. Public forum
Stakeholder Neil Lieberman is concerned about advertising flyers on cars falling down and polluting
the ocean. George Garrigues referred him to LAPD (L.A. Police Dept.) Senior Lead Officer Juan
Ceja (310-622-3975).
Stakeholder Champ Sundaram said that sidewalks are being parked on and blocked by business
owners. George Garrigues encouraged him to call L.A. City District Five Councilman Jack Weiss
and/or District 10 Councilman Herb Wesson.
Stakeholder Bea Steelman stated that we need to resolve the Mar Vista – Palms NC boundary issue;
many people belong in the PNC, not in the MVNC.
4. Presentation on "Heal the Bay"
Mr. Anderberg reported that the Outreach Committee invited Heal the Bay Outreach Coordinator Sara
Gandhi to speak. Ms. Gandhi described their mission, which is to keep Santa Monica Bay clean for
people and marine life, and history and accomplishments. Pollution from Palms goes into Ballona
Creek. They’re working on eliminating plastic bags in Los Angeles; the City Council voted recently
to phase plastic bags out over a number of years, and Santa Monica recently voted to start a similar
program. Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card rates local beaches and describes conditions.
Educational programs are available, and volunteers can be trained to present them. Ms. Gandhi can
be contacted at (800) HEALBAY, ext. 145.
5. Reports by our governmental representatives or their deputies
Jennifer Badger, of L.A. City District Five Councilman Jack Weiss’ office (310-289-0353;
jennifer.badger@lacity.org), reported that she’s getting to know the area. She encouraged people to
call about potholes and give the specific location and damage. Kathryn Hannigan is still working on
traffic mitigation issues.
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Len Nguyen, Field Rep. for L.A. City District 11 Councilman Bill Rosendahl (310-575-8461;
len.nguyen@lacity.org), reported that the City is giving away canvas bags to reduce plastic bag use.
The new Animal Shelter Opening was a great event. Transit shelters and information kiosks have
been requested. We’re asking Caltrans to turn Venice Boulevard in Palms to the City of Los Angeles
to expedite repairs and maintenance. March 15th is the Mayor’s Day of Service, from 8:00 a.m. –
12:00; there sre 50 west side projects and more can be requested through e-mail.
6. President’s report to the community
A) Appointment of Representative in Motor Residential Area C
This position is available for a volunteer.
B) Proposed revision, Cultural Heritage Ordinance
George Garrigues announced that he is resigning from this Board as of the close of this Meeting.
He will continue with historical preservation work and forward NC information requests to the
Board.
C) Clearing of property on Regent between Dunn and Clarington
George Garrigues distributed a “Summary of Proposed Revisions to Cultural Heritage Ordinance.”
He will work on the issue of two historic structures in our neighborhood which are due to be
demolished.
D) Vacant Fire Station 43
If this historic fire station is demolished, we could create a pocket park there.
E) L.A. Times reporter Scott Gold visiting Palms March 6th
Mr. Gold will be in our neighborhood to see the historic structures.
F) Special Assembly-Council informational meeting to be held March
26th concerning Mar Vista-Palms-Del Rey Community Plan.
All three local City Planning Deputies will attend this meeting.
G) Letter concerning stop sign near Palms Elementary School.
This letter has not yet been sent.
H) Adopt new posting areas as follows: Camaguey Market, 10925 Venice
Blvd.; Casa de Laundry, 3373 Motor Ave., Noah's Bagels, 8985 Venice
Blvd.; Albertson’s, 8985 Venice Blvd.; www.Palms-California.us. (Need general consent or
majority vote.)
This is because Starbucks and Overland Café postings have been removed due to a lack of posting
space. Viacom will be contacted regarding posting at bus stops.
I) Grievance against Mar Vista Community Council concerning article in MVCC newsletter (hearing
was Feb. 15th).
A decision in this matter is pending.
J) Grievance filed February 25th against Westside Neighborhood Council (WNC) concerning
boundary adjustment. Our northeast boundary was presented, with then-PNC President Pauline
Stout, to the WNC in May 2006, and the WNC agreed with it; in 2007 the WNC reversed their
decision. A discussion request was ignored by them; the City Attorney said that the WNC needed
to ask the City Attorney to moderate. George Garrigues spoke at a recent WNC meeting in their
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“Public Comment” (Item #4) at his insistence after being told that he’d have to wait until the end
of their agenda to speak.
7. Motion by President
“The President is authorized to spend no more than $7,000 for the printing and distribution of a
“postcard mailer” to stakeholders and others, substantially as shown in the attached sample (phone
310-839-7708 for a copy).” A similar recommendation was made by the Outreach and
Communication Committee but failed of adoption in the Assembly in a tie vote on December 5, 2007.
MOTION (by Neil Anderberg, seconded by Lori Donahoo): to move this Item to after this Meeting’s
Outreach Committee report.
MOTION APPROVED without objection.
8. Officers, committees and working groups reports
A) Secretary
1) Approval of the minutes for February 6th and 13th
Lori Donahoo requested that the full names of people who speak at these Meetings be used in
the Minutes to make it easier for Stakeholders to identify them.
The following corrections to the February 6th General Board Meeting Minutes were requested:
Page three, Item #C3, “LADOT (L.A. City Dept. of Transportation) requires a minimum of five
traffic accidents within three years at the same intersection and 75% of nearby residents
agreeing to warrant installing a stop sign” should read “LADOT (L.A. City Dept. of
Transportation) requires a minimum of five traffic accidents within three years at the same
intersection to install a stop sign, and 75% of nearby residents agreeing to warrant installing
speed humps.”
Page four, Section F1, “Website development is on hold until the website developer is assured
he’ll be paid; a check request has been submitted” should read “Website development is on hold
until the website developer is assured he’ll be paid; a check request has not been submitted.”
The Minutes of the February 6th General Board Meeting were approved, with the above
corrections, without any objections.
It was agreed without any objections to discuss approval of the February 13th Special Board
Meeting at next month’s General Board Meeting on April 2nd.
George Garrigues “wants the record to show that, at this point, he left the Board seating area and took a
seat in the audience.”
2) Grievance filed by Westside NC (WNC) against President of Palms NC
Dee Olomajeye described that a grievance was filed February 19th by the WNC against George
Garrigues, President of the PNC, after a February 14th incident. She received an e-mail today
from WNC President Terry Tippit today that she doesn’t feel the need to pursue this matter
since Mr. Garrigues is resigning and no longer represents the PNC; she considers the “matter
settled.” The grievance was against Mr. Garrigues, not the PNC. Matt Gaspar would like the
WNC to write a letter to DONE (the L.A. City Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment) that the
WNC is dropping the issue.
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3) Establishment of a Grievance Procedure and a Grievance Committee
Deanna Stevenson, Project Coordinator, DONE (213-485-1360; deanna.stevenson@lacity.org),
stated that there’s no DONE grievance procedure yet for the type of situation noted above. Dee
Olomajeye described what could become the PNC grievance procedure using our bylaws and
Mar Vista’s current process. She read a June 2007 letter from the Deputy City Attorney sent to
former PNC President Pauline Stout stating that, regarding the PNC/WNC northeast boundary
issue, there’s “no mechanism in place” to resolve such issues, according to the City Charter and
DONE. The City Attorney referred the matter back to both NCs to come to an agreement.
There was extended discussion regarding this issue. Ms. Olomajeye asked for volunteers for a
grievance committee, which would meet as needed.
4) Motion to schedule a stakeholders election for Representative Assembly in winter 2008 instead
of waiting until 2010 as would be required under new city election procedures.
Dee Olomajeye explained that there is a City moratorium on 2009 NC elections; if we wait until
2010, some people may not want to continue serving on the Board that long.
MOTION (by Dee Olomajeye, seconded by Terry Robinson): to have 2008 Board elections
instead of waiting until 2010.
DISCUSSION: All positions would be voted upon. It’s not necessary to have an election; it’s
lots of work for nothing. The last election was badly run and poorly attended; we can self-select
Board Members. It’s too soon for another election. Elections are expensive because we need
mailers to reach Stakeholders in gated complexes, and DONE won’t pay for them at this time
due to City budget constraints. We need to have an election despite the inconveniences; it’s not
democratic to not have an election. We can wait until 2010 to “start over.” We need to do more
outreach to increase participation and “have a real election.”
MOTION FAILED with Lori Donahoo, Dee Olomajeye, and Todd Robinson in favor; Neil
Anderberg, George Garrigues, Terry Robinson, and Sandy Varga opposed; and Matt Gaspar,
Ingeborg Prochazka, and John Riordan abstaining.
B) Treasurer
Jason Buchalter is not present. There was no report.
C) Transportation and Roadwork
[This report was given between Items 8F and 9.]
Ingeborg Prochazka announced that she is resigning from the Board, effective immediately.
At this time, Ms. Prochazka and Sandy Varga left the Meeting.
D) Nonprofit representative
[This report was given between Items 8F and 9.]
Terry Robinson reported that she attended a City Budget Committee Meeting. “The City is
broke,” there’s a hiring freeze and the City is asking employees to take one day off without pay.
E) Planning and Land Use
Todd Robinson reported that preparations are underway for the Special Assembly-Council
informational meeting to be held March 26th concerning Mar Vista-Palms-Del Rey Community
Plan. George Garrigues suggested holding that meeting at the Fire Station instead of here at the
IMAN Center.
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F) Outreach
Neil Anderberg reported that “Watch the Road” signs are available to take and install. A
Community Forum will be planned. A magnetic information card will be produced and distributed
that includes local governmental officials’ and departments’ contact information.
MOTION (by George Garrigues, seconded by Terry Robinson): The President is authorized to
spend no more than $7,000 for the printing and distribution of a “postcard mailer” to stakeholders
and others, substantially as shown in the attached sample.
DISCUSSION: Mr. Garrigues distributed a “Reasons for Fridge Card Mailer” list. The mailer
would also be mailed in Westside Village and there’s disagreement about mailing it there. There’s
concern that the mailer doesn’t connect with the PNC. This Motion failed in the Outreach
Committee and at the December General Board Meeting.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT (by Matt Gasper, seconded by Terry Robinson): to authorize the
President to spend up to $7,000 on a mailer to Stakeholders within existing PNC boundaries.
AMENDMENT NOT ACCEPTED, with Matt Gaspar, Ingeborg Prochazka and Terry Robinson
in favor; Lori Donahoo, George Garrigues, Todd Robinson and Sandy Varga opposing; and Neil
Anderberg and Dee Olomajeye abstaining.
FURTHER DISCUSSION: Mr. Anderberg clarified that the Outreach Committee supports Mr.
Garrigues’ efforts to reach out to Stakeholders.
ORIGINAL MOTION FAILED, with George Garrigues and Sandy Varga in favor, and Neil
Anderberg, Lori Donahoo, Matt Gaspar, Dee Olomajeye, Ingeborg Prochazka, Terry Robinson and
Todd Robinson opposing.
9. Assembly business
It was announced that Jason Buchalter is not present because he had a baby.
Deanna Stevenson of DONE presented a Certificate of Recognition to George Garrigues for his
service to the PNC and the community.
10. Adjournment
It was agreed to adjourn this Meeting at 9:25 p.m.
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