From Your SCRA Board
Board Resignation
Board member Mark Batterman tendered his resignation on the SCRA Board. Mark chaired the Budget Committee and sat as the SCRA’s Parks Advisory Board Liaison. The SCRA Board voted to keep Mark on as an advisory board member and Mark has accepted.
Treasurer Position
Bryan Abrams was elected assistant Treasurer with the intent of becoming the Treasurer of the SCRA, SCBA and Save LA River in January 2012. Laura McKinzie is stepping down as Treasurer.
BILLBOARD ORDINANCE REPORT
The City's Planning and Land Use Committee met on October 18th to the discuss the latest revisions the City Planning Department had made to the proposed new billboard ordinance (City File No. 08-2020). 70 people signed up to speak from the standing room only crowd of nearly 200 people. Of those 70, 60 were against the ordinance's latest revision which includes "grandfathering" at least 10 new proposed sign districts now in the permitting review process. Both of NBC/Universal's proposed sign districts are included in this group. An earlier version of this ordinance did not have this grandfathering provision. Community groups in attendance are still puzzled as to how this "grandfathering" provision magically appeared in the last 2 revisions. The original draft ordinance did not grandfather these 10 proposed sign districts. Nearly all of the 60 people who spoke against the current version of the ordinance stated they were not in favor of this "grandfathering". Many also stated there was no protection for single-family homeowners who surround the majority of these 10 proposed sign districts. P.L.U.M. Committee members Ed Reyes, Jose Huizar and Paul Krekorian sent the Planning Department back to the drawing board with the next revision due in 60 days.
City Council Redistricting
The committee to draw the new LA City Council districts met to formulate a plan on how to proceed with redrawing the Council District maps. There will be numerous public hearing for input from the SCRA and other organizations. Several months ago the Board member Barry Johnson drew up a proposed district which was approved by the SCRA. Barry will be taking our proposal to the 21 member panel for their consideration.
Holiday Event Report
Plans for the” Winter Family Festival” for Dec 4th is progressing very well. Bonnie Goodman has signed up Radio Disney’s Festival of Giving to promote the event and to be a presence at the event. Volunteers to help on the day of the event are needed. Please call 818-509-0230 or e-mail us at SCRABoard@studiocity.com.
Administrative Code Enforcement (ACE)
The LA City Budget and Finance Committee heard arguments on the proposed Code Enforcement Ordinance. There were concerns about “complaint based” citations. Neighbor reporting neighbor. Commercial properties and Apartments owners are not in favor of ACE because there is no provision to control actions of tenants. Also there were questions on who would preside over citations and arguments on the violations. The ordinance was sent back to the Chief Legislative Analyst and the City Attorney for revisions to make ACE fair and enforceable and address quality of life issues. There will be more public hearing on the revisions.
TWO “QUALITY OF LIVE” ISSUES
Government Affairs Committee of the SCNC is working on an ordinances to limit flyer being left on doorsteps and to extend the time that trash cans can be left on the street. The first one is to eliminate papers blowing around neighborhoods and the second is to create an enforceable law to make residents put their trash can away.
