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Garrigues elected Palms president; three newcomers are on the governing body

Local voters give opinions on traffic, land use and light rail

City proposes fee on apartment dwellers and owners to dispose of couches and other bulky items

Alpern is re-elected to governing board of the Mar Vista Community Council

City attorney opinion blocks proposed boundary adjustment with the Westside Neighborhood Council

GARRIGUES ELECTED PALMS PRESIDENT
He is the fourth executive since the local neighborhood council was formed
Voters flock to answer 'quality-of-life' survey questions

George Garrigues, the editor and owner of The Palms-Village Sun, has been elected president of the Palms Neighborhood Council.

M. Dee Olomajeye was elected secretary in a write-in vote to replace Garrigues.

Also chosen in the election on June 24 at Palms Elementary School were Lori Donahoo, in Palms West Residential Area A; Bijan Esfandiari, in Motor Residential Area C, and Jeffrey P. Inmon, in Charnock Ranch Historic Business Area 2.

[Check the official Neighborhood Council Web site to get the full results when they are available.]

Garrigues is the fourth executive for the Palms Council since it was certified in December 2005. The others have been Len Nguyen, Todd Robinson and Pauline Stout.

Nobody filed for Exposition Residential Area E; that job will now be filled by appointment.

The position of Studio Residential Area B was inadvertently left off the ballot. That seat is now occupied by Charles J. Buffa, whom President Pauline Stout appointed early this year to fill a vacancy. He will continue to serve.

Click here to see maps of the districts.

Stephen Box, an independent election administrator under contract with the city's Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, was in charge. He can be reached at 323-962-6540 or stephen@thirdeyecollective.net.

[Editor's note: A scarcity of candidates is quite common in the Los Angeles neighborhood-council scene.

PALMS STAKEHOLDERS VOTE THEIR OPINIONS ON LOCAL ISSUES

A straw-vote survey was distributed throughout the neighborhood before the election June 24 at Palms Elementary School. A large number of these were returned to the polling place. Results are not yet available.

Here's what was on the nonbinding referendum ballot:

Comments on Land Use and Development Issues:

Using each number only once, please rank the following 1 through 5 (or 6), 1 being of the most concern to you here in Palms:
___ Parking
___ Traffic Congestion
___ Public Open Space
___ Housing Density
___ Rent Cost Increases
___ Other

Do you think Palms NC should advocate to preserve the single family homes that still exist in Palms? Check one.
___ Yes
___ No
___ I am not sure at this time

The city currently allows a developer to build more units (increase density) if the developer agrees that 10% to 20% of the units will be “affordable” (50% to 65% of fair market value). In general, do you support this concept? Check one.
___ Yes
___ No
___ I am not sure at this time

Should the Palms Neighborhood Council advocate for a more pedestrian and bike friendly community? Check one.
___ Yes
___ No
___ I am not sure at this time

If an increase in density of housing in Palms was offset by an increase in accessible parks/green space, an increase in accessible services, and an increase in accessible public transportation, would you support an increase in density? Check one.
___ Yes
___ No
___ I am not sure at this time

Check one. Would you prefer
___ Buildings that are purely residential, or
___ Buildings with businesses on the ground floor and residential units on the floors above.

Questions regarding Transportation and Infrastructure issues

Using each number only once, please rank the following 1 through 7 (or 8), 1 being of the most concern to you here in Palms:
___ Sidewalk Repair
___ Street Repair
___ Traffic Mitigation (improve traffic flow)
___ Speed Bumps
___ Street Lighting
___ Alternative Transporation
___ Parking Issues
___ Underground Utility Poles and Lighting
___ Other

Check one. Do you support the Phase 2 Light Rail route using
___ The right of way through Exposition
___ Venice Boulevard west to Sepulveda north

The city of Los Angeles has proposed a Multi Family Residential Complex Bulky Item Collection Fee that would be assessed to tenants in buildings with 5 or more units. Do you support this proposal?
___ Yes
___ No
___ I am not sure at this time

Multi-Family Bulky Item Fee (BIF) Notice & Information
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING - July 17, 2007