Minutes
PALMS NElGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
Thirty-second meeting of the Council and its
REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
IMAN Center, 4636 Motor Ave., Palms, California, U.S.A.

1. Call to order. Facilitator Matt Gaspar called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.

2. Pauline Stout President Present
Todd Robinson Vice President Present
George Garrigues Secretary Present
June I. LaMoy Treasurer Absent
Vacant Nonprofit representative --
Willie Bell Palms West Residential A Present
Mate (Matt) Gaspar Overland Residential B Present
Mario Bruhwiler Motor Residential C Present
Charles Buffa Studio Residential D Late
Ingeborg Prochazka Exposition Residential E Absent
John Riordan Pacific Electric Business 1 Present
Lori Donahoo Charnock Ranch Business 2 Present
Neal James Anderberg Palms Depot Business 3 Present

3. Public forum: Lisa Givot of Pacifica Community Charter School, update on the lecture series funded by the Palms NC; Jason Buchhalter of Chanock Road Elementary School on the recent Big Sunday event; Terry Robinson concerning recent Hamilton High School concert.

4. Reports by our governmental representatives or their deputies. Liz Carlin of Council Member Wesson’s office concerning a tree giveaway, reward for information about graffitti, and a Home Secure Program, Len Nguyen of Council Member Rosendahl’s office concerning award given to Alejandro Soschin and a proposed city-sponsored free recycling program for apartment buildings, and a “livable boulevards plan.” Deanna Stevenson of DONE

5. Report to community by the President (Pauline Stout). Police National Night Out on August 7.

6. Treasurer: Report (LaMoy). No report. Treasurer absent.

7. Committee reports.

A. Projects (Stout). (1) - Report on ideas for pursuing Venice Blvd Cleanup. No action. (2) Allocation for Family Writing Project proposed by Pacifica Community Charter School adopted by unanimous vote. (Proposal is attached to minutes, with amendment that the program will start on May 13 and the total amount will be $4,575.)

B. Transportation and Road Works. Reports by Bell and Stout. No action.

D. Land-use and Development (Robinson; moved up on the agenda): (1) “The Regent” on Overland at 3706 S. Overland Ave. — 40-Unit Apartment Project. After discussion and question-and-answer with the developer and representatives, Committee chair Robinson said he would write up the stipulation of the Council in the form of a letter, and if there is any question as to whether it is accurate from the viewpoint of what the Assembly discussed, then “we would have to go to the minutes.” Secretary Garrigues noted that the minutes will have to be approved at the June meeting in any event. Robinson moved support for the project for the seven variances requested, which will be outlined in a letter (as an example, the condition related to the very-low-income units), which will be reviewed by the President, the Vice President and the Secretary for accuracy and then submitted to the various people. Approved unanimously by voice vote.

(2) Discussion on possible changes necessary to the Palms-Mar Vista-Del Rey Community Plan and/or a Palms area Special Overlay Plan. Report. No action.

(3) Possible motion of support for formation of a Green Space Fund to be administered by the Trust for Public Land. Brief report. No action.

C. Outreach (Bruhwiler): (1) Motion: The Palms Neighborhood Council will conduct a straw vote during the June election that will include the following item: "The majority of the voting stakeholders of Palms, California, U.S.A , in support of the men and women serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, urge President Bush to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and immediately begin the safe and orderly withdrawal of all United States forces; and further urge President Bush and the United States Congress to provide the necessary diplomatic and non-military assistance to promote peace and stability in Iraq and the Middle East."

A motion to table was defeated by a roll-call vote, a two-thirds favorable vote not being reached. In favor of the motion to table: Stout, Robinson, Gaspar, Donahoo, Anderberg. Opposed: Garrigues, Bell, Bruhwiler, Buffa.

The main motion as stated above was adopted 5-4 in a roll-call vote. In favor: Stout, Garrigues, Bell, Bruhwiler and Buffa. Opposed: Robinson, Gaspar, Donahoo and Anderberg.

(2) Update on the survey of the Westside Village. No report due to lack of time. 3) Update on the annex of the area West of Overland and between the I-10 Fwy and National:  The Opinion of the City Attorney's office. No report due to lack of time. (4) Big Sunday report was previously covered in the meeting.  (5) An update on the *NEW* Palms NC Website. No report due to lack of time.

E. Ad hoc election (Stout). Report.

8. Secretarial report (Garrigues) (1) Minutes for the meeting of April 4, 2007, were approved. (2) Absence of residential representative in Studio District B. No action.

9.  Assembly business. None.

10. Adjournment at 9:13 p.m.