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REGULAR MEETING OF
THE |
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MEETING NOTES
| November 18, 2004 Wyndham Bel Age Hotel West Hollywood, CA |
PRESENT 1. CALL TO ORDER,
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS The meeting was called to
order at 12:20 p.m. by Facilitator Jody Hall Esser. Councilmember John Heilman
welcomed the group to West Hollywood. 2. DISTRIBUTION OF
MEETING NOTES Facilitator Jody Hall
Esser asked for approval of the corrected meeting notes of July 15, 2004 and the
meeting notes of September 30, 2004. The meeting notes were approved by
consensus. 3. COG FORMALIZATION
AND LOGISTICS (A) Update on Los
Angeles’ Participation in COG Councilmember Cindy
Miscikowski said an update on Los Angeles’ participation in the COG can not be
provided until the COG’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) addressed
recommendations made by Los Angeles’ Rules & Election and Budget & Finance
Committees. John Wickham added that the item is still in the Rules & Election
Committee and the discussion can continue when the TAC responds to comments from
the committee. Susan McCarthy said the TAC has been unable to meet for the past
two months due to lack of a quorum but they have requested an opinion from COG
Coordinating Attorney, Mike Jenkins. Kate Vernez said she and Joan English
provided Mike Jenkins with some language concerning all parties coming to a
consensus prior to calling for any vote. Due to timing, it was agreed that a
draft of the language from Mike Jenkins will be informally routed to all the
cities for comment and feedback to be sent to Susan McCarthy. The final version
will then be sent to the City of Los Angeles for acceptance. (B) Confirmation of
2005 Meeting Dates, Times and Locations Facilitator Jody Hall
Esser asked for confirmation of the 2005 meeting dates discussed at the
September 30th meeting: February 17, May 12, July 14, September 29 and November
17. Mayor Richard Bloom offered to host to February meeting in Santa Monica.
Councilmember Carol Gross offered to host the May meeting in Culver City.
Vice-Mayor Linda Briskman offered to host the September meeting at Greystone in
Beverly Hills. Councilmember John Heilman said he and Paul Arevalo will be
unable to attend the July meeting. The location of the July and November
meetings are to be determined at a later date. The group agreed upon the 2005
meeting schedule by consensus. 4. NEW BUSINESS 2004
WORK PROGRAM/PRESENTATIONS (A) Economic Health:
Discussion of Election Results for State Proposition 1A and County Measure A.
Paul Arevalo gave a brief
presentation on Measure A and Proposition 1A. He noted that Measure A, which
was put on the ballot by Los Angeles County to establish a one-half cent
transaction and use tax to increase public safety services, local anti-terrorism
efforts, and homeland security, failed to obtained the required two-thirds
vote. He mentioned that Los Angeles was considering putting a one-half cent tax
increase on their ballot. Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski said Los Angeles
voted against putting the tax increase on their March ballot but is still
considering it for the May ballot. Paul Arevalo said that if the City of Los
Angeles puts a sale tax increase on their ballot, he would recommend to the West
Hollywood City Council that a one-half cent sale tax increase be balloted. Paul Arevalo said that
Proposition 1A was a great victory that will prevent the state from raiding
local government funds. He applauded everyone for their efforts because voters
sent the message that they are satisfied with the work local governments do. He
also thanked Chris McKenzie of the League of California Cities for doing a
phenomenal job and the Governor for keeping his word by working with cities to
increase local control. Alexander Kim from the Office of the Governor said the
Governor’s focus is local control and he looks forward to working with each of
the Westside cities. Paul Arevalo went on to say that the State is still in
serious financial trouble, as written in a recent Los Angeles Times article.
There is still a $7 billion budget gap and redevelopment agencies may be at
risk. With the passing of Proposition 1A, the cities will not be responsible
for making payments to the State that redevelopment agencies can not afford to
pay. Councilmember Carol Gross suggested that the COG get a formal opinion on
the protection of redevelopment funds from the League of California Cities. Mayor Richard Bloom
announced that Measure N, to raise transient occupancy tax in Santa Monica by
2%, passed by a 71% vote. Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski announced that
Proposition O, to establish a storm water bond in Los Angles, passed. She will
forward documents related to the storm water project review process to the COG.
Councilmember Miscikowski also spoke briefly about Los Angeles’ restructuring of
its business license tax. The new structure is more business friendly with fewer
categories, faster processing, 15% lower tax rates over time, exemptions for
businesses grossing $50,000 or less and bad debt relief.
(B) Report and
Recommendation from Westside Cities COG Transportation Sub-Committee Councilmember John Heilman
reported on the subcommittee’s meeting of November 17, 2004 and distributed
meeting notes with a map of the concept to extend the Red Line to Santa Monica.
The subcommittee recommended that the group advocate extending the Red Line to
Santa Monica and support the Exposition Line. Councilmember John Heilman
explained how the Red Line will travel along Santa Monica Boulevard to avoid the
methane gas zone in the Wilshire/Fairfax area. He said the Exposition Line is
much further ahead and will have priority but advocacy must also begin for the
Red Line. The group discussed the issues surrounding the grade separation at
National and Washington Boulevards. Councilmember Carol Gross explained Culver
City’s concerns with the MTA’s phasing of the Exposition Line at National and
Washington, which calls for building the station at grade for the first phase
and moving it above grade as part of the second phase. She said it should be
done right the first time and requested that the resolutions be submitted during
the EIR comment period supporting an elevated station at National and Washington
during phase I. Jody Litvak said the EIR date for the Exposition Line is
scheduled for January but may be changed. Councilmember John Heilman said that
the subcommittee wants to stress that the Westside is an economic engine that is
choking on transportation and not getting its fair share. He requested that the
group take this information back to their City Councils and adopt resolutions
supporting both the Red Line Extension and the Exposition Line. Several members
expressed the importance of attacking this issue as a group. Since the COG will
not meet again until after the scheduled EIR, Jody Hall Esser suggested that the
cities demonstrate their support individually as well. Councilmember Cindy
Miscikowski suggested having a Westside Day at the MTA next spring.
Councilmember Carol Gross proposed that the COG invite MTA CEO Roger Snoble to a
meeting prior to having a Westside Day. Councilmember John Heilman stated that
the subcommittee discussed this and would like to wait until all the cities are
in agreement before talking with the MTA. Councilmember John Heilman said the
subcommittee will also begin to enlist support from the business community. (C) League of
California Cities: Nomination of a Delegate and Alternative to the Streets and
Freeways Subcommittee The members considered a
request from the League for appointment of a delegate to the Street and Freeways
Subcommittee. This is a subcommittee to the MTA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
Jody Litvak recommended that this be a staff member, preferably an engineer
type. She will provide the COG with a list of the TAC membership. This item
was referred to the City Managers. (D) Preliminary
Discussion of Advocacy Regarding Regional Homeless Solutions Mayor Richard Bloom gave a
presentation on “Bring LA Home.” There are 84,000 homeless people in Los
Angeles, most of whom are products of the foster care system or recently
released from jail. The program was started at the urging of President Bush.
The objective is to end homelessness in 10 years. A 308 page draft plan has
been prepared and is expected to be adopted in March. Funds from the recently
passed Proposition 63, which provides funds to expand services and develop
innovative programs and integrated service plans for mentally ill children,
adults and seniors, may also be used in the fight against homelessness because
many of the homeless are mentally ill. Seventeen percent of the homeless are
veterans. There is a committee looking at ways to improve the VA facility at
Wilshire and Sawtelle Boulevards. Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski is on the
committee. She said the committee is focusing on housing and job training and
she could facilitate a presentation to the COG. She suggested a joint
resolution urging better site utilization at the VA facility. Councilmember
John Heilman suggested that the COG cities adopt resolutions to show support and
advocate homeless services. Councilmember Carol Gross asked that a statement be
prepared that provides members with the important points. This item was
referred to the City Managers. 5. RECEIVE & FILE,
DIRECTION RE: CORRESPONDENCE COG Meeting Notes From
July 15, 2004 and September 30, 2004 COG Transportation
Sub-Committee Meeting Notes from November 17, 2004 WSCCOG website
activity report created on November 18, 2004, covering the period from
September 30, 2004 to October 30, 2004. Westside Mobility
Study Report Summary and Update dated October 2004. Two Recognition Lists
of Supports of Proposition 1A dated October 29, 2004 and November 16, 2004 Letter from the League
of California Cities requesting appointment of a delegate to the Streets and
Freeways Subcommittee. 6. ANNOUNCEMENTS (A) MTA Southwest
Cities Corridor and Westside Central Services Sector Reports: No
announcements regarding the MTA Southwest Cities Corridor or Westside
Central Service Center. (B) COG Website Usage
and Feedback: Kate Vernez distributed the WSCCOG Website Activity
Report. 7. DISCUSSION
REGARDING CALENDARING OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS COG Formalization –
Los Angeles Participation Continued Discussion –
Economic Health, Prop 1A and related matters Transportation
Subcommittee – Exposition and Red Lines, Westside Day with MTA, and meeting
with Roger Snoble Work Program – Review
and Approval of 2005 Priority Projects Homelessness/VA –
Resolutions by City Councils 8. PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION Ann Marie Wallace of the
League of California Cities distributed a list of those who supported Prop 1A
and Recognition List of Campaign Sponsors. She said Prop 1A was a great
victory. The League goals for the coming year are cleanup redevelopment agency
protections, housing and deeper grass root efforts. The COG thanked Ann Marie
and the League for their work. 9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 1:45
p.m. Next meeting will be held on February 17, 2005 at 12:00 PM in Santa
Monica.
Beverly Hills: Mayor Mark Egerman, Vice Mayor Linda Briskman; Staff:
Maria Rychlicki and Aaron Kunz.
Culver City: Councilmember Carol Gross; Staff: Steve Cunningham and
Shelly Chagnon.
Santa Monica: Mayor Richard Bloom; Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown;
Staff: Susan McCarthy, Gordon Anderson and Kate Vernez.
West Hollywood: Councilmember John Heilman; Staff: Paul Arevalo,
Joan English and David Wilson.
Los Angeles: Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski; Debbie Dyner, Council
District 11 (Miscikowski); Susan Bursk, Council District 5 (Weiss); and John
Wickham.
Other Attendees: Jody Hall Esser, Facilitator; Alexander Kim, Office of
the Governor; Jody Litvak, MTA; and Anne Marie Wallace, League of League of
California Cities.