REGULAR MEETING OF THE WESTSIDE CITIES SUMMIT/COG

MEETING NOTES

PRESENT

Beverly Hills:  Vice Mayor Linda Briskman and Councilmember Stephen Webb.  Staff: Rod Wood, City Manager; Anton Dahlerbruch, Deputy City Manager; Maria Rychlicki, Community Relations Director; and Aaron Kunz, Deputy Director of Transportation.
Culver City:  Councilmember Carol Gross.  Staff: Jerry Fulwood, CAO; Deborah Fancett, ACAO; Steve Cunningham, Transportation Manager; Heather Iker, Deputy City Attorney; Elaine Hirohama, Community Outreach Coordinator; and Shelly Chagnon, Senior Management Analyst.
Santa Monica:  Councilmembers Richard Bloom, Kevin McKeown, and Bobby Shriver.  Staff: Susan McCarthy, City Manager and Kate Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager for Government Relations.
West Hollywood:  Mayor Pro Tempore Abbe Land and Councilmember John Heilman.  Staff: Paul Arevalo, City Manager; Terri Slimmer, Transportation and Transit Manager; and David Wilson, Management Analyst.
Los Angeles:  Susan Bursk, Chief Field Deputy and Debbie Byner, District Director.
Other Attendees: Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; Anne Marie Wallace, League of  California Cities, Regional Representative; and Jody Hall Esser, Facilitator.     

1.    CALL TO ORDER, WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS 

The meeting was called to order at 12:20 p.m. by Facilitator Jody Hall Esser.  Councilmember Carol Gross welcomed representatives, staff and members of the audience to Culver City.  

2.    DISTRIBUTION OF MEETING NOTES

Facilitator Jody Hall Esser asked for approval of the meeting notes of November 18, 2004.  The meeting notes were approved by consensus. 

3.    COG FORMALIZATION AND LOGISTICS 

(A) Westside Cities COG Transportation Sub-committee Report 
Councilmember Heilman and Vice Mayor Briskman provided a brief report on Transportation Subcommittee activities.  Recommended Advocacy Position of the Subcommittee was presented to be included with Receive and File items. 

(B) Advocacy regarding homeless solutions
Santa Monica Councilmember Bloom opened the discussion regarding homeless solutions, potential use of VA property and proceeds from Prop 63 funding for mental health issues.  A draft resolution was presented for consideration. Councilmember Shriver, Santa Monica, expressed the opinion that the resolution would meet strong opposition if it called for use of VA property for other than Veteran’s services.  After significant discussion, the members concluded they preferred to present/adopt a broad resolution as drafted which could be narrowed, if necessary, rather than to address the Veteran homeless issues/concern alone at the outset.  The members agreed to present/adopt the resolution by the next meeting.  Councilmember Heilman asked Supervisor Yaroslavsky to let the cities know when he would be meeting on the potential use of the VA property so that the Westside cities can be helpful.  Supervisor Yaroslavsky agreed to do so.  He also noted he’d be pleased to help bring closure to this discussion and noted his caution that this may mean that cities would have to do something in their own cities. 

(C)   Presentation by Supervisor Yaroslavsky

• Supervisor Yaroslavsky thanked the COG for the opportunity to address the members and recognized the importance and timeliness of COG formation.

• He noted traffic as a key issue on the Westside and stated that solutions would be painful.  The Supervisor described traffic congestion as bumper to bumper, stating that “there are pockets where there are not a lot of ways to get around.”  He appealed to the members to think “outside the box” for congestion relief and encouraged having “the courage to try simple solutions,” like banning curbside parking on Wilshire Blvd. in favor of bus lanes during peak hours.

• Supervisor Yaroslavsky observed that if the Orange Line is successful it will pave the way for similar routes like Expo and expressed optimism that Expo is poised to happen depending on resolution of grade separation issues at USC and Culver City.  He noted that after the east side extension, Expo is the #1 priority of the MTA and that local funds will be used to pay for the first phase to Robertson, or La Cienega, depending on station costs.  The Supervisor noted that USC and Culver City might consider paying for the grade separation station cost differences to resolve their individual concerns.  Councilmember Gross offered that Culver City would like to provide additional information to him relating to options for the Culver City station/concerns and Supervisor Yaroslavsky agreed to review same carefully.  Councilmember Bloom asked for the Supervisor’s help to bring the two California Senators together to support funding for Expo Phase II – he noted that Senator Feinstein is on the Senate Appropriations Committee.  The Supervisor agreed to assist in seeking support for a Planning Study and, as appropriate, new start funding.

• The Washington National League of Cities March meeting was underscored as a joint lobbying opportunity with mention that Pam O’Connor would be in Washington DC for another meeting and available for lobbying on COG transportation issues/priorities.

• In response to the red line subway extension interest, Supervisor Yaroslavsky observed it would be a long time before there is funding for a Wilshire corridor subway and expressed the need to work to get Rep. Waxman to lift the prohibition on federal funding for subway construction in a methane area.  Locally, he spoke about other potential revenue sources, including the State approved authority to seek a ˝ cent sales tax (Murray) for specific transportation projects over a 6 year period. This legislation requires a vote of the people in LA County.  Local legislation isn’t clear regarding use of funds in the methane zone.  The Supervisor said the cities needed to know of competition for scarce transportation resources.  Councilmember Heilman suggested that Santa Monica Blvd. would be a better route than Wilshire Blvd. for a subway extension, and asked why it wasn’t being considered.  Supervisor Yaroslavsky noted that there was no reason why it could not be studied and potentially substituted if cities are willing to commit to this route and including stations where they were previously opposed. 

• Consistent presence at MTA meetings was discussed.  Supervisor Yaroslavsky suggested the cities coordinate with Samantha Bricker of his office and develop a strategy as to how to get involved, and get to know the staff. 

• Vice Mayor Briskman noted the Westside cities need to plan to use political and economic clout.  She referenced a visit to the MTA meeting on 2/16 and her plan to attend next week.  Brief discussion commenced regarding the LaBonge motion.  Supervisor Yaroslavsky encouraged MTA Board meeting attendance.

(D)   League of Cities Report 

Anne Marie Wallace, League Regional Representative, presented a League update centered on the League Grassroots Network Bulletin.  Ms. Wallace reminded the members that work was not yet complete on key city interests/programs such as protection for CRA’s, protection for CDA’s - Sr. Housing, and Economic Development.  She noted that the League has not yet taken a position on the “safety service issue” and announced that League Legislative Action Days in Sacramento are set for May 11-12, 2005.  On the Federal level, action was requested to be taken concerning the Bush Administration’s proposed CDBG consolidations, program caps and funding reductions.  Mayor Pro Tem Land suggested that the cities send individual letters to members of Congress in support of adequate CDBG funding levels and program configurations including statistics on program outcomes, project successes and community need.  City Managers were asked to prepare a resolution for the cities to also adopt.  Ms. Wallace noted that if any of the cities have financial enhancement items proposed for upcoming elections, the League would like to work with them.  She also noted that there are 67 initiatives on the Attorney General’s website and recommended that staff review the site.

4.    RECEIVE & FILE, DIRECTION RE: CORRESPONDENCE   

• COG Meeting Notes from Meeting Notes from 11/18/04.

• “LA Participation in COG - Side Letter agreement."

• Westside Council of Governments Transportation Subcommittee:  Recommended “Advocacy Position.”

• Copies of Beverly Hills Resolution 05-R-1176; Culver City Resolution 2004-R096; West Hollywood Resolution 05-3168 and Santa Monica Resolution 100012(CCS), supporting proposed mobility improvements for the Exposition Rail and for the Red Line Extension.  Resolutions adopted as agreed at the November 2004 Westside Cities meeting.

• DRAFT (2/8/05) Resolution of Westside Cities regarding homelessness.

5. ANNOUNCEMENTS

(A)   MTA Southwest Cities Corridor and Westside Central Services Sector Reports     

Councilmember Gross gave a brief update regarding cutbacks, on-going work on the ”metro-connections” project and consideration of a “universal fare.” 

(B)   Gang Violence Workshop

Councilmember Bloom announced a Community workshop on Gang Violence in Santa Monica, Saturday, February 26, 2005 from 9 am – 1 pm, and noted that other cities are invited. 

(C)   School Funding Program

Councilmember Bloom announced that an email would be forthcoming from Susan McCarthy, City Manager, Santa Monica to Councilmembers to include information on a School Funding Forum to take place on April 16, 2005 from 9 am -11:45 am. 

6.    DISCUSSION REGARDING CALENDARING OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

• COG Formalization – Update of Los Angeles Participation.

• Review of League of Cities Executive Sub-committee tentative housing goals.

• Confirmation of appointment as no other city representative expressed interest in the position, of Mayor O’Connor to the SCAG Regional Council.  

• Progress and next-steps – 2005 Work Plan

  • Work Program – Review and Approval of 2005 Priority Projects  

• Formation of a COG subcommittee on solutions to homelessness on the Westside. 

7.    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 the cleanup redevelopment agency protections, housing and deeper grass root efforts.  The COG thanked Ann Marie and the League for their work. 

8.    Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 2:25 pm.