REGULAR MEETING OF THE WESTSIDE CITIES SUMMIT/COG

MEETING NOTES

PRESENT

Beverly Hills:  Vice Mayor Linda Briskman and Vice Mayor Steve Webb.  Staff: Rod Wood; Anton Dahlerbruch; and Maria Rychlicki.
Culver City:  Councilmember Carol Gross.  Staff: Jerry Fulwood; Steve Cunningham; Shelly Chagnon; Kriss Casanova; and Diana Chang
Santa Monica:  Councilmember Richard Bloom and Councilmember Kevin McKeown.  Staff: Gordon Anderson and Kate Vernez.
West Hollywood:  Mayor Abbe Land and Councilmember John Heilman.  Staff:  Paul Arevalo and David Wilson.
Los Angeles:  Debbie Dyner, Council District 5 (Weiss) and Stephanie Zarro and Jim Horowitz, Council District 11 (Rosendahl).

Other Attendees: Jody Litvak, MTA; Anne Marie Wallace, League of California Cities; Stacy Rowe, City of Santa Monica; Suzy Feldman; Jason Weiner Westside Economic Collaborative; Patrician Price, AQMD; Ryan Hyatt, Santa Monica Daily Press; Dena Sneddon, Friends of Culver City Animals

1.    CALL TO ORDER, WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS 

The welcome was given by Councilmember Richard Bloom and the meeting was called  to order at 12:25 p.m.

2.    DISTRIBUTION OF MEETING NOTES

The July 14, 2005 meeting notes were received and filed by consensus without addition or correction.

3.    NEW BUSINESS 2005 WORK PROGRAM / PRESENTATIONS

(A)   Report and Recommendations from the Westside Cities City Managers and COG Homeless Subcommittee on advocacy regarding regional homeless solutions, including inter-agency coordination/representation of a regional leadership position on homelessness, proposals for therapeutic housing on the West Los Angeles VA property; initiation of study to capture hospital costs associated with homelessness.   

Councilmember Bloom provided a synopsis of the homeless subcommittee actions taken on regional efforts including work with the County, LAHSA, City of Los Angeles and Westside Cities.  Our COG has been identified by LAHSA as a model for other COGs to begin to address homelessness. LAHSA’s governing structure will be of interest to the Westside cities as options to fund and implement services Countywide are discussed by the Board of Supervisors. The subcommittee is addressing how to capture total aggregate costs of serving the homeless, including hospital costs.  A work plan will be brought back to the COG for endorsement and possible funding. Councilmember Gross provided an update on Westside cities’ advocacy to secure buildings on the West Los Angeles VA campus for therapeutic supportive housing for homeless vets, a proposal developed by a coalition of veterans groups with Santa Monica Councilmember Bobby Shriver. Discussion ensued on next opportunities in the CARES process and ways to influence the decisions made by VA Secretary Nicholson in Washington. Staff will return with options for next actions. Mayor Land spoke of the “YIMBY” Yes In My Back Yard approach that West Hollywood is participating in to connect homeless persons with services and invited participation.  Mayor Briskman added that the work of PATH and Good Shepherd Shelter are also service delivery programs that might serve as models. Councilmember Bloom referenced the September 27 Interagency Council on Homelessness conference on challenges and opportunities for destination cities as a resource for the cities on best practices.

(B)  Update on Westside Transit Issues including Efforts to Modify/influence Funding for Exposition Light Rail, Construction Authority Agenda, Above Grade Separation at Washington/National, and the Red Line Extension.

Mayor Briskman stressed the need to meet with Mayor Villaraigosa about the Westside’s transit priorities and the possibility of hiring a consulting firm to assist in identifying appropriate and cost effective modes.  Councilmember Heilman advised of a letter sent by West Hollywood to Mayor Villaraigosa and other MTA Board Members about the Red Line Extension that noted that the Waxman ban on tunneling doesn’t need to be lifted if the Red Line follows a Santa Monica Boulevard alignment.

(C)  Report from City Managers on League of Cities Executive Sub-committee recommendations regarding HCD target housing goals and white paper from LA County Division’s Housing/Land Use. 

Jerry Fulwood advised that housing/land use issues will be incorporated into a second mobility summit that is in the planning stages by staff.

(D)  Economic Health – League of California Cities Briefing on Fiscal/Legislative Issues.

Ann Marie Wallace provided an update on a number of State fiscal issues including the early repayment of the VLF and uncertainties on future grass roots advocacy given the expiration of Prop 1-A contributions from cities at the end of this year. Cities will need to continue to be vigilant on a variety of vulnerable funds including library grants, Prop 42 transportation funds, redevelopment and State mandate reimbursement.  The League of California Cities and others have worked with the Department of Finance to get the department to develop an equitable formula and methodology to use for cities in calculating the triple flip payments.

(E)  Report on status of recruitment of MTA-funded staff support for Director O’Connor and the Westside Cities COG and South Bay Cities COG. 

Claudette Moody was hired by Director O’Connor and will be assisting the Westside COG on MTA matters.

4.  COG LOGISTICS 

Update on Los Angeles’ participation in COG.   

No action was taken by LA Council to move forward with finalizing COG participation as previously communicated by LA staff. Councilmember Rosendahl’s staff was asked for a decision on LA’s participation. Councilmember Weiss’ Deputy Debby Dyner advised that the City had been ready to proceed.  Mayor Briskman made a motion, seconded by Mayor Land to extend the deadline to the COG meeting of November 17, 2005. Councilmember Rosendahl’s Deputy Stephanie Zarro advised that his office was unfamiliar with the details of the issues.  Kate Vernez advised that the Westside Cities had forwarded a letter to Council President Alex Padilla detailing the issues on June, 20, 2005 and that Councilmember Rosendahl was copied on the correspondence.  Councilmembers Gross and Heilman noted their frustration that the COG is still not a legal, formal entity despite three years of effort with the City of Los Angeles.  Councilmember Heilman asked that the November agenda include an action item that would accommodate two alternatives:  formalizing the COG either with or without formal participation by the City of Los Angeles.  Councilmember Gross cited upcoming decisions such as RHNA efforts that require us to finalize the entity.

5.    RECEIVE & FILE, DIRECTION RE: CORRESPONDENCE   

(Noted above by item.)

6. ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Councilmember Gross reported on proposed service changes including consideration of removing non-Metro local bus service from Wilshire Boulevard, and changes to the downtown to Malibu express.

(B)  West Hollywood Book Fair

Councilmember Heilman invited everyone to the October 2, 2005 Book Fair.

(C)   Virginia Avenue Park, Santa Monica

Councilmember Bloom invited everyone to the grand re-opening of the park in December of 2005.

 (D)  Telecom Issues

Anne Marie Wallace reported the California League Telecommunications subcommittee efforts.

7. DISCUSSION REGARDING CALENDARING OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 (A)   Discussion regarding the COG meeting frequency, selection of alternative days/times for meetings and staff support for meetings if to be held more frequently.

 (B)   Mayor Land recommended that the COG needed more action-oriented reports.  Councilmember Bloom requested staff’s work plan.

Public Participation

Jason Weimer announced that the Westside Economic Collaborative will be holding the fourth annual Westside Economic Summit “Economic Vitality in Changing Times." The November 4 summit will feature Jack Keyser and the Westside City Managers. It will be held at the Pacific Culver Stadium 12 Theatres in Culver City.

Patrician Price, AQMD, thanked members for CARB fleet rules testimony/support; announced a calendar contest for k-12 schools with the theme of the world with healthy air; and provided air quality information relating to the ongoing fires.

Dena Sneddon, Friends of Culver City Animals, mentioned local animal control efforts to secure better services. Jerry Fulwood reported that he had discussed this matter with the City Managers. Beverly Hills is attempting to work out an agreement with LA City and Manager Rod Wood would advise on those efforts.

8.    Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 1:25 pm.