REGULAR MEETING OF THE WESTSIDE CITIES SUMMIT/COG

MEETING NOTES

PRESENT

Beverly Hills:  Vice Mayor Steve Webb.  Staff: Aaron Kunz and Maria Rychlicki.

Culver City:  Mayor Albert Vera, Council member Carol Gross.  Staff: Jerry Fulwood, Steve Cunningham, Shelly Chagnon and Bill LaPointe.

Santa Monica:  Mayor Pam O’Connor, Council member Richard Bloom; Council member Kevin McKeown.  Staff: Susan McCarthy, Gordon Anderson, Kate Vernez and Stacy Rowe.

West Hollywood:  Mayor Abbe Land, Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman.  Staff:  Paul Arevalo, Joan English and David Wilson.

Los Angeles:  Council member Bill Rosendahl; Staff:  Norman Kulla and Jim Horwitz  (District 11);  Debbie Dyner, (District 5); Flora Gil Krisiloff, Supervisor Yaroslavsky’s Office.

Other Attendees:  Jody Hall Esser, facilitator; Lisa Pinto and Becky Claster, Rep. Waxman’s Office; Claudette Moody; Jody Litvak, Metro;  Patrician Price, AQMD; Ryan Hyatt, S. M. Daily Press; Dena Snedden.

1.    CALL TO ORDER, WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS 

The welcome was given by Jody Hall Esser and the meeting was called to order at 12:10.

2.    DISTRIBUTION OF MEETING NOTES

The September 29, 2005 meeting notes were received and filed without addition or correction (Gross/Heilman).

3.    NEW BUSINESS 2005 WORK PROGRAM / PRESENTATIONS

(A)   Report and Recommendations from the COG Homeless Subcommittee on advocacy regarding regional homeless solutions, including inter-agency coordination/continued advocacy of proposal for therapeutic housing on the West Los Angeles VA campus; the CARES process; update on study options to capture hospital costs associated with homelessness; November 18, 2005 Los Angeles County homeless issues meeting and update on Federal funding opportunities. 

The group talked about the release of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority homeless census report which is anticipated to be released January 25, 2006; the importance of the LAHSA governance structure; and cooperation among Westside Cities on homeless strategies.  In addition, information was provided on a RAND report on the “real” costs of assistance to the homeless.  The lessons learned focused on missed opportunities to end the cycle of homelessness because persons with mental illness often do not receive sustained levels of care.  Incentives to better align services through hospitals, levels of governments and providers would improve client care.  Next steps include meeting with local hospital representatives; agreeing on what methodology and research questions would be appropriate to explore to form the basis for an advocacy plan.  Stacy Rowe advised a two year HUD supported national demonstration that provides rental subsidy of 30 units for the chronically homeless.  Councilmember Rosendahl highlighted opportunities available as a result of Proposition 63 and successful programs in Santa Monica, San Francisco and New York.  Announcement was made that Congressman Waxman and Supervisor Yaroslavsky planned a County homeless issues meeting on November 18, 2005 to explore existing levels of services and provide an update on funding.  The next Veteran Administration CARES hearing will be in January and City Councils were urged to adopt support positions on the six guiding principles for use of the West Los Angeles property as unanimously recommended by the local advisory panel and referenced in the letter distributed to the group from Congressman Waxman to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Received and filed:  October 25, 2005 meeting notes of the COG Subcommittee on Homeless Issues:  October 7, 2005 Waxman correspondence; and November 16, 2005 correspondence from West Hollywood on Project YIMBY.  (Vera/Heilman)

(B)  Update on Westside Transit Issues including Efforts to Modify/Influence Funding for Exposition Light Rail, Above Grade Separation at Washington/National, and the Westside Subway Extension.

Mayor Pro Tempore Heilman advised that he did not believe the COG was lobbying for transit projects well enough.  He suggested that staff of each city should be present at all Metro hearings that have items relating to any member of the COG.  Mayor O’Connor suggested that the COG’s Transit Subcommittee should be a Brown Act Committee so that she may attend, Staff affirmed that Brown Act noticing was taking place.  On December 15, 2005, the Metro Board will consider certification of EIR for the Exposition line from downtown to Culver City.  There will be reviews of the Long Range Transportation plan in January, March and June.  The COG agreed to use these opportunities for our subregional advocacy.  There was discussion but no resolution as to whether the COG should hire a lobbyist to assist in these efforts.  Individual cities have lobbyists.  Councilmember Rosendahl asked how to expand the dedicated bus lane on Wilshire Blvd.  Mayor Pro Tempore Heilman made a motion seconded by Vice Mayor Webb as follows:

1. The COG transit subcommittee to look into use of a lobbyist, not to advocate but to monitor the process, with Expo Line being the priority and Red Line to follow.

2. City staff members to monitor Metro process and personally appear at meetings.

3. A meeting will be requested with Mayor Villaraigosa.

4. A letter from the COG to Waxman to lift the ban on tunneling.

5. Staff to evaluate Red Line alignment issues including exploring the Santa Monica Boulevard alternate

6. Update the mobility study in the Spring and invite Waxman to a COG meeting.

7. Brown Act the Transportation Subcommittee

8. Receive and file the notes from the October 24, 2005 subcommittee meeting. 

Jody Litvak of METRO advised that the MTA must look at all alternate alignments and that the Westside extension of the Red Line should be included in the Long Range Plan which will be finalized in June, 2006.  The group discussed an upcoming Mobility Summit that will include housing issues.

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

Ann Marie Wallace was not able to attend but material was received and filed. 

4.  COG LOGISTICS 

(A) Formalization of COG with City of Los Angeles’ participation.

Councilmember Rosendahl confirmed his intent to formally participate in the COG.  He advised that the Los Angeles City Council would vote on the matter on November 22.  Councilmember McKeown made a motion seconded by Vice Mayor Webb to extend the deadline for Los Angeles participation until January.  The group discussed the procedure for adopting the JPA with and without Los Angeles.  Councilmember McKeown revised his motion to proceed with out Los Angeles if the Los Angeles City Council does not approve on November 22.  John Wickham of Los Angeles Legislative Analyst Office confirmed the item will be on the November 22 agenda.

5.    RECEIVE & FILE, DIRECTION RE: CORRESPONDENCE   

Filed as received.  (See above.)

6.    ANNOUNCEMENTS

(A) City Manager Susan McCarthy Retiring

Facilitator Jody Hall Esser advised that this was Santa Monica City Manager Susan McCarthy’s last meeting as she will be retiring and thanked her for her service.  Ms McCarthy advised that she looks forward to the benefits she will receive as a resident as a result of the COG’s efforts.

(B) Supervisor Yaroslavsky Appointment of Flora Gil Krisiloff

Ms. Krisiloff advised that she has been appointed Senior Field Deputy and among other duties she will assist in obtaining funding for homeless programs.

(C)  MTA Southwest Cities Corridor and Westside Central Service Sector Report.

 Council member Gross noted that all COGs were being asked to refer stormwater issues to City Managers.  Council member McKeown requested that the matter be agenized for a future meeting.  Mayor ProTempore Heilman clarified that the item would be to determine how to collectively work together to most effectively reduce pollutants in storm water run off not about resisting mandates.

7.  DISCUSSION REGARDING CALENDARING OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Future items will include Work program, COG logistics, homelessness issues and transportation issues.  Mayor Land recommended that the COG needed more action-oriented reports.

8.  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Dena Snedden of Friends of Culver City Animals expressed her opinion that Culver City staff was working with her group seeking workable, doable alternatives to the County of Los Angeles contract.

9.  ADJOURNMENT  at 1:34 p.m., to January 19, 2006 in Beverly Hills.