BLAIR HILLS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES FEB.21, 1012
The meeting was opened at 7:01 by
Co-President Annie Wilson. She announced that since our recording
secretary, Barbara Carson, was not present, Rosalie Kirsch would be taking
minutes.
Though our January 17 minutes are now
available on our website, Annie read them and
they were approved as read.
Annie then read a message from Bobbie
Gold. A copy is attached to these minutes. She then asked for
committee reports.
Beautification Committee:
Member Marion Kenney reported on progress in her long-time work to get the
Jefferson area cleared of weeds and debris. The work has been long
delayed because neither Culver City nor Los Angeles City would claim
responsibility. Now, with the help of Gabe Garcia, she has proof that Los
Angeles is responsible. She would like to continue to pursue this, but
her health does not permit it. Floretta Taylor, chairperson of the
Beautification committee will work with Marion to pursue this.
Floretta also reported weeds and debris on
the property on the corner of Lenawee and Jefferson ( 5900
Jefferson) formerly “Graingers”. The property
is now owned by Colliers International. She asked that each of us call
them at 323 726 1200, identify ourselves as residents of Blair Hills, and
request that they clean up this area. Jon Melvin will also put this
request in our next email.
Welcoming Committee: Hank Shapiro
reported that he has been connecting with a new neighbor and that he will
notify her of future meetings.
No other committees had business to report
this month, so Annie asked for individual announcements.
Ruth Butler asked that all residents who
walk their dogs carry plastic bags and clean up after their pets. Myra Harris and Annie Wilson seconded this request and
noted the recent increase in the number of dogs in the neighborhood, and that
residents of the apartment complex had been observed walking their dogs in the
area surrounding the apartment area. Annie also said that there is now a
new manager at the apartments, and that she will contact her with this request.
Cheri Sakai thanked all who have sent
sympathy messages to her since the death of her husband Richard Sakai.
She also mentioned how impressed her non-Blair Hills friends were at the warmth
displayed by the many Blair Hills Community residents
who attended the funeral. In appreciation, Cheri supplied delicious
refreshments for this meeting.
Annie read an announcement from longtime
resident Lee Philipson whose husband Milton died
recently. A memorial for him will be held at their home at 5965
Wrightcrest on February 25 from 11 until 2.
CoPresident
Kerry Lue announced that all of the candidates for
the upcoming Culver City Council will come to our next Blair Hills
Association’s March 20 meeting. The meeting will be held in this Kenneth
Hahn meeting room. Shawn McAdory, regional park
superintendent and our contact person for the park will try to make arrangements for additional chairs, etc. and she
urges everyone to attend to get to know the candidates before casting their
vote in April election.
Dorothy Steiner announced that the voting
place for that April election, for Blair Hills
residents only, will be her home at 5964 Stoneview.
At 7:30 Annie introduced our speaker, Karly Katona, Deputy for
Sustainability from the office of Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor, Second
District, County of Los Angeles.
Karly
indicated that she is part of a team which has responsibilities for the Stoneview property that was formerly the school site, and
that others on that team would also be speaking tonight. She
reported that the property is now governed by
the Baldwin Hills Regional Conservation Authority and the Santa Monica
Recreation Authority as joint powers. The property is scheduled to be
part of a 13 mile trail that will extend from the Stocker/ LaBrea
corridor through Kenneth Hahn park, to the
Baldwin Hills Overlook, then to the Ballona Creek
area and from there to the ocean. Only one portion (the La Cienega area)
is not yet within their authority. For further information and maps, we
can go to www.ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov.
Click on issues (home, media…issues)click on
environment, scroll down , click on The Park to Playa Feasibility Plan is
Complete. Currently “due diligence” inspection work is being done
on the site, and, in partnership with the Sheriff’s Department they are now
“securing” the site.
Karly
then introduced the next member of the team, James Kearns,
Assistant Deputy Director Project Management District II.
Karly
explained that he and his staff are responsible for the preliminary work and
data collection. Mr. Kearns said that everything under the property must be
examined and that that has already started. He
outlined some of the findings so far:
·
The property is in an earthquake zone
and there is a fault running through the property. They dug down
16’and compared strata. It is unsafe and can no longer be used as a
school. However, the zone permit is for a school, so it needs to be
re-zoned. Rezoning will not allow the buildings to stay, nor can new
buildings be erected on that portion of the site.
· Based
on old topographic maps and historical data, the area was a ravine that
was filled in with uncertified soil during the 1940s and l950s when there were
no inspections and the area does not meet today’s standards. No buildings
can be used or erected on that area.
· There is an abandoned
oil well directly under the auditorium. It was sealed and filled
in. However there is water there and that must be investigated.
They will know more next
month.
· They also need to
investigate for lead and for asbestos contamination before the current
buildings can be demolished and removed.
The next speaker was Hayden Sohm, a Deputy in the Department of Parks and Recreation
for LA County. He clarified for us the role of his department on
the use of the property after the Public Works Department has completed their
work. He indicated that they plan to work closely with the residents of
the area to get their input as they begin to plan the next steps on the use of
the land. He also indicated knowledge and understanding of what has been
happening in our area in regard to traffic, the limited entrance to and exit from
the area, the narrow streets, etc. He said that his department will be
working with Shawn Mcadory, the Park Superintendent
at Kenneth Hahn Park. The planning process is scheduled and may start in
mid-May, and they will be asking for our input at that time.
The final speaker was Kevin Hannigan from the Sheriff’s department. He spoke of
the frequent policing of the area to assure safety and he asked that, in
addition, we, the residents, let his department know if we see any
suspicious activity in the area. His phone number is 310 965 8659.
There are also phone numbers on the many signs that have been erected in the
area.
Meeting closed at approximately 8:50.
Minutes
submitted by Rosalie Kirsch