In Brief -


• Planning Commission Snubs MTA/RAD Developer and Opponents
• DONE’s Greg Nelson is Retired; was nemesis of old GRVNC Board
• New bylaws, more control endorsed by GRVNC Board
• Creative Circles Formed

Planning Commission Snubs MTA/RAD Developer and Opponents

At a March 9 hearing, the Los Angeles Planning Commission President Jane Usher curtly cut off opponents who had signed up to speak and then proceeded to negotiate with RAD’s Robert D’Elia.

Also ignored was the advice of L.A. Councilmember Bill Rosendahl who spoke in favor of a drastic reduction in the size of the project proposed at the MTA’s bus lot at Main St. and Sunset Avenue.

Instead, Usher and her compliant Commission colleagues voted for a modestly reduced project. RAD had been asking for 201 condos, with a maximum height of 55 feet but Usher reduced that to 156 condos with a height not to exceed 45 feet for roof access.

The next day, project supporter Jim Murez sent an email around the community stating that D’Elia had withdrawn from the deal with the MTA, in which the Agency would give RAD the Venice lot and $8 million in exchange for a new bus lot in West Los Angeles. The deal was contingent on RAD getting permission for its building plans in Venice.

D’Elia later denied dropping out, leaving opponents wondering if the premature withdrawal announcement had just been a ruse to gain sympathy and support.

In any case, at least some opponents are expected to appeal the Planning Commission’s decision, as D’Elia undoubtedly will, if he stays in the game.

–Jim Smith

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DONE’s Greg Nelson is Retired; was nemesis of old GRVNC Board

For a couple of years, it seemed that the Progressive-led Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council could do nothing right in the eyes of the L.A. Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) General Manager Greg Nelson. DONE oversees L.A.’s 80-plus neighborhood councils, including Venice’s.
Nelson even went so far as to write a letter to a Marina del Rey newspaper calling the elected Board members “goofy.”

His departure – which sources tell the Beachhead was forced – follows on the heels of the “resignation” of Assistant General Manager Jamiko Bell, who once said the GRVNC Board had gone “rogue.”

In addition, the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners, which went along with Nelson’s tirades against GRVNC has a new majority appointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. One Hahn-appointee who is still on the Commission is Bill Christopher, who had advocated de-certification of GRVNC. Christopher later turned up as a consultant to RAD on its MTA project in Venice. He is rumored to be next on the chopping block.

“The Progressives on the GRVNC Board stood up for the community against Playa Vista and the Lincoln Center shopping center. That’s what got us in trouble with Hahn, (former City Councilmember Cindy) Miscikowski and their appointees,” said for Board member Don Geagan.

–Jim Smith

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New bylaws, more control endorsed by GRVNC Board

The Neighborhood Council Board voted, March 29, for new bylaws in an effort to stamp out opposition from Venice Progressives.

The Board voted 15-4 to throw out the old bylaws and replace them with provisions that allow each stakeholder to vote for only eight of the 21 Board members. Under the old bylaws, stakeholders could vote for seven officers, seven at-large members and a district representative.

The new bylaws would abolish district representatives and replace them with a total of 14 at-large representatives, although each stakeholder would only be allowed to vote for one. Opponents said this could result in most or all of the Board coming from the same part of Venice, leaving some neighborhoods without any representation on the Board.

In addition, the new bylaws would directly elect the chairperson of the Land Use and Planning Committee, which oversees development. Opponents were concerned that this could lead to developers spending large amounts to elect an ally to this position.

The bylaws will also drop “Grass Roots” from the name, leaving it as “Venice Neighborhood Council.”
The new bylaws passed with only a one-vote cushion since 14 votes, a two-thirds majority, was required. Progressive Mindy Taylor-Ross joined the anti-progressive majority in voting yes for the new bylaws. In addition, Peter Force, a Progressive, voted yes, although he later stated it was a mistake since he was opposed to the bylaws. Had those two voted no, the bylaws would have failed. Dede Audet, who chaired the meeting, was not allowed to vote by Robert’s Rules of Order.

The votes were as follows:

Voting Yes: Colette Bailey, L.J. Carusone, C.J. Cole, Peter Force, Yolanda Gonzalez, Michael King, Linda Lucks, Challis MacPherson, Brett Miller, Richard Myers, Naomi Nightingale, Diana Pollard, Phil Raider, Mindy Taylor-Ross and Kelley Willis.

Voting No: Sylviane Dungan, Ingrid Mueller, Stan Muhammad and Rebecca Tafoya.
Abstaining: Susan Papadakis.

The new bylaws must be submitted to a vote of the Venice stakeholders, possibly on May 1, and be approved by DONE before taking effect.

–Jim Smith

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Creative Circles Formed

The Venice Arts Council’s January 7th a Public Art and Culture Workshop asking the question “What do you artistically dream for Venice?” It was a gathering of Venice artists, organizations and the community for a dialogue and interaction about the arts in Venice.

A “Voice to Vision” workshop was held in which members of the community were asked to answer the question: “What are the five ideas you have for the enhancement of the artistic life of Venice which will establish our community as a leader in the arts in our city, will define what is uniquely Venice and will transform our community into an “artist community.” At least one idea should be your wildest dream.

From these 300 ideas that were submitted by the participants, we developed 9 categories that we call creative circles . These circles are made up of the people who signed up at the workshop, those who did not sign up then but would like to now, and are encouraged to so. We will probably merge some of the categories as the ideas come to fruition. Some already have. The categories of the circles are as follows:
Art Programs/Community; Art on the Boardwalk (this group has merged into Sculpture & Murals & Banners); Most Radical (this group has merged into other groups); Eco-system; Store Fronts (combined with Murals & Banners); Performance; Sculpture; Free Space; Banners/Murals

If you are interested, these Creative Circles will report their progress and be discussed at the next Venice Arts Council meeting that meets the first Tuesday of the month, the next one being April 4th 7-9 pm at SPARC, 685 N. Venice Blvd. Everyone welcome.

– Emily Winters, Venice Arts Council, Chair

Posted: Sat - April 1, 2006 at 07:09 PM          

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