GGPNC --PARKS,RIVER,RECREATION,OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE

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PARKS, RIVER AND OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE
MEETING REPORT
AUGUST 13, 2008, Loz Feliz Police Center, 1965 Hillhurst Ave

Attending: PROS Committee Members Mary Button, Gerry Hans, Lynn Brown, Carol Henning, Chuck Soter, Kathryn Louyse and Bernadette Soter. GGPNC Boardmember, Tom Wilson, Save the Southwest Museum Coalition Member, Nicole Poessert, Autry Museum CFO Luke Swetland, Autry Attorney Bill Delvec of Latham & Watkins, Autry Consultant Faith Raiguel and Project Architect, Brenda Levin.
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The Committee discussed the entitlements and variances being sought by the Autry National Center in Griffith Park in connection with its proposed addition of 129,000 square feet to its existing 161,271 square feet museum facility there. (Phase 1: 79,000 square feet. Phase 2: 50,000 square feet). The requests were heard by the Planning Department at a public hearing on Monday, August 18. Written comment on the requests will be accepted by the Planning Department until August 29, 2008.

Consensus was reached that the requested entitlements and variances are unsuitable in a zoned Open Space and in a Park, and are particularly inappropriate in Griffith Park, given its unique identity. The applicant is proposing an expansion whose earmarks not only degrade the Park’s setting, but establish several Park-changing precedents, most of which are extraneous to its museum mission. In light of the applicant’s lease of 12 acres of dedicated parkland from the City at the token rate of $1 a year, it is reasonable to ask the applicant to respect its context and refrain from urbanizing and commercializing its leasehold.

1. The Committee believes that the addition of 129,000 sq feet,
to an existing facility of 161,271 square feet is not justified in an Open Space.

Completed as proposed, the project will be roughly equal in area to four renovated Griffith Observatories and 80,000 square feet larger than the West Exhibit Hall of the L.A. Convention Center. The Autry lease area in Griffith Park will lose its remaining appearance and function as an open space--in effect negating its zoning--which was created and set in place for the purpose of protecting unbuilt areas, such as parks, from encroaching densification.
The Autry’s justification for this massive expansion is its absorption of the Southwest Museum Collection which was housed previously in a 32,000 square foot building. We see no justification for expansion beyond that amount and oppose the precedent its sets for building ratios in Griffith Park. There is no guarantee that the Autry’s excessive additional square footage will not be sub-leased to restaurant, shopping, and entertainment concessions that do not conform to museum use or park purposes but, given the Autry’s $1 a year lease, will be lucrative tenants. The Autry has already established a pattern of renting its premises for private events that have nothing to do with its museum mission including large outdoor concerts and festival-like events such as the recent Brew Haw Haw Beer Tasting Festival and the Band from TV Concert.

2. The Committee opposes the height variances
requested in that they are excessive in a zoned Open Space.

Size and height limits are designed to preserve the visual nature of open spaces and to set natural and reasonable limits on the size of structures in such zones. The Autry is asking to double the permissible building height in an Open Space from 30 feet to 60 feet and, in the case of the tower element, to nearly quadruple the allowable height (112 feet is proposed). Dramatic overages such as these would be subjects of opposition if they were proposed by the owner of a private property in an area zoned for Commercial or Residential use. Given that the height variances are being requested on public property in an Open Space, coupled with their precedent-setting nature for future structures in Griffith Park, the Committee opposes these exceptions to the code. The Autry’s contention that they are in a grandfathered situation, would be compelling if they would agree to limit their building height to no more than the current height of the body of their building in Griffith Park. In the case of the skyscraper-height tower, we do not see how it supports the Autry’s mission as a museum and object to the intrusive nature of this detail.

3. The Committee opposes the Phase 2 parking structure.

The public has overwhelmingly objected to the introduction of parking structures in Griffith Park, seven of which were proposed in the rejected Melendrez Draft Master Plan which is now undergoing revision. Approving a plan for a parking structure at the Autry, even if the structure is never built, will set an immediate precedent that will be cited to justify the introduction of parking structures elsewhere in the Park. Some reasons why parking structures are opposed in Griffith Park:

They will introduce parking fees—in essence, levy a charge to use the Park which, according to the terms of its donor, should be free. Their introduction in Griffith Park is perceived widely as an attempt to bypass this stipulation.

They will urbanize the Park and introduce urban nuisances: noise pollution (echo chamber conditions), light pollution, (24-hour safety lighting) and security concerns (auto break-ins and assault).

They will have a deadening effect in terms of use, on the areas adjacent to them, thus reducing enjoyable recreation space in the Park.

They are retrograde from an environmental standpoint. Both the imminent renovation of the Zoo parking lot as a permeable surface lot (a Prop O

Environmental Sustainability Project), and the Draft Master Plan Working Group’s recommendation that, as they are resurfaced, all lots in Griffith Park be converted to permeable modes, are the exemplars that should be followed.

They are natural bottlenecks that cannot be quickly evacuated, an unacceptable risk in a wildfire prone area such as Griffith Park. The July 27, 2008 fire that came within 1000 feet of the Zoo necessitated the evacuation of 4000 persons and their cars from a surface lot. The five fires that broke out on August 17, 2008 required the evacuation of Travel Town. In crisis situations, slow-to-evacuate parking structures have the potential to become death traps.

In summary, given that the Autry’s proposed parking structure will not increase parking on its leasehold--in fact there will be less parking at the Autry after the expansion than before—given that the Autry will finance the construction of a surface parking lot in Phase 1 of its plan only to demolish it in Phase 2 to construct a parking structure at a cost of $25,000 per space, it will be no hardship for the Autry to abandon this project detail. In light of the inefficiency and waste attending this sequence, we are concerned that that the parking structure has been inserted in the Project’s Phase 2 is to create an actionable precedent for the introduction of such structures elsewhere in the Griffith Park.

4. The Committee believes that the increase in sign space requested is unnecessary.

Located in an Open Space, the Autry does not compete with multiple attractions for attention. By way of contrast, amply visited Park attractions such as Griffith Observatory, the Greek Theatre, Travel Town and the Zoo restrict themselves to single, over-door entrance signs. The requested increase in monument sign area from 75 to 100 square feet is intrusive and unwarranted; correspondingly, the 31 signs proposed for the property, half of which will be lit at night, are excessive and add a commercial gloss that is not in keeping with the Park and are detrimental to its natural setting.

5. The Committee opposes the request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow the on-site sale and dispensing of a full line of alcoholic beverages at the Autry.

The service of alcohol is not permitted by right in an Open Space. When permitted it is subject to conditions. This request translates to the daily service of a full line if alcoholic drinks at whatever restaurant, café, or bar or a combination or multiples thereof that may be aspects of the final expansion. It is the opinion of the Committee that the alcohol variance requested should be denied for daily service of alcohol at the museum’s food service(s) but that alcohol may be served at selected museum special events, and that the policy for same should conform with the policy at Griffith Observatory which was developed in close cooperation with the GGPNC. Unlike Griffith Observatory, the Autry does not share any portion of the revenue it derives from the sale of alcoholic beverages with the City, so the Committee believes that this is a generous accommodation.

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
October 9, 2006 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Susan Swan, Bob Diaz, Philip Gasteier, Laura Howe, Lynn Brown, Gerry Hans, Mary Button, Lucinda Phillips, Chuck Soter, Tom Wilson, Donna Barstow, Jeff Gardner, Le Val Lund, Kristin Sabo, Sarah Napier, Barbara Ferris, Delphine Trowbridge, George Grace, Rosemary DeMonte, R.J. Comer, Nancy Patterson, Bernadette Soter

1. Griffith Observatory Wolfgang Puck Food Concession – R.J. Comer of Armbruster & Goldsmith LLP and Nancy Patterson of Urban Solutions Inc. presented Wolfgang Puck Catering’s operating vision for the Observatory Café at the renovated Griffith Observatory. Many aspects of the special event scheduling, alcohol service and other details appeared to be at odds with the community’s expressed desire against a destination restaurant in Griffith Park, the overwhelmingly negative response to commercialization proposals contained in the Melendrez Draft of the Griffith Park Master Plan, and the Observatory’s operating policies approved on August 9, 2006 by the Recreation and Parks Commission. A Planning & Zoning hearing for a variance permitting Puck to serve alcohol at will is in the offing. Currently, zoning forbids alcohol service in an open space without such a variance. R.J. Comer felt this would not occur before January 2007.

2. GGPNC Board Elections – Rosemary DeMonte, GGPNC Election Chair, announced election dates and distributed sample ballots. The election will be held October 12th and October 14th at two sites within the council boundaries. All were encouraged to cast their votes and pass the word to stakeholders.

3. Due to the lateness of the hour, the Committee agreed to table the update on the L.A. River Verdugo Wash Opportunity Site and Griffith Park Master Plan Draft to the next meeting.

4. A list of upcoming meetings, presentations and events of interest to PROS was distributed and the meeting was adjourned.

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
September 12, 2006 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Rogelio Rodriguez, Jason Marchant, Erica Balsam, Bob Diaz, Philip Gasteier, Gene Gilbert, Laura Howe, Lynn Brown, Gerry Hans, Lucinda Phillips, Chuck Soter, Tom McCall, Jeff Gardner, Le Val Lund, Kristin Sabo, Dave Monks, Vijay Desai, Rene Ellis, Kathleen Bullard, Bernadette Soter

1. Griffith Park Atwater Creek Stream Restoration – Vijay Disai, Kathleen Ellis and Renee Bullard from the L.A. Bureau of Sanitation and Bureau of Engineering presented a conceptual plan for a wetlands restoration in the North Atwater Park section of Griffith Park alongside the L.A. River. The project is funded by the Santa Monica Bay clean-up legal settlement and is being forwarded under the rubric of the Greater Los Angeles County Region Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. Speakers: Kathleen Bullard, Renee Ellis and Vijay Desai. Questions and answers followed.

2. East Hollywood Neighborhood Park Initiative – Community member, Dave Monks, presented on the grass roots desire to create a new park for East Hollywood’s park-poor residents. The preferred site is a vacant lot at the northwest corner of Hollywood Blvd and Garfield. It is situated on the borderline of four neighborhood councils including the GGPNC and he is hoping to gain the Council’s support in this matter.

3. LADWP Festival of Lights in Griffith Park – Recap of August community actions regarding converting the Festival from an automobile to a primarily pedestrian event that will conform with the DWP Board's recent adoption of principles recognizing the need to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions to combat global warming from human sources. As a direct result of PROS July 31st initiative, Hollywood United NC, Atwater Village NC, the Los Feliz Improvement Assn and Oaks Homeowners Assn all passed strongly worded resolutions asking for reform of the event in 2006. Concern was expressed by committee members that in rewriting the similiarly worded resolutions passed unanimously by both the GGPNC’s PROS and Transportation Committees, the GGPNC Board voted to absolve the DWP from any responsibility to reform the event this season.

4.A list of upcoming meetings, presentations and events of interest to PROS was distributed and the meeting was adjourned.

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
July 31, 2006 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Rogelio Rodriguez, Delphine Trowbridge, Carol Brusha, Heavenly Clegg, Shaun Swann, Greg Bartz, Tal Vigderson, Sandra Levinson, Lisa Stege, George Grace, Tom McCall, Philip Gasteier, Donna Barstow, Dora Herrera, Kathryn Louyse, Al Moggia, Lynn Brown, Gerry Hans, Lucinda Phillips, Susan Swan, Chuck Soter, Rulon Openshaw, Vicki Israel, Jeff Gardner, Barbara Ferris, Le Val Lund, Toby Leaman, Albert Torres, Kristin Sabo, Bernadette Soter

1. LADWP Festival of Lights in Griffith Park – Unanimous adoption of a resolution asking the Department of Water and Power to convert the annual Lights Festival from an automobile to a primarily pedestrian event. Major discussion points included the desire to take substantive action to address global warming, the desire to promote environmental responsibility in our Parks, and the expectation that the DWP Board should abide by its recent adoption of principles recognizing the need to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions to combat global warming from human sources. Participating in the discussion was DWP departmental representative Greg Bartz, Paul T. Wang, Kimberley Hughes and Adriana Rubalcava were agendized but did not attend.

2. Mia Lehrer of the Tetra Tech Consultant Team developing the City’s L.A. River Master Plan made a conceptual presentation of the planning process and its goals. She also discussed the “opportunity sites” concept and indicated that there may be one in or near Griffith Park. The final picks will be revealed on Sept 26-27-28 at public workshops. Upon questioning it was learned that there is no formal interface between the City’s plan and the Greater Los Angeles County Region Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. Now in its workshop stages, the IRWMP plan, like the developing Griffith Park and the L.A. River Master Plans concerns itself with park issues on the Atwater side of the Park.

3. Sandra Levinson, GGPNC Director of Animal Welfare was introduced and described her new role as the community’s local DAW assisting with animal issues.

4. An ad hoc exploratory committee to address graffiti eradication in Griffith Park was established with Barbara Ferris and Kris Sabo as leads. They will report back on process/mechanism for actions it develops.

5. A progress report was given on the Recreation and Parks Park rangers funding and staffing. Thanks to the efforts of Neighborhood Councils and other stakeholder groups there will be 37 RAP Park Rangers assigned to the City’s large regional parks with complex terrain.

5. Upcoming Events: a list of meetings, presentations and events of interest to PROS was passed out and the meeting adjourned.

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
May 8, 2006 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Rex Link, Delphine Trowbridge, Al Moggia, Lynn Brown, Gerry Hans, Lucinda Phillips, Susan Swan, Joe Young, Chuck Soter, Rulon Openshaw, Vicki Israel, Jeff Gardner, Barbara Ferris Keith Goettert, Le Val Lund, Toby Leaman, Albert Torres, Kristin Sabo, Suzanne Pitka, Bernadette Soter

1. Barbara Ferris provided a follow-up report on budgeting and status of the proposed Recreation and Parks Department Regional Park Rangers to be based in the City’s large Regional Parks such as Griffith Park. At this time there are 28 Rec & Parks Rangers, including ten of who transferred to the General Services Division of Public Safety but returned to Rec & Parks before the trial period ended. According to RAP Manager Vicki Israel, the budget to fund the Rangers has been requested by the Department.

2. Le Val Lund gave the Committee a heads up on the “North Atwater Creek Restoration and Water Quality” section of the Greater Los Angeles County Region Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. Now in its workshop stages, the IRWMP plan, like the developing Griffith Park and the Los Angeles River Master Plans concern themselves with park issues on the Atwater side of the Park. The Committee resolved to investigate.

3. The agenda for for the Wednesday, May 10th, L.A. City Council Arts, Parks, Health & Committee Meeting at the Los Angeles Zoo was distributed. At this meeting, Councilmember LaBonge will introduce several motions affecting Griffith Park and the Master Planning process and will receive reports from Rec and Parks Dept staff. Since the motions affect issues being monitored by PROS or that the committee has taken stands on, everyone was encouraged to attend and make public comment.

4. Recap of the Griffith Park Draft Master Plan Working Group Meeting was given.

5. Upcoming Events: Meetings, presentations and events of interest to PROS

6. Committee and Public Comment on non-agenda items: Suzanne Pitka spoke of her concerns with the potential award of the Ponyride Concession in Griffith Park.

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
April 10, 2006 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .

Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Felix Martinez, Delphine Trowbridge, Nancy Friedman, Maye Despard, Al Moggia, Lynn Brown, Gerry Hans, Lucinda Phillips, Vicki Israel, Jeff Gardner, Chris Robert, Lynne Jewell, Bob Diaz, Barbara Ferris, Lisa Stege, Laura Howe, Jim Omahen, Gene Gilber, Sarah Napier, Patricia Malone, Le Val Lund, Erica Balsam, Kurt Rademaekers, Kristin Sabo, Bea Gold, Stephanie Vendig, Doris Slater, Jeanne Phipps, Moneim Fadali, Bernadette Soter

1. Griffith Park Financial Grant, Patty Malone, CD4 Field Deputy presented an update on REI Corp’s recent grant to the Park that wiil be used for trail maintenance. Committee inquired as to grant application mechanism and methodology employed to select the park program or project to be benefited. Both reside exclusively in the Council Office and there are currently no plans for change.

2. Los Angeles River Master presentation by Chris Robert of the Robert Group, Outreach Coordinator for the Master Planning Team: power point of the project’s scope and public outreach/input on the currently developing plan.

3. Rim of the Valley Trail, Mary Benson, Boardmember Foothill Trails NC explained the significance and history of the now forming Rim of the Valley equestrian/hiking trail that will create linkages between major L.A. parks in the valley and basin, including Griffith, Elysian and others.

4. Silverlake Seniors Club Preseident, Stephanie Vendig, presented proposal to relocate the Silverlake Senior Club to Griffith Park south of Riverside Drive in temporary bldgs in the Friendship Auditorium parking lot. Discussion of club needs and competing proposals for the site within and outside the GP Master Plan framework were discussed. The Club opposes sharing its hoped-for facility with another user-group and ruled out participating in the Griffith Park Master Plan process to achieve its goal.

5. Park Rangers Update was presented by Barbara Ferris on status and funding for Rec and Parks Department Regional Park Rangers as urged by the community and motioned in 2005 at City Council by LaBonge-Greuel-Hahn

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
February 13, 2006 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Toby Leaman, Gerry Hans, Mary Button, Rulon Openshaw, Jeff Gardner, Chuck Soter, Lucinda Phillips, Lisa Fadali, Moneim Fadali, Danila Oder, Susan Swan, Joe Young, George Grace, Garry George, Vicki Israel, Patty Malone, Aaron Keshishian, Kian Kaeni, Frank Quintero, Jim Omahen, Bernadette Soter

1. City of Glendale Councilmember Frank Quintero, Canidiate for Assembly District 43 which includes Griffith Park, spoke on population pressures and various state legislature and agenda processes that can impact Griffith Park other parks in the City of Los Angeles, and the L.A. River. Q&A followed.

2. Garry George, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Audubon Society, spoke on his collaboration with RAP Principal Forester Teresa Proscewicz on restoring Griffith Park’s historic Bird Sanctuary in Vermont Canyon to its original role as a wildlife preserve for native avian species. The importance of planting native flora and the roles of the DWP, the Bureau of Engineering,and PAVA’s volunteer labor were discussed.

3. Follow-up was presented by PROS Committee Members on their tour with the DWP of the new 750,000 gallon Travel Town Tank site on Mt Hollywood Dr. and the design and security issues being addressed in building the tank in a design-sensitively and in compliance with the City’s native oak tree ordinance.

4. The new draft Human Dimension Chapter prepared by the Griffith Park Draft Master Plan Working group was distributed and comments were invited.

5. Recreation and Parks Audits 2 and 3 – Committee continued its discussion of the City Controller’s final two audits of the Rec and Park Department.

5. David Burns and Matias Viegener on the urban orchards movement and their desire to plant a grove of fruit-bearing trees in Griffith Park and/or in open spaces in Northeast L.A.

6. Upcoming events of interest to PROS were announced and the meeting was adjourned.

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
23 JAN 2006 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Al Moggia, Toby Leaman, Gerry Hans, Rulon Openshaw, Jeff Gardner, Barbara Ferris, Donna Barstow, David Burns, Matias Viegener, Chuck Soter, Lisa Stege, Lynn Brown, Lucinda Phillips, Bob Diaz, Lisa Fadali, Moneim Fadali, Anselmo Collins, Vee Miller, Danila Oder, Marta Alcumbrac, Mary Button, Le Val Lund, George Grace, Kris Sabo, Susan Aldrich, Arthur B. Rubenstein, Mary Lou Watkins, Bernadette Soter

1. Congratulations were extended to PROS Members Lynn Brown for her recent elevation to National Trails Coordinator for Equestrian Trails, Inc. and to Donna Barstow for her appointment as cartoonist for the L.A. Times “West” Magazine.

2. Marta Alcumbrac from the Steering Committee for the proposed Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts spoke. The LFCS would like to situate in the Los Feliz area and is looking at various sites with Griffith Park being one oft them. Concerns were raised by the Committee about using dedicated parkland for non-recreational and non-park uses, withdrawing parkland from use by the many to use by the few, and the predecent for takings of parkland throughout the City for the burgeoning and landless charter school movement.

3. Anselmo Collins and Vee Miller of the Department of Water and Power presented plans and maps for the new 750,000 gallon Travel Town Tank on Mt Hollywood Dr. providing domestic, irrigation and emergency water to westerly areas such as Travel Town, the Composting Facility, Zoo Hospital, Toyon Landfill and Mt. Hollywood. The desire was expressed that design and security issues involved in siting and building the tank be handled sensitively and that the oak tree ordinance be upheld. Anselmo and Vee agreed to meet a small contingent of Committee members for a site tour next week.

4. Recreation and Parks Audits 2 and 3 – Committee opened a discussion on the City Controller’s final two audits of Rec and Parks that will be continued at the next meeting.

5. David Burns and Matias Viegener on the urban orchards movement and their desire to plant a grove of fruit-bearing trees in Griffith Park and/or in open spaces in Northeast L.A.

6. Upcoming events of interest to PROS were announced and the meeting was adjourned.

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
12 DEC 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Al Moggia, Toby Leaman, Gerry Hans, Rulon Openshaw, Jeff Gardner, Barbara Ferris, Chuck Soter, Susan Swan, Lynn Brown, Sarah Napier, Lucinda Phillips, Bob Diaz, Vicki Israel, Kevin Regan, Chris Laib, Teresa Proscewicz, Lisa Fadali, Moneim Fadali, Thomas G. McDonald, Tom LaBonge, Anselmo Collins, Vee Miller, Rory Fitzpatrick, Patty Malone, Charlotte DeArmond, Keith Goettert, Joanne Travis, Irving Chung, Han Lee, Tiger Kang, Anne Waisgerber, Pat Hiers, Johanna Dawes, Rosemarie White, Elaine Brock, Sam Miller, Danila Oder, Molly Rysman, Marta Alcumbrac, Le Val Lund, Bernadette Soter

1. Holiday greetings were extended to all attendees by Councilmember Tom LaBonge.

2. A presentation was made by Anselmo Collins and Vee Miller of the DWP of the Department of the Department of Water and Power’s plans for the new 750,000 gallon Travel Town Tank to be located on Mount Hollywood Drive. The tank will provide domestic, irrigation and emergency water to westerly park areas including Travel Town, the Composting Facility, and Zoo Hospital and provide water to higher elevations including Toyon Landfill and Mount Hollywood. The project will involve street realignment and retaining wall construction. Due to the complexity of the presentation and the volume of questions that followed, Anselmo Collins and Vee Miller graciously agreed to return in January and spend more time with the Committee.

3. Patty Malone of Council District 4 presented a conceptual plan for an equestrian bridge over the Los Angeles River to replace the current, soon to be submerged crossing and provide permanent access to the Park for the Atwater Village horsekeeping community. Patty asked for support for a letter of support from the GGPNC for the Prop O funding application being filed and the PROS Committee voted unanimously to recommend this to the full Board.

4. An update followed on the restoration of the Bird Sanctuary in Vermont Canyon. Tiger Kang, Irving Chung and Han Lee of the Pacific American Volunteer Assocation (PAVA) presented preliminary landscape designs. A discussion followed with Pat Hiers and Johanna Dawes of the Los Angeles Audubon Society, Griffith Park Maintenance Superintendent and Chief Forester Teresa Prosewicz, Park Ranger Anne Weisgerber, and the PAVA members emphasizing the importance of returning the sanctuary to its historic role and the need to plant it with flora that will provide food and habitat for the Park’s native bird species, avoid exotic plants and manmade features that would discourage wildlife. It was agreed by them and endorsed by the PROS Committee that the restoration would go forward hand-in-hand with the Audubon Society under the direction of Ms. Procewisz with assistance from PAVA and Park Ranger Weisgerber.

5. Public comment was made by Marta Alcumbrac from the steering committee of the proposed Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts regarding the school’s search for a site in the Los Feliz area and potentially Griffith Park. Marta agreed to return in January as an agendized speaker.

Upcoming events of interest to PROS were announced and the meeting was adjourned.

NEXT MEETING: Monday, January 23, 2006

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
14 NOV 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Al Moggia, Toby Leaman, Gerry Hans, Rulon Openshaw, Jeff Gardner, Barbara Ferris, Chuck Soter, Susan Swan, Lynn Brown, George Grace, Sarah Napier, Lucinda Phillips, Bob Diaz, Karen Wane, David King, Vicki Israel, Kevin Regan, Chris Laib, Lon Wallstrom, Joe Young, Delphine Trowbridge, Rory Fitzpatrick, Patty Malone, Bernadette Soter

1. Introduction and remarks by Vicki Israel, new Superintendent of the newly formed Griffith Metro Region. Vicki spoke of her previous responsibilities with Recreation and Parks which have included overseeing Venice Beach Boardwalk, the Pershing Square Parking Garage, and the Municipal Aquatics Division. As Superintendent of the new Griffith Region she will oversee Griffith Park, North Atwater Village Park at Chevy Chase east of Brunswick, Runyon Canyon on Vista north of Franklin, Yucca Recreation Center at Las Palmas and Franklin, Wattles Park at Curson and Franklin, Pershing Square at 5th and Hill Downtown and all Municipal Sports Section camping which includes the boys’ and girls’ camps in Griffith Park, but also out-of-city camps in Mammoth, Angeles National Forest, Crestline, La Canada, and Malibu.

2. A discussion of the City Controller’s November 11th release of the first in a series of three audits of the Recreation and Parks Department followed. The first audit has uncovered citywide disparities in the fees charged for children’s organized recreation as well as a surplus of $21.5 million in the Municipal Recreation Fund, whch is equivalent to 15% of the department’s budget.. Kevin Regan, Asst General Manager of Rec & Parks, Vicki Israel Griffith Park Superintendent, and Rory Fitzpatrick of CD4 downplayed the findings. Many meeting attendees suggested that the surplus be spent in part on funding for Park Rangers. Some noted that the surplus called into question the the Draft Master Plan’s many proposals for revenue enhancement in Griffith Park to defray the cost of its maintenance.

3. An update was given on the Park Rangers status. PROS Members and advocates for other Parks attended the November 8th Arts, Parks, Health & Aging Council Committee hearing to hear the CAO’s Report on the LaBonge-Greuel-Hahn Motion to retain and fund a permanent corps of Recreation and Parks Department Regional Park Rangers based in the City’s large Parks with complex terrain, such as Griffith, Elysian, Debs, O’Melveny, Hansen Dam, Sepulveda Basin and Malloy. Together these parks comprise more than 50% of the City’s park acreage. The CAO’s report concluded that $830,000 was needed fund the 37 Rangers that would be required to sustain such a corps. The CAO also concluded that there was no source from which the money could be obtained. However, the recently uncovered $21.5 million surplus within RAP was recommended by many as a source for the funds.

4. Joe Young of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club with 55,000 members in Los Angeles County and Orange County communicated that the Sierra Club’s Executive Committee had voted to reject the Griffith Park Draft Master Plan in its entirety. He also said that the Sierra Club had neither selected nor empowered any individual on the Griffith Park Draft Master Plan Working Group to represent them or speak on their behalf.

Due to the late hour, a consensus was reached to table the discussion of the Griffith Park Master Plan Draft Working Group materials and related topics, and the PROS 2006 Budget to the next meeting. Upcoming events of interest to PROS were announced and the meeting was adjourned.

NEXT MEETING: Monday, December 12th, 2005

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
10 OCTOBER 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Al Moggia, Toby Leaman, Gerry Hans, Rulon Openshaw, Jeff Gardner, Barbara Ferris, Kristin Sabo, Donna Wagner, Chuck Soter, Donna Dougherty, Susan Swan, Rosemarie White, Susan Aldrich, Lynn Brown, George Grace, Elaine Brock, Sammy Miller, Louis Alvarado, Danila Oder, Keith Goettert, Viktoria Gaw, Laura Howe, Le Val Lund, Bernadette Soter

1. Donna Dougherty spoke about her ongoing effort to have the central entrance to Griffith Observatory redesigned for disabled access. She noted that the facility is in compliance with the ADA Code and that there is new and improved access into and throughout the facility. However, she rejects the alternative entrance solution for the disabled because it is an "alternative" to the central portal which, she feels is discriminatory by nature. It being Columbus Day, no City employees were present to offer other perspectives, but Donna acknowledged that the current plans have been approved by the City agencies involved.

2. Committee members received and read the draft of the new GP Master Plan Vision and Goals "Urban Wilderness" Chapter so that PROS Members would be in a position to comment on it at the October 11th Working Group meeting.

3. Rumors about imminent changes in Griffith Park’s Management were discussed. Most present felt that RAP & CD4 had undermined the Griffith Park Master Plan process which was to examine and advise on several management scenarios. Many felt that the community as a whole should have been consulted before major changes in Park management were implemented. Either way, the public was not consulted.

4. Committee members discussed the upcoming Observatory Access meeting and expressed concern about that portion of the conceptual plan that proposes the re-opening of Mt. Hollywood Drive. Consensus was reached that this was a shortsighted policy. Reasons givenw ere varied: the Los Feliz Blvd alternative is more direct and, if handled correctly, will have low-impact on the community; each shuttle bus on Los Feliz Blvd will remove the equivalent of 30 to 50 cars so it will decrease not increase congestion; scarce tax dollars should not be spent repaving Mt. Hollywood Drive for this limited use; once Mt. Hollywood is resurfaced, precedent shows that, despite promises to the contrary, it will stay that way to justify the re-paving expenditure and to advance other agendas; opening Mt. Hollywood Drive will nullify the Urban Wilderness that the local community is working to establish and will negatively impact the Park's wildlife; opening Mt. Hollywood Drive will displace current recraetionists who use it -- walkers, hikers, bicyclists and equestrians; in any case, after the six month shuttle program ends, all the traffic to the Observatory will revert to the pre-closing pattern, i.e, entering from Los Feliz Blvd...so the net result of opening Mt. Hollywood Drive will be more congestion for the community: traffic and automobiles will flow through our neighborhoods from all sides of the Park; lewd behavior, gang activity and auto-facilitated crime will re-appear. The community will see a return to pre-1993 Griffith Park when the interior roads were opened and those who used the interior of the Park were not secure.

5. As of Monday, October 10th, more than 5500 Urban Wilderness Petitions had been returned to RAP. Everyone was encouraged to continue the effort. Bumperstickers have caused comment and are driving people to the web site. People were asked to contribute stories, text and anecdotes to the site.

7. The idea was broached of forming an umbrella coalition of advocates for the City's major parks "with terrain" to share information, support mutual goals and begin pressuring the City to address their special needs: Griffith, Elysian, Debs and O'Melveny and perhaps Sepulveda Basin and Hansen Dam. This is in the exploratory mode and initial steps would not be taken until Jan or Feb 2006

8. Meetings of interest list was passed out

NEXT MEETING: Monday, November 14th, 2005

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
19 SEPTEMBER 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Al Moggia, Toby Leaman, Gerry Hans, Jeff Gardner, Barbara Ferris, Kristin Sabo, Chuck Soter, Lynn Brown, George Grace, Keith Goettert, Donna Wagner, Bob Diaz, Anselmo Collins, Robert Prendergast, LeVal Lund, Garry George, Delphine Trowbridge, Kara Knack, Lucinda Phillips, Paul Habib, Rory Fitzpatrick, Bernadette Soter

1.Paul Habib, Field Representative for Dario Frommer, 43rd Assembly District, explained the Assemblyman’s Urban Park Act AB 1481, a state grant program conceived to help create new local parks. The grant program helped fund Taylor Yard Park that will be opening soon in Northeast Los Angeles.

2. Updates on Department of Water and Power Projects in Griffith Park were presented by Anselmo Collins and Robert Prendergast of the DWP. The transfer of Silverlake Reservoir’s holding capacity to the Headworks site at the Park’s north end was detailed. The DWP plans to match funds with the Army Corps of Engineers to create a solution that will result in a riparian habitat at that portion of the 43-acre site not given over to water storage. Construction will commence no sooner than 2007; projected completion date is 2013. Water plans were presented for Fern Dell on the west side of Griffith Park. A consultant has designed a solution that will restore waterflow to this Cultural-Historical Landmarkat an estimated cost of $425M. There was no progress to report on the DWP’s role in returning water to the Bird Sanctuary on Vermont Canyon in Griffith Park, although $100M will be required to do this. Currently there is no electrical power at the site.

3. Garry George of the Los Angeles Audubon Society spoke on native plants at the Bird Sanctuary. For the site to function as intended, it must be restored as an indigenous habitat that will attract native birds. Non-native species and features intended primarily for human use will defeat the purpose. The Audubon Society dedicated the Bird Sanctuary in 1920.

4. Organizations and individuals in attendance gave updates on activities in connection with the Griffith Park Master Plan draft and Urban Wilderness designation. The LFIA, Oaks Homeowners Assn, Sierra Club, HUNC, AVNC, GGPNC and ETI Corral 38 spoke.

5. Committee members agreed that it was important to attend the upcoming series of 19 Los Angeles River Revitalization Workshops and that river plans would have major implications for Griffith Park and its surrounding communities

5. NEXT MEETING: Monday, October 10th, 2005

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
8 AUGUST 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Lisa Stege, Al Moggia, Kara Knack, Toby Leaman, Rulon Openshaw, Joe Young, Jeff Gardner, Barbara Ferris, Kristin Sabo, Donna Wagner, Chuck Soter, Niki Viau, Linda Coscarelli, Lucinda Phillips, Susan Swan, Rosemarie White, Donna Wagner, Lynn Brown, Kathryn Louyse, Albert Torres, Steve Lane, Bernadette Soter

1. Security Consolidation: Ad Hoc Committee Chair, Kris Sabo, gave an update on the proposal to establish a new Office of Public Safety under the General Services Department taking over responsibility for park security from the Park Rangers. The date for the consolidation is still unknown; the LaBonge motion to establish RAP Rangers for regional parks is still unfunded according to Councilmember LaBonge, who stopped in just before the meeting began.

2. Griffith Park Master Plan draft – Information was shared by organizations and individual members present on recent outreach, actions and developments in connection with the Master Plan draft. Reports were given by the Los Feliz Improvement Association (Chuck Soter and Rulon Openshaw), The Oaks Homeowners Assocation (Gerry Hans), Sierra Club (Joe Young and Al Moggia), Hollywood United Neighborhood Council (Viktoria Gaw and Susan Swan), Atwater Village NC (Jeff Gardner), Greater Griffith Park NC (Bernadette Soter and Toby Leaman), Equestrian Trails, Inc (Lynn Brown).

3. Griffith Park Urban Wilderness Petition – The PROS Committee voted unanimously to support the LFIA petition to establish an Urban Wilderness in Griffith Park based on the City of L.A. Debs Park model and resolved to ask the GGPNC Board to consider approving the petition at its August 16th General Meeting.

NEXT MEETING: September 19, 2005

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
27 JUNE 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
George Grace, Lisa Stege, Elaine Brock, Sam Miller, Al Moggia, Gina Chovan, Kara Knack, Bob Diaz, Toby Leaman, Rulon Openshaw, Joe Young, Jim MacKeen, Ann MacKeen, Jeff Gardner, Gene Gilbert, Barbara Ferris, Kristin Sabo, Donna Wagner, Chuck Soter, Le Val Lund, Carol Henning, Karen Wane, David King, Kenneth Owen, Bernadette Soter

1. L.A. River Los Feliz Blvd/Fletcher Avenue Crime– Gina Chovan, LAPD Acting Senior Lead Officer for Northeast Division, alerted attendees’ to a recent spike in gang-related crime along the River. Incidents have included threats to pocket park visitors, arson, wanton vandalism to landscaping, shooting at river birds, and stepped up graffiti. Committee members apprised Officer Chovan of the City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the L.A. River, whose members include at least two elected officials in the impacted area and that the Committee may provide helpful resources.

2. Security Consolidation: Ad Hoc Committee Chair, Kris Sabo, gave an update on the Arts, Parks, Health & Aging Council Committee and Police Commission Meetings of 6/21/2005. Of particular note was the ACLU’s objection before the Police Commission to the proposed establishment of an armed Office of Public Safety under GSD without public oversight. The LaBonge motion to establish a RAP Rangers for regional parks is still unfunded and the CAO has been asked to report to the Council Committee on this.

3. Headworks – Chuck Soter and Lynn Brown recapped the June 2 Army Corps of Engineers Meeting on the Headworks and described the potential solutions (including a riparian area) that are being examined for that portion of the Griffith Park site not controlled by the DWP. Funding for any of the solutions remains an open question.

4. Bird Sanctuary – Rulon Openshaw reported on the June 1st press conference announcing the adoption of the Bird Sanctuary in Griffith Park by PAVA. Questions were raised about the practice of “adopting” sections of the Park and why the Audubon Society was not the restoration partner as had been announced previously and recommended in the GP Master Plan draft.

5. Taylor Yard/Cornfields State Parks Meeting – Lynn Brown gave an update on the June 10th Meeting on plans for these two parks. Both will be largely focused on organized sports such as soccer and baseball, so much so that the passive recreationists attending he meeting objected that there was too little open, green space in the plans.

6. Griffith Park Master Plan draft Community Advisory Panel – Bernadette Soter presented a progress report. Instead of a CAP it will be a Working Group. Its first meeting will take place Monday, August 2 at the Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Room. The public is urged to attend.

7. Griffith Park Urban Wilderness Initiative – Chuck Soter and Rulon Openshaw presented the LFIA’s initiative to establish a protected wilderness area in Griffith Park based on the City of L.A. Debs Park model. An Urban Wilderness Petition has been launched asking the Rec & Parks Dept to include the UW in the final draft of the GP Master Plan. Attendees were invited to sign and participate in the effort.

NEXT MEETING: August 8, 2005

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
6 JUNE 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Scott Fajack, Christine Peters, Patrick Joyce, George Grace, Patrick Kennedy, Viktoria Gaw, Erica Balsam, Kara Knack, Albert Torres, Mark Jackson, Jim Combs, Jon Mukri, Toby Leaman, Jeff Gardner, Gene Gilbert, Keith Goettert, Louis Alvarado, Gerry Hans, Lucinda Phillips, Steve Lane, Barbara Ferris, Kristin Sabo, Chuck Soter, Susan Swan, Rory Fitzpatrick, Bernadette Soter

1. L.A. River May 7th Clean-Up Recap – Appreciation to all Clean-Up Committee members and participants, especially leaders Kathryn Louyse, Viktoria Gaw and LeVal Lund and the community orgs and merchants who provided support.

2. Security Consolidation: Jon Kirk Mukri, RAP General Manager and Jim Combs, Asst GM – Presentation of the Memorandum of Agreement between RAP and the General Services Department setting forth responsibilities for park security to be assumed by the proposed new Office of Public Safety under GSD. Attendees asked questions and expressed concern about the potential loss of service and specific Park Ranger expertise, and the lack of public oversight for the armed force being created. Elysian Park representatives were present and also raised questions about efficiency and service levels.

3. Ad Hoc Committee on the Griffith Park Master Plan draft – The Ad Hoc group reported that it has met twice and divided the document into sections for detailed reading, with the ultimate intent of generating a written analysis. Christine Peters of the Greater Echo Park and Elysian NC and Scott Fajack of the Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park spoke about that park’s progress towards a Master Plan and the function of the Community Advisory Panel that is overseeing it.

4. Ad Hoc Committee on the Observatory Re-Opening – Rulon Openshaw announced the date of the next RAP/FOTO Public Meeting: June 13th at Friendship Auditorium. He encouraged all to attend to hear the access consultants’ report on their preliminary findings about traffic solutions to the re-opening in 2006.

5. Recap of May 2 ballfields tour – Committee discussed the potential for siting new ballfields in the Crystal Springs Area of Griffith Park and agreed that a needs analysis and further information about use patterns was necessary.

6. PROS Strategic Plan and Goal-Setting – The proposal to establish permanent sub-committees on discrete topics that was tabled at the last meeting was re-examined. After discussion it was rejected, with the consensus feeling that it would dilute the Committees’ focus on big-picture topics and time-sensitive issues.

7. NEXT MEETING: June 27, 2005

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
2 MAY 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

Note: This meeting was preceded by a 6:30 p,m. tour of the Crystal Springs Group Picnic/Pote Field Area by Rory Fitzpatrick, CD4 and Tom McCall of RAP, regarding the potential for establishing ballfields in this vicinity.

ATTENDING:
Rulon Openshaw, Toby Leaman, Jeff Gardner, Mary Lou Watkins, Keith Goettert, Louis Alvarado, Bob Diaz, Gerry Hans, Lucinda Phillips, Donna Borstow, Gene Gilbert, Steve Lane, Linda Barth, Barbara Ferris, Dionisia Rodriguez, Kristin Sabo, Chuck Soter, Lynn Brown, Stephen Box, Arthur B. Rubenstein, Sarah Napier, Susan Swan, Jose Sigala, Lisa Baca-Sigala, Tom McCall, Rory Fitzpatrick, Matt Levy, Bernadette Soter

1. PROS Strategic Plan and Goal-Setting – Report on recommendations from 2/28/2005 Special Meeting. Updated mission statement was approved by consensus. In addition to PROS’ current practice of establishing ad hoc committees to study timely issues, a proposal to establish permanent sub-committees on discrete topics was discussed and ultimately tabled due to a lack of consensus on number and subjects of sub-committees.

2. Ad Hoc Committee on the Security Consolidation – Kris Sabo presented an analysis of the data provided: 1. If the Park Rangers are absorbed into the proposed GSD Office of Public Safety on July 1, it will result in a reduction in service; 2. The LaBonge motion to fund a discrete unit of RAP Park Rangers for the regional parks has not been funded.

3. Ad Hoc Committee on the Observatory Re-Opening – Various members presented a recap of the first public meeting hosted by RAP/FOTO at Friendship Auditorium on April 6, 2005. The consulting team was introduced and initial input gained from attendees. The consultants will report their findings at a second public meeting in June.

4. Ad Hoc Committee on the Griffith Park Master Plan draft – Various members shared preliminary observations on the draft’s chapters; notes on the public comments made at March 30th meeting unveiling the draft and the PROS meeting on April 4th were distributed. There was no progress yet to be reported on the establishment of a community advisory panel similar to those created for the Elysian Park, Debs Park and Silver Lake Master Plans to oversee the remainder of the process.

5. L.A. River Clean-Up May 7th - Final announcement and update about PROS plans to boost community turnout at the Los Feliz Bridge site in Griffith Park for FoLAR’s Annual Los Angeles River Clean-Up, May 7 2005.

NEXT MEETING: June 6, 2005

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
4 April 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room,
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Al Moggia, Rulon Openshaw, Toby Leaman, Jeff Gardner, Lucinda Phillips, Lee McManus, Amy Bernays, Al Minturn, Sue Kilpatrick, Susan Swan, Gerry Hans, Chris Heber, Elaine Brock, Sam Miller, Jason Elias, Patrick Kennedy, Raymond Lucas, Gabriel Mayorga, Kathryn Louyse, Le Val Lund, William Ramirez, Roderic Soriano, John Keers, Yadhira De Leon, Christine Anthony, Bob Diaz, Lisa Stege, Gloria Sheppard, Charley Mims, Doug Kilpatrick, Viktoria Gaw, Keith Goettert, Ralph Gentile, Rosemarie White, Donna Borstow, Sarah Napier, Beverly Franco, Dora Herrera, Sue Panuski, Di Rodriguez, Louis Alvarado, Kristin Sabo, Chuck Soter, Lynn Brown, George Grace, Barbara Ferris, Albert Torres, Bernadette Soter

1. Analysis and discussion of the written responses provided by the General Services Department and the Recreation and Parks Department to the PROS Committee’s six points of concern re: the proposed consolidation of the Park Rangers into a new GSD Office of Public Safety. Consensus was reached that the GSD’s answers were ambiguous and that further clarification should be asked for; note was made that the GSD did not provide the financial information requested and that it should be requested again.. An Ad Hoc Committee was established to draft a letter to the appropriate City officials requesting clarification. The preponderance of time was devoted to the committee’s analysis of the City’s written responses, but present and contributing to the discussion were Jason Elias of the SEIU, Raymond Lucas of GSD and other GSD Officers as well as RAP Park Rangers.

2. Kathryn Louyse updated the Committee on plans to boost community turnout at the Los Feliz Bridge Site for FoLAR’s Los Angeles River Clean-Up, May 7, 2005. Information was shared about Education Day on March 6: King Middle School will partcipate aand FoLAR would like to include an Atwater Village School; Flyers were distributed and all were urged to participate.

3. All in attendance gave one-minute opinions of the Griffith Park Master Plan draft unveiled on March 30th at Friendship Hall. The general reaction of the roughly 40 speakers was negative. Much of the comment focused on the draft’s internal contraditions, its multiple proposals for commercial development, its expressed desire to attract more visitors to the Park and its facilities and attractions that encroached on the Park’s wild interior which were at odds with comments made at the 2003 Public Workshops. Concern was expressed that the Park’s identity was being lost in comparisons to New York’s Central Park and that the desire to enhance revenue by adding for-pay features was driving its recommendations. An Ad Hoc Committee was established to analyze the draft and report back to the full Committee. In the meantime, all were urged to return their individual comment forms to RAP.

4. On behalf of Ranger Weisberger who was unable to attend, plans and drawings were presented for the remodel of the GP Ranger Station of Crystal Springs now in progress.

5. Keith Goettert expressed the concern that the Park not over-bulldoze trails needing repair in the aftermath of the recent rainstorms. RAP’s Patrick Kennedy responded that a sloping bar will be used during the clearing process to prevent this problem.

NEXT MEETING: May 2, 2005

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
7 March 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room,
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Al Moggia, Rulon Openshaw, Tom McCall, Toby Leaman, Jeff Gardner, Mary Lou Watkins, Viktoria Gaw, Keith Goettert, Frank Pierson, Lamonta Pierson, Scott Fajack, Louis Alvarado, Rory Fitzpatrick, Kristin Sabo, Kara Knack, Chuck Soter, Lynn Brown, George Grace, Rulon Openshaw, Keith Goettert, Susan Swan, Barbara Ferris, Jose Sigala, Lisa Baca-Sigala, Albert Torres, Bernadette Soter

1. Scott Fajack, Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park, explained the process in place for community oversight and input of the Elysian Park Master Plan currently under development by RAP. A discussion of the GP Master Plan process to date followed in which the committee noted its lack of community oversight as compared with Elysian Park, Debs Park and Silver Lake Master Plans. Resolution was made to contact RAP about creating a Community Oversight Panel to oversee the remainder of the process using the successful Elysian Park model as a guide.

2. Rory Fitzpatrick presented DOT proposal to create a right turn lane at southwest corner of Riverside Drive and Los Feliz Blvd. Concern was expressed about loss of parkland/open space/encroachment on a Cultural Historical Landmark. Questions were raised as to whether or not this solution addressed the core problems at this intersection, i.e., left-turning and through traffic. Straw poll was taken: 3 approved proposal, 8 opposed proposal, 7 reserved opinion until more in-depth information was provided. Request was made to Rory Fitzpatrick for DOT to provide solid figures re: potential to relieve congestion at this intersection.

3. L.A. River Clean-Up announcement and update about planning in progress to boost community turnout at the Los Feliz Bridge site in Griffith Park for FoLAR’s Annual Los Angeles River Clean-Up, May 7 2005.

4. PROS Strategic Planning Meeting Report—tabled by consensus for lack of time.

5. Tom McCall of RAP reported on extensive storm-caused damage to roads and trails in Griffith Park. Multiple landslides; debris basins filled. It is hoped that FEMA funding will help allay expense of repairs.

NEXT MEETING: April 4, 2005

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Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
7 FEB 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room,
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Gerry Hans, Al Moggia, Kristin Sabo, Kara Knack, Chuck Soter, Lucinda Phillips, Lynn Brown, George Grace, Kathryn Louyse, Rulon Openshaw, Paul Koenig, Bernadette Tilgher, Rosemarie White, Keith Goettert, Susan Swan, Charlotte De Armond, Juliette Kiperman, Virgil McDowell, Dennis Chew, John Ortega, Camille Lombardo, Barbara Ferris, Michelle Manzo Lembo, Judith Hopkins, Jose Sigala, Lisa Baca-Sigala, Mark Jackson, Matt Levy, Albert Torres, Linda Barth, Bernadette Soter

1. Welcome and introduction of Kathryn Louyse, Chair, 2005 L.A. River Clean-Up Los Feliz Bridge Site. Kathryn announced that a meeting will take place in March to initiate local plans. FoLAR has hired Aron Sugarman as this year’s Clean-Up Coordinator and materials will be forthcoming soon.

2. Judith Hopkins and Michele Manzo Lembo of “Taking the Reins”a community organization that teaches leadership and self-esteem to girls from low income families through riding and training horses. The program is based in North Atwater Village and many of the teens they serve attend L.A. Unified Schools, including Thomas Starr King. 150 girls benefit from the program on a yearly basis.

3. An update on Griffith Observatory re-opening traffic planning was presented by Camille Lombardo, President of Friends of the Observatory (FOTO) and Linda Barth of the Recreation and Parks Department. FOTO is funding a “demand access” study that will look at a variety of ways to diminish the traffic and congestion problems that could result from the re-opening May 2006. Many questions were asked and suggestions made. Appointment systems, shuttles, incentive packages, etc. were discussed. Concerns about access to nearby trails by daily park users was expressed. Residents expressed concern about impact on property values. FOTO and RAP pledged that the community would be involved in every step of the process.

4. Park Ranger Consolidation Update: The GGPNC letter to City government requesting answers to the six points developed by the PROS was shared. The Committee looks forward to the answers.

5. Debs Park Master Plan analysis by Paul Koenig and Keith Goettert . Admiration was expressed for its openness and stakeholder involvement, and the Urban Wilderness designation it produced for the majority of its wildlands.

6. Alternate Silverlake Senior Center and Toyon-Toluca Ball Fields sites were discussed. Having objected to placing these facilities at the places in Griffith Park being suggested by CD4, the PROS Committee agreed to recommend the following alternative sites:

RE: Silverlake Senior Center siting...
A. THE ZOO PARKING LOT. When two of the three temporary buildings now occupied by the Observatory Satellite become available, we are advising that they remain in place as currently situated to house the proposed Silverlake Senior Center. This offers the benefit of adjacent parking with multiple handicapped spaces, and regular bus service with an adjacent stop for those seniors who do not drive. Also, proximity to the Zoo, Autry and golf course.Additionally, utility and septic connections are already in place and no heavy construction will be involved.

B. THE FRIENDSHIP AUDITORIUM PARKING LOT. Alternatively, the two temporary buildings referenced above, can be moved to the far southeastern corner of the Friendship Auditorium Parking lot, resulting in minimal loss of parking spaces and the ability to access the Friendship Auditorium kitchen for special events.

C. THE LOS ANGELES RIVER CENTER. A beautiful facility with gardens and ample parking, the Los Angeles River Center would make an ideal home for such a proposed center. We are asking you to investigate the possibility of a longterm lease of meeting room space at that site.

RE: Ballfield siting...
A. NORTH ATWATER VILLAGE PARK. With the consent and involvement of the adjacent equestrian community, we are advising that the current ballfield at the underutilized North Atwater Village Park be reconfigured into two little league fields which would be on the doorstep of at-risk youth. Additionally, restrooms and parking are already present at the site.

B. POTES FIELD. We are suggesting that Potes Field in Griffith Park be restriped as a double duty field to functions as both a competition field and a little league field at minimal expense to the City These recommendations will result in the addition of three ballfields to the Northeast area which is the Councilman's goal and will not impede the restoration of Toyon landfill in the interior of Griffith Park to a natural, open space for passive use as promised to the public in the widely disseminated, 15-year approved Toyon Canyon Closure Plan.

OPEN COMMENT: Committee member Jose Sigala announced that he has been appointed to the Prop 0 community advisory committee and in that capacity will be involved in advising the City on issues affecting Griffith Park such as the proposed Equestrian Bridge over the River from Atwater Village.

NEXT MEETINGS: Monday, Feb 28, 7 p.m.— PROS Special Strategic Planning Meeting
Monday, March 7, 7 p.m. – Regular Monthly PROS Meeting
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GGPNC COMMITTEE REPORT
Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
3 JAN 2005 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Meeting Room, Griffith Park
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Gerry Hans, Al Moggia, Kristin Sabo, Le Val Lund, Joe Young, Kara Knack, Chuck Soter, Lucinda Phillips, Elsa Lopez, Lynn Brown, Rulon Openshaw, Paul Koenig, Toby Leaman, Jim MacKeen, Ann MacKeen, Jose Sigala, Lisa Baca-Sigala, Patrick Joyce, Albert Torres, Mark Mariscal, Bernadette Soter

1. Elsa Lopez, Director, Audubon Center at Debs Park, discussed the process involved in drafting a Debs Wilderness Master Plan that obtained “Urban Wilderness” designation for a major portion of the Park, and established its environmental education center and ecological monitoring program. At one time the Park was discussed as a site for a Raging Waters Theme Park but owing to the efforts of the community (Montecito Heights Homeowners Assn, Mothers of East Los Angeles, Audubon Society and others) and with the support of the area’s elected Council leaders, a large section of the Park has been preserved as a natural area. One important tip shared by Lopez: it is essential that minutes of community input meetings be kept to keep the process legitimate.

2. Toyon Canyon, Griffith Park -- Committee update of CD4 proposal to develop Toyon Canyon into ballfields. Minutes of Griffith Park Resource Board Meetings from early 1990s shared in which the post-closure site was committed as being a passive use, open space. Committee recap and slide show of BoS 12/2/2004 tour of Bishop Canyon, Elysian Park and Toyon Canyon, Griffith Park with Engineer, Kelly Gharios.’ Consensus agreement reached that Toyon Canyons should adhere to original closing plan and that alternative sites for ballfields should be recommended by the Committee to CD4.

3. Park Ranger Consolidation Plan Update—Committee review and approval of its “Six Points” of concern and resolution too submit them with a request for a delaying motion to the Board of the GGPNC.

4. Silverlake Senior Center in Griffith Park—Discussion of alternative sites continued to next meeting.
5. Adjournment

NEXT MEETING: February 7, 2005

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GGPNC COMMITTEE REPORT

Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee
29 NOV 2004 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m .
Chevy Chase Service Yard Meeting Room, 3900 W. Chevy Chase, Los Angeles 90039
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Gerry Hans, Al Moggia, Kristin Sabo, Le Val Lund, Carol Brusha, Susan Swan, Stacy Title, Chuck Soter, Lynn Brown, George Grace, Barbara Ferris, Rulon Openshaw, Amy Bernays, Toby Leaman, Jose Sigala, Lisa Baca-Sigala, Steve Lane, Albert Torres, Mark Mariscal, Bernadette Soter

1. Mark Mariscal, Manager Griffith Park Region, RAP Update - Release of first draft of Griffith Park Master Plan now slated for end of January with public presentation and comment possible sometime in early February; From RAP perspective, potential for any development in Toyon Canyon is many years off due to landfill closing issues.

2. Fern Dell Ranch Proposal – Amy Bernays, Manager Sunset Ranch, Hollywood Stables, Inc. Power point presentation on conceptual proposal to create a horse rental concession in the Western Canyon/Fern Dell area of Griffith Park. The 40-horse facility would offer hourly rentals and horsedrawn hayrides to the Observatory. Facility would include office, feed storage, manure pit, with stock maintained in corrals. Questions posed regarding traffic and parking implications and interface with the Griffith Park Master Plan; the reopening of the Observatory in spring 2006 and the congestion that will bring to this area was brought up by residents and members of Friends of Fern Dell.

3. Silverlake Senior Center in Griffith Park – Committee discussion of Nov. 1 presentation and CD4 motion to relocate Silverlake Senior Center to area south of Mulholland Fountain. Additional information from SSC distributed; alternate sites discussed with several Committee members volunteering to investigate alternatives.

4. Toyon Canyon Griffith Park Development Proposal-- Committee discussion of Nov. 1 presentation of preliminary CD4 plan to develop Toyon Canyon into ballfields. The Committee agreed to accept BoS Engineer, Kelly Gharios’ invitation to tour Toyon and Bishop Canyon in Elysian Park at a later date.
5. Preserve Atwater Rancho – Approval of text of letter to CD4 urging support for the preservation of historic horsekeeping use in north Atwater Village.

6. Public Comment –Debs Park Wilderness are designation and map of same were discussed. Committee agreed to investigate and agendize for next meeting.

NEXT MEETING: January 3, 2004

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GGPNC COMMITTEE REPORT

1 NOV 2004 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m . Griffith Park Ranger Station Community Room
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Kara Knack, Al Moggia, Kristin Sabo, Le Val Lund, Chuck Soter, Jeff Gardner, Lynn Brown, George Grace, Lucinda Phillips, Barbara Ferris, Arthur Rubinstein, Gene Gilbert, Rulon Openshaw, Amy Bernays, Toby Leaman, Gerry Hans, Albert Torres, Kelly Gharios, Rory Fitzpatrick, Matt Levy, Bea Gold, Stephanie Vendig, Bernadette Soter

1. Silverlake Senior Center in Griffith Park – Matt Levy, Field deputy CD4 and Guests Bea Gold and Stephanie Vendig of Silverlake Senior Center re: CD4 motion to relocate center to area south of Mulholland Fountain in Griffith Park. Power point presentation on center activities. Committee discussion followed. Questions posed regarding lack of interface with Griffith Park Master Plan; exclusion of neighborhood recreation needs from Silverlake Master Plan; and alternative sites outside and within Griffith Park.

2. Toyon Canyon Griffith Park Development Proposal - Kelly Gharios, Sr. Engineer, Bureau of Sanitation. Presentation re: preliminary CD4 plan to develop Toyon Canyon into ballfields. Questions and discussion followed. Comments: the development was premature in terms of landfull closing guidelines and was occuring outside of the Griffith Park Master Plan process. Most participants in the Mast Plan public workshops had urged that the Park’s interior be preserved from development. Prior to this, the Toyon Closure Plan had earmarked the site as a natural space for passive use. Closed road now being used heavily by bicyclists and other recreationsist would have to be reopened ending that existing use. Kelly Gharios graciously invited the Committee to tour Toyon and Bishop Canyon in Elysian Park at a later date.

3. Atwater Equestrian Bridge Across L.A. River to Griffith Park Riding Trails – Gene Gilbert, Preserve Atwater Rancho and Enterprise farms. Presentation regarding movement to preserve historic horsekeeping in north Atwater Village and potential for an equestrian bridge river to replace current hazardous riverbed crossing. Committee resolved to ask full Council to send a letter of support for the movement to CD4.

4. Park Ranger Consolidation Proposal Update – Recap of Oct 27 Public Meeting at Friendship Hall and Tom LaBonge council motion regarding discrete RAP Ranger staffing for Griffith Park and other large regional parks. Committee resolved to write a Community Impact Statement of support for motion with approval of full Board.

NEXT MEETING: November 29, 2004

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PROS COMMITTEE REPORT
13 September 2004 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m . Griffith Park Ranger Station
Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Kara Knack, Al Moggia, Louis Alvarado, Kristin Sabo, Felix Martinez, Lynn Brown, Chuck Soter, Keith Goettert, , Gerry Hans, Toby Leaman, Rulon Openshaw, Amy Bernays, Stacy Title, Viktoria Gaw,, Steve Lane, Ben Ramirez, Albert Torres, Anselmo Collins, Linh Phan, Bernadette Soter

1. Fern Dell Status Report – Overview of the DWP/RAP initiative to reactivate Fern Dell Creek presented by Anselmo Collins and Linh Phan of the DWP. It will involve the construction of a new water and filtration system, planned and designed by the DWP;RAP will need to take over construction and find funds for implementation. Estimated cost for the new pumping system is approximately $425,000. Questions were asked regarding siting, mosquito abatement and other details. Collins stated the Fern Dell project falls within the Griffith Park Master Plan.

2. Griffith Park Headworks Project Update – Presentation by Anselmo Collins and Linh Phan on DWP’s plan to move current Silverlake Reservoir emergency water supply to the spreading grounds at the north end of Griffith Park. The site is 43 acres: 19 will be used for water storage and a hydroelectric plant; 24 acres will be restored as a natural preserve with a small Nature Center and some visitor access.. An EIR is being prepared: draft will be released in October. Some attendees requested that the promise be made in writing that the project would be taken to full fruition and not stop at the tank phase.

3. PROS Committee Bulletin Board – Presentation by Keith Goettert on an internet bulletin board for the committee; he has erected a test and would like committee members comments. Brown Act applications were discussed.

4. Silvelake Senior Center in Griffith Park – Committee discussion on CD4 concept to move Silverlake Rec Center’s current Senior Center to S. Riverside Drive in Grfifith Park across from Friendship Auditorium. No presentation has yet been made by the Council Office and the committee has no more details.

5. GGPNC Elections – Announcement for filing candidacy and election dates were made.
Public Comment – Park Ranger Albert Torres updated the committee on the current status of the Park Ranger consolidation plan

NEXT MEETING: Monday, October 4 at Griffith Park Ranger Station

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PROS COMMITTEE REPORT
AUGUST 2, 2004 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m . Griffith Observatory Satellite

1. Report from Kris Sabo (Amir’s Garden caretaker) concerning recent fires in Griffith Park which destroyed between 10-15% of the mature growth at Amir’s Garden. Help is needed for Railroad Tie re-terracing, watering system, and replanting. The Garden, founded in 1971, has been approved by Recreation and Parks to be no bigger and no smaller than when originally created. A non-profit status is being prepared and every Sunday will be a work day for Garden repair. Committee members had many ideas about how to involve people in the project.

2. PROS member George Grace gave an update on the Wildlife Officers status. Return of Wildlife Officers has been approved by Committee and City Council, next steps include an identification of funds by the CAO, followed by another Council approval.

3. Following many contacts by a so-called interested party, a report was given by R&P employee, Steve Lane, concerning a plan to develop Western Canyon into a Recreational Vehicle park site, with water park features and other commercial development. To a person, the PROS committee members found the proposal outrageous, outside the perimeters of the Griffith Park Master Plan, and completely without merit. The committee voted to send a letter stating complete opposition to any plan for development that was outside of the established City process.

4. A review of outreach and advocacy efforts concerning support for Park Rangers was given. Department of Recreation and Parks Commission will meet on August 11, 2004 and several PROS committee members will attend to state support for Rangers and opposition to their dissolution. New Commission members, Candi Spelling and Mary Luvano may be in attendance at the August 11th meeting.

5. Continuing a standing discussion about the strategic plan for PROS, the entire committee agreed that a joint responsibility would include members from GGPNC, HUNC, and Atwater NC. Further actions will be encouraged by each NC’s board to support the PROS committee function. It was stated that first principle guidelines will always be to support the Park and it’s public service.

6. September 13th was set as next meeting date to accommodate the Labor Day Holiday. Location will most likely be Crystal Springs Ranger Station.

7. Public comment:
• Question relating to regeneration of Ferndale Creek. DWP is investigating installation of a recovery tank and four in-line pumps to recreate the creek that for nearly seven decades existed because of the air-conditioning outflow from Griffith Observatory.
• Question regarding upper south facing sprinkler system. There is no plan to reinstall sprinklers that primarily irrigated non-native trees and bushes. It was explained that DWP has installed and is responsible for a Backbone system of water pipes. Distribution is the responsibility of the Department of Recreation and Parks.
• A question concerning work at the Bird Sanctuary. It was explained that many leaks are occurring in the very antiquated system and work will be ongoing to repair these leaks. Further work will be determined by the Master Plan, scheduled to be released sometime later this year.
• A comment was made about the ongoing questions regarding development of the Spreading Grounds water system Federally mandated to be accomplished within the nest few years. Concerns were expressed that the previously explained plan may be altered without public involvement or comment.
• A comment that Councilmember Tom LaBonge is interested in seeing the Griffith Observatory Satellite temporary buildings evolve into a Cultural Arts Center to serve Griffith Park, to be situated to the South of the Mulholland Fountain.
• Announcement: August 24th the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council will be hosting the first of several Town Hall meetings for Fire Safety and area evacuation routes. Location: Meyers Hall in the First Presbyterian Church on Gower.
• Announcement: The Griffith Park Resource Board will meet Wednesday, August 4, 2004 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Crystal Springs Ranger Station.
• PROS member Viktoria Gaw reported attending small River Park openings.
• A comment was made that in the Franklin Business Strip, maintenance workers are blowing all debris into river channel. Ideas were expressed to deal with this illegal issue.
• Lisa, an equestrian, questioned if there was an accurate map of Griffith Park. It was explained that this was another issue awaiting the completion of the Master Plan.

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PROS COMMITTEE REPORT
14 JUNE 2004 Meeting, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m . Griffith Park Ranger Station

Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Kara Knack, Al Moggia, Louis Alvarado, Lucinda Phillips, Gerry Hans, Christine Peters, Scott Fajack, Toby Leaman, Chuck Soter, Jeff Gardner, Susan Swan, George Grace, Mary Rodriguez, Rulon Openshaw, Bernadette Soter

1. Update and discussion on changes in Park Rangers and preparations for presentations to be made to the Recreation and Parks Commissioners at their upcoming meeting regarding the importance of retaining the Rangers as a strong force and dedicated unit within the City’s Parks. In attendance were representatives from the Greater Echo and Elysian Neighborhood Council and The Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park who have also been monitoring this issue.

2. Drop-in appearance by Park Ranger Albert Torres who briefed us on the fire occurring while we met in Griffith Park. The Rangers evacuated the Boys Camp leading the campers out on foot to safety at the Rangers Station, There is concern that an arsonist may be involved.

3. Bcasue of the Ranger issue and the fire, the Committee agreed to table its subcommittee report on its 2004-2005 plan. That group will report back to the Committee at the next PROS meeting.

Next Meeting: August 2, 2004, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m at the Observatory Satellite in Griffith Park

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PROS COMMITTEE REPORT
7 June 2004 Meeting, 7pm to 9pm, Griffith Observatory Satellite

Bernadette Soter, Chair

ATTENDING:
Kara Knack, Al Moggia, , Le Val Lund, Kristin Sabo, Carol Bruscha, Lucinda Phillips, Teresa Proscewicz, Albert Torres, Paul Koenig, Chuck Soter, Jeff Gardner, Susan Swan, Viktoria Gaw, George Grace, Rory Fitzpatrick, Bernadette Soter

1. Update on Destination Restaurant proposed for site near the Observatory in Griffith Park. Letter to Le Val Lund from RAP General Manager John Mukri was shared in which it was stated that planning for this facility had been discontinued.

2. Update on May 1st L.A. River Clean-Up and thank you to the committee for making it such a success. Turnout at the Los Feliz bridge site was twice the norm.

3. CD4 Deputy Rory Fitzpatrick explained the delay in issuing the first draft of the Griffith Park Master Plan and told the committee that it is back in the works and will be released soon.

4. Teresa Proscewicz of RAP’s Forestry Division spoke on the severe damage caused to Griffith Park trees along Crytal Springs Drive during the transportation of oversized equipment through the Park. Remedies were described. She also spoke on the importance of retaining the Park’s Forestry Division to care for park flora instead of turning it over to the Bureau of Street Services Tree Trimming Division as has been proposed.

5. Park Ranger Albert Torres updated the committee on the mountain lion in Griffith Park and spoke on the importance of the Park Rangers to Griffith Park and other City of Los Angeles parks vis-à-vis the ongoing proposal to absorb them into General Services.

6. The Committee agreed to have a subcommittee begin formulating its 2004-2005 plan. That group would report back to the whole at the next PROS meeting.

Next Meeting: July 12, 2004, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m

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PROS COMMITTEE REPORT
1 May 2004 Meeting, 9 am to Noon, Los Feliz Bridge, L.A. River in Griffith Park

Bernadette Soter, Chair
Clean-Up Event Co-Chairs by PROS Committee Members: Bernadette Soter & LeVal Lund (GGPNC), Jeff Gardner (AVNC), Russ Brown (HUNC)

An estimated 400 volunteers turned out at the Los Feliz Bridge in Griffith Park for FoLAR’s 15th Annual L.A. River Clean-Up. The turn-out was twice the