Winnetka Surprised by Parking Restrictions

Winnetka Avenue southbound. Below photo is northbound. Photos provided by Glenn Bailey.

The City has recently installed peak hour parking restrictions on Winnetka between Vanowen Street and Victory Boulevard. Neither the residents nor the Winnetka NC were ever informed about these restrictions prior to their installation and stakeholders expressed concern at our April 2012 meeting.

Glenn Bailey, Vice-Chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee for the City of Los Angeles has been following this construction project for well over a year, anticipating that bicycle lanes would be installed upon completion of the bridge widening. He hoped that the existing bicycle lanes would be extended from their current terminus at Gault Street south to Victory Boulevard (or hopefully even further south to the Pierce College entrance Brahma Drive). This would be in compliance with the City's 2010 Bicycle Plan, which was adopted by the City Council in March 2011. The plan designates Winnetka Avenue as part of the City's backbone network between Ventura Boulevard to Devonshire Street.

However, the newly installed peak hour parking restrictions along Winnetka Avenue between Vanowen and Victory have unnecessarily created a dangerous condition for bicyclists along this stretch as the right lanes are too narrow to be shared. They have also precluded the installation of the bicycle lanes. And those parked were surprised by tow trucks.

Bond Measure?

On January 4, 2013 the City Councilmembers Englander and Buscaino introduced a motion to put a $3 billion street repair bond on the May ballot. After hearing complaints from the community about insufficient time for them to comment on the proposal, the councilmen have withdrawn the proposal from the May ballot, but are working with the community to seek feedback and add it to another future ballot.

The purpose of the bond is to fund 8,700 lane-miles of damaged streets over the next ten years. The city is not currently budgeted for the estimated $300 million annual cost to fix 8,700 lane-miles of damaged streets. On the contrary, the city budget for the current fiscal year is running a deficit and legislators will be focused on closing an estimated $216 million budget gap for the fiscal year that starts in July. A voter approved bond is seen as the only way to bring streets up to speed in the next ten years. Hidden costs of not approving a bond include reduced property values and increased car repair.

If the bond is approved, the first year’s cost is estimated to be an additional $24 in property taxes by the owner of a $350,000 home. It would increase to a peak of about $120 a year.

WNC Supports LAFD

Members of the WNC pose with firefighters at LAFD 104 bringing about $10,000 in equipment supplied by the WNC,  including storage racks, hedge trimmers, and blowers-summer 2011.

Village at Westfield Topanga

At our board meeting on June 14, 2011 we had a presentation about the proposed Village at Westfield Topanga project by John Alderson, the Development Director for the project. It is a mixed-use project to be located in between Westfield Topanga and Westfield Promenade. The project will include nearly 100 specialty shops and restaurants, a multi-story first class office complex, a 275 room boutique hotel, and a multipurpose community center.

We discussed how to make the back wall of Costco more aesthetic for the community. The developer said they would add architectural interest similar to that at Crate & Barrel. When questioned about graffiti, they noted that they stayed on top of it. Also, they plan to include bike paths, off the street that are separate from pedestrian walkways. This will be a benefit to bicyclists, and by bringing the bike paths a little closer to the stores, a benefit to the stores. More information about the project is on the Westfield Website.

At this meeting we also approved the details of our $40,500 budget and an expenditure of $1,000 for new benches on Sherman Way.

Mobile Billboard Regulations In Winnetka

Mobile Billboard Advertising Display Task Force Hits the Streets
On December 17, 2010, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting mobile billboard advertising displays from parking on City streets and public lands.

Mobile Billboard Advertising Displays (AB 2756, Blumenfield), a key piece of state legislation sponsored by the City of Los Angeles, created Section 395.5 of the Vehicle Code, which defines "mobile billboard advertising display" as an advertising display that is attached to a wheeled, mobile, non-motorized vehicle that carries, pulls or transports a sign or billboard and is for the primary purpose of advertising. This bill also amended Section 21100 of the Vehicle Code to give local authorities the ability to adopt rules/regulations by ordinance/resolution to regulate mobile billboard advertising; this includes establishing penalties that could authorize removal of the mobile billboard advertising display. In addition, VC Section 22651 was amended to say that the mobile billboard advertising display may be towed when left parked or standing in violation of a local ordinance. Warning citations advising of the consequences, including towing of the mobile billboard display, are sufficient warning to the public.

The State law and City ordinance took effect January 1, 2011.

Councilman Zine created a task force in the Third District mobilizing his community P.O.S.S.E. (People Organizing a Safe, Secure Environment) to help enforce the law banning mobile billboard advertising trailers on city streets. They worked with the Department of Transportation beginning January 1, 2011 to issue the appropriate warnings and impose the available penalties to those who did not comply. For non-compliance, the vehicle may be impounded and the owner may be subject to misdemeanor penalties that range from $250 to $1000 and/or up to six months in jail.

The week before January 1st, task force members hit the streets and inventoried concentrated areas in CD3. On January 1st, some of those had been removed by their owners; but of those that remained, LADOT issued warnings to 16 mobile billboard advertising displays. When LADOT returned the following day, 5 more had been removed by the owners and 8 were impounded. 1 additional display was impounded on January 3rd.

To report a Mobile Billboard Advertising Display, call the DOT Parking Enforcement Communications Division at 818-752-5100 or 213-485-4184. Immediately Press "2" to report a parking violation. Please be ready to provide the trailer license plate number and the street block location.

Swearing In

Our new board was sworn in at our October 2012 meeting by Congressman Howard Berman and California Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield.

Plastic Bag Ban

The City of Los Angeles is proposing to adopt and implement an ordinance to ban single-use plastic carryout bags, charge a fee on paper bags, and promote the use of reusable bags at specified retailers in the City of Los Angeles. The Draft Environmental Impact Report is available for review.

Significant Environmental Effects of Project: The analysis in the Draft EIR concluded that the proposed project would not result in any significant adverse impacts on the environment. However, it would result in beneficial impacts on air quality, biological resources, and hydrology and water quality.

Public Review Period: The Draft EIR was available for public review from January 25, 2013 to March 11, 2013. Written comments were due no later than March 11, 2013 to Karen Coca, Division Manager, Solid Resources Citywide Recycling Division/Bureau of Sanitation, 1149 S. Broadway, 5th Floor, Mail Stop 944, Los Angeles, CA 90015. The Draft EIR is available for review online here.

LA River Headwaters Project

The Los Angeles River Headwaters Project held a groundbreaking ceremony on September 19, 2012 at Canoga Ave & Bassett St. in Canoga Park. The purpose of the project is to add landscaping, interpretive signage, walking paths, and seating areas along the north side of Bell Creek and the south side of Calabasas Creek from Jordan to Owensmouth Avenues and along both sides of the Los Angeles River from Owensmouth to Mason Avenues. The project also includes a maintenance bridge across Browns Creek at its confluence with the Los Angeles River. The project, located in the Canoga Park area of the City of Los Angeles, seeks to revitalize approximately 1.25 miles of Flood Control District rights of way along both sides of the Los Angeles River. Read about this LA River Headwaters Project. Read about the project scope for the Valley.

WNC Takes A Stand On Community Care Ordinance

At the June 2012 meeting the WNC discussed the Community Care Ordinance proposed by Councilmember Englander. The WNC came out in support of the ordinance with recommended changes to support effective group homes, but protect neighborhoods from nuisances.

Winnetka Median Complete

Councilman Zine's Office reported on May 18, 2012 about the Winnetka medians that we have been diligently working on over the years: Continuing with Councilman Zine's efforts to focus on core services in the district and through a partnership with the Winnetka Neighborhood Council, the median improvements along Sherman Way in Winnetka are now complete. The installation of a new irrigation system along this stretch of Sherman Way will provide much needed water to the plants and vegetation. We would like to thank the Bureau of Street Services for completing the work. Councilman Zine would also like to thank the Winnetka Neighborhood Council for their partnership.

The WNC would like to thank Councilman Zine!

50th Anniversary

Winnetka Fire Station 104 celebrated the 50th anniversary of its groundbreaking on December 11, 2011 with a ceremony inviting back original participant, Ruth Richter, Miss Winnetka 1961, shown in the current and original photos below.

Members of the WNC helped celebrate the 50th anniversary with several current L.A. City and Fire Dept officials in the recreation of the 1961 photograph.

Construction Project

The Metro Orange Line Extension Project will extend four miles from the Metro Orange Line Canoga Station to the Metrolink Chatsworth Station. This dedicated busway will offer improvements to north-south mobility in the western San Fernando Valley. The construction of the Metro Orange Line Extension will offer faster travel time, improved bus connections, and provide better access to destination throughout Los Angeles County. Anticipated project completion is summer 2012.

The first order of business was for the Metro Contractor to build a new parking lot at the north end of the Metrolink Chatsworth Station. Having completed that, the Contractor will now utilize a portion of the south parking lot as a construction staging area to store construction equipment and to perform construction work along the alignment.

When: Beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2010 through the end of construction summer 2012, a portion of the south parking lot will be used as a staging area by the Metro Orange Line Extension Contractor.

What to expect:
Parking will be restricted at the South parking lot. Metrolink/Amtrak patrons are encouraged to park in the North parking lot.
Access to pedestrians will be maintained outside the construction zone.
Access to emergency responders will be maintained.