From the Venice Neighborhood Council:
Oakwood Park, Cellular Broadcast Equipment and the Venice Post Office Top VNC Agenda
Three issues dominate the VNC Agenda in October. On October 18th, 2011, Lizka Mendoza, Director at Oakwood Park, will report on preliminary plans to add a Fitness Station and other changes at Oakwood Park. In a separate motion, the Venice Neighborhood Council’s Board will be asked to request that decisions relating to the proposal be delayed until the community has adequate time to comment. The presentation is scheduled to take place at the VNC’s Board of Officers meeting, starting at 7PM in the Westminster Elementary School Auditorium, located at 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice.
A vote is scheduled on a motion to reject a plan to install cellular broadcast equipment on top of the Holiday Inn Express building located at 737 Washington. The VNC’s Land Use and Planning Committee (LUPC) recommended rejecting the proposal after holding a hearing on the matter. AT&T, who brought the project to LUPC, has been invited to speak in favor of the planned installation.
The VNC will hear a motion challenging the “final” decision of the US Postal Service to sell the historic Venice Main Post Office building. The USPS plans to move retail services from the Venice Main Post Office to the nearby Postal Carriers Annex building and sell the Main Post Office on Windward Circle. The motion asks that the decision be reconsidered under provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act, which require federal agencies take into account the effect of their decisions on historic properties.
In other business, the VNC will hear two motions calling on the LA City Council to allow Neighborhood Council elections to take place in 2012. The City Council removed funds to pay for the elections from the City’s 2011-2012 Budget as a cost saving move and is considering plans to delay Neighborhood Council elections until 2014. Both motions coming before the VNC ask the City to find a way for the elections to occur.
In Administrative matters, the VNC Board will be asked to approve the appointment of Cindy Chambers as the new VNC Education Committee Chair and will announce that nominations for Vice President are open in the wake of Carolyn Rios’ recent resignation. Ms. Rios resigned because family matters will take her out of state for several months. She was first elected to the VNC Board as a Community Officer in in 2007 and was elected Vice-President in 2010. VNC President Linda Lucks, on hearing Carolyn’s announcement, said simply, “l and the Board will miss her terribly. There is no way to express what she has meant to all of us over the last five years. We know how much she loves her community and appreciate the service she’s given back to all of us. We will welcome her with open arms on her return”
Snacks and coffee will be provided at the meeting.
A detailed agenda will be posted on the internet at VeniceNC.org and at places in the community.
There is no charge for this event. It is open to the public. Comments are encouraged.
What: Venice Neighborhood Council Board Meeting
Where: 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice CA 90291 (enter from Westminster)
When: Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Time: 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM
