TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS

FROM: DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, BUILDING & CODE ENFORCEMENT

DATE: JUNE 6, 2006

SUBJECT: BORDER ISSUES STATUS REPORT

Staff Coordinator: Kit Fox, AICP, Associate Planner

RECOMMENDATION

Receive and file the current status report on border issues.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This month’s report includes:

- A report on recent issues related to the Ponte Vista project on Western Avenue at the former Navy housing site;

- A report on recent issues related to the proposed Los Angeles Unified School District South Region High School No. 14 on the Ponte Vista site;

- A report of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s proposal to reform the Los Angeles Unified School District; and,

- A report on the inaugural meeting of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission’s South Bay Watershed Coordination and Outreach Project.

BACKGROUND

The following is the regular monthly report to the City Council on various “border issues” potentially affecting the residents of Rancho Palos Verdes. The complete text of the current status report is available for review on the City’s website at:

http://palosverdes.com/rpv/planning/border_issues/2006/20060606_BorderIssues_StatusRpt.cfm

DISCUSSION

Current Border Issues

Ponte Vista Project at Former Navy Housing Site, Los Angeles (San Pedro)

On May 8, 2006, the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council (NWSPNC) received a brief presentation from Councilwoman Janice Hahn’s Staff’s regarding the task force that she is assembling. The 15-member task force will advise the Los Angeles city planner assigned to the Ponte Vista project. The task force is expected to begin meeting in June 2006. The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council recently appointed representatives from the Rolling Hills Riviera, Peninsula Verde and Mira Vista neighborhoods to the Ponte Vista task force.

Also, at the May 8th NWSPNC meeting, a representative of Bisno Development stated that the Draft EIR for the project was expected to be released for public review by the end of June 2006.

Site Selection for LAUSD’s Proposed South Region High School No. 14, Los Angeles (San Pedro)

On May 20, 2006, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) conducted a Pre-Design Community Meeting for the proposed South Region High School No. 14, the 2,025-seat high school that LAUSD wants to build on a portion of the Ponte Vista property on Western Avenue. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the project architect, provide an overview of the proposed school facilities, review the District’s design principles and solicit community input on school design. The meeting was held in the San Pedro High School auditorium from 10:00AM to noon. A large number of Rancho Palos Verdes residents attended the meeting, although many of their comments focused on opposition to the designation of the Ponte Vista property as the District’s preferred site rather than on specific site planning suggestions and recommendations. However, there was general discussion of whether to the place the proposed campus at the north end of the site near the entrance to Green Hills Memorial Park, at the south end near the entrance of the Rolling Hills Riviera neighborhood, or elsewhere on the site. LAUSD Staff also noted that the District was attempting to conduct environmental testing on the property, but was being prevented from doing so by Bisno Development. Finally, LAUSD Staff announced that a public scoping meeting on the Draft EIR for the high school project would be held on June 7, 2006, at Narbonne High School.

Staff expects to receive the Initial Study and Notice of Preparation (IS/NOP) for the Draft EIR shortly so that we may comment on the scope of the environmental analysis for the proposed high school.

Proposed Take-Over of LAUSD by the City of Los Angeles

In his April 18th “State of the City” address, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa outlined his proposal to reform the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Included in his proposal is a council of the mayors of other cities served by LAUSD. Many of these mayors have expressed concern about being “outvoted” by Mayor Villaraigosa since the vast majority of LAUSD students are residents of the City of Los Angeles. Consequently, Mayor Villaraigosa has revised is “power sharing” plan with the mayors of the smaller cities served by LAUSD, as reported in the Los Angeles Times on May 19, 2006. The revised plan would provide for a veto of Mayor Villaraigosa’s actions of non-budgetary items by a simple majority of the members of the council of mayors, and by a two-thirds majority on budgetary matters. Staff intends to continue monitoring this issue.

New Border Issues

Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission’s South Bay Watershed Coordination and Outreach Project

On May 25, 2006, Mayor Pro Tem Long, Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Executive Director Barbara Dye and Staff attended the kick-off meeting for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission’s (SMBRC) South Bay Watershed Coordination and Outreach Project. SMBRC is working to increase stakeholder participation, particularly in areas of the Santa Monica Bay watershed that have been traditionally “overlooked” in the past. The major goals of the project are to coordinate South Bay watershed planning by developing a list of priority projects and potential funding sources for them; to identify and implement a region-wide pilot project; and to encourage educational outreach by identifying regional educational needs and recommending programs to fill them.

Nearly two (2) dozen South Bay watershed stakeholders at the local, County and State level attended the meeting. Several potential projects affecting the City and the Peninsula were discussed, including:

- Reintroduction of abalone in Abalone Cove
- Physical and ecological improvements to the City’s Point Vicente Fishing Access
- Further facility enhancements and educational exhibits at the City’s Point Vicente Interpretive Center
- General coastal access improvements through the City and Peninsula
- Assistance with acquisition and/or restoration of sensitive habitat for the Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve
- Habitat restoration projects in Klondike Canyon, Malaga Cove and other major Peninsula drainages

The stakeholders will be meeting again in late June to discuss more of the details of some of these potential projects and to begin to prioritize them. SMBRC expects to complete this outreach project by the end of September 2006. Staff will continue to monitor this project in future Border Issues reports.

Respectfully submitted:

Joel Rojas, AICP
Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement

Reviewed by:

Les Evans, City Manager

Attachments:

NWSPNC’s May 8th meeting agenda
LAUSD’s May 20th community meeting agenda and handouts
May 19th LA Times article regarding Mayor Villaraigosa’s reform plan for LAUSD
SMBRC’s May 25th South Bay Watershed Coordination and Outreach Project agenda