Very cool... (from Elva Yanez a couple minutes ago)

In a unanimous victory, 15 to 0, the City Council voted to assert authority over the Board of Public Works’ recent action to approve the building permit and related items for Tract 35022, the controversial development of 24 luxury homes on Elephant Hill in El Sereno. This matter will now move to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

In a powerful show of unity, the Council expressed its displeasure with the Board’s disregard for their legislative authority and action that made an already complex issue even more complicated.

Please take a moment and thank all the Councilmembers for their vote today (see email addresses below). Special thanks and recognition are due to Councilmember Huizar for his persistent and courageous defense of his constituents’ right to environmental protections under the law from those agencies responsible for land use and development. Many thanks are also due to Councilmember Reyes for his eloquent defense of equal environmental and public safety protections for eastside residents while simultaneously addressing open space conservation and watershed improvements.

Approximately 70 people showed up for the hearing including many residents from El Sereno (including among others Ramona Chavez, Olga Quinones, Michael Carreon, Sylvia Wallis, Tom Williamson and Casey Reagan) and greater Northeast LA. Many thanks to Stephanie Taylor, Jonathan Parfrey and Glen Dake of environmental coalition GREEN LA for helping organize the educational outreach and the mobilization for this hearing.

Special thanks also for the groups who turned out numerous attendees including Latino Urban Forum, SCOPE/AGENDA, Northeast Trees and LA-32 Neighborhood Council.

Local elected officials also sent representatives to the meeting including:

• Assemblymember Kevin de Leon (District 45)
• Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (District 44)
• Senator Gloria Romero (District 24)

Helping us fill out one entire side of the chamber were individual representatives from the following organizations:

• Audubon Center at Debs Park
• Baldwin Hills Conservancy
• El Sereno Residents for Responsible Land Use and Development
• Glassell Park Improvement Association
• Greater El Sereno Chamber of Commerce
• Hillside Environmental and Safety Coalition
• LA Community Garden Council
• Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
• Mujeres de la Tierra
• National Resources Defense Council
• Rivers and Mountains Conservancy
• Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
• Save Elephant Hill
• Scenic Arroyo Seco

Stay tuned for the details on the actual motion language, the upcoming PLUM hearing and formation of a formal coalition. A replay of the actual hearing will be aired by City of Los Angeles ’ Channel 35 tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Thanks to all those who wanted to attend but had to work, but were at the hearing in spirit. Words cannot capture our gratitude to the many individuals and organizations who submitted letters, emails, and calls, and also offered encouragement and support to help us keep pressing on with this campaign.

Mil gracias!

Elva Yanez

· Ed Reyes (CD 1) – jill.sourial@lacity.org

· Wendy Gruel (CD 2) – dale.thrush@lacity.org

· Dennis Zine (CD 3) - jonathan.brand@lacity.org

· Tom LaBonge (CD 4) – renee.weitzer@lacity.org

· Jack Weiss (CD 5) – lisa.hansen@lacity.org

· Tony Cardenas (CD 6) – vanessa.soto@lacity.org

· Richard Alarcon (CD 7) – jose.sigala@lacity.org

· Bernard Parks (CD 8) – dilara.rodriquez@lacity.org

· Jan Perry (CD 9) – greg.fischer@lacity.org

· Herb Wesson (CD 10) – andrew.westall@lacity.org

· Bill Rosenthal (CD 11) - grieg.asher@lacity.org

· Grieg Smith (CD 12) – nicole.bernson@lacity.org

· Eric Garcetti (CD 13) – sam.siegel@lacity.org

· Jose Huizar (CD 14) – jessica.wethingtonmcLean@lacity.org

· Janice Hahn (CD 15) - frank.hong@lacity.org

URGENT: Elephant Hill Update & Alert

Action Alert * Action Alert * Action Alert * Action Alert * Action Alert

Huizar Pushes Back Against Surprise Action to Approve Elephant Hill Building Permits

August 17, 2007

On Wednesday, August 15th, Councilmember Jose Huizar submitted a motion (below) under Charter Section 245 that would assert City Council jurisdiction over the surprise vote by the Board of Public Works (BPW) on August 8^th to approve the building permits for Tract 35022 on Elephant Hill. Councilmember Huizar's motion will come before City Council at 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 11, 2007.

The Board of Public Works (BPW) acted on recommendations by the Bureau of Engineering. Bureau staff testified that, because the June 20^th Council motion requiring a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for Tract 35022 did not specifically address the building permit issue, it was OK for the BPW to approve it. Complicating matters, on July 26^th developer Monterey Hills Investors filed a lawsuit against the City Council's SEIR action.

In order for Huizar's motion to pass and the Council to gain authority over the BPW action, a two thirds (2/3) vote by the full Council is required. This means there must be 10 votes in favor of this motion. Please take action today to ensure that reason and environmental justice prevail over the developer's onerous tactics and insider politics. Together we can continue to make a difference!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Write, email or call Councilmember Huizar thanking him for introducing this motion and his continued leadership to ensure environmental protections for the residents of El Sereno.

· Jose Huizar (CD 14) Jessica.WethingtonMcLean@lacity.org or 213-473-7014; Address: 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

2. Write or email City Councilmembers asking them to support Huizar's motion to assert authority over the BPW building permit approval for Tract 35022 and uphold their vote for an SEIR for this project. The mailing address for all Councilmembers: 200 N. Spring St. , Los Angeles , CA 90012 . Email addresses follow:

· Ed Reyes (CD 1) – jill.sourial@lacity.org

· Wendy Gruel (CD 2) – dale.thrush@lacity.org

· Dennis Zine (CD 3) - jonathan.brand@lacity.org

· Tom LaBonge (CD 4) – renee.weitzer@lacity.org

· Tony Cardenas (CD 6) – vanessa.soto@lacity.org

· Richard Alarcon (CD 7) – jose.sigala@lacity.org

· Bernard Parks (CD 8) – delara.rodriquez@lacity.org

· Jan Perry (CD 9) – greg.fischer@lacity.org

· Herb Wesson (CD 10) – andrew.westall@lacity.org

· Bill Rosenthal (CD 11) - grieg.asher@lacity.org

· Eric Garcetti (CD 13) – sam.siegel@lacity.org

· Janice Hahn (CD 15) - frank.hong@lacity.org

3. Attend the City Council meeting where Councilmember Huizar's motion will be heard at 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 11, in Council Chambers, Room 340, City Hall., 200 S. Spring Street (enter on Main).

For more information contact: saveelephanthills@yahoo.com.

* * * * * * *

MOTION -Submitted August 15, 2007

On November 28, 2006, the City Council referred a Motion (Huizar-Hahn) to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee that requested, among other things: (1) That the Planning Department, Building and Safety and the Bureau of Engineering, with the assistance of the City Attorney, to prepare a report, to determine whether the most recent grading plans and designs for the Pueblo Subdivision, evaluated against the previous Environmental Impact Report No. 172-85 (SUB)(REC), and its associated Statement of Overriding Considerations, trigger the need for a subsequent or supplemental Environmental Impact Report; (2) Whether new information of substantial importance related to the hydrology of the hillside triggers the need for a subsequent or supplemental Environmental Impact Report; (3) Whether all feasible mitigation measures, in light of substantial changes to the project and new information, have been incorporated into the Pueblo Subdivision Project; and (4) Whether any other circumstances exist that would merit conducting further environmental review under t he California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), including CEQA Guidelines (Sections 15162-15164).

The Motion further requested that no discretionary, ministerial action or approval be granted for the Pueblo Subdivision Project, or any portion thereof, by the Planning Department, Building and Safety and the Bureau of Engineering, until the above-described report is presented to the City Council.

On June 20, 2007, the City Council took the following two actions regarding this matter:
(1) "Received and Filed" the report of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee that was submitted without recommendation; and (2) Adopted a Verbal Motion (Huizar-Zine) relative to whether a further Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required for the Pueblo Subdivision Project, to "require that a supplemental EIR be completed for this Project."

On August 8, 2007, the Board of Public Works adopted a recommendation of the City Engineer to: (1) Complete the remaining ministerial actions of issuing a B-Permit for work specified in the conditions for both Tract (No. 35022) and Parcel (No. AA-205-0849-PMLA) maps; (2) Process the Resolution of Acceptance for the dedication of land for the Pullman Street realignment adopted by the City Council on September 28, 2005; (3) Accept the final parcel map for recordation; and (4) Issue all other ministerial permits associated with the development of the Pueblo Avenue Subdivision (Elephant Hill).

The action of the Board to issue the B-Permits and take the other described actions is inconsistent with the City Council directive that supplemental environmental review be conducted on this project before it proceeds.

I THEREFORE MOVE the City Council take the necessary steps to assert jurisdiction over the August 8, 2007, action of the Board of Public Works in adopting a report of the City Engineer recommendation to (1) Complete the remaining ministerial actions of issuing a B-Permit for work specified in the conditions for both Tract (No. 35022) and Parcel (No. AA-205-0849-PMLA) maps; (2) Process the Resolution of Acceptance for the dedication of land for the Pullman Street realignment adopted by the City Council on September 28, 2005; (3) Accept the final parcel map for recordation; and (4) Issue all other ministerial permits associated with the development of the Pueblo Avenue Subdivision (Elephant Hill).

I FURTHER MOVE that upon assertion of jurisdiction by the City Council, that this matter be referred to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

PRESENTED BY Councilmember Jose Huizar

SECONDED BY Councilmember Tom LaBonge