Check Out the Map and Details Of Mr. York's Latest Plan for Our Community

All the details of Jim York's latest proposal for his Point View property (aka The Old Pony Club), are now available online on the RPV website.  

The most important additional information is that there are now detailed maps of the project. Anyone who wants to follow this issue needs to take a thorough look at Mr. York's latest plan for our community.

As we reported on June 13, he wants to use a portion of his land for agriculture...specifically avocados, citrus and and a vineyard for grapes, as well as a "9-hole executive golf course on two and a half acres of gently sloping land about 500 feet west of the existing restroom/cook shack area and south of an existing avocado orchard." Inasmuch as the city's development code allows "golf courses, driving ranges and ancillary uses" in a residential zoning district with approval of a Conditional Use Permit, it should come as no surprise that Mr. York's "Event Center" is back, this time labeled for "ancillary use." 

At this time, the city staff says the application is incomplete because York must demonstrate to staff and the city geologist that the application meets the exception criteria of the City's Landslide Moratorium Ordinance. If it passes that test, it will be subject to CEQA review.

Senior Planner Eduardo Sconborn is overseeing the Point View Agriculture and Golf Course Project. You can call him at (341) 544-5228 or email him at eduardos@rpv.com if you have more questions, after you've read the plan documents.

New Art Show Opens At Zask Gallery Saturday, June 26

A new show entitled, Being: The Fundamtal Figure,  opens with a reception June 26 from 7 until 10 p.m. at ps Zask Gallery, 31252 Palos Verdes Drive West, RPV.

The show will feature the work of nine artists, whose subject is the human figure in a wide variety of media.

"The artists come from across Southern California--several of the young artists, emerging into the scene, were chosen for their innovation and outstanding potential as a great investment " according to Gallery Owner Peggy Zask. 

"Others were chosen for their solid career track record, quality and involvement in the art world," she explained.  And, she added, "In case you are not ready to add to your art collection,  we will have small hand-made gift items so you can leave with something to remember the show. "

"Invest in art," said Ms. Zask. "It keeps giving."

The show will run through July 31.

URGENT! Tell The City What You Think About An Abalone Cove Nature Center ASAP!

Planning Commissioner Jim Knight has some definite ideas about the proposed Abalone Cove Nature Center as outlined in the city's grant application, and discussed in an earlier blog post.

He doesn't like it. And because Jim cares about our community and the environment, and he's knowledgeable about the city's long-range plans, and he understands the state's rules and regulations, I think he's worth listening to. I hope you do, too.

Jim has some alternative ideas about a nature center that he thinks would be less invasive and more workable that the plan outlined in the city's grant application. He discussed these ideas this week in a meeting with City Manager Carolyn Lehr and in a follow-up letter, which he has agreed to share online in this blog. It's long, but I hope you will take the time to read it because Jim has some good ideas. If you agree, please email  city manager Carolyn Lehr   or call her: 310-377-0360.  You might want to contact the city council members as well. Their contact information is here: http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/citycouncil/index.cfm

Here's the problem: the grant application is due July 1. So time is short. Actually, it's critical.

And here's a bigger problem: The city council has said that it will accept public input on this issue after the grant is awarded. But as Jim points out in the fourth paragraph of his letter, which I have highlighted in red, that won't work.

Here's the letter:

      

"...First, as I said, I think an 8-10,000 sq. ft. structure at Abalone Cove will change the natural, open character of this site. Good urban planning and good common sense would dictate the structured educational facilities be located at Lower Point Vicente where it will be centralized, infrastructure already exists, the city already has staff available for ongoing maintenance, is compliant with our Coastal Vision Plan and Specific Coastal Plan and  is closer to one of our greatest economic engines: Terranea.

The outlying recreational areas such as Abalone Cove and Gateway would be preserved for more of a natural, open space experience enhanced with interpretive kiosks, trail improvements with signage, etc.  I agree that educational opportunities for the public to better understand stewardship of the sensitive tidepools at Abalone Cove would be a good addition to the park but it doesn’t necessitate a 10,000 sq. ft. building to achieve that goal.  Outdoor informational kiosks or a modest pavilion, including interactive exhibits to educate the public on tide pools, marine life, trails, conservation and protection of the habitat, geology and Native American history, would all be more appropriate for this site.

Possible outdoor Ramada design with interpretive information



 The other components of the proposal such as improving the parking lot, trail system and landscaping could remain provided they comply with the grant criteria of a “focused learning about the natural environment”.  I also agree a webcam would greatly help monitor the Abalone Cove tidepools.

Council has stated that there is plenty of time for public input on this proposal as it progresses through the entitlement process. But in reality, once the project description is submitted to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS), there is little opportunity for significant changes. The CA State Parks has made it was clear that a city must enter into a contract specifying the scope of the project when applying for a grant.   If the City signs a contract to build an 8,000 to 10,000 sq. ft. building, then it appears the City is locked into those specifications.  Remedy for any breach the contract, in addition to any compensatory damages, would be specific performance of the contract.  This leaves little room for shaping the proposal with further public input. So we must get it as close to right as possible the first time around. 

It is unfortunate that this has come to a crunch time for submitting the grant, not allowing for more public input. I think Council should be reminded of the “Recreation Activity” section of the Urban Environment Element of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan (1975), which provides guidance on recreation land use: “Policy 8 Encourage local citizens groups to participate in the planning, development, and maintenance of recreation facilities to the extent possible”.  So I recommend reaching out to the public as soon as possible.

I am concerned that the current proposal may have some characteristics that might not qualify for the grant.  For instance

1) The grant program Authorizing Resolution Form of the Nature Education Facilities Guide states an applicant must certify that this project is consistent with appropriate planning documents.   The Coast Vision Plan and the Capital Improvement Plan for Abalone Cove both identify new park amenities with picnic tables, shade features, benches, trash receptacles, an ADA accessible bluff top trail, trail signage implementation of an invasive species removal and low profile shade tree planting program within the park. An 8-10,000 sq. ft. building does not fit within any of the recommendations of these Plans and would constitute a substantial change with little public input.  Staff has stated in the Coastal Vision Plan “" It has been Staff's past experience with grant funding that projects that are a part of a City approved plan, such as the Vision Plan, have a much better chance of being funded."   pg. 5 of 143

2)  Abalone Cove is within Subregion 5 of the Coastal Specific Plan which describes this site as “entirely undeveloped” and has a “subregion environment like no other in the entire coastal region”.  This site is categorized in the CSP as medium to high fire hazard.  Our CSP also specifies view corridors that are continuous along  PV Dr. South.(p.C-9).

3)  Even though you stated this will be within category 4 of the coastal setback line, there is the risk of unknown results of a geological review and, if the Coastal Commission is as concerned as they were on the Abalone Cove Improvement project, they could nix the proposal.

Other factors:

-It is possible that night lights will be required with a large building installation which could radically change to character of the site.

-The SEA lab I found, which is operated by the Conservation Crops, is not a marine biological research entity; it is an educational foundation for all ages to “educate schoolchildren and visitors about marine life and the importance of protecting our oceans. “ LA Conservation Corps manages programs which includes summer camp programs, community service projects and the Traveling Tidepool mobile exhibit. This group would not need a part of a 10,000 sq. ft. building to operate marine research and could easily complete their objectives with outdoor display kiosks and organized trips to the tidepools with the trail improvements.  If there is another SEA lab that you were thinking of that does research, find out what space they need.  I doubt if they would need a part of a 10,000 sq. ft. building.  But if they do, this may not be the place for them.

- The Abalone Cove site would require additional funds for part-time staff and additional full-time staff supervision. Fiscal impact to the city would be less at Lower Point Vicente as it is more centrally located for staff support and there will be a savings in maintenance and operational costs at PVIC as a result of the public-private partnership with the Annenberg Foundation.

Below is an alternative that I have put together as best as I could within this short time.

Alternative Plan

The grant program offers opportunities for the city to apply for several different grants in each tier. The number of applications is only limited by the number of site locations each applicant owns and/or operates. The site location is the specific property, park or place where the project will be located and there are several grant tier categories available for consideration by the CA State Parks Office of Grants and Local Services.  A multi-component plan would offer the city more opportunities through this grant program and would better fit into the Coastal Vision Plan, Coastal Specific Plan and grant guidelines.

The grant guidelines define a facility as incorporating “indoor and/or outdoor elements and structures, including interpretive trails and native plant areas.”  Also included are related restrooms, interpretive signs, kiosks and parking lots. Structures that qualify can be:

• Freestanding interpretive exhibits, either indoor or outdoor

• Outdoor structures used for nature education, e.g., arbors, ramadas, pavilions.

Project 1 Lower Point Vicente Park

Tier A $3,000,001 to $7,000,000    Grant request: $5,500,000 

           

You mentioned that in the grant workshop it was said a “brick and mortar” building has a better chance of being accepted. So I think that “brick and mortar” building should be at Lower Point Vicente for the following reasons.

A Nature Educational Center at Lower Point Vicente would complement the mission and work of the PVIC facilities and to enhance the civic and education opportunities for the Rancho Palos Verdes community and the general public. This grant could provide a state-of-the-art facility featuring educational exhibits related to indigenous terrestrial animals to complement the Interpretive Center and its marine exhibits. This project would address the needs and interests of a variety of organizations and local citizens’ groups, including the docents, community organizations and educational districts near and far.  Either Terranea or Golden Cove would provide visitors and their families an opportunity to get something to eat.

This plan for this site would comply with the Coastal Specific Plan (CSP) which identifies Subregion 2 as “…an attractor/generator, this homogeneity and predominately developed character are the major factors which establish the area as a subregion…”

The Vision Plan identifies Lower Point Vicente as a key site for connecting the community to the ocean and land, and people and animals with a goal to develop a design concept for the entire site that integrates the existing and proposed facilities.  This includes the existing Interpretative Center and its outdoor educational components, surrounding public parkland, and other potential complimentary uses, such as connecting the site to the trails at the Vicente Bluffs Reserve and the Terranea Resort and Spa. 

A partnership with the Annenberg Foundation, which has offered capital improvements and ongoing maintenance funding for this site, would lessen fiscal impacts to the City’s operational budget and leave more for the Educational Center’s capital costs. The Foundation has already said they are willing to fund: an outdoor exhibit area; reconstructed Tongva Village; an interactive archaeological dig; a water conservation garden; expanded group picnic areas; Restroom facilities; grassland and habitat restoration; and improved watershed management protecting tidal areas below the cliffs.
\

In addition, the program states that eligible projects include exhibit galleries, including but not limited to, annex, wing or room added to or, renovated in, an existing building to house interpretive exhibits as well as installation of new exhibits and related fixed equipment within an existing building.  So it would seem as though the program would apply to new exhibits for the PVIC.   If PVIC wanted to move the terrestrial components (Native American, local history) to the new Nature Education Center it would open up more space for PVIC to focus on marine exhibits and the grant could help with those new exhibits.

Project 2  Abalone Cove

Tier C $500,000 to $1,000,000         Grant request: $1,000,000

The project for this site would include outdoor informational kiosks or pavilion with interactive exhibits to educate the public on tide pools, marine life, trails, conservation and protection of the habitat, geology and Native American history.  A monitoring webcam would help in protecting the tidepools. Other components of the proposal such as improving the trail system and landscaping would remain but must comply with the grant criteria of a “focused learning about the natural environment”.

This site is within Subregion 5 of the CSP which states this subregion is “…almost entirely undeveloped..” and is a “…subregion environment like no other in the entire coastal region”.

The FY09-10 Capital Improvement Plan, which follows the Coastal Vision Plan improvement list, is similar to Gateway.  It calls for $100,000 in year 3 and $150,000 for year 4 with the same “To ‘Be Announced” impact on our budget and the same “outside funding committed or eligible” status.  Again, I don’t know of any “committed” funding for Abalone Cove it would fall under “eligible” for funding. 

This grant opportunity might also allow the relocation of equipment (Sewer power box and tank ) to a location away from the roadside but still accessible for maintenance to be more compliant with the CSP view corridor element.

Project 3 Gateway Park

Tier D: $100,000 to $500,000                               Grant request:  $500,000

Gateway park is outside of the CSP but is within the Coastal Vision Plan which specifically calls out this site as being the ideal location for a Nature Education Center serving as a major public access portal to the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve.  An outdoor kiosk center or pavilion at Gateway Park could include a restroom, new parking lot and interpretive signs on the Preserve trails as well as native planting or restoration.

Grant acceptance is based upon points and the greatest amount of points are awarded for showing a “deficiency of similar opportunities in the community”, and the “project serving the needs of a broad range of people.“ as well as for providing “alternate means of access to the nature education”.  Unlike Abalone Cove, Gateway Park is currently chained off from P.V. Dr. South and this improvement would open up new educational opportunities and access to the Nature Preserve areas that currently does not exist. It can be accessed both from P.V. Dr. South by car, bike or foot as well as from the Crenshaw entrance by hikers, bikers and equestrians.

The FY09-10 Capital Improvement Plan for Gateway Park calls for $200,000 in year 3 and $275,000 in year 4 with a “To Be Announced” impact on operating budget.  These amounts might provide parking but I doubt that it will cover everything listed. The box for “outside funding committed or eligible” is checked.  I don’t know of any outside funding that is currently committed so I can only assume this means that this is eligible for outside funding.  Here is the prime opportunity to see if we can help with that outside funding to make this a reality with less impact on our budget.

Ranger station

           

A small park ranger/sheriff substation is a good idea.  I have not included it in Project 2 or 3  because the grant guidelines state “Any part of a building or facility which is not related to the need to provide, or support nature education “including unrelated office, storage and equipment space” does not qualify.  The Park Ranger station would have to relate to the nature education and satisfy the requirement of a “plan to sustain, operate and maintain the project”.   There are also geological issues at both Gateway and Abalone Cove. The consultant would be better suited to address these issues.

  It is a tossup as to whether it should be at Abalone Cove or Gateway.  The tidepools need monitoring (although a webcam at Abalone Cove could work well in this capacity) yet immediate access to the bulk of the Preserve would be a great asset as well.   A modest sized structure at the Gateway Park would provide a point at which the rangers could regularly patrol the larger Portuguese Bend Preserve and still have quick access to Abalone Cove.  (I see them parked outside the locked gates at Gateway all of the time.)

Thank you and I hope you can reach out to the community soon for other input to shape this grant proposal so that we can find a way to maximize this once in a lifetime opportunity that is being offered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation for the greatest good of our community.

Jim Knight

6-16-10"

Agriculture and Golf--York's Latest Plan For Point View

Jim York is back with a new plan for his Point View property (aka The Old Pony Club.) According to his application for a Conditional Use Permit, he wants to grow avocados, citrus fruit and a vineyard on one part of it, and build a  two-and-a-half-acre 9-hole executive golf course and event center in another area. 

Access to the golf course would be via a new paved driveway from Palos Verdes Drive South to the Cook Shack area. The Cook Shack is no longer much of a shack, by the way, but is now a white building ringed with white holiday lights that sits adjacent to a lovely flagstone patio with a large fountain at one end. Two space heaters sit in front of the fountain and beside an enormous built-in bar-be-que, and it's all enclosed by a curving rock wall that overlooks one of the best views on the Southern California coastline.

The golf course is proposed for a "gently sloping area about 500 feet west of the existing restroom/cook shack area and south of an existing avocado orchard," according to the CUP application. The Point View Golf Course plans call for two greens, sand traps and nine holes. 

Information about the proposal is contained in the June 9, 2010 Weekly Administrative Report from Community Development Director Joel Rojas.

According to the report, section 17.02.025 of the RPV Development Code allows "the growing of crops and/or fruits on more than one acre for commercial purposes," and "golf courses, driving ranges and ancillary uses" in a residential zoning district with the approval of a Conditional Use Permit.  The report notes that staff reviewed the application with the city attorney, and "given that the city code does not specifically define a "golf course" or "ancillary use," it was determined that the application could be accepted for processing.

At this time, the application is incomplete. According to the report, York must demonstrate to the staff and the city's geologist that the application meets the exception criteria of the City's Landslide Moratorium Ordinance. If and when that is done, the application will be subject to a review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) before being processed. 

Rojas' report indicates that staff will develop a link on the city's website so that the public can read about the latest updates on this project, and also sign-up on the listserv to get periodic emails about this project. Note: the link isn't there yet but keep checking.

All 16 Monks Lots Have LMEs

The 16th and final "Monks" lot received a Landslide Moratorium Exemption from the RPV Planning Director on June 1. It is located on Narcissa Drive. Flags for building outlines appear to be up on four lots.  Now: whatever happened to the Environmental Impact Report? More on Monday, hopefully.

If You Want To Know Where We Are....

....just click here for a wonderful overview of Portuguese Bend on Google Earth's 3D maps. (Click "large view" on the bottom of the image for a slightly bigger image.)

Use the little slider with the plus and minus signs, on the left side of the map, to zoom in and find your house and everything else in the area. You can also click your mouse on the map and drag it around to see a different nearby area.

June Board Meeting--Part Two

Although much of what was listed on the agenda did not get done at Monday night's meeting of the PBCA board of directors, the Board did manage to approve the minutes and financial report from the previous month. An interesting note appears in the May minutes under "Audience Participation," and seems worth reporting here, inasmuch as it could impact future board meetings. (And of course, no one can read the Board minutes anywhere, except at the Board meeting.)

"Tim Kelly stated that in the future, if any members have any accusations against Board Members they need to bring proof. These false accusations will not be allowed. Tim Kelly stated that Mike Cooper has never received compensation and all further allegations need to bring forth support."

The July Board meeting will be July 5, 2010 at 7 p.m. in case you want to mark your calendar.

To Call Monday's PBCA Board Meeting Unruly Brings New Meaning to the Term

It's really hard to describe the Monday night meeting of the Portuguese Bend Community Association Board.

Picture a prize fight...

Mmmmm....not quite right. No gloves. Maybe a bar fight?

That's not quite right either, because no one actually threw any physical punches. But there were some verbal punches, that's for sure. About 90 minutes into the meeting, the custodian came in to see (pardon the expression) what the hell was going on! That should give you some idea of the volume of the "discussion" in the room.  And that was just the Architectural Committee meeting! 

And there were only 20 people in the room..including Board members!

The Architectural Committee meeting started off quietly enough with a discussion of house plans that have been approved, house plans that have been submitted, and a suggestion that the board form an Equestrian Committee to work out a trail system within the Bend. This was suggested because of the lot owners' willingness to go along with a community requirement for a three foot equestrian easement in front of their homes. 

Architectural committee member Kim Nelson announced that a group of the lot owners who are using the same contractor have offered to build a new gatehouse for the community at the Narcissa gate, free.

In line with the equestrian easement, Committee Chairman Tim Vaughn said the Architectural Committee will soon send out letters asking all home owners to voluntarily move existing hedges, rocks, fences, plants and other obstructions in this three foot easement in front of their homes.  This, apparently, will be the same letter that will list the proposed changes to the Architectural Standards that the committee has been discussing since February. Tim reported that the Board attorney advised him today that they cannot approve those changes until the entire community has been informed, in writing, of the proposed changes. Look for a letter some time soon. 

Residents within 500 feet of any of the four lots that have building outlines and flags on them should also be looking for letters from the city about the proposed buildings.

Trouble really began during discussion of the fact that any building plans that are submitted must include plans for drainage. During a discussion of drainage issues, specifically a problem with a recently installed dissapater, (a gadget at the end of a drainage pipe that disperses the water so it will not flood, uncontrolled, into a lot across the street),  a disgrunted homeowner suggested that community rules were not being enforced uniformly. Another resident suggested that some board members were not following some association rules. A general free-for-all about who had had what work done and who had permits or didn't have permits, ensued. Fingers were pointed. Voices were raised. The word "liar" was uttered. The yelling began. 

The person next to me said, quietly, "Uh oh. This is not good."

The angry resident asked that financial records be available so everyone could see who has paid what in fees, so that he could see that the rules are being enforced the same for everyone. The secretary-treasurer said that if the resident would supply a list of what he wanted to see, she would do the research and provide the information requested.

The Architectural Committee adjourned at 8:35 p.m. About half the people in the already small audience went home.

The board meeting was called to order soon thereafter, but side talk and comments continued.  There was no reading of minutes, no treasurer's report, no reports on roadsides, access control, the Environmental Impact Report, the Community Cleanup, or much of anything else. At 9 p.m., Board President Casey Porter adjourned the meeting....which then continued for a few minutes more.

There was no discussion of the road work that has been done in the community this month, but, after the meeting, Mike Cooper said that he expects the crew to finish work on Narcissa this week. He expects to get to the work on Limetree after that.

I keep telling you ... turn off the TV and come to these meetings. They are MUCH better than any sit-com or reality show you could ever see.

PBCA Board Meeting Tonight?

It's the first Monday of the month, so I'm assuming there will be a meeting of the PBCA Board tonight (Monday, June 7, 2010),  at Ladera Linda. If it follows the usual format, the Architectural Committee will meet at 7 p.m. and the Board meeting will follow immediately afterward.

If you want to know what's going on in Portuguese Bend regarding street paving, development, changing architectural standards and anything else, you need to go to the meeting. It's the only time you can ask questions or see your elected representatives in action.

Calling All Portuguese Bend Artists For A New Show

Artists are about as plentiful as peacocks in Portuguese Bend so that should generate a generous number of entries for an upcoming show at Ps Zask Gallery at Golden Cove.

Gallery owner Peggy  Zask, a Bend resident, is calling all artists whose work uses Found Objects as a major component of their art form for a new show, entitled Found Object,  to be held from October 2 to November 6, 2010.  

According to Mrs. Zask, this type of art, "is created from the undisguised, but often modified use of objects that are not normally considered art, often because they already have a non-art function. Marcel Duchamp was the originator of this in the early 20th century."   She notes that there are many artists in Portuguese Bend, including members of the Portuguese Bend Artist Colony, and she hopes that all of them will enter this show.

Artists may have three entries (by digital entry) for $15. Entry deadline is August 31, 2010.

Contact pszask@cox.net for a prospectus or call 310 429-0973 for more information.

The gallery, which is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., opened three years ago with a Spirit of the Horse Art Competition, to benefit the Portuguese Bend Pony Club. It continued with exhibitions of a variety of fine works from artists in Southern California and across the country. Ms. Zask recently re-opened the gallery with a new focus on ceramic art, sculpture and paintings that, she says, "explore the senses, issues and ideas about the earth's environment."

Both Zask and her husband. Ben, are artists. Ben, a science teacher at Dana Middle School in San Pedro, makes sculpture specifically out of found objects. "He does not use one thing in his art that is not recycled from somewhere around our home," according to Peggy.

She is a ceramic sculptor, potter and painter and teaches art, ceramics and sculpture at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach.  The very unusual wall around their property, "Is made mainly of Mira Costa High School student projects that were left behind at the end of the school year," Peggy said.  "Rather than throw them away, I decided to make a shard wall, as you may see in China, but of a sculptural nature.  Over the years, I have had other professional artists in the area add to the wall so it is developing quite a history," she said. 

Each year, the Zasks host a field trip from Mira Costa.  "We have about 50  students come and we do an ancient method of Pit firing with wood, firing the pots that kids have prepared specifically for the trip," she explained.  

"The method is based on the southwestern pottery of Maria Martinez.  After they prepare their pots and put them in the fire, they hike the traills, go to the tide pools and then we barbeque and relax and then they go on the bus back to school.  It's always one of their favorite times in high school. Many students take the ceramics class just so they can go on this famous field trip, always in spring of course.  It's a nice way to share Portuguese Bend."

Here's hoping that all Portuguese Bend artists enter this show, even if the focus is not their particular art form. It would be fun for the rest of us to see what artistic vision can bring to the ordinary.

Nature Education Facility: Part Two. RPV City Council Ignores Residents' Input

Watching our elected representatives at work is an interesting experience, and worth remembering when it comes time to vote. Perhaps if more of us did so, via tv, computer or in person, election results would be different.

I thought of this tonight as I watched the RPV City Council act on item three of the agenda, a grant application for a Nature Education Facility to be built at Abalone Cove. If you missed the details, check yesterday's blog.  as well as the actual grant proposal.

I don't know how many emails the council members received on this topic, but I listened to 10 area residents who took the time to GO to the council meeting and address this topic. All 10, including at least three from Portuguese Bend--Betty Strauss, Vicky Pinkham and Sunshine-- opposed the project. The objections included these points:

• The proposed 8,000 to 10,000 square foot building ruins one of the last natural areas on the coastline.
• Educational exhibits could be put up in a far less intrusive manner.
• People spent hours working on an assortment of city plans that call for placing an Educational Center at Gateway Park. Why did participants spend all that time if it was going to be ignored?
• There are educational exhibits at the PV Interpretive Center. The educational material planned for Abalone Cove could easily be joined to what is already at PVIC.
• There was little or no advance notice of this plan so citizens were unable to gather information about it. Why? (This complaint seemed universal among those who spoke, which was interesting inasmuch as Tom Long insisted in an email last week that "...the city certainly has given proper notice of this as an agenda item. The nearby HOA has already contacted us with its views and city staff have been in communication with a number of organizations with interest in the issue." Evidently the city didn't reach everyone who was interested, given the input from those at the meeting.

Councilmen debated the issue and listened politely to all audience comments. Then Tom Long moved that the council approve the staff recommendation to submit the grant application as it stands. The motion was seconded, and all five members of the City Council approved the motion.

So much for citizen objections.

Council members noted that if the city receives the grant, the project still will have to go through a variety of approval steps, including input from the community. Mayor Stefan Wolowicz noted that he is "not a fan of the big building" and that he would have a lot to say on the matter if the plan for the building is approved. This raises questions, inasmuch as the grant is specifically for  "brick and mortar" facilities, not landscaping, parking lot renovation and improved access, all of which were things that everyone agreed were needed at Abalone Cove.

We'll be watching the progress of this project.

What Do You Think About A Nature Education Facility at Abalone Cove?

Item 3 on the City Council agenda Tuesday night, June 1, 2010, involves a grant application from the city of RPV for funds to construct a 10,000 square foot Nature Education Facility at Abalone Cove, along with other improvements to the site.

According to the grant application, the building would contain educational exhibits about:

• tide pools
• marine life
• trails
• conservation
• protection of the habitat of RPV 
• sustainable living

Also included in the plans are renovation of the guard shack to match the new Nature Education Center, improved bathroom and storage facilities, as well as improvement of the parking lot, trail system, landscaping and outdoor picnic areas at Abalone Cove. The complete grant application is available here.  It's worth reading.

At first glance, this appears to be a welcome addition to the community, but there are some residents who are raising questions about the plan. Among these are:

• Is Abalone Cove the best location for a Nature Education Center? Abalone Cove has always been a natural open space. A 10,000 square foot building would be a major change and is not a part of the Coastal Vision Plan.
• Could the educational goals be achieved without construction of such a large building, perhaps by using a variety of kiosks and other methods of information presentation?
• The Coastal Vision Plan specifically singles out Gateway Park as a location for a Nature Education Center. Would this be a better location for the proposed project?
• Alternately, might the PV Interpretive Center, along with the planned Annenberg project, offer a better location for this project?
• Should educational exhibits be located where visitors have to pay a $5 parking fee to view them?
• The city claims it has notified the public about this proposal, but there has been no public discussion of this plan. Should there be?

This item is on the consent calendar, which usually is approved without discussion, unless a council member pulls it from the consent calendar.

If you would like to hear more public discussion of this plan, please contact members of the city council. They are:

Mayor Stefan Wolowicz: stevew@rpv.com

Mayor Pro Tem: Tom Long: tom.long@rpv.com

Councilman Douglas Stern: Douglas.Stern@rpv.com

Councilman Anthony Misetich: Anthony.Misetich@rpv.com

Councilman Brian Campbell: Brian.Campbell@rpv.com

The council meeting is Tuesday, June 1, 2010, at 7 p.m. at Fred Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. You may also fill out a request to speak on the issue before the meeting. Or, just go and hear what area residents may have to say on the topic.

You may view the complete agenda for the meeting here.